U.S. welcomes oil deal reached by Sudan, S.Sudan

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Saturday welcomed the oil agreement reached by Sudan and South Sudan, saying it "opens the door to a future of greater prosperity" for the people of both countries.

"The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan deserve congratulations for reaching agreement and finding compromise on such an important issue, and I applaud the efforts of the international community which came together to encourage and support the parties in finding a resolution," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Obama especially praised the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel, led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, for its "determined and skilled leadership in bringing about this agreement."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued a statement on Saturday to praise Sudan and South Sudan for reaching the oil agreement, which she said "reflects leadership and a news spirit of compromise" of the two rivals.

Clinton praised the courage of South Sudan leadership in taking the decision to reach agreement with Sudan to end the six-month oil impasse, with the assistance of African Union High-Level Implementation Panel. "The future of South Sudan is now brighter," she said.

She also lauded the government of Sudan for reaching the oil deal with South Sudan, adding that the agreement "offers a way out of the extreme economic stress" that Sudan is now experiencing.

"If Sudan would now also take the steps to peace in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, and if it will respect the rights of all citizens, it can likewise give its people a brighter future, " she said.

Sudan and South Sudan clinched an agreement on sharing their oil resources in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Saturday, to allow the resumption of southern oil exports through Sudan's territories.

The deal settled the issue on how much South Sudan will pay Sudan to transport and export the oil. But both countries still have to discuss when to resume southern oil exports through the north and how to resolve current territorial disputes.

How to share the oil wealth became a thorny issue between the two sides after the independence of South Sudan last year. While most of the oil wells are in the south, the pipelines and port to export the oil are in the north. Enditem