S. Sudan's Kiir Due İn Ethiopia Monday For Peace Talks

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir is due to arrive in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Monday to join ongoing peace talks with the country's rebels, a South Sudanese diplomat said Sunday.



"The talks so far are being conducted in an amicable environment," South Sudanese ambassador to Ethiopia Arop Kuol Deng told The Anadolu Agency.



"The two sides have agreed on numerous issues. However, there are points of disagreement concerning power sharing," the diplomat said.



Under an agreement signed last month by Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, the two sides must reach a comprehensive peace agreement – to be followed later by the formation of a transitional unity government – by March 5.



"We are hopeful that we will meet deadline of March 5," Deng said.



"President Salva Kiir will negotiate the sticking points with the rebel leaders in the coming few days," the diplomat said.



Representatives from both sides resumed talks on Feb. 23  amid hopes that the two sides will be able to clinch a final peace deal.



According to government team's spokesperson Micheal Makuei, the rebels want the position of first vice president to be taken up by Machar.  "But the government want the rebels to take one of two equal vice president positions in addition to representation in many other government posts," Makuei told AA.



"In addition to the power sharing, the other burning issue on which the two sides remain in disagreement is the transitional period of the South Sudanese army," he said.



Machar, who arrived in Addis Ababa since Feb. 23, has been accusing the South Sudanese president of going back on his word to show up on the day of resumption of talks.



But Makuei defended Kiir's delay of arrival, saying the leader had sent his negotiating team "fully mandated," but he stayed home so that not to stay away from his government duties for too long.



"There are issues that we disagreed on and I hope today we may see progress in this regard before Salva Kiir meets the rebel leader," he said.



Under the earlier agreement, the transitional government's power-sharing ratios would be as follows: 53 percent for the current government in Juba, 33 percent for Machar's camp and the rest for other political parties.



Failure to reach a final deal could result in AU sanctions targeting both sides of the conflict, including travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes, according to an agreement signed by both sides earlier this month.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa