S. Sudan Slams 'Unfortunate' Un Sanctions Regime

South Sudan's government on Tuesday described as "unfortunate" a UN Security Council resolution creating a system to impose sanctions of those blocking peace in the war-torn country.



"It is unfortunate because sanctions cannot be good for the peace talks because the peace talks are meant to bring the parties together for a common understanding," presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told The Anadolu Agency by phone.



Earlier Tuesday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution creating a system to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan.



The resolution threatens an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban if South Sudan's warring rivals failed to reach a peace deal to help end a year-long conflict in the fledging country.



The resolution does not name President Salva Kiir or rebel leader Riek Machar directly as possible targets for sanctions but says it could include leaders of any party.



South Sudan fell into violence in late 2013 after Kiir accused Machar, his sacked vice president, of plotting a coup against his government.



Last month, the two rivals signed an agreement with the aim of hammering out a comprehensive peace deal by March 5, to be followed in July by the formation of a transitional unity government.



"The parties are supposed to be encouraged to strike a deal," Ateny said.



"Sanctions will just inflict unnecessary suffering to the people of South Sudan and it will not help the peace talks," he added.



Ateny said that the South Sudanese government will announce its position on the UN sanction threat on Friday.



"I will not talk about failures of peace talks now but I will say the position of government will be made by Friday in the council of ministers," he told AA.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Cuba