17-06-2018, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): H.E. Mrs Hirut Zemene, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) yesterday opened another round of Intensive Interlinked Consultations (IICs) as part of the High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF) in Addis Ababa. The State Minister represented the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers.
The IICs initiated to assist South Sudanese parties to reach common ground on the outstanding issues of security arrangements and governance. The discussion is based on IGAD Bridging Proposal which was submitted to the HLRF parties by IGAD Facilitation on 23rd May 2018, at the close of the last session of the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF).
At the opening of the IICs, State Minister Hirut Zemene recalled the decision of the 62nd Council of Ministers of IGAD, that there should be “one more round of Intensive Interlinked Consultations with the parties to identify possible compromises and build consensus on the bridging proposal” as stated in the Communiqué. The first round of the ICCs was held in Addis Ababa on 11th and 12th May 2018.
Based on the Council decision, H.E. Mrs Hirut Zemene also mentioned a face-to-face meeting between H.E. President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar will be held in Addis Ababa soon. According to the State Minister, the outcome of the IICs will be submitted to the Council of Ministers. And to the IGAD Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held on 21st May 2018, in Addis Ababa.
Ambassador Ismail Wais gave a detailed account of the purpose of this final IICs meeting and the presentation of its report on the final bridging proposal to the IGAD Summit.
The IICs is expected to conclude its consultation on 18 June 2018.
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