June 15, 2010 (Khartoum) — Ali Karti, who was appointed foreign minister on Monday by President Omar al-Bashir lashed out on Tuesday.
"If we don’t agree on the results of the referendum, this could trigger a new war between north and South Sudan. It will be a difficult and tough war, different from the previous one because both sides are better equipped," militarily, AFP reported.
The two peace partners, NCP and the SPLM, have recently involved in back and forth negotiation to form the new unity government. SPLM has retained the position of foreign minister for the last five years.
"We cannot hold a referendum before the border is demarcated. The demarcation will help establish where people live and where (natural) resources are located," Karti told AFP.
Karti, who was State Minister of Foreign Affairs in the past administration, is believe by some figures within Southern ruling party as someone with conservative views, and his stance on South Sudan referendum could irritate the SPLM.
The CPA which was signed on January 9, 2005, ended the bloody civil war between North and the South. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) allows the people of South Sudan to decide in next January whether or not they want to remain part of the united Sudan or form their own Independent State.