6 May 2014 - South Sudan President Salva Kiir today reiterated his willingness to hold talks with opposition leader Riek Machar.

In a press briefing after meeting with visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Juba, President Kiir said it was vital to stop fighting so that people could return to their homes. He noted that there would be “serious disaster… if we do not allow our people to cultivate now”.

“I have assured His Excellency that I am ready now to travel to Addis Ababa, to go and meet with Riek Machar, if he will accept to meet me,” he said.

The president said he had also assured the Secretary-General of his government’s “continuous cooperation with UNMISS authorities”.

“The period we have spent with UNMISS under the leadership of Hilde F. Johnson was a fruitful time,” he said. “(She) has been working with us hand in hand and whatever happened during our crisis, these were misunderstandings but (there is) nothing that happens in human life that cannot be corrected.”

Mr. Ban welcomed President Kiir’s willingness to sit down with Dr. Machar, describing it as a necessary step to return peace to the country, to which he had come with “a sad and heavy heart”.

“I visited displaced persons… The United Nations will continue to help them so that they will be able to return to their homes as soon as possible,” he said. “For that (to be) possible, there should be peace and security.”

He said he would also speak to Dr. Machar to urge him to find a political solution to the crisis through dialogue.

“Even though they may have some different political views, there is nothing which they cannot overcome,” said the Secretary-General. “They are same people, same country – this is their country.”

Mr. Ban also called on both leaders and those in command of military units to fully protect the civilian population and also respect international humanitarian and human rights laws, adding that those who committed crimes would be brought to justice.

“The United Nations is behind the people of South Sudan, and that is why I am here,” he said.