Sudan and South Sudan have failed to meet a United Nations deadline to settle their differences, and now negotiators are working with the additional pressure of potential sanctions.

The U.N. Security Council gave the sides until August 2 to settle issues on citizenship, oil revenue, and border demarcation that remain unresolved 13 months after the two nations split.

The sides clashed along their border in April, raising fears of all-out war.

In interviews with VOA on Thursday, both sides accused the other of slowing progress.

Sudan's foreign affairs undersecretary, Ramatallah Osman, said Khartoum is dissatisfied with a proposed buffer zone along the border to prevent further fighting.

“It is our conviction so that we have to resolve security issues, because this will pave the way for other issues.”

South Sudan's minister of information, Barnaba Benjamin Marial, said Sudan refuses to compromise.

“It is not the Republic of South Sudan that is intransigent in finding solutions, but the Republic of Sudan is the obstacle to peace.”

Among other issues, the two sides have failed to agree on a fee for the south to transport oil through the northern pipelines for export. Sudan seized southern oil in the dispute, prompting South Sudan to halt oil production.

The dispute has been economically crippling for both Sudans.

A U.N. Security Council resolution in May warned the Sudans they may face sanctions if they did not reach a deal by the deadline.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to push for progress when she meets with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in Juba on Friday.

(( RAMATALLAH OSMAN (English), Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, saying

1:33 “It is our conviction that we have to resolve security issues, because this will pave the way for other issues. 1:40 “I think the security issue, if it is resolved between us, is confidence building between the two countries.”

3:21 “I think the outcome will be decided on this matter – whether the international community is able to put pressure to our brothers in the south to keep to the proposal which were given even by the mediators themselves.”

1:33 “It is our conviction so that we have to resolve security issues, because this will pay the way for other issues. 1:40 I think the security issue, if it is resolved between us, is confidence building

between the two countries.”

BARNABA BENJAMIN MARIAL, South Sudan Minister of Information (English), saying

Act 1

:00 “And these solutions are very clear. They offer the Republic of Sudan very substantial financial grants both cash payments and the relief debts that they owe, something to the value of nearly 8.2 billion U.S. dollars. This includes about 3.2 billion in hard cash in over 3 ½ years and also reflecting of nearly $5 billion of our own debt including substantial transit fees and transportation and processing fees for our oil.” :36

Act 2

:00 “It is not the Republic of South Sudan that is intransigent in finding solutions, but the Republic of Sudan is the obstacle to peace. And therefore it is important for us as a country to inform the African Union that we are not accomplice. That we are prepared and this is our solution. :17 So that should they decide and recommend any solution to the Security Council of the United Nations, then we are not the wrongdoers.” :26