The Vatican has called on the international community to support dialogue between the new state and Khartoum and help resolve outstanding issues.
The Vatican Spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said in a statement issued on Friday, that the Holy See has had stable diplomatic relations with the authorities of Khartoum since 1972, and will give due consideration to requests from the new state for diplomatic ties.
Lombardi noted that peace, reconciliation and respect for universal rights, especially religious liberty are the fundamental pillars, upon which the new sociopolitical circumsatnces of the new country can be constructed.
The Holy See said it was sending an official delegation to the celebrations, headed by Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi and president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
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