South Sudan-Sudan Agree on Oil but Not Border The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan signed economic and security agreements Thursday that will allow a resumption of oil exports from South Sudan. The two countries also reached deals for a demilitarized zone between their borders and a cessation of all hostilities that brought the countries to the brink of all-out war just a few months ago. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed the agreement in Ethiopia's capital, where they have been holding talks since Sunday. The talks were originally scheduled to last only a day. The sides could not agree on a shared border or on how to address the disputed region of Abyei. Both sides have been under pressure from the U.N. Security Council to resolve the outstanding issues or risk sanctions. South Sudan broke away from Sudan last year after an independence vote that was the culmination of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed more than 2 million people. But the border was never defined, and South Sudan suspended oil production in January after accusing Sudan of stealing its crude, which is transported in pipelines through Sudan. Border clashes escalated in April when South Sudan troops took over an oil town in a region Sudan claims as its own. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, center-left, and South Sudan President Salva Kiir, right, gesture to celebrate the completion of a signing ceremony after the two countries reached a deal on economic and security agreements Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan signed agreements Thursday that will allow a resumption of oil exports from South Sudan, a demilitarized zone between their borders, and a cessation of all hostilities that brought the countries to the brink of all-out war just a few months ago. (AP Photo/Elias Asmare) Close With the deal sealed Thursday, officials say only "technical works" remain for oil exports to resume soon. Some officials have said it will take months to clear the pipelines and get oil flowing again. U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreements, saying Sudan and South Sudan "have written a new page in their common history." He commended the two presidents "for again choosing peace over war" and said the agreements "provide important building blocks for a stable and prosperous future for both countries." He urged both countries to continue their efforts to resolve the dispute over Abyei through dialogue "and avoid any unilateral decisions that would risk a return to violence." Ban spoke at a ministerial forum on Sudan and South Sudan on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual high-level meeting that he co-chaired with the African Union. The forum's final communique commended the two presidents "for demonstrating constructive leadership and political will to reach agreements" and urged them to continue negotiations on Abyei and the disputed border areas. The security agreement was signed by the two countries' defense ministers, while lead negotiators inked economic and trade agreements. AU mediators say the two sides also signed a deal to let their citizens freely move between, reside in and work in both countries. Bashir and Kiir spent four days in an apparent effort to overcome the most contentious issues - finalizing a border and determining the status of the border region of Abyei - but failed. Kiir said Thursday was a great day in the history of the Sudan region, though he said the lack of an agreement over Abyei was Khartoum's fault. "As to Abyei it is very unfortunate that we could not agree," he said. My government and I accepted unconditionally the proposal of the AUHIP (the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel). unfortunately my brother Bashir and his government totally rejected the proposal in its totality. Kiir said. He called on the African Union to resolve the dispute urgently and end what he called the continued suffering of the people of Abyei.