Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Gennady Kuzmin at a UN Security Council briefing on the ICC report on Darfur
Mr. President,
At the outset, let me point out that signing of the Constitutional declaration was a crucial milestone on the way to long-term stabilization in Sudan. We commend mediator efforts of Ethiopia and African Union in the negotiations process – it is a practical implementation of principle “African solutions to African problems”.
We should also give credit to the Sudanese, who managed to overcome their contradictions and come to an agreement amidst unstopping pressure from the outside. This pressure was not meant to drive sides to the negotiations table. It rather tried to make the political situation in Khartoum “fit” one’s own narrow-specific selfish interests.
As for the state of affairs in Darfur, we see that situation with security is improving. We also see some normalization in the humanitarian area. The overall dynamic in the areas from where the Blue Helmets have already withdrawn has undergone no major changes. Most importantly – no negative trends in the area of security have emerged. Separate clashes in Jebel Marra between governmental forces and ‘Sudan Liberation Army’ under Abdul Wahid al Nur, who remains the central “spoiler” of the peace process, do not change this assessment.
In this regard, we believe it vital to follow the course of step-by-step drawdown and withdrawal of UNAMID. We expect that dialogue with Sudanese authorities will add to creating favorable conditions for defining parameters of subsequent international support for the peace process in Darfur.
Challenges that Darfur faces today are of a peacebuilding rather than peacekeeping nature. Time has come to focus on restoration and economic development of this province – this is what should be a priority now.
As for the activity of the ICC at the Darfur track, we have studied the regular report of Prosecutor F.Bensouda. As before, we see no progress in the ICC work, therefore our assessments and approaches remain unchanged.
Thank you.
