Statement by Representative of the Russian Federation Ivan Khoroshev at UNSC briefing on the situation in Abyei
Mme.President,
We thank USG Jean Pierre Lacroix, Special Envoy Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Chair of the High-Level Implementation Panel of the African Union (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki for their substantive briefings.
According to the latest SG report, the situation in Abyei has remained stable. We welcome this, but at the same time, we are concerned over the remaining security threats, first of all the threats to the peaceful population posed by armed groups and inter-communal clashes.
The sides need to make joint efforts in order to promote inter-Sudanese settlement that should resolve the issue of Abyei’s final status. In this regard, we welcome the resumption of contacts between representatives of Sudan and South Sudan at different levels and the readiness of the sides to establish mutually beneficial cooperation. We commend dialogue on the issues of opening border crossings and creating free trade zones in border areas. The Joint Political and Security Mechanism has convened its first meeting in almost 12 months. Though modest, it is real progress in achieving the so-called benchmarks. By all means, such efforts must continue. Hopefully, this dialogue will become regular. This would help reach agreements to determine Abyei’s final status. Progress at the political track will help improve the complex humanitarian status of the population.
Mr. Thabo Mbeki delivered a very inspiring briefing today. We count on AUHIP to continue engaging meaningfully with the Sudanese sides.
Mme.President,
We attach great importance to the activity of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in establishing constructive relations between communes on the ground and promoting national reconciliation. We think that the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) is an inalienable element of the system for preventing incidents between the parties and that UNISFA’s support for the Mechanism is key for the security architecture.
In this regard, we are concerned over the situation with UNISFA peacekeepers in Gok Machar. We trust that the “Blue Helmets” will soon be back on their positions. We underscore the importance of upholding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Thereby we believe it is essential to figure out the reasons that provoked tension, and reach out to the sides in order to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future.
Mme.President,
In view of the pending renewal of UNISFA’s mandate, we emphasize the importance of Blue Helmets’ presence in Abyei at this stage. We assume that the Secretariat’s proposals as to the configuration of the Mission (including its national composition) should be considered with due account for the opinions of Khartoum and Juba.
Thank you.
