Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at the UNSC meeting on Abyei
We thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Envoy Parfait Onanga-Anyanga for their comprehensive briefings.
We commend consecutive improvement of bilateral relations between Khartoum and Juba. Mediator efforts of South Sudanese authorities, in particular of President Salva Kiir, facilitating talks between the Government of Sudan and opposition groups, resulted in signing peace agreements on 3 October. This is yet another proof of effectiveness of formula “African solutions – to African problems”. We hope that the sides will be guided by the same principle when settling the issue of Abyei. We find it encouraging that the two capitals signal their readiness to give a new impetus to inter-state ties, i.a. with regard to Abyei. We hope that the AU High-Level Implementation Panel will continue working with Sudanese sides.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is doing crucial work to establish constructive relations with the local communes. However, we should be mindful that over years, relations of some communes have accumulated a large negative load. We hope the Blue Helmets will continue efforts to promote national reconciliation.
We proceed from the assumption that the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) is an inalienable part of a system that prevents incidents between the sides. It is crucial for the entire sub-regional security architecture that UNISFA should be supporting the JBVMM.
In his recent report, Secretary-General Guterres outlined causes of stagnation of UNISFA’s reconciliation efforts, and of JBVMM progress on its key targets. The report states this stagnation has to do with coronavirus-related restrictions, which is perfectly understandable. We are convinced that the efforts will recover once the circumstances allow.
In this regard, we support UNSG’s recommendation to extend the mandate of UNISFA, including JBVMM support, for six months. This said, we believe Secretariat’s proposals regarding the peacekeeping component of the Mission should be considered with due account for the opinions of Khartoum and Juba, as required by the basic principles of peacekeeping.
