Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at UNSC briefing on the situation in Abyei
Mme.President,
At the outset, we would like to congratulate everyone on 9 May, the Victory Day. On this symbolic date, we pay tribute and express our gratitude to all those whose unparalleled heroism on the battlefield and dedicated work on the home front allowed to defeat Nazism. Without this Victory, the United Nations would have never been founded. We are confident that the legacy of the Great Victory will strengthen and advance ties among states and peoples given full respect for the principles of equality and self-determination.
Mme.President,
We thank ASG Pobee and SESG Tetteh for the briefings. We welcome Permanent Representatives of Sudan and South Sudan to this meeting.
We commend the joint efforts of the leadership of South Sudan and other regional stakeholders aimed at soonest cessation of hostilities in Sudan among the Sudanese Army and the rapid support forces. We specifically note the work of South Sudanese authorities to accommodate Sudanese refugees and their readiness to assist with easing the humanitarian crisis in the region. We are firmly convinced that settlement in Sudan will help to create favorable conditions for boosting cooperation on the issue of Abyei.
Lately, the two sides have proven committed to a dialogue on Abyei, i.a. through establishing mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of joint exploitation of Abyei’s prospective oilfields. In January, a summit of leaders of Sudan and South Sudan and a meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism took place in Juba, where the sides reiterated their readiness to interact on issues relating to the border. We welcome that both sides are willing to elaborate a strategy for reaching-out to the local population residing along the shared border with a view to recovering the routine operation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, i.a. in Gok Machar.
We still proceed from the understanding that effective advancement of the inter-Sudanese settlement that would allow to agree on Abyei’s final status will only be possible if based on the shared efforts of the sides. Any attempts to change the status of this disputed area unilaterally and while disregarding the effective international legal framework and bilateral agreements of the two states are unacceptable. Therefore, we believe it is crucial for the both states to implement fully their respective obligations to maintain the demilitarized status of Abyei.
We are very much concerned for the state of inter-communal dialogue in the disputed area, especially in light of the unstopping conflict between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka. At the same time, we note the attempts by South Sudanese authorities at reconciling the two communities.
The UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) remains a central stability factor in the region. We welcome the role of the Blue Helmets in addressing current security issues and the assistance that is provided via the Abyei Joint Program for peacebuilding. UNISFA’s transformation in a multinational mission is almost complete. We count on UNISFA to keep implementing its mandate with a focus on security and rendering assistance to the two states as they strive to ensure a mutually acceptable solution to the border dispute.
Thank you.
