Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at UNSC briefing on the situation in Sudan
Mr.President,
We thank Special Representative Volker Perthes for providing assessments of the latest developments in Sudan. We took note of the 90-day report of the Permanent Representative of Ghana, Ambassador Harold Agyeman, on the work of UNSC Sanctions Committee 1591. We welcome the Permanent Representative of Sudan to this meeting.
We closely follow the developments in Sudan. The Sudanese political landscape remains fragile, and the prospects for further development are multivariate. We welcome the readiness demonstrated by the country’s leadership for constructive interaction with various components of Sudanese civil society, which made it possible to sign a framework political agreement on 5 December 2022 with the participation of the Central Council of the former ruling coalition “Forces for Freedom and Change”. We note the discussions on unresolved issues that are going on in the country, including with the support of regional states. Hopefully, these efforts will have a stabilizing effect on the situation in Sudan.
At the same time, we note that the framework political agreement left behind significant political actors of Sudan who continue to reject it. We believe that if the current political process is speeded up artificially, it can hardly promote overall settlement. In order to achieve a sustainable solution, the inter-Sudanese dialogue should proceed from the principle of inclusiveness, which implies involvement in this process of all influential political forces and ethno-confessional groups, including respectful regional leaders. We call on the Trilateral Mechanism UN-AU-IGAD to continue efforts in support of elaboration of a constitutional document, around which the whole country can consolidate. External interference in Sudanese affairs is counter-productive and unacceptable. We are convinced that people of this country are capable of and should resolve their internal problems on their own.
Mr,President,
The protracted period of domestic political turbulence in Sudan and recurrent violence have a negative impact on the socio-economic situation. A considerable part of the Sudanese population lives beyond the poverty line, there is a scarcity of food. In this connection, the issue of fulfilling the obligations of the global community in the area of financial assistance to Sudan assumes particular relevance. We call on UNITAMS to address seriously the issue of unblocking international assistance without any preconditions. Attempts to link this issue to the transfer of power to a civilian government are hypocritical. In general, we must state that results of the activity of UNITAMS aimed at implementation of its mandate do not fully come as expected. The Mission mostly remains focused on just one track. Reports contain misbalanced assessments, whereas the views of the Sudanese are largely ignored.
Mr,President,
We appreciate efforts of the Sudanese leadership aimed at stabilization in Darfur and implementing the Juba Agreement. We do hope that centralized and local authorities in Sudan will take measures to respond swiftly to recurrent outbreaks of inter-communal violence.
We support the request of Khartoum to review the dated UNSC sanctions, which is echoed by a consolidated position of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, and the regional group of African states here in New York. We remain convinced that the current situation in Darfur asks to lift immediately the restrictions that were imposed 18 years ago. We look forward to having this issue resolved in accordance with resolution 2676 that the Council adopted this month.
Mr.President,
In conclusion, we would like to reiterate the unfailing readiness of the Russian Federation to continue assisting Sudan, with whom we maintain friendly relations, in overcoming effectively its outstanding challenges and getting back to the tracks of sustainable development.
Thank you.
