Sudan

It is my pleasure at the outset to convey the best wishes of the Government and people of the Sudan for successful deliberations in the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly on its entire agenda. The agenda contains topics reflecting the challenges faced by the international community and the priorities we have to set, such as the development and welfare of our peoples, the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the mitigation of economic and financial crises, containing the effects of climate change and maintaining international peace and security. I am also pleased to extend warm congratulations to Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this important session. We are confident, Sir, that your political skills and diplomatic expertise will help realize our ambitions to have an able, effective and transparent United Nations. We also wish to commend the dexterity and high competence with which your predecessor, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, conducted the proceedings of the previous session. We also wish to commend the Secretary-General for the efforts undertaken by the Secretariat to fulfil the role and responsibilities of the United Nations. Millions throughout the world look forward to our deliberations in the wake of the suffocating crises through which the international community is passing. Traces of the crises are still lingering in the family of nations, especially in the developing countries, while the fruits of scientific and technological progress nourish the hope of better opportunities for a just and equitable world order. While non-compliance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law and its established rules, along with double standards, has made the world less safe, the economic and financial crises have exacerbated the challenges. The world is experiencing the worst and gravest economic and financial crisis since the Depression of the 1930s. The crisis is compounded by such numerous and intertwined problems as the food crisis and climate change along with their destructive effects on the developing countries and threats to their national priorities and to the gains they have made towards the achievement of the MDGs. In its chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China, the Sudan has accorded special attention to the repercussions of this crisis on the developing countries. In those countries the crisis has given rise to poverty, hunger, unemployment and slackening of growth, if not economic downturn, and has adversely affected balances of trade and of payment. At the same time, the crisis has led to falls in commodity prices, sharp fluctuations in exchange rates, sudden diversions of 09-52598 30 capital flows and of foreign direct investment, falls in remittances and drops in tourism revenues. Concomitantly, the social sector has suffered greatly because of the erosion of social security networks that provide health, education and other services. That in turn has augmented infant and maternal mortality rates. The Group of 77 and China is deeply concerned over this crisis and its impact on countries facing special challenges, foremost among which are African States, the least developed countries, small island States and countries emerging from conflict. The realities impose a moral duty on us — especially the industrial countries — to channel our collective response into a strong commitment to providing the required solutions. Those include direct funding, capacity-building, promoting sustainable development, addressing debt problems, eliminating obstacles to trade and investment and States meeting their international development pledges. Comprehensive reform of the international financial and economic system and ensuring an enhanced role for the developing countries in decision- making processes in international financial institutions are of central significance. Major industrial countries cannot ignore the universal legitimacy of the collective voice of the world’s States here at the United Nations. In this connection, the open-ended working group of the General Assembly to follow up on the issues contained in the Outcome of the Conference on the World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Development (resolution 63/303, annex), held in New York in June 2009, must discharge its work and mandate expeditiously. By the same token, we hope that endeavours to deal with climate change in the course of the conference to be held in Copenhagen in December of this year will be crowned with success. The developing countries — which were by no means responsible for climate change and global warming — urge industrialized countries, on the basis of their historic responsibility, to address the root causes of climate change by providing new and additional predictable financial resources, to help build capacities, to transfer, entrench and develop technology and to fulfil relevant obligations and pledges with a view to attaining sustainable economic growth that satisfies the legitimate priorities and needs of the developing countries. As Chair of the Group of 77 and China, my country will spare no effort in furthering those demands. The absence of democracy in international relations, as exemplified by the present form and composition of the Security Council, has become a major factor in diminishing the ability of the United Nations to respond to the structural and substantive challenges and changes in the international community. That has been exacerbated by unilateral sanctions that hinder international trade and investment and violate the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of international law. The United Nations rostrum is being used by some to serve narrow interests such that the concept of human rights has become a tool for ceaseless politicization and score settling. In the same vein, the often misused concept of terrorism has led to the victim being equated with the aggressor, as is currently evident in the plight of the Palestinian people, who are still chafing under the yoke of occupation. As a result, the Palestinian question has remained unsolved, which has gravely compromised the reputation and credibility of the United Nations. It is thus clear that for the United Nations to effectively serve a changing world, it has to effect an all-out change in its working methods and approaches so that it will truly express the voice of all nations. Consequently, my country, like all other developing nations, supports the call to reactivate the role of the General Assembly and to reform the Security Council, based on the well-known African position on this matter. This session is of special importance to my country for it comes at a time when we are putting an end to what has been called the longest civil war in Africa by concluding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Agreement adopts a system making citizenship a basis for rights and duties, and espousing diversity as a source of unity and brotherhood built on the rule of law, good governance, respect for freedoms and human rights, as well as fair and democratic power-sharing. Additionally, the Agreement establishes the principles of wealth sharing, in line with the norms of equity and equality. The implementation of the Agreement has proceeded with the completion of the formation of relevant mechanisms and institutions, along with the full commitment by the two parties to 31 09-52598 the Agreement to the sound treatment of the question of entitlements as reflected in the handling of the question of Abyei. We note here the fact that donors have not fulfilled the development resources and pledges they took upon themselves in support of the Agreement has adversely affected its implementation, particularly in the spheres of development, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants in society. We therefore urge the fulfilment of all pledges so as to foster peace and stability, as well as the reconstruction of the country after the ravages of years of war, so that peace can be meaningful. After conducting a population census — the accuracy and credibility of which were testified to by numerous international and regional institutions, including the United Nations — and in conformity with the Agreement, we are about to hold general legislative and executive elections. We assert our resolve and determination to hold them in April 2010, while we continue to strengthen efforts aimed at political reform, which is indispensable for founding a durable peace. We invite the international community, including the United Nations, to support the holding of elections in word and deed. Despite all the positive developments in the peace process, we note with profound concern the recent armed tribal conflicts in southern Sudan. Those conflicts threaten not only the stability of the Sudan and the South but also the stability of the whole region. We would like to recall here that, in accordance with the Agreement, the responsibility for the maintenance of peace in the South lies with the Government of Southern Sudan. Therefore, it is everybody’s duty to urge and encourage the Government of Southern Sudan to discharge its duty for the sake of its citizens’ security and prosperity. Our people have recognized that peace will not be complete unless it extends to our people in Darfur. The signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in Abuja under the gracious aegis of the African Union affirmed the Government’s serious commitment to resolving the problem of Darfur peacefully. While we were earnestly attempting to implement that Agreement, certain international parties did not fulfil their pledges and obligations in strict application of the Agreement, such as by applying unwarranted pressure on the wrong side. Instead of pressuring the parties that shied away from the peace option, pressure was put on the Abuja signatories themselves. That hampered peace endeavours and led to the protraction of the conflict. Yet, thanks to the steadfast maintenance of the Agreement by our Government and people and our relentless efforts to achieve peace, we are now seeing positive and far-reaching developments leading towards lasting peace in Darfur, thanks also to the complete commitment shown by the National Unity Government and its close cooperation with the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur through the Tripartite Mechanism. That policy has led to far-reaching improvements in the humanitarian situation in Darfur, as recognized and attested to by United Nations reports. That is further supported by our scrupulous commitment to the humanitarian agreement signed last April with the United States Special Envoy to the Sudan. We reiterate our commitment to close cooperation with the United Nations and with national and international organizations with a view to enhancing and developing that policy in a manner that prevents any humanitarian disaster or even food gaps in the future. In this connection, it is imperative to note the massive return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their villages, which makes it incumbent on the Government, the Sudanese people and the international community to seize this opportunity to foster this trend, as it is the real test of peace. We renew our commitment and preparedness to work expeditiously and at all times to ensure the success of the forthcoming negotiations in Doha within the framework of the Afro-Arab initiative and the efforts of the Joint Mediator, in accordance with the decision taken by the initiatives committee in its meeting held at the margins of this session. We welcome the declaration made by the American President, Barack Obama, before the General Assembly, on his country’s readiness to help find solutions to the problems of Darfur. Noting the positive tone in the statements voiced by the American President towards developing countries in general, we hope that his words will be translated into action and sincere effort in order to correct the misguided policies and positions of the previous American Administration, which have compromised bilateral relations and aggravated the region’s problems. This, undoubtedly, 09-52598 32 requires, first and foremost, lifting the unilateral sanctions and removing the name of the Sudan from the United States’ list of terrorist States. We renew our appeal to the armed groups to muster the will for a solution and for involvement in the peace process, so that the interests of the Sudanese people are put first and foremost. The people of the Sudan are more than capable of solving their own problems. My country has repeatedly declared its commitment to a unilateral ceasefire as an initiative for confidence-building and bringing about successful negotiations, and we hope that armed factions will respond positively so that a permanently monitored ceasefire can be reached. The international community, which has, in the past, promised to take stringent measures against those who refused to take part in the peace talks or impede them, has to do so in deed and not just in word. The question of development, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction should be given special attention, as called for in Security Council resolution 1769 (2007). There should be a transition from providing emergency humanitarian assistance to supporting development, in order to facilitate the return and settlement of IDPs and refugees. From this rostrum, I wish to assert my country’s keen interest in having constructive relations with all its neighbours and its full readiness for complete cooperation with them, with a view to extinguishing all regional hot beds of tension. In this regard, I would like to stress our preparedness and willingness to normalize relations with Chad, in conformity with all agreements and instruments signed with them and we hope they will demonstrate the same determination and readiness. At a time when the Government of National Unity had made remarkable progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and when the Sudan had started a new phase towards the achievement of political reform and transformation, peaceful devolution of authority, progress towards ending disputes and infighting and towards the achievement of inclusive development for our people, the President of the Republic himself, who is the chief guarantor of the Sudan’s sovereignty, was targeted by so-called international justice in a futile attempt to undermine stability and development. The Sudanese rejected this, as did the international community, including regional and international organizations. We emphasize that the realization of security and stability in Darfur requires speedy correction of those developments and a renewed commitment to the peace process and the avoidance of all that may have a negative impact on peace in the Sudan and the African continent. Between the signing of the United Nations Charter in the middle of the last century and the momentous developments and profound challenges currently experienced by the world, much water has flown under the bridge of international relations, which makes annual General Assembly sessions serious opportunities for introspection and for gleaning lessons. Let us renew our resolve to foster multilateral action, for which this Organization stands. Let our sixty-fourth session be a defining point towards achieving our collective aspirations for a world where the values of fraternity and common destiny prevail.