SC – Briefing and Debate on Sudan
Statement by Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations
New York, 16 December 2010
I should first like to thank President Mkapa for his comprehensive briefing and also USG Le Roy. We are happy with the presence of State Minister Siddiq and the Secretary-General of the SPLM Amum and also thank them for their presentations.
Last week, Austrian Foreign Minister Spindelegger visited the Sudan and had talks with senior representatives of NCP and SPLM and with President Mbeki. Minister Spindelegger came back with the understanding that both sides are committed to holding the referendum on time but that the overall process of CPA implementation as well as the political situation in the North and the South remains fragile. Therefore, Austria considers it important for the International Community to send positive messages: to Khartoum that there is a chance to enter into a new phase of relations with the International Community once the CPA is implemented and to the South that the IC is ready to assist with capacity building, humanitarian and development co-operation, provided that the SPLM leadership does not take any action that could lead to a military escalation.
At the same time and more specifically, Austria is convinced that there will be a strong need for the United Nations as well as other international actors, such as the European Union, to be actively engaged in peace building in the South and also in the North, if so desired, in the post-referendum period.
We welcome substantive progress in the preparations for the referendum, in particular the completion of the voter registration and its peaceful and orderly conduct. In this regard we highly appreciate and fully support the work of the High Level Monitoring Panel. The European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission, which also observed the registration process.
Concerning the post-referendum arrangements, we are particularly concerned about the inability to resolve the problem of citizenship as this could lead to a dangerous hotspot for the referendum period. Austria has offered technical expertise in the area of citizenship, and upon the invitation of the parties, has discussed this offer with interlocutors in the North and the South in October and during the recent visit of her Foreign Minister.
Still, further progress is needed, in the preparation for the referendum in Abyei. Preparations also have to take place for the Popular Consultations in the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States. Strengthening the rule of law, ending impunity and ensuring human rights for all will be important in this process in order to guarantee lasting peace and stability. The full inclusion of women in these processes is also of great importance.
On Monday, 13 December the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU expressed its readiness to step up engagement with the GoS and to establish a long-term dialogue. The EU and its Member States, including Austria, attach importance to finding a lasting solution to Sudan’s debt burden. At the Foreign Affairs Council, the EU committed to examine closely possible support for an international debt relief effort.
In view of the tense security situation in the South caused by rebel movements, military activity and an influx of people moving from North to South, we call on the leadership of SPLM and NCP to avert conflict, to ensure regional stability and to protect civilians. Contingency planning by UNMIS is important. Freedom of movement is crucial for UNMIS to fulfill its tasks.
Austria strongly supports the facilitation of the African Union High Level Panel under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki as well as the work of the African Union/UN Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé. We urge all parties to work on a cessation of hostilities and progress in the Doha negotiations. We in particular condemn the abduction of peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, as well as the violence against civilians in and around IDP camps. In this regard, we welcome the release of three Latvian nationals working for the WFP and we also demand the immediate release of a Hungarian UNAMID peacekeeper. We urge all parties to allow free access to everyone in need of humanitarian assistance.
UNAMID has an important role to play in protecting civilians and needs the full support of the Government of the Sudan and all other parties involved. The safe and voluntary return of the high number of IDPs in Darfur must be ensured. We strongly support all efforts to strengthen mechanisms to promote justice, fight impunity, mechanisms in the interest of accountability and reconciliation.
