S/PV.6559 Security Council

I thank President Mbeki for his detailed briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Haile Menkerios. Mr. Menkerios: Since the Security Council was in the Sudan recently, I will focus only on the developments that have taken place since the Council’s visit. First, with respect to the security situation, President Mbeki spoke at length about the events in Abyei, which up until this agreement remained just as it was, with some exchanges around the Kiir River between the parties. Hopefully today’s agreement will bring that to an end, but to date the situation remains very tense indeed. President Mbeki also talked about the security situation in Southern Kordofan, where fighting is ongoing. There is hope, however, since, as was explained, the two parties have agreed that possibly it could come to a stop within a very short time. We are hoping that this cessation of hostilities will be followed by a ceasefire once a political agreement and a security arrangement for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) members in Southern Kordofan, and by implication in Blue Nile State as well, have been reached. In the meantime, also in the South, some sporadic fighting continues in the northern part, particularly in Unity State and Jonglei State in Southern Sudan. Much of that is going to slow down a little bit, because now the rains have come and people’s capacity to move is limited. However, these types of confrontations continue to occur around Abyei, the situation remains tense in Southern Kordofan, with a lot of territory having changed hands. In the northern part of the South itself, armed groups have created a very difficult humanitarian situation. Because there is active fighting, it has not been easy to obtain humanitarian access across active firing lines. However, we have agreed today with Mr. Mutrif Siddiq, State Minister at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs of the Sudan, that we will have access to most of those areas where very, very critical humanitarian situations exist. In some of those areas, some of our own staff are also trapped on either side, and, because they are around the firing zone, we have not been able to access them easily. Much of our supplies, including humanitarian supplies, generally come through Port Sudan; they come to the North and then, from the North, move towards the South; hopefully they will arrive on 9 July. That will not be tremendously hampered, but we are making plans on how that may have to shift to a later date. Up to now, they have agreed in principle. I have been here about a week trying to assist the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to secure this agreement on Abyei and to work towards a ceasefire also, but I will be leaving either tonight or early tomorrow morning. We will try to implement what the officials, particularly in the area of humanitarian access, have agreed to here. Next are preparations for the possible mission in the South, which we talked about when the Security Council mission was here. This is going well. Much of the assets that we envisage might be required for that mission. We are in the process of passing over to the South from the North. The other issue is Abyei. Now that there is an agreement, the two parties have agreed on Ethiopian troops, which are trusted by both sides. The role played by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in assisting the Panel and the parties in the provision of troops is highly appreciated, and hopefully once the Council responds positively to the request by the parties that President Mbeki has just transmitted, upon instruction of the Council we will be ready to assist in the quick deployment of those Ethiopian troops to Abyei, so that the South can withdraw in a very short time and those who have been displaced from Abyei can return home. The rainy season is coming very soon, and the sooner the Council gives instructions, the sooner we will move to get the Ethiopian troops in place, so that this can be done quickly, before the rains fill the rivers and it becomes impossible for any form of transport to travel in that area. There is a possibility of border monitoring. The two parties have discussed this and have accepted in principle the need for a third party in border monitoring. There has a been a suggestion by the AUHIP that, if there is going to be a border-monitoring mission, such a mission be a United Nations mission and that it be integrated. Abyei and the border mission to be established would be integrated under one leadership so that there would not be compartmentalized missions, with, for example, one for Abyei, one for the border and one for the South, so as to avoid multiplicity. In principle there has not been any negation or any opposition to that, although as yet there is no firm agreement on this issue from the parties. We felt, however, that although we will use some of our assets in support of a possible Abyei mission, as described, there is also a possibility that those support units will support a possible border mission that would later be integrated with that of Abyei. We are thus in the process of liquidating all other UNMIS presence in northern Sudan. Because of the tensions that still exist and the need for constant monitoring, we have informed the Government of the Sudan that until the last day, until 9 July, UNMIS will be fully operational and that the process of liquidation, if it is to take place — unless other agreements would change that — would have to start after 9 July and provide adequate time for liquidation. There will also be a need, post-UNMIS, to continue to assist the AU Panel at the political level. There are many other partners who are participating or continuing to assist — the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and individual countries — and it has been proposed that the Secretary-General appoint his Special Envoy to continue to provide his good offices in support of the AUHIP. Let me stop here, and I will be ready to answer any questions Council members may have.

I thank Mr. Menkerios for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

We have just heard the good and positive news from Mr. Thabo Mbeki of a temporary agreement with respect to the administration and security of the Abyei Area. I am pleased on this occasion to welcome the conciliation efforts of Mr. Mbeki and Mr. Haile Menkerios and their joint efforts to achieve these temporary arrangements for the Abyei Area. Moreover, I would like to thank Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for his effective role in achieving this agreement. Our thanks and appreciation extend to those three African brothers, who have shown their tireless commitment. The announcement leads us to believe optimistically that the pending issues will be resolved. As I mentioned earlier, the Government of the Sudan is sincere in its determination to resolve all pending issues. Mr. Mbeki described to the Council the good news in the area of resource-sharing, and he announced that the parties are close to an agreement on this issue. In the context of the economic and oil issues, we have also heard excellent news, namely, that the parties have reached major solutions and that those agreements will be finalized very soon. Moreover, on the security situation, especially in the border area, the parties are very close to a solution that will be announced in the very near future. We wish them every success in that endeavour. We look forward to a resolution of that issue as well as the pending issues related to the Abyei Area. While I will not go into further detail, I would like to underscore a few points. The Government of the Sudan welcomes the work of the United Nations and the Security Council and requests that reactions related to the issues be tempered and slowed down somewhat, so that efforts under way may put an end to all of the pending issues. With respect to Southern Kordofan State, I am speaking on the basis of my personal and direct contacts, and not on the words of Mr. Menkerios. Although the Government has not yet accepted the agreement to permit humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan it is perhaps on the verge of doing just that. In line with Mr. Mbeki’s comments, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, consultations and contacts will take place among the various parties in Southern Kordofan State to achieve a solution of this pending issue. I can reaffirm to the Council that the Government of the Sudan, just as it has achieved an agreement on the Abyei Area, is determined to achieve an agreement on Southern Kordofan State and all other pending issues. Permit me to stop here, with many thanks.

I thank the representative of the Sudan for his statement. I now give the floor to Mr. Gatkuoth. Mr. Gatkuoth: I am so grateful for the opportunity to address the Security Council and to present the views of the Government of Southern Sudan. On behalf of the people and the Government of Southern Sudan, I would like to express our appreciation to the Council for its ongoing efforts in support of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). In 2005, we all embraced the CPA as the framework and road map for the resolution of the conflict in the Sudan. The Government of Southern Sudan remains committed to the full and final implementation of the CPA in all of its aspects. The CPA is a legal agreement binding on the parties, and we must all collectively renew our efforts to implement it in full. We are concerned that recent violations of the CPA by the Government of the Sudan through armed attacks and destabilization efforts in the South, its failure to work in good faith to complete implementation of the existing agreements on Abyei’s final status, the stalling of efforts to define and demarcate the North/South borders, and the failure to conduct the popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile have put at risk the emergence of two States at peace after 9 July 2011. Today, we face a situation where the Sudanese Armed Forces have taken Abyei and have violently driven out its residents. The Sudanese Armed Forces have now turned their attention to Southern Kordofan, which, as a result, is experiencing a disturbing level of violence, a humanitarian crisis and unnecessary suffering. Khartoum has recently conducted aerial bombardment of Agok, where many of Abyei’s displaced have fled, and has also conducted other bombardments inside Southern Sudan, such as in the area of Jau, in Unity State. Despite suggestions to the contrary, it is increasingly clear, given the speed and scale of the operation, that the attack by the Sudan Armed Forces on Abyei was part of a deliberate plan conceived prior to 19 May 2011. While the Government of Southern Sudan regrets the 19 May shooting incident that led to an exchange of fire between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudan Armed Forces in the Abyei Area, the use of force by Khartoum in Abyei has been completely unjustifiable and wholly disproportionate. It is an attempt to circumvent the full and final implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and to secure by force that which it has not secured at the negotiating table or in the binding award of an international tribunal. The humanitarian impact of the violence in Abyei has been catastrophic. Khartoum’s actions have caused enormous harm to innocent civilians, constituting a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Tens of thousands of NgokDinka civilians have been driven from their ancestral homes in Abyei, as the United Nations itself has confirmed. The Sudan Armed Forces, accompanied by armed Misseriya militia, have indiscriminately killed and maimed civilians, torched people’s houses, looted property and possessions — including United Nations humanitarian supplies — and facilitated and encouraged the influx of Misseriya into northern parts of the Area. We call on the United Nations to share its more detailed reporting on these violations with the international community. This attempt to alter Abyei’s demography by force is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately. The National Congress Party cannot be allowed to defy its legal obligations under the Abyei Protocol of the CPA or its obligations under international law. Unless the NgokDinka civilians are able to return to their homeland, it will be difficult to hold the referendum required by the CPA. Despite this disturbing context, I am pleased to report that the parties have just signed an agreement in Addis Ababa aimed at securing the immediate withdrawal of the Sudan Armed Forces from Abyei and the entrance of an Ethiopian brigade to protect civilians. In this context, we are grateful for the ongoing support of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel, under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki, and to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Haile Menkerios, and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for their efforts. The Government of the Sudan has said that its presence in Abyei is not forever. A timetable for the North’s full and unconditional withdrawal from Abyei must now be implemented swiftly. The Government of Southern Sudan welcomes and endorses the offer made to the parties by the Government of Ethiopia regarding the deployment of Ethiopian peacekeepers in Abyei under a United Nations Security Council mandate and operating under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The consent to this deployment by the Government of the Sudan is consistent with its commitments under the CPA. We strongly encourage the Council to endorse a Chapter VII mandate for those forces, and to supply them with the necessary resources to ensure they are deployed within the next two weeks, as outlined in the Agreement. The Agreement we have just signed does not — and indeed, should not — attempt to address or prejudice any outcome on the final status of Abyei. With the recent changes, we are confident that the Agreement will be used only for its intended purpose of restoring peace to Abyei, and not to fuel tensions or to prejudice discussions on the final status of Abyei. In the interest of peace, my Government made a number of other concessions on issues such as transferring the leadership of the Abyei Area Legislative Council to the National Congress Party, and the composition and leadership of the proposed Abyei Joint Oversight Committee. Under the Agreement, the illegal claim over Abyei on the part of the Government of the Sudan will end. The Abyei Area will no longer have a special administrative status under the presidency of the Republic of the Sudan but rather will fall under the supervision of both the President of South Sudan and the President of the Republic of the Sudan. We reiterate that Abyei belongs to both the North and the South, and it will so continue until the people of Abyei decide otherwise. The Government of Southern Sudan remains fully committed to the negotiation process led by the African Union High-level Panel and to reaching in the near future an agreement on the definitive status of Abyei that is consistent with the terms of the CPA and with the PCA Award. There are crucial obligations in the CPA that have not yet been fulfilled and that are still subject to ongoing implementation efforts — for example, the Abyei referendum, the arrangements for the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, and the finalization of the definition and demarcation of the North/South border. With regard to the Two Areas — Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile — my Government denounces the violent attacks of the Sudan Armed Forces on populations in Southern Kordofan that have caused a second humanitarian crisis in which tens of thousands from the area have now joined the NgokDinka in their flight to the South. We welcome the international community’s condemnation of those activities and its assistance with humanitarian support for those displaced. We reject as unrealistic and inconsistent with the terms of the CPA the insistence by the Government of the Sudan that SPLA elements in the areas must disarm or move to the South. It is that uncompromising position — as articulated in the ultimatum presented recently to SPLA elements in these areas to withdraw southwards by 1 June or face action — that has led to the recent violence. Khartoum cannot continue to address political challenges with violence. We contend that any forces deployed in the two areas were deployed in accordance with the CPA, in fulfilment of the requirement to form Joint Integrated Units (JIUs). Under the CPA, these JIUs are to remain in the areas until after the end of the interim period. Therefore, any presence of SPLA forces in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile is consistent with the CPA. The forces in question are from the two areas and must stay where they are. Additionally, over 45,000 SPLA forces from the two areas are currently in the South, and arrangements will need to be made for them to return to the North. The legitimate concerns of the local populations of these areas, including those forces, must be addressed through the processes agreed to in the CPA. The popular consultations include not just a process of assessing the will of the people of these two areas, but also a negotiation with the national Government to resolve outstanding concerns and grievances. The implementation of this outstanding CPA requirement will increase the likelihood of continued peace and stability both along the shared border and within Northern Sudan after 9 July. We are willing to engage with Khartoum in support of those processes. In the meantime, war is raging in Southern Kordofan. We ask the Security Council to insist on the immediate signature of an agreement to end hostilities. Khartoum must also allow access to humanitarian agencies to help those who have been displaced. Without immediate and firm action on the part of the Security Council, the situation in Southern Kordofan risks degenerating into ethnic cleansing and possibly genocide. It is clear that only in the framework of the CPA can peace in the Sudan be guaranteed. It is only through the Security Council’s insistence upon full CPA implementation that threats to international peace and security can be averted. While the interim period of the CPA may end on July 9, the outstanding CPA commitments regarding Abyei, the two areas and the North/South borders live on. Resolution of those outstanding issues is the cornerstone of maintaining peace between the North and the South, and it is critical to ensuring the mutual viability and security of the two nations after 9 July. Furthermore, the parties agreed in the CPA to a United Nations mission to monitor the Agreement’s implementation. The parties agreed “that the presence and size of the United Nations peace support mission shall be determined by the implementation timetable of [the] Agreement ... and shall gradually phase out with successful implementation of the timetables, increased confidence building and commitment of the parties towards the implementation of [the] Agreement.” In accordance with the provisions of the CPA, the Government of the Sudan’s consent to an ongoing United Nations mission cannot be withdrawn until such a time as the obligations contained in the CPA have been implemented in full by the parties, or only by the mutual agreement of the two parties. We reject any suggestion that the CPA has already been fully implemented, and stress therefore that the United Nations presence in the three areas of Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile — as well as in the border areas between the North and the South — must continue, pending the final resolution of the outstanding issues under the CPA. It would also be entirely inconsistent with existing Security Council mandates and the United Nations commitment as a signatory and guarantor of the CPA for the United Nations mission to be withdrawn prior to the full and exhaustive implementation of the Agreement. An overriding concern of my Government is to ensure the ongoing and unwavering support of the United Nations for North-South security arrangements, particularly in the border areas. We reiterate our belief that the main objective of the United Nations should be to support the full implementation of the CPA and to avoid a security vacuum after 9 July. We welcome the Security Council’s support in its recent presidential statement for a continued United Nations-mandated presence in Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile after 9 July (S/PRST/2011/12), as well as its support for United Nations assistance for the parties’ management of their shared border after the independence of Southern Sudan. In this context, we support the option of a demilitarized buffer zone between the North and the South that was discussed recently by the parties in Addis Ababa. We note that the need for continued third-party support for North-South security is separate and additional to the peacekeeping tasks outlined in the Secretary-General’s recent special report on the Sudan (S/2011/314). We reiterate that this current situation must be addressed by the Council in the context of the legal framework agreed by the parties in the CPA. Any premature movement away from the CPA would only encourage the resolution of differences by brute force, which would of course come at an enormous economic, social and, above all, human cost. We therefore urge the Council to call for the full and immediate implementation of the agreement to withdraw all Sudanese Armed Forces troops from Abyei; the immediate return of the displaced populations to Abyei under United Nations protection; the full implementation of all CPA provisions with respect to Abyei; the holding of the popular consultations in both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states; the complete demarcation of the North-South border; an immediate ceasefire in Southern Kordofan; and the granting of humanitarian access for United Nations and international organizations into the area. Our fundamental hope and desire is to see peaceful coexistence between the two neighbouring States of Sudan and South Sudan. We are striving to build a future in which our two countries can work cooperatively, live in peace with one another and strive for the mutual viability of both of our two nations. We look forward to South Sudan being welcomed next month as a member of the international community, and sincerely appreciate the international community’s efforts to help both the Sudan and South Sudan achieve the peace and stability that our citizens desire and deserve.

I thank Mr. Gatkuoth for his statement. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council.

We welcome the news that the parties have just signed an agreement on temporary administrative and security arrangements for Abyei and on the withdrawal of Sudanese Armed Forces. We are encouraged by this news. We greatly appreciate the intensive efforts of former President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel over the past two weeks to assist the parties in their negotiations. Now comes the crucial task of full and timely implementation. The Security Council will closely monitor adherence with its statements and the progress towards rapidly ensuring that the terms of the Addis Ababa agreement are swiftly fulfilled. We want to underscore the urgency of Ethiopian troops deploying immediately to Abyei, as the agreed interim security force, under United Nations auspices, and on the timeline agreed to by the parties. We also thank Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for his extraordinary efforts and commitment to resolve the crisis in Abyei and for his agreement to provide Ethiopian troops. I also want to extend our gratitude to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Menkerios for his continued and intensive efforts throughout this process. The United States will soon circulate a draft resolution for the Council’s consideration to authorize the creation of this proposed interim security force for Abyei. Unfortunately, the situation in Abyei is by no means the only crisis facing the people of the Sudan. We are less than three weeks away from the independence of South Sudan, and the situation in the Sudan poses an urgent threat to the safety and security of the Sudanese people, as well as a threat to international peace and security, that continues to merit the Council’s sustained attention and resolve. On 5 June violence broke out in multiple areas of Southern Kordofan, including its capital Kadugli. The reports my Government has been receiving of the ongoing fighting are horrifying, both because of the scope of human rights abuses and because of the ethnic dimensions to the conflict. The Sudanese Armed Forces have shelled and bombed the areas around Kadugli, ongoing and intense aerial bombardments threaten the lives of civilians and United Nations personnel and a bomb fell just 100 metres from the compound of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) in Kauda. The Sudanese Armed Forces have threatened to shoot down UNMIS air patrols and they have taken control of the airport in Kadugli and refuse landing rights to UNMIS flights — which has continued for so long the United Nations staff located in the compound and United Nations team sites are running dangerously low on food and supplies. The lack of access for UNMIS is alarming and indefensible. UNMIS and humanitarian aid workers must be granted full access, most especially when so many are in need of food, water and humanitarian aid. According to the United Nations, more than 360,000 people have been displaced in the Sudan over the past six months. More than half were displaced in the past month. As many as 75,000 people have fled the fighting in Southern Kordofan. International non-governmental organizations operating there are evacuating their staff and a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions is unfolding. Up to 10,000 people have sought refuge at the UNMIS compound in Kadugli. The United States calls on both parties to facilitate access for UNMIS and humanitarian aid workers. We are also concerned that the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army has deployed north of the 1 January 1956 border into Southern Kordofan, in violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). We have also received reports that forces aligned with the Government of the Sudan search for Southern forces and sympathizers, some of whom they have arrested and allegedly executed. We have received further allegations — not yet corroborated, but so alarming that I must mention them — that the Sudanese Armed Forces are arming elements of the local population and placing mines in areas of Kadugli. The United States condemns all acts of violence, especially those that target individuals based on their ethnicity or political affiliation. Security services and military forces have reportedly detained and summarily executed local authorities, political rivals, medical personnel and others. These acts could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. We demand that the perpetrators immediately halt these actions and be held accountable for their crimes. We call on the United Nations to fully investigate these incidents, and request a report from the Secretary-General to the Council by the end of June that details any human rights abuses that were committed during recent hostilities in Abyei and Southern Kordofan. We are deeply concerned by reports that members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army have threatened the safety of persons of Arab origin in Southern Kordofan, including United Nations staff. We insist that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army’s leadership condemn such actions and refrain from any reprisals. The Government of the Sudan can prevent the crisis from escalating further by immediately stopping its military efforts to disarm the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Southern Kordofan and by focusing on diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict. The Sudanese Government should also cease trying to dissolve the joint integrated units in Southern Kordofan, which were established under the CPA. Security arrangements for Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states should be agreed upon through direct high- level negotiations, and not dictated through the use of force. We call for the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North to agree immediately on a cessation of hostilities and to immediately end restrictions on humanitarian access and United Nations movements. It is essential that violence against civilians and humanitarian abuses stop, and stop now. The United States calls on both parties to end the conflict and to resolve the underlying issues in Southern Kordofan and in Blue Nile, as they are now beginning to do in Abyei. Finally, we want to underscore the imperative for timely and candid assessments by the Council about the evolving situation, for which we crucially depend on the Secretariat. That is essential in order for us to be able to determine and to take the necessary actions to ensure that the United Nations can carry out its mission. Contingents unwilling to carry out their mandate to protect civilians should not be part of that crucial mission. Contingents under attack also need our back-up and support. With the failure of their Government to live up to its responsibilities, the Sudanese people have turned to the international community for protection. We have an obligation to provide it. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to thank President Mbeki and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Menkerios for their briefings and for the tireless work of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on the Sudan, the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in support of peace in the Sudan. We welcome the news that they have given us this morning that the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) have signed an agreement on interim security and administration arrangements for Abyei. That is an important step forward. I note also the statements that Ambassador Osman and Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth have made to the Council, reiterating the commitment of their Governments to a peaceful resolution in Abyei and Southern Kordofan and of outstanding CPA issues. The Council will hold them to those commitments, which must be delivered and implemented without further delay. The signing of an interim agreement on Abyei is a necessary, but insufficient, step on the road to the full implementation of the CPA and to peace for all the Sudan because today, the Council meets amid violence and the threat of further conflict. In Southern Kordofan, escalating violence has led to the displacement of at least 60,000 civilians, including 30,000 to 40,000 from Kadugli town. Civilians elsewhere in Southern Kordofan state have suffered the effects of aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces. We unreservedly condemn that, as we do summary executions and other abuses reportedly committed by both sides. The United Kingdom calls on all parties immediately to cease fire, and for all crimes against civilians to be fully investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. We urge UNMIS to do all it can to implement its Chapter VII mandate to protect civilians, and remind the Government of the Sudan of its primary responsibility in that respect. The humanitarian situation in Southern Kordofan is deeply concerning. The United Kingdom calls urgently on all parties to provide full and unimpeded access for UNMIS and for humanitarian workers. It is unacceptable that humanitarian access is being restricted by the closure of airspace, in particular, of Kadugli airport to the United Nations, roadblocks, the laying of landmines and the imposition of restrictions on other movement. Full humanitarian access must be provided now and steps must be taken to ensure that that is maintained after 9 July. We welcome the fact that negotiations continue in Addis Ababa. All parties must commit to reaching agreement without delay on new security arrangements for Southern Kordofan state that will ensure the safety of the civilian population and that will enable them to express their views on the future governance through a credible and popular consultation process, as provided for in the CPA. New security arrangements for Blue Nile state must also be put in place. We call on all parties there to maintain calm. In Abyei, we have seen little change on the ground. The Sudanese Armed Forces remain in control of the Abyei Area, in violation of the CPA. They must now withdraw, as demanded by the Council and stipulated in the Abyei agreement signed today. For now, the situation remains tense. Further clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have been reported, and Agok town has been shelled. The number of civilians displaced has now reached more than 100,000. The rains are setting in and humanitarian access is still not permitted. Given the gravity of the situation, it is clear that the parties must implement their commitments under the Abyei agreement without delay. It was signed today following negotiations in Addis Ababa, under the auspices of President Mbeki, and included a commitment to withdraw all Sudanese Armed Forces, SPLA and other forces. The parties must also ensure that a ceasefire in Southern Kordofan is established and that new security arrangements for the two areas are set up. We welcome President Mbeki’s confirmation that negotiations on that continue in Addis Ababa. The parties must also engage seriously and without further delay on the future status of Abyei in line with the provisions of the CPA and the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. That needs to be completed before 9 July, when South Sudan gains its independence. We have repeatedly stated our belief that the security of both the Sudan and South Sudan would be greatly strengthened by a single United Nations presence in Abyei and in the two areas after 9 July, which could also support the parties in their management of the common border. The events of the past few weeks show that such a presence will also be necessary to maintain international peace and security. Reports of 6,000 internally displaced persons gathering around the UNMIS headquarters in Kadugli for protection underline the risks that the civilian population faces if there is no continued United Nations presence after 9 July. We are ready and willing to enter a dialogue with both parties on that subject. We believe that there are clear benefits to the parties of a continued international presence to allow monitoring and verification of the agreements that they reach. Today, 20 June, we are three weeks away from the independence of South Sudan. Amid the noise of conflict, we call on both CPA parties to reflect on the future that they want to deliver for their people. The statesmanship that delivered a peaceful referendum on 9 January is urgently needed now. Both parties must renounce violence and negotiate in earnest in order to provide a secure and prosperous future for their States.

I also would like to thank President Mbeki and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Menkerios for their comprehensive briefings. I am also grateful for the statements made by the representatives of the Sudan and South Sudan, in which they reiterated their commitment to a peaceful solution of all outstanding issues related to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Today, we received encouraging news. We welcome the agreement on temporary arrangements regarding Abyei achieved in Addis Ababa. We thank the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, President Thabo Mkbeki, the African Union Panel and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haile Menkerios for their unremitting efforts to help the parties agree on the issue of Abyei and on solutions to the remaining CPA issues. Germany will continue to support those efforts. The agreement on Abyei opens the way to addressing the pressing humanitarian issues. Now the focus is on implementation, which is the real litmus test. Of course, we will have to come back to the content and implications of the agreement just concluded in this Council, especially regarding the interim security force. The other urgent matter is the situation in South Kordofan. The military escalation there is deeply troubling. We have just heard the latest reports of aerial attacks, tens of thousands of displaced persons, burned homes, looted United Nations facilities and lack of access for humanitarian aid. We strongly condemn the continuous fighting by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, especially aerial bombardments and artillery shelling, and all attacks on the civilian population. The obstruction and intimidation of United Nations personnel are unacceptable and must stop. In the same vein, humanitarian access has to be granted. We strongly urge the parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and refrain from further violence. Further military action will have severe consequences for the whole political and social environment in the Sudan. We condemn the detention and abuse last Friday by the Sudanese Armed Forces in Kadugli of four unarmed peacekeepers who were on patrol to assess the situation in town. This is not acceptable. We encourage the United Nations Mission in Sudan in its efforts to protect civilians affected by the hostilities, which requires a credible force posture. We reiterate our strong support for the Mission under the leadership of Special Representative Menkerios. Remaining CPA issues must be resolved in a peaceful and negotiated manner and in the spirit of the Agreement. That includes not only a long-term definite agreement on the status of the Abyei region, but also an agreement on Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. That is also the message that the German Foreign Minister will convey to both parties during his visit to the Sudan envisaged to begin on 22 June, which will bring him to Khartoum, Juba and Darfur. The Security Council has a unique responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in the Sudan. We must continue to support those interested in peace and good neighborly relations. We must stand united against spoilers of peace. We cannot accept that a return to violence may become an option and that the parties might use proxies in order to destabilize each other. We must continue to follow the situation closely and consider the situation whenever developments on the ground so require.

We wish to thank His Excellency Mr. Thabo Mbeki, Chair of the African Union (AU) High-level Implementation Panel for Sudan, for his comprehensive briefing to the Council. We would also like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haile Menkerios for his briefing. We welcome the presence at this meeting of Ambassador Osman of the Sudan and His Excellency Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth of Southern Sudan, and we thank them for their statements. South Africa welcomed the news of the signing of the agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA) today in Addis Ababa. We congratulate the parties and commend them for their sustained and determined efforts to resolve the conflict in Abyei. We also take this opportunity to congratulate the Chair of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel, President Mbeki, and Special Representative Menkerios for their sterling and outstanding work done to facilitate the temporary agreement. The deteriorating security situation in Abyei threatened the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and potentially could have reversed the positive political gains registered thus far in the implementation of the CPA. The signing of the CPA ended decades of conflict and ushered in a new era of hope for the people of the Sudan. This hope was strengthened by the holding of a successful referendum and by the positive statements made by the leadership in both the North and the South, following the announcement of the referendum results. Today, that hope has been renewed once again, as the parties to the CPA, with the facilitation of the AU High-level Implementation Panel and the involvement of Mr. Menkerios, came to interim agreements to resolve the conflict in Abyei. We welcome the agreement reached by the parties on the temporary administrative arrangements for the Abyei area, the withdrawal of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army from the Abyei area and the deployment of an interim security force for Abyei composed of Ethiopian troops. My delegation welcomes and commends the Government of Ethiopia for generously agreeing to contribute troops for the implementation of this security arrangement. We note that this agreement does not substitute for or prejudice future outcomes on negotiations on the final status of Abyei, and we encourage parties to continue the negotiations with the same resolve and determination as they have shown until now. It is my delegation’s view that the Council’s positive response to the request contained in the interim agreement will be crucial. For our part, South Africa will do everything it can to assist in and ensure the full implementation of the temporary agreement. Regrettably, in the view of my delegation, the current developments in Southern Kordofan increase tensions between the parties, threaten to derail the post-referendum negotiations and introduce a dire period of uncertainty as the South prepares for independence. My delegation is gravely concerned about the security situation in Southern Kordofan, which, in its view, increases the tension. My delegation is gravely concerned about the situation and the clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army that took place on 6 June. We are equally concerned about the decision to terminate all Joint Integrated Units in the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States and the instruction to deploy all SPLA forces in the two States south of the border. Reports of aerial bombardments leading to the displacement of the civilian population in areas such as Heiban are also a major concern for my delegation. The impact of this insecurity in Southern Kordofan has led to a humanitarian crisis in the region that has resulted in the loss of life, the displacement of thousands of people and the withdrawal of non-essential staff from Kadugli. The continued reports of shooting and looting in Kadugli are of concern. We welcome the reinforcement of the United Nations Mission in the area. The escalation of violence and hostilities is detrimental, not only to the people of the area, who are negatively impacted by the violence, but to the establishment of two future viable States living in peace and security. We are less than a month away from the declaration of Southern Sudan as an independent State on 9 July 2011, which in itself is indicative of the strides that both parties have made to ensure that the CPA is implemented. It is through the collective efforts of the parties to the CPA that we are on the brink of achieving this important milestone. We therefore wish to encourage and urge the parties to demonstrate the same resolve and political will to address the current security challenges facing the people of the Sudan. My delegation appreciates the ongoing discussions with the leaders of Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan on the recent political and security challenges in those areas. In this regard, we reiterate the call by the Assembly of the African Union made during its extraordinary session in which it urged the parties to the CPA to spare no effort to overcome the current difficulties and to conclude their negotiations on the outstanding aspects of the CPA, including the issue of Abyei and the post-referendum arrangements, under the auspices of AU High-level Implementation Panel on Sudan. Finally, my delegation would like to express its unwavering support to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Menkerios and the Chair of the AU High-Level Panel in facilitating ongoing negotiations between the CPA parties. South Africa stands ready to support the two parties in constructing two viable, independent States in the Sudan and in building a mutually beneficial relationship between them based on peace and development. In this regard, we call on the international community to continue its support to the parties as they address the critical challenges confronting them.

I thank former President Thabo Mbeki and Special Representative Haile Menkerios for their comprehensive briefings and the significant work they have been undertaking. I would like to congratulate them and the Governments of the Sudan and South Sudan on the agreement that has just been reached on Abyei. We hope it will allow for a quick and full cessation of violence in the Area, for the re-establishment of full humanitarian assistance and for the return of the displaced population. We are encouraged by these positive developments, but they are only a first step, albeit a decisive one, towards solving the Abyei issue. I would also like to thank Ambassador Osman and Mr. Gatkuoth for their statements. As all members of the Council, Portugal has been deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in several areas of the Sudan. We have expressed grave concern about the ongoing violence, namely, the fighting taking place in Southern Kordofan, which is causing an alarming and increasing number of displaced persons. We fully support and encourage the efforts of former President Mbeki and Special Representative Menkerios to find a quick solution to the situation and an immediate end to the hostilities. We strongly urge the parties to prevent any further escalation of violence that could lead to new losses of civilian lives, stop the looting, grant unconditional humanitarian access to all and abide by their undertakings and agreements. We encourage them to build upon the positive indications we received today in order to get the overall process on track and fulfil the objectives of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Indeed, the most recent events have threatened to erode the common ground that enabled the successful and peaceful referendum. As we have repeatedly stated, it is our belief that it is in neither side’s interests to jeopardize all that has so far been accomplished. We strongly condemn all unilateral actions meant to create facts on the ground that would prejudice the outcome of the negotiations. We are of the view that the interdependencies between the North and the South are too deep and that the failure or success of one of them will determine the failure or success of the other. For that reason, we recall the commitments made by both sides and urge the parties to work decisively in resolving their disputes. Dialogue and political commitment at the highest level is what is needed. We thus welcome the resumption of talks between President Al-Bashir and Vice-President Salva Kiir. The negotiations are complex and have to be led in the spirit of continued compromise and cooperation. This is the only path to ensure the viability of the two States. In this difficult context, the success of the mediation work of the African Union’s High-Level Implementation Panel and its Chair, former President Thabo Mbeki, appears to us more decisive than ever, as I have already stated. We call upon the parties to continue working with the Panel in order to urgently find a durable and peaceful resolution to the status of Abyei and to continue dialogue on all the other outstanding issues. Portugal welcomes the commitment by the Sudanese parties to establish a common border zone between North and South Sudan, which is to be demilitarized and jointly monitored and patrolled. We now call upon the parties to agree on where the zone should be and to positively consider a third-party presence along the border. Again, we share the view that North and South would benefit from United Nations assistance in this context. As I have already said, we strongly condemn the recent fighting in Kadugli and Umm Dorain, and call upon both sides to exercise maximum restraint in resolving their disputes in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. In this regard, Portugal sees the negotiations between representatives of the Government of the Sudan and leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement from the two states as a positive step. We call upon the parties to rapidly establish security arrangements for the two areas. Allow me also to say a word on the appalling humanitarian situation as a result of the violence. We are deeply concerned by the impact of escalating violence on the civilian population, including women, children and internally displaced persons. We recall that all parties to the conflict must respect and protect civilians and ensure adequate security for humanitarian workers. The parties must remove any restrictions that would slow down the response, and ensure full and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance and for the United Nations Mission in the Sudan throughout the mission area. We would also like to echo Assistant Secretary- General Catherine Bragg’s appeal to the parties to allow the establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Kadugli and El Obeid. I could not conclude without expressing Portugal’s strong support for the United Nations Mission in the Sudan and commending it for its work in the most difficult conditions.

At the outset, we would like to congratulate former President Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios for their important success in today’s signing of the agreement aimed at settling the conflict in the Abyei Area. We welcome the desire for compromise shown on this matter by both Khartoum and Juba. We would like to hope that the signing of the agreement will create positive political momentum that makes it possible to address other issues as well in the context of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and of the forthcoming independence of Southern Sudan. In the current situation, we call on both parties to refrain from violence and to do their utmost to address the humanitarian situation. The Russian Federation continues to support the activities of the United Nations presence in the Sudan, in terms of the work of both Mr. Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios.

I would first like to express particular thanks to former President Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios, who are here with us today at this meeting. I would also like to thank the Ambassador of the Sudan and Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth for their presentations and for updating us on the situation in the Sudan. We welcome the signing of an agreement on temporary arrangements for the administration of Abyei. We hope that it will take effect immediately and that it will serve to reverse the very serious deterioration of the security situation. In recent weeks and even days, unacceptable acts of violence have occurred, compromising the peaceful transition to the birth of South Sudan. We strongly condemn the violent loss of life, the displacement that has taken place and all the violations of the human rights of the population. What has taken place in Southern Kordofan and in the Abyei Area is unacceptable. The current crisis clearly shows that there are still serious differences that the parties must overcome. This is essential if we are to return to the spirit of compromise and political will displayed on past occasions. We hope that the agreement that has just been signed will be a very positive sign in that direction. The Peace Agreement itself and its subsequent implementation, the holding of general elections and the referendum held at the beginning of 2011, through which Southern Sudan’s independence was opted for, are proof that, on any issue, regardless of difficulty or seriousness, a negotiated and satisfactory solution can be found by the parties. In this context, we would highlight the enormous efforts made by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel charged with implementing the recommendations for the Sudan in order to bring the parties together and resume negotiations. The leadership of former President Thabo Mbeki and other members of the Panel and the role played by the Government of Ethiopia should be underscored. We trust that the agreements arrived at thus far will serve as an element for trust between the parties and a step towards arriving at definitive and sustainable agreements. In this respect, it is crucial that the parties refrain from acts of violence or provocation and incendiary speech, and renew their commitment to negotiations on all outstanding issues. Of equal importance is the need to respect the United Nations Mission in the Sudan and other agencies of the system, allowing them to carry out their various mandates in an environment free of security threats. The commitments set out under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and other security agreements must be fully respected, with priority given to the withdrawal of all armed forces from Abyei and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure security and allow for the return of displaced persons. Of equal importance is the need to end the violence in Southern Kordofan State so as to allow for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the population and to establish the conditions needed to hold the public consultations planned for the region, which must be an inclusive process reflecting the concerns and aspirations of the population with effective implementation mechanisms. We are only a few weeks away from the end of the transitional period and the establishment of Southern Sudan as an independent State. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that several crucial matters under the CPA remain unresolved, such as the final status of the Abyei area, the satisfactory conclusion of the popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, and border demarcation. Likewise, a wide range of post-CPA issues also remain to be resolved, and, to a great extent, the future of good neighbourliness and bilateral cooperation between the two parties will depend on these. Against that backdrop, the international community must remain united in providing all possible support and assistance to the parties in their quest to arrive at solutions and commitments aimed at resolving all of these issues and establishing harmonious and mutually beneficial relations between two independent States living in peace and working together to face common challenges. To this end, the United Nations and the African Union have a very important role to play in ensuring the security and prosperity of all of the population.

I thank President Mbeki and Special Representative Menkerios for their briefings. As the representatives of the Sudan and Southern Sudan said, the agreement reached in Addis Ababa on Abyei is a major step forward towards bringing to an end the crisis that has prevailed in the region since Abyei was occupied by the Sudanese Armed Forces on 21 May. This is good news. I welcome the commitment of Ethiopia, and in particular of Prime Minister Zenawi, which offers a solution to the crisis by allowing for the deployment of Ethiopian soldiers. It is now up to the parties, in coordination with the Security Council, to see that the agreement just reached is implemented. I welcome the fact that the United States has announced its intention to submit a draft resolution allowing for the deployment of Ethiopian soldiers. As we speak, the Abyei area remains occupied. Armed militias continue to pillage the meagre resources of the local people, who have fled the fighting. The personnel of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) are subject to acts of intimidation, be it from repeated fire from heavy artillery close to UNMIS positions or other obstacles to their freedom of movement. The reports we are receiving from Southern Kordofan paint a picture of a situation of war. The fighting that has been ongoing since 5 June between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the Kadugli area has led to the displacement of more than 60,000 civilians. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating, and humanitarian personnel have no access to the population owing to the restrictions that have been imposed. France calls urgently on the parties to negotiate a ceasefire, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and return to dialogue to ensure the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and allow for the fair representation of all the minorities of Southern Kordofan. It is also crucial that the United Nations Mission currently in place in the region carry out its mandate to protect civilians, under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Thousands of civilians are currently seeking refuge with the United Nations, especially in Kadugli. It is our duty to use the necessary means to protect them. If we can draw a lesson from the violence in Abyei and Southern Kordofan, it is that the peace achieved under the CPA is both precious and fragile. UNMIS has supported the parties in maintaining peace in Sudan since 2005. Today, it seems clear that the presence of the United Nations remains justified as long as all of the aspects of the peace agreement have not been implemented and the tensions in the border areas have not been resolved. We therefore call on the parties in the Sudan to recognize the value of the United Nations presence and to engage in dialogue on possible mechanisms for the period beyond 9 July to ensure support for peacekeeping and thus to foster peace and prosperity in the region. The special report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/314) on this issue is, in our view, a reference document which can contribute to efforts to avoid a return to violence, which would have tragic consequences for both parties.

I thank President Mbeki, Chair of the African Union High- level Implementation Panel, and Mr. Haile Menkerios, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for their informative briefings. We welcome the participation of the representatives of the Sudan and Southern Sudan, and appreciate their input to today’s meeting. We welcome the agreement between the parties on temporary arrangements for the administration and security of the Abyei area. We believe that this is an encouraging development and that it sends a positive signal with regard to ongoing activities and negotiations on outstanding issues. Bosnia and Herzegovina supports continued negotiation between the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) under the auspices of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel and urges them to engage constructively in negotiations so as to reach agreement on the outstanding issues. Every single one of those issues, if not resolved, has the potential not only to affect relations between the two States but also to undermine peace and stability. While once again welcoming today’s information, Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply concerned about the situation in Abyei. It is critical that all military elements be withdrawn from this area as an important element for bringing about peace. The future status of Abyei must be resolved by negotiations between the parties, in accordance with the CPA. We condemn all unilateral actions undertaken with a view to creating facts on the ground that would prejudice the outcome of negotiations. We are also concerned about the situation in Southern Kordofan State and continuing tensions in Blue Nile. It is essential for the parties to continue negotiations in order to agree on political and security arrangements for Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States. Meanwhile, both parties must work closely together to reduce tensions and promote calm in those regions. It is vital that humanitarian access be provided in order to assist the populations affected and that conditions conducive to the safe return of displaced persons be established. Bearing in mind the security situation and the issue of the future management of the border between the North and the South, it is vital to establish a mechanism that provides effective tools for preventing or mitigating conflicts on either side of the border after 9 July. We deem it important for the United Nations to maintain its presence in Abyei and Southern Kordofan and to continue providing assistance to the parties in border management after 9 July. In that regard, we call on the parties to reach an agreement that includes a continuing United Nations presence as a central element for stability and future relations between the parties. We fully support the efforts of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and of Special Representative Menkerios to ease tensions on the ground and provide a secure environment for the civilian population. We strongly condemn all attacks on UNMIS and call on the parties to respect the Mission’s mandate and freedom of movement. It is essential that UNMIS continue to be able to carry out its mandate to protect civilians under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Finally, the nature of future relations between the two countries will depend directly on the resolution of the outstanding CPA issues. In that regard, we call on the parties to the CPA to continue negotiations to reach an agreement on the status of Abyei, as well as other remaining CPA and post-CPA issues, and to lay a foundation for friendly and dynamic relations between the two States that will emerge after 9 July.

At the outset, I would like to thank President Mbeki and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Menkerios, for their briefings on the situation in Abyei and other areas of the Sudan. I would also like to thank the Permanent Representative of the Sudan and the representative of the Government of Southern Sudan for their statements. Over the past month, we have witnessed a serious deterioration in the security and humanitarian situations in Abyei, Southern Kordofan and adjoining areas. More than 100,000 people are reported to have been displaced. Peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) have been obstructed in the implementation of their mandate, and access by the United Nations humanitarian agencies has also been restricted. These developments underline not only the fragile security situation but also the lack of trust between the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). As the post-referendum transition period nears its end, the ongoing conflict could have disastrous consequences for the people of the region as the parties divert scarce resources from the urgently needed tasks of nation-building. It is therefore necessary to expeditiously resolve the stalemate. We commend the efforts of the African Union’s High-level Implementation Panel, led by President Mbeki and the representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Menkerios, to facilitate dialogue between the parties and offer a package of agreements on outstanding CPA issues, including security arrangements for Abyei and borders, the sharing of oil wealth, and so on. The negotiations that began last week have led to the signing of an agreement on Abyei. We support the continuing efforts of President Mbeki and Special Representative Menkerios to mediate between the parties in order to resolve other issues, and we urge the parties to show a spirit of compromise, flexibility and political will in order to reach a comprehensive agreement. We also appreciate the role played by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi, for the security arrangements that have been worked out for Abyei. A number of pending problems between Northern and Southern Sudan have long and complicated historical backgrounds. Their resolution will require patience and an approach that takes into consideration the long-term interests of all the peoples of the region. Any attempt to impose artificial deadlines and preconceived ideas will not be helpful to enhancing mutual trust between the parties, nor for the long-term resolution of the pending issues. We urge all the parties concerned with an interest in the issues between the North and the South to encourage the parties to abjure violence and rededicate themselves to the same spirit in which they have implemented the CPA over the past six years. Unilateral actions, particularly military operations, will not be in the interests of either party. The parties should act with the utmost restraint, refrain from provocative actions and ensure freedom of movement and access to UNMIS. They should work towards long- term cooperative relationships that will benefit both the North and the South, and help them undertake urgently needed development activities. The international community, including the Security Council, should stand ready to support the parties in implementing the agreements that they may reach. We hope that the agreement on Abyei’s security will be expeditiously endorsed by a resolution of the Council. To that end, we stand ready to work with the other members of the Council.

I would like to thank President Mbeki and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Menkerios, for their briefings. We also listened attentively to the statements made by Ambassador Osman and Mr. Gatkuoth. I wish to emphasize several points. First, we welcome the agreement signed between the North and the South on interim administrative and security arrangements in Abyei, which demonstrates goodwill on the part of both North and South with respect to maintaining peace and stability in the region of the Sudan. We greatly appreciate the efforts and the role of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel, led by President Mbeki, and of Mr. Menkerios and the Government of Ethiopia. We hope that both parties, with the assistance of the African Union and the United Nations, can ensure practical implementation of the agreements. For its part, the Security Council should provide the necessary assistance and support, particularly for ensuring the early deployment of the Ethiopian peacekeeping forces. Secondly, the Security Council should encourage both North and South to insist on taking the path of peace and on maintaining calm and restraint so as to put an immediate end to hostilities in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and other areas; to refrain from any actions and words that could lead to an escalation of the situation; and to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). We hope that both North and South will capitalize on the existing positive momentum and reach a comprehensive solution to the problems in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Thirdly, we welcome the recent meeting in Addis Ababa between President Al-Bashir and First Vice- President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Direct meetings between leaders are extremely important to ensuring the avoidance of misunderstandings, increasing mutual confidence and maintaining peace and stability between the North and the South. The Security Council should encourage the institutionalization of such meetings, which should be held as soon as problems arise. Fourthly, we support the efforts of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel, led by President Mbeki, as well as the efforts of Special Representative Menkerios, to promote mutual accommodation between North and South aimed at achieving compliance with the CPA, and to arrive at a comprehensive solution to such problems as that of Abyei and other outstanding CPA-related issues, as well as on post-referendum arrangements.

At the outset, I would like to join my colleagues in welcoming President Mbeki and thanking him for his valuable briefing and his mediation efforts in the Sudan. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Menkerios, for his important briefing and wise leadership of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). I thank, too, the Permanent Representative of the Sudan and the representative of the Government of Southern Sudan for their statements. We have repeatedly stressed in the Council the importance of reducing tensions in the Abyei area and reaching an agreement about it, because it is a priority issue that is considered crucial to avoiding a relapse into war. We have also stressed the need to complete negotiations on the remaining outstanding issues and post-referendum matters. In that regard, we welcome the temporary agreement on Abyei, reached as a result of negotiations held in Addis Ababa, and we would like to acknowledge the role played by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi, as well as the roles of President Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios, who helped the parties reach agreement. We also welcome the Ethiopian forces’ readiness to deploy rapidly into Abyei in order to implement the agreement. We also wish to welcome the parallel progress that has been taking place to deal with the tense situation in South Kordofan. We commend the ongoing efforts of President Mbeki to help reach a solution to the outstanding issues and post-referendum matters. Here, we welcome the progress that has been made in dealing with economic and financial issues. We call on UNMIS to continue consulting with the relevant parties on the Secretary-General’s suggestion for a three-month extension of UNMIS, as stated in the last report, in order to arrive at an agreement on post-referendum matters and the remaining part of the CPA, which are the foundations of stability in the Sudan and in South Sudan, as well as of the region in its entirety. In closing, and from a different angle, we would also like to call on all parties in Darfur to sign the document issued by the expanded conference in Doha and to work on implementing it expeditiously, in a manner that will lead to a permanent ceasefire and a final settlement of the Darfur crisis.

Nigeria is immensely grateful to President Thabo Mbeki for his tireless commitments to find a durable solution to the crisis in Darfur and in the Sudan in general. We are also grateful for the leadership Mr. Menkerios has provided to the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) under very difficult circumstances. We welcome the participation of the representative of the Government of the Sudan and of the representative of Southern Sudan, and we thank them for their contribution. Nothing casts a darker shadow on the hopes for peaceful relations between North and South Sudan in the era following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) than the spectre of renewed conflict. We are therefore deeply concerned about the unauthorized military activities in Abeyi and the fighting along the disputed border between the North and South since 5 June 2011. There are reports of the Sudanese Army amassing heavy weaponry in Southern Kordofan amid intermittent fighting and heavy artillery shelling. We feel that the outbreak of fresh hostilities is palpable. The situation is quite clearly at a tipping point. Neither the Sudan nor the international community can afford a renewed conflict, which would undo much of the progress achieved since the signing of the CPA in 2005. The obligation at this crucial junction is to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further. In that context we welcome the high-level meeting between President Al-Bashir and Vice- President Salva Kiir in Addis Ababa and the agreements on temporary arrangements for the administration and security of the Abyei Area that were reached today. We commend both leaders for their courage and commitment to dialogue and negotiation. We also commend the African Union High-Level Panel under the leadership of President Mbeki for facilitating the agreement. As we welcome the good news of a major breakthrough by the parties, the real significance of the temporary agreement lies in its effective implementation. Both parties must now pursue all efforts to implement a decision to demilitarize the Abyei Area, withdraw all military troops from the zone and deploy in the territory an interim security force composed of Ethiopian troops. Indeed, the agreement should serve as an impetus for intensified strategic- level discussions of the political and security arrangements between the North and the South. In that regard, we welcome the agreement by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia to contribute peacekeepers to facilitate the implementation of the agreement between the parties. Nigeria reiterates its firm support for the Security Council’s presidential statement of 3 June (S/PRST/2011/12) and calls on both parties to firmly embrace the ongoing high-level negotiations under the auspices of the African Union Panel. If continued in good faith, those discussions could result in agreements on the outstanding CPA and post- referendum issues before 9 July. We urge the NCP and SPLM to full implement, and without delay, all the provisions of the Kadugli agreements. Our commitment to achieving a peaceful, equitable and mutually beneficial relationship between North and South Sudan requires that we remain engaged with the parties to the CPA. We must not only assist them to devise a framework for continued dialogue beyond July; we must also play an important role in their geo-political transformation into two viable States. The impact of the deteriorating security situation on the civilian population is all too evident. Abyei, the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan have all seen mass displacements caused by genuine emergencies. That situation makes an urgent case for enhanced international humanitarian aid. We commend the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and other humanitarian agencies for their relief support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. The parties should respect humanitarian principles and allow all humanitarian personnel timely and unfettered access to vulnerable communities, including those who have taken refuge outside the UNMIS compound in Kaldugi. Conditions should be created to allow the prompt and safe return of IDPs to their homes. All parties must also refrain from attacks on peacekeepers and respect the mandate of UNMIS. In addition, as we await the emergence of South Sudan on 9 July, there should be no unilateral action by the parties. Actions must be realistic and consistent with the spirit of the CPA and the package agreement reached. They must build on the achievements reached to date between the parties and continue to work closely with UNMIS and the African Union High- Level Panel under the leadership of President Mbeki.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Haile Menkerios, for his update of the situation on the ground in the Sudan and commend him for the latest developments. I also join previous speakers in extending a warm welcome to President Thabo Mbeki for participating in our deliberations today and in commending him for his efforts to promote the achievement of peace in the Sudan. Brazil welcomes the temporary agreement reached on Abyei and thanks the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for making available security resources for the implementation of the arrangement. I am also, therefore, very grateful to have had Ambassador Osman and Mr. Gatkuoth here with us this morning to discuss important developments. I thank them for their statements. The clashes in Southern Kordofan are to be deplored. We are concerned as well over reports of insufficient assistant to southern returnees and of continuing mistreatment of the civilian population by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Attacks and threats against United Nations peacekeepers, observers and civilian personnel are unacceptable. We condemn those acts and express concern about the safety of the personnel of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). Brazil urges the parties to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for securing peace in the Sudan. They cannot allow all the efforts put into making peace unravel in the final mile. It is imperative that leaders exert utmost restraint and redouble their efforts to reach a peaceful agreement on all outstanding issues. We warmly welcome the efforts of the African Union, under the leadership of President Mbeki, in favour of de-escalation. We commend the measures taken by UNMIS to support the negotiations and to strengthen its capacity to protect civilians in Abyei and Kadugli. There is only one way that both Northern and Southern Sudan can nurture a new reality of two stable and viable States living together side by side, in peace and cooperation. It is by dealing peacefully and transparently with both their bilateral and their respective internal issues. Both Northern and Southern Sudan enjoy great ethnic and cultural diversity, which needs to become an asset in a pluralistic and democratic political environment. Many Sudanese peoples have been able to coexist and cooperate peacefully for centuries. There is no reason for them not to be able to do so once again in the near future.

I shall now make a brief statement in my national capacity. Months after the declaration of independence of Southern Sudan, which will mark the end of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), an escalation of violence in Abyei and Southern Kordofan has been a matter of grave concern. The violence has led to the death of a number of civilians and massive displacements of people. The conclusion of the temporary agreement on Abyei and the briefings provided by President Mbeki and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Menkerios, have made us more optimistic. I should like to thank President Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios and congratulate them on the agreement. We welcome the commitment of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Zenawi, including the provision of Ethiopian troops. We support the proposal of the United States to submit a draft resolution to the Council in the near future. We also welcome the commitment just expressed by Ambassador Osman and Mr. Gatkuoth regarding the will of both parties to continue to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation in the Sudan. We call on the two parties to show restraint and to cease hostilities. They must demonstrate their political determination to overcome the crisis prevailing in Abyei and Southern Kordofan by engaging in dialogue. We ask them to facilitate the channelling of humanitarian aid to help the thousands of displaced persons who have had to flee the violence. We invite the parties to implement the conclusions they agreed upon in Addis Ababa. Gabon remains convinced that the deployment of Ethiopian battalions to Abyei, along the borders, will help to ease tensions between the parties and, at the same time, enforce the security arrangements. We encourage the parties to take advantage of the window of opportunity opened by the Addis process to restore mutual trust. Preserving the framework of the comprehensive political agreement is essential, and it is important to pursue implementation of that agreement in full. In that regard, the support of the Panel headed by President Mbeki and the enhanced support of the United Nations are essential. Finally, we wish to once again encourage the two parties to show political determination and a spirit of compromise. I now resume my function as President of the Council. Do President Mbeki and Mr. Menkerios wish make any additional comments following the statements delivered by Council members? I give the floor to President Mbeki. Mr. Mbeki: We have no additional comments at this time, but we are of course ready to answer any questions that Council members may have.

I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan, who wishes to comment on the various statements made by Member States.

Sir, you may have noticed that during my first statement I tried to remain in keeping with the positive spirit of the happy news we just received from Addis Ababa regarding the signing of a temporary agreement on Abyei. I do not wish to remain hostage to the events preceding that agreement because, as we can see, it is a step forward, despite our reservations with respect to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). Nevertheless, given that the other side has persistently repeated a number of inaccurate points about the situation in Abyei and Southern Kordofan, I have no choice but to refer to the violations committed by the SPLM in Southern Kordofan and Abyei. The Sudanese Armed Forces intervened in Abyei following a very long period of patience and restraint. The former administrator of Abyei has failed to respect the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and withdraw his troops from the border region in question. He has attempted to establish facts on the ground in the region by allowing in thousands of elements from the Movement and other militias in an effort to change the demographic makeup of the region. Those actions and violations culminated with the SPLM attacking and killing many of our soldiers and members of the armed forces who had previously been members of the Joint Integrated Unit. When the SPLM attacked the Joint Integrated Unit, comprised of our armed forces and those of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), they killed many of our soldiers. Since then, our armed forces had no choice but to intervene to put an end to the violations committed by the SPLM in Abyei. Council members may recall that we had stated that the presence of our armed forces in Abyei was temporary after events forced us to be on the ground. We also stated that we would withdraw once an agreement had been reached on security measures. That is what we did, following the signing today of the agreement in Addis Ababa. Our withdrawal was the best testimony to the signing of that agreement. That is the situation in Abyei. Regarding the latest developments in Southern Kordofan, on 4 June SPLM forces attacked the Sudanese Armed Forces and the police force in Umm Dorien and then took control of that city. On 5 June, elements of the SPLM attacked Government forces in the city of Talodi. On 6 June, the SPLM attacked again in the city of Kadugli, the capital of Southern Kordofan, with the goal of taking control of it. Mr. Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu, who had lost local elections in that state, was appointed governor. These attacks caused the death, injury and displacement of many of our soldiers and police, as well as innocent civilians. Moreover, tens of thousands of civilians were forced to leave the state. The SPLM is responsible for all of this. We did not want to go into the details of these attacks, given the good news and intentions from Addis Ababa. Nevertheless, we need to talk about this matter in order to give a correct view of the situation. There are many who misunderstand. I think some members had prepared their statements before the signing of the agreement in Addis Ababa. The war actions of the SPLM have never been condemned by the Security Council. What we have seen is very timid condemnation by the Council following the SPLM attack against the joint forces of UNMIS and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Must a strong condemnation by the Council await a confirmed attack against UNMIS and the Sudanese Armed Forces? When such acts are not condemned, the party involved is encouraged to continue. The result is the death of many soldiers in the Sudanese Armed Forces. Nevertheless, we would like to assure the Security Council that the situation in Southern Kordofan is under control. The security situation is stable and life is returning to normal in the main cities of the state. Our house has been put back in order after these events, following the intervention of our armed forces. We call on the Council to send a firm message to the SPLM condemning the violations that have taken place in Southern Kordofan and calling for an end to the cycle of violence and the withdrawal of forces, as stipulated in the agreement between the two parties. Repeated violations will make the anticipated peace and stability impossible. In conclusion, I reaffirm that the Government of the Sudan is sincere in its desire to find a fundamental solution to the situation in Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, in the framework of the efforts of President Mbeki and other mediators. I reiterate our call to the Council to support those efforts so that they can bear fruit. We also urge the other side to end this war, which has taken us backwards. We have taken a positive step forward and we want to reach the end of this road.

I understand that Mr. Gatkuoth wishes to take the floor. I now call on him. Mr. Gatkuoth: The Government of Southern Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) are committed to peace. We have yearned for it for years. Wars are not good. We have fought enough in the Sudan — from 1955 until 1972 and from 1983 until 2005. We yearn for peace and we will continue to seek it. We have been calling for peace. The National Congress Party (NCP), instead of resorting to violence, should join us in seeking peaceful resolutions to all the pending issues. That is why we are calling for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to be implemented fully. On the issue of Abyei, the NCP and my brother the representative of the Sudan know very well that the land of the Ngok Dinka was transferred to the North in 1905 by the United Kingdom, because they were being protected from the Arabs who were enslaving them. They were put under the administration of the North so that they would be protected from slavery. Now, if we have peace in the Sudan, they should be asked either to return to Southern Sudan or remain where they are now. It is well known that the Misseriya are nomads who come seasonally to graze their animals in the area, not only in Abyei but beyond Abyei in Southern Sudan. In Southern Kordofan there was an election with very clear results, as my brother the representative of the Sudan knows very well. Whereas he says that Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu lost the election, it is the other way around. Ahmed Harun knows very well that he lost the election. But of course the election was rigged, which angered many people in the Nuba area of Southern Kordofan. On these post-referendum issues we really need to work together to reach an agreement, which is why we have been calling for a peaceful resolution to all the pending issues, including sharing resources between the two countries. We are ready to negotiate a deal with the National Congress Party, because we are interested in peace. It is because we are actually interested in peace that we want to make sure we have a deal that can benefit the two countries, so that we can live in peace, because wars are never good. We also want to encourage the National Congress Party in the North to accept a democratic transformation, because the North of Sudan is also diverse. President Al-Bashir declaring an Islamic State in the North will continue to create problems there. The National Congress Party must change its policies. Instead of relying on the Islamization and Arabization of the North they have to accept the country’s diversity, which will remain in the North. I say this because if the North is unstable we in the South are also going to pay the consequences.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.