S/PV.6579 Security Council

Mr. President, you were about to put to the vote a text before us in document S/2011/417. As far as I understand from the consultations, the adoption of the draft resolution, with the inclusion of the date of 10 July, with the resulting retroactive effect on the Mission, is not in line with the Council’s normal practice. You will recall, Sir, that our staff worked on the text. Could you explain the issue of the date? We are adopting on 11 July a document with retroactive effect to yesterday. It was drafted to take effect 10 July, so we have a situation in which we are adopting a document with retrospective effect. That is not in line with normal practice in the Council.

As far as I know, this issue was discussed by the political coordinators on the understanding that, concerning the date in the draft resolution, the language of paragraph 1 — “decides to withdraw UNMIS effective 10 July 2011” — would be replaced with “decides to withdraw UNMIS”. I hope that this will respond to the points raised by the representative of the Russian Federation. I take it that this is the case and we can now proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before us.

We need to understand what we are voting on. Forgive me for interrupting. How would paragraph 1 be changed in this context — to put a period after UNMIS?

That is correct. Once again, let me underline that this matter was apparently discussed beforehand by our political coordinators.

I understand, but why would we not make it “effective today”? Why have no date? What was the logic?

I have no explanation as to why the political coordinators have not come up with that idea. But we can change the language ad hoc, right now, if I hear no objection. I think this is not a theological issue; it is a factual issue, and I take it that our colleagues around the table can live with that suggestion by our colleague from the United States.

It just does not seem to make sense. It could be “withdraw in 6 months time”, if you do not put a date on it.

I think everyone is in agreement with that suggestion, so we will put today’s date, 11 July. It is so decided.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1997 (2011). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

The United States deeply regrets the necessity to vote on this resolution to end the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). We call on the Government of the Sudan yet again to reconsider its demand that UNMIS cease its activities in the Republic of the Sudan effective 9 July. The Mission has a critical role to continue to play in regional stability, especially in the two areas. The United States is sending a clear message, along with other Council members, that it wants the United Nations to remain in the two areas, especially at this critical juncture. With this resolution, the Council has made clear that it is ready to authorize continued United Nations operations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile to support new security arrangements, and we will continue over the coming weeks to urge the Government of the Sudan to accept this. It is in its interest to do so. We hope that others in the international community will continue to encourage Khartoum to accept this. It is critical that the Government of the Sudan cooperate fully with UNMIS as it begins the process of withdrawing. We continue to be deeply concerned about the fighting in Southern Kordofan, the displacement of civilians and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. The Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North must return to the negotiating table in the coming days and agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities. We also call on the Government of the Sudan to work actively on agreements to bring peace and stability to the border and in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): It is with regret that we have today supported the adoption of resolution 1997 (2011) on the withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). Since its inception in support of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005, UNMIS has worked to support the parties in fulfilling their commitments under the Agreement and, where conflict has occurred, and has acted to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need. We thank UNMIS and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haile Menkerios for their tireless efforts in this regard. Sadly, the UNMIS presence is still needed in Southern Kordofan state, where we continue to be deeply concerned by reports of ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Civilians continue to suffer the impact of conflict, including aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces and other abuses, reportedly including extrajudicial killings, forced displacement and arbitrary arrests and detentions. We unreservedly condemn the ongoing violence. In the absence of agreement on an extension, we call on the Sudanese authorities to cooperate with UNMIS in accordance with the status-of-forces agreement and the provisions of resolution 1997 (2011) as it winds down its operations, and to allow and support unfettered humanitarian access by humanitarian personnel to populations in need. We further call on the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North to end hostilities and agree a ceasefire leading to new security arrangements. We reiterate the readiness of this Council, as set out in the resolution that we have just adopted, both to continue current United Nations operations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states and to assist the parties in implementation of new arrangements to be agreed between them. We recall the importance of completing the CPA-mandated popular consultations processes, by which the people of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile will express their views as to their future governance.

France is grateful to the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), under the leadership of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Menkerios, for the outstanding work it has carried out since its establishment, despite difficult working conditions, in protecting civilians and ensuring follow-up to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, which led to independence for South Sudan, celebrated this past Saturday. France supported the adoption of resolution 1997 (2011) on the withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan. However, we regret that this comes at a time when a ceasefire has yet to be signed for Southern Kordofan. The civilian population continues to suffer in the fighting, and humanitarian access has not been re-established. Blue Nile state also remains a source of concern for us. We therefore call on the Government of the Sudan to consider an international presence in these two states. We urge the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North to cease their hostilities immediately, sign a ceasefire agreement and conclude security arrangements in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. We reiterate the Security Council’s readiness to support the parties in expediting the implementation of such arrangements.

I shall now make a statement in my national capacity. Germany welcomes the unanimous adoption of the resolution on the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). The Council thereby confirms the end of the mandate for UNMIS in the Sudan and reiterates the existing legal framework, as agreed to between the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations, for the liquidation of the Mission. We call on the relevant authorities in the Sudan to fully respect the provisions of the status-of-forces agreement of December 2005 and to ensure that all steps are being taken for an orderly and smooth withdrawal of all UNMIS forces. We agree with the previous speakers that there is a need for a United Nations presence in the north, especially the border areas. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing violence, especially in Southern Kordofan. We call on the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North to immediately cease all hostilities and stop attacks on the civilian population. We especially condemn all airstrikes against villages in Southern Kordofan. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.