S/PV.6827 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I should like to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2012/624, which contains the text of a letter dated 10 August 2012 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President of the Security Council. Following consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council. “The Security Council welcomes the progress made by the Governments of the Sudan and South Sudan in negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to fulfil their obligations under the African Union’s road map and Security Council Resolution 2046 (2012). The Security Council expresses its gratitude to AUHIP Chairman Mbeki and United Nations Special Envoy Menkerios for their 9 August briefings and for their tireless efforts to broker agreements between the two parties. “The Security Council affirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both the Sudan and South Sudan. It recalls the importance of the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation. “The Security Council welcomes significant reduction in violence and tension between the two countries. “The Security Council commends the African Union (AU), including the AUHIP, the Peace and Security Council, and the AU Commission, for its constructive leadership in this process as further demonstrated by the AUPSC communiqué of 3 August, and underscores its continued support for those mediation efforts. In this respect the Council supports the convening by the AUHIP, supported by the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), of a round of interactions with the parties, including a summit meeting of the two Presidents, to enable them to reach the necessary agreements on all outstanding issues. “The Security Council welcomes the fact that the Sudan and South Sudan have reached an agreement on oil and related financial arrangements that should help alleviate the sharply deteriorating economic conditions affecting each of them. The Council encourages the parties to swiftly finalize the details and the signing of the agreement and move forward with transparent implementation of the agreement, in order for production and transportation to resume as soon as possible. “The Security Council notes the decision by the Sudan and South Sudan to constitute a joint delegation to approach various countries and institutions to request financial assistance to address the urgent needs of both countries. “The Security Council notes with interest the agreement by the parties to establish a panel of experts to provide an authoritative, non-binding opinion on the status of the border, and hopes that this process will facilitate a speedy outcome in accordance with the AU road map and resolution 2046 (2012). “The Security Council welcomes the memorandums of understanding reached separately by the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) with the United Nations, the AU, and League of Arab States to enable the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected civilian populations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in accordance with the tripartite plan proposed by the United Nations, the AU and League of Arab States. It calls on the Government of Sudan and SPLM-N to fully and faithfully implement its terms to expedite the unhindered delivery of this assistance as rapidly as possible, in accordance with applicable international law, including applicable international humanitarian law and the accepted principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the provision of humanitarian assistance. The Security Council stresses the urgency of immediately delivering humanitarian relief supplies to the affected civilian populations, so as to avoid any further suffering or loss of life. “The Security Council recalls the 2 August deadline imposed in resolution 2046 (2012) and regrets that the parties have not yet been able to finalize agreements on a number of critical issues, particularly the establishment of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ); the activation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) and of the Ad Hoc Committee; resolution of the status of the disputed and claimed border areas and the demarcation of the border; the status of nationals of one country resident in the other; and the temporary security and administrative arrangements for Abyei agreed by the parties on 20 June 2011, as well as agreeing on the final status of Abyei. “The Security Council strongly urges the Government of the Sudan to accept the AU administrative and security map of November 2011 without further delay in order to enable the full activation of the SDBZ and the JBVMM as required by the Council, and reiterates that the centre line of the SDBZ in no way prejudices the current or future legal status of the border, ongoing negotiations on the disputed and claimed areas, and demarcation of the border. The Security Council commends the Government of South Sudan for its formal acceptance of the AU map but calls on it to withdraw any forces located to the north of the SDBZ centre line. “The Security Council expresses serious concern at the 20 July security incident, condemns all violations of resolution 2046 (2012), in particular aerial bombardments, harbouring of or support to rebel groups, and cross-border military movements, and demands an immediate halt to such actions. “The Security Council acknowledges that the majority of security forces has been withdrawn from the Abyei Area by the Governments of the Sudan and South Sudan, and reiterates its call on the Government of the Sudan to redeploy the Sudanese Oil Police from Abyei without preconditions. The Security Council further calls on the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee to speedily finalize the establishment of the Abyei Police Service, to enable it to take over policing functions throughout the Abyei Area, including the protection of the oil infrastructure. It also underlines the urgent need for the establishment of an Abyei Area Administration, Council and Police Service, in accordance with the 20 June 2011 agreement, and calls on the parties to reach agreement on these without further delay and to refrain from unilateral actions in this regard. “The Security Council recalls its decision in resolution 2046 (2012) that the Government of the Sudan and the SPLM-North extend full cooperation to the AUHIP and the Chair of IGAD to reach a negotiated settlement on the basis of the 28 June 2011 Framework Agreement. “The Security Council recalls its resolution 2046 (2012) and the African Union road map and demands that the Sudan, South Sudan and the SPLM-N urgently and in good faith finalize and fully implement agreements on all relevant issues as specified in resolution 2046 (2012), and in this regard the Council reiterates its intention to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter as necessary. “The Security Council recalls its resolution 2046 (2012) and reiterates its request to the Secretary- General, in consultation with the AUHIP, the Chair of IGAD and the Chairman of the AU Commission, to report to the Council by 2 September on the status of negotiations. The Security Council also looks forward to reviewing the AU’s determinations as indicated in paragraph 18 of the AU Peace and Security Council communiqué of 3 August and requests in this regard the Secretary-General to report to the Council thereafter on the status of negotiations, including detailed proposals on all outstanding issues. “The Security Council expresses its sadness at the untimely passing of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The Council acknowledges and pays tribute to his tireless efforts as chair of IGAD in supporting and contributing to the efforts of the AUHIP in realizing its mandate on the Sudan and South Sudan. The Council recalls in particular the readiness of Prime Minister Zenawi to deploy 4,200 Ethiopian troops to Abyei in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2012/19. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.