Ministar savjetnik RH pri Ujedinjenim narodima Vice Skracic održao je govor u Vijecu sigurnosti UN-a o stanju u Sudanu.
I would like to thank Mr. Le Roy for today's briefing on the situation in Darfur and elsewhere in the Sudan, and also welcome the presence of Mr. Mikhail Margelov, Special Representative of the Russian President on the Sudan.
Mr. President, once again we find ourselves faced with a dichotomy when addressing the situation in Darfur. While we would like to welcome the direct talks between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement [JEM], and to some extent between Sudan and Chad, we are similarly faced with continued violence, albeit reduced, which is certainly not commensurate with the goals the sides are trying to achieve in their negotiations.
Croatia welcomes the stated commitment to the peace process on the part of both the Government of Sudan and JEM as expressed by both parties, which includes a reaffirmation of the Agreement on Goodwill and Confidence-building signed in Doha in February this year, as well as the exchange of lists of respective detainees and willingness to work on the release of prisoners.
Against this backdrop we are concerned though with the preconditions each side has placed before discussing a framework agreement [with JEM demanding a release of prisoners while the Government insisting on a cessation of hostilities], which has led to an impasse and suspension of the talks on Doha. We are also concerned with the application of numerous death sentences by the Government of Sudan, and the effect this is having on the direct talks with the JEM.
Both the JEM and the Sudanese government need to understand that military action only works to prolong this protracted conflict and puts civilians at risk. We therefore wholeheartedly support the work of Joint Chief Mediator Bassole, including by encouraging the rebels to come to Doha with a united position. We also support the visit to Durfur by the AU High-Level Panel on Darfur led by former South African President Mbeki, and look forward to it releasing its findings and recommendations in the near future.
Croatia concurs with the Secretary-General's assessment and concerns on the deterioration of Chad-Sudan relations, especially in light of the continuing support the sides are providing each others respective armed opposition forces. We call upon them to refrain from acts that may lead to escalating tensions and exacerbating the already tense situation on their mutual border. We are particularly concerned about the cross-border incursions coming from Chadian territory into Western Darfur. As the Secretary-General has stated, both sides need to exercise maximum restraint and return to the framework of their mutual agreements, including but not limited to the Doha Agreement of 3 May 2009 and the Dakar Agreement of 13 March 2008. In this regard, we would like to convey our appreciation to both the Governments of Qatar and Libya for their mediation efforts.
With regard to the humanitarian situation, my delegation concurs with the assessment of the Secretary-Gneral that although there has been an improvement in the level of cooperation between the Government of Sudan and the UN and remaining NGO community, serious gaps still remain. The consequences of the March 4 expulsions [of all together 16 NGOs] has put a large number of innocent and exhausted civilians at great risk, and we note that the number of humanitarian workers has been reduced by almost 5,000 people, effecting some 1.1 million beneficiaries of food, water and sanitation aid and 1.5 million who receive health services support. We also note that the rainy season is soon coming, and that the WHO has warned of an increased risk of water borne diseases.
Croatia is concerned with the Secretary-General's report that the Mission is still being faced with considerable challenges to its freedom of movement and therefore its ability to implement its mandate. We are also very concerned with the bureaucratic impediments is place by the Government of Sudan for the movement of contingent-owned equipment, including the Nigerian armored personnel carriers and Rwandan vehicles still waiting on customs clearance. We call upon the Government of Sudan to work diligently with UNAMID on addressing and resolving these issues. The tripartite mechanism now in place is a step in the right direction for identifying and resolving such issues.
Mr. President, considering the overall precarious situation in the area of responsibility of UNAMID, including the continued armed clashes between the government and rebel movements, stagnation in the implementation of recent initiatives and the build-up of forces and the possibility of further clashes along the Sudanese-Chad border, we reiterate our call for the Council to put greater emphasis on the regional dimension of UNAMID's work and to enable this mission, as well as other missions in the region and UN presences on the ground, to co-operate more closely with each other, thereby making them more efficient in fulfilling their respective and often overlapping mandates.
Finally Mr. President, my delegation would also like to thank the UK delegation for preparing and distributing the draft Security Council resolution on UNAMID's extension. We stand ready with other Council members on completing this task.
Thank you Mr. President.
Priopćenja
