SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT WELCOMING AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTIES IN SUDAN CIVIL CONFLICT

Security Council

4839^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT WELCOMING AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PARTIES IN SUDAN CIVIL CONFLICT

The Security Council this afternoon welcomed the agreements on security arrangements between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army, reached at Naivasha, Kenya, in September 2003.

Adopting a statement (document S/PRST/2003/16) read out by its President, James Cunningham (United States), the Council also looked forward to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Sudan based on the Machakos Protocol.  It further expressed appreciation for the key role played in the Sudan peace talks by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), under the leadership of the Kenyan President and others.

[The Machakos Protocol, signed on 20 July 2002 at Machakos, Kenya, between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army, represented an agreement on a broad framework on principles of governance, as well as procedures for a transitional process.  As part of the Protocol, the Parties reached agreement on the right to self-determination for the people of south Sudan.]

Today’s meeting opened at 12:02 p.m. and adjourned at 12:05 p.m.

Presidential Statement

Following is the full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2003/16:

“The Security Council welcomes the agreements on security arrangement reached in Naivasha (Kenya) between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).  The Council reiterates its welcome for the signing of the Machakos Protocol which represents a viable basis for a resolution of the conflict in Sudan.  The Security Council looks forward to the successful conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement, based on the Machakos Protocol.  The Council further expresses its appreciation of the key role played by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), under the leadership of the Kenyan President, the Kenyan Special Envoy, the envoys of the other IGAD member States, and the International Observers in the Sudan Peace Talks.

“The Security Council also welcomes the continuation of the ceasefire and the establishment of the Verification and Monitoring Team, Joint Monitoring Commission, and the Civilian Protection Monitoring Team and encourages member States in a position to do so to contribute financial and logistical resources.

“The Security Council assures the parties of its readiness to support them in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and requests the Secretary-General, in this connection, to initiate preparatory work, as soon as possible, in consultation with the parties, the IGAD facilitators and the International Observers, on how the United Nations could best fully support the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement.”

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