SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES NEW NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN, CALLS ON PARTIES TO DARFUR CONFLICT TO REACH AGREEMENT BY YEAR’S END

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES NEW NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN , CALLS

ON PARTIES TO DARFUR CONFLICT TO REACH AGREEMENT BY YEAR’S END

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the swearing in of the Government of National Unity of Sudan and commends the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for achieving this major milestone on the road to lasting peace.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan will do its utmost to support the new Government of National Unity as it addresses the enormous challenges of establishing a durable peace and bringing economic development and reconstruction to Sudan after decades of civil war.

The Secretary-General also notes that, as the new Government begins its work, the parties to the conflict in Darfur have convened in Abuja where they have been brought together by the African Union, to negotiate an end to the terrible conflict that has caused so much suffering in that troubled region.  The Secretary-General calls on participants in the Abuja negotiations to apply themselves fully to bring an end to the suffering of the people of Darfur by reaching an agreement during this round of talks and by the end of this year.

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For information media • not an official record