STATEMENT ON AFRICAN UNION-UNITED NATIONS HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN, UNITED NATIONS

 

The following statement was issued on 8 December in Lisbon by the United Nations and the Government of the Sudan:

Representatives of the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations met in the margins of the European Union-Africa Summit in Lisbon on 8 December 2007 to discuss priority actions required to accelerate the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).   Both delegations recognized that UNAMID would play a critical role in bringing peace and stability to Darfur.

Both delegations agreed on the importance of the full and timely implementation of Security Council resolution 1769 (2007) and reiterated their commitment to working together to this end.   In this regard, the two delegations noted that clarification had been provided in some areas and identified a number of other areas where technical clarity was required to ensure that effective preparations for and deployment of the African Union-United Nations mission could continue.  Both delegations agreed on the importance of addressing and resolving these issues transparently, expeditiously and in the appropriate forum, as part of their collaboration regarding deployment of UNAMID.

The two delegations also took note, with serious concern, that there were critical gaps in the force capabilities, particularly military aviation, and called upon the international community to provide these capabilities.

The Government of the Sudan and the United Nations emphasized their commitment to the ongoing and intensive technical effort which would be required for the timely deployment of UNAMID.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record