Security Council

5923^rd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES 8 JUNE ‘ROAD MAP’ BETWEEN PARTIES IN SOUTH SUDAN,

URGES THEM TO USE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE ACCORD

The Security Council this morning urged the parties in South Sudan to use the opportunities created by the 8 June road map, signed in order to quell the outbreak of violence in the city of Abyei, to resolve all outstanding issues in the region’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Through a statement read out by Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency for June, the 15-member body encouraged the parties -- the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) -- to implement the agreement, known as the Road Map for the Return of Internally Displaced Persons and Implementation of Abyei Protocol, fully and in the agreed timelines.

Towards that goal, it emphasized the importance of the establishment of an Abyei Area Administration, deployment of a new joint battalion, free movement for troops of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and redeployment of the Sudan Armed Forces and SPLM troops outside the Abyei area.

It also called on UNMIS to robustly deploy in and around Abyei to support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and requested the Secretary-General to consider what follow-ups might be appropriate for the Mission.

The meeting opened at 12:45 p.m. and adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2008/24 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the 8 June Road Map for the Return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Implementation of Abyei Protocol (“Road Map”) between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).  The Security Council emphasizes that peaceful resolution of the situation in Abyei is vital to the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and peace in the region.  The Security Council welcomes the agreements in the Road Map, including its provisions regarding revenue sharing and the interim boundaries in Abyei.  The Security Council urges the parties to use the opportunity created by the signing of the Road Map to resolve all outstanding issues related to CPA implementation and welcomes the parties’ commitment to take unresolved issues to arbitration as necessary.

“The Security Council deeply regrets the recent outbreak of fighting in Abyei, the ensuing displacement of civilians and the obstruction to United Nations Mission in Sudan (UMIS) freedom of movement.  The Security Council urges the parties to facilitate immediate humanitarian support for the displaced citizens and support for their voluntary return as soon as an interim administration and the agreed security arrangements are in place.

“The Security Council encourages the parties to fully implement the Road Map within the agreed timelines, in particular with the establishment of an Abyei Area Administration; deployment of a new Joint Integrated Unit Battalion; ensure free movement for UNMIS forces in the Abyei area and access to the north and south of the Abyei area to carry out its mandate to support implementation of the CPA; and redeployment of the Sudan Armed Forces and SPLM troops outside the interim Abyei administrative area agreed to by the parties.

“The Security Council calls on UNMIS, within its mandate and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1812, to robustly deploy, as appropriate, peacekeeping personnel in and around Abyei to help reduce tensions and prevent escalation of conflict in support of implementation of the CPA.  The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to examine the root causes of and the role played by UNMIS in connection with the violence between the parties in Abyei in May 2008 and consider what follow-up steps may be appropriate for UNMIS.”

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For information media • not an official record