SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES 8 JUNE AGREEMENT ON SUDAN TO RESOLVE ABYEI DISPUTE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached on 8 June between the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, in which the parties have agreed on a road map to resolve the Abyei dispute, including through arbitration.  The Secretary-General particularly welcomes the commitment of the two parties to allow the United Nations Mission in the Sudan unrestricted access and freedom of movement in the Abyei area.

The Secretary-General assures the parties and the people of the Sudan that the United Nations will continue to provide assistance to the tens of thousands of people displaced after fighting broke out in Abyei last month.  It also stands ready to assist their return to Abyei, once security arrangements are put in place to enable a safe and dignified return.  The Secretary-General congratulates the two parties and urges them to implement this agreement in full to ensure a final resolution of this most serious challenge to the Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record