Secretary-General, Welcoming Agreement on Abyei, Sudan, Calls on Parties

 

to Fully Abide by Provisions to Demilitarize Area

 

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement on Abyei entered into by the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan on 20 June 2011.  The Secretary-General calls on the parties to abide in full by its provisions to demilitarize the area and establish an administration and police service, and to provide their full cooperation to the United Nations and Government of Ethiopia in deploying peacekeeping troops and police to the area.

The Secretary-General thanks the African Union High Level Panel under former President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia for their efforts in facilitating the agreement with the support of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).  The Secretary-General pledges the full support of the United Nations to the parties in facilitating its implementation.

The Secretary-General calls on the parties concerned to continue to provide their full cooperation to the African Union in reaching agreement on all outstanding issues related to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and post-secession arrangements, to reach an immediate cessation of hostilities in Southern Kordofan State and provide their full cooperation to humanitarian agencies in meeting the needs of the affected population.

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For information media • not an official record