Sudan, 2009

It is my

pleasure at the outset to convey the best wishes of the

Government and people of the Sudan for successful

deliberations in the sixty-fourth session of the General

Assembly on its entire agenda. The agenda contains

topics reflecting the challenges faced by the

international community and the priorities we have to

set, such as the development and welfare of our

peoples, the implementation of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs), the mitigation of

economic and financial crises, containing the effects of

climate change and maintaining international peace and

security.

I am also pleased to extend warm congratulations

to Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the

presidency of the General Assembly at this important

session. We are confident, Sir, that your political skills

and diplomatic expertise will help realize our

ambitions to have an able, effective and transparent

United Nations. We also wish to commend the

dexterity and high competence with which your

predecessor, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, conducted

the proceedings of the previous session. We also wish

to commend the Secretary-General for the efforts

undertaken by the Secretariat to fulfil the role and

responsibilities of the United Nations.

Millions throughout the world look forward to

our deliberations in the wake of the suffocating crises

through which the international community is passing.

Traces of the crises are still lingering in the family of

nations, especially in the developing countries, while

the fruits of scientific and technological progress

nourish the hope of better opportunities for a just and

equitable world order.

While non-compliance with the purposes and

principles of the United Nations Charter and

international law and its established rules, along with

double standards, has made the world less safe, the

economic and financial crises have exacerbated the

challenges. The world is experiencing the worst and

gravest economic and financial crisis since the

Depression of the 1930s. The crisis is compounded by

such numerous and intertwined problems as the food

crisis and climate change along with their destructive

effects on the developing countries and threats to their

national priorities and to the gains they have made

towards the achievement of the MDGs.

In its chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China,

the Sudan has accorded special attention to the

repercussions of this crisis on the developing countries.

In those countries the crisis has given rise to poverty,

hunger, unemployment and slackening of growth, if not

economic downturn, and has adversely affected

balances of trade and of payment. At the same time, the

crisis has led to falls in commodity prices, sharp

fluctuations in exchange rates, sudden diversions of

09-52598 30

capital flows and of foreign direct investment, falls in

remittances and drops in tourism revenues.

Concomitantly, the social sector has suffered greatly

because of the erosion of social security networks that

provide health, education and other services. That in

turn has augmented infant and maternal mortality rates.

The Group of 77 and China is deeply concerned

over this crisis and its impact on countries facing

special challenges, foremost among which are African

States, the least developed countries, small island

States and countries emerging from conflict. The

realities impose a moral duty on us — especially the

industrial countries — to channel our collective

response into a strong commitment to providing the

required solutions. Those include direct funding,

capacity-building, promoting sustainable development,

addressing debt problems, eliminating obstacles to

trade and investment and States meeting their

international development pledges.

Comprehensive reform of the international

financial and economic system and ensuring an

enhanced role for the developing countries in decision-

making processes in international financial institutions

are of central significance. Major industrial countries

cannot ignore the universal legitimacy of the collective

voice of the world’s States here at the United Nations.

In this connection, the open-ended working group of

the General Assembly to follow up on the issues

contained in the Outcome of the Conference on the

World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on

Development (resolution 63/303, annex), held in New

York in June 2009, must discharge its work and

mandate expeditiously.

By the same token, we hope that endeavours to

deal with climate change in the course of the

conference to be held in Copenhagen in December of

this year will be crowned with success. The developing

countries — which were by no means responsible for

climate change and global warming — urge

industrialized countries, on the basis of their historic

responsibility, to address the root causes of climate

change by providing new and additional predictable

financial resources, to help build capacities, to transfer,

entrench and develop technology and to fulfil relevant

obligations and pledges with a view to attaining

sustainable economic growth that satisfies the

legitimate priorities and needs of the developing

countries. As Chair of the Group of 77 and China, my

country will spare no effort in furthering those

demands.

The absence of democracy in international

relations, as exemplified by the present form and

composition of the Security Council, has become a

major factor in diminishing the ability of the United

Nations to respond to the structural and substantive

challenges and changes in the international community.

That has been exacerbated by unilateral sanctions that

hinder international trade and investment and violate

the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of

international law.

The United Nations rostrum is being used by

some to serve narrow interests such that the concept of

human rights has become a tool for ceaseless

politicization and score settling. In the same vein, the

often misused concept of terrorism has led to the

victim being equated with the aggressor, as is currently

evident in the plight of the Palestinian people, who are

still chafing under the yoke of occupation. As a result,

the Palestinian question has remained unsolved, which

has gravely compromised the reputation and credibility

of the United Nations.

It is thus clear that for the United Nations to

effectively serve a changing world, it has to effect an

all-out change in its working methods and approaches

so that it will truly express the voice of all nations.

Consequently, my country, like all other developing

nations, supports the call to reactivate the role of the

General Assembly and to reform the Security Council,

based on the well-known African position on this

matter.

This session is of special importance to my

country for it comes at a time when we are putting an

end to what has been called the longest civil war in

Africa by concluding the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement. The Agreement adopts a system making

citizenship a basis for rights and duties, and espousing

diversity as a source of unity and brotherhood built on

the rule of law, good governance, respect for freedoms

and human rights, as well as fair and democratic

power-sharing.

Additionally, the Agreement establishes the

principles of wealth sharing, in line with the norms of

equity and equality. The implementation of the

Agreement has proceeded with the completion of the

formation of relevant mechanisms and institutions,

along with the full commitment by the two parties to

31 09-52598

the Agreement to the sound treatment of the question

of entitlements as reflected in the handling of the

question of Abyei.

We note here the fact that donors have not

fulfilled the development resources and pledges they

took upon themselves in support of the Agreement has

adversely affected its implementation, particularly in

the spheres of development, rehabilitation and

reintegration of former combatants in society. We

therefore urge the fulfilment of all pledges so as to

foster peace and stability, as well as the reconstruction

of the country after the ravages of years of war, so that

peace can be meaningful.

After conducting a population census — the

accuracy and credibility of which were testified to by

numerous international and regional institutions,

including the United Nations — and in conformity with

the Agreement, we are about to hold general legislative

and executive elections. We assert our resolve and

determination to hold them in April 2010, while we

continue to strengthen efforts aimed at political reform,

which is indispensable for founding a durable peace.

We invite the international community, including the

United Nations, to support the holding of elections in

word and deed.

Despite all the positive developments in the peace

process, we note with profound concern the recent

armed tribal conflicts in southern Sudan. Those

conflicts threaten not only the stability of the Sudan

and the South but also the stability of the whole region.

We would like to recall here that, in accordance with

the Agreement, the responsibility for the maintenance

of peace in the South lies with the Government of

Southern Sudan. Therefore, it is everybody’s duty to

urge and encourage the Government of Southern Sudan

to discharge its duty for the sake of its citizens’

security and prosperity.

Our people have recognized that peace will not be

complete unless it extends to our people in Darfur. The

signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in Abuja under

the gracious aegis of the African Union affirmed the

Government’s serious commitment to resolving the

problem of Darfur peacefully.

While we were earnestly attempting to implement

that Agreement, certain international parties did not

fulfil their pledges and obligations in strict application

of the Agreement, such as by applying unwarranted

pressure on the wrong side. Instead of pressuring the

parties that shied away from the peace option, pressure

was put on the Abuja signatories themselves. That

hampered peace endeavours and led to the protraction

of the conflict.

Yet, thanks to the steadfast maintenance of the

Agreement by our Government and people and our

relentless efforts to achieve peace, we are now seeing

positive and far-reaching developments leading

towards lasting peace in Darfur, thanks also to the

complete commitment shown by the National Unity

Government and its close cooperation with the African

Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur

through the Tripartite Mechanism.

That policy has led to far-reaching improvements

in the humanitarian situation in Darfur, as recognized

and attested to by United Nations reports. That is

further supported by our scrupulous commitment to the

humanitarian agreement signed last April with the

United States Special Envoy to the Sudan. We reiterate

our commitment to close cooperation with the United

Nations and with national and international

organizations with a view to enhancing and developing

that policy in a manner that prevents any humanitarian

disaster or even food gaps in the future.

In this connection, it is imperative to note the

massive return of internally displaced persons (IDPs)

to their villages, which makes it incumbent on the

Government, the Sudanese people and the international

community to seize this opportunity to foster this

trend, as it is the real test of peace.

We renew our commitment and preparedness to

work expeditiously and at all times to ensure the

success of the forthcoming negotiations in Doha within

the framework of the Afro-Arab initiative and the

efforts of the Joint Mediator, in accordance with the

decision taken by the initiatives committee in its

meeting held at the margins of this session.

We welcome the declaration made by the

American President, Barack Obama, before the General

Assembly, on his country’s readiness to help find

solutions to the problems of Darfur. Noting the positive

tone in the statements voiced by the American

President towards developing countries in general, we

hope that his words will be translated into action and

sincere effort in order to correct the misguided policies

and positions of the previous American Administration,

which have compromised bilateral relations and

aggravated the region’s problems. This, undoubtedly,

09-52598 32

requires, first and foremost, lifting the unilateral

sanctions and removing the name of the Sudan from

the United States’ list of terrorist States.

We renew our appeal to the armed groups to

muster the will for a solution and for involvement in

the peace process, so that the interests of the Sudanese

people are put first and foremost. The people of the

Sudan are more than capable of solving their own

problems. My country has repeatedly declared its

commitment to a unilateral ceasefire as an initiative for

confidence-building and bringing about successful

negotiations, and we hope that armed factions will

respond positively so that a permanently monitored

ceasefire can be reached.

The international community, which has, in the

past, promised to take stringent measures against those

who refused to take part in the peace talks or impede

them, has to do so in deed and not just in word. The

question of development, recovery, rehabilitation and

reconstruction should be given special attention, as

called for in Security Council resolution 1769 (2007).

There should be a transition from providing emergency

humanitarian assistance to supporting development, in

order to facilitate the return and settlement of IDPs and

refugees.

From this rostrum, I wish to assert my country’s

keen interest in having constructive relations with all

its neighbours and its full readiness for complete

cooperation with them, with a view to extinguishing all

regional hot beds of tension. In this regard, I would

like to stress our preparedness and willingness to

normalize relations with Chad, in conformity with all

agreements and instruments signed with them and we

hope they will demonstrate the same determination and

readiness.

At a time when the Government of National

Unity had made remarkable progress in the

implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

and when the Sudan had started a new phase towards

the achievement of political reform and transformation,

peaceful devolution of authority, progress towards

ending disputes and infighting and towards the

achievement of inclusive development for our people,

the President of the Republic himself, who is the chief

guarantor of the Sudan’s sovereignty, was targeted by

so-called international justice in a futile attempt to

undermine stability and development. The Sudanese

rejected this, as did the international community,

including regional and international organizations.

We emphasize that the realization of security and

stability in Darfur requires speedy correction of those

developments and a renewed commitment to the peace

process and the avoidance of all that may have a

negative impact on peace in the Sudan and the African

continent.

Between the signing of the United Nations Charter

in the middle of the last century and the momentous

developments and profound challenges currently

experienced by the world, much water has flown under

the bridge of international relations, which makes

annual General Assembly sessions serious opportunities

for introspection and for gleaning lessons.

Let us renew our resolve to foster multilateral

action, for which this Organization stands. Let our

sixty-fourth session be a defining point towards

achieving our collective aspirations for a world where

the values of fraternity and common destiny prevail.