YouSaid · the spoken record

Johnson

lines on the record: 160
first: 1999-09-29
most recent: 2017-04-28
sittings or episodes: 14
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Ms. Johnson: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Council today. I would like to briefly revisit the main elements of the report of the Secretary- General before the Council today (S/2013/l40) and then focus my remarks on the most recent operational developments, as well as key political considerations related to mandate implementation. Since my last briefing to the Council by videoconference on 28 November last year, South Sudan's transition towards a stable, viable State continued at an uneven pace. During the period covered by the report, South Sudan continued to face multiple challenges, while progress was achieved in some areas.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6938 (2013) · source
“From the perspective of peace and stability in South Sudan, we know that the country is dependent on good relations with its neighbours, and first and foremost its neighbour to the north, the Republic of the Sudan. For this reason, we are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric on both sides, with accusations and counter-accusations leading to the further escalation of tensions between the two countries. As Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, I met yesterday with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and conveyed the need for the Government to tone down its rhetoric. For more detail on recent events and relations with Sudan, such as verification of the bombings in Yida and the Guffa area, I now refer to Under-Secretary-General Ladsous for his briefing to the Security Council.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“In the coming months, as the Mission builds capacity and transitions out of start- up mode, I and my team will work closely with the new Republic towards accomplishing these objectives. 3 I plan to continue my visits to all 10 states of South Sudan, as well as to travel to all of its neighbouring capitals, in line with my mandate to support South Sudan's regional relations. If sustainable peace and stability are to prevail in South Sudan, good relations with its neighbours are essential. As Council members know, the mandate of UNMISS covers the Republic of South Sudan. It does not cover border monitoring or, more broadly, the relationship between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“Mindful of the challenges that lie ahead for South Sudan, as outlined earlier and in the report of the Secretary-General, one should not minimize its key assets in meeting the challenges posed by the political will of its leadership, the hopes and aspirations of its people, and the resolute commitment of the international community, including the Council, to supporting South Sudan's peaceful and democratic transition. UNMISS stands ready to support the Government of South Sudan in meeting these challenges and is moving forward to fill critical capacity gaps, especially in the areas of human rights and the rule of law, where the Mission has a robust mandate and where there is limited institutional capacity.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“In my meeting with the Ministers last week, I discussed the distressing number and scale of violations of the status-of-forces agreement, and agreed that this UNMISS-Government mechanism would be used as a way to ensure that violations are investigated, perpetrators held accountable, and all authorities fully briefed on the status-of-forces agreement to prevent future incidents. In addition to the incidents already reported, I am disappointed to report that, on 11 November, the Sudan People's Liberation Army detained an UNMISS helicopter in Eastern Equatoria state for six hours, under threat of force. Such actions are unacceptable and greatly undermine our operations to support peace and security in the nation.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“Meetings are scheduled to take place regularly, during which we will focus on 11-59366 each one of these issues, as well as other elements of the mandate. The group will oversee nationwide awareness- raising about the mandate of the Mission and the status-of-forces agreement. In that respect, I was invited to brief all 10 state Governors, in the presence of the National Legislature, at the opening session of the Governors' forum on Monday. Following my presentation, the Vice-President welcomed the role played by UMISS and urged all officials to study and comply with the mandate. He also said that Government actors at every level are responsible for ensuring that no violations of the status-of-forces agreement occur.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“A joint UNMISS- Government mechanism was established, co-chaired by Vice-President Riek Machar and myself, comprised of 10 ministers, the representatives of four commissioners and representatives from the Mission. The group was formed to strengthen cooperation on mandate implementation, achieve peace and security objectives, and raise awareness about the UNMISS mandate. This is an important step in assisting UNMISS in achieving the objectives of the resolution. On 10 November, we convened our first meeting. We discussed the road map for UNMISS-Government collaboration on important mandate areas: the protection of civilians, including the military concept of operations and threat analysis; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; peacebuilding; political milestones, especially the constitutional review; and human rights.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“The efforts of UNMISS to strengthen the capacity of national security organs to deliver security and the rule of law will bolster the Government's ability to protect its own citizens. There is an urgent need to transform and professionalize these institutions in order to meet minimal international standards. This will be by far the most important factor in strengthening respect for human rights in South Sudan. We are working closely with the Republic of South Sudan to ensure full coordination and unhindered ability to implement resolution 1996 (2011). On 30 September, I presented the mandate to the newly-formed Government. Subsequently, the Cabinet and National Security Committee met and agreed to endorse the mandate.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“The 11-59366 Government's support for conflict mitigation initiatives involving civil society and traditional leaders in J onglei is noteworthy. The Government has also made significant strides to neutralize internal security threats through the integration of rebel militia groups. Yet, a few remain outside of these processes, with an impact on security in Unity and Upper Nile states, as we have also seen with recent events. The prevalence of small arms from these groups is believed to have increased the scale of intercommunal violence, as witnessed in J onglei state. UNMISS has a key supporting role to play in the protection of civilians, but the Government retains ultimate responsibility.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“The next couple of months will gauge whether the 1 December deadline is met and meaningful delivery can begin to take place. The Government's consultation with political parties in the drafting of key legislation has instilled increased confidence in the Government's express commitment to principles of political pluralism. However, the upcoming constitutional review process will be the critical test in this regard. The most significant threat to civilians during the reporting period was faced in Jonglei state. Here, UNMISS mobilized its assets quickly to respond with a multifaceted approach of monitoring and early warning civilian assessments, daily air patrols and long-range ground patrols for deterrence, local reconciliation initiatives and political good offices.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“We are encouraged by the assessment made by the affected communities indicating that the rapid response to the crisis helped prevent significant retaliation attacks and a further escalation of violence. Also encouraging have been the first steps taken by the Government of South Sudan to develop broader and more representative Government institutions and a legislature, and to achieve tangible progress towards objectives set for its first 100 days. Still, concerns remain as to how the Government will address the key challenges of the transitional period in the areas of governance, corruption and political inclusiveness. President Salva Kiir Mayardit's commitment to enacting five bills related to public financial management and accountability has been well received.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“Here, the international community and UNMISS must quickly mobilize the political will, resources and capacities to capitalize on the momentum from independence to enable this transition to take place. As highlighted in the report of the Secretary- General before the Council today, the Government of South Sudan and UNMISS have both been in start-up mode in these first four months. There have been some notable achievements during this challenging period. The first such achievement was the rapid response of UNMISS to the unfolding crisis in Jonglei state, which was possible, in part, thanks to the transfer of assets from the former United Nations Mission in the Sudan.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“Ms. Johnson: Mr. President, I wish to thank you for the opportunity to present to the Council the first quarterly report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (S/2011/678). I will highlight key observations of the report and update the Council on key developments in South Sudan since its publication early this month. In the first four months of the Mission's deployment and South Sudan's independence, it is clear that there are huge expectations from both within and outside of South Sudan for its transition into a stable democracy. The challenges are even greater. Even with the best of intentions from its leadership to ensure that priorities and spending decisions are aligned with the needs of its citizens, the Government of South Sudan will need all the support it can get.”
2011-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6660 (2011) · source
“The engagement of the Security Council in contributing to de-escalating the situation is very welcome, as Under-Secretary- General Ladsous so strongly emphasized.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“UNMISS has been requested to assist the SPLA with the evacuation of 16 wounded from Renk. In doing so, we hope to confirm which rebel militia groups they were fighting. 11-58922 SPLA spokesperson Philip Aguer today alleged that there had been fighting in Kuek following an attack on their base by Sudanese Armed Forces and so-called mercenaries, which started at 9.00 am. and lasted seven hours. They have also reported an alleged 18 deaths and 73 wounded, on both sides. Aguer also said that the SPLA expected more attacks in the Upper Nile area, motivated by Khartoum's desire to "take the oil fields". That echoed the words of President Salva Kiir, who made similar claims yesterday. It is a significant concern that the rhetoric is heightened on both sides, the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“UNMISS is currently organizing the relocation of international NGO and United Nations agency staff from the area. It is also working to verify the locations of the reported bombings. In total, 26 people were relocated yesterday by two UNMISS flights, including 5 from the United Nations, 15 from NGOs and 6 other representatives of media and Government. Fighting in Upper Nile State was reported by the SPLA on 9 and 10 November, allegedly between SPLA and rebel militias at South Kuek and Gabat. Both locations are in Manyo county, on the western side of the Nile river. UNMISS has not been able to verify those incidents. However, the SPLA is seeking assistance for the evacuation of SPLA casualties from both locations, which are being organized as I speak. Reportedly, the SPLA claims to have pushed the rebel militia groups back into Kordofan.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian agencies, five bombs hit the Yeda area, with two falling directly inside the perimeter of the yeda shelter site. One bomb fell near a temporary school. The number of casualties has yet to be confirmed. A bomb that fell in the market remains unexploded. A rapid assessment by NGOs has so far found no casualties, but many remain unaccounted for. Reportedly, many fled when they heard the aircraft. The UNMISS Mi-26 helicopter, which had been delivering humanitarian supplies, left Yeda just moments before the bombing started. An UNMISS Mi-8 helicopter was on the ground at Yeda for a regular flight scheduled to that location. There is no damage to the helicopter, which was used to evacuate some United Nations agency and international NGO staff.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“That has not been confirmed from other sources. We are now trying to verify the information. Reports indicate that people are moving away from Guffa towards Bunj, the county capital. Reportedly, there are already large numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees in Bunj already, with increasing numbers anticipated. Humanitarian assessments and inter-agency teams are being sent to Bunj now. A mission to Guffa is also on its way to verify and assess situation on ground. Yesterday, we received reports that between 2.30 and 3.00 pm. Sudanese Armed Forces bombed the Yeda refugee camp, on the border between South Kordofan, the Sudan, and Unity State, South Sudan. The refugee camp is located in an area near an SPLA camp.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“UNMISS followed up on that information, which was confirmed by the Maban county commissioner. The SPLA and the commissioner reported that the bombing was carried out by an Antonov aircraft, which dropped nine bombs that resulted in the death of one child and seven SPLA soldiers. Furthermore, they reported that six SPLA soldiers and seven civilians, including four women, were injured. Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) present in the area have also confirmed the 8 November bombings. However, UNMISS has not verified those reports. The county commissioner requested assistance with the evacuation of about 29 casualties. UNMISS today evacuated 14 of the priority-one casualties, from Bunj to Malakal. This morning, UNMISS received a report from a local authority that new bombs may have been dropped in the area of Guffa today.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“Ms. Johnson: I wish to thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to provide this short briefing on the incidents that took place this week in South Sudan to supplement Under-Secretary-General Ladsous's briefing. We will provide the Council with more detail on what we have learned up to now. On 6 November, a mission of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) visited New Guffa, in Maban county, on the border with Kurmuk county in Blue Nile State, in response to bombings reported by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) on 2 September and 26 October. The situation was assessed as calm. However, two days later, the SPLA in Upper Nile State reported that Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had conducted an aerial bombing of New Guffa and Yalta, in Maban county, at around 4 pm.”
2011-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6656 (2011) · source
“As children in Somalia deserve a better future, so does the boy whom I met in the Central African Republic a few months back. He was only nine years old and had been demobilized from the rebel group Armee pour la Restauration de la Republique et la Democratie. As tears streamed down his cheeks, he told me about the horrible pictures that came before his eyes over and over again. They would never leave his head. His name was Futur. His only wish was to go home. Indeed, for Futur and for those 10 boys in Chad, and for millions of other children, the principles and values of the Convention stand as a beacon of hope for a better future. It is our collective obligation to turn them into reality in their lives.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“But to be able to take action, the legal framework must be in place. A couple of weeks ago we commemorated the tenth anniversary of the two Optional Protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF strongly urges all Member States that have not yet signed, ratified and implemented the Optional Protocols to do so as a matter of priority and urgency. We encourage all Member States to effectively implement the Paris Commitments and Paris Principles on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups. This is also the year of the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Somalia is the only country in the world where an entire generation - the two past decades - has known only violence and conflict and where grave violations are committed against children every day, by all parties.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“In UNICEF, we have ensured that the protection of children and women in armed conflict and other crises are prioritized in our Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. We are scaling up initiatives to raise awareness and develop capacity across the board- among our country offices in all countries listed and situations of concern, in regional offices and headquarters and among key partners - to improve the monitoring and reporting mechanism and our protection programmes. None of that would be possible without strong partnerships. Cooperation with United Nations entities - in particular peacekeeping and the child protection advisers, as my colleague just explained, and special political missions - and with concerned Governments, non-governmental organizations and civil society is essential to all our efforts.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“As indicated in resolution 1882 (2009), donors must also ensure that operational agencies have the necessary capacity to address grave violations and deliver results for children. Together with our partners, UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative have taken several key initiatives to strengthen the monitoring of grave violations in follow-up to resolution 1882 (2009), including a global roll-out of a new monitoring and reporting mechanism field manual and training toolkit, as well as the development of practical action plan templates. This will lead to a more systematic and effective implementation of the mechanism, where UNICEF normally is co-chair in the field.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“Thanks to the monitoring and reporting in countries listed by the Council and other situations of concern, we cannot claim ignorance when it comes to the situation of children. The extent of grave violations perpetrated against children is known. Never have we been so well informed. Silence is not an option, nor is inaction. We have a collective duty to act. We all are accountable to the children whose stories we hear. UNICEF stands ready to assist the Security Council and its Working Group as it utilizes all the tools at its disposal for clear and determined action. We look forward to supporting possible missions to the field to consider the information compiled by our colleagues, assisting in-country advocacy efforts and helping mobilize the required resources to improve the situation of children affected by armed conflict.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“Our colleagues in the field in those situations take considerable risk when they engage with parties to conflict, often non-State actors, to reach children in need of assistance, to provide protection where there is no rule of law and to safeguard schools as zones of peace. That is easier said than done. We constantly look for new approaches to deliver on our promise to children in the field. Humanitarian access is imperative, and denying it is unacceptable. The child protection framework for children and armed conflict supported by the Security Council spells out the accountability of perpetrators. At the same time, it lays out the responsibilities of key stakeholders, including the Security Council and its Working Group, concerned national Governments, the United Nations, Member States, donors and civil society.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“Indeed, our ambition should be to utilize the full potential of this framework, holding perpetrators accountable and bringing them to justice, and to enforce measures against violators through existing sanctions regimes. We also need to focus on other grave violations against children. The Special Representative has already expressed concern about the trend of attacks on schools. That trend must be reversed. In addition, the continued denial of humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict, such as in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, has grave implications for children.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“They are most affected by landmines, cluster munitions and other indiscriminate weapons and explosive remnants of war. It is commendable that the Security Council has decided to address this most basic grave violation against the rights of children. In total, therefore, three of the six grave violations in conflict are now subject to the Security Council framework. To be able to list, we need adequate monitoring and reporting mechanisms. UNICEF is fully committed to strengthen the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in relation to all three violations in all countries concerned. We also need monitoring and reporting to hold violators accountable.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“UNICEF welcomes the two triggers for listing of parties who commit rape and other forms of grave sexual violence and who kill and maim children. Sexual violence is still regularly used as a weapon of war with the strategic intent to humiliate and demoralize individuals, tear apart families and destroy communities. As many of us have experienced during visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the stories women and girls tell us are just horrific. They bear the brunt of that violence. The humiliation, stigma, exclusion and deep physical and psychological scars remain with them, in many cases destroying their lives. Children still account for a considerable number of war-related casualties. When they are not directly targeted or used in war, they often fall victim to the indiscriminate use of force.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“Security Council resolution 1882 (2009) was a formidable breakthrough. The vision and courage demonstrated by the Council in passing that resolution cannot be overstated. It expands the triggers for listing parties so that more of the grave violations are associated with the Council's naming and shaming efforts. Such grave violations also merit strong reactions and punitive measures against the perpetrators. We are pleased that the Security Council is willing to take such action. With resolution 1888 (2009), on sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war, the Council provides a further opportunity to consolidate the framework at our disposal to hold violators accountable. On our side, we stand ready to support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom, in her important mission.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“However, that number does not include the almost 3,000 children who were released in Nepal - which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General has just referred to - in January and February this year. It does include 5,900 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 1,400 children in the Sudan who have now embarked on the long and challenging process of reintegration with their families and communities. These numbers tell a compelling story: Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005) work. They are making a real difference in children's lives. Now we need to take our collective efforts one step further - not a small step, but a major one. We need to make change happen in the lives of many more children, as the Special Representative just highlighted in her statement.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“That is within our collective reach, but it will require sustained engagement at the highest possible level, stronger partnerships and robust delivery in the field. Together we can report on violations and identify violators. We can take action to ensure compliance with Security Council provisions, and we can protect and assist those that are the most vulnerable: children. The past year has been marked by notable progress. Action plans to end child recruitment have been signed by parties to conflict in the Philippines, Nepal and the Sudan. Thousands of children have been released from armed groups and armed forces. In 2009, a little over 9,500 children were removed from armed groups and armed forces in countries implementing the monitoring and reporting mechanism.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“And with your continued commitment and determination, Madam President, and that of all Council members, we may have the opportunity to end grave violations against children in armed conflict. We must never forget what is at stake. Last year, I visited a major demobilization centre operated by the armed forces in Chad. The boys were still in combat uniform when I met them. Their stories were horrific - they had witnessed brutal attacks on their homes and families; they had seen their houses burnt, their livelihoods destroyed. The boys had been forced to join rebel groups. When I asked them about their hopes for the future, all ten had one singular, uniform ambition: education. They wanted to go to school. That was the key to their future. We cannot ignore their stories or deny them the fulfilment of their dreams.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“Ms. Johnson: Children affected by armed conflict deserve protection. Not only that, they have the right to be protected from all violations of their rights. The Security Council has shown courage in leading international efforts to end grave violations against children in armed conflict. We truly appreciate that. On behalf of UNICEF, I would also like to thank Mexico for its exceptional leadership in driving this agenda forward in the Security Council. Without Mexico's support and dedication and that of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, progress we have seen in recent years would not have been possible.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341 (2010) · source
“At this meeting in Nairobi, the Security Council has emphasized its commitment to the Sudan. The United Nations and the entire international community will be ready to assist the Sudan as soon as the Sudanese leaders have completed the negotiations. The Sudanese people and the rest of the world are waiting for the parties to demonstrate the leadership necessary to finish the job and to prepare for peace. In view of the urgency of the situation, I would like to make a suggestion. In the sprit of goodwill demonstrated by both leaders yesterday and today, and in order to maintain the momentum, I wish to suggest that Ali Othman Taha and John Garang advance their schedules and meet five days before they had intended to so that they can start the job quickly. They need every minute. The people of the Sudan have suffered too much for too long.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“The solution must be broad in scope, and it must include non-Paris Club members. The Oslo conference must not be overshadowed by the debt issue, and should concentrate on new aid flows to underpin the peace. In parallel with the preparation for Oslo, therefore, a process to deal with the debt issue will be established. We also need more donors. I am hopeful that future donor partnership in the Sudan will include new, non-traditional participants. We must urge all donors to pledge generously and - not least - to stick to their promises. Norway will be honoured to invite the Sudanese parties and the wider donor community to the first donor conference for the Sudan as soon as peace agreements have been signed and the humanitarian situation in Darfur is under control.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“I ask the Security Council to send a clear signal to the United Nations Sudan mission and all of the agencies, as well as to all other donors, multilateral as well as bilateral, to coordinate their efforts closely within the United Nations system, within the donor community and with the relevant Sudanese authorities, and not to lower their flags. This principle should be reflected in the Council's resolutions and in preparations for the forthcoming donors conference. We must start by mobilizing resources for the enormous task of building a stable and secure Sudan - the biggest country in Africa. Our pledges will be based on solid documentation, such as that already provided by the Joint Assessment Mission. Separately, we must also reach a common understanding among key actors about how to handle Sudan's heavy debt burden.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“Donors must be committed to a long-term process, making sure that the Sudan remains a priority until not only peace, but also prosperity, has come within reach for the Sudanese people. Even a peaceful Sudan cannot be rebuilt in a year or two. Decades of destruction may demand decades of construction - of buildings, institutions and people's lives. In order to do our part, we must agree on some ground rules for our assistance and cooperation. If we know that aid will be spent wisely, the donor community will provide the necessary funds. But to get the most out of every development dollar, we must cooperate and we must coordinate. Turf wars cost money; they may even cost us the peace.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“However, the imbalance between north and south in social, political and economic development lies at the heart of the civil war, and must be addressed by the United Nations and other donors. The complexity of the peace agreement and the special arrangements for the interim period must be reflected in our joint efforts. The United Nations work plan for next year must be owned by the Sudanese parties. It must form an integral part of our joint planning engagement. Sudanese ownership means ownership by both the new Government structure and the population. It means cooperation with the different levels of authority. Development assistance should play a strategic role, strengthening peace in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the agreement, rewarding progress and ensuring stability. And we must have staying capacity.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“It is why we are making plans for joint operations and joint donor offices, preparing for a level of coordination and cooperation never seen before. In the Sudan, there is no room for solo players. Lack of coordination between donors not only leads to a waste of resources, but can also open the way for manipulation that reverses, rather than advances, the process. We as donors cannot risk becoming pawns in a game that we cannot control. This is why we want to set a new and higher standard for our work in a future Sudan - a standard of coordination that can serve as a reference in other post-conflict areas. The parties have agreed to a model of asymmetric federalism. That will ensure far-reaching autonomy for the southern region.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“If we fail, the consequences will be devastating, not only for the Sudanese people, but for the entire region. We may have only this one chance to do it right. The Sudanese leaders and the international community have an obligation to make it work. That is why we need a united international partner group, closely coordinated with the Sudanese parties and the post-war Sudan Government. That is also why we need close cooperation between the United Nations and the World Bank, and United Nations agencies that work in harmony. It is why we welcome the ongoing efforts of the United Nations and the World Bank to create joint multi-donor trust funds in close cooperation with the parties and key donors.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“These are some of the dangers: lack of coordination between donors, when national or organizational pride is allowed to take precedence over results on the ground; lack of country ownership, when the country's Government and population are relegated to being spectators unable to take the steering wheel in a process that should be theirs; and lack of long-term commitment from donors, when donors compete to assist for a short period after the peace is made - another photo opportunity - only to disappear when the next crisis demands attention. In the Sudan, we will pay dearly if these mistakes are repeated. Because of the unique features of this conflict, such mistakes will have more serious consequences here than in most other parts of the world. It is imperative that we as donors take note of lessons learned.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“In Darfur, the destruction is overwhelming. In most of the Sudan, poverty is at a level that will require years of international engagement. The Sudanese parties and the international community have an enormous task ahead. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes from other post-conflict areas of the world. We know from experience that peace is fragile. It needs attention, protection and nurturing. We also know that history overflows with examples of promising peace efforts gone awry, opportunities missed and mistakes made. In fact, more than half of all peace agreements fail and the parties slide back into war. Ironically enough, donors, in spite of the best intentions, have sometimes contributed to this. We have to learn from our mistakes.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“The meeting confirmed that the IPF will be the forum for donor coordination and widened the circle of support for assistance to the new Sudan. Successful planning does not always translate into successful action. However, I believe that, if we stick to our plans, the Sudan has an excellent chance of success. The Sudan can be rebuilt, but only with massive national and international efforts. The new Government structure - the Sudanese - must deliver on their promises, and we as donors must deliver on ours: no empty promises, only delivery. In the Sudan we are not starting from scratch. We are not starting from zero. We are starting from minus 39: 39 years of war and destruction. In the south, millions have been forced to flee their homes, infrastructure is destroyed and the basic structure of society is non-existent.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“Throughout the IGAD effort, the international donor community, through the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), has been engaged for the last four years in preparations for assistance, in parallel with its support for the peace process. The parties to the conflict have been involved in these preparations every step of the way and are fully aware of the rewards that are likely to result from the signing of a comprehensive peace deal. The Oslo donors' conference will address the construction and development of the whole of Sudan. In fact, this could be our best prepared post-war donor process so far. In September, at the IPF meeting in Oslo, the Sudanese parties, including those from Darfur, met with the donor community, including China, the African Union and the Arab League, to discuss preparations for assistance to a future Sudan.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“When the parties have laid the foundation for a peaceful environment throughout the country, when internally displaced persons are able to return, when people can go back to their daily lives without fear, when international assistance can safely access all areas of Sudan, that is the time when long-term international development support will be made available. That is the precondition for a successful donors' conference: an environment that can convince the international community that the best possible use will be made of donor resources, for the benefit of every Sudanese. The international community will come well prepared to the table at a donors' conference. Plans for assistance to the Sudan after the war have been an integral part of the efforts to bring about a political solution.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“But the urgent and undivided attention of the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) is now needed to complete the process. The Sudan is at a crossroads, where the country's leaders have to choose between the path to peace and stability and the path to fragmentation and fighting. That is why the memorandum of understanding just signed is promising. The successful outcome of the peace talks will mark the end of one long process and herald the start of another: the rebuilding and development of Sudan.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“Norway strongly condemns the continued killings and attacks on civilians taking place in Darfur, and we fully support the Security Council's call for rapid implementation of the humanitarian and security protocols. We welcome and support the efforts of the African Union in the Abuja negotiations and on the ground in Darfur, and we commend the parties for signing the significant agreement in Abuja recently. But we share the view that the road to a political solution to the crisis in Darfur goes through the completion of the IGAD peace negotiations. A comprehensive peace agreement in the context of the IGAD talks will become the platform for peaceful solutions nationally, in Darfur and in other volatile regions.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“The main responsibility for the Sudan's future development rests with the Sudanese leaders, but it is crucial that the international community stand ready to support the parties in rebuilding and developing the country once the foundation for a Sudan at peace has been laid. Norway has offered to host an international donors' conference to address the next step: the reconstruction and development of a country devastated by decades of conflict. Preparations for the Oslo conference are well under way. We are only waiting for the parties to take the very last steps to peace. The situation in Darfur reminds us again and again that those last steps must be taken very soon - now.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source
“Let me start by thanking you, Ambassador Danforth, for inviting me to address the Security Council here in Nairobi today. I am grateful for this opportunity to speak about the international donors' conference to be held in my country, and am honoured to be part of this highly important meeting. The fact that the Security Council is meeting in Nairobi sends a strong message: a message about the world's commitment to support a Sudan without war; a message about the world's expectations for a speedy conclusion of the Sudan peace talks sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); a message that we must all do our part to bring about peace in a country where so many have suffered for so long.”
2004-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5082 (2004) · source