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PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS 305 East 47th Street · New York. N.Y. 10017 · Tel: (212) 573-6033 · Fax: (212) 573-6160

Statement by Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani Advisor to H.E. the President of the Republic of the Sudan - Head of the Delegation Before the Sixty-fourth Session of the United Nations General Assembly

New York 28 September, 2009

Check against delivery.

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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. President,
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Honorable, Ministers and Heads of Delegation, Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations, Distinguished Members of Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the outset, I would like to convey to you the good wishes of Sudan's government and people for successful deliberations of the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly. In its entrails, your agenda carries topics reflecting the challenges encountered by the international family as well as the priorities we have to specify, such as the development and welfare of our peoples along with the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's), redressing economic and financial crises, containing the effects of climate change and the maintenance of international peace and security. By the same token I am pleased to extend warm greetings to His Excellency Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his election to the presidency of this important UN session. Your election, Mr. President, is an honor to us given the common ties and excellent relations which bind our two brotherly countries. We are confident that your political skills and diplomatic expertise will help realize our ambitions to have an able, effective and transparent UN. We cannot but express our appreciation for the high competency with which your predecessor Father Miguel D'Escoto conducted the proceedings of the previous session. Along the same lines we wish to extend our appreciation to the Secretary General for the efforts undertaken by the General-Secretariat in fulfillment of its role and responsibilities.

Mr. President,
Millions throughout the world are looking forward to our deliberations in the wake of the suffocating crises sustained by the international community, traces of which are still lingering amidst the family of nations especially the developing countries in a manner that dashed peoples' aspirations for development and stability in a world where the fruits of scientific and technological progress nourished the hope of better opportunities for further advances and for the elaboration of an equitable

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and just world order conducive to the elimination of nations' poverty and the realization of their aspirations for decent living. While noncompliance with the norms of conduct which are guided by the UN charter, principles of international law and its established rules, the prevalence of the policy of double standards on the international scene has rendered the world less secure than before, current economic and financial crises which widen the gap between developed and developing countries have compounded these challenges. The world is experiencing the worst and gravest economic and financial crisis since the Depression of the 30's. It is coupled with 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 the gains they made towards the achievement of MDG's. By virtue of its chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China, the Sudan has accorded special attention to the repercussions of this crisis, the origin of which as is well known was not the developing countries, despite the fact that the latter are more hard hit by it. This crisis has given rise to poverty and hunger, escalation of the rates of unemployment, slackening of growth and economic slump in addition to adverse impact on the balance of trade and balance of payment. By the same token the crises has led to recession in commodity prices, sharp fluctuation in exchange rates and sudden diversion in the track of capital special flaws and foreign direct investment (FDI), fall in the remittances of the developing countries and drop in tourism revenues. Concomitantly, the social sector suffered most because of the erosion in social security networks which provide health, education and other services. This in turn augmented the frequency of infant and maternal mortality rates. G77 and China is deeply concerned over this crisis and its impact on countries of special nature, foremost among which are the African States, least-developing countries (LDC's), Small Island States and Countries Emerging from Conflict. Besides, low and middle income countries face development challenges. These developments impose a moral duty on us and in particular on the industrial countries to channel their collective response and strong commitment towards fulfilling the requisite solutions including the provision of funding, capacity-building, backing sustainable development, addressing debt problems, elimination of obstacles to trade and investment as well as meeting their international pledges in the domain of the development. Comprehensive reform of the international financial and economic system, safeguarding an enhanced role for the developing countries and their participation in norm setting and standards and in decision making processes
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in international financial institutions are of central significance. Major industrial countries cannot constitute a substitute for our universal legitimacy as embedded in the collective voice of our states here at the United Nations. In this connection, the open-ended working group which the General Assembly entrusted to follow up the outcome of the UN High-Level Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development held in New York last 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 forthcoming December conference in Copenhagen will be crowned with success. The developing countries which were by no means responsible for the initiation of climate change and global warming urge developed countries on the basis of their historic responsibility to address the root causes of climate change, provide new and additional predictable financial resources, help build capacities, transfer, entrench and develop technology, implement 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 G77 and China, my country will spare no effort in pursuit of safeguarding these demands. The absence of transparency and the marginalization of the developing countries' role in the formulation and implementation of the economic and financial policies at the international level, the adoption of unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, the presence of anachronistic international financial institutions with sterile and irrational governance have contributed to the creation and exacerbation of the economic and financial crisis. Meanwhile, the absence of democracy in international relations as exemplified by the present form and content of the Security Council has become a major factor in diminishing the UN ability to respond to new, objective and structural variables and challenges of the international system. It has also led to the proliferation of selectivity and double standards. What doubled these crises is the enforcement of unilateral sanctions hostile to the freedom of trade and investment and violative of the UN charter and the rules of international law. The UN rostrum is being used by some to serve narrow interests so much so that the concept of human rights has become a tool for ceaseless politicization and score settling. In the same vain, the often misused concept of terrorism has led at times to the victim being equated with the aggressor as is currently evident in the plight of the Palestinian people which are still chafing under the yoke of occupation. The Palestinian question as a result has remained unsolved, a matter that has gravely compromised the UN reputation and credibility.

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From the foregoing, it is clear that for the UN is to effectively serve a changing world, it has to effect an all-out change in its tools and approaches so that it will truely express the voice of all nations. The UN, the inception of which embodied diversity, has to foster dialogue among cultures and civilizations, respect for peoples', political and social choices, settlement of disputes by peaceful means and freeing the world of nuclear weapons. On the basis of the African position my country calls for revitalizing the role of the UN Organization and reforming the Security Council. In this regard it is indispensable to translate the charters exhortations for close integration between the UN and the regional organizations especially the African Union (AU) and to accomplish a partnership devoted to carrying out the priority charted by the Millennium Summit for the development of the African Continent and promoting the pillars of stability therein. As much as effective international cooperation and partnership for peace and development continue to be noble goals for our states and people, this session is of special importance to my country at this stage, when we have made peace a strategic objective of a nation that throughout its history represented a model for the strength of diversity with its dynamic social fabric and the richness of its components. Thanks to our people's resolve, its strong will and strenuous endeavours to utilize its resource an end was brought to what has been termed as the longest war on the African continent with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The said agreement adopts a system conforming citizenship as a basis for rights and duties, espouses 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 instituted the principles of wealth sharing in line with the norms of equity and equality. The application of the Agreement proceeded ahead with the completion of the formation of pertinent mechanisms and institutions alongside full commitment by the two partners to the Agreement to agree to the sound treatment of the question of entitlements as reflected in the handling of the question of Abyei. Their undertaking to implement the remaining peace requirements to achieve the peace that protects the country's unity which constitutes a paramount vital necessity for the people of the Sudan, Africa and the entire world. It is noteworthy that donors' refraining from fulfilling the development resources and pledges they took upon themselves in support of CPA has adversely affected its implementation particularly in the spheres of development, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants in -5-

society. Therefore, we urge the fulfillment of all commitment to foster peace and stability as well as reconstructing the ravages of years of war so that peace is meaningful. In conforming with the CPA, we are about to conduct general legislative and executive elections, after the conduction of a population census, the accuracy and credibility of which were testified to by numerous international and regional institutions. We assert our resolve and determination to hold legislative and executive elections in April 2010 abiding by CPA and strengthening the efforts of political reform indispensable for founding peace on a strong base. We invite the international community to support financially and materially the conduction of elections in deeds and in words. Yet despite all the positive developments in the peace process, we note with profound concern the recent armed tribal conflicts in southern Sudan. These 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 CPA, the responsibility for the maintenance of peace in the south of the Sudan belongs to the Government 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.

Mr. President
Our people has recognized that peace will not be complete unless it extends to our compatriots in Darfur. Signing the Darfur Peace Agreement DPA in Abuja under the gracious aegis of the AU affirmed my government serious commitment to resolve the problem of Darfur peacefully. While we were endeavouring earnestly to implement that agreement, and instead of seeing certain international parties fulfill their pledges and obligations towards strict application of the Agreement, we witnessed unwarranted pressures brought to bear on the wrong side. Instead of pressurizing the parties which shied away from the peace option, pressures were exercised on the Abuja signatories themselves. This hampered peace endeavors and led to the conflict being protracted. Yet, thanks to our government and people's upholding the peace option and our relentless efforts to achieve it, Darfur is presently witnessing positive and far reaching developments due to the complete commitment shown by the government of National Unity to lasting peace in Darfur and its cooperation with UNAMID through the Tripartite Mechanism. That policy has led to far reaching improvement in the humanitarian situation in Darfur,
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as recognized and attested by UN documented reports. This is further supported by our scrupulous commitment to the humanitarian agreement signed last April with the U.S. Special Envoy to the Sudan. We reiterate our commitment to close cooperation with the UN, national and international NGOs with a view to enhancing and developing that policy in a manner which prevents any humanitarian disaster or even food gaps in the future. In this connection, it is imperative to note massive return of IDP's to their villages in the states of Darfur. We, government, people and international community must seize this opportunity to foster this trend. We renew our commitment and preparedness at anytime to work with no delay to ensure the success of the forthcoming negotiations in Doha in 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 UN session initiatives. We welcome the declaration made by the American President, Barack Obama, before the UN General Assembly on his country's readiness to help find solution to the question of Darfur. Noting the positive tone in the statements voiced by the American President vis-a-vis the developing countries in general, we hope that his words will be translated into actions in order to correct the misguided policies of the previous American administration which compromised bilateral relations and aggravated the region's problems. This requires first and foremost lifting the unilateral sanctions and removing the name of the Sudan from the American list of terrorism. We renew our appeal to the armed groups to muster the will for solution and involvement in the peace process. The people of Sudan are more capable of solving their problems. No other endeavor can supplant that. Nobody can be more keen on containing the blood letting and achieving peace than the Sudanese themselves. From this forum, we call anew on those states that host some of the rebel leaders to prove their credibility through ensuring their constructive and serious participation in the peace process. If my country repeatedly declared its commitment to unilateral ceasefire as an initiative for confidence-building and bringing about the success of negotiations, we hope that other armed factions will respond positively so that a permanently monitored ceasefire can be reached. The international community which promised to take stringent decisions against those who refused to take part in the peace talks or impede them has to do so in deeds and not in words. The question of development, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction should be given special attention as embodied in resolution 1769 establishing the

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Hybrid Mission. There should be transition from emergency humanitarian assistance to supporting development in order to facilitate the return and settlement of IDPs and refugees to their villages and farms. For peace to be sustained and entrenched, the efforts and contributions of the Darfur society and its civil organizations must be backed up. From this podium, I wish to assert my country's keen interest in having constructive relations with all its neighbors 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 wish to normalize relations with sisterly Chad in conformity with all agreements and instruments signed with them. Invoking our uninterrupted history of our cordial and sisterly relations, we invite them to demonstrate the same readiness. The Darfur problem aught not have eluded us, especially since its causes are well known and evident in the paucity of resources, environmental degradation and climate change as revealed at the fora of several environment related agencies. Like other root causes of conflicts it can be cured through development and eliminating poverty, not by eking out gains through protracted disputes and false allegations. That problem would not have been intractable on account of Sudanese citizens ability to solve their problems as displayed in the accomplishments mad through the conclusion of the CPA and the peace agreement for the eastern part of the Sudan, had it not been for the unfair and unjust campaign against my country; a campaign designed to exploit the Darfur crisis in the service of its ambitions and agenda through the pursuit of overstatements, obfuscating facts and derogating from our people's heritage, values and traditions. That targeting has become a frequent pattern. At the time when the Government of National Unity made remarkable progress in the application of CPA, the chief guarantor of which is the President of the Republic himself, and at the time when the Sudan started a new phase towards the achievement of political reform and transformation, peaceful devolution of authority, putting an end to disputes and infighting and the achievement of inclusive development for our people who are rich with resources and the will for peace, targeting has come this time on the pretext of mendacious justice allegations using the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a dubious move and flagrant selectivity targeting the leadership of the country and the symbol of its sovereignty in a loosing attempt to hamper the process of peace and stability in the Sudan and to prolong the suffering of its people. That move was condemned by all peaceloving forces and rejected by regional and international organizations with a decisive and deterrent response coterminous with the stand of our people that has been used to peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and tolerance. The -8-

achievement of security and stability in Darfur requires speedy rectification of these conditions and new abidance by the peace process as well as invalidating that mischievous calculation and its negative fallouts to the peace of the Sudan and the African continent in its entirety.

Mr. President,
Between the signing of the UN charter in mid last century and the momentous developments and profound challenges currently witnessed by the world, many currents and torrents passed under the bridge of international relations. This makes the annual General Assembly sessions an earnest opportunity for introspection and gleaning lessons. Let us renew our resolve to foster multilateral action for which this international organization stands. Let our 64th session be a defining point towards achieving our common aspirations in a world where the values of fraternity and joint destiny prevail.

Thank you very much Mr. President...

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