Statement by the President of the Security Council


	At the 5434th meeting of the Security Council, held on 9 May 2006, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:
	“The Security Council strongly welcomes the agreement of 5 May 2006 reached at the Intra-Sudanese Peace Talks in Abuja as a basis for lasting peace in Darfur; commends the signatories to the agreement; expresses its appreciation of the efforts of President Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, President Obasanjo of Nigeria, in his capacity as host of the Talks, and African Union Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim; calls on all the parties to respect their commitments and implement the agreement without delay; urges those movements that have not signed the agreement to do so without delay, noting the benefits it will bring them and the people of Darfur, and not to act in any way that would impede implementation of the agreement; and welcomes the forthcoming meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on 15 May 2006.
	“The Security Council commends the African Union for what the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) has achieved in Darfur despite difficult circumstances; stresses the need for AMIS to be urgently further strengthened in line with the conclusions of the Joint Assessment Mission report of 10-20 December 2005 so that it is able to support implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement until a United Nations operation is deployed; calls in this regard for the Secretary-General and the African Union to convene a pledging conference without delay; and urges Member States and international and regional organizations to provide every possible assistance to AMIS.
	“The Security Council stresses that the Secretary-General should consult jointly with the African Union, in close and continuing consultation with the Security Council, and in cooperation and close consultation with the parties to the Abuja Peace Talks, including the Government of National Unity, on decisions concerning the transition to a United Nations operation; looks forward to receiving at the earliest opportunity from the Secretary-General detailed planning proposals for a United Nations operation in Darfur; calls in this regard for the Government of National Unity to facilitate immediately the visit of a joint United Nations and African Union technical assessment mission to Darfur; encourages the Secretary-General to consult urgently with potential troop-contributing countries on the assets required for a United Nations operation; stresses that a United Nations operation should have strong African participation and character; and calls on international and regional organizations and Member States to provide the United Nations operation every possible assistance.
	“The Security Council expresses its deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur; welcomes the visit of the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland; expresses its deep concern at the shortfall in humanitarian funding; urges Member States to make additional funds available; and calls on all the Sudanese parties to respect the neutrality, impartiality and independence of humanitarian assistance.”













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 United Nations
S/PRST/2006/21
 
 Security Council
Distr.: General
9 May 2006

Original: English



06-34302 (E)    090506    
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 S/PRST/2006/21


S/PRST/2006/21