PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UNAMID reassures Sudan of respect of sovereignty
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The African Union/United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has reassured the government of Sudan that the country's sovereignty would be respected, stressing at the same time the need to allow the mission to carry out its mandate.
"The (African Union) Commission reiterates its full confidence in the impartiality, professionalism and continued commitment of the AU‐UN Joint Special Representative and the UNAMID leadership, as well as of the staff of all its predominantly African civilian, military and police components to implement the mission’s mandate on behalf of the AU and the UN, with full respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Sudan," a statement by the AU commissioner, Dr. Jean Ping, said on Tuesday.
Government officials and public organizations are stirring impatiently after a UN Security Council resolution on renewal of the mandate of the hybrid forces seems to hint of a shift whereby the forces could reactivate chapter VII that allows for use of force in the implementation of the mandate.
The statement said Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU)received a full report on the current situation and prospects for peace in Darfur from the Joint AU/UN Special Representative (JSR), Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
The statement said Ping was also in contact with the AU High‐Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on its efforts to facilitate the promotion of lasting peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur, as well as with the Government of the Republic of Sudan regarding its concerns on some aspects of United Nations Security Council resolution 2003 (2011) of 29 July, 2011.
"The commission is closely monitoring the debate on the content of resolution 2003 (2011), which, inter-alia, renewed the mandate of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)," it said.
It explained that the resolution followed the decision adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on 19 July, 2011, which, in addition to renewing UNAMID’s mandate and requesting the Security Council to do the same, stressed the need to fully launch the Darfur Political Process (DPP), building on the positive outcome of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), as a way of sustaining the progress made so far and ensuring that Darfur truly won the quest for peace, justice and reconciliation in the region.
Professor Gambari recently met with the Sudanese chief security officer, General Mohamed Atta and Foreign Minister, Ali Ahmed Karti and other government officials to reassure them that UNAMID is in Darfur to help implement the peace process and not to violate the sovereignty of the country.
"The Commission considers the issues and interrogations that have dominated the debate as a reflection of the need for due consideration to be given to the position of the AU on the situation in Darfur, as articulated by its relevant policy organs, in particular the PSC.
"They also highlight the imperative, appropriateness and value of enhanced consultations and coordination within the AU-UN strategic partnership on topical and current peace and security challenges on the African continent of which the AU is continuously and actively seized," the statement stressed.
The commission appealed toall concerned to demonstrate continued commitment to the hybrid AU-UN nature of UNAMID and to the implementation of its well established mandate, as provided for in UN Security Council and AU Peace and Security Council resolutions.
The statement stressed that full respect of the hybrid nature of UNAMID is a sine qua non for the successful implementation of its mandate.
"Today, more than ever before, it is critical to create conditions that will enable UNAMID to effectively support the stabilization process in Darfur, especially in the light of the imminent commencement of the implementation of the DDPD, the launching of the DPP and the efforts on the ground towards early recovery and development in Darfur."
It, meanwhile, stated that plans are at an advanced stage for the next meeting of the Tripartite Coordination Mechanism on UNAMID between the Government of the Republic of Sudan, the AU and the UN, to constructively address all outstanding and current challenges to the implementation of UNAMID mandate.
It said the Commission further looks forward to its forthcoming exchange and interaction with the United Nations counterparts on all relevant issues, including the launch of the DPP under the auspices of the AUHIP and in accordance with the decisions of the PSC and the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
According to the statement, the Commission recalled the appeal by PSC to all members of the international community to fully support the DPP, without making its launch contingent upon the fulfilment of pre-conditions that have the potential to provide room for spoilers to undermine the quest for peace, defeat the principle of ownership by the Sudanese stakeholders and make it impossible to grasp opportunities to advance the cause of peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur.
"The Commission reiterates its full confidence in the impartiality, professionalism and continued commitment of the AU-UN Joint Special Representative and the UNAMID leadership, as well as of the staff of all its predominantly African civilian, military and police components to implement the mission’s mandate on behalf of the AU and the UN, with full respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Sudan," the statement said.
-0- PANA MO/BOS/MA 23Aug2011
"The (African Union) Commission reiterates its full confidence in the impartiality, professionalism and continued commitment of the AU‐UN Joint Special Representative and the UNAMID leadership, as well as of the staff of all its predominantly African civilian, military and police components to implement the mission’s mandate on behalf of the AU and the UN, with full respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Sudan," a statement by the AU commissioner, Dr. Jean Ping, said on Tuesday.
Government officials and public organizations are stirring impatiently after a UN Security Council resolution on renewal of the mandate of the hybrid forces seems to hint of a shift whereby the forces could reactivate chapter VII that allows for use of force in the implementation of the mandate.
The statement said Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU)received a full report on the current situation and prospects for peace in Darfur from the Joint AU/UN Special Representative (JSR), Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
The statement said Ping was also in contact with the AU High‐Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on its efforts to facilitate the promotion of lasting peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur, as well as with the Government of the Republic of Sudan regarding its concerns on some aspects of United Nations Security Council resolution 2003 (2011) of 29 July, 2011.
"The commission is closely monitoring the debate on the content of resolution 2003 (2011), which, inter-alia, renewed the mandate of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)," it said.
It explained that the resolution followed the decision adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on 19 July, 2011, which, in addition to renewing UNAMID’s mandate and requesting the Security Council to do the same, stressed the need to fully launch the Darfur Political Process (DPP), building on the positive outcome of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), as a way of sustaining the progress made so far and ensuring that Darfur truly won the quest for peace, justice and reconciliation in the region.
Professor Gambari recently met with the Sudanese chief security officer, General Mohamed Atta and Foreign Minister, Ali Ahmed Karti and other government officials to reassure them that UNAMID is in Darfur to help implement the peace process and not to violate the sovereignty of the country.
"The Commission considers the issues and interrogations that have dominated the debate as a reflection of the need for due consideration to be given to the position of the AU on the situation in Darfur, as articulated by its relevant policy organs, in particular the PSC.
"They also highlight the imperative, appropriateness and value of enhanced consultations and coordination within the AU-UN strategic partnership on topical and current peace and security challenges on the African continent of which the AU is continuously and actively seized," the statement stressed.
The commission appealed toall concerned to demonstrate continued commitment to the hybrid AU-UN nature of UNAMID and to the implementation of its well established mandate, as provided for in UN Security Council and AU Peace and Security Council resolutions.
The statement stressed that full respect of the hybrid nature of UNAMID is a sine qua non for the successful implementation of its mandate.
"Today, more than ever before, it is critical to create conditions that will enable UNAMID to effectively support the stabilization process in Darfur, especially in the light of the imminent commencement of the implementation of the DDPD, the launching of the DPP and the efforts on the ground towards early recovery and development in Darfur."
It, meanwhile, stated that plans are at an advanced stage for the next meeting of the Tripartite Coordination Mechanism on UNAMID between the Government of the Republic of Sudan, the AU and the UN, to constructively address all outstanding and current challenges to the implementation of UNAMID mandate.
It said the Commission further looks forward to its forthcoming exchange and interaction with the United Nations counterparts on all relevant issues, including the launch of the DPP under the auspices of the AUHIP and in accordance with the decisions of the PSC and the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
According to the statement, the Commission recalled the appeal by PSC to all members of the international community to fully support the DPP, without making its launch contingent upon the fulfilment of pre-conditions that have the potential to provide room for spoilers to undermine the quest for peace, defeat the principle of ownership by the Sudanese stakeholders and make it impossible to grasp opportunities to advance the cause of peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur.
"The Commission reiterates its full confidence in the impartiality, professionalism and continued commitment of the AU-UN Joint Special Representative and the UNAMID leadership, as well as of the staff of all its predominantly African civilian, military and police components to implement the mission’s mandate on behalf of the AU and the UN, with full respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Sudan," the statement said.
-0- PANA MO/BOS/MA 23Aug2011
