S U D A N


Statement of

H.E.Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Before

The United Nations General Assembly 58th Session

 

New York

Monday 29th September 2003

 

 

In the name of Allah the most compassionate the most merciful.

"mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into Nations and tribes, that Yea may know each other (Not that ye may despise (Each other). Verily The most honoured of you
in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (With all things)".

Mr. President,

At the outset, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on your well deserved election for the presidency of this Session. Our thanks also go for your predecessor Mr. Jan Kavan. We would also like to express our appreciation to the important role that the Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan continues to play to revitalize the work of the Organization, and in this connection we welcome his initiative regarding the institutional reform of the organization. I would also like to seize this opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences for the early passing away of Mr. Serjio Demilo and his colleagues in the tragic incident in Iraq.

Mr. President,

Last year when I addressed the Assembly from this podium, I illustrated the keenness and seriousness of my country to continue to achieve peace in the Sudan, hence I am happy to inform you that we matched words with deeds, and the prelude of peace is now in the horizon, to put an end to an armed conflict which hindered the human and natural resources of the country, and handicapped the Sudanese people from achieving their development.

Mr. President,

My Government has continuously reiterated its keenness for dialogue and negotiations with the SPLA. Its efforts, together with the efforts of the mediators, have continued for more than ten years and lastly crowned with the agreement of both parties to the initiative of IGAD countries, under the patronage of sisterly Kenya and with the appreciable positive support of the IGAD partners.

The last round of negotiation in which H. E. The First Vice President Mr. Ali Osman Mohamed Taha led the Government's delegation and Dr. John Garang De Mapior led the SPLA delegation, has reached, four days ago, an agreement on the security arrangements and the extension of cease fire. This agreement is perceived to pave the way for a final and just peace very soon in the Sudan. On this occasion we would like to express our gratitude to the IGAD member countries for the role they played in the Sudan peace process under the stewardship of the Kenyan president and his special envoy. Our thanks and appreciation also go to IGAD partners, namely the USA, Britain, Italy and Norway. In this regard, we would like to express special gratitude for the positive intervention of the Government of the USA at the most critical juncture of the negotiation process. We also appreciate the great attention that Egypt and Libya have continued to render for the peace initiatives in the Sudan, as well as the efforts of the Arab League and the African Union.

Mr. President,

We are confident that you would recognize the impact of the cease-fire agreement on the humanitarian situation. The report of the Secretary General to this Session on the humanitarian situation in the Sudan has demonstrated the extent of the progress in this field. The peace remains the basic pillar for the rehabilitation of the areas affected by war and will allow for the transition from relief to comprehensive sustainable development.

Mr. President,

While talking about peace, we would like to reiterate our full conviction that, regional peace, security and the stability of the countries of the region are directly linked with the peace in the Sudan. This is why my country has endeavoured to heal the wounds of the past in its relations with the neighbouring countries, in particular Egypt and Ethiopia with which the relations have surpassed reconciliation to the paradigm of strategic ties which ensure the interests of our peoples and consolidate peace and, security in the entire region.

Mr. President,

It gives me great pleasure to convey to this august Assembly that we have achieved great constitutional achievements which will open the door for wide participation by all Sudanese in all matters of national concern. The economic plans and policies adopted by the government have started to reap fruits weather in reducing inflation or achieving a high rate of growth or stabilizing the exchange rate. We will continue to enhance those policies to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development within the framework of the twenty five year comprehensive development strategy for the period 2003-2027.

Mr. President,

In his report to this Session, the Secretary General reminds us that as challenges change, we have to change our methods to face them too. It is high time to avail the political will to reform the Security Council through enlarging both the permanent and nonpermanent categories to make it more representative to the UN membership. The decision making process should also be reformed through abolishing the veto right.

While talking about the Security Council reform we would like to express our warm welcome to the Council Resolution number 1506 which lifted the sanctions imposed on the sisterly Libya. In this context we would like to stress the necessity of lifting all the unilateral sanctions as a means of political and economic coercion, and we call upon the Security Council not to precipitate in imposing sanctions on countries specially the developing countries for their negative impacts on their peoples.

The high level participation in this 58th Session is a clear evidence of the importance of the General Assembly. In this regard we strongly support your efforts to reschedule its priorities and agenda, to improve the administrative and procedural aspects of the General Assembly, and to enhance its relations with the Security Council in its capacity as the highest instance in the United Nations, to contribute to the maintenance of the international peace and security, and facing the new challenges.

Mr. President,

Another challenge of great concern to all of us, is the increase of acts of terrorism. These acts which take place in different places in the world, proved that no country is immuned from terrorism, all of us regardless of our religions and beliefs can be victims of these crimes. As I have mentioned before, terrorism has no religion nor patrimony. To face this threat, we need to reach a consensus on its definition, root causes and the means to combat it under the auspices of the United Nations. In this regard we express our support to the call of H. E. Mohamed Hussni Mubarak, President of the Republic of Egypt for the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the UN to address the issue of terrorism. I would like to mention that the Non-Alignment Movement Ministerial Conference to be hosted by the Sudan next year, will consider issues of collective security and challenges.

Mr. President,

The Sudan is committed to all international human rights instruments. My country, inspired by its beliefs in the sacred principles of human rights, joins all those who reject the politicization, selectivity and double standards when dealing with human rights. At the national level, my Government continues its endeavours to promote the protection of and the respect for human rights.

The international community is becoming more convinced that the root causes of the violations of human rights could be addressed better through dialogue and cooperation rather than through confrontation. From here stems the importance of dialogue among civilizations. In this regard, we highly commend the initiative of H. E. the President of Iran and the efforts of the United Nations. We recall here that my country has hosted a number of conferences and forums on the subject and has recently established a national council for dialogue among religions to promote tolerance and religions coexistence.

Mr. President,

The widening gap between the rich and the poor and the increasing marginalisation of the developing countries in the global economy are clear indicators for the failure of the international development cooperation policies in the context of a globalization believed to work for the benefit of all. It is regrettable to notice that, in spite of the consensus spirit emerged in recent international conferences, specially the international conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, unfortunately the gap between the North and the South continues to widen. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the establishment of a just and democratic international economic order that guarantees better trade terms between all countries, increases the volume of the official development aid to developing countries, and alleviates their debt burden, thus enabling the international community to achieve the millennium development goals on top of which comes the overarching goal of poverty eradication.

Mr. President,

The collapse of the trade negotiations in Cancun is a serious blow to the aspirations of the developing countries for a fair world trade system that offers them free and unimpeded market access. In fact, in the absence of a real political will from the part of the developed countries, as the meeting in Cancun revealed, any talk about the nexus between trade and development, is nothing but hypocrisy.

The deteriorating socio-economic conditions of the Least Developed Countries need a special attention from the international community to address this daunting challenge in order to pullout these countries from the labyrinth of poverty, hunger and disease. Our experience in the Sudan has proven that whatever the least developed countries do, they cannot achieve the objectives of the Brussels Programme of Action without a substantive assistance from their development partners. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the tireless efforts of the High Representative of the Secretary General for LDCs , LLDCs and SIDS in mobilizing the international support for the efforts of the Least Developed Countries.

We would also like to join the appeal of H. E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, President of Mozambique and current Chairman of the African Union, to the international community to provide the necessary assistance to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the framework adopted by the Africans, the United Nations and the donors as the tool to face the challenges of development in the continent.

Mr. President,

Sudan, in its capacity as Chairman of IGAD and COMESA, has spared no effort in its endeavours to formulate policies and taking steps that would further consolidate and promote links of cooperation between both IGAD and COMESA membership. Such efforts are perceived to be in line with the NEPAD initiative aimed at realizing peace, development and prosperity for the peoples of the entire African Continent. To this end, a number of specialized conferences were convened in the Sudan to address issues of economic cooperation, disarmament, combating terrorism and the question of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

Mr. President,

One item in our agenda that we think will negatively affect the future of humankind if not properly addressed is the issue of human cloning which is now at the center of a scientific, religious, legal and ethical heated debate. Sudan strongly supports the call for the finalization of an international convention to ban
reproductive human cloning. We also condemn all medical adventures that disdain human dignity and the holiness of the Creator.

Mr. President,

The statements delivered during the few past days clearly demonstrated the keenness of the international community to preserve international peace and security. We, while adding our voice to those calling for the revitalization of multilateralism, call for a prompt handling of the security and humanitarian situation in Iraq. We further call for the empowerment of the Iraqis to exercise their right of sovereignty as stipulated in international law so that this brotherly country could live in peace and harmony with its neighbors. In this context, it gives me pleasure to remind this august Assembly of the important resolution adopted, a few weeks ago, by the Council of Ministers of the Arab League, which temporarily recognized the Transitional Council of Governance in Iraq. Such recognition is a significant step that would hopefully enable Iraq to play its role at both regional and international levels.

Mr. President,

The Palestinian question has been a major source of deep concern to the human conscience. It has been for the past five decades one of the major threats to international peace and security. We have been steadfastly convinced that the continuation of the huge military aggression and suppression of Israel against the Palestinian people, will only worsen the already deteriorating situation. The only viable passage to peace is adherence to the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and international law. The international community, in particular the parties who can influence the peace process, is called upon to bear pressure on Israel. In this connection, the Sudan strongly condemns the decision of the Israeli government to deport President Arafat outside the Palestinian territories, or to physically liquidate him as declared by some Israeli officials. The Sudan further condemns the plan of Israel to build the separating wall, which will
effectively complicate the peace process. The Sudan reiterates its support to the Arab initiative adopted at the Arab Summit in Beirut as a framework to put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Mr. President,

The ongoing conflict in Somalia has been a bleeding wound in the Horn of Africa. Time has come to stop this painful bleeding. We call upon the leaders of all Somali factions to join hands together in order to maintain the unity and stability of their country, and to achieve development and prosperity for their people, so as to protect them from the scourge of war. We remain confident that the neighbouring and other interested countries will spare no effort to help in reaching an agreement that would maintain the unity, security and stability of Somalia.

Mr. President,

Sudan is now a real partner in the international effort aiming at the prohibition of the chemical weapons. One of the significant roles played by the Sudan in this regard was its hosting, last August, of the first conference of the African National Authorities entrusted with the implementation of the Convention of the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons. Thirty three African countries have participated in the said conference, in addition to other countries parties to the convention like the US, France, Romania and other related organizations headed by the Organization of the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons. While assuming this mission, the Sudan reiterates the importance of the implementation of the recommendations adopted by the conference, in particular the one which calls for creating a chemical weapons free african zone, and enhancing the international cooperation regarding the peaceful use of chemical weapons. I would like to take this opportunity to call upon the international community to exert all efforts to establish a nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction free zone in the middle east, and to compel all the countries of this boiling region to commit themselves to all conventions banning nuclear
proliferation and the danger of nuclear tests. In this regard, we call upon the international community to exercise justice without any exception to any country to subject its nuclear facilities to the IAEA safeguards system.

Mr. President,

While we illustrate our efforts in this field, we recall our feeling of bitterness renewed by the fifth anniversary of the bombardment of Alshifa Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Factory by the previous U. S. administration, a baseless.accusation, as you are aware, that has been refuted by the American scientific and academic institutions before the related international organizations. Sudan's complaint is still live in the Security Council. I would like in this connection to call upon the current U. S. Administration to rectify this serious mistake which it has inherited from its predecessor by compensating Sudan morally and financially.

Mr. President,

I hope that before the end of this Session of the General Assembly, my country would finally bid farewell to one of the longest african conflicts. This achievement, would enable the Sudan to play its role at the regional level, and to contribute to the stability of the African continent.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our deep conviction that the U. N. is the sole irreplaceable mechanism to administer and promote international cooperation in all fields. Therefore we should distance the UN from serving the narrow interests and from the attempts to exploit it for pursuing special agenda. In this connection, we would like to express our readiness and commitment to assist the UN system to achieve its lofty goals enshrined in the charter.

Thank you Mr. President