Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me touse this occasion, to express sincere gratitude to His Highness Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani and the State of Qatar for its generosity and commitment to the Darfur Peace process. Over the last two and a half years the State of Qatar has invested a tremendous amount of diplomatic, political and material resources to facilitate the Darfur peace negotiations. Let me also highlight that the State of Qatar’s commitment to bring peace to Darfur does not stop there. Indeed I would like to commend the Amir, the Government and people of Qatar for their gracious commitment to provide more resources for the development of Darfur, in furtherance of their efforts to bring the dividends of peace to the civilian populations in Darfur who have suffered too deeply and for far too long.

I would also like to commend the personal commitment and diligence of both Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud and Minister, former Joint Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassole for their tireless efforts to shepherd the mediation process through very challenging moments and circumstances over the last almost three years. We are where we are today because of their deep commitments to assist the Parties to reach an inclusive and comprehensive agreement for peace in Darfur.

The Parties, the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement, gathered here today also deserve our commendation for their good faith and steadfastness to negotiate a just and peaceful settlement of the conflict in Darfur. And last but not least I would like to thank the people of Darfur for their continued patience and active support for the peace process. After all, it is the civilian population in Darfur who has paid the ultimate price, suffering death, hardships, destruction and internal displacements as a result of this protracted conflict between the armed movements and Government forces.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Since my assumption of duties as the Joint Special Representative in Darfur eighteen months ago, one of my major priorities has been to pro-actively support the Mediation with a view to a speedy conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement. In this regard, and just over one month ago, I stood before you and expressed my great pleasure to see that an outcome document that would form the basis of an inclusive and comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in Darfur had been achieved.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur and the signing ceremony which we are witnessing here today is the culmination of two and half years of negotiations, dialogue and consultations with the parties to the conflict and all relevant stakeholders and international partners and a testimony that we are on the right track. Indeed, a cross-section of stakeholders endorsed the Doha Document for Peace precisely because it is recognized as addressing the root causes of the conflict and its consequences including Power Sharing, Wealth Sharing, Human Rights, Justice and Reconciliation, Compensation and Return, and Internal Dialogue among others. Granted, although an agreement signed by all the belligerent parties would be the ideal way to go, we should not, however, restrain those who are ready to do so now. Furthermore the United Nations Organization would communicate directly with the Parties its specific observations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let us not forget that we are gathered here to witness and extend continued support to the building of a strong foundation for an inclusive and comprehensive resolution to a conflict which has gone on for far too long. The challenge remains, however, to determine how best to engage and persuade ‘hold out’ groups that a military solution to the Darfur conflict is not the way to go while encouraging them to make every effort to participate in a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible, on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, without any pre-conditions. 

Today, Sudan is at a cross-roads. Now is the time to turn a new leaf and end the cycle of armed confrontation between the armed movements and Government of Sudan. Now is the time to embark on a new journey of healing, reconciliation, reconstruction and development for Darfur.

Let me conclude my remarks by once again reassuring both the Government of Sudan and the LJM, as well as all the other parties and stakeholders, that the United Nations and African Unions stands ready to support them in the implementation of the provisions of the Protocol agreement signed today and we look forward to their cooperation and facilitation in doing so to ensure an all-inclusive peace for Darfur, hopefully in the very near future.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you all for your attention.