Doha, 18 March 2010 – I bring greetings from my two bosses, Secretary General of the United Nations His Excellency Ban Ki-moon and Chairperson of the AU Commission His Excellency Jean Ping. I am happy to be here again today to be part of yet another occasion of the signing of a Framework Agreement. This time it is between the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM). I am happy because this event, coming barely one month after the ground-breaking and momentous one that took place here in this same hall on 23 February 2010, represents yet another important milestone in the road towards the destination of an all inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement, that should usher in durable peace and stability in Darfur.

I am indeed particularly happy, because my colleagues and I in the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur will be direct beneficiaries of an inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement which is coming closer to fruition with the unfolding developments in Doha, because only then will we have the peace to keep and peace partners to work with.

In this regard, the key is the commitment of the parties to the implementation of the agreement signed before and today, especially the next steps concerning a ceasefire agreement. This will impact on the security for the people on the ground. On the part of UNAMID, we are now currently sufficiently deployed to be able to carry out activities directly related to its core mandate, which includes, but is not limited to: the protection of civilians; support for the implementation of peace agreements including monitoring violations of ceasefire agreements and respect for human rights of the population; and support for humanitarian assistance, as well as early recovery and development programmes.

We must also ensure that the civil society is closely involved in all these aspects of the peace process. Indeed, they must be engaged to own them. I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate the Government of the Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement for taking this important decision on behalf of the people of Darfur and Sudan in general. I urge both parties to uphold their commitment to dialogue and to be ready to make useful concessions, no matter how painful they may be, in the interests of peace, progress and development of their people. I also urge all the movements and the Government to accept one another as partners, as Darfurians, and above all as Sudanese.

Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen

Allow me to give special commendation to my colleague, Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole, for a special commendation for his tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the cause of peace in Darfur demonstrated by what we are witnessing here today. I wish to reassure you and your team of UNAMID’s and my own personal support and assistance until you accomplish your task of brokering the much-desired and long-awaited comprehensive peace agreement for Darfur.

May I also recognize and strongly commend the State of Qatar for the tremendous investment of resources in facilitating this process and for its willingness to commit even more resources for the development of Darfur. My brother, Minister Mahmoud, deserves no less commendation for his personal commitment and diligence in supporting and facilitating the peace process in both the logistics and the substantive aspects. The Government of Libya and Mr. Scott Gration also deserve commendation for their efforts in bringing together the groups in the LJM.

I would not end my remarks without acknowledging the critical role which President Deby and the Government of Chad has been, and continues to play, in advancing the peace process, and in particular to commend and appreciate the personal commitment of Minister Mahamat Faki in this regard.

I am also delighted to inform this gathering of the good news of the release, after 148 days, of the ICRC staff, in the person of Mr Lefevre who was taken hostage in west Darfur on 22 October 2009.

Let me now conclude my remarks by once again reassuring both the Government of Sudan and the LJM, as well as all the other parties and stake-holders, that UNAMID stands ready to support them as determined appropriate and relevant in the implementation of the provisions of all the Agreements signed and yet to be signed, as well as in subsequent negotiations and conclusion of a comprehensive and all-inclusive peace agreement.

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