Members of the Government of the Republic of Sudan,
His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar,
Chairperson of the Liberation and Justice Movement, Mr. Tijani Seisei,
Your Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we are witnessing the seeds of peace, which were planted in Darfur with the signing of the Doha Document for Peace on 14 July 2011, develop into a tree capable of bearing fruit.

The return of Chairperson Seisei to Sudan is the first harvest of what we hope will be a fruitful and sustainable peace
for the benefit of all the people of Sudan. I congratulate the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement for their commitment to the hard road of peace. The Government of Qatar also deserves special commendation in this regard. It is the vision and relentless efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Al Mahmoud that has led us on the path to this historic agreement.

The DDPD represents for Darfuris an important break with the past, offering a new beginning. The hope of a better future for Darfuri children and communities.

From our side, you will continue to find in UNAMID a firm partner on which you can fully rely. We will continue to
extend all the necessary support to assist with the implementation of the DDPD and the consolidation of the peace
process. The Mission looks forward to working closely with Mr. Seisei and the Darfur Regional Authority, along with Dr. Amin Omer, Head of the Darfur Peace Follow-up Office, in support of their efforts to implement the DDPD.

As the parties move forward with the implementation of the agreement, you should not doubt the support of the
international community. Two days ago, UNAMID convened the fourth retreat of Special Envoys on Darfur in El Geneina. The participants voiced clear support for the DDPD and strong commitment to its implementation.

As Joint Chief Mediator, a.i., and in close consultation with the Government of Qatar, I will continue to engage the
holdout movements, to encourage them to cease hostilities and enter into political negotiations with the Government.

Even at this time of hope and progress, I must reiterate my urgent call to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) the
Sudanese Liberation Army- Minni Minawi and the Sudanese Liberation Army – Abdul Wahid to join the peace process. I
cannot stress enough how important it is for all those who claim devotion to the future of Darfur and Sudan to join the
efforts for peace. This is not the time to posture. Too many have suffered and too much is at stake.

The Government of Sudan, LJM and the people of Darfur have worked hard to reach this important moment of compromise and unity. We in UNAMID salute their efforts and will be there to assist them as they take this agreement forward.
Thank you.