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STORY: UN / DARFUR
TRT: 02:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 APRIL 2020, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters
24 APRIL 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. Cutaway, multiple screens
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations:
“Sudan has entered a new phase of its history. In this regard, it is critical that we configure ourselves in such a way that would enable us to respond to the needs of the Sudanese. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Sudan, Mr. Nicholas Haysom and myself are working on the development of concepts and plans for a possible future UN presence in Sudan, based on our discussions with the Sudanese authorities and the guiding principles in the Special Report submitted on 12 March on the establishment of a follow-on presence with a Sudan-wide mandate.”
4. Cutaway, multiple screens
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations:
“The measures in effect in Sudan and elsewhere to combat the pandemic will affect the Mission’s capacity to conduct a smooth and safe process. Travel restrictions, mandatory quarantine and limited shipping options have already started impacting the Mission, making it increasingly difficult to conduct even basic logistical operations. While all operational units could cease operations gradually before 31 October to ensure the timely closure of the team sites, including in high-profile areas, it will be necessary to extend the drawdown period for several months beyond the end of the Mission’s current mandate.”
6. Cutaway, multiple screens
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs:
“Besides seeking an integration of the Mission and the UN Country Team under a single leadership, we envisage a future UN presence that is lean, effective and innovative in employing and coordinating resources across the United Nations system. Gender equality and the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, will be a strong cross-cutting priority.”
8. Cutaway, multiple screens
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Ahmed Siddig, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations:
“Darfur, of course is at a key juncture in its transition from peacekeeping to peace building. In order to make this transition as smooth as possible, and to avoid any security vacuum in the post-UNAMID configuration, my government is fully committed to continue its efforts to enhance security in Darfur through deploying law enforcement units to maintain law and order.”
United Nations political and peacekeeping chiefs Rosemary DiCarlo and Jean-Pierre Lacroix today (24 Apr) briefed the Security Council on plans for a possible future UN presence in Sudan, including the establishment of a Sudan-wide mandate.
Lacroix told the Council that Sudan “has entered a new phase of its history” and said it was “critical” for the UN to “configure ourselves in such a way that would enable us to respond to the needs of the Sudanese.”
He informed the Council that together with DiCarlo and Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, they “are working on the development of concepts and plans for a possible future UN presence in Sudan, based on our discussions with the Sudanese authorities and the guiding principles in the Special Report submitted on 12 March on the establishment of a follow-on presence with a Sudan-wide mandate.”
Regarding the transition, Lacroix pointed out that measures in effect in Sudan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic “will affect the Mission’s capacity to conduct a smooth and safe process.” Travel restrictions, mandatory quarantine and limited shipping options, he said, “have already started impacting the Mission, making it increasingly difficult to conduct even basic logistical operations.”
The peacekeeping chief said that while “all operational units could cease operations gradually before 31 October to ensure the timely closure of the team sites, including in high-profile areas, it will be necessary to extend the drawdown period for several months beyond the end of the Mission’s current mandate.”
DiCarlo told the Council that “besides seeking an integration of the Mission and the UN Country Team under a single leadership, we envisage a future UN presence that is lean, effective and innovative in employing and coordinating resources across the United Nations system.”
She said, “gender equality and the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, will be a strong cross-cutting priority.”
In his address to the Council, Sudanese Ambassador Mohamed Ahmed Siddig said “Darfur, of course is at a key juncture in its transition from peacekeeping to peace building. In order to make this transition as smooth as possible, and to avoid any security vacuum in the post-UNAMID configuration, my government is fully committed to continue its efforts to enhance security in Darfur through deploying law enforcement units to maintain law and order.”
The Secretary-General’s latest report outlines a drawdown and liquidation plan that envisages a sequenced closure of 14 UNAMID bases, the repatriation of 6550 uniformed personnel, and a significant reduction of civilian personnel until the end of the current mandate.
The members of the Security Council issued a statement reaffirming their support to the Government of Sudan’s endeavours to see Sudan through a successful transition in a manner that achieves the hopes and aspirations of the Sudanese people for a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous future.
They welcomed the commitment of the Government of Sudan and most of the armed groups to engage in peace talks to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement and encouraged all parties to engage constructively, immediately and without pre-conditions to conclude negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. They welcomed the positive response by the Government of Sudan and the armed movements to the Secretary-General’s call for a Global Ceasefire.
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