Statement by H.E. Ambassador Le Luong Minh

Permanent Representative of Viet Nam

at the Debate of the Security Council

 on “Report of the AU Panel on Darfur”

New York, 21 December 2009

 

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to H.E. President Mbeki and the other distinguished members of the African Union High Panel on Darfur  for their Report. I thank the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Mr. Jean Ping, for their participation and briefings.

 

Mr. President,

My Delegation welcomes the Report prepared by the High Panel and the endorsement by the African Union of the insightful recommendations contained therein. The Report is the culmination of remarkable and commendable efforts made by the African Union in its strive to identify the root causes of and find a lasting solution to the Darfur conflict. We are encouraged by the fact that the High Panel enjoyed active cooperation by the Sudanese Government and many other stakeholders during the process of preparing the Report.  We share the observation of the High Panel that Africa has an enormous stake in the restoration of peace and stability in Darfur.  We support the African Union to continue to play a central role in promoting the Darfur peace process in close coordination with the United Nations, the UN-AU Joint Chief Mediator, UNAMID and regional states. In light of the regional dimension of the Darfur conflict, we encourage efforts aimed at normalizing relations between Chad and the Sudan, which will contribute to the consolidation of security and peace in Darfur and the sub-region.

 

Mr. President,

We take a positive note of the finding by the High Panel that all the Sudanese stakeholders have a strong commitment to peace and reconciliation. We urge the  rebel groups to  realize the earnest desire of the people of Dafur and of the Sudan at large for peace, demonstrate their political will and resume peace talks with the Sudanese Government.

I would like to reiterate Viet Nam’s full support for a comprehensive political solution to the Darfur conflict on the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. We share the High Panel‘s view that any solution to the Darfur conflict must ensure the retention of Darfur as an integral part of the Sudan. The Darfur conflict can only be resolved by a political solution achieved through peaceful negotiations. We highly appreciate the ongoing efforts by the Joint Chief Mediator, Mr. Bassole, Qatar and Libya in resuming the Darfur peace and political processes. We concur with the recommendation of the High Panel that the Mediator speed up his coordination with UNAMID, UNMIS, MINURCAT and regional states in this process. The upcoming International Consultative Workshop that he intends to organize next January in Doha to revive peace talks between the Sudanese Government and rebel groups will be an important opportunity which no stakeholder in the Darfur peace process can afford to miss.

 

Mr. President,

Given its complicated nature, the Darfur conflict requires a comprehensive solution that ensures peace, security, national reconciliation, justice and socio-economic development. The mutual complimentarity of these objectives, as noted in the High Panel‘s Report, must be given due attention to avoid a situation in which one  is achieved at the expense of others. We share the view that a balanced approach  is required with regard to the need to fight impunity and that to bring about an urgently desired peace without which the noble goal of the fight against impunity can hardly be achieved. This may be the last opportunity for my Delegation to address the matter in our capacity as a Council Member. In support of the appeal of the African Union with regard to the ICC‘s legal action, we hope that  the step the Council  will take in this connection will be one that takes into account this legitimate concern and one that serves the interest of peace, security, national reconciliation, justice and socio-economic development of Dafur, the Sudan and the region.

 

I thank you, Mr. President!