Monday, May 7, 2012


Statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, 

welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution on the roadmap for Sudan and South Sudan Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: 

"I warmly welcome the resolution unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on 2 May endorsing a Roadmap for Sudan and South Sudan to end hostilities and resolve their outstanding post-secession issues within the next three months. This resolution is based on the Roadmap set out in the communiqué issued by the AU Peace and Security Council on 24 April, which has the EU's full support. 

The fact that Sudan and South Sudan have both welcomed the Roadmap and confirmed their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities is an important first step in the right direction. These statements must now be matched by actions on the ground and by the immediate resumption of negotiations, starting with a meeting of the Joint Politicaland Security Mechanism to address the security concerns of both sides. They must show their political and practical willingness to pursue the path of peace, not war. 

The EU attaches particular importance to the immediate activation of the Joint Border Verification and monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) by deploying international observers and other personnel on the ground to monitor what is happening and help ensure compliance. 

I welcome South Sudan's announcement that it is immediately withdrawing its forces from the Abyei Area and call on the Government of Sudan to do the same. The EU will continue to work closely with its international partners, in particular the AU and the UN, in ensuring that Sudan and South Sudan implement the resolution." 

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