UNITED NATIONS, July 14 (KUNA) - Less than a week from South Sudan's declaration of independence and one day after recommendation from the Security Council, the General Assembly on Thursday admitted by acclamation the newly independent state as its 193rd member.
In a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last Saturday, South Sudan's President Silva Kiir solemnly committed to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and to fulfill all the obligations contained therein.
South Sudan's independence from the rest of Sudan is the result of last January referendum held under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the decades-long civil war between the North and the South. General Assembly President Joseph Deiss, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chairmen of regional groups welcomed the birth of the new member state and wished its people and government peace and prosperity after two decades of civil war that killed two million people.
In his welcoming statement, Ban said all those who endured the long civil war, have now reached an "important milestone. But the journey continues. Yes, the task ahead is great. But so, too, is the country's potential. With its abundant natural resources. Arable land. The waters of the Nile. And, of course, proud and hard working people." He saluted the leaders of both Sudan and South Sudan who showed "courage and commitment" in bringing about a successful referendum that expressed the democratic will of the people, and called on them to imperatively and quickly resolve their outstanding differences regarding matters of borders, sharing of resources and migration, "with the same pragmatism and leadership." "The well-being and future prosperity of each depends on the other. South and North share a common destiny - they must see a future as true partners, not rivals," he said.
Addressing the Assembly, the Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar said "we do not harbour bitterness towards our former compatriots (in the north). We remain partners in peace and committed to the principles of good neighborliness. We will work out our differences through dialogue and in a spirit of cooperation." He paid tribute to Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir for his "wisdom" in signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, for proceeding with its implementation and with the holding of the self-determination referendum, and for "courageously" accepting the outcome of that vote, by which South Sudan became independent.
Following the Assembly meeting, delegations walked to the UN garden to attend a ceremony, during which the South Sudan flag was raised among the flags of other Member States.
They later moved to the Kuwaiti boat area by the Assembly hall to congratulate Mashar and his delegation on this "historic day". (end) sj.ajs.hb