A meeting of the United Nations Security Council. — AFP/VNA Photo

NEW YORK — Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, has welcomed recent progress in Sudan and Darfur in particular, especially the peace agreement reached on August 31.

At the United Nations Security Council’s meeting held over the weekend, Ambassador Quý spoke highly of efforts of the transitional government to promote peace, security, development and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasised economic and humanitarian challenges in Sudan while calling for creating more conditions for Sudan to access international financial assistance.

Quý lauded the roles of the United Nations, African Union and regional countries in putting forth peace and stability in Sudan, especially South Sudan’s reconciliation efforts.

At the event, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2545 on extending the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia for another year, until September 25, 2021. The resolution indicates the UNSC’s intention to add to the mission’s mandate the task of verifying compliance with the sentences of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. The inclusion of the new task will be based on the outcome of the ongoing consultation process co-ordinated by the Colombian government.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace is a transitional justice mechanism to investigate crimes committed during the five-decade-long armed conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP).

The UN Security Council also discussed the situation in Sudan and activities of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix updated recent developments in the transition in Sudan and preparation for UNITAMS.

They hailed the historic peace agreement reached on August 31 between the transitional government, the Sudan Revolutionary Front alliance and the Sudan Liberation Army Minni Minnaawi faction, spotlighted economic and humanitarian difficulties in Sudan, while affirming they would work closely with the Sudanese government to carry out the UNITAMS.

Meanwhile, UN Security Council members called for peaceful negotiations between the Sudanese government and armed forces in Darfur. They hoped UNITAMS will soon be implemented, contributing significantly to the transitional progress in Sudan.

Several countries expected the appointment of a special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan. — VNS