Statement by H. E. Ambassador Koro Bessho
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Briefing of the Security Council on UNMISS

17 November 2016

 

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

 

I appreciate the opportunity to speak about this pressing matter.  I would like to thank Ms. Ellen Loj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, for their detailed briefings.

 

I listened to both briefings carefully and with great concern.  Japan recognizes that, while Juba is relatively calm at this moment, the security situation in South Sudan as a whole is very severe, with frequent armed clashes and killings of civilians.  We cannot be optimistic about how things will unfold and should continue to closely monitor the security situation in the country.

 

Mr. President,

 

As speakers before me have noted, the question now is how the Security Council can improve the situation.  Our credibility is on the line.  Whatever action is taken, our ultimate goal should be to advance the political process. While the will of the parties is of paramount importance, engagement of neighboring countries is the key.  The decision by Kenya to withdraw its contingent only further highlights the importance of the role of South Sudan’s neighbors. 

 

Many points from the special report on the review of the mandate of UNMISS are useful in this regard.  It is indispensable that the UN coordinate with the AU and IGAD, the key players supporting the political process, to more effectively facilitate the development of the political process.  We highly commend the Secretariat for its efforts, in consultation with the AU and IGAD, to devise a comprehensive political strategy in order to achieve a cessation of hostilities and bring the parties back to an inclusive political process.  In this regard, we recognize the importance of the engagement of AU High Representative Konaré.

 

Mr. President,

 

We welcome the suggestion to expand UNMISS patrols around POC sites and to enhance cooperation with humanitarian actors.  Increasing UNMISS’ interaction with communities and local authorities is important. 

 

Having carefully listened to remarks by Mr. Dieng, we are deeply concerned about rising ethnic tensions in the country.  In this vein, the proposal by the AU Commission to establish an over-the-horizon force to respond to possible mass atrocities caught our attention.  We hope to see further consultations on this matter between the UN and AU, including clarification of how the proposed force’s mandate would be differentiated from that of the UNMISS Regional Protection Force. 

 

Mr. President,

Japan, as an UNMISS TCC, attaches great importance to creating an environment where impactful activities can be safely undertaken.  In this regard, we call on the Transitional Government of National Unity to cooperate further seriously with the UN.

 

It is Japan’s sincere hope that South Sudan will achieve peace and stability and make strides on the path to development.  Japan, as a friend of the South Sudanese people, has supported the country and dispatched an engineering unit to UNMISS since its independence. Japan will continue to contribute to South Sudan’s peace and security going forward.

 

Finally, on behalf of the Government of Japan, I would like to express special thanks to Ms. Ellen Loj for her very hard and dedicated work on the ground in an extremely difficult environment.  Thank you.

 

I thank you, Mr. President.