United Nations Security Council Topic: Sudan United Kingdom The United Kingdom has far reaching ties

to Sudan, beginning with the partial administration of Sudan between 1899 and 1956, during which Sudan was administrated jointly by Egypt and Great Britain. The United Kingdom has had fairly normalized relations with Sudans government, despite the placement of Sudan on the United States State Sponsors of Terrorism List, and has made significant efforts toward development of Sudan. As a responsible global power and major trading partner with Sudan, the United Kingdom hopes to see a peaceful relationship between Sudan and the nation that is likely to rise from the South Sudan region beginning with a peaceful resolution to any outstanding issues in the Abyei, Blue Nile, and South Kurdofan regions, developmental aid to South Sudan and continuing aid to Sudan, and stronger efforts in Darfur. The United Kingdom has been deeply involved in Sudan, sending more than 450 million in humanitarian, developmental, and peacekeeping aid to Sudan, particularly to efforts in the volatile Darfur region in addition to major contributions personnel contributions to said peacekeeping forces1. At the same time, the United Kingdom has encouraged additional aid to Sudan, particularly Darfur, and stronger United Nations peacekeeping efforts in the Darfur region as noted by the recent United Nations Security Council Resolution 1935, drafted by the United Kingdom and passed unanimously2, in which the United Nations demanded an end to attacks on civilians and peacekeepers and a more effective ceasefire monitoring mechanisms among other concern3. Additionally, the United Kingdom has volunteered to aid in demarcation efforts pending the official results of the recent referendum and remains vigilant about volatility in the Abyei region. In addition to ongoing aid and peacekeeping efforts, the United Kingdom feels that current United Nations Security Council Resolutions need to be more closely observed. In particular, Security Council Resolution 1919, concerning the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, especially on the topic of the Abyei region, the violence reported therein, and the pending referendum. The United Kingdom feels that a dialogue between the different ethnic groups in that region is necessary to determine voting statuses and referendum procedures. Additionally, the United Kingdom is amenable to the exploration of increased peacekeeping efforts in the Darfur region and, if necessary, deployment in the Abyei region to protect civilians from possible poll violence. Also evident is the need for dialogue on oil revenue sharing, citizenship status, and how the national debt of Sudan will be split. The United Kingdom believes that more transparency is the first step to stable revenue sharing, transparency that has to come from both sides: the Sudanese government and the oil companies. With that said, Chinas increased presence in Sudan, particularly security forces and weapons identified in the Darfur region, is of concern. The United Kingdom feels that increased development, improvements in infrastructure, and a peaceful oil sharing agreement are necessary to avert tension in the region, in addition to more responsibility and accountability in terms of weapons trading and the proliferation of weapons that follows.
1

Nick Britten, Aid and oil: Britains relationship with Sudan, The Telegraph, November 29, 2007, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1570950/Aid-and-oil-Britains-relationship-with-Sudan.html (accessed February 8, 2011). 2 UN-AU peace force in Darfur to stay for another year, AFP, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGPpjXETWfdKXJmpS-xF_5xsgPEg (accessed February 8, 2011). 3 Resolution 1935 (2010), United Nations, http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1935(2010) (accessed February 8, 2011).