[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3-E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT

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                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 12, 2010

  Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague 
Representative Frank Wolf to recognize an important milestone. January 
9, 2010, marks the 5th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive 
Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended a decades-long civil war in Sudan. 
While this agreement represented a groundbreaking achievement when it 
was signed, many benchmarks are overdue as we approach two vital 
deadlines: April 2010 parliamentary and presidential elections (already 
pushed back from

[[Page E4]]

2009) and the 2011 referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. 
Sudan's democratic and geographic integrity hang in the balance--as do 
the lives of its people.
  While the United States has consistently taken the lead on Sudan 
issues--from first declaring genocide in Darfur in July 2004, to 
playing a major role in brokering the CPA--we must once more engage at 
this crucial juncture. No one doubts that Special Envoy Scott Gration 
is earnest in his determination to seek peace for all of Sudan; 
however, the new U.S. policy articulated in October 2009 remains vague 
due to a lack of specifics on benchmarks, accountability, and 
sanctions. Ensuring security for the people of Darfur continues to be a 
struggle for UNAMID peacekeeping troops. Basic governance and 
infrastructure must be improved in Southern Sudan so that it can 
function either as a contributing region of Sudan or as a successful 
independent state, depending on the outcome of the referendum. 
Unfortunately, the outlook is bleak. Tribal violence in the South is 
increasing and must not be allowed to disrupt the process. We cannot 
afford to turn our attention away from Sudan at this crucial and 
dangerous moment. Instead, the U.S. needs to doggedly pursue CPA 
implementation while also doing our best to ensure that aid and 
diplomatic efforts target security, development, and reintegration 
programs wherever appropriate.
  As we observe the anniversary of this landmark pact, we should note 
that the job is far from done and the U.S. bears a responsibility to 
the people of Sudan. Let us rededicate ourselves to this cause of 
bringing peace to Sudan.

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