[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION WELCOMING THE NEW STATE OF SOUTHERN SUDAN, 
 ENCOURAGING SUDAN AND SOUTHERN SUDAN TO RESOLVE SEPARATION ISSUES AND 
THE FUTURE OF THE ABYEI REGION, AND URGING THE GOVERNMENTS OF SUDAN AND 
  SOUTHERN SUDAN TO ABIDE BY THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACE, DEMOCRACY, AND 
                              HUMAN RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution welcoming the new state of Southern Sudan, encouraging Sudan 
and Southern Sudan to resolve separation issues and the future of the 
Abyei region, and urging the Governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan to 
abide by the principles of peace, democracy, and human rights.
  Sudan is geographically the largest country in Africa and one of the 
least developed regions of the world. Sudan has been ravaged by civil 
war intermittently for four decades and ethnic, religious, and economic 
conflicts have ensued between the Muslim north and Christian-animist 
south. These past twenty years, an estimated two million people have 
died and four million people have been displaced. The Comprehensive 
Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, put an end to the long-
lasting conflict between the north and the south by establishing a 
semi-autonomous government for Southern Sudan for a duration of six 
years, after which Southern Sudan would vote for secession or unity.
  From January 9 to 15, 2011, Sudan held a referendum to decide if 
Southern Sudan would become a sovereign and independent country, or 
remain part of Sudan. Approximately 3.8 million Southern Sudanese 
exercised their right to self determination, and on February 7, 2011, 
the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) announced the final 
results, with almost 99 percent voting for independence from the north.
  On February 7, 2011, Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir officially 
accepted the final results of the referendum, and the United States 
announced on the same day its intention to formally recognize Southern 
Sudan. On July 9, 2011, Southern Sudan will become the sovereign and 
independent Republic of Southern Sudan.
  While I applaud these recent accomplishments, several issues 
pertaining to the separation of the two states remain and must be 
resolved prior to the conclusion of the transition period. These 
include and are not limited to: the legal status of populations in the 
north and south, wealth sharing, resource management--especially oil 
revenues, division of assets and debt, currency, security arrangements, 
and infrastructure and institutions building. The future status of the 
oil rich region of Abyei--full integration with Sudan or Southern 
Sudan, or partition of the region in two--also needs to be determined.
  My resolution congratulates the people of Southern Sudan for 
exercising their right to self determination and welcomes the new 
nation of Southern Sudan. In addition, it calls on both parties to 
resolve separation issues prior to the conclusion of the transition 
period, including the status of Abyei. It also urges Sudan to put an 
end to repression and violence, and Southern Sudan to create democratic 
institutions and plan elections. Lastly, the resolution pledges that 
the United States will work with both governments to ensure a peaceful 
transition to independence and encourages other nations to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has played a major role in bringing 
this devastating conflict to an end. I will continue to monitor the 
issue and advocate for a peaceful and nonviolent separation. Not only 
do the people of northern and southern Sudan deserve it, but it is in 
the interest of our nation and the world to establish peace and 
stability in the region. Therefore, I encourage other nations to 
welcome the new state of Southern Sudan and assist with their 
transition process.

                          ____________________