Remarks From Hilde F. Johnson
"The country is at a cross roads, it’s at the fork in the road. But it can still be saved from further major escalations of violence."
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office
NEAR VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office
NEAR VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
1 January 2014
Remarks from Hilde F. Johnson Special Representative of UN Secretary- General and Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Press Conference on South Sudan – Wednesday 1 January, 2014 Opening Remarks
SRSG HILDE F. JOHNSON: Thank you on this first day of the New Year 2014, I want to remind us all of the past. On 5-6 December almost 800 businessmen and women from all over the world convened in Juba, for a major Investment conference. There was huge interest, a lot of enthusiasm, and I think everyone present felt that now things are moving in the right direction for South Sudan.
Just 10 days after, the country was thrown into peril with a situation where political struggle took a violent turn and then spilled over into the communities. Today on this first day of the New Year, we would have and should have, looked back at 2013 with satisfaction and with content. But we are not. It has been a tough year overall for South Sudan, but the past two weeks have been devastating for the country.
What has happened since December 15 is a tragedy. These two weeks have brought back the nightmares of the past, for so many South Sudanese citizens, who have revisited feelings they had thought they had buried a long time ago.
We have seen people fleeing for their lives, other people being killed and thousands and thousands having their lives and livelihoods uprooted.
So what started as a political struggle, then permeated into major incidences of violence. There also forces who have exploited this situation where members of one community have been pitched against the other, whether here or there. Those who have done that have a lot to answer for.
This is where we are on January 1 2014. The country is at a cross roads, it’s at the fork in the road. But it can still be saved from further major escalations of violence.
It is up to the leaders of this country and the two parties. Both President Salva Kiir Mayardit and former Vice President Riek Machar who is leading the forces against the government have both said to me and to others that they want to talk, to have a dialogue and to give peace a chance. They still can pull the country back from the brink.
For further information or media enquiries,
United Nations Mission in South Sudan – Communications & Public Information Office
www.unmiss.unmissions.org
Acting Spokesperson: Joseph Contreras - contrerasj@un.org+211 912 1788 39
UN House Juba 03, P.O. Box 29, Juba, South Sudan