Mr. President, Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone as penholders for their efforts during the negotiations, and to the members of the Council for their commitment.
Switzerland voted in favour of the draft resolution on the protection of civilians in Sudan, and regrets that it was not adopted due to the veto of a permanent member of the Security Council.
Millions of Sudanese are suffering the horrors of a war that has no end in sight and is leaving the country in ruins. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from the horrific atrocities committed in Al Jazeera by the Rapid Support Forces and the indiscriminate aerial bombardments by the by the Sudanese Armed Forces. Reports of sexual violence are appalling, while hunger rages across the country and kills in silence. In the context of continuing ethnic violence, we regularly hear warnings of the risks of genocide.
The heavy toll paid by the civilian population is beyond all comprehension. As Switzerland has repeatedly stressed that their protection is not a choice, it is an obligation. We once again call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as the commitments they made in Jeddah.
Mr. President,
There is no military solution to this conflict. It is imperative that the belligerents silence their weapons and put the interests of the Sudanese people first. In this regard, let me reiterate our strong support for the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy in his ongoing diplomatic efforts. We remain at his disposal for any support he may require.
I would also like to reiterate that as members of this Council, despite today's veto, we have a responsibility to continue to give our full attention to resolving this catastrophic conflict. The Sudanese people deserve to live in peace, in security and in dignity.
I thank you.