Talking Points of Hon. Deng Deng Hoc Yai, Representative of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and Minister of Environment, on the Occasion of Celebration of the National Day of Spain at Coca-Cola Compound, Juba, Friday 10th October 2014, 18.00 - 20.00 Hours Your Excellency, Amb. Fernando Giron, the Charge de Affairs of the Spanish Embassy in South Sudan, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to celebrate with you the National Day of Spain or Fiesta Nacional de Espana. Key Messages 1. I congratulate His Majesty King Felipe VI, the government and people of Spain on behalf of our President, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the entire government and the people of the Republic of South Sudan. Congratulations! Enhorabuena! Felicidades! 2. Spain recognised the Republic of South Sudan on 9th July 2011. However, the government of Spain stated that it will recognise the Republic of South Sudan as an Independent State in February 2011. So, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Spain for this emphatic expression of solidarity with the people of South Sudan. 3. The Republic of South Sudan values its bilateral relations with our sisterly country - Spain. We look forward to strengthen our relations even further. 4. Spain is one of the EU Member States, which has been funding humanitarian assistance in the Sudan since 2000 and later on the Republic of South Sudan directly and through the EU. From 2000 to 2011, Spain has been funding humanitarian assistance to the Sudan donating in total USD 245.9 Million. Most of Spains humanitarian assistance, that is 68.4%, was spent in fragile states in 2011. Between 2006 and 2011, Africa (South of Sahara) received 40.6% of humanitarian assistance. Its contribution to the UN peacekeeping was USD 275 Million in 2012. We take this opportunity to thank Spain for its commitment and support. 5. The Republic of South Sudan has many natural resources and offers numerous investment opportunities. We urge and encourage Spain to invest in the Republic of South Sudan for the benefit of the two sisterly countries. 4. The Republic of South Sudan has set itself an ambitious goal To build an educated and informed nation by 2040. This is a huge undertaking and we look to Spain and the rest of the EU countries for support to enable us achieve this nobel goal. 5. I would like to reiterate that our President, the entire government and the people of the Republic of South Sudan are committed to peace. The Negotiating Team of the government was in Ethiopia talking peace and have just come back for consultation and will go back by 15th October to continue the process of negotiating a peaceful settlement to the conflict. 6. We know Spain experienced an internal conflict but managed to emerge from it unscathed. We know Spain has made a commitment to support fragile states. We know Spain can and urge Spain to support the IGAD-led peace negotiations based on the recent Protocol on Interim Governance Arrangements. It is vital that we nib the conflict in South Sudan in the butt before its ills over. And Ambassador Fernando Giron mentioned in his speech earlier the conflicts in CAR, DRC, the Sudan, and Somalia. And there are many other conflicts in the world. I watched Al Jazeera TV this morning and saw the fight between the Kurds and the ISIS on the Syrian-Turkish borders. We must act in solidarity as the human race to address these threats to global peace and security. 7. Finally, I would like to propose a toast. Please raise your glasses and say Long live Spain! Viva España! Long live his Majesty King Fellipe VI. Thank you.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 18:42:25 +0000
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