Sudan claims adhering to legitimate border map

Sudan claims its adherence to the map of Sudan upon which both regional and international legitimacy depends. Spokesman for Sudan at the Joint Political and Security Committee, Ambassador Omer Dahab, said that the Sudanese position is that it will adhere to the international map according to the referendum of self-determination of South Sudan and the subsequent elections. Dahab said that the map was defined by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 and was recognised by the United Nations in South Sudan (UNMIS) and the UN -African Union Mission for Darfur (UNAMID) before the separation of South Sudan and the declaration of its independence. He said that Sudan depends on a clearly delineated international map which illustrates the demilitarised areas, for solutions to the outstanding issues concerning the  redeployment of forces, cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of each force to within its territories. He remarked that it was strange that South Sudan, which benefited from Sudan's map in practicing its right of self-determination, later tried to deny the authenticity of the map, both politically and legally and introduced another map, which lacks both legal and technical authenticity, and which  contradicts the spirit of international resolution 2046 and the roadmap of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Ambassador Dahab pointed out that the geographical map on which the Sudan delegation depends,  is an international map which was recognised by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and therefore renders it completely valid, and with international legitimacy to enable the two countries to press ahead in realising their principal goal, which is the achievement of security and peace. According to the Sudan delegation, the map as presented by the delegation of  the South Sudan state, includes the disputed oil-rich area of Heglig. Ambassador Dahab asserted that the condemnation of the Security Council to the invasion and occupation by the South Sudan army of the Heglig area, was clear evidence that Heglig is not part of  the South Sudan state. He warned that resorting to the map of South Sudan, which includes disputed areas, will lead to continued violence and armed conflict, and is completely contradictory to Security Council resolutions. He called for international legitimacy and awareness of this issue and its negative impact.