UN General Assembly
2008

I would like to recognize the United Nations, the European Union and States and other institutions in the world that have generously supported the strengthening of the infant African Union peace and security mechanism. I would like to call on all of them to 08-51570 32 continue supporting the African Union mechanism as well as the regional mechanisms and peacekeeping operations in Africa. There are only three conflict situations worth mentioning and discussing in this Assembly today. These concern the conflicts in Darfur and Somalia and the volatile security situation in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Darfur, the humanitarian crisis still persists although there may be some encouraging signs of improvement. I believe the situation would be much better if the entire contingent of the United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) forces was deployed, and the peace talks between the rebels and the Government of Sudan were resumed and concluded. Also, improvement would be seen if humanitarian aid work was allowed to be carried out unencumbered and matters related to justice were dealt