President of the Republic of Slovenia welcomes the declaration of the new independent state of South Sudan

Ljubljana, 9.7.2011  |  press release

President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Danilo Türk, on the occasion of today’s declaration of independence of the new state of South Sudan, welcomed the step, which has ended a half-century-long period of striving by the people of South Sudan for self-determination and independence. South Sudanese people have gone through a lot of suffering in a long period of suppression and civil war. The establishment of the new state constitutes a fundamental political precondition for the peaceful settlement of the various outstanding issues, for the economic and social development of South Sudan and for the consolidation of peace and stability in Africa.

In President Türk’s view, this is a moment when international community as a whole, and in particular those countries with strong political and economic interests in this part of Africa, along with international organisations such as the UN and the European Union have to strengthen their activities aimed at establishing friendly and respectful relations with South Sudan. International factors have a great responsibility for assisting in the settlement of open issues between South Sudan and its northern neighbour. These include human rights on both sides of the new frontier and efficient and equitable economic cooperation, which is expected to profit from the rich South Sudanese natural resources for the benefit of the development and welfare of the citizens of this new state.