15/08/2012

10:18 AM

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    , Khartoum, (Sudanow.info) Peter Tibber, the new ambassador of the United Kingdom in Sudan, hosted an Iftar at the British Embassy, Khartoum, on  14 August, which was attended by Assistant, Abdel Rahman Sadig al Mahdi, the Minister of Labour, Dr. Amna Salih Dirar and many prominent politicians, academics, civil society members and old friends of the British Embassy, following is the text of the address

Salam Aleikum (response: wa aleikum asalaam)

• Good evening Presidential Advisors, Ministers, Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen.
• I am very honoured that you have all visited us here in the embassy in the last week of Ramadan. I know it is a time for family and friends, and I have already been touched by the number of invitations I have had to join Iftars. Thank you.
• I have known for almost a year that I would be coming to Sudan as the United Kingdom Ambassador. So I am very pleased and excited finally to be here. Both my wife, Eve and I are delighted to come to a country with such a rich and ancient history, with a myriad of cultural influences - and enough issues to keep me fully occupied and on my toes for the next few years. We have been struck by the warmth of our welcome.
• I am a Londoner. The last few weeks in London have been quite extraordinary. The Olympics have caught the imagination. They have been a huge success. Our aim was, of course, British medals. And we achieved that with an unprecedented 29 gold medals.
• But more importantly we wanted to make the London 2012 Olympics, greener, more inclusive and with am more tangible and durable legacy than any before.  This means inclusive for different cultures, and also different physical abilities.
• They have, of course, taken place during Ramadan. We made provision for athletes and spectators alike to observe and celebrate this holy month and I hope that your athletes have felt welcomed during this special time. I’d like to think that the 70,000 volunteers were very much in the spirit of this month. They were a special feature of the games. They gave up their own time and money to support the Olympics, and included at least one British/Sudanese volunteer who travelled there all the way from Khartoum (and my son!).
• London 2012 is also special for us as it brings the Paralympic Games back to where it began at Stoke Mandeville hospital. I know that the President of the Paralympic Association here in Sudan was treated at Stoke Mandeville hospital during the war and as a result was inspired to establish the Sudanese National Paralympics Association.
• Sudan is important to the UK. We have shared historical ties. There are vibrant connexions between our two peoples. Many Sudanese live in the UK and many UK passport holders live in Sudan.
• I understand that many of you have also lived and studied in the UK, if not worked closely with the British Embassy and the British Council. I am amazed that at least one guest here this evening also met HRH Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Sudan in 1965.
• There is a very strong commitment from the most senior levels of the UK Government to Sudan. Our mission here is to help support the development of Sudan at peace with itself and its neighbours and in which all Sudanese can prosper and contribute to the development of their country.
• We were, of course, closely involved in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and we congratulate the Government of Sudan in seeing through its commitment to the creation of South Sudan. But much remains to be done. There have been important achievements in Addis. As my Foreign Secretary said

“I welcome the agreement between Sudan and South Sudan on financial arrangements for the export of oil from South Sudan. This breakthrough will be an important boost to the economies of both countries, and I commend the spirit of compromise both governments have shown.”

• Just as important is the need to allow humanitarian access to Blue Nile and South Kordofan under the tripartite agreement. We are pleased there has been progress there as well, it is vital that access is granted in order to save lives. When the talks resume later this month, we call on the two governments to redouble their efforts to resolve all remaining areas of difference, so the people of Sudan and South Sudan can enjoy the benefits of peaceful cooperation in the future. Perhaps in these last days of Ramadan we can all reflect on how to build the foundations for a peaceful Sudan where open societies and an open economy can thrive.
• We are active in other ways too: We have committed some £50m per year to, among other things, ensuring every year that 3 million people are reached by health and nutrition programmes, 1.5 million people are provided with food security, and 800,000 people are given access to clean drinking water sources;
• We are working with civil society and with institutions of government to achieve improvements in the police and justice sectors;
• The British Council has dramatically increased its support to the Sudanese education sector. 900 English language teachers will be trained in Khartoum state by the end of the year, a programme to be rolled out to other states. More than 4000 people have received English Language training since the establishment of the teaching centre.  We are sad to lose our British Council Director, Richard Weyers, on Thursday, who has done such an excellent job here and wish him well in his next post.
• Much has been achieved. Much more remains to be done. It is a huge privilege to be appointed British Ambassador here. You are our friends in Sudan and I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better.
• I wish you a very happy Eid with your friends and families.

Ramadan Kareem.