The Address of the Speaker of the Council of States

In the Name of Allah the Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate

Allah Says: “and hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among ourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts In love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah make His Signs Clear to you: that ye may be guided.”). 

Al-Omran, verse “103”.

Allah Says: “and obey Allah and His Messenger. And fall into no disputes, Lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere:”.

Al-Anfal, verse “46”.

H.E. Field Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Basheer

The President of the Republic.

Mr. Ahmad Ibraheem Al-Tahir

The Speaker of the National Assembly.

The members of the National Legislature

The National Ministers.

Dear Guests.

On behalf of all Sudan states, the Council of States extends its congratulation to the President of the Republic, government of  National unity and members of the National Legislature on the occasion of the  holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Al-Mobarak.

The Council of States also would like to congratulate the people of Sudan in general and people of East Sudan in particular f0r the signature of East Sudan Accord. we hope that all Sudan will enjoy sustainable peace and will protect us from all conspiracies fabricated against Sudan, and make all Sudanese people  united and strong. If we are divided the enemy will find an access to eliminate our sovereignty and unity.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

By the end of August 2006 the Council of States has completed its first year. The Council has held two sessions and today it begins its third session.

I have the honour to present the records of the Council second session business and during the Recess which represented the people’s will of all states citizens concerning peace, security, stability, development and National unity.

The Council of states recognizes that the unity of Sudan is based on the free will of its people, sovereignty and the Rule of law at all levels. Decentralized democratic Rule, accountability, transparency and Justice. The Council of States believes that good governance realizes through provision of Democracy, transparency, accountability, sovereignty of the Rule of law at all levels of governance.

The peace agreements rely on the principle of achievement of good governance in boosting the foundation of peace. The successful implementation of the agreements will lead to presentation of model on good governance in Sudan which will help in establishing a solid base which will maintain peace and make the unity an attractive option.

The links between levels of Rule are based on respect of each level to an other and on the support in performance of responsibilities of governance in order to fulfill the constitutional obligations and on the interaction between different levels of Rule  within the frame of National unity. This will realize better life for all.

Since the beginning, the Council was aware that its contribution in realizing of good governance will be in comply with such principles and apply them in order to contribute in supporting the mission of the government of National Unity which shoulders a heavy burden in implementing the whole items of Peace Agreements.

Hon. Mr. Speaker,

Dear Representatives

Through this deeply understanding such basic principles ratified by Sudan interim constitution the Council of States has established important pivots for implementation of functions specialties. Such pivots are represented in the followings:-

§  Pivot of peace, security and peaceful co-existence in the states.

§  Pivot of National interim constitution, state constitutions and laws relating to decentralized governance system.

§  Pivot of development and provision of public services.

§  Pivot of fair distribution of wealth and public resources.

§  Pivot of North-South Relations.

§  Pivot of social, health and humanitarian situation in the states.

§  Pivot of communication with the states and legislative assemblies.

§  Pivot of contact out with international and regional parliamentary unions and bilateral  relation with counterpart councils.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

In completion to what the Council has begun in the first session in pivots of peace, peaceful co-existence and to link North with South:

After the Council has viewed the Role of the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments catering for Christian affairs, Islamic affairs and to benefit from religious tolerance in both religions in order to realize peaceful co-existence and National integrity along with its participation continuation to boost peace in Darfur, the Council has listened to a statement from the Advisor of the President of the Republic Dr. Majzoub Al-Khalifa on the circumstances of Darfur peace accord signature. In the same respect the Council has listened to an extended statement on the Role of the Ministry of Information and Communications enlightening all sectors of society in order to disseminate culture of peace, promoting the feeling of affiliation to one country and live according to citizenship without racial or religious discrimination. In this important area the Council has listened to a statement by the Minister of Interior on the status of police forces in the centre and the states under the umbrella of the constitution. The Council has also listened to a statement by the advisor of the President of the Republic Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismael on the process of peace negotiations in East of Sudan after attending the procedures of the accord signature in Asmara. The Council has also listened to a statement by the Minister of Transport on creation of effective transport network which connects the North with Southern  States.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

In the pivot of the Interim National Constitution, State Constitutions and laws related to decentralized governance:

Once peace agreement is the basic reference of the constitution where it has created a new and different realism which necessitates the conduct of studies for considerable numbers of  laws which are to be reviewed in order to be compatible with the new constitution because the schedules of national competences, the state exclusive competences, the joint and residual competences have shown persisting need to review huge quantity of laws in the light of such new competences in order to disconnect the link and interference between the national and state levels, in this regard the Council has listened to two separate statements by the Minister of Justice and Minister of Federal Rule.

The Council thinks it is important to support legal departments in the states with high qualified cadres required to assist the states in enacting their laws and remedy the weakness of legislative cadres for devolution of state constitutional competences and legislations which accommodate changes. The relevant organs at the national level should shoulder responsibility to review and prepare bills and assist the states in establishing state model legislations which will guide the states in making their legislations and realizing highest level of harmony among different states.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

Pivot of fair distribution of wealth, public resources, development and provision of public services:

The Council of states believes that realization fair distribution of wealth and public resources to the states require establishing  of agreed upon criteria which realize justice and equality among all states of Sudan in order to accomplish development and providing public services equally and fairly to all parts of Sudan. This requires urgent establishing of funds for development and reconstruction especially that most of Sudan states are weak in resources and totally depend on the central support particularly the states affected by war and lack sufficient revenue channels to cover their needs. The Council of States has listened to a statement by the Minister of Finance and National Economy on bases and criteria of distribution of wealth and public resources regarding development and provision of public services. The principle will be that all parts of Sudan have the right in development. The Council has also listened to a statement on the transfer of the state due money from central support. The Council also listened to two statements by the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources on some of agricultural projects and Dams as well as provision of water service.

The Council looks forward to increase funding for development in the states in general and the states affected by war in particular.

Specific percentages should be allocated to the states from the revenues of national projects made in such states in proportional with revenues of such projects.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

Pivot of social, health and humanitarian situation  in the states:

In continuation of the Council’s Role to oversee humanitarian situation in the states, reconstruction of war affected states after listening to the statement of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to review health conditions, the Council has listened to a report from the Ministry of Health on the outbreak of Epidemic diseases in Eastern and other states. The Council has also listened to two statements by the Minister of Health and Minister of Animal Resources on Bird Flu in Gezira and Khartoum States. The Council has also listened to a statement by Minister of Energy and Mining on removing petrol depots outside transit city in Port Sudan in order to protect the citizens. In such respect the Council has issued resolution sent to relevant authorities.

Pivot of internal contact with states and legislative assemblies and external contact with inter and regional parliamentary unions and bilateral relations with counterpart councils:

The second session witnessed an effective contact with the states represented by the address of the white Nile state governor to the Council of States and the address of Khartoum State governor  on their own initiative according to the constitution.

The Council has been acquainted with the huge achievements, mobilization of Energies, activation of economic, security, political activities, construction of infrastructures in different fields, the most important of which  are physical development, roads, health, education and agriculture. The Council satisfied with self-revenues of the two states which are more than the central support. This is an important standard and indicator that the two states are progressing and depending on self-resources. Since the Council appreciates the practice of the two states depend on self-resources, it hopes that the other states will follow the same in activating self-resources in order to realize development. The Council will work for exchanging and transferring successful practice among the states for achievement of development in the states.

     During the Council’s Recess there was contact with governors and legislative assemblies. We would like to indicate that such delegations included governor, his governments, legislative assembly, its leaders. There was a unique harmony between the two partners of the government of national unity. They were expressing the concerns of their states in harmony. This assured that our recognition of ethnic religious, social, cultural and political diversity has become foundation for national integrity and source for moral strength. This will be an inspiration for Sudanese people.

On the other hand the Council has paid visits to the states through its specialized committees after the end of the first session . These committees presented integrated reports during the second session. Such reports were completed as have contained economic, social, political and security information which have reflected to the Council the real situation in the states.

This has enabled the Council to issue resolutions and directives which support and strengthen the positive aspects and contribute in resolving the problems and negative aspects in order to reflect the conditions in the national center of decision making by availing access to the concerned national ministers. In this occasion the Council would like to appreciate the response of national ministers who have effectively  took part in presence of sittings and responded to requests of information, answering the questions and urgent matters submitted by the members of the Council. The specialized committees have paid visits to the states during the recess of the second session.

These committees will present reports to the Council on the results of their visits during the third session.

In continuation of endeavours of the Council to achieve African, Arab and International cooperation to support Sudan foreign policy and creating bilateral relations, the Council has received Burundi parliament delegation.

The Council Took Part in :

-      Meetings of conference No. “113” for inter-parliamentary union and session No. “181” for the union Council.

-      The regional symposium for capacity building of Arab parliamentarians in field of sustainable development (Water management). Lebanon.

-      Inter-parliamentary conference of Arab parliamentarians – Arab Republic of Egypt.

-      The first session of Arab transitional Parliament – Arab Republic of Egypt.

-      The parliamentary conference on the Role of the woman in Economic Reformation – South Africa.

-      Conference NO. “114” of the inter-parliamentary union, session No. “183” – Kenya.

-       The consultative meeting of senate and Shoora Council members in Arab and African world – Nigeria.

-      The fourth general Assembly for parliamentarians international association for information technology – Morocco.

-      The Regional Seminar on capacity building in field of sustainable development – Cameron.

-      Meetings of the Assembly No. “115” for inter-parliamentary union – Geneva.

Hon. Mr. Speaker

Dear Representatives

The great efforts exerted in peace making culminated in signing of comprehensive peace agreement, and formation of government of national unity, the efforts made by the government of national unity in signing Darfur Peace Agreement should be tightly embraced. Arrival of international forces in Darfur is to be rejected. We should complete these efforts by boosting the pillars of peace through implementation of the agreements. Such agreements are to be protected. Gaps should be filled in order to collectively overcome this calamity and make the enemies of the country to miss the chance to intervene in Sudan domestic affairs and  to colonize it again especially that the country is attacked from its borders.

From this base the council of states feels the importance and difficulty  of its function. The council has become the reflecting mirror of the states.

The Council should save no efforts to support the government of national unity in performing its great business in finding comprehensive solution for Sudan economic and social problems and to settle dispute not with peace only but with social, political, economic justice and respect freedoms and basic rights of Sudanese people. The Council believes that the integration and unity will realize good governance then an optimum example for decentralized governance system in Sudan and create  sustainable peace throughout Sudan.

 Ali  Yahya Abdullah

Speaker, The Council of States.