Sudan praises prevention of unilateral sanction in the new UN global development agenda

August 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s mission to the United Nations has lauded inclusion of an item in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development preventing member states from applying unilateral sanctions particularly against developing nations.

According to a statement issued by the mission on Tuesday, the relevant item urges member states to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the UN charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.

It pointed that the introduction of the item was opposed by the United States, European Union countries, Canada, Australia and Japan, saying the item was included in the final document following pressure from developing countries particularly from the group of 77, China and the Arab and African groups.

The statement noted the new agenda approved on Monday, expands on the success of the Millennium development goals, which had a target date of 2015, and contains 17 Sustainable development goals.

Next month world leaders will formally approve the new sustainable development agenda at a summit held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Then in Paris at the end of the year, they will seek to adopt an ambitious universal climate change agreement.

It is worth noting that Sudan has been subject to economic and trade sanctions imposed by the US since 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses.

(ST)