1. It is indeed a privilege to have this opportunity to join the Chairman in welcoming fellow participants to this inaugural meeting of the Implementation Follow-Up Committee (IFC). Your impressive turn out at this meeting would greatly reassure the parties and the people in Darfur of the commitment and the support of international partners to fully support the parties in the faithful implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). Your presence is also a source of encouragement to UNAMID in its mandated tasks.
2. I would like to thank the Chairman and indeed the Government of State of Qatar for hosting this meeting and for the very warm and generous hospitality extended to my delegation and I since our arrival here in Doha. Let me also commend my predecessor, Minister Djibril Bassole, for his commitment and dedication which brought us here today.
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