Canada recognizes independent South Sudan

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Saturday, July 9th, 2011

MONTREAL — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Saturday that Canada recognizes the newly-independent country of South Sudan, and welcomed the new country into the “community of nations.”

“This historic occasion represents an important opportunity for the people of South Sudan to build a brighter, better future for themselves,” Baird said in a statement.

Baird said Canada plans to have formal ties with the world’s newest country, and that he would “write to my South Sudanese counterpart, as soon as he or she is named, for the purpose of establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of South Sudan.

South Sudan proclaimed its independence from Sudan earlier Saturday after more than fifty years of conflict, splitting in two what had been Africa’s largest country.

“Canada hopes that Sudan and South Sudan will use dialogue to resolve any outstanding issues between them and work toward becoming two viable states that are at peace internally and with each other,” Baird said.

Baird noted that since 2006, Canada has contributed more than $885 million toward humanitarian assistance, development and peace building in the region.wp_posts