[Near Verbatim]

R-JMEC Interim-Chair,

Members of the R-JMEC Plenary,

Excellencies and distinguished guests,

Thank you for the opportunity to address this forum on the recent developments in relation to the roadmap and expectations going forward.

The United Nations supports the agreement by the parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) on a Roadmap which specifies new deadlines and benchmarks, and consequently extends the current transitional period by 24 months. We recognize that the process leading to the roadmap was driven by the South Sudan signatories and parties. By so doing, we take it as a renewed consensus to recommit to the peace agreement. We also support the Roadmap because - together with the AU, IGAD and R-JMEC, as well as other international partners – it was what we had asked for.

This forum today satisfies a key element of the process required under Article 8.4 of the Revitalized Peace Agreement for amending and extending the transition period.

Without contradicting our support for the roadmap, we have heard the views of some civil society actors and partners that have called for continuing consultation on the roadmap, its progress, and clarity on the proposed timelines and guarantees in implementation.

The impetus generated by the agreement on the roadmap should also be used as an opportunity to identify issues that have caused delays and led to bottlenecks in the implementation process so far.

We do acknowledge the recent meeting of the Presidency that found common ground to tackle outstanding legislation, and leading to the return of the SPLM-IO to a functioning Parliament.

We are notably encouraged that the long-awaited graduation of the first batch of the Necessary Unified Forces took place two days ago. Transitional security arrangements form a cornerstone upon which further meaningful steps can be advanced. A unified security apparatus could assist in addressing the destructive phenomenon of intercommunal violence.

It is our hope that the political will demonstrated over the last month, by agreeing both to the extension and the graduation, will translate into a joint sense of urgency to implement other outstanding tasks and also show a recommitment to the timelines of the agreement as adjusted by the roadmap

By contrast, extending the transition period must not detract from the urgency needed to address outstanding critical issues.

Excellencies

In concluding, we support the agreement by South Sudanese on the extension, while urging continuing efforts to bring on board any other stakeholders through effective implementation of the remaining key benchmarks, and ensuring that a conducive environment is created for the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections at the end of the extended period.

I thank you.