Foreign Affairs committee  If I may, Chairman, I think certainly the government is seized of the seriousness of the situation, of the potential for instability. At this juncture we're certainly very focused on trying to support the processes that are in place. I think the international community is also very much seized of the issue.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't. I don't know if my colleagues do. Do you know the total debt of Sudan...? My colleague says he believes it's somewhere around $30 billion. It's very large.

Foreign Affairs committee  China has been an important investor in Sudan, and like other members of the international community, we hope that they will play a constructive role in whatever peace process emerges.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, I would agree that we are at a critical point in terms of the situation in Sudan. I perhaps alluded to that in my statement. A number of elements are clearly of concern, whether they're around the referendum process, or relations between the north and south, or the situation in Darfur.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think it is a fair comment. We're certainly very concerned about the realities on the ground in the south, the potential for instability. Maybe my colleague would like to say a few more things about the specifics.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Chairman. It's difficult to speculate about what the reaction of the government in Sudan will be to the results of the referendum. We're encouraged by the fact that some interlocutors have indicated that they will respect the results of the referendum. That's what we've been focused on: encouraging both sides to stick to the terms of the CPA to carry out the referendum.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think it's difficult to speculate about what exactly the motives are of the Government of Sudan at this stage, but one of the reasons I mentioned Darfur in my opening statement, although we are focused largely on the referendum process here, was that I think it's very important that the international community keep its eye on what is happening in Darfur.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Chairman. Given the extraordinary efforts that were put into developing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the fact that the referendum was a central part of that peace agreement, to question whether or not it should proceed at this stage would have quite a destabilizing effect on the overall situation on the ground.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the member indicated, it's a very complex question, especially when it comes to ethnic composition and conflicts between various groups. If you don't mind, I'll switch to English to be more specific. I think...not that there aren't serious tensions between Darfur and the central government as well, but rather that we have this Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the south.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly share the view that we're very hopeful the referendum will proceed as planned. I think it's very important that all of us continue to deliver the message to the parties concerned that the referendum stay on track. I think that's very important in terms of contributing to stability.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. There are a number of important issues that the honourable member has raised. In the first instance, I just would like to say that Canada's assistance has been directed all across Sudan, in all parts of the country, so I don't think we've tried to favour one region over another.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the committee as well for inviting my colleagues and being here today to talk about Sudan. Let me begin with a few introductory remarks. Sudan has been plagued by conflict throughout its recent history. The largest country in Africa, bordering on nine other countries, Sudan is richly endowed with natural resources; however, despite its recent oil-driven economic boom, Sudan ranked among the bottom 30 nations in the 2009 United Nations Human Development Report.