From the general impression I got in discussions with political figures and government people in the south, I think they're clearly aware of these expectations. They are seriously committed to trying to improve the structures of government, such that they will be able, over the long term, to deliver the kinds of services that people are expecting.
I'll give you one example of this, and perhaps my colleague from CIDA can give you more details. We had a meeting with the minister of health from South Sudan, and he was very anxious to demonstrate to us that his government wanted a plan for health care for South Sudan. We had almost an hour and a half meeting with him. I think this is an important prise de conscience, a realization by the governing people in the south that the pressure is on them to deliver.
Having said that, and as I hope I made clear in my remarks, the basic development indicators are very low in the region, as you know--in fact, probably one of the lowest I've seen almost anywhere in Africa. This has always been a neglected frontier region of the continent, and, quite frankly, there's almost no government presence. I'm sure in 90% of South Sudan there are no roads, no schools, there's no health, no government representation and what have you, no police, nothing, so they really have a long way to go in a short period of time.
My slightly optimistic tone, I think, was based on the fact that in both the north and the south there was a genuine desire for peace, regardless of what happens in the referendum. Secondly, I think there's a realization amongst many of the political figures and the government figures that they really have to at least try to deliver for their people.