New York, US - President Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan on Friday said the 'country will need international assistance for a long time to develop basic infrastructure and tap into its natural resources. 'South Sudan stands in dire need of all the help it can get,” Kiir told the UN General Assembly’s annual general debate in New York.

PANA reported that South Sudan is the world's newest nation and became UN's 193rd member state in July this year.

The President also stated: 'In most post-conflict situations, nations would normally expect to rebuild. This is not the case for us. Even before the ravages of war could set in, our country never had anything worth rebuilding.

'Hence we characterize our post-conflict mission as one of construction rather than reconstruction,' he noted.

Kiir also said he hoped the overwhelming support that greeted South Sudan’s independence in July will now 'translate into tangible development assistance” for the country, adding: 'our march out of the abyss of poverty and deprivation into the realm of progress and prosperity is going to be a long one.'

The South Sudan leader also noted that while the country has abundant oil, minerals and other natural resources, 'so far, we hardly produce anything for ourselves. South Sudan must diversify its economy, so that it is not overly dependent on oil.

'The ambition of the people of South Sudan is to be able to transform their country into a regional agro-industrial powerhouse and the attainment of this goal will indeed remain a tall order.

'Much as we need external assistance, it is our passionate wish that it will be offered on terms that will also respect our political and economic choices,' Kiir stated.

According to him, 'security remains a key factor in ensuring South Sudan can develop,' emphasizing that his country was committed to peace, both within its borders and with its neighbours.

He further called for a speedy resolution of the outstanding border demarcation issues with Sudan and for serious negotiations between the two countries over economic issues, particularly arrangements over oil.

PANA recalled that South Sudan became independent on 9 July following a referendum, which created the country out of Sudan after decades of civil wars.

Pana 24/09/2011