Much to be done before UN force to Darfur – Bush
July 20, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — US President George W. Bush said that there was “a lot of work to be done” before an international force can go to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region to help beleaguered African Union (AU) troops.
Bush’s comments came as he met with Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir for talks that also touched on efforts to implement a US-backed peace accord for Sudan and bring all Sudanese rebel factions into peace efforts there.
“I assured our friend that the United States is committed to helping the Sudanese people. We’re committed to making sure that the peace agreement that we helped you negotiate is implemented,” said the US president.
“We’re also committed to helping the people in Darfur,” said Bush. “Our strategy is that we want AU forces to be complemented and blue-helmeted. In other words, the United Nations should be invited in.”
“We talked about how best to get that done, in order to save lives. Obviously, there’s still a lot of work to be done,” the president said as he and his guest sat side by side in a joint public appearance.
The international community has agreed to transform the hapless and cash-strapped African Union Mission in Sudan into a United Nations force to help protect civilians, who have been targeted by both the government-backed militia and rebel groups.
But Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir has flatly rejected the deployment of any Western forces in the region, recently saying that “Sudan, which was the first country south of the Sahara to gain independence, cannot now be the first country to be recolonized.”
“We are sure that we are going to solve the problem,” said Kiir, “so that we don’t hear about rapes and killings in Darfur. And all other parts of our country, like in eastern Sudan, we are now also negotiating in that part, so that peace is also achieved all over the Sudan.”
White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush had “encouraged” his guest to promote a government of national unity for Sudan, to help ease the transition to a UN force for Darfur, and to work to bring all rebel factions to talks aimed at ending conflict in Sudan.
Between 180,000 and 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and at least 2.4 million others displaced since fighting broke out between local rebels and the pro-government militia in February 2003.
The US State Department said Wednesday that Washington will commit 116 million dollars to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
The aid comes in addition to 247 million dollars already committed to AMIS since 2004, the State Department said. The new aid will help train African Union troops to United Nations standards, said the statement.
Last month, the African Union said its poorly equipped peacekeeping force in Darfur was set to quit the troubled western Sudanese region by the end of September due to a lack of funds.
(ST)