Russia praises Ethiopia important contribution to Darfur force

November 7, 2007 (MOSCOW) – Russian Foreign minister commended the Ethiopian government for important contribution in the African Union and UN hybrid peacekeeping operation for Darfur.

“We appreciate the fact that Ethiopia is planning to send a considerable contingent to take part in the operation.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday after talks with his Ethiopian counterpart, Mesfin Seyourm.

Ethiopia pledged to send 5,000 peacekeeping troops to Darfur under the African Union and United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The majority of the hybrid force, authorized by Security Council resolution 1769, is expected to be African. The force will comprise some 26,000 personnel.

“I believe a settlement should be sought using the same methods which have enabled us to secure the agreement on this peacekeeping operation, i.e. through talks and through taking into account the positions of the Sudanese government,” Lavrov said.

“We hope that the decision on the beginning of an UN and African Union peacekeeping operation will be implemented in the very near future,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Russia “regards as unconstructive attempts to resort to threats and sanctions, or to actions that might lead to violation of Sudan’s territorial integrity”, added Sergey Lavrov.

The Russian top diplomat said they also discussed the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Russian ITAR-TASS reported.

“We today discussed not just the situation in Darfur but also relations between the north and the south (Khartoum and Juba),” he said. “Our common view is that the world community should make every effort to normalize all the crises in the region.”

“A key to success lies in going back to the implementation of the existing agreements between the north and the south, as well as on Darfur, and in involving all rebel groups in the Darfur part in the negotiating process,” Lavrov said.

(ST)