Nafi welcomes Japan’s contribution in Sudan peace implementation
March 4, 2008 (TOKYO) — Sudan’s presidential assistant, who is visiting Japan said that Khartoum will welcome Japan’s contribution of troops for demining and infrastructure construction.
Asked about Japan’s offer to consider sending Self-Defense Forces personnel to participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Sudan, Nafi Ali Nafi stressed that “enough forces are on the ground already” with the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) but said that a contribution by Japan “will be welcomed.”
“We will discuss the details as to what specific help is needed, where the site will be,” he said, apparently referring to consultations between Sudan and UNMIS.
“But in principle, I think we have no problem in having the Japanese help to demine the southern area or to construct some facilities — roads, bridges or whatever,” said Nafi, who is expected to meet Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura later this week during his visit to Tokyo.
Komura said in late February that Sudan is among a number of candidate locations that deserve consideration with regard to the deployment of Japanese personnel to U.N. peacekeeping operations. But he did not specify details.
With more than 70 countries, including China, South Korea, India and other Asian nations, currently participating in UNMIS, Japan is scrambling to catch up in order to promote its leadership as president of the Group of Eight countries this year and to score marks for its bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
The UN have two peacekeeping operations in Sudan. The UNMIS which is tasked with supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 between the Sudanese government and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. The UNAMID which is in charge with the implementation of Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006; and the protection of civilian population in the war strife region.
Speaking in an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo, the Sudanese presidential official also urged that the United States lift its sanctions on Sudan.
“The transport of goods to southern and other parts of Sudan is definitely affected by the American sanctions,” Nafi said. “At least spare parts needed to rehabilitate the transportation…should be exempted. Some progress has been done but obviously not adequate.”
Washington slapped economic sanctions on Sudan in 1997 and listed it as a state sponsor of terrorism. The United States has criticized Sudan over the north-south conflict as well as the crisis in Darfur.
(ST)