UAE urges resolution to ‘difficult’ situation in Darfur

December 1, 2008 (ABU DHABI) — The president of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan today expressed hope that a solution can be reached to end the five year conflict in the war ravaged region of Darfur.

“With regard to Sudan, I hope that the efforts for finding a viable solution for the difficult humanitarian situation in Darfur within the framework of preserving Sudan’s freedom and unity will succeed” the UAE president said in his address marking the 37th national day.

This is the first time a UAE official publicly makes such a labeling of the humanitarian situation in the war ravaged region. The Arab Gulf state has generally avoided making any public stances on the Darfur issue as they consider it an internal affair of another Arab country.

In recent years relations between UAE and Sudan improved particularly in terms of bilateral trade and investments.

Earlier this year Darfur groups in Europe accused UAE authorities of targeting and arresting a number of their peers without charges. They also said that Abu Dhabi was responding to pressure from Khartoum to crack down on Darfuris residing in the oil rich country.

Last year US movie star George Clooney, who has campaigned strongly to end bloodshed in Sudan’s Darfur, said that he hoped the United Arab Emirates could use its influence in the region to help end the conflict.

However there was no public response from UAE officials to Clooney’s call.

UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.

(ST)