China threatens to veto UN Darfur draft-diplomats
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 15 (Reuters) – China has threatened to veto a revised U.S. draft resolution that would consider U.N. sanctions against Sudan’s oil industry if Khartoum does not stop atrocities in its Darfur region, diplomats reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Algeria also oppose the new U.N. Security Council draft and Russia and Brazil have some objections, the envoys said after initial negotiations. European nations support the resolution.
The United States wants a vote by Friday and probably has 10 sure votes. Washington has to decide whether to make further changes or risk a veto, should Beijing carry out its threat.
A resolution in the 15-member council needs a minimum of nine votes in favor and no veto. A “no” vote from a permanent members — China, Russia, Britain, France or the United States — is tantamount to a veto.
“It would be difficult for us to support it as it would for a number of other delegations,” China’s U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told Reuters. “The approach has to be changed.”
He said negotiations were still ongoing and he would not rule out a compromise.
Some envoys believe that if the United States dropped the reference to oil, the resolution might be adopted but there was no indication Washington would do so.
On Tuesday, the United States softened the text that now says the council “shall consider” measures “such as actions to affect Sudan’s petroleum sector” if Khartoum does not end atrocities by Arab militia against African villagers or fails to cooperate with an expanded mission of the African Union.
The earlier draft last week declared the council “will take” punitive actions, including against the oil industry.
Sudan began exporting oil in 1999 and China is a key buyer.
Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram said he opposed the sanctions threat and a ban on Khartoum’s military planes flying over Darfur. “We think it’s premature at best,” he said. “Let’s not have empty threats or threats that would make a lot of people die.”
Russia’s Ambassador, Andrei Denisov, said Moscow had not made a final decision, but “we don’t like it.” He particularly mentioned the sanctions threat and questioned the need for enhanced Africa Union monitors.
In Khartoum, Sudan, rejected the resolution as it did a previous one threatening sanctions. Key, however, is whether Sudan will allow thousands of African Union monitors to investigate atrocities in Darfur.
U.N. officials estimate 50,000 civilians have died and more than a million uprooted from their homes.
“It is a true tragedy, and all the more urgent the need for getting the African Union place, which is the most immediate thing that can be done to help the people of Darfur,” said U.S. Ambassador John Danforth.
Rebels began an uprising in Darfur in February 2003 after years of skirmishes between mainly African farmers and Arab nomads over land and water in the arid area the size of France.
The Islamic government turned to militia, called Janjaweed and drawn chiefly from the nomadic Arab population, to help suppress the rebels. The Janjaweed are accused of killing, raping and driving African villagers from their homes.