Sudan slams US-drafted resolution as hampering peace
KHARTOUM, Mar 5, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government on Saturday slammed a US-drafted resolution to the UN Security Council for sanctions as “hampering peace.”
“The international community should preserve and support peace rather than hampering it through plans that do not lead to peace in the country,” Sudanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs Najeeb el- Khair Abdelwahab told reporters.
The draft has called for imposing international sanctions on Sudan under the pretext that the Sudanese government has not fulfilled its commitment to peace deals on the Darfur issue.
El-Khair said members of the UN Security Council are still divided on whether to impose sanctions on Sudan at the moment.
Reaffirming his country’s respect to the international law, El- Khair said the Sudanese government has conducted several rounds of constructive consultations with the US administration during a recent visit by a US delegation.
The Sudanese official said that a peace agreement signed by the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Nairobi, Kenya, would have a positive impact on all disputes in Sudan.
He also revealed that the African Union is conducting consultations with Darfur conflicting sides to try to put an end to the Darfur conflict.
The United States has accused the Sudanese government of genocide in Darfur, a charge denied by Khartoum.