Sudan informs US of its opposition to UN force in Darfur

Mar 5, 2006 (NEW YORK) — The Sudanese government enlightened the US Administration about its opposition to the UN peacekeeping force taking over AU force in Darfur, the official SUNA reported.

The acting director of the US Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelghani al-Nayim, said that Akol explained to the US official Sudan government stance regarding the developments in Darfur and refusal to replace the African forces there by international forces.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister, Lam Akol discussed Sunday 5 March in New York with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Robert Zoellick, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), developments in Darfur and the American support in this regard.

Al-Nayim pointed out that the minister of foreign affairs has participated in a symposium, which was organized by the American University of Harvard to discuss Peace in Sudan by tackling the implementation of the CPA, Darfur crisis and opportunities for establishment of developmental projects in Sudan.

On Jan. 12, ambassadors on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council agreed in principle to hand over peacekeeping to the U.N. but left a final decision to a ministerial meeting to be held next week.

In the meantime, the U.N. Security Council authorized the start of planning for a takeover, and U.S. Ambassador John Bolton tried unsuccessfully to get the council to authorize the new U.N. force.

(ST)