EU, NATO stress help for UN in Darfur

April 3, 2006 (BRUSSELS) — NATO military experts are drawing up plans for increased support to international peacekeepers in Darfur, but the alliance’s chief diplomat on Monday again stressed that the deployment of NATO troops was not an option.

Negotiations to resolve the Darfur conflict, which has forced more than two million from their homes and killed tens of thousands, revolve around how to share political power, economic resources and deal with the region’s militias.

“That can very much be done without speaking of a NATO force,” Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said. “It’s the African Union, it’s the U.N. which are the guiding organizations.”

He told reporters that the military were considering increasing training, planning and transport support to the existing African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur and a U.N. mission that may replace it in September.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called de Hoop Scheffer last week to request additional NATO support for the mission as the AU prepares to hand over to a U.N. force.

NATO has said it is willing to extend its existing back up to the African force _ including airlift, training for officers and planning _ but not sending European or North American troops.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana held talks at NATO headquarters to discuss how the two organizations can cooperate to help end the violence in Darfur.

“We are very, very, very concerned with the situation,” Solana said. He added that the EU would aim to boost peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

“The Abuja talks have to be not only a place where we spend hours and hours and days and days, but they have to come through with a road map, with an end that will allow the international force to be deployed,” Solana said.

Talks in Abuja between Sudanese government and Darfur rebel officials slowed last year because of differences within a key Darfur rebel group.

(ST/AP)