Members of US Congress sign letter seeking special envoy to Sudan

April 13, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — One hundred nineteen Members of Congress have signed a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in support of the appointment of a special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur and ensuring that the North-South peace agreement holds, according to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), who circulated the letter and released it today.

“We are concerned that there is no one single point person whose sole responsibility is to monitor the situation in Darfur and the South and answer directly to you and the president,” the letter said. “ . . . It is not too late for Sudan, but time is of the essence. There are clear steps that can be taken. The appointment of a special envoy with a clear mandate and authority, who has the ear of the president and the secretary of State, is past due.”

Wolf, chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Human Rights Caucus and chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the State Department’s budget, sent a similar letter last month and recommended that former Congressman Tony Hall be appointed. Hall is presently the U.S. ambassador to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in Rome. The joint letter also mentions Hall as a potential candidate.

“(Hall) is respected by members of both parties and is someone in whom you could have complete confidence,” the letter states. “He is well suited for this position and would serve you well.”

The letter to Secretary Rice can be found by clicking here.

(ST)