US optimistic of UN vote on Darfur sanctions
April 24, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The US is hopeful the UN Security Council will take action against four Sudanese officials for their role in the carnage of Sudan’s Darfur region, a US official said.
The State Department official said a resolution for targeted sanctions against an air force commander, a pro-Khartoum militia leader and two rebel commanders would be put to a vote despite Chinese and Russian opposition.
“I think we’re hopeful that it will pass,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Asked whether China or Russia would block the measure, he said, “I haven’t heard veto. I haven’t heard the ‘v’ word.”
The Council vote will come more than a year after it authorized sanctions against those held responsible for the bloodshed in Darfur, where rebels and government-backed miltias have been battling since February 2003.
The United States has branded as genocide the conflict in Sudan’s western region that has left up to 300,000 people dead from violence or disease and more than 2.4 million homeless.
The United States has been pushing to slap asset freezes and travel restrictions on those judged guilty of committing atrocities or undermining efforts to end the conflict.
But China’s UN envoy Wang Guangya, the Security Council president for April, argued last week that “this is not the right moment” to impose sanctions, because of the peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria.
The African Union was also hesitating about the timing of sanctions, Tanzanian Ambassador Augustine Mahiga said. He added that such measures “could have negative or positive consequences on the Abuja peace process.”
To avoid discouraging the peace talks in case sanctions are approved, Tanzania suggested the Security Council also adopt a non-binding statement “to recognize and encourage the efforts which are going on in Abuja.”
Washington has also expressed frustration at delays in proposals to bolster security in Darfur by replacing an African Union peacekeeping contingent with a larger UN force and giving it greater NATO support.
NATO currently provides air transport for the 7,000-strong AU force. Foreign ministers of the 26-member alliance were expected to discuss a larger logistical role at their meeting in Sofia on Thursday and Friday.
But deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli played down expectations of progress at the talks to be attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her NATO counterparts.
“Rather than bring any specific proposal, the way I would look at it is basically continuing elaboration of plans for NATO support for multilateral efforts to enhance peace and security in Darfur,” he said.
Asked if he expected any concrete measure regarding Sudan to come out of the talks in Bulgaria, Ereli replied, “I don’t know that I’d say that.”
(ST)