UN troops in Darfur should get Sudan’s permission first – China

Sept 28, 2006 (BEIJING) — The deployment of U.N.peacekeepers in Darfur should first have the permission of the Sudanese government, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.

“The issue should be fully discussed and especially approved bythe Sudanese government so that the peacekeeping actions can show real achievements,” said Qin.

The Chinese government’s consistent stance was that peacekeeping actions should first have the permission of the country concerned, not only on the issue of Darfur, but also in other actions in which China had participated, Qin said.

“China had always been concerned about the situation in Darfur and done everything it could to help,” Qin said, adding that Chinahad provided humanitarian aid to Sudan and assistance to the peacekeeping troops of the African Union in the region.

Last month, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that would allow the United Nations to assume control over the peacekeeping mission from the AU, whose mandate is to expire on Sept. 30.

(Xinhua)