Increase AU force efficiency is our “priority” – French FM
Nov 11, 2006 (CAIRO) — French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said his country considers the top priority for Darfur region is to augment African troops to protect displaced and to secure border with Chad.
In an interview ahead of his talks with Ahmed Abul Gheit, the minister said the immediate priority in Darfur must be ‘to increase the efficiency of the African Union (peacekeeping) force. Consideration of this must also include the question of securing the frontiers of neighbouring countries, such as Chad and the Central African Republic.’
He told the Egyptian government daily Al Ahram: ‘All avenues must be explored with a double necessity — that of respect for the sovereignty of Sudan … and that of the responsibility to protect the civilian populations which is incumbent on the Sudanese leaders.’
Douste-Blazy is due in Cairo Saturday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart on the situation in Darfur, before heading to Sudan and to the war-torn eastern region.
At least 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million others displaced since a rebellion by Darfur’s mainly black population against the Arab-led Khartoum government erupted in early 2003.
Much of the violence, including mass rape and the burning of villages, has been blamed on a government-funded Arab militia, the Janjaweed.
Douste-Blazy recalled that Sudan had rejected UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to create a peace force for Darfur. ‘This must be taken into account,’ he said.
The Security Council decided to send a force up to 20,000-strong to Darfur to take over peacekeeping from ill-equipped AU troops who have failed to halt the bloodshed.
Sudanese President Omar Al Beshir is adamantly opposed to the deployment of a UN force, which he views as part of a Western attempt to recolonize his country and plunder its abundant oil and other resources.
Douste-Blazy will meet with Abul Gheit on Saturday and with President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday. He is also to talk with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, before heading for Khartoum for talks with Beshir.
On Monday, he is due to travel to Darfur on a fact-finding mission and to hold talks with AU, UN and non-governmental organisation officials on the spot.
Douste-Blazy will also discuss the Middle East situation during his visit to Egypt, and told Al Ahram that France was working on the idea of an international conference on the conflict.
(AFP)