Economic aid is more meaningful to Sudan than military intervention

Dec 5, 2006 (COLOGNE) — Elke Hoff, defence expert of the German Free Democratic Party (FDP), believes that granting Sudan more economic aid is more meaningful than a purely military involvement.

Hoff said on Germany’s Deutschlandfunk radio on Tuesday, immediately before a trip to Sudan, that military means alone did not help a lot. Hoff rejected demands for a stronger presence of German troops in Sudan; the German DDP reported.

At the moment, 36 German troops were deployed in southern Sudan , while up to 200 could be deployed in Darfur and up to 50 in the south.

“We first must deploy the maximum numbers agreed and talk about anything else only then,” Hoff said. S

he also warned not to use the term genocide in connection with the disruptions in the country. Representatives of international organizations on the ground had advised her to be cautious about using the term.

Hoff stressed that an involvement in important projects and infrastructure works in Sudan also meant to have a political say. “This is why I am firmly convinced that we must become more active in this area,” Hoff said. This required launching further development projects such as water supply programmes.

Hoff accused the Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry in Berlin of lack of support for projects in the northern Sudan. “I think this decision is entirely wrong,” was the FDP politician’s critical comment.

Moreover, she called for support to German companies that wanted to implement projects in Sudan. Here, a lot could to be done “to improve relations”, which could also help to pave the way for political talks.

(ST)