Security Council frustrated by Darfur deadlock – US
Feb 6, 2007 (UNITED NATIONS) — The U.N. Security Council is frustrated by a lack of action to halt violence in Darfur, the United States said on Tuesday after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed the group on his talks with Sudan’s president.
Experts estimate about 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from their homes to miserable makeshift camps in a four-year conflict in Sudan’s vast western region.
Washington describes the violence in Darfur as genocide — a charge the Islamic government in Khartoum denies.
Ban, who met President Omar Hassan al-Bashir last week, said the talks were “useful and constructive” but al-Bashir still had not approved a deployment of 3,000 U.N. peacekeepers to support the 7,000-strong African Union mission in Darfur.
“I think on one level I sensed a general sense of frustration across the council and maybe — I don’t want to speak for everyone obviously — that general sense permeated the room,” U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff told reporters.
“We continue to find ourselves stymied by questions and stalling tactics on the part of the Sudan government.”
The Darfur conflict began when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in 2003, accusing Khartoum of marginalizing the area.
Militia mobilized by the government to quell the revolt are accused of pillage, rape and murder. Some rebel groups have now committed similar atrocities.
Ban said special envoys from the United Nations and the African Union would visit Khartoum and Darfur next week. Once they reported back, the United Nations would discuss what to do next, he told reporters after briefing the Security Council.
The U.N. envoy, Jan Eliasson of Sweden, does not deal with troop deployment. He is trying to get a cease-fire agreement and bring all rebel groups into a peace accord.
“I was encouraged that out of my meeting with President Bashir that there was an agreement to re-energize the political process,” said Ban, who has pledged to make Darfur a priority.
Ban gave Bashir a letter on Jan. 24 detailing a U.N. support package, called the second phase, that would include more than 2,200 soldiers, 75 civilians, 300 security personnel and 600-700 police. Six light helicopters would move U.N. troops quickly when attacks were reported.
“I am still waiting for his positive answer to my letter,” said Ban, who last week described the delays over a U.N. deployment as “unacceptable.”
Ban said he was encouraged by Chinese President Hu Jintao’s talks with Bashir on Friday during a two-day visit to Sudan.
China’s “no-strings attached” aid policy to Sudan has angered many in the West who want Beijing to use its economic muscle to persuade Khartoum to end the Darfur conflict.
“It was very encouraging that the Chinese president engaged in very serious discussions to let the Sudanese government know the urgency and importance of resolving this issue as soon as possible,” Ban said.
China — which imports oil from Sudan and is helping to build up its refining and other infrastructure — has in the past practiced quiet diplomacy over a U.N. peacekeeping force but has not threatened any action against Khartoum.
(Reuters)