China welcomes Sudan’s acceptance of Darfur hybrid force
June 13, 2007 (BEIJING) — China welcomed Wednesday Sudan’s acceptance of a joint African Union-UN peace force to bring an end to the bloodshed in Darfur and urged the global community to help bring stability to the region.
“The Chinese side welcomes this,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
“Facts show that dialogue on an equal footing is an effective way forward in reaching a political solution to the Darfur issue.”
A joint statement by the African Union, the UN and Sudan after three-way talks in Addis Ababa said the Khartoum government had “accepted the joint proposals of the hybrid operation” and had agreed on the need for a comprehensive ceasefire accompanied by an inclusive political process.
Khartoum had previously rejected attempts to send UN peacekeepers to Darfur, where a four-year conflict has killed at least 200,000 people and forced more than two million from their homes, according to the UN.
Qin said the consultations between the AU, the UN and the Sudan government should become the formal mechanism to resolve the issue, but it was up to the global community to push the process forward.
“The international community must make efforts to safeguard the current good momentum towards resolving the Darfur issue … and help Sudan to continue to improve the humanitarian and security situation in the Darfur region,” Qin said.
“China hopes to continue to play an active and constructive role in the Darfur issue and will stand with the international community in realising peace, stability and development for the Darfur region at an early date.”
(AFP)