Sudan govt dragging feet on Darfur force- US
November 15, 2007 (WASHINGTON) — The United States said Thursday it was “deeply troubled” by the government of Sudan’s foot-dragging and obstruction on a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force for strife-torn Darfur.
“Where we’re deeply troubled and deeply disturbed, the concern can be laid primarily at the feet of the government of Sudan,” said US national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
“While they’re doing, have done, some useful things, like flight clearances, there’s been a history of foot-dragging and obstruction,” he said as US President George W. Bush was poised to meet with South Sudan leader Salva Kiir.
“The United States remains deeply troubled by the pace of deployment thus far and calls on all sides to recommit to the full and expeditious deployment of peacekeepers,” said Johndroe.
“We recognize that as the largest peacekeeping operation in UN history, there are unique political and logistics challenges facing this mission,” but the United Nations and Khartoum government agreed to the lead elements for the mission in March, he said.
“It is deeply unfortunate that this critical enabling force is not yet fully deployed,” he said, adding Washington was funding construction and maintenance of camps to house the incoming peacekeepers.
“Last month, the Government of Sudan provided flight clearance for US Air Force transport aircraft to lift the lead battalion of Rwandan peacekeepers into Darfur. The United States will continue to provide necessary logistics support to help advance as quickly as possible this deployment,” said Johndroe.
(AFP)