EU condemns rebel attack urges Sudan for self-restraint
May 11, 2008 (BRUSSELS) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief condemned the attack on the Sudanese capital by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and called Sudan for self restrain.
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), condemned in a statement issued on Sunday Darfur JEM attack in Ondurman. He further recalled that “there can be no military solution to the crisis in Darfur, in particular, nor to the problems of Sudan, in general.”
He also urged the Sudanese government to exert in the coming days maximum restraint, in particular towards the civilian populations of the capital, primary victims of this new surge of violence.
Solana said the latest events should provide an opportunity to reactivate efforts and generate new energy to find a peaceful solution for Darfur crisis; and to accelerate the effective deployment of hybrid peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur.
A joint UN-African Union force in Darfur (UNAMID) has deployed 9,000 peacekeepers in the Darfur region from a total of 26000 troops.
The head of the EU diplomacy further called for a “genuine improvement of relations between Sudan and neighbouring Chad.”
Solana’s statement was issued just hours after Sudan cut off diplomatic links with Chad, blaming its neighbour for a rebel attack on Saturday on the capital Khartoum.
(ST)