China, Germany voice support to Darfur peacekeeping force

August 17, 2008 (BEIJING) — China and Germany on Sunday agreed on Sunday that the international peacekeeping force in western Sudan region of Darfur had to be expanded in order to help resolve peacefully the five year conflict.

The hybrid mission still lacks of troops and the necessary helicopters. However, Sudanese government showed some willingness to cooperate with the UNAMID, the peacekeeping operation faces some administrative obstacles besides Khartoum rejection of non-African troops

German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung, who is here to watch the Beijing Olympic Games, informed reporters of the joint position following talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie.

In a statement he made in Beijing today German Defense minister announced the agreement, saying that Liang assured him of the necessity of such a step. The two ministers met on Friday August 15.

International community considers china, a close ally to Khartoum, as the one that he can exercises pressures on Sudan to accelerate the deployment of the hybrid peacekeeping mission and to engage political talks with the rebel groups in Darfur.

Beijing had been blamed for preventing the UN Security Council from taking concrete measures against Khartoum. It is also accused of providing weapons to the Sudanese army. China has important oil investment in Sudan.

But China says that it is making enough efforts to help for a peaceful settlement of Darfur crisis.”China’s efforts on Darfur are no worse than and no less than any other country in the world,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang last June.

Chinese troops are among the rare non African troops admitted by participating in the African Union – U.N. peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

(ST)