E.U. urges respect for Darfur ceasefire

BRUSSELS, May 17, 2004 (dpa) — European Union foreign ministers Monday called on Sudanese government and rebel forces to fully respect last month’s ceasefire agreement, saying the 25 nation bloc was increasingly worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in the conflict- torn Darfur region.

“The international community cannot simply look on when a humanitarian catastrophe and appalling violations of human rights are taking place,” German Foreign Joschka Fischer told reporters.

Recent reports by the United Nations confirmed “the vast extent of the humanitarian and human rights disaster” in Darfur, E.U. ministers added.

Humanitarian aid agencies must be given unrestricted access to the region, they insisted.

An E.U. statement welcomed African Union plans to set up a special commission to monitor last month’s ceasefire and said Europe was ready to provide help if needed.