Britain introduces resolution on U.N. peacekeeping operation in Sudan
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS, June 03, 2004 (AP) — Britain introduced a Security Council resolution Wednesday that would give a green light for the United Nations to begin preparing for a peacekeeping operation in Sudan.
The draft resolution welcomes the signing on May 24 of three landmark agreements between the government and rebels on power-sharing and the administration of three disputed areas in central Sudan.
The agreements cleared up the last remaining political issues needed for a final accord to end the 21-year civil war. But the two sides must still negotiate details of a comprehensive cease-fire and a final peace deal and work out how it will be implemented.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said after the accords were signed that the United Nations is ready to contribute to peace efforts as well as implementation of the final agreement. He is expected to submit a report to the Security Council this week outlining possible U.N. contributions to the effort.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Stuart Holliday said he expects the Security Council to adopt the resolution Friday or Monday.
“This resolution would serve as a green light for the United Nations to begin planning and preparing for a peacekeeping operation with a monitoring mission,” he told The Associated Press.
While the United States and the United Nations welcome the approaching end to the war, relief workers are racing against the clock to keep hundreds of thousands from perishing in Sudan’s western Darfur region, where a separate conflict has been raging.
On Wednesday, the head of the World Health Organization urged more effort by governments to ward off looming epidemics in the region, and Sudan’s government said relief organizations are now free to enter Darfur after notifying authorities.
Sudan’s announcement, a change from rules set up in May that required first applying for travel authorization, was apparently part of the government’s efforts to streamline humanitarian aid and a response to complaints of delays and lack of full cooperation from the government.
Holliday said if there is no improvement in the human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur, “we would reserve the right … to bring that into the council.”