EU urges UN to threaten Sudan with sanctions

By Marie-Louise Moller

BRUSSELS, July 26 (Reuters) – The EU called on the United Nations on Monday to threaten Sudan with sanctions if it fails to neutralise militia responsible for violence which the U.N. says has killed 30,000 people in Darfur.

“The Council (of Ministers) appeals to the Security Council of the United Nations to pass a resolution, with a view to taking further action, including imposing sanctions, in case the Government of Sudan does not immediately fulfil its obligations and commitments,” a statement by EU foreign ministers said.

The statement added the Europe Union would soon send a civilian and military expert team to the region to assess how to help an observer mission by the African Union, and would increase its humanitarian support.

Many countries have demanded Sudan disarm Arab militias accused of mounting a scorched earth policy against black Africans in the arid western region that the U.S. Congress has branded genocide.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, met his Sudanese counterpart Mustafa Osman Ismail on Saturday and said the minister had promised “full implementation of the agreement between the United Nations and the Sudanese government”.

Echoing EU heavyweight Germany, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner insisted the bloc should move towards sanctions.

“I tend towards being very, very strict about what we have to do in the future,” she said. “We have to find measures or sanctions in case Sudan is not really fulfilling its compliance. That is very important.”

NOT WAITING

She said it was up to the United Nations to decide whether to send troops to Sudan, but denied the international community was standing by. “The international community is not waiting … It is wrong to say we are waiting but the question is what can be the right sanctions or the right measures in order to make the government of Sudan comply. That is the major thing.”

The EU has seconded eight military observers to join an observer mission sent by the African Union, and to provide expertise and training, as well as sending some military staff to give logistics and planning advice.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Monday the bloc was open to sending more people if necessary.

“We are in permanent contact with the African Union,” he told reporters. “They may need more people, they may need more logistics. We are open to — in cooperation with the African Union — help as much as possible.” Ismail, who spent the weekend meeting EU officials, rejected the label of “genocide” on the conflict in Darfur.

“What is happening in Darfur is no genocide,” he told Belgian daily De Standaard in an interview, saying electioneering U.S. politicians were exaggerating the issue.

The minister said Khartoum was making “serious efforts” to correct the situation and that progress in terms of safety and humanitarian aid had been achieved.

“We are doing what is right and we will continue to do what is right,” Ismail said.

(Additional reporting by John Chalmers)