UN envoy welcomes dialogue with Sudanese govt on Darfur

KHARTOUM, Apr 16, 2005 (Xinhua) — Top UN envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk has welcomed the ongoing talks between the United Nations and the Sudanese government over a resolution on sending Darfur war crime suspects to an international court, the Arabic-language newspaper Alsahafa reported Saturday.

Pronk was quoted as saying that the dialogue is aimed at reaching a common understanding on UN Security Council Resolution 1593, which decides to refer war crime suspects in Darfur to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The talks over the controversial resolution have been held since Sudan rejected it in early April. The Sudanese government claims that the resolution lacks the basis of objective justice and violates its sovereignty.

Pronk reaffirmed that the United Nations respects the Sudanese government and its people, pointing out that the UN’s mission in Sudan is to help conduct dialogue on resolving the country’s disputes.

Pronk reiterated that the resolution does not target the Sudanese government and people, saying there is no need for the UN to adopt more resolutions on Sudan.