Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-14-Speech-2-182"
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"en.20040914.11.2-182"2
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". Mr President, honourable Members of Parliament, let me start by saying that the situation in Sudan continues to be a matter of grave concern for the international community. Reports on atrocities indicate the Government of Sudan's inability – and possibly unwillingness – to take the required measures. The world is gradually losing its patience with a government that appears reluctant to assume full responsibility for all its citizens.
In Abuja, the Government of Sudan and the rebels have agreed on a humanitarian protocol and a new round of discussions on the security protocol is also envisaged. The European Union has been represented during the first round of negotiations and urges both the government and the rebels to resume the talks with great urgency.
Together with the African Union, the United Nations is an important player in resolving the crisis in Darfur. Secretary-General Annan visited Sudan in July. He reached an agreement with the Government of Sudan on a series of benchmarks laid down in the communiqué of 3 July. These benchmarks serve as a basis for the work of the Joint Implementation Mechanism, which is co-chaired by Special Representative Jan Pronk and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ismail.
On 6 August, Mr Pronk reached an agreement with the Sudanese Government on a plan of action. The EU supports the action plan but sees Resolution 1556 as the main framework to maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan.
I believe that the message to the Sudanese authorities should be consistent and straightforward. The more so since in his report to the Security Council of 2 September, Special Representative Pronk acknowledged progress in safety in camps and in humanitarian access, but stressed that the situation in Darfur continues to be very serious. Recent evidence of continued killings of villagers in Darfur in attacks by armed forces and the Janjaweed illustrates how serious the situation remains.
Since the presentation by Mr Pronk to the Security Council on 2 September, there have been ongoing discussions on a new Security Council resolution. The European Union is in favour of a strong resolution to maintain pressure on the parties in the Sudan. At the meeting of the General Affairs Council on Monday, we discussed preliminary options for sanctions. For the moment, the threat of sanctions is probably the best means to press the Government of Sudan to comply with its commitments.
The United States supports this line also. In a public hearing in the Senate, Secretary of State Powell announced support for the expansion of the AU mission and for the idea of curbing Sudanese military flights over Darfur, and raised the possibility of introducing sanctions. At the same time, he urged the Government of Sudan and the SPLM, as well as the SLM and the JEM, to intensify efforts to conclude negotiations. This coincides with the EU point of view, as stated in our conclusions last Monday.
Finally, a word on humanitarian assistance and the way forward. While access for humanitarian assistance has improved, the humanitarian situation is still critical. Violence may have decreased but the notorious Janjaweed and militia remain active. The security situation is absolutely unsatisfactory and an important indicator for this is that hardly any of the IDPs and refugees are returning to their homes. We once more urgently call on the Government of Sudan to curb the violence, disarm and bring the Janjaweed to justice, and guarantee the safety of civilians outside the camps.
The EU is an important contributor to humanitarian assistance and so far has provided EUR 288 million. Much more is needed and, as Special Representative Pronk indicated in his report, only 50% of the funding requirements of the United Nations response to the Darfur crisis has been met, leaving a funding shortfall of USD 255 million for the Darfur crisis alone. The EU should also make a major contribution to this shortfall.
In the meantime, we should prepare for reconstruction in Darfur to be started as soon as the crisis has ended and a comprehensive peace agreement has been signed between North and South.
Finally, the way forward. The international community should continue to press for an early political solution to the conflicts that are destroying Sudan. Pressure on the parties to continue both the Naivasha and Abuja processes, support for the AU and the United Nations, humanitarian assistance and the preparedness to apply further measures, including sanctions, are key elements in the EU policy on Sudan. The EU is committed to helping to bring peace and stability to Sudan. The EU works shoulder-to-shoulder with the African Union and the United Nations, but will take its own responsibility based on the Council's conclusions of 12 and 26 July, and of 13 September. Peace in the Sudan is of enormous national significance but it will also have a crucial influence on peace in the region, as I have said. Peace in the Sudan is therefore a central objective of our African policy.
This applies to Darfur as well as to the North-South process. The EU remains firmly committed to assisting Sudan to return to peace and stability as a matter of urgency. Sudan should as soon as possible become a country in which all citizens are free and safe, not dominated by violence and discrimination. The government in Khartoum should be a true government for all Sudanese and assume full responsibility for the well-being of all its citizens.
A stable and democratic Sudan is also a requirement for peace and stability in the region as a whole. The continued tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the problems in Somalia, the war in northern Uganda and further afield, and the ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes area are all indications of instability on the African continent. Peace in Sudan would create promising prospects for peace in the wider region. The EU should be ready to support and engage in the Darfur conflict.
In this respect, we welcome the active role of the African Union in the Sudan crisis. As much as is possible and realistic, the ownership of the solution to the Darfur crisis should rest with Africa itself. Therefore, the EU's support and engagement should, in the first instance, be through coordinating its policies with the African Union. Furthermore, the European Union should align and coordinate with other important players, such as the United Nations, the United States and other international parties, including the Arab League.
Against this background, the EU's policy on Sudan is focused as follows. First of all, support to the African Union mission in Darfur. Second, support for the mission of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Pronk. Third, pressure on the government and the SPLM to conclude the Naivasha peace process. Fourth, pressure on the Government and the SLM and the JEM to conclude the Abuja peace process. Fifth, coordinating policies and actions with the other international actors. Sixth, provision of humanitarian assistance. Finally, active consideration of further measures to increase the pressure on the parties, including sanctions.
Support for the African Union constitutes a simple element to the EU's Darfur policy. The Dafur crisis has shown that the African Union is prepared to provide leadership in meeting Africa's challenges. The EU is fully behind the African Union. A strong and able African Union is crucial for Africa's future. This applies in particular to conflict prevention, management and a solution of the Darfur issue.
The African Union has taken two major initiatives. First of all, it has fielded the ceasefire commission which is monitoring the N'Djamena agreement and developments in Darfur and second, it has initiated negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements.
The AU mission is currently staffed by 125 monitors, including monitors from the EU and the United States, and has completed approximately 20 investigations into ceasefire violations. The AU monitoring staff is supported by a protection force of 305, made up of Rwandan and Nigerian troops.
At the request of the African Union, the United Nations has prepared a comprehensive plan on how best to enhance the effectiveness of the AU mission on the ground. The plan envisages an enlarged AU mission to Darfur, with increased numbers of military observers, increased military personnel in the protection force, in the civilian police and civilian support staff. More staff will also be deployed at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Depending on how these plans are further elaborated, the EU will consider supporting an enhanced AU mission in Darfur."@en1
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