Minister Dermot Ahern urges UN action on Darfur

Minister Dermot Ahern urges UN action on Darfur

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D, today said that, in the absence of full co-operation between the Government of Sudan and the United Nations in relation to Darfur, Ireland supported urgent consideration in the Security Council of further measures against Sudan.

The Minister said:  “Full agreement by the Sudanese Government to the speedy deployment of the second stage of UN peacekeeping support for the African Union force in Darfur (AMIS) and the UN /African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation is long overdue. It is unacceptable that President Bashir has now sought to delay the deployment and weaken the mandate of the peacekeepers, leaving them unable to protect civilians.”

The Minister added “In November 2006, the UN and the AU, with the support of the international community, mapped out a way forward for Darfur. This included an immediate and strengthened ceasefire; a renewed political process; and a strong AU/UN peacekeeping force which could protect the vulnerable people of Darfur and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. But progress in achieving these goals has been limited and if anything the situation has deteriorated further.  

 “The Government is frustrated by and deeply concerned at the unwillingness of some parties- including the Sudanese Government itself- to engage in a genuine way with the peace process. It is for this reason that on 5 March EU Foreign Ministers underlined our support for urgent consideration by the UN Security Council of further measures against those impeding the peace process. The issue also arose in bilateral discussions last week in New York and Washington, including between the Taoiseach and the UN Secretary General, and between the Taoiseach and myself with President Bush and Speaker Pelosi. While the full extent of the measures the Security Council will consider remains to be seen, the options under consideration may include the extension of the arms embargo on Darfur to the whole of Sudan, adding to the list of individuals subject to targeted sanctions and economic sanctions on companies involved in Sudan.”

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Press Section
Dept of Foreign Affairs
25 March 2007

Note for Editors:

The African Union’s ceasefire observation mission in Darfur (AMIS) is being strengthened in a phased manner with UN support, aiming towards deployment of a strong AU-UN hybrid force later this year. Already some 100 UN military, police and civilian personnel are in place, under the first phase of UN support. The details of the second phase “heavy” support package were agreed by the African Union and the UN and sent to President Bashir 24 January 2007. President Bashir’s letter of 6 March is a response to this communication. This month, the African Union and UN also agreed on a detailed framework for the hybrid mission and selected a joint UN-AU representative to lead the mission and the mission’s Force Commander. These details have also been shared with President Bashir.