|
UN Security Council Agrees on Sudan Resolution
 |
|
"It
is a resolution that is based on the belief…that the resolution of
Naivasha is critical to the resolution of Darfur," Danforth said. (AFP)
|
NAIROBI,
November 18 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The United
Nations Security Council on Thursday, November 18, agreed on the text
of a resolution aimed at restoring peace in Sudan, as the two warring
parties in the south pledged to reach a deal by the end of 2004.
"We
just finished a discussion of the draft resolution and all 15 members
of the council are in agreement so it will be adopted tomorrow,"
Council President John Danforth said after the first day of a special
session of the Council in Nairobi, reported Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
"I
think it is a good balanced resolution...It is one that clearly
recognizes the tragedy of Darfur and the fact that we have already
passed two resolutions on this subject," added the American
diplomat.
The
resolution exhorts the international community to help in the
reconstruction of a post-war Sudan.
"It
is a resolution that is based on the belief that is almost universally
accepted that the resolution of Naivasha is critical to the resolution
of Darfur," Danforth said.
"Just
as the previous resolutions painted a picture of what would happen if
there is no answer in Darfur so this resolution paints a positive
picture of what the parties could accomplish for their country if they
bring peace to Sudan."
Written
Pledges
|
|
Annan told the rare Security Council meeting there was "no time to waste" in ending the civil war in southern Sudan. (AFP) |
Danforth
said the main thrust of this new resolution and the reason for the
rare Council meeting outside New York, was to pressure Khartoum and
the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to cap two years of
talks in the Kenyan town of Naivasha, with a comprehensive accord to
end their 21-year-old war.
He
told reporters that the Khartoum and the SPLM "have indicated
that they will sign a memorandum of understanding tomorrow committing
themselves to ... signing a peace agreement by the end of this
year."
The
US ambassador said the differences remaining between the two parties
after two years of intense negotiations were limited to "almost a
math problem" about which side pays for rebel fighters who do not
join regular government forces after the peace settlement.
Addressing
the Council meeting, SPLM leader John Garang said he was committed to
the new year-end deadline.
"I
see no reason, no serious obstacle, that would prevent us from signing
the final peace agreement by the end of this year 2004," he said.
Sudanese
Vice President Ali Osman Taha also spoke of signing "as soon as
possible."
On
May 26, the two parties signed three
crucial protocols on power-sharing and the administration of
three disputed regions.
But
a final deal is yet to be signed.
'Inappropriate'
for Darfur
UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan told the special session there was
"no time to waste" in ending the civil war in southern
Sudan.
He
stressed that the "speedy conclusion of the north-south
talks" would serve as "a basis and a catalyst" for the
resolution of the Darfur conflict.
However,
Danforth said the Security Council meeting was not the right place to
meet Darfur rebels.
"It’s
not Abuja, this is not the appropriate place," he told reporters
who asked about the absence of rebel Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The
Nigerian capital has been the venue for negotiations between the two
rebel groups and the Khartoum government.
BBC
News Online correspondent said diplomats remain divided about how any
resolution should refer to Darfur in the council, with members such as
China reluctant to put too much pressure on the Sudanese government.
The
council has already passed two resolutions threatening to impose
sanctions on Sudan's government if it does not disarm the militias in
Darfur.
The
United Nations describes the situation in Darfur as the world's worst
current humanitarian crisis.
|
