EU threatens Sudan with sanctions

BRUSSELS, Belgium – European Union foreign ministers said yesterday they would push for United Nations sanctions against Sudan if it does not move to end the conflict in the Darfur region.

The EU ministers, in a draft statement, said they would take “appropriate further steps” if Sudan does not take action to end the fighting and resume peace talks with rebels. While not using the word sanctions, EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 25-member bloc would push for such a move by the UN Security Council if Sudan did not fully cooperate with efforts to end violence that has killed tens of thousands in Darfur.The violence in Darfur began 15 months ago when two rebel groups from Darfur’s African tribes took up arms in a struggle over land and resources.Arab militias known as Janjaweed then began a brutal campaign to drive out the black Africans.The EU cited “grave concern” at events in Darfur, saying they were “alarmed by reports of massive human rights violations” perpetrated by the Janjaweed militia rebels, “including systematic rape of women.””The risk is very high for a potential catastrophe,” said EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.The foreign ministers said they “expect the government of Sudan to ensure that these violations stop with immediate effect.”Backing its threat of sanctions, the EU said it had started preparation “of a list of Janjeweed leaders responsible for breaches and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and those guiding and supporting them.”The EU said the Sudanese government “will be pressed to arrest these persons or suspend them form office and to bring them to justice.”The 25 foreign ministers also urged Sudan to admit more aid workers to provide emergency food and shelter for more than a million people displaced in Darfur.Up to 30 000 people, most of them black Africans, have been killed and more than 1 million people have fled their homes.Some 2,2 million are in urgent need of food or medical attention, aid groups estimate.The EU, the United States and humanitarian groups have accused the Sudanese government of backing the militias – a claim the national leadership in Khartoum denies.EU officials said it the union did not plan to cut off million it gives Sudan in development aid, which is focused primarily at the country’s poorest people.- Nampa-APWhile not using the word sanctions, EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 25-member bloc would push for such a move by the UN Security Council if Sudan did not fully cooperate with efforts to end violence that has killed tens of thousands in Darfur.The violence in Darfur began 15 months ago when two rebel groups from Darfur’s African tribes took up arms in a struggle over land and resources.Arab militias known as Janjaweed then began a brutal campaign to drive out the black Africans.The EU cited “grave concern” at events in Darfur, saying they were “alarmed by reports of massive human rights violations” perpetrated by the Janjaweed militia rebels, “including systematic rape of women.””The risk is very high for a potential catastrophe,” said EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.The foreign ministers said they “expect the government of Sudan to ensure that these violations stop with immediate effect.”Backing its threat of sanctions, the EU said it had started preparation “of a list of Janjeweed leaders responsible for breaches and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and those guiding and supporting them.”The EU said the Sudanese government “will be pressed to arrest these persons or suspend them form office and to bring them to justice.”The 25 foreign ministers also urged Sudan to admit more aid workers to provide emergency food and shelter for more than a million people displaced in Darfur.Up to 30 000 people, most of them black Africans, have been killed and more than 1 million people have fled their homes.Some 2,2 million are in urgent need of food or medical attention, aid groups estimate.The EU, the United States and humanitarian groups have accused the Sudanese government of backing the militias – a claim the national leadership in Khartoum denies.EU officials said it the union did not plan to cut off million it gives Sudan in development aid, which is focused primarily at the country’s poorest people.- Nampa-AP