Sudan’s Government has agreed to support unconditionally the deployment of a hybrid United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in the Darfur region.
This was confirmed after talks in Khartoum with a delegation of the Security Council, writes UN News Centre, Sunday.
– The Foreign Minister told us in no uncertain terms that the Government of Sudan accepted the hybrid operation without any conditionality. The President just confirmed the same thing to us, Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa said.
– The Sudanese leadership, at the level of the President of the Republic, has confirmed that the State of Sudan is committed to all the agreements signed – including the recent agreement signed in Addis Ababa on a hybrid operation in Darfur, Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Lam Akol, told reporters.
Sudanese officials also provided “certain assurances” on humanitarian access to those in need.
DET HASTER
The purpose of the visit was to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan while encouraging its Government and other parties to engage constructively in the Darfur peace process, said Ambassador Kumalo.
In addition the aim was to “achieve without delay, full agreement” on deploying the hybrid operation. The Council also “came to encourage all parties here to fully implement the ceasefire agreement,” he added.
Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom said the Security Council would seek financing for the force from the UN’s regular peacekeeping budget, meaning that the cost would be borne by all UN Member States.
This should be decided within a month.
Kilde: www.un.org
