DPA
Monday, February 12, 2007
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The European Union on Monday demanded that the Sudanese government and rebel forces start Darfur peace talks and also urged a durable political settlement in war-torn Somalia. The EU remained "gravely concerned about the security situation in Darfur and condemns continued ceasefire violations by all parties," EU foreign ministers meeting for day-long talks said in a statement.
They also denounced the recent bombing of villages in North Darfur by the Sudanese air force and voiced concern over the first case of a withdrawal by a humanitarian help organization from Darfur for security reasons.
Ministers pressed Khartoum to accept United Nations troops to be sent to reinforce struggling African Union peacekeepers.
They also urged the Sudanese government not to prevent a UN mission to investigate human rights abuse in Darfur from fulfilling its task and to issue the necessary visas.
At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and two million others displaced during the prolonged conflict in Darfur, which will soon enter its fourth year.
Violence has worsened since a peace deal was signed last May and the Sudanese government refuses to let in a new 22,000-strong UN peacekeeping force to aid the overwhelmed African force.
Turning to war-torn Somalia, EU ministers said that "a comprehensive and inclusive political process, reaching out to all sectors of Somali society, is a necessary pre-condition for the achievement of lasting stability and reconciliation."
Ministers called on the Somali government to lift the state of emergency and reaffirmed the EU's willingness to assist peace talks.
They also welcomed current efforts to establish an AU peacekeeping mission to Somalia after Ethiopian troops withdraw, adding that the bloc was ready to contribute funds for the mission.
The EU has put aside some 15 million euros for a planned peacekeeping force in Somalia, but the support hinges on an opening of the political dialogue to all key stakeholders.
Experts fear the AU will be unable to support another peacekeeping mission given its Darfur operation.
So far, only Uganda has approved sending a force to Somalia, with South Africa and Tanzania, among few others, still undecided.
Somalia has been without effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre swept the country into lawlessness and warlord rule.
Source: DPA, Feb 12, 2007