Bernard J. Durkan
Question:16 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken at EU or UN level to deal with the situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
Questions (27, 28)
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:137 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will state what he and his colleagues at UN and EU level propose to do in regard to the ongoing situation in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14795/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose taking Questions Nos. 16 and 137 together.
There can be no doubt about the extent of the humanitarian and human rights disaster unfolding in Darfur and the Irish Presidency of the EU is deeply concerned about this and recognises the need for urgent political and humanitarian action. Close co-operation, in particular, is being maintained with both the United Nations and the African Union.
Over the course of our Presidency, the EU has been to the forefront of the international community in trying to address the situation in Darfur. The EU was, for example, instrumental in bringing together the Government of Sudan and the two Darfur rebel groups for peace talks in Chad, which resulted on 8 April in a humanitarian ceasefire. The ceasefire has contributed to an improvement in the general security situation which has allowed greater access to internally displaced persons for humanitarian organisations. However, it is imperative that all sides to the conflict in Darfur are persuaded that a long-term ceasefire is an essential prerequisite for dealing with Darfur's political problems.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council in April expressed its grave concern at the situation in Darfur and called on the government of Sudan to provide unhindered and safe access to the region for the UN and humanitarian agencies. In addition, we called on the government of Sudan to take command of the Arab militia groups acting as government proxies in the area. These conclusions were brought to the attention of the government of Sudan by EU Embassies in Khartoum and I note that Sudan has responded to this growing international pressure by establishing a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations in Darfur. At the Council meeting this past Monday we discussed this latest event and agreed that a thorough investigation by the commission and the early publication of its findings is crucial.
Returning to the issue of the ceasefire in Darfur, the EU is working closely with the African Union to establish an African Union ceasefire monitoring mechanism for the Darfur region. An EU official is currently taking part in an Africa Union reconnaissance mission to the region and we have also accepted an invitation from the AU to appoint an official to the joint commission monitoring the ceasefire. This is a clear example of the improved practical relations between the EU and Africa which was evident at the troika meeting I hosted in Farmleigh on 1 April. When established, the monitoring mechanism should help strengthen the ceasefire currently in place and contribute to the overall security situation for local populations.
The EU has invested financial as well as political support in bringing peace to Sudan. In addition to funding the Darfur peace talks in Chad and preparations for the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, the European Commission has also provided substantial funding to the North/South peace talks in Naivasha, and the verification and monitoring team observing that ceasefire. Humanitarian assistance to Darfur is likely to be in excess of €10 million for 2004, with a further €4 million for Sudanese refugees in Chad. My Department is in the process of releasing €1 million in emergency funding for Darfur, of which €750,000 will be channelled through the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The EU and the UN continue to work closely together on the situation in Darfur. In February the EU persuaded the government of Sudan to allow its embassy officials to visit Darfur and UNICEF and the World Food Programme were invited to take part in the mission. As Presidency, we have asked EU member states who are also members of the UN Security Council to continue to push for a greater level of engagement by the Council on the issue of Darfur. At the UN Commission on Human Rights in April, Ireland as EU Presidency was instrumental in achieving a consensus chair's statement on the situation in Sudan which secured an important objective of the Union, an international mechanism for reporting to the UN on human rights in Sudan. This important provision was achieved through close and constructive engagement with the African group at the commission. No such consensus had been possible the previous year.