GAERC on Sudan - Council conclusions

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

1. The Council remains extremely concerned at the situation in Darfur and calls upon the Government of Sudan and on the rebel movements to meet the seven demands set out in its Conclusions of 12 July.

2. The Council, while noting that humanitarian access to Darfur has improved partially, expresses its dissatisfaction that the Government of Sudan has not implemented the other most urgent obligations manifested in the Joint Communique of 3 July. There is no indication that the Government of Sudan has taken real and provable steps to disarm and neutralise the armed militia, including the Janjaweed. Reports that members of the militia have been integrated into the military forces are worrying. The Council does not have any indications that the security situation for civilians has improved. Despite all contrary announcements of the Government of Sudan, there are continuing reports about massive human rights violations by the armed militia including the Janjaweed, including systematic rape of women. The Council expects the Government of the Sudan to ensure that these violations stop with immediate effect. The Council underlined that cantonment of the rebel movements represents a critical element in achieving a return of peace and stability in Darfur, and calls upon the rebel movement for its swift implementation.

3. The Council underlined the importance of direct and unconditional negotiations between the Government of Sudan, the SLM and the JEM, and called upon the parties to engage constructively in the negotiations under the auspices of the AU mediation team.

4. The Council reiterates its support for all recommendations made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in its report on the situation of human rights in the Darfur region of 7 May (E/CN 4/2005/3), including the creation of an international commission of inquiry. The Council welcomes the nomination of Mr. Emmanuel Addo as independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan as requested by the Commission on human rights. The Council urges the Government of Sudan to fully co-operate with him.

5. Given the unsatisfactory co-operation of the Government of Sudan with the international community in the implementation of all aspects of the Joint Communique of 3 July, the Council appeals to the Security Council of the United Nations to pass a resolution with a view to taking further actions, including imposing sanctions, in case the Government of Sudan does not immediately fulfil its obligations and commitments.

6. Since the adoption of its Conclusions of 12 July, the EU maintained a sustained dialogue with the Government of Sudan and the two rebel movements on political negotiations and participated as an observer in the first round of talks in Addis Ababa on 15 July. The EU is in close contact with Dr. Hamid Algabid, head of the Darfur Mediation Team, in order to make available an EU expert to his team. The EU is currently making available an amount of EUR 12 million from the African Peace Facility for the AU Observer Mission in Darfur and has decided also to offer an expert to the AU headquarter in Addis Ababa, in addition to EU monitors deployed to the AU-led cease-fire-monitoring mission. The Council calls for the preparation of a list of Janjaweed leaders responsible for breaches and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and those guiding and supporting them, on which basis the Government of Sudan should be pressed to investigate these persons.

7. The EU has also considerably increased its humanitarian relief efforts in Darfur as part of an overall financial contribution, which currently amounts to EUR 213 million. However, the Council is alarmed about reports that members of humanitarian organisations have been attacked recently. The Council calls on the Government of Sudan and especially on the rebel movements, to guarantee that humanitarian organisations can perform their work in secure conditions. The Presidency continues to be in close touch with SR SGUN Jan Pronk.

8. In the immediate future the EU will:

• increase its humanitarian support, both financially and in terms of logistics;
  
  
• offer the AU to send a civilian and military expert team to the region to assess urgently how best to further support the AU Observer Mission, including the protection force;
  
  
• continue to impress on the Government of Sudan and the two rebel movements the urgency to meet the requests contained in the Council Conclusions of 12 July 2004;
  
  
• continue to be actively involved in the process of political negotiations;
  
  
• continue to closely co-operate with the UN, AU and the US;
  
  
• continue to support the efforts made by the UN, including the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General;
  
  
• depending on the outcome of the Joint Implementation Mechanism on 2 August and the assessment of the developments in the coming period, take appropriate further steps;
  
  
• actively contribute to the work of the Joint Implementation Mechanism.

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• EUHR Javier SOLANA met with Mustafa OSMAN ISMAIL, Sudanese Foreign Minister (23/7/2004)
• EU humanitarian aid for victims of Darfur crisis in Sudan and Chad (12/7/2004)
• EUHR Solana announces the sending of EU observers to the Darfur region (Sudan) (21/6/2004)
• EU mobilises funds to support African Union peacekeeping operation in Darfur, Sudan (10/6/2004)
• EU Presidency declaration on the framework peace agreement on Sudan  (4/6/2004)
• The humanitarian crisis in Greater Darfur, Sudan - ECHO's response (3/6/2004)
• UN conference on Greater Darfur, Sudan  (3/6/2004)
• EUHR Solana welcomes the agreement on Darfur, Sudan  (28/5/2004)
• Presidency Declaration on the situation in Darfur, western Sudan (26/5/2004)
• ECHO Annual Review 2004 - EU appeals for respect of humanitarian principles in Dafur, Sudan  (28/4/2004)