EUHR Solana at Darfur Conference

Below is a summary of remarks made by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, at the international conference on Darfur held in Brussels on 18 July.

The conference, which follows the one held on 8 March, was organised by the EU together with the United Nations and the African Union with a twofold objective: to support the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, and to enhance support for the African Union Mission in Darfur (AMIS). The Conference was structured in three successive "baskets": security; political; and pledging

SECURITY BASKET

• I welcome you all. We meet at a difficult time for Darfur. Those who have signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) are not implementing it. And there remain two important parties who continue to refuse to sign it. Meanwhile the people of Darfur continue a third year of suffering.
  
• I thank you for being here today. I would like in particular to greet Said Djinnit. We all commend the efforts of the African Union (AU) and AMIS for reducing large scale violence.
  
• The challenge before us today is to draw together our efforts in support of AMIS in the period leading to transition to the UN.
  
• So we need to focus on how we can support AMIS both within its present means and capabilities, and to look at what additional donor support is required to reinforce AMIS.

• The current situation requires immediate action. Therefore, our first service to AMIS is to see how we can support its recommendations on how to support implementation of the DPA within its current means and capabilities. In particular, so that AMIS: defines and adopts a new peacekeeping posture immediately and robustly; takes forward vigorous 24 hour operations and proactive monitoring in all sectors; sets up the Joint Force Mission HQ. We must also look at re-training of existing troops and police, and especially incoming personnel, to implement the peace-keeping mandate.
  
• All of our people who are supporting you in Addis, Khartoum, El Fashir and the sectors will ensure that you receive the detailed support you require to take these issues forward.

• AMIS is going to need additional support for the next six months.
  
• We, the donors, have a part to play in ensuring that the 8 AMIS units due to rotate soon are trained, prepared and deployed so that they can play a more robust peacekeeping role.
  
• We know the AMIS needs communications equipment and training, additional tactical air and ground mobility.
  
• And it needs more cash to pay for salaries and other running costs.
  
• The donors have been generous. But we now need to resource AMIS properly for this final and critical phase.

• While we do what we can to help AMIS stabilise Darfur in the next few months, we also need to be working on setting the conditions for the longer-term effort there. We all have a role to play in ensuring a successful transition to the UN.
  
• The AMIS Concept of Operations and the Joint UN-AU Technical Assessment Mission Report are an excellent start.
  
• We urge Khartoum to cooperate with the UN to that effect.
  
• Today we have a unique opportunity to discuss the issues and identify priorities with our AU and UN colleagues and consequently, to consider how best to help both organisations to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

• Implementation of DPA is critical - we must not miss the opportunity.
  
• AMIS needs to begin to implement the DPA within the current means and capabilities immediately.
  
• AMIS needs further support from donors to carry on this work.
  
• The UN and the AU will continue working closely together to achieve successful transition. Donors stand ready to support them.
  
• I thank all for their engagement and their offers.

• Darfur is, by far, the worst conflict in Africa today. It affects Sudan, is now already speeding to the whole region (Chad, Central African Republic).
  
• This meeting is therefore very timely, coming after Abuja and Banjul and as we are in the middle of the debate on the transition to the UN. I can't foresee any realistic exit of the Darfur conflict without such a transition, and I can't either imagine that the government of Sudan would continue to oppose it.
  
• We now have to do everything possible to implement the DPA.
  
• We will have to consider a series of questions today, including: consolidating the DPA; possible sanctions against those who violate the ceasefire; how do we evaluate the Janjaweed disarmament plan?; Where are we with the Darfur/Darfur dialogue? The situation at the borders of Chad and Central African Republic.
  
• And of course the transfer to the UN: we all agree that there is no alternative to that.
  
  
  
  • Ref: CL06-141EN
  • EU source: Council
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 18/7/2006

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• Darfur: EC President Barroso announces extra €40m in humanitarian aid (2/10/2006)
• European Commission statement on Darfur (18/9/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur (15/9/2006)
• EUHR Solana expresses serious concern about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur (19/8/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur (17/7/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Public Meeting on Sudan (29/6/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Public Meeting on Sudan (9/5/2006)
• Darfur: European Commission announces €100M for the humanitarian and initial recovery package  (4/5/2006)