For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2004
Text of U.S.-EU Declaration on Sudan
Dromoland Castle
Shannon, Ireland
The United States and the European Union welcome the Nairobi
Declaration of 5 June 2004 on the Final Phase of Peace in Sudan which
paves the way for the signature of a comprehensive peace agreement,
putting an end to 20 years of conflict in southern Sudan, and commend
all those who have worked with the parties to bring the peace talks to
this point, in particular the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) and the host nation to the talks, Kenya. The
protocols signed at Naivasha on 26 May 2004 demonstrate the continued
commitment by both parties and the international community to end this
longest-running civil war in Africa. We urge the Government of Sudan
and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to sustain the
momentum towards an early conclusion of a comprehensive peace
agreement. We reiterate our firm commitment to support a faithfully
implemented comprehensive peace agreement designed to bring peace to
all areas of Sudan. The United Nations has an important role to play
in achieving this goal. We fully support the work of the U.N. in
addressing the humanitarian and human rights crises in Darfur.
We express grave concern at the continuing humanitarian crisis in
Darfur, western Sudan, where the lives of hundreds of thousands of
civilians, who live in desperate conditions and require immediate
life-saving relief, are at great risk. We strongly condemn the human
rights violations that have been perpetrated there, particularly by
Jingaweit militias. We reiterate our call on the Government of Sudan
to immediately stop the violence perpetrated by the Jingaweit, ensure
the protection and security of civilians and humanitarian workers,
disarm the militias and allow full and unimpeded access by humanitarian
groups to Darfur. We also reiterate that those responsible for the
atrocities must be held accountable. In addition, we call on all
signatories to the cease-fire agreement of 8 April 2004, and their
proxy militias, to fully respect the terms of the cease-fire and to
cooperate with the African Union-led monitoring mission presently being
deployed in Darfur.
We commend the African Union for assuming a leading role in its
monitoring mission. To support the AU-led mission, we are actively
participating, contributing financially as well as sending observers.
We encourage all parties to the conflict in Darfur to initiate a
dialogue to begin addressing the underlying political and social
problems that have led to this crisis.
We call on the Government of Sudan to stop supporting the
aggressive actions by militia groups in the Upper Nile region.
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