For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 7, 2004
President Condemns Atrocities in Sudan
Statement by the President
New fighting in the Darfur region of Sudan has opened a new chapter
of tragedy in Sudan's troubled history. The Sudanese Government must
immediately stop local militias from committing atrocities against the
local population and must provide unrestricted access to humanitarian
aid agencies. I condemn these atrocities, which are displacing
hundreds of thousands of civilians, and I have expressed my views
directly to President Bashir of Sudan.
For more than two and one half years, the United States has been
working closely with the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM) to bring peace to Sudan. This civil war is
one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of our time, responsible for
the deaths of two million people over two decades. Achieving peace,
and reaching a just and comprehensive agreement, must be an urgent
priority for both sides.
The United States will move toward normal relations with the
Government of Sudan only when there is a just and comprehensive peace
agreement between the Government and the SPLM. All parties must also
ensure that there is unrestricted access for humanitarian relief
throughout Sudan, including Darfur, and the Government of Sudan must
cooperate fully in the war against terrorism.
I continue to hope for peace for the people of Sudan and for
normalization of relations between Sudan and the United States.
However, the Government of Sudan must not remain complicit in the
brutalization of Darfur. I renew my call to Khartoum to bring the
peace process with the SPLM to a just conclusion and to bring peace and
justice to Darfur.
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