Brussels, 26/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Monday's External Relations Council called on the United Nations to adopt a resolution to take measures, including international sanctions, against the Sudanese government if the latter fails to honour its commitments to put an immediate end to the human rights violations in Darfur. In its conclusions, the Council expresses its concern about the situation in the region and openly criticises the lack of action on the part of the government in Khartoum. The Council announces that the European Union will take immediate measures to help the population and that it will above all step up its humanitarian assistance to Sudan.
The Council remains extremely concerned by the situation in Darfur and expresses its "dissatisfaction" toward the Government of Sudan, which has failed to keep its commitments to put an end to the situation. "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", the Council deplores, saying it is also worried by reports about the members of the militia integrated into the country's military forces. The security situation of the population is also alarming. "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 conclusions state. The Council insists that Khartoum put an immediate end to such violence and calls on all parties concerned to "engage constructively" in the negotiations under the auspices of the African Union mediation team.
The Council restates its support for the creation of an international commission of inquiry to shed light on the events in Darfur and welcomes the nomination of Mr Emmanuel Addo as independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan. 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 the basis of this list, the Government of Sudan should be "pressed to investigate these persons". Khartoum and the rebel movement must, moreover, allow humanitarian organisations to carry out their work in secure conditions, the Council insists. In addition to increasing its humanitarian aid in financial and logistic terms, the EU will suggest that the African Union send a team of civilian and military experts to assess ways for assisting the observer mission on the ground. The Council will keep pressure on Khartoum and the rebel movements to ensure they carry out what had been requested of them at the meeting on 12 July (EUROPE of 13 July, p.14).