Brussels, 12/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - The International Donors Conference in Oslo (EUROPEAN 8924), Jean-Louis Schiltz, who chairs the Council of the EU, appealed for the rapid implementation of the peace agreement in Sudan as a vector for peace in Darfur and to the generosity of donors. He declared, “We hope that we are at the dawn of a new era in the Sudan. The North South Peace Agreement should serve as a catalyst in Darfur. Breaches of human rights and the rule of international humanitarian law should cease. The halt to such violations is not based on deadlines…Sudan is the anti-tsunami. We have all welcomed the immense scale of solidarity in the wake of the tsunami. For the Sudan, however, we still notice a serious deficit in funds. With regard to the contributions announced today, I am, however, confident that this conference marks turning point”.
The European Commission announced that it is ready to contribute at least €590 M (USD 765 M) to address the needs of Sudan, whether humanitarian or developmental for the period 2005-2007. Nevertheless, the Commission has made clear that the resumption of cooperation will be progressive, taking into account the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the evolution of the situation in Darfur. The same message was sent out by the Commission on 25 January last when it signed, together with the Government of the Sudan, a Country Strategy Paper defining the conditional resumption of cooperation. Commissioner Louis Michel let the Sudanese authorities know in no uncertain terms that around € 400 M would only be contributed to the Sudan for 2005-07 (€ 326 M from the 9th EDF and increased by funds from the Community budget) on a progress achieved approach, especially in Darfur. €160 M will also be added to this amount for the different humanitarian crises in the Sudan (including €100 M in untied food aid). Furthermore, the disbursements foreseen for AMIS 2 in the Darfur should attain €60 M through the Africa Peace Facility. The €590 M announced at Oslo does not include a possible humanitarian response or a possible increase of support for peace and security should the necessary conditions be fulfilled. The Country Strategy Paper focuses essentially on two sectors: food security and education, which embrace a significant number of identifiable needs established in the Joint Assessment Mission, led by Norway, the World Bank and the UN programme for development. In a press release the Commission said that is ready to support the needs in both in the North and the South of the Sudan and that in this respect, it will contribute to humanitarian aid and to transition linking relief and rehabilitation and development initiatives. In addition, support to a specific plan for the reconstruction of the Darfur could be envisaged.
The Commission delegation was led by the Director General for Development, Mr Stefano Manservisi representing the Commissioner for Development Louis Michel (who was in Strasbourg). The Oslo conference's main objective was to get money lenders to contribute up to USD 2.6 bn towards funding Sudan's estimates needs of USD 7.8 bn by the end of 2007.