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...by sending peacekeepers where the action isn't. 
March 23, 2005 4:45 AM
UN Council may act in Sudan
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council may adopt a resolution this week
sending peacekeepers to relatively calm southern Sudan but take no action against perpetrators
of atrocities in Darfur.
The United States decided on Tuesday to split its draft resolution on Sudan into three parts,
with only the peacekeeping force for southern Sudan fairly certain of approval.
The two main measures on the Darfur region -- sanctions and a venue to try war crimes
suspects -- face opposition.
"We were literally running out of time on Sudan and we felt strongly that we had to move
ahead," Anne Patterson, the acting U.S. ambassador, told reporters.
"So what we have done is circulate three draft resolutions, one on peacekeeping, one on
sanctions, and one that would provide for measures to end impunity," she said.
The United States hopes to have at least the peacekeeping resolution adopted this week.
Council members are consulting their governments before consultations on Wednesday.
"It is clear there is very broad support for the peacekeeping resolution and that is very very
critical because it will strengthen the new government in Sudan and get more boots on the
ground," Patterson said.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the 2-year-old rebellion against the
government in Darfur over power and resources. Thousands are dying every month in miserable
camps that house the almost 2 million people who have fled their homes after attacks from Arab
militia, at times backed by the Khartoum government.
The peacekeeping resolution would authorize a 10,000-strong peacekeeping force in
southern Sudan to monitor an agreement that ended a 21-year civil war between Khartoum and
southern rebels. That accord calls for power-sharing in both the army and government.
The second resolution would impose a stiffer arms embargo on Darfur and initiate sanctions
against human rights violators and those who jeopardize a cease-fire in the region. Russia and
China, which have veto power, as well as Algeria and possibly other nations object to some of
those measures.
Patterson said the third resolution, on making war criminals accountable, kept all options open
and "makes no judgment as to which would be preferable, but simply enables discussions to
continue until a decision is reached."
Most council members support the new International Criminal Court in The Hague, which the
Bush administration rejects. The United States has proposed a new U.N.-African Union tribunal,
which few nations back. To complicate issues, Nigeria, president of the African Union, has
suggested a special panel to hear cases and foster reconciliation.
Ronaldo Moto Sardenberg, Brazil's ambassador and this month's council president, said the
council needed to take some action after weeks of talks. "I always thought if you were to have a
single resolution, it is much more difficult," he said.
The International Criminal Court, the world's first permanent tribunal for war crimes, mass
human rights violations and genocide, was recommended as the best place to try Darfur
suspects by an inquiry commission requested by the council.
Reuters
March 23, 2005 4:45 AM
UN Council may act in Sudan
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council may adopt a resolution this week
sending peacekeepers to relatively calm southern Sudan but take no action against perpetrators
of atrocities in Darfur.
The United States decided on Tuesday to split its draft resolution on Sudan into three parts,
with only the peacekeeping force for southern Sudan fairly certain of approval.
The two main measures on the Darfur region -- sanctions and a venue to try war crimes
suspects -- face opposition.
"We were literally running out of time on Sudan and we felt strongly that we had to move
ahead," Anne Patterson, the acting U.S. ambassador, told reporters.
"So what we have done is circulate three draft resolutions, one on peacekeeping, one on
sanctions, and one that would provide for measures to end impunity," she said.
The United States hopes to have at least the peacekeeping resolution adopted this week.
Council members are consulting their governments before consultations on Wednesday.
"It is clear there is very broad support for the peacekeeping resolution and that is very very
critical because it will strengthen the new government in Sudan and get more boots on the
ground," Patterson said.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the 2-year-old rebellion against the
government in Darfur over power and resources. Thousands are dying every month in miserable
camps that house the almost 2 million people who have fled their homes after attacks from Arab
militia, at times backed by the Khartoum government.
The peacekeeping resolution would authorize a 10,000-strong peacekeeping force in
southern Sudan to monitor an agreement that ended a 21-year civil war between Khartoum and
southern rebels. That accord calls for power-sharing in both the army and government.
The second resolution would impose a stiffer arms embargo on Darfur and initiate sanctions
against human rights violators and those who jeopardize a cease-fire in the region. Russia and
China, which have veto power, as well as Algeria and possibly other nations object to some of
those measures.
Patterson said the third resolution, on making war criminals accountable, kept all options open
and "makes no judgment as to which would be preferable, but simply enables discussions to
continue until a decision is reached."
Most council members support the new International Criminal Court in The Hague, which the
Bush administration rejects. The United States has proposed a new U.N.-African Union tribunal,
which few nations back. To complicate issues, Nigeria, president of the African Union, has
suggested a special panel to hear cases and foster reconciliation.
Ronaldo Moto Sardenberg, Brazil's ambassador and this month's council president, said the
council needed to take some action after weeks of talks. "I always thought if you were to have a
single resolution, it is much more difficult," he said.
The International Criminal Court, the world's first permanent tribunal for war crimes, mass
human rights violations and genocide, was recommended as the best place to try Darfur
suspects by an inquiry commission requested by the council.
Reuters
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