Programme Number: 034
Week of: Sunday, 6th February, 2005
Recording Date: Thursday, 10th February, 2005
Topical Issue(s):

" SUDAN, DARFUR: The key partners/architects of Sudan's landmark comprehensive peace agreement between the north and north attend a special session of UN Security Council in New York, but Darfur and on-going atrocities dominate the discussions. Sudan's First Vice-president rejects recommendations that those who committed crimes in Darfur be tried by the International Criminal Court.

NARRATOR:
Hello and Welcome to United Nations Radio from New York.

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NARRATOR:
This is, UN and Africa. And I'm, Ben Dotsei Malor.

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NARRATOR:
The key architects of Sudan's comprehensive peace agreement lay out their plans and hopes for success, during a special session of the UN Security Council.
Southern Sudanese leader, John Garang, says this deal is real and workable.

CLIP-1, JOHN GARANG, BEST DEAL : DUR"
"We believe that this is the best way to achieve justice and equality for all Sudanese irrespective of whether they are Arab or African origin, whether they're Muslims or Christians, … and if we work in partnership as Sudanese."

But good news from the north-south peace deal is tampered with deep concern over the world's worst man-made humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region. Sudan's first Vice-President Ali Othman Taha, wants the world to give Sudan money for reconstruction and development but his government rejects calls for war criminals to be tried by the International Criminal Court.

CLIP-2, VICE-PRESIDENT TAHA : DUR"
"We are here to persuade the Security Council to seek their wisdom and the rationale in brining those accused before trail in Sudan. We strongly believe that there are no grounds at all on taking suspects outside the country."

NARRATOR:
And what more could the African Union do to help end the suffering in Darfur quickly.

Stay tuned to UN and Africa.
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DARFUR, SUDAN: SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS WITH TAHA AND GARANG

NARRATOR:
The world's worst man-made humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in the Darfur region of Western Sudan, with continuing insecurity and many people being killed. At the same time, the UN and the international community are trying to lend support to the implementation of the recently-signed Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Khartoum government and the Sudan people's Liberation Movement of South Sudan.

The widespread belief and expectation is that the successful implementation of the north south agreement should help a great deal in ending the crisis in Darfur.

To this end, the key architects of the peace deal, First Vice-President Ali Othman Taha and Jon Garang of the SPLM have just been explaining to the UN Security Council in New York their thoughts and plans on how the agreement could be implemented successfully and quickly and how the worrying problem of Darfur should be addressed.

The crucial role of the African Union in ending the Darfur has also been highlighted, with the participation of a special representative Baba Gana Kingibe of Nigeria.

But pertinent questions remain:
What are the key milestones ahead for the Peace Agreement of Sudan?
" Why are the killings continuing in Darfur?
" How exactly can someone like SPLM leader John Garang help to end the killings and insecurity in Darfur?
" Why is the Sudanese government objecting to recommendations that those who have committed terrible crimes in Darfur should be tried by the International Criminal Court?

All these questions, and much more, are addressed in this programme.

First, the President of the Security Council, Joel Adechi of Benin, explained the council's objectives in inviting First Vice-President Taha and Dr Garang to New York.

ENVOY ADECHI: WHY MEETING
"The Security Council is holding discussions on the situation in Sudan with a view to address some pending issues such as the establishment of the United Nations peacekeeping operations to implement the Naivasha Agreement , the development of the relationship with African Union mission in Darfur, the full implementation of the obligation of the parties involved in conflict in Darfur, and the follow up of the report of the International Commission of Inquiry of the grave violation of international humanitarian law committed in Darfur."

Dr Garang said the Sudan agreement was unique.

SPLM'S GARANG: ONE NATION TWO SYSTEMS
"We, the Sudanese, have ourselves voluntarily negotiated a unique comprehensive peace agreement, which for the lack of better terminology prescribes a one country two systems model. During the six years of interim period, at the end of which the people of southern Sudan and Abie will exercise the right to self determination, to choose between the remaining and the new and united Sudan or opt out for an independence of Southern Sudan."

He said it was the ideal arrangement to end so many decades of war.

SPLM'S GARANG: BEST DEAL
"We believe that this is the best way to achieve justice and equality for all Sudanese irrespective of whether they are Arab or African origin, whether they're Muslims or Christians, through a voluntary union and we believe that we shall achieve this goal if we implement the comprehensive peace agreement and if we work in partnership as Sudanese."

Dr Garang said his people in the south of Sudan have embraced the agreement and already started returning to their homes.

SPLM'S GARANG: IDPS AND REFUGEES
"Refugees and internally displaced persons are already moving to their respective homes in southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Abie before the necessary minimum social amenities are put in place and that's putting the host communities, even in further distress, in an already fragile situation. And I take this opportunity of this visit to the United Nations Security Council to call and urge the international community to act speedily to help us in the enormous task of voluntary return, re-integration, rehabilitation of the returnming refugees and internally displaced persons."

SEGUE
ACTUALITY ARABIC BY TAHA IN COUNCIL

Along the same theme of assistance for the people of Sudan, the First Vice-President Ali Othman Taha called for international assistance and support for the reconstruction and development programmes outlined in the peace agreement.

He said economic and trade restrictions or sanctions must also be lifted and he called for all of Sudan's foreign debt to written off.
All these key issues are to be given further attention during a Sudan donors' conference being organised by the Norwegian government in Oslo next month.

But whilst acknowledging the positive developments in Sudan's north-south agreement, Ambassador Adechi said the council remained very concerned about the on-going crisis in Darfur.

ENVOY ADECHI: GRAVE DARFUR CONCERNS
"The council remain gravely concerned by the grave situation prevailing in Darfur. The counsel calls upon the parties to do their utmost to bring the conflict in Darfur to an end as quickly as possible through a sustainable political settlement including the rapid agreement to a declaration of principle in the frameworks of Abuja Peace talks. The council expressed his concern and condemnation of the continuing cease fire violations and acts of violence as especially those reported in these last weeks."

The Security Council also heard a clear summary of the situation in Darfur over the past six months from the UN envoy in Sudan, Jan Pronk.

SRSG JAN PRONK: SIX MONTH SUMMARY
"Over past six months, performance of the government of Sudan in complying with its commitments and obligations have been uneven. Humanitarian access in Darfur has improved due to the lifting of the restrictions of the humanitarian assistance delivery last summer. However, action on human rights, particularly measures to end impunity have fall short of what the government agreed to and what the Security Council has demanded … Fighting on the ground continues…the cease fire has not been kept. Those responsible for atrocious crimes on massive scale still go unpunished."

Mr Pronk paid special tribute to the African Union troops who are on the

SRSG JAN PRONK: AU TROOPS GREAT
"The peace support force by the African Union is doing a good job. I've met highly professional military personnel dedicated to their mission committed to assist victims of war, willing to be proactive and to take risks, not staying in their barracks or behind their desks noting on report on what has gone wrong, but going out in order to prevent things from getting worse. The troops sent by the African Union are so good that we need many more of them."

The AU's Special Representative Baba Gana Kingibe of Nigeria told the Council that more AU troops should be deployed in Darfur by May.

AU'S KINGIBE: DEPLOY BY MID-APRIL
"For logistical and other constraints full deployment status has not yet been achieved. However as of yesterday the 7th of February the African Union has deployed on the ground in Darfur 370 military observers, 1410 protection force 35 military police and 11 cease fire commission officer and 81 civilian police. Additional 300 troops will soon be deployed from South Africa and Chad. Ultimately, and with the continuing indispensable material and financial support from our partners, especially the United States, the European Union, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany and others…every effort will be made to accelerate the current program of full deployment of the total strength of 3,320 by the middle of April of 2005."

And Mr Pronk reported ongoing fighting in Darfur. He said there was clearly ethnic cleansing still going on.

SRSG JAN PRONK: ETHNIC LEANSING
"During my visit to Darfur ten days ago, I saw the dramatic consequences of tribal or ethnic cleansing in dozens of villages carried out by militia during the month of January.
The militias are strong and well organized and there seems to be a sort of invisible hands behind their actions. There are forces back in Sudan not inside the government yet powerful and have the capacity to spread terror on the ground waging war against innocent people, women and children who are denounced as different and are told to the leave the places they were born and lived and never come back."

The issue of atrocities and war crimes continuing in Darfur led to a discussion of the recent report and the recommendations of the International Commission of Inquiry for Darfur, which has called for those found to have committed these crimes to be tried.
Mr Kingibe expressed the African Union's concern over the matter.

AU'S KINGIBE: CRIMES MUST BE PUNISHED
"By whatever name called, the crimes in Darfur were heinous and must not go unpunished."

Dr John Garang agreed and said impunity in Darfur must end.
He indicated that he was - at present - helpless in taking any firm action in a personal capacity, until the formation of a government of national unity.

SPLM'S JOHN GARANG: GOVT OF NATIONAL UNITY
"In a few weeks, this will be a new government. We'll call it the Government of National Unity, it will be under a new constitution, the Interim National Constitution. Such a government would, of course, have different policies…I'll be part of that government and those policies will be discussed within that government and I will back my contribution."

In the meantime, the Sudanese government remains opposed to the idea of having the accused government officials, Janjaweed militiamen and other being tried outside of Sudan. First Vice-president Taha.

VICE-PREZ TAHA: ICC WILL HINDER PEACE
"We do believe that the Sudanese legal system and the judiciary is professional enough and able to do justice and that the government will respect whatever judgments that would be passed so we do feel that the government of Sudan and the legal system of Sudan is competent and able and willing to do justice."

And he said the Khartoum government will reject the ICC idea.

VICE-PREZ TAHA: REJECTS ICC IDEA
"We are here to persuade the Security Council to seek their wisdom and the rationale in brining those accused before trail in Sudan. We strongly believe that there are no grounds to warrant taking suspects outside the country. And we strongly feel that such an action would very much help pushing things down…it will push things to degenerate rather than help people to reconcile or to maintain peace."

This disagreement over who should prosecute accused war criminals could result in some criminals going free, according to Mr Kingibe.

AU'S KINGIBE: SPEEDY JUSTICE
"In our view, the central concentration should be how to obtain speedy but comprehensive justice in the most cost-effective way. So that clear lessons are learned and salutary examples are set so that after Rwanda and now Darfur, we can truly say no more."

And Mr Kingibe stressed the need and the hope that success in the implementation of north-south agreement should helped greatly in ending the crisis in Darfur and bringing lasting peace to the whole of Sudan.

AU'S KINGIBE: SUMMARY
"Indeed, how the implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement unfolds will determine not only the future of Darfur and the other unresolved contentious issues in Sudan but the future of the country as a whole."

The Security Council will now consider all these problems in Sudan and come up with its own recommended steps over the next few days.

NARRATOR:
And that's it for this edition of UN and Africa, focussing -for the second week in a row - the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the political situation in Sudan as a whole.

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NARRATOR:
Thank you for listening and thanks to the production team of, Derrick Mbatha, Nyi Nyi Teza and Rosie Starr. I'm Ben Dotsei Malor.

Take good care and goodbye.

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