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| Africa Horn | |
| No threat of "further measures" mentioned in new text on Darfur | |
| 2007-07-24 | |
| In an attempt to gain support from the African states in the Security Council, the co-sponsors of a draft resolution that would establish a hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force in Darfur on Monday dropped from their text the threat of "further measures" if the parties fail to fulfill their commitment to the early and effective implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. The old draft "stresses that, in the event the parties fail to fulfill their commitments and the requirements of this resolution, the council "will take, 90 days after the adoption of this resolution, further measures." The new combined force to be called the UN African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), would incorporate some 700 personnel belonging to the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), and would consist of some 20,000 military personnel and observers making it one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in history. The transfer of authority from AMIS to UNAMID "shall take place as soon as possible and in any event no later that December 31st" of this year," the draft said. AMIS mandate expires on that date. The hybrid force, to be established for an initial period of 12 months, would be authorized to use "all necessary means in the areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities to protect its personnel and to monitor whether any arms or related material are present in Darfur in violation of the agreements. The draft also said the council would "stress its willingness to consider, in due course and as appropriate, reducing the size of UNAMID, on the joint recommendation of the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union, should the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur significantly improve." US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters earlier in the day that the co-sponsors - US, UK and France - met today with the African states in the council - Congo, Ghana and South Africa- to finalize the draft text.
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| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #1 dropping the threat of further measures just exposes how ineffectual this entire charade will be. if its not already. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-07-24 13:59 |