US drops threat of curbs against Sudan: Resolution on Darfur crisis
By Masood Haider
UNITED NATIONS, July 29: Facing tough opposition from the Security Council members the United States dropped threat of sanctions from a draft resolution against Sudan in case the latter failed to control Arab militias in Darfur.
The latest US draft dropped the word "sanctions," after seven of the UN Security Council's 15 members expressed a range of concerns about using the word, following strong objections from Sudan.
The US was not sure that it would get the required 9 majority votes out of the 15-member UN Security Council. Security Council members Pakistan, Russia, China and Algeria were among those who had opposed the threat of sanctions, saying the Sudanese government needed more time to act.
By removing the word sanctions, the Security Council envoys said it would give them sufficient diplomatic cover to vote for the resolution.
On Tuesday Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram warned against rushing to judgment that Sudan was not implementing its promise to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to crack down on the Arab militias, improve security and provide better access to relief workers.
Mr Akram cautioned that tough measures against Sudan, a friendly Islamic country, might discourage its cooperation in resolving the crisis. Mr Akram said that some progress was being made and that the sponsors needed to take an objective view of the situation and refrain from punitive measures that could prove to be counter-productive.
US Ambassador John Danforth said on Wednesday the most important thing was that the threat of sanctions was clear regardless of the wording. He went into Thursday's meeting without commenting on the resolution.
Measures included in the article referred to in the UN charter exclude the use of armed force but say "complete or partial interruption of economic relations...and the severance of diplomatic relations" could be considered.
United Nations, United States and European Union officials blame armed groups known for murder, rape and pillaging in Darfur, and accuse Khartoum of backing the Janjaweed. Sudan denies this and protests outsiders' meddling in its affairs.
