UNITED NATIONS, April 17: Russia, China and Qatar blocked UN sanctions on Monday against four Sudanese held responsible for abuses in Darfur, but the United States said it would force a public vote on the issue.
The four men, whittled down from a longer British list, include one Sudanese government official, one pro-government militia member, and two rebel leaders, the first to be slated for sanctions authorised by the UN Security Council more than a year ago. The four were not identified.
Both the Russian and Chinese ambassadors told reporters now was not the time to impose a travel ban or an assets freeze on Sudanese individuals because of the ongoing peace talks on the escalating Darfur conflict, held in Abuja, Nigeria. They did not make clear if they would approve the embargoes later.
A council sanctions committee on Thursday distributed the four names for approval to all 15 council nations. Had no one objected, the list would have been adopted.
However, US Ambassador John Bolton said he was preparing a resolution that would impose the sanctions, thereby forcing Russia and China, who have frequently sided with the Khartoum government, to approve, abstain or veto the action publicly.
“We’ve been trying to get this process in gear for a year,” Mr Bolton said. “We think the list of four names that was submitted by a number of delegations last week is a solid list.
“We are preparing a resolution for the full council to adopt. It would impose the sanctions.” Bolton said. “It’s a down payment, and certainly not the end of the sanctions process.”
The Security Council approved a resolution in March last year, calling for a freeze on assets overseas and a travel ban on individuals who defy peace efforts, violate human rights or conduct military overflights in Darfur.
But Beijing’s U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told Reporters: “China believes this is not the right moment since the Abuja negotiations are under way, and we expect progress on that.
“At this sensitive moment, to publish this list would have a negative effect on the negotiations there,” Wang said. “We feel in many cases sanctions prove to be less productive in the search for a solution.”
Sudan last year was China’s seventh largest provider of imported oil, accounting for 5.2 per cent of Chinese imports.
Asked about oil, Mr Wang said: “This story has always been played up, but I think we have to be constructive as far as Sudan is concerned.”
“For now, we object,” said Russia’s UN ambassador, Andrei Denisov. “We don’t like the idea. But we need further discussions. We are reluctant to be in a hurry, to rush.”
Qatar, the only Arab member of the council, also objected, diplomats said.
The Darfur conflict erupted in early 2003 when mostly non-Arab tribes took up arms accusing the Arab-dominated Khartoum government of neglect. —Reuters
