African Union Called Good Partner to United States on Sudan

Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick says AU playing a "fundamental role" there

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick welcomed the chairman of the African Union Commission, Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare, to the State Department April 14 and commended the African Union (AU) for being a good partner with the United States and for playing a "very fundamental role" in Sudan.

Speaking to reporters before their meeting, Zoellick said the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) troops have been acting with "great courage" and doing a tremendous job in the troubled Darfur region. Zoellick said he has visited most of the AMIS units and thus knows their capabilities and commitment to their mission firsthand.

Additionally, the deputy secretary also praised former Tanzanian Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim for playing a critical role in the AU-mediated peace talks on Darfur now being held in Abuja, Nigeria.

"I appreciate the chance to meet with President Konare," Zoellick told reporters, "so we can talk about ways to strengthen the AMIS mission. We want to follow up on the African Union's Peace and Security Council decision of March about transitioning to a U.N. force," he said.

Both the AU and the United Nations have talked about ways to get help from other regional organizations to strengthen their capability to deal with the tragedy and help the people in Darfur, he added.

Zoellick said "the humanitarian and security operations can only be a holding action." For that reason, he said, "we must work for this peace agreement in Abuja. ... We've both been in touch with officials in Khartoum [Sudan], as well as the rebels on trying to do that."

The U.S. official also said he was interested in getting the Konare's perspective on the recent events in Chad, a country the African leader recently visited.

"I want to get his perspective on what we can try to do to stop any danger to the government, but also urge the government to move forward with an inclusive political process," Zoellick said.

In his comments, Konare thanked Zoellick and the American team that has been working "side by side" with the African Union on Sudan.

Konare, whose remarks were translated into English, also praised Zoellick for making several trips to Sudan and for presenting an accurate view of the work that has been done by African Union forces there.

"We think it is an African responsibility that we will take and continue to work. We need to quickly reach an agreement, a political settlement in Abuja," Konare said.

He called on those in Sudan on the government side and the rebel side to "really commit to this end. We must at all prices avoid any possible influence from the actual situation in Chad on the situation in Sudan," he added. (See related article.)

The African leader also said the AU is "totally available" to continue to work for progress in this area because Darfur and Sudan are "very important. The whole continent of Africa is really involved in this."

Source: U.S. Department of State

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