The United Nations Security Council on Friday welcomed a draft
agreement between the UN and the African Union (AU) on proposed
UN-AU joint peacekeeping operations in Darfur, Sudan.
The Security Council, in a presidential statement, called for
"the full implementation without delay" of the UN light and heavy
support packages, demanding that "all parties meet their
international obligations, support the political process, end
violence against civilians and attacks on peacekeepers, and
facilitate humanitarian relief."
The draft "contains recommendations regarding a mandate and a
structure for the Hybrid Operation, details on the various
components of the proposed operation and their specific tasks, and
a description of the ongoing efforts of the international community
to support the peace process in Darfur and to strengthen the
African Union Mission in the Sudan," said the statement, which was
read by US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the Security Council's
President for May.
The UN Security Council described the agreement as "an important
development in the comprehensive approach to the peace process in
Darfur," noting that the draft agreement also includes
re-energizing the political process, strengthening the ceasefire,
and implementing the three-phase approach to peacekeeping.
The AU, the United Nations and the Sudanese government agreed
last November on a three-phase support plan, also known as the
Annan plan as it was put forward by then UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan.
With the first phase of the plan, also known as a light support
package, already underway, Sudan announced on April 16 that it
approved the inauguration of the second phase, also known as "the
heavy support phase."
The second phase involves the deployment of 3,000 UN troops and
six attack helicopters in Darfur to support the 7,800-strong
African force, as well as preparation for the next phase, in which
a much larger UN force would be sent to the region.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)
