24 September 2004
Annan, Obasanjo Renew Call for International Aid to Darfur
Powell says United States willing to help fund expanded AU force
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan September 24 renewed his appeal to the international community "to respond urgently and generously to the humanitarian appeal for Darfur," using as his platform a public meeting of the Security Council with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, chairman of the African Union (AU).
Annan also called on the international community "to make unambiguously clear to both sides that we firmly expect them to resume the AU-led negotiations for a political settlement in Darfur and that they must bring to the table the spirit of compromise necessary to reach agreement."
"The human tragedy in Darfur is one of the greatest challenges the international community faces today. The whole world is watching this tragedy unfold, and it is watching us," the secretary-general said. "The humanitarian emergency in Darfur is growing, and much, much more needs to be done to mitigate it."
Obasanjo told the Security Council that the international community is "doing a lot" and said there is "adequate logistic backing for what we have to do in Darfur." But he quickly added that "until we are able together to resolve the problem of Darfur, we can never say we have done enough."
He urged the five permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- to work together and press both the government and the rebels equally to come to agreement on a peace settlement.
"It appears that one country is supporting the rebels, calling them resistance fighters; another is supporting Sudan," the Nigerian president said. "It doesn't give uniform backing on the two sides. We need to do that."
Obasanjo said that the AU presence in Darfur should be expanded from the current level of 300 to 3,000-5,000 troops, but that the African Union cannot effectively mount such a mission. He asked donors to provide logistics, training and help with deployment.
"The expansion of African Union presence called for in the resolution [Resolution 1564, passed on September 18] is indeed welcome," he said. "But this can only be actualized through sustained financial backing. We should avoid a situation where African Union troops on the ground are handicapped as a result of lack of requisite financial resources and logistics support."
At a press conference a few blocks from the United Nations September 24, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the United States is willing to help fund and provide logistical support for the force. Both Powell and Obasanjo are attending the opening of the 59th U.N. General Assembly.
Powell met with Obasanjo the evening of September 23 and told him that "what we had to do ... is get a firm handle on what would be required to move these additional troops into Darfur," the secretary of state said.
"I indicated to him that the United States would certainly be willing to contribute money to this effort," Powell said. "I think the international community understands the importance of this effort and the money will be forthcoming, but we have to have a good handle on how much is needed, what capabilities are needed to put this force into the field and sustain it."
Powell also said that he expected other nations, especially members of the European Union, would also help the African Union mission.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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