Annan calls for rethink on Darfur, admitting that UN stance is failing

Scotsman ^ | 12/23/04 | EDITH LEDERER

[Pikamax]

Annan calls for rethink on Darfur, admitting that UN stance is failing

EDITH LEDERER

KOFI Annan yesterday called on the United Nations Security Council to reassess urgently its efforts to end the conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region, saying the current approach is not working.

The call came a day after the British charity group Save the Children announced it was pulling out of the ravaged region after four of its workers were killed and two others raped in Darfur in the space of two months.

Both Mr Annan, the UN secretary general, and the Security Council have expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security situation in the region, where rebels and government-backed forces have repeatedly broken pledges to stop fighting. Only 900 troops of a 4,000-strong African Union force have actually been deployed.

Stuart Holliday, the United States’ representative, said after a council session on Tuesday that it might be time for Mr Annan to visit the region as he did last summer. That trip resulted in new agreements on humanitarian access.

But Mr Annan said the UN should conduct a "real reassessment" of its actions towards Sudan "because, quite frankly, our approach is not working" and further measures had to be considered.

"I think that the exercise should be done here, not by a trip to the situation on the ground," he said. "Obviously they are not mutually exclusive and whenever a trip will be helpful, I am always ready to do it. But I think, at this stage, the reassessment has to be done here."

The Security Council warned it would consider "a full range of options" to pressure both sides to comply with resolutions if fighting does not stop.

But no further meeting has been scheduled this month to address the situation. Two Security Council resolutions have threatened sanctions, but Jack Danforth, the US ambassador to the UN, said members would not consider such tough measures.

China, which imports oil from Sudan, has been most reluctant but China’s UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said his government would consider action if both sides in the conflict were targeted.

[smoothsailing]

This twit Annan needs a book deal.

Something along the line of:

I was for the UN before I was against it.

He could get Traitor John as his ghost writer.

[NRA2BFree]

Both Mr Annan, the UN secretary general, and the Security Council have expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security situation in the region, where rebels and government-backed forces have repeatedly broken pledges to stop fighting.

Kofi and the other Muslim pukes who are running the UN are the ones responsible for the continued fighting. They have turned their heads while many Christians have been slaughtered. In fact, the whole world has stood by and watched it happen. Just like they did in Rwanda.

[claudiustg]

---KOFI Annan yesterday called on the United Nations Security Council to reassess urgently its efforts to end the conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region, saying the current approach is not working.---

If they putz around long enough there will be no one left to kill or rape and the problem will be solved. Then they can pat themselves on the back and ask for money.

[hineybona]

The UN is a useless gentlemens club for despots and 2 bit leftist. I live in the NYC area and would gladly donate my time to dismanteling that building brick by brick and dumping it in the East River.

[Congressman Billybob]

Of course the UN is failing in Darfur. It was clear it would fail there, as in every other international "peace" effort it has undertaken in its history. The UN is a failure. Annan is a failure. France and Germany and the Security Council are failures. The General Assembly is a failure in the same way and for the same reasons that a baseball team of 10-year-olds is a failure (unless measured against other children).

Did I miss anything?

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Jon Stewart, You Magnificent B*stard! I Read Your Book!"

[NRA2BFree]

The UN is a useless gentlemens club for despots and 2 bit leftist. I live in the NYC area and would gladly donate my time to dismanteling that building brick by brick and dumping it in the East River.

Yes, they really are worthless, but please don't dump it in the East River. It would be polluted 'till the end of time. :)

[NormsRevenge]

Did I miss anything?

uhhh, No. :)

[DoughtyOne]

Imagine that, a U.N. policy failing. Now there's a first.

< /sarcasm >

Tell you what Kofi, the next time you folks come up with something worthwhile, just give us a call. We're tired of the "Oops, I did it again" approach.