Khartoum calls on US’s Rice to handle Sudan’s issues objectively
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Elisabeth Janaina
May 31, 2013, 9:19:55 AM5/31/13
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Khartoum calls on US’s Rice to handle Sudan’s issues objectively
May 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Khartoum on Thursday rejected a statement by
US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, about bombing of
civilians in South Kordofan and called to take "impartial and
objective" stands when she deal with Sudanese issues.
JPEG - 32 kb
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, addresses the media
following a UN Security Council meeting (file/Getty)
Following the adoption , on 29 May, of a resolution extending the
mandate of UN force in Abyei for six months and increasing its
military personnel on Wednesday, Rice said the US drafted resolution
was unanimously adopted stressing it aims to protect civilian in Abyei
and monitor the joint border.
Rice further said that Washington remains concerned about the
"violence and the complex humanitarian crisis" in South Kordofan and
Blue Nile states, "including and especially the ongoing indiscriminate
aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces of civilian targets".
"Sudan’s refusal to allow international humanitarian access to the Two
Areas is also wholly unacceptable”, she further emphasised.
Diplomats in Khartoum are very keen to react to statements made by
Rice who is seen as a friend of the South Sudanese ruling party SPLM
and a supporter to the Sudanese rebel SPLM-N, due to her old relations
with the two movements, and because she was close to a group of
Americans who lobbied in Washington for the South Sudan independence.
"It is absolutely not true that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) bombed
civilian targets in the two regions, or in any other areas of Sudan",
said on Thursday foreign ministry spokesperson, Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq.
He added that SAF "provided a model of ethical and professional
commitment" in the protection of civilians when it "cleansed" Abu
Kershola from the rebels who held the area for a month.
Rebel groups are accused of killing over 45 civilians in the area for
their links with the ruling National Congress Party. They are also
accused of destroying a power station in another town in North
Kordofan.
Saddiq further wondered why the U.S. ambassador did not condemn the
"heinous humanitarian crimes" committed by the Sudanese rebels in Abu
Kershola, as did Valerie Amos, UN under-secretary-general for
humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
He expressed hopes that Rice abandons her "unjustified" stand and
addresses issues with "objectivity and fairness".
In reaction to Bashir statement about the closure of the oil pipeline
if Juba continues its support to the rebels, Rice on 29 May encouraged
Khartoum to stay committed to the signed cooperation agreements, and
to hold "inclusive peace process with the SPLM-North".
She also called on Sudan and South Sudan to implement September 2012
agreements and to "respect each other’s sovereignty and bring an end
immediately to proxy support of militia groups on both sides of the
border".
(ST)
May 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Khartoum on Thursday rejected a statement by
US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, about bombing of
civilians in South Kordofan and called to take "impartial and
objective" stands when she deal with Sudanese issues.
JPEG - 32 kb
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, addresses the media
following a UN Security Council meeting (file/Getty)
Following the adoption , on 29 May, of a resolution extending the
mandate of UN force in Abyei for six months and increasing its
military personnel on Wednesday, Rice said the US drafted resolution
was unanimously adopted stressing it aims to protect civilian in Abyei
and monitor the joint border.
Rice further said that Washington remains concerned about the
"violence and the complex humanitarian crisis" in South Kordofan and
Blue Nile states, "including and especially the ongoing indiscriminate
aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces of civilian targets".
"Sudan’s refusal to allow international humanitarian access to the Two
Areas is also wholly unacceptable”, she further emphasised.
Diplomats in Khartoum are very keen to react to statements made by
Rice who is seen as a friend of the South Sudanese ruling party SPLM
and a supporter to the Sudanese rebel SPLM-N, due to her old relations
with the two movements, and because she was close to a group of
Americans who lobbied in Washington for the South Sudan independence.
"It is absolutely not true that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) bombed
civilian targets in the two regions, or in any other areas of Sudan",
said on Thursday foreign ministry spokesperson, Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq.
He added that SAF "provided a model of ethical and professional
commitment" in the protection of civilians when it "cleansed" Abu
Kershola from the rebels who held the area for a month.
Rebel groups are accused of killing over 45 civilians in the area for
their links with the ruling National Congress Party. They are also
accused of destroying a power station in another town in North
Kordofan.
Saddiq further wondered why the U.S. ambassador did not condemn the
"heinous humanitarian crimes" committed by the Sudanese rebels in Abu
Kershola, as did Valerie Amos, UN under-secretary-general for
humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
He expressed hopes that Rice abandons her "unjustified" stand and
addresses issues with "objectivity and fairness".
In reaction to Bashir statement about the closure of the oil pipeline
if Juba continues its support to the rebels, Rice on 29 May encouraged
Khartoum to stay committed to the signed cooperation agreements, and
to hold "inclusive peace process with the SPLM-North".
She also called on Sudan and South Sudan to implement September 2012
agreements and to "respect each other’s sovereignty and bring an end
immediately to proxy support of militia groups on both sides of the
border".
(ST)
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