Minister asks Ethiopia for help with Darfur

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has asked Ethiopia to intercede with Sudan to allow the deployment of a UN force to Darfur.

In a letter sent on Friday to Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi, Mr Ahern said Ireland was "gravely concerned by the continuing political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur". He urged the Ethiopian authorities, who have good relations with the Sudanese government, to encourage it to change its mind and accept the introduction of a UN force in Darfur.

Mr Ahern also warned that continuing conflict in Darfur could provoke tensions between north African and sub-Saharan states.

A global day of action took place around the world yesterday to press for an end to the conflict in Darfur. Around 40 people, including many from the region, demonstrated outside the GPO in Dublin for the introduction of a UN force. An African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (AMIS) is due to finish at the end of the month. However, the Sudanese government has rejected plans to have UN peacekeepers replace the force.

In his letter, Mr Ahern said he was sure that Ethiopia, as a key regional player in east Africa, shared the Government's concerns about Darfur. "In our view, an orderly conclusion of AMIS through transition to the UN is critical for the credibility of the African Union and the future of African peacekeeping operations.

"Without transition, a fundamental contribution to the strengthening of AMIS will be absent and there is a higher risk that AMIS could end in failure.

"Also, continuing conflict in Darfur could provoke tensions between north African and sub-Saharan states and have serious consequences for the promotion of African union and integration," the Minster stated.