NEWS RELEASES

April 7, 2004 (11:10 a.m. EDT) No. 53

GRAHAM URGES ACTION ON CRISIS IN WESTERN SUDAN

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today issued the following statement regarding the grave humanitarian situation in the Darfur region in western Sudan:

"Canada calls on the Government of Sudan to take immediate action to peacefully defuse the crisis in Darfur, and to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the protection of civilians.

"We strongly support the statements made by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the members of the UN Security Council, which express profound concern over the serious human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur. We have raised our concerns with the Government of Sudan, and have urged the government to take positive action in response to the statements of the Security Council.

"We are encouraged by peace talks between the Government of Sudan and the principal opposition groups in Darfur that are taking place in Chad in the presence of international observers. We strongly urge the parties to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities, to ensure full respect for human rights and humanitarian law, and to facilitate safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers in the region."

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