NEWS RELEASES

March 10, 2006 (7:00 p.m. EST)
No. 19

CANADA WELCOMES AFRICAN UNION DECISION TO SUPPORT TRANSITION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DARFUR

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay made the following statement regarding the decision announced today by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to support a transition to a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s troubled western region of Darfur:

“We welcome the AU’s decision to work closely with the United Nations during the planning process to ensure a smooth transition. It is important that the international community continue to support the AU mission during this transition period in order to maintain continuity of effort and resolve, and to ensure that there is no further deterioration in the security situation. Canada will continue to play a significant role in this regard.

“The Government of Canada fully supports the results achieved to date by the AU mission in Darfur despite the considerable challenges faced on the ground, and further recognizes the important leadership role the AU is playing in seeking a political solution to the conflict in Darfur.

“We urge all parties to continue to work together to reach an early conclusion of a peace agreement at the ongoing peace talks on Darfur in Abuja, Nigeria. We also strongly support the AU’s call for an end to all acts of violence in Darfur, particularly those committed against the civilian population, humanitarian workers and personnel of the African Union Mission in Sudan.”

More information on Canada’s efforts to address the conflict in Sudan is available on Foreign Affairs Canada’s website at http://www.canadasudan.gc.ca.

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