The Council had an in-depth discussion on the situation in Sudan/Darfur in the presence of UN special envoy Jan Eliasson who briefed ministers on recent developments. After the discussion the Council adopted the following conclusions:
The Council remains deeply concerned about the appalling security situation in Darfur which continues to threaten the civilian population and obstructs efforts of humanitarian organisations to provide much needed assistance. Despite a decline in direct military confrontations, there has been no improvement with regard to the overall level of violence and lawlessness. The Council is particularly concerned by the recent series of unprovoked attacks against AMIS, in which nine peacekeepers were killed in the last four weeks alone, and strongly condemns the most recent incident on 14 April in which an AMIS officer was shot in El Fasher. It calls upon all parties to abide by the cease-fire agreements, to respect the neutral role of AMIS and to fully cooperate with a thorough investigation of these heinous acts. Recalling that UN Security Council Resolution 1591 determines that those impeding the peace process shall be held responsible, the Council reiterates its support for urgent consideration by the Security Council of further measures.
The Council is further concerned about ongoing violations of human rights in the region. It welcomes in this context the adoption by consensus at the 4th session of the Human Rights Council of a resolution on the situation in Darfur, which highlights the seriousness of the human rights violations committed and sets up an independent group of high-level experts to foster the implementation of recommendations on Darfur. The Council urges the Government of Sudan to fully cooperate with this group.
Stressing the urgent need for an inclusive political agreement to solve the conflict in Darfur, the Council reiterates its strong support for the joint efforts of the AU and UN Special Envoys, Salim Salim and Jan Eliasson, to revitalise the political track and encourages all regional initiatives to closely coordinate their activities within this framework. The Council took note of the report of UN Special Envoy Jan Eliasson on progress in this regard. It calls upon all parties to the conflict to contribute to an atmosphere conducive for negotiations. Emphasising the need to enhance the capacities of the AMIS mission in Darfur, the Council welcomes the agreement between the Sudanese government, the UN and the AU on the implementation of all provisions of the Heavy Support Package. The Council recalls that the transition to a full AU-UN hybrid mission in Darfur is urgently required and welcomes the progress achieved in this direction. The Council remains worried about the deteriorating effects the Darfur crisis has on existing tensions in neighbouring countries and expresses its particular concern about the recent direct confrontations of Chadian and Sudanese armed forces on 9 April on the Sudanese-Chadian border. The EU calls on both parties to refrain from any further escalation and to fully respect their commitments under the 2006 Tripoli agreement.
The Council reiterates its full support for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which remains crucial to a sustainable peace across the whole Sudan, including Darfur and the Eastern part of the country. While progress has been made, the implementation of vital provisions has fallen behind schedule. Of particular concern are delays in the delineation of the North-South border, the resolution of the Abyei question and the preparations for the general elections foreseen in 2009. The Council calls upon both parties to the agreement to intensify their efforts and is ready to assist efforts leading towards an accelerated implementation.
Lastly, the EU reiterates its commitment to contributing to a peaceful, prosperous and united Sudan, including through the continuing efforts of the EU Special Representative for Sudan.