Bill Richardson lobbies for UN troops into Darfur

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article20183

Friday 9 February 2007 03:00. Printer-Friendly version

Feb 8, 2007 (UNITED NATIONS) — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador, called on Wednesday for increased pressure on Sudan to get U.N. troops into turbulent Darfur after he held talks with the new secretary-general.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson meets with representatives of the rebel groups in the ceasfire commission Gen Mohammed Basher of the Justice and Equality Movement, Colonel Adul Abdallah Ismail of the Sudan Liberation Movement, and Major Abdesalam Kitir of the JEM. (AP)

Richardson, now a Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited Sudan in January where he spoke to President Omar Hassan Bashir and obtained the freedom of an American journalist. He also got a 30-day ceasefire among three rebel groups, although one reneged the following day.

"I believe that President Bashir has in last three months responded somewhat but needs to do considerably more," Richardson told reporters after briefing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "There’s got to be somebody constantly on the ground, pushing to get both sides to together, to talk to the rebels."

Sudan has agreed on a three-phased approach, which the United Nations wants to include some 17,000 peacekeepers to supplement the 7,000 African Union troops on the ground.

But al-Bashir has not agreed to the troop number, saying that the AU force was strong enough and the United Nations could give money and logistical support to a "hybrid" operation.

Arab nations, which have not put pressure on Sudan, as well as China, which buys most of Sudan’s oil, "must play an important role," Richardson said.

[skipos]

1. He would be a perfect candidate to reverse the damage done by Bush's

my-way-or-the-highway foreign policy. Richardson loves diplomacy.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I love Richardson's diplomatic skills, as well.

I hope he finds a place in the next administration.

[FrenchieCat]

2. He's joined the chorus! and has tried to do something about it!

Excellent!

Of course Richardson is not the first nor only one of our potential candidates to have done this!

But the more voices the better.

Thank you Gov. Richardson! :thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

4. That's very encouraging

I think he had something to do with some N Korea progress as well. It's awesome that we have Democrats all over the world, laying the groundwork for diplomacy so that the 2008 President can put it all into action very quickly. I hate that this Bush doesn't have enough humility to just move out of the way for the next 2 years, considering how badly he's screwed up the last 6.

[applegrove]

5. Go Bill Go Bill Go Bill!

[Clarkie1]

6. K & R. nt

[bigdarryl]

7. this man is HIGHLY qualified for president than Obama and Hillary put together

[AtomicKitten]

8. Say it LOUD!!!!

Bravo!