Fischer Wants Action in Crisis-Plagued Sudan

The international community is determined that there should be no let-up in diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese government to end the crisis in the Darfur region. United States Secretary of State Colin Powell and United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan have already been to Khartoum; now, Germany is sending Joschka Fischer.

The foreign minister wants to ensure that the Sudanese government keeps the promises it made to Powell and Annan -- to allow aid agencies better access to refugees in Darfur, to disarm the Janjaweed militiamen trying to expel African farmers from the region, and to implement security measures for Darfur's civilians.

"These are clear agreements that have been made, and that the government in Khartoum has committed to," said German foreign ministry spokesperson Jens Plötner. "I don't think any additional agreements have to be made. What's important now is making sure the existing agreements are upheld. Minister Fischer and his deputy, Kerstin Müller, have repeatedly made it clear that enough words have been said. Now, action must follow."

Improved access to refugees

Aid workers have reported that their access to starving refugees in Darfur has improved. To assist their work, Fischer is bringing with him 3.5 tons of medicine to treat the refugees.

Disarmament of the Arab militiamen, who, with government backing have killed and raped thousands of Darfur's black African population since rebel groups took up arms last year, is taking longer.

According to Fischer, the government in Khartoum is capable of demilitarizing the rebels immediately "if it only wants to."

"What we're talking about is a totally normal exertion of state sovereignty, for a nation to fulfil its duty to ensure peace, order, and security for its citizens," Plötner said. "This duty is also something that the Sudanese government is obligated to fulfil."

Sanctions could follow

If the government in Khartoum doesn't stick to its commitment to stop the violence, the country faces possible sanctions. Although Sudan is warning of creating another Iraq-style situation should sanctions be imposed, Fischer has already said that he supports the idea of certain sanctions, such as a weapons embargo.

A US draft resolution before the UN Security Council includes sanctions against leaders of the Arab militia, which could be widened to include members of the government. The US has proposed escalating sanctions within 30 days if results are not evident, though some countries say that Sudan should be allowed more time.