April 30, 2009
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DARFUR ACTIVIST GROUPS OUTLINE ‘BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE’ IN SUDAN
Groups lay out necessary steps for Obama administration to forge multilateral peace strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Darfur advocacy groups – including the Enough Project, the Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network – today released an open letter to President Obama that outlines the steps his administration should take to forge a multilateral peace strategy for Sudan. The letter, titled A Blueprint for Peace, urges President Obama to treat the situation in Sudan as a strategic priority, set objectives for U.S. policy, build the necessary leverage and invest in the diplomacy needed to achieve an equitable and lasting solution for all of Sudan.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
"The overriding policy goal of the Obama administration in Sudan should be a comprehensive peace,” said Enough Co-founder John Prendergast. “The United States needs to take the strategic lead in putting a credible process together for Darfur, while constructing more effective mechanisms to support the implementation of the North-South deal and the Eastern agreement."
In the letter, the groups lay out a set of focused and meaningful pressures and incentives necessary to leverage the various parties to find a peaceful solution to the interlocking conflicts within Sudan and the region.
“It is vital that the Obama administration work closely with other key governments in dealing with Sudan,” said Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler. “The United States can lead efforts toward peace in Sudan, but it must recognize the need to engage with both U.S. allies and with those leaders who continue to back Bashir following the ICC arrest warrant issuance.”
“President Obama and members of his administration have spoken passionately about their intention to act boldly to end the crisis in Darfur and promote international efforts toward a peaceful future in Sudan,” added Genocide Intervention Network Executive Director Sam Bell. “Now theyhave the chance to do so at a crucial juncture in Sudan’s history, by making strong and sustained efforts to build an international coalition for peace.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.