Save Darfur Coalition, Enough & Genocide Intervention Network Respond to Obama’s Speech to the UN General Assembly

“But our efforts to promote peace cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists. For the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings – the belief that the future belongs to those who build, not destroy; the confidence that conflicts can end, and a new day begin.

 

“That is why we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping, while energizing our efforts to prevent conflicts before they take hold. We will pursue a lasting peace in Sudan through support for the people of Darfur, and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, so that we secure the peace that the Sudanese people deserve. And in countries ravaged by violence – from Haiti to Congo to East Timor – we will work with the UN and other partners to support an enduring peace.”

"Save Darfur is pleased that President Obama used his UN speech to reiterate his determination to pursue a lasting peace in Sudan.  But, now he must turn these words into action by building an international coalition to apply incentives and pressures to push Khartoum to end the conflict in Darfur and fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The President should use the opportunity presented by the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh to encourage the world’s richest countries to leverage their economic influence to ensure that Khartoum’s debt is not forgiven until it makes concrete and lasting progress toward ending insecurity and instability in Darfur and throughout Sudan. The Save Darfur Coalition looks forward to the release of the administration’s long-overdue Sudan policy review, which we hope will outline the administration’s specific plan for achieving lasting peace in Sudan.”

 

“President Obama’s speech was well-crafted and well-delivered. He rightly stressed that all nations have both rights and responsibilities. He spoke of the need for peace in Sudan at a time when it is clear that the government of Sudan has repeatedly abrogated its fundamental responsibilities by deliberately targeting innocent civilians while failing to fulfill peace agreement after peace agreement. We cannot just talk about war crimes and international law in the abstract. It is now up to President Obama to galvanize an international response to the growing crisis in Sudan.”

“Words are important and we're glad President Obama mentioned Sudan in today's speech. However, actions will make the difference in Sudan. We've been troubled by the Obama Administration's first steps on Sudan but are hopeful that today marks the start of a new beginning with the President playing an active role to support peace."