*EPF407 06/10/2004
Text: Reported Rights Violations in Sudan "Grave Concern" to G8
(Leaders urge end to Darfur conflict; look to U.N to. avert "major disaster") (560)

The political and humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan and ongoing reports of gross violations of human rights are a "grave concern," the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) countries said June 10.

In a statement issued on the closing day of their three-day summit, the leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United Kingdom said they welcomed the May 26 signing of protocols by the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and urged the parties to reach agreement to end "one of the world's most painful conflicts."

They called especially on the Sudanese government to disarm the "Janjaweed" and other groups that are responsible for "massive" human rights violations in Darfur.

G8 leaders pledged their assistance in ending the conflicts in Sudan and said they looked to the United Nations to lead the international effort to avert a "major disaster."

The leaders held their annual summit June 8-10 in Sea Island, Georgia.

Following is the text of the G8 statement as released by the White House:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Sea Island, Georgia)
June 10, 2004

G8 STATEMENT ON SUDAN

We, the Leaders of the G8, warmly welcome the May 26 signing by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) of protocols on Power Sharing, Abyei, and on the Two Areas (of Southern Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains). We urge the parties to reach a final and comprehensive agreement which includes a timetable and security arrangements as quickly as possible. We hope that this agreement and its faithful implementation will end one of the world's most painful conflicts and begin a new era of Sudanese peace and prosperity.

We also wish to express our grave concern over the humanitarian, human rights, and political crisis in Darfur. We welcome the N'djamena ceasefire agreement of April 8, and the announcement on May 20 by the Government of Sudan that restrictions on humanitarian access will be eased. However, there are continuing reports of gross violations of human rights, many with an ethnic dimension. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately and fully respect the ceasefire, allow unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need, and create the conditions for the displaced to return safely to their homes. We call especially on the Sudanese government to disarm immediately the "Janjaweed" and other armed groups which are responsible for massive human rights violations in Darfur. We call on the conflict parties to address the roots of the Darfur conflict and to seek a political solution.

We support the African Union as it assumes the leading role in the monitoring mission which is now being sent to the Darfur region to supervise the cease-fire agreement.

We pledge our countries' assistance in ending the conflicts in Sudan and in providing humanitarian aid to those in need. We call on all parties to the conflicts in Sudan to commit themselves to respecting the right of all Sudanese to live in peace and dignity.

We look to the United Nations to lead the international effort to avert a major disaster and will work together to achieve this end.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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