*EPF122 06/14/2004
Text: U.S. Welcomes Statement on Sudan by G8 Leaders
(State's Boucher says America also supports aid pledge) (340)

The United States "welcomes the June 10 statement on Sudan" by the leaders of the Group of Eight and shares "the hope that the implementation of agreements signed May 26 by the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement will end the conflict in the sub-Saharan African nation," State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said on June 11.

In a brief statement Boucher added that the United States fully supports the G8 pledge to assist the peace process and provide humanitarian aid to those in need.

Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 11, 2004

G8 Statement on Sudan

The United States welcomes the June 10 Statement on Sudan by the leaders of the G8. We share the hope that the implementation of the agreements signed on May 26 by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement will end the conflict in Sudan.

The G8's statement regarding Darfur reflects the grave concerns of the international community about the humanitarian crisis there and underscores the urgent need to resolve it. The United States has been outspoken on Darfur. We believe that the Government of Sudan is responsible for the humanitarian crisis and ethnic cleansing occurring there. While all the parties to the cease-fire must end the violence and allow unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need, the Government holds the additional responsibility of reversing the effects of the ethnic cleansing by supporting the voluntary return home of all displaced persons under conditions in which their security is assured.

The United States fully supports the G8 pledge to assist the peace process and provide humanitarian aid to those in need. We look to the parties, both in the north-south agreement and in Darfur, to work to bring about peace throughout Sudan. We call on the international community and the Government of Sudan to hold accountable perpetrators of gross human rights violations in Darfur.

(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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