SC/8173
                                                                                                                                    AFR/1014
                                                                                                                        25 August 2004

Press Statement on Sudan by Security Council President

NEW YORK, 24 August (UN Headquarters) -- Following is today’s press statement on the Sudan by Security Council President Andrey Denisov (Russian Federation):

On 24 August, members of the Security Council received a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General, Tuliameni Kalomoh, on the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Council members extended their strong support for the leading role of the African Union in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. They appreciated the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Sudan, Jan Pronk, in supporting objectives and decisions of the Security Council. They welcomed the Darfur Action Plan. They look forward to SRSG Pronk’s  September 2 presentation to the Council.

Members of the Council welcomed the resumption of political talks on Darfur now taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, under the auspices of the African Union and the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.  Council members urged all parties to work together to end the violence and resolve the issues that would relieve the ongoing humanitarian suffering in Darfur.  Council members further welcomed the visit to Abuja by Secretary General Amre Moussa of the League of Arab States.

Members of the Council urged the Government of Sudan and all other parties involved to continue to cooperate closely with the African Union and the United Nations in seeking a resolution of the crisis.

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