Norway welcomes UN resolution on Darfur and plans to send troops

– We are very pleased that the Security Council unanimously has agreed on a peace operation in Darfur, says Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. – Norway and Sweden have been planning a joint contribution of military engineers to a potential UN force to Darfur.

The crisis in Darfur has accurately been described as the worst humanitarian disaster the world is facing today. The troops will contribute to stabilising the security situation, protecting civilians and securing the supply of humanitarian assistance. This week, Norway and Sweden received a formal request from the UN for a joint engineering contribution. Pending a final political decision, Norway aims to make a contribution of roughly 200 troops to this joint Swedish-Norwegian unit.

- We are satisfied with the fact that the Security Council has given the troops a robust mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Given the situation in Darfur, this will enhance the potential for doing a meaningful job and is also an important precondition for the troops’ security.

- The agreement in the Security Council is important to support the ongoing efforts towards a political solution for Darfur. For this to occur, there has to be an end to all acts of violence, and all parties must commit themselves to a lasting ceasefire. We will therefore continue to support the political processes, says Strøm-Erichsen.