Save Darfur Notes Suspended U.S.-Sudan Talks, Urges ‘Real Consequences' in Security Council

Activists say U.S. must not ‘squander' this month's presidency of Security Council

WASHINGTON - The Save Darfur Coalition today reacted to reports that U.S.-Sudan diplomatic talks have "collapsed." The suspension followed heightened attacks, death and destruction in the disputed town of Abyei - violence that has displaced as many as 100,000 Sudanese civilians and resulted in an unknown number of deaths. Jerry Fowler, president of the coalition, said the United States must use its presidency of the U.N. Security Council to push through real measures with "real consequences" for those who impede peace or attack Sudanese civilians.

"This is a moment of extreme peril for civilians in Sudan," Fowler said. "The suspension of bilateral U.S.-Sudan negotiations must not be an end to robust U.S. engagement to resolve the crises in Abyei and Darfur - neither of which can be solved in isolation from the other. The United States must use its presidency of the U.N. Security Council this month to impose real consequences on those individuals who impede peace or order attacks on civilians. The Security Council must take immediate steps to accelerate deployment of the UNAMID civilian protection force. To squander this opportunity, is to put even more lives in greater jeopardy."