wfn.org | Relief agencies urge U.S. to press Sudan peace effort

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99-147

Relief agencies urge U.S. to press Sudan peace effort

by Kathryn McCormick

     (ENS) Leaders of 11 humanitarian organizations working in 
Sudan or with refugees from the civil war there recently urged 
U.S. officials to pursue peace negotiations in that troubled 
region and offered their opinions on the role of the new special 
envoy to be sent there.

     The group made its points during an hour-long meeting in 
Washington on September 15 with Secretary of State Madeleine 
Albright and newly appointed Special Sudan Envoy Harry Johnston. 
Richard Parkins, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, was 
among the 11, which also included heads of agencies ranging from 
CARE, Inc., and Lutheran World Relief to Oxfam America.

     "The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the role of the 
special envoy and to press the administration to vigorously 
pursue the peace process," Parkins reported.

     Group members told Albright they wanted Johnston to have a 
direct reporting relationship to her and to be accessible to the 
community of non-governmental organizations for input. Both 
Albright and Johnston agreed, Parkins said.

     As for the peace process, Albright explained that the effort 
is being held back by the lack of strong allied support. She 
pointed to Egypt's reluctance to intervene in the affairs of a 
neighboring Muslim country and noted that European countries as 
well as Canada, have strong interests in oil reserves controlled 
by the Sudanese.

     "The issue of these oil resources," Parkins said, "is 
critical as this provides funds for Khartoum to buy arms and 
strengthen its military position." It also obviously adds to the 
urgency of the peace process.

     Assistant U.S. Secretary for Africa Susan Rice, who attended 
the meeting, asked the representatives present to press their 
European counterparts or church partners to intervene with their 
governments to support the U.S.'s peace initiative through EGAD, 
an African regional organization that is trying to negotiate a 
settlement.

     Albright added that the absence of a NATO parallel in East 
Africa also is a serious limitation to a more proactive U.S. 
stance, Parkins said.

     Johnston, a former Democratic Congressman from West Palm 
Beach, Florida, is a former board member of the U.S. Committee 
for Refugees, Parkins noted. He said Johnston, already on the 
job, shared his direct-line telephone number with the group and 
indicated a willingness to meet with it periodically.

--Kathryn McCormick is associate director of News and Information 
for the Episcopal Church.