Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is capable of positively contributing to an improvement in the situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31227/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has had discussions with EU or UN colleagues in the matter of the ongoing situation in Darfur; the degree to which it is expected the international community can make a positive impact on the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31228/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.

Negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur rebel factions began on 27 October in Libya under joint AU/UN mediation. However, the start of this process was overshadowed by the absence of many of the principal rebel groups, which boycotted the talks. The UN and AU have sent representatives to Darfur and Juba to find and speak with the rebels who did not attend, and it is hoped that the talks will recommence in December. The unwillingness of the Government of Sudan to agree to the inclusion of specific and essential non-African personnel and capabilities is hampering the deployment of the UN/African Union hybrid force, UNAMID. Although there have been some improvements in recent months on humanitarian access in Darfur on foot of the UN/Government of Sudan Joint Communiqué agreed last March, the humanitarian situation is again becoming more difficult. Banditry, the fragmentation of the rebel groups and growing tensions within camps for Internally Displaced Persons are making the tasks of both peace negotiators and humanitarian agencies increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, delays in the implementation of the north-south Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) have led to heightened tensions within the Government of National Unity, culminating in the withdrawal of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) from that Government in October. However, from my discussions with President Bashir, I am satisfied that the Sudanese Government remains committed to the CPA and has no wish to return to war with the south.

The European Union strategy in this troubled region has three dimensions – support for political processes to bring about peace, support for peace-keeping to allow peace to take hold and to improve security, and humanitarian and development aid to alleviate suffering and help build the foundations for sustainable development. On all of these tracks, we are working closely with the UN and with the African Union, both in Darfur and in southern Sudan. The situation in Darfur is regularly discussed at meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, most recently in Brussels on 19 November. I also discussed the Darfur crisis when I met with UN Secretary General Ban in New York on 2 October. During my visit to Sudan earlier this month, I raised with the Sudanese government the need for full, effective and prompt deployment of UNAMID. I expressed Ireland's disappointment at the lack of progress in implementing the May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement, and at the failure of many rebel groups to travel to Libya for the current talks. I also expressed my concern over difficulties with implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south. I once again impressed upon the Sudanese Government the importance of humanitarian access to those in need of our help.

The will of all the parties involved – the Government of Sudan and all the different rebel groupings – is absolutely crucial to the success of our efforts. Bitter experience has shown that it is impossible to impose a sustainable peace from the outside. Ireland remains open to considering carefully targeted measures against any party standing in the way of a peaceful resolution of the situation in Darfur. However, we believe that ongoing efforts by the AU and UN to broker peace should be supported and given time to succeed.

Ireland and the European Union stand ready to assist in addressing some of the underlying causes of the conflict through targeted development assistance, once the conditions allow. Since 2006, Irish Aid has provided over €33 million in funding for humanitarian and development purposes in Sudan, including Darfur.