Consequential Action on Darfur
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I take exception to the assertion in your Aug. 4 editorial "Progress on Darfur" that there is "no ready means to exert pressure" on the government of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al Bashir in the most recent U.N. Security Council resolution. I hope the government of Sudan doesn't similarly misread Resolution 1769, as there will be serious consequences should it do so.
This resolution, adopted unanimously by the Security Council, invokes Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which gives the troops full authority to use force to prevent armed attacks, to protect civilians and to prevent any disruption of the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.
The United States held firm to this final language throughout the negotiations and sent a clear signal that the Security Council would be on the record demanding full Sudanese compliance and cooperation. This was agreed to by consensus, thereby making the entire Security Council responsible to respond with the necessary pressure against those seeking to upset the path toward peace in Darfur. Besides establishing a peacekeeping force, the resolution also encourages a political settlement between the government and the rebels and demands that all sides facilitate vital humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur.
Multilateral negotiations mean we don't always get everything we want in a resolution, and getting to this point took too long. But it is clear that this resolution serves our core objectives.
ZALMAY KHALILZAD
U.S. Ambassador
United Nations
New York
