Evidence of meeting #22 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was force.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I know; you are in the opposition.
Janet, I have two questions here. One is about the peace treaty that has been signed in East Sudan. We keep forgetting that there is low-level rebel intensity going on, on the east side of Sudan, and I think they have just signed a peace treaty. What is the current situation in reference to the situation in East Sudan?
Second, how much credence do we give to this gentleman who has made a refugee claim in the U.K. who is from the Janjaweed? He said the Government of Sudan was actually giving instructions to the militia over there. That's the claim he has made in the U.K., and of course the Government of Sudan has denied that and said it is wrong. So how much credence do we give to that statement?
What do you say on those two points?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The agreement in the east was negotiated in Asmara under the auspices of the Eritrean government. There were very few international partners directly involved in its negotiation.
From what we can see, though, it looks like a very good comprehensive agreement that we will look to support. As to the willingness of the signatories to move forward beyond the agreement, the proof will be in the pudding, but as a text it looks like something we can support. Internationally, all of us are looking at ways we can support its implementation.
In terms of the refugee, I have read the media reports and I think what has been suggested is that the ICC, which is investigating war crimes in Darfur, should interview this man. The issue of the Janjaweed as proxy for the Government of Sudan has been around for a very long time; there have been lots of allegations that, yes, there is a direct link.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think there's quite a bit of evidence to that effect, yes.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I just heard that the Ugandan president is going to go to southern Sudan to join the peace talks over the LRA that are taking place in southern Sudan. The LRA is quite a destabilizing force in southern Sudan. What is the current situation with the government in southern Sudan right now?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Do you mean in terms of the peace talks?
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Yes, I am asking in terms of the peace talks with Uganda, but also about achieving overall peace in Sudan as well. Is the government of southern Sudan progressing well? Are the governments of Sudan and southern Sudan meeting the peace agreement that was signed, the milestones? Is there a cause for concern there?
I mentioned Uganda because Uganda is a cause of concern, you see, because the LRA is there. Perhaps you could give us a good glimpse of the current situation in southern Sudan.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
On the peace talks, we're very encouraged that they're taking place and we hope they move forward.
In terms of the comprehensive peace agreement and the implementation of it, it's been moving forward, but it's been very slow. The situation is more or less stable from a security perspective, but the capacity of the southern government of Sudan to implement many of the agreements in collaboration with the north has not been ideal. The international community is there working with them on reconstruction as well, and maybe my CIDA colleagues would like to comment on that.
The security situation is stable, but we wish we had more progress on a number of the outstanding commission issues, including delineating the borders, the issue of compensation, and power sharing. There's still a great deal of work to do.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I expect they will, but they are going to need our support.
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Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Again, I have to say how very important it is to have you here answering our questions. Our comments do not in any way mean that we're questioning your actions. I'm well aware that you're doing your best under truly difficult circumstances.
However, since we constantly hear what people in general are thinking, it's a little difficult to make the connections and to know what we should be doing in the area. In that regard, you are shedding some light on what this nation is doing and making it clear that often, we need to take small steps first in order to resolve much larger, complex problems.
Getting back to the border issue, someone drew an analogy between Sudan's border and the more familiar Canada-US border. I don't think a comparison can be made in this instance because Sudan shares a long border with several countries that are also unstable. The situation is therefore particularly complex.
However, regarding the arms embargo, I understand that two resolutions have been voted on and implemented. While efforts are being made to secure the country, arms continue to pour in. So, how can we be certain the embargo is working? Should we be considering sanctions against arms-producing countries that continue to send arms to Darfur, while the war still rages? Under the circumstances, how can we be certain the arms embargo is working? Is it even possible to control the movement of arms into Sudan?
12:40 p.m.
Director, Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Group, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First and foremost, it's a very difficult problem. There's no getting around the fact that the presence of small arms on the ground in Darfur, and frankly all over Sudan, is huge and constitutes a problem, a threat to the security of the people there.
One of the things we're trying to do through Canada's peace-building program, one of the elements of our global peace and security fund, is to fund a base-line survey of small arms inside Darfur that would help in a number of different ways. It would help with the creation and subsequent implementation of a disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program. It would help get a sense of exactly where these arms are coming from, the degree to which they are considered to be necessary for the security of individuals, or if they are contributing to the activities of rebel groups and so forth.
We believe it is a significant problem that we should be addressing, and it goes back to one of your colleagues who suggested that addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and putting in place peace-building efforts would help to lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace settlement.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
Amnesty International maintains that this isn't enough, that resolutions to control arms movements aren't worded strongly enough.
Should this matter be revisited and stronger controls brought in?
12:40 p.m.
Director, Sudan Task Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The small arms reference in Resolution 1706?
