PRESS RELEASE: President Bush Finally Moves Beyond Rhetoric on Darfur; Unilateral Sanctions too Little too Late

Washington, D.C. -- Citizens for Global Solutions is pleased that President Bush has once again used the bully pulpit to talk about Darfur. The president’s statement today that he will impose sanctions on key Sudanese companies and individuals marks the second time in a month that he has announced stronger measures in response to Sudan’s lack of action in ending the on-going atrocities in the Darfur region of the country.

Following is a statement from Citizens for Global Solutions’ Julia Fitzpatrick, a Herbert Scoville Peace Fellow at our organization:

“After nearly three years of calling the systematic killing of Darfurians 'genocide', today President Bush finally decided that rhetoric was not enough. His unilateral actions, however, come too little, too late. This U.S.-only effort will not bring an end to atrocities in Darfur.

“This is President Bush’s moment of moral courage. His administration should do what it should have done years ago: Exert the leadership necessary to facilitate a strong and coordinated multilateral effort – including China, Russia and members of the European Union -- to bring the full weight of international pressure on the al-Bashir regime. President Bush and his administration should also offer to support the efforts of the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur, especially in light of recently released arrest warrants.

“Only multilateral sanctions and robust diplomatic efforts will end the senseless killings, provide a much-needed renewed and inclusive peace process and permit the prompt deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to protect the innocent people of Darfur.”


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Notes to Editors:
Citizens for Global Solutions is a non-partisan membership organization that envisions a future in which nations work together to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and solve the problems facing humanity that no one nation can solve alone.