NEWS ADVISORY

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

CONTACT:  Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875, April 18, 2007

                     Lee Cohen, (202) 226-1139

For IMMEDIATE Release

Ros-Lehtinen Comments on Remarks by President Bush Threatening Tougher Sanctions on Sudan for Role in Genocide

(WASHINGTON ) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on remarks made by President Bush on the situation in Darfur, Sudan during a ceremony honoring the victims of the Nazi-era holocaust. Bush reiterated his pledge to impose economic and political sanctions on the Sudanese regime if it continues obstruct the deployment and reinforcement of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force, and fails to end its support for violent militias in Darfur and permit humanitarian aid to flow into the region. Earlier this week, under intense international pressure, the Sudanese regime agreed to allow the reinforcement of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Earlier this month Ros-Lehtinen participated in a bi-partisan Congressional delegation that visited Darfur. Ros-Lehtinen’s statement:

International pressure on the regime of General Bashir is beginning to bear fruit, and the President’s stern warning that the United States will seek tighter sanctions absent further progress in Darfur is welcomed.

Monday’s decision by the Sudanese regime to permit reinforcement of the peacekeeping mission may be a positive development, but this is no substitute for a final deal on the transition to a more robust mission that can secure Darfur against violent government-backed militias, as mandated under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706.

The Sudanese Government’s long history of signing then reneging on agreements – not to mention its recent efforts to disguise violations of a UN-imposed arms embargo by painting planes carrying weaponry into Darfur with UN insignia – reaffirms the fact that this is not a trustworthy government.

Today, President Bush has delivered a clear message to the Sudanese Government that half measures and disingenuous gestures will no longer be tolerated.

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