Khartoum, Dec. 17 (SUNA) - The government has declared its readiness for the hybrid operation in Darfur besides its fulfillment of its tasks and commitments in this regard in accordance with the agreement reached between the government, the United Nations and the African Union. In an interview to SUNA, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mutrif Siddiq, said that the government has provided lands for the operation in Al-Fasher, Niyala and Zalenge in addition to a number of sites at Khartoum, Neyala and Obeid airports to help implementation of the hybrid operation. He said that a mechanism was set up at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and different institutions to ease the implementation of the operation and to speed up issuance of visas and residence permits for the personnel of the hybrid operation. Dr. Siddiq said that the customs and port fees for hybrid operation would be exempted, adding that government mechanisms will be formed to facilitate deployment of the hybrid operation. He said that Sudanese officials met recently others of the African Union and discussed importance of establishing mechanisms to emphasize the African nature of the forces and to set up a follow up office in Addis Ababa, as included in the agreement, so as to assume coordinative role for the hybrid operation. He referred to visits to a number of countries that pledged to participate in the operation to assure their readiness to join the operation such as Egypt and Ethiopia, adding that similar visits to African countries shall continue to ascertain their readiness to participate in the hybrid operation and the number of forces and equipment. Dr. Siddiq said that up to now these steps have not yet completed to know if there is need for non African forces. On funding for the hybrid operation, he said that this issue was discussed at the United Nations and is now at the stage of final ratification, indicating that this process was one of the causes of delay of the operation's deployment. He said that none of the additional components of the hybrid operation has arrived till now, excluding engineering elements from China, adding that other elements would arrive successively from Pakistan and Egypt. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the government commitment to the hybrid operation, denying rumors circulated by some media on impediments and hindrances put by the government for implementation of the operation. He said that the government did not confine the participation in the hybrid operation to the African countries, referring to existence of engineering components from China and Pakistan, while planes are expected to come from non African states. Concerning troops, he said that the African countries have provided enough and even more troops for the hybrid operation. Dr. Siddiq said that the hybrid operation will be implemented gradually and will depend on the existing African troops in Darfur, the additions that will come in the context of the light and heavy support packages, the two extra Rwandan and Nigerian battalions and other troops that would arrive from Egypt and Ethiopia, pointing out that the participation and readiness of these troops was checked in a good manner. He said that the resolution on formation of the hybrid operation entitles its troops to use force for self defence, adding that this authorization does not prevent Sudan government to assume its responsibility for helping protection and support for the mission so as to carry out its basic task. He said that the recent escalation by some armed factions was intended to weaken the hybrid operation and to convey a message to the international community that it is incapable, referring to stances of the international community toward the repeated violations of the rebel movements and its leniency toward the aggressions on the Armed Forces, the joint forces and the oil fields in a time when calls for sanctions against Sudan government are increasing. Dr. Siddiq said that the political, humanitarian and security aspects in the hybrid operation are integrated and linked to each other, affirming the importance of the political process. He said that priority for participation in the hybrid operation is given to Africa and then to Asian countries, adding that there would be resort to other alternatives through the joint framework between Sudan government and the hybrid operation if sufficient forces can not be provided for any reason and in a manner that does not raise suspicion or fears. He indicated that other countries can help in other fields, explaining that the United States earlier assisted in the transport of troops and the humanitarian operation and is now helping in the political process via the special envoy of President Bush, Andrew Natsios. He said that the United States is not banned to give assistance to Sudan in the fields of transport, humanitarian and political fields, stating that the priority to provide personnel is not for the United States or the European countries. On whether there is lack of clarity in the Sudanese
- American relations, Dr. Siddiq denied existence of lack of clarity in the relations between Sudan and the United States, indicating that it is no secret that Sudan was classified by the US among countries that are sponsoring terrorism, and also as a country which is subjected to American sanctions and having detainees in Guantanamo, in addition to many negative signals coming from the party of the United States, whether from the US administration or in the form of legislation or even from the American civil society. He referred to serious and endeavours being carried out jointly by Sudan and balanced elements inside the American society to correct the path and to normalize the bilateral relations and to surpass this stage so that the United States can be more moderate in dealing with Sudan. Meanwhile, Dr. Siddiq refuted the repeated claims of Chad on Sudan support to the Chadian opposition, pointing out that some Sudanese opposition movements are launching attacks from inside Chad. He said that the rebel Justice and Equality Movement attacked three days ago Armed Forces troops at Sarbba area moving from inside Chad. MO/MO