- The Norwegian government, one of the main Sudan peace negotiators, has stated its willingness to send peacekeeping troops to Sudan, if asked to do so. Foreign Minister Jan Petersen told this to the Norwegian parliament today.
Minister Petersen today had to account for the use of Norwegian troops in foreign operations after the use of Norwegian military personnel in Iraq had caused widespread controversy and a popular demand to these troops. The Minister indicated that Norwegian troops indeed were to withdraw from Iraq within half a year.
Meeting the critiques, Norway instead was to return to its tradition of multinational peacekeeping under UN control, in particular in Africa and in countries where the Norwegian peace diplomacy plays an active role. Mr Petersen in particular mentions Sri Lanka and Sudan.
The Norwegian Foreign Minister said there were "pronounced expectations that Norway will follow up the role we have had in facilitating a peace agreement" in Sudan. "If there is a peace agreement in Sudan, the [Norwegian] government will react positively towards a participation of Norwegian personnel in a UN led force," he added.
Further, the Norwegian government said it would "still be ready to contribute to UN operations in Ethiopia and Eritrea, in Sierra Leone and in Liberia." The Minister also hoped to be able to increase Norwegian presence in UN operations in Palestine/Israel.
Norwegian peace diplomats, gaining international fame after the Oslo agreement between Palestinians and Israelis, have been among the main facilitators during the Sudanese peace negotiations. Kenya, the European Union and the United States are other main peace facilitators.
The Sudanese peace, which could end Africa's longest and most brutal civil war, foresees a temporary autonomy for South Sudan with a following referendum on full independence. It also foresees a large UN led peacekeeping operation, overseeing the disarmament and peace process.
The probable establishment of a UN mission in Sudan will be of a peacekeeping nature. According to Minister Petersen, UN troops in Sudan would "not participate in peacemaking, military operations but in monitoring, control and policing tasks."
The risks involved in such UN led peacekeeping mission are much lower than in military operations such as in Iraq. Further, they cause much less controversy.
The Norwegian government lately has faced harsh critiques in national media as the real tasks of the Norwegian troops in Iraq were known and as it was known that the US and UK referred to Norway as one of the occupying powers in "the coalition forces". This has been denied by the Oslo government, claiming to run "a humanitarian operation" that had been "ordered by the UN Security Council."
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