Canada to ask oil firm to help end Sudan war,
Well this is one for the books...
OTTAWA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Ottawa plans to ask a Canadian oil company criticized for
operating in Sudan to see what it can do to broker an end to a 16-year-war ravaging Africa's
largest country, officials said on Monday.
They also said Canada would appoint a mediator in a bid to help end the fighting between
Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which wants more religious and political
freedom for the mainly Christian south.
The initiatives are part of a major government policy announcement on Sudan which Foreign
Minister Lloyd Axworthy told reporters he would be making on Tuesday.
He said a team of Canadian investigators would probe alleged human rights abuses by the
Islamic government, which the U.S. accuses of sponsoring terrorism.
Officials said the government would soon hold talks with Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc. ,
which was criticized by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright over the weekend for its 25
percent stake in a southern Sudan oil consortium.
"We plan to meet Talisman in the next week to discuss a number of issues. We are seeking
enhanced cooperation with the company on Sudan," said one official.
"Talisman is an important company in Sudan and may be in a position to persuade senior
officials that ending the war would be in the country's interests."
Talisman -- which has a $350 million stake in the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company
-- was not immediately available for comment.
The United States, church groups and others fear that revenues from the oil consortium could
be fueling the Sudanese government's campaign against the rebels.
Axworthy said he was worried by the situation in southern Sudan and by Albright's critical
remarks.
"We also have our concerns and we're doing something about it. We met with the executive of
Talisman and tomorrow we will be issuing a major policy statement on Sudan which will
incorporate a number of initiatives," he said.
"We've always said that Canadian companies and (all) Canadians, whether they are in
government, private business or nongovernmental organizations, should not be involved in any
support for human rights abuses or humanitarian infractions."
Axworthy said that earlier this year he had met Sudan's foreign minister, who challenged some
of the allegations being made about human rights in the country.
"As a result of the discussions they agreed they would accept a Canadian inquiry or examination
so we're going to take them up on their offer," he said, but did not say when Ottawa's team
would be leaving for Khartoum.
Officials said a decision had been taken to appoint a Canadian mediator to boost existing
efforts to end the war, but few details were available.
Canada supports a process by a seven-nation African group known as the Inter-Governmental
Authority for Development that has produced many rounds of largely fruitless peace talks
between Khartoum and the rebels.
Aid officials also said Canada would be offering C$300,000 to the secretariat organizing the
peace talks. |
