USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - In Letter to Secretary Rice, Bishop Commends Administration's Efforts in Working to Secure End to the Darfur Tragedy

In Letter to Secretary Rice, Bishop Commends Administration's Efforts in Working to Secure End to the Darfur Tragedy

WASHINGTON (May 11, 2006) — In a letter (May 11) to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Chairman of the International Policy Committee, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed appreciation for the Administration's leadership in working to secure an end to the terrible tragedy in Darfur.

"We asked for concerted U.S. leadership on Darfur and in the last few weeks the President and the Administration have provided it," said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski. "Our bishops' Conference knows that the road towards peace for the people of Darfur is long and uncertain and that this agreement could easily unravel without sustained U.S. and international attention. The Administration's action to help forge this agreement was critical, however, and we are grateful for these efforts and others you have taken on behalf of the long-suffering people of Darfur."

Highlights of the recent Darfur Peace Agreement include security arrangements, such as the complete, verifiable disarmament of Janjaweed militia by mid-October and restrictions on the movements and downsizing of the Popular Defense Forces; power sharing, which establishes democratic processes for the people of Darfur to choose their leaders and determine their status as a region; and wealth sharing, through the creation of a fund for Darfur Reconstruction and Development.

The USCCB has long advocated on behalf of the victims of the campaign of death and destruction in Darfur.

Below is the full text of Bishop Wenski's letter to Secretary Rice.

Dear Secretary Rice:

I write to express appreciation for the leadership of the Administration in working to secure an end to the terrible tragedy that is Darfur.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supported the "Save Darfur Rally" on April 30 and its call for robust U.S. leadership to end the terrible suffering of the people of Darfur. The conference was encouraged when President Bush met with rally organizers the Friday before the rally, but it was even more significant when Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick was sent to Abuja. From the news accounts, the negotiations were difficult, but U.S. leadership made a decisive difference. Your own trip to the United Nations Security Council was one more sign of the extent of the U.S. commitment to Darfur.

We asked for concerted U.S. leadership on Darfur and in the last few weeks the President and the Administration have provided it. Our bishops' Conference knows that the road towards peace for the people of Darfur is long and uncertain and that this agreement could easily unravel without sustained U.S. and international attention. The Administration's action to help forge this agreement was critical, however, and we are grateful for these efforts and others you have taken on behalf of the long-suffering people of Darfur.

We ask for continued U.S. resolve in the weeks and months ahead. The experience of the past few days has revealed that progress can be made with high level U.S. engagement. Please share the gratitude of our Conference with all in the Administration who made these initial steps toward peace possible. We offer our support for continued and sustained leadership in the difficult days ahead.

Sincerely yours,

Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
Bishop of Orlando
Chairman, International Policy Committee