Drnovsek: Humanitarian Concerns Come Second to Geopolitical Interests
Speaking to the CNN about his Darfur initiative on Monday, Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek said that geopolitical interests of the UN Security Council's permanent members were the key reasons behind the powerlessness of the humanitarian efforts in the embattled Sudanese region.
CNN's announced Drnovsek by describing the key features of his initiative, starting with his appeal to world leaders to raise funds in support of the refugees and the peace-keeping forces, and continuing with his proposals for an international conference on Darfur and for a joint effort of the African Union, EU, UN and the G8 group.
Asked about the extend of support he received in New York, Drnovsek said that the response of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was very positive. "I felt he needed help. His efforts have been blocked and something needs to be done to wake the international conscience, to get the institutions moving again."
Drnovsek confirmed the indication that it was surprising the crisis was still not resolved considering that two years have passed since the reaction of the international community. He recalled that the US had said genocide was taking place in Darfur, but no groundbreaking measures followed.
"The Security Council is blocked as permanent members have their interests in Sudan. China has oil interests, Russia is selling arms to the Sudanese government and the US has found in the government an ally in the fight against terrorism. Humanitarian concerns have simply been pushed to the background," Drnovsek explained.
"The humanitarian workers on the ground are working in awful conditions, but the UN Security Council is not backing their efforts," he added.
Drnovsek also said that Slovenians were initially surprised at his initiative to set up a camp for 10,000 refugees in Darfur, as Slovenia seems to have no connection to distant Sudan, but gradually they came to realise something needs to be done.
"Today it is the people in Darfur, tomorrow somebody else may need help, it might also be us. People have reacted in a positive way, they want to do something," he said.
The interview also touched on the issue of Kosovo. Drnovsek reminded that Kosovo lost its leader Ibrahim Rugova, according to him a wise man and moderate politician, at a very unfortunate time.
"It happened right at the beginning of the negotiations on the future status of Kosovo. It is very important that Kosovo's leaders avoid a crisis and step together," Drnovsek said, adding the situation needs to be settled by the end of the year as to much time has been lost already.
The president was also asked whether his health problems were a motivational factor behind his determined international stance and whether he though Slovenia should follow the Scandinavian example and take on a more active international humanitarian role.
"It is true. Slovenia is in a good shape now. We entered the EU...and it s time for us to also devote our attention to the world...Slovenia might be a small country, but maybe sometimes small countries are called for in order to to move things. They are better in representing the people's conscience than big countries with their geopolitical interests," Drnovsek concluded.
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