[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 684--CALLING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS 
                      THE CRISIS IN DARFUR, SUDAN

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
Lugar, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Specter, Mr. 
Biden, Mr. Obama, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. 
Clinton, Mr. Roberts, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Wyden, 
Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Voinovich) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 684

       Whereas more than 300,000 people have died and 
     approximately 2,500,000 have been displaced in Darfur since 
     2003, according to estimates by the United Nations;
       Whereas Congress unanimously declared on July 22, 2004, 
     that the atrocities in Darfur were genocide;
       Whereas, on September 9, 2004, Secretary of State Colin 
     Powell and on June 1, 2005, President George W. Bush 
     described the crisis in Darfur as genocide;
       Whereas the United States has led the world in financial 
     contributions to humanitarian aid and peacekeeping operations 
     in Darfur;
       Whereas, on July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security 
     Council voted to deploy an historic United Nations-African 
     Union (UNAMID) peacekeeping force to stem the violence in 
     Darfur and create conditions for peace talks;
       Whereas only approximately 10,000 of the authorized force 
     of 26,000 peacekeepers and police have deployed to Darfur, 
     delayed by Sudanese obstruction as well as by a failure of 
     the international community to commit sufficient resources 
     and to overcome logistical obstacles; and
       Whereas more than four years have passed since Congress 
     declared the conflict in Darfur to be genocide and conditions 
     on the ground in Darfur continue to worsen: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) urges the President, the United Nations Secretary-
     General, the African Union, and other key members of the 
     international community to pursue a comprehensive solution to 
     the Darfur crisis by--
       (A) supporting efforts to launch a just and inclusive peace 
     process;
       (B) ensuring the full and effective deployment of the 
     UNAMID mission;
       (C) ensuring the free and unfettered flow of humanitarian 
     aid;
       (D) promoting economic and political development programs;
       (E) supporting full implementation of the Comprehensive 
     Peace Agreement of 2005; and
       (F) promoting justice and accountability;
       (2) condemns the Government of Sudan for its continued 
     obstruction of the deployment of United Nations-African Union 
     peacekeepers and equipment;
       (3) condemns the ongoing acts of violence in and 
     obstruction of aid to Darfur committed by all parties; and
       (4) calls upon the Government of Sudan and armed parties in 
     the region to declare and respect an immediate cessation of 
     hostilities, abide by the United Nations embargo on the 
     importation of arms, cease predation and attacks upon 
     humanitarian organizations, and participate in international 
     efforts to negotiate a lasting political settlement for the 
     region.

                          ____________________