May 29, 2007

NEW YORK – The American Jewish Committee welcomed the announcement this morning by President George W. Bush of additional economic measures against Sudan in response to the ongoing tragedy in Darfur.

"Once again, the United States has demonstrated its profound concern for the genocide that has already taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents and displaced millions of others," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris.

"The increased sanctions that have been announced this morning should be seen as an important step towards a comprehensive international plan to address the growing crisis," said Harris. "The United States has led the way and now we can only hope that other nations that have dithered too long or put their own economic interests ahead of human rights concerns will reconsider their position."

"If the words ‘never again' are to have anything other than rhetorical meaning, now is the time for concerted international action," said Harris. "The UN must act quickly, especially in imposing an arms embargo, implementing stringent economic sanctions, and preventing Sudanese military overflights in Darfur."

AJC has long been outspoken, as part of a broad spectrum of human and civil rights groups, in focusing public attention on the Darfur tragedy and calling for stepped-up American, regional and international action.

American Jewish Committee