LOC17:47
14:47 GMT
PARIS, March 2 (KUNA) - The French government on Friday expressed "deep
concern" over reports of an incursion and air attacks by Sudanese forces
against targets in South Sudan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said that the impact of such
violence on civilians was major and caused tens of thousands to flee in an
area where there is a serious food crisis.
"Bombing, violence, incursions are too much," the spokesman said, urging
both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve differences.
The attacks are taking place on or near the joint border between Sudan and
South Sudan, particularly in the Kordofan region.
Valero said that his government wanted to send a "fundamental message,"
saying violence and the exposure of civilians to more suffering was
unacceptable.
Asked by KUNA about disruptions in oil supplies from oil-rich South Sudan,
Valero said that France imports hardly any oil from the region. South Sudan's
oil must be exported through Sudan's northern ports and the tensions have
caused supply disruptions and off-loading disputes between the protagonists.
Along with other geopolitical factors like Iran and Mideast tensions, the
Sudanese clashes have helped push oil prices to almost record levels, with
Brent blend trading at close to USD 125 per barrel Friday afternoon.
Sudan claims some territory with oil reserves in South Sudan and this is
one of the reasons for the antagonism and an outstanding issue after a peace
agreement was signed in January 2005.
South Sudan acceded to full independence last year after a referendum
massively opted to secede from its northern neighbour.
Valero also expressed full support for the International Criminal Court
(ICC) in The Hague, which has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President
Omar Hassan Al-Beshir and senior advisors for some time now, and only this
week issued another arrest warrant for Sudanese Defence Minister Abdel Raheem
Mohammad Hussein.
All warrants accuse the Sudanese officials of war crimes and crimes against
humanity, notably in Darfur, where at least 350,000 have died in six years of
conflict and repression and two million have been made homeless.
The Darfur fighting has created a massive refugee problem, both inside and
outside the country and has put strains on regional relations.
The ICC must be "respected and independent," the French official said.
"Oil or no oil, warrant or no warrant, we have to find a solution (in Sudan)",
he stated.
(End)
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KUNA 021747 Mar 12NNNN