OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has told the government of Sudan that future relations with Canada depend on making progress on the issue of Darfur.
Bernier met in Khartoum this week with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol and presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail, telling them that Canada expects their government to support the international peace mission in Dafur and stop military action there.
In a conference call from Sudan on Wednesday, Bernier said he was frank in the meeting, which marked the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Khartoum.
"I conveyed to them Canada's concern about the violence and humanitarian crisis in Darfur,'' he said.
"I urged the Sudanese government . . . to fully implement the comprehensive peace agreement and to end military action in Darfur and search for a sustainable, political settlement in Darfur.
"I asked them also to end attacks on civilians, to respect the human rights of the Sudanese people and to proactively facilitate the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping mission.''
The peacekeeping mission is a joint project of the African Union and the United Nations. Canada supports the mission with tens of millions of dollars and a handful of soldiers providing expertise.
Bernier said he doesn't know how Khartoum will react.
"I can't predict that,'' he said. "I don't want to project myself in the future. We'll see.''
He was asked what would happen if the Sudanese government _ which has brushed off international complaints in the past _ refuses to act.
Bernier said there's an opposition motion on the Commons order paper calling for disinvestment in Sudan, and suggested the Conservative government might support such a motion if Khartoum remains intransigent.
"It's up to them if they want to improve the relationship . . . they must show their willingness ,'' he said.
Canada is a major aid contributor to Sudan _ the total next year will be up to $275 million for security, diplomacy and aid _ and Bernier said he made it clear that Canada-Sudan relations are at stake in Darfur.
Bernier plans to travel Thursday to Juba to meet officials of the government of Southern Sudan.
