SEN. MENENDEZ MEETS WITH U.S. ENVOY TO SUDAN

I received the following press release about Darfur from Senator Menendez's office:

SEN. MENENDEZ MEETS WITH U.S. ENVOY TO SUDAN
Foreign Relations Committee member expresses frustration with slow deployment of peacekeepers


WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee who has consistently pushed the Bush administration to become more engaged in combating genocide in Darfur, met with the U.S. envoy to Sudan, Ambassador Richard Williamson in the Senator’s Washington offices this week. Senator Menendez released the following statement:

“I expressed to Ambassador Williamson my continuing frustration and concern over the stunningly-slow deployment pace of the essential peacekeeping forces. I also expressed the need for the Department of Defense to step up its logistical support in order to facilitate the deployment of these troops. Ambassador Williamson seems to share these concerns and have a better grasp of situation than previous Bush administration officials, and I hope that this will result in a more aggressive and focused administration Darfur policy over the next four months. We must not let Bashir off the hook as he allows more slaughter to take place. Just because this administration is coming to an end doesn’t mean that it can relax in regard to Darfur – the bloodshed and misery continues.”

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