By Xinhua
Khartoum/Brussels : The Sudanese government and the European Union (EU) Wednesday welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 1769 on a hybrid peacekeeping operation under the world body and the African Union in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.
"The European Union stands ready to step up its support," EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said.
Solana praised the African Union Mission and commended all of the countries which have pledged to contribute troops or otherwise to the hybrid mission.
A meeting of all parties to the conflict in Darfur is scheduled for Aug 3-5 in Arusha, Tanzania.
Solana said only a political resolution of the Darfur conflict can bring sustainable peace in the region and called on all parties invited to the Arusha meeting to participate in a constructive way.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt Resolution 1769 authorizing a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force in Darfur. Under the resolution, co-sponsored by Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, Peru and Slovakia, the operation is mandated for an initial period of 12 months, and will consist of up to 19,555 military personnel, up to 3,772 police and 19 formed police units comprising up to 140 personnel each.