U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House International Relations Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations Subcommittee, today commended President George W. Bush for naming a special envoy to Sudan and said his Subcommittee hearing tomorrow will explore the challenges that the envoy will face in this position.

    “A special envoy brings additional focus, urgency, energy, and gravitas to U.S. efforts to help the people of Darfur and bring lasting peace to all of Sudan. However, there are many challenges that lay ahead, including, and most imminent, the need to allow UN peacekeepers on the ground in Sudan to protect the people of Darfur,” said Smith.

    The hearing – which begins tomorrow at 2:30 pm in Rayburn House Office Building Room 2172 and includes testimony from Oscar-winning actress and Amnesty International Goodwill Ambassador Mira Sorvino – will spotlight how the efforts to bring peace to Darfur have given way to escalating violence and a worsening human rights crisis, while examining ways the new Presidential special envoy can help put the peace process back on track. 

    President Bush announced that he has named former United States Agency for International Development Administrator Andres Natsios as a Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly today.

    “The new special envoy has a full plate from the moment he starts this job. Not only is the crisis in Darfur is getting worse by the hour, but north-south tensions are rising putting the peace agreement that ended the 22-year civil war in jeopardy. At tomorrow’s hearing, we will examine the ways that we can effectuate positive change and help settle the protracted disputes that have kept lasting peace from taking hold in the war-torn nation of Sudan,” said Smith, one of the most vocal advocates for the appointment of a special envoy to Sudan.

    Smith has actively called for the appointment of a special envoy to Sudan, most recently at the “Save Darfur Now: Voices to Stop Genocide” rally in New York City this past Sunday. In recent months, he has also held a joint press event along with U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and also cosponsored Wolf’s legislation urging the president to appoint a special envoy for Sudan.