Sudan demands new UN envoy, labels Pronk “history”

Oct 26, 2006 (UNITED NATIONS) — Sudan’s U.N. ambassador called Thursday for a new U.N. representative to his conflict-wracked nation, dismissing as “history” current envoy Jan Pronk who was expelled by Khartoum for criticizing the government.

Pronk was recalled to U.N. headquarters for consultations after the expulsion order and met Thursday morning with Secretary-General Kofi Annan. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated after the meeting that Pronk “continues to serve with the full backing of the secretary-general and with his full confidence.”

Dujarric made clear that only Annan can make a decision about Pronk’s job because he was appointed by the secretary-general as his special representative in Sudan.

Pronk was given 72 hours to leave Sudan after writing in a private Web log that the Sudanese army violated U.N. resolutions by mobilizing Arab militias in western Darfur following heavy losses in recent fighting with rebels — heightening a dispute between the U.N. over peacekeeping in Darfur.

Abdalmahmood Mohamad, the Sudanese U.N. ambassador, said Pronk had violated his mandate as Annan’s top U.N. envoy by speaking publicly of views not representing U.N. policy.

Pronk “abused the authority of his mandate, he was not faithful to the mandate of the United Nations. He lost his impartiality and integrity in the country. He became part of the problem rather than of the solution,” Mohamad told reporters.

“For all these reasons, he left the government with no other choice than to ask for a replacement.”

Asked if there were any conditions under which Pronk could return to his work in Sudan, Mohamad replied: “For us, Mr. Pronk is history.”

Pronk was not available for comment.

Dujarric told reporters that consultations among Pronk, Annan and other U.N. officials would continue Thursday and could stretch into Friday, and he would not speak to reporters until they were concluded.

“We need to take things one step at a time,” Dujarric said, adding: “As far as we’re concerned, his (Pronk’s) status remains unchanged.”

In an Oct. 14 posting, Pronk said Sudan’s military had suffered heavy losses in recent fighting with rebels in northern Darfur.

The outspoken former Dutch politician, who has held his U.N. job for two years, also wrote that Khartoum was responding to the deteriorating situation “by directing more troops and equipment from elsewhere to the region and by mobilizing Arab militia” which have been accused of horrific atrocities.

“This is a dangerous development,” Pronk said. “Security Council resolutions which forbid armed mobilization are being violated.”

Mohamad, the U.N. ambassador, repeated his government’s assertions that Pronk was untruthful.

“He was not supposed to go public with his views. He was lying,” Mohamad said.

Sudan has refused to allow U.N. peacekeepers to replace a poorly equipped African Union force that has been unable to halt escalating violence in the vast western region.

Violence has risen dramatically in recent weeks in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced in more than three years of fighting.

Darfur, a largely arid plateau, has been in turmoil since February 2003, when ethnic African tribes rebelled after years of neglect by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The Sudanese government is accused of responding to the uprising by attacking civilians with its own army and backing Arab militias known as the janjaweed believed to be responsible for some of the worst atrocities.

The Security Council passed a resolution in August that authorized the U.N. to take over from the 7,000-strong African Union force, but Sudan’s government vehemently opposes the introduction of U.N. forces in Darfur. The resolution also extended the mandate of the AU force until Dec. 31 and called for the U.N. to help improve its operations.

UNITED NATIONS Sudan’s U.N. ambassador called Thursday for a new U.N. representative to his conflict-wracked nation, dismissing as “history” current envoy Jan Pronk who was expelled by Khartoum for criticizing the government.

Pronk was recalled to U.N. headquarters for consultations after the expulsion order and met Thursday morning with Secretary-General Kofi Annan. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated after the meeting that Pronk “continues to serve with the full backing of the secretary-general and with his full confidence.”

Dujarric made clear that only Annan can make a decision about Pronk’s job because he was appointed by the secretary-general as his special representative in Sudan.

Pronk was given 72 hours to leave Sudan after writing in a private Web log that the Sudanese army violated U.N. resolutions by mobilizing Arab militias in western Darfur following heavy losses in recent fighting with rebels — heightening a dispute between the U.N. over peacekeeping in Darfur.

Abdalmahmood Mohamad, the Sudanese U.N. ambassador, said Pronk had violated his mandate as Annan’s top U.N. envoy by speaking publicly of views not representing U.N. policy.

Pronk “abused the authority of his mandate, he was not faithful to the mandate of the United Nations. He lost his impartiality and integrity in the country. He became part of the problem rather than of the solution,” Mohamad told reporters.

“For all these reasons, he left the government with no other choice than to ask for a replacement.”

Asked if there were any conditions under which Pronk could return to his work in Sudan, Mohamad replied: “For us, Mr. Pronk is history.”

Pronk was not available for comment.

Dujarric told reporters that consultations among Pronk, Annan and other U.N. officials would continue Thursday and could stretch into Friday, and he would not speak to reporters until they were concluded.

“We need to take things one step at a time,” Dujarric said, adding: “As far as we’re concerned, his (Pronk’s) status remains unchanged.”

In an Oct. 14 posting, Pronk said Sudan’s military had suffered heavy losses in recent fighting with rebels in northern Darfur.

The outspoken former Dutch politician, who has held his U.N. job for two years, also wrote that Khartoum was responding to the deteriorating situation “by directing more troops and equipment from elsewhere to the region and by mobilizing Arab militia” which have been accused of horrific atrocities.

“This is a dangerous development,” Pronk said. “Security Council resolutions which forbid armed mobilization are being violated.”

Mohamad, the U.N. ambassador, repeated his government’s assertions that Pronk was untruthful.

“He was not supposed to go public with his views. He was lying,” Mohamad said.

Sudan has refused to allow U.N. peacekeepers to replace a poorly equipped African Union force that has been unable to halt escalating violence in the vast western region.

Violence has risen dramatically in recent weeks in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced in more than three years of fighting.

Darfur, a largely arid plateau, has been in turmoil since February 2003, when ethnic African tribes rebelled after years of neglect by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The Sudanese government is accused of responding to the uprising by attacking civilians with its own army and backing Arab militias known as the janjaweed believed to be responsible for some of the worst atrocities.

The Security Council passed a resolution in August that authorized the U.N. to take over from the 7,000-strong African Union force, but Sudan’s government vehemently opposes the introduction of U.N. forces in Darfur. The resolution also extended the mandate of the AU force until Dec. 31 and called for the U.N. to help improve its operations

(AP)