UN’s Annan, Pronk confer after Sudan’s decision to expel envoy
Oct 26, 2006 (UNITED NATIONS) — Secretary-General Kofi Annan today conferred with his Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, whose removal has been demanded by the Sudanese Government. The talks are expected to continue later today or tomorrow.
“As far as we are concerned his status remains unchanged,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the regular noon briefing, when asked about a comment by Sudanese Ambassador Abdalmahmood Mohamad that Pronk was history.
“He remains the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, having been recalled for consultations. But obviously the decision regarding Mr. Pronk, as the decision regarding any Special Representative of the Secretary-General, is the Secretary-General’s to make.”
Asked if the plan would be for Pronk to work from outside Sudan if he is to stay in place and the Sudanese Government doesn’t change its position, Dujarric replied: “We need to take things one step at a time… The Secretary-General had a meeting this morning with Mr. Pronk. They ran through the situation and they’ll probably have more discussions either later this afternoon or tomorrow.”
On Monday, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hédi Annabi protested to Ambassador Mohamed over the Sudanese Government’s decision. Annan received the Government’s letter on Sunday and requested Pronk to come to New York for consultations.
The expulsion of the UN envoy was in response to comments on Pronk’s personal Webblog that Sudan violated U.N. resolutions by mobilizing Arab militias in Darfur province following heavy losses in recent fighting with rebels.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday 25 October agreed on the need to send a special UN envoy back to Sudan after the world body’s representative to Khartoum was expelled, US officials said.
But Washington did not suggest demanding that the Sudanese government accept the return of the ousted diplomat, Jan Pronk of the Netherlands, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
(ST/UN News)