UN demands temporary visa to expelled envoy to Sudan

Oct 28, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan said having received a UN permission demand to allow expelled UN envoy to Sudan to enter the country for few days to collect personal effects.

The Sudanese government has received a request from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to allow Jan Pronk to come to Sudan for only few days to collect his personal effects and depart.

However, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Saturday Pronk is expected to return to Khartoum next month to organize a temporary handover to his deputy, Taye Zerihoun, who is now in charge of the U.N. mission in Sudan.

He indicated the top U.N. envoy to Sudan will keep his job until his contract ends on Dec. 31.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ali Al-Sadik, said that the request of the UN Secretary General is under study.

The spokesman pointed out that he regards the request and the manner it was presented as a recognition and respect of Sudan’s decision terminating the services of Pronk.

But, Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has protested Pronk’s expulsion to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, “has made it clear that he alone can decide on the tenure of his special representatives.”

(ST)