Sudan welcomes appointment of UN envoy on Darfur

Dec 21, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government welcomed the appointment of former Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson as the UN special envoy on the Darfur crisis.

Ambassador al-Sadiq al-Magli, Director of the Peace Department at the Foreign Ministry, said he considered the appointment as a boost to the peace operation. He further added that if the UN envoy came according to this understanding, he would be welcomed by the government.

Ambassador al-Magli said the government welcomed the decision even though it had not yet been officially notified.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday 19 December announced that the former General Assembly president and Swedish foreign minister Jan Eliasson has been appointed as Special Envoy on the Darfur crisis.

Eliasson is charged of reenergizing the international political process and to help raise additional funding for the AU force in Darfur (AMIS). Eliasson, who will not take up residence in Sudan, is expected to assume his responsibilities early in January.

“I expect him to [assume] his activities [on Sudan] at the beginning of the year,” Annan said.

He said Eliasson’s main task would be to “the work the diplomatic channels,” especially outside Sudan, to encourage governments in their home capitals to remain engaged on the issue.

Annan further added a new Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan will be designated shortly to replace Jan Pronk.

(ST)