Sudanese officials give conflicting statements on the UNSC visit

September 30, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – A number of Sudanese officials made contradictory statements on the visit of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to the country next week.

Council diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday that the UNSC will go to Sudan but will not meet with president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly committing war crimes and genocide in Darfur.

“The Security Council has not requested a meeting with Bashir nor has the government of Sudan proposed one,” said the unidentified diplomat.

Another envoy said that Bashir, may be out of the country when the council arrives in Khartoum next week. He did not say where the Sudanese president will be headed.

Sudanese media reported that the Sudanese leader will head to Libya next Monday to attend extraordinary Arab League summit.

Sudan has initially said that the UNSC will not be admitted into the country unless meeting with Bashir on their itinerary.

The spokesperson of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Fathi Sheila said in press statements that the party will not allow any visiting delegation to determine who they want to meet.

“The UNSC delegation which will visit the country next week will find no one to welcome him in Sudan and will not find any of the NCP leadership to have dialogue with,” Sheila said.

Rabie Abdulatti, another senior NCP official told Voice of America on Thursday that the government has not been officially informed about the visit.

“We got to know of this information from the media that the United Nations Security Council will come to Sudan. But, up to now, I don’t think our government has received any information to coordinate, or to do the arrangement required for the U.N Security Council,” said Abdulatti.

“This, I think, should be coordinated with the president’s office. It is the only organ for such visits to be organized. But, up to now, I don’t think this arrangement has been made by the U.N. Security Council and I doubt that this U.N. Security Council (team) will be coming without informing our government.”

Abdulatti said it was unlikely that the officials of the Security Council will arrive in Khartoum next week.

“According to protocol, the president should be aware and should know because he is responsible for each and everything in the country. That is why I think such [a] visit will not happen unless this is [first coordinated with the president’s office] or through the proper channels.”

However, the Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti was quoted by state media as confirming the visit saying it is for the purpose of reviewing progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Karti said that the government is aware of the items to be discussed by the UNSC delegation and the meetings they will hold but made no reference to the issue of Bashir.

(ST)