After Sudan ordered UN Special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk earlier this week to leave the country after he was considered a "threat" to its national security, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Khartoum worked out a compromise by which Pronk will remain in his post until December but will travel back to Khartoum in November to organize an "orderly" handover to his deputy, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the daily press briefing on Friday. "The Secretary-General has now confirmed that Jan Pronk will continue to serve as his Special Representative in the Sudan until the end of the year, when his contract is set to expire. Following ongoing consultations with the Sudanese authorities, it is expected that Mr. Pronk will return to Khartoum during November to organize an orderly handover to the officer-in-charge of the UN mission, before returning to New York for debriefings and the completion of his mission," Dujarric said.
He added that Annan has made it clear that he alone can decide on Pronk's tenure. However, "he also realized that at a critical time in the Darfur negotiations, it is important that we preserve a good working relationship" with the Sudanese government, and he is "certain the officer in charge Taye Zerihoun will be able to provide this."
| Mighty adroit cave, Mr. Annan. |
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