Programme Number: 026
Week of: Sunday, 12th December, 2004
Recording Date: Thursday, 16th December 2004

Issues:

" SUDAN - THINGS WORSEN IN DARFUR BUT HOPES REMAIN HIGH FOR NAIVASHA TALKS: The UN suspends operations in south Darfur as two aid workers are killed and insecurity worsens but the UN's envoy in Sudan Jan Pronk expresses optimism about the signing of a comprehensive peace deal between the government and the south by the end of the year .

" COTE D'IVOIRE - THE UN'S TOP MAN RESIGNS AND UN SANCTIONS ARE RECOMMENDED: The UN envoy, Albert Tevoedjre of Benin, resigns saying Africa, the UN and the world have been "fooled around." But South African president Thabo Mbeki - acting on behalf of the AU - secures some concessions to move the peace process forward.
" DR CONGO / MONUC:
Thousands of civilians flee from fighting in the east between government soldiers and renegade soldiers suspected to be backed by Rwanda.

NARRATOR: Greetings and welcome to United Nations Radio from New York.

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NARRATOR:
This is, UN and Africa. And I'm Ben Dotsei Malor.

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NARRATOR:
The UN's top man in Cote D'Ivoire, ALBERT TEVOEDJRE, speaks to us about his resignation and what he thinks should be done now.

CLIP-1: SRSG TEVOEDJRE
"Now Laurent Gbagbo has been able to understand that he can't fool everybody here and there. Sanctions are needed, on whoever is opposing the peace process, fooling the people of Africa, heads of state, the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council - it is too much. Sanctions are needed."

NARRATOR:
The two different areas of concern in the Sudan: Darfur gets worse, with the UN suspending aid operations in some parts … But on the larger peace agreement between the Khartoum government and the southern Sudanese, the UN envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, remains optimistic.

CLIP-2: SRSG PRONK
"You may be sceptical. I've talked in Khartoum to all my staff there's no room for scepticism anymore. We're going to make it work."

NARRATOR:
Plus, we ask: What is the UN doing, as thousands of civilians flee from fresh fighting in the eastern DR Congo.
Stay tuned to, UN and Africa.

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COTE D'IVOIRE

NARRATOR:
As the situation in Cote D'Ivoire got worse over the past few weeks, the Security Council has been considering imposing sanctions on individuals and groups are considered to be blocking the peace process. Such a move could involve travel bans and the freezing of assets. There is already an arms embargo on all sides involved in the conflict. The UN Secretary-General has however asked the Security Council for more troops to help the peace process in Cote D'Ivoire. The Council appears to be giving some time and space to latest diplomatic efforts by the South African president Thabo Mbeki - who has been working on behalf of the African Union to get the peace process back on track. The most contentious issue appears to be the so-called Article 35 which should define the eligibility criteria for anyone who wants to become president of the country. Some people say BOTH parents of a candidate must be of Ivorian nationality. In the meantime the UN envoy for Cote D'Ivoire Albert Tevoedjre of Benin has announced his resignation. I met Mr Tevoedjre here at UN headquarters and asked him first about his current assessment of the situation in Cote D'Ivoire.

INTERVIEW WITH SRSG ALBERT TEVOEDJRE
"It's difficult to have a right expression for what is happening in Cote D'Ivoire - Up and down. Today we have won a kind of big victory since after the mission of President [Thabo] Mbeki, [of South Africa,] President [Laurent] Gbagbo has finally sent this amendment on Article 35 to the parliament. This is important because since 2 years we have been fighting for that and I told the Security Council yesterday that we are a number of people - including heads of state - deploring that it's only after two years of tensions and an amount of death that we have finally got Gbagbo to move that way. However, moving that way doesn't mean that that's the end of the story. We need to have elections in Cote D'Ivoire. We need to have elections open to all leaders. And this is not yet on the agenda of Mr Gbagbo, if I understand correctly. So we have to do some work. President Mbeki has to continue his mission and I hope that this, if we achieve it - would be the best way to end this conflict, because that's the crust of the matter.

BEN MALOR
You mentioned President Mbeki of South Africa and what he's trying to do lately to bring the Ivorian peace process back on track. Apparently he's calling for more United Nations involvement, more ONUCI involvement. Could you tell us what exactly is needed from the UN now according to the latest Mbeki plan?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE
Security. Security forces to show that we can monitor the embargo. Security forces to show that, for example, radio and TV are going to be secured or protected by neutral forces, if not it would be taken over the Young Patriots. That is still what is going on now and this kind of hate campaign in the country which is very dangerous. We also need to have security for the government officials and the ministers who are from the opposition because they are certainly ready. So, the involvement of the UN will be first on security grounds and 2: On elections, I think, we might have to be more involved in the organizing the elections. It isn't very clear to me how this will happen. But as things are going now, I think that from the Ivorian part, it will be very difficult to have them alone organizing an honest elections. So the UN will have to be involved.

BEN MALOR:
And that involvement would require more personnel. How is that possible?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
Well, it depends on the Security Council. If they give us the tools we'll finish the job - as we say. We need the tools of personnel, of security resources to do the work. It means that the budget of ONUCI is going to be seriously discussed at the Security Council.

BEN MALOR:
Do you expect the number to rise? by what amount? - personnel to rise by what amount?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
I think we need an assessment mission, to be sure. At the moment the SG is asking for 1200 troops to come in quickly to make sure that we can cope with what is at stake. But we'll need certainly more than that.

BEN MALOR:
Personally for you, you have announced your resignation. Tell us more. Why are you leaving?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
After 2 years in that country I think I've done my share. I am 75 [years old] I became 75 on November 10th. 75 is a respectable age and I have some priorities … I have to think seriously of having other priorities, to fulfill my own duties towards my family and towards myself. But I think we have done all that we could to calm down the situation. Now we know very clearly what we need to do. Gbagbo has now been able to understand that he can't fool everybody here and there. At least he's now sent that amendment to parliament, which means he knows that's the crust of the matter

BEN MALOR:
How would you describe your relationship with Mr Gbagbo and also with the rebels, during the period that you were there trying to broker peace?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
We did our best to be - let us say - responsible between them to work for the Cote Ivoire. We were not there friendly to anyone. Of course, we had to be polite. We were not there to espouse any kind of interest. That also created some problems for us but the most important thing is to do what our mandate asked us to do.

BEN MALOR:
Were you frustrated?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
Not at all. I'm happy to go because I've done my best. But I didn't have to be friendly to show how to do my job. I'm happy that the SC found that what we did was very well done. And they gave us the satisfaction we need.

BEN MALOR:
Are you disappointed?

BEN MALOR:
Finally there is talk about the arms embargo and Sanctions?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
Cote D'Ivoire deserves that the SC be firm and not be fooled around. Sanctions are needed.

BEN MALOR:
Sanctions on who?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
On whoever is opposing the peace process. … Fooling the people of Africa, heads of State, the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council, it is too much. Sanctions are needed.

BEN MALOR:
You think some political leaders have fooled everybody around internationally?

SRSG TEVOEDJRE:
Not for me to say. But the SC will see for themselves what is going on and what to do. I would say also that yesterday in my talk to the SC I insisted very much on the media; that what is going on today in CI is quite worrisome and that one should be careful and be vigilant. Thabo Mbeki said that immediately that should change. The main TV station RTI is the one of the government which has been seized by the Young Patriots and should be returned to the normal management of Cote D'Ivoire, the government of reconciliation under Seydou Diarra. If not, this is one of the matters which would complicate issues of elections etc So, I feel that sanctions should be addressed very much very soon to this particular item."

NARRATOR:
The outgoing UN envoy for Cote D'Ivoire Albert Tevoedjre.
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SUDAN

NARRATOR:
Sudan remains gripped by two critical developments: There is the worsening humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, where more than seventy thousand people have been killed in the fighting between black Africans and pro-government militias. Then, there is the more promising situation of the peace talks going on in Kenya, to end the 21-year-old war between the Khartoum government and rebels of the south - the UN and the international community have been pushing for this deal to be finally signed by the end of the year.
In Darfur, fighting has escalated over the past month, with both the rebel Sudan Liberation Army and the government increasing their military operations. And the UN has suspended relief operations in the south as a result.
Our assessment of the latest situation in Sudan begins with the critical observations made to the United Nations Security Council by the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator, Jan Egeland.

CLIP: EGELAND-2 ON SAVE THE CHILDREN STAFF
"On Sunday the 12th of December, two of Save the Children's staff were deliberately attacked and killed in South Darfur. Attacks by any armed group will only serve to paralyse the large and effective humanitarian operations in the Darfurs. The parties to the conflict - including the political and military leaders - should be held individually responsible for these attacks and for the starvation, the disease and the deaths of civilians that will undoubtedly result."

Mr Egeland's colleague, Jan Pronk, who's the UN envoy for Sudan, says the rebels of the Sudan Liberation Army, SLA, should be held responsible for these latest killings.

PRONK: SLA RESPONSIBLE.
"Even if, as is being said, it is not a premeditated murder, but on the basis of SLA soldiers who just decided themselves to kill humanitarian workers, in my view it is extremely important for the international community to hold the SLA leadership responsible for all wrongdoings of all of their soldiers."

Overall in Darfur, fresh reports are emerging of military build-ups by opposing sides in the conflict and the UN Relief Coordinator is asking the Security Council to take some urgent action.

EGELAND … TRAGICALLY …
"Tragically, many parts of Sudan's Darfur provinces present us with some of the worst obstacles to humanitarian access. The blatant breaches of the cease-fire agreements by all parties and the escalation of fighting, including rebel attacks and aerial bombardments by Government forces, have led to the evacuation of humanitarian staff. This has dramatically reduced our ability to deliver humanitarian assistance and protection for civilians. Experience demonstrates that improvements in access are brought about only when there is engagement and common commitment by all actors, and when there is consistency and coherence of approach. I encourage the Security Council to use its authority more energetically, where necessary, to address the issue of access in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection."
NARRATOR:
Jan Egeland.
Away from Darfur, in Kenya, the top negotiators from the Sudanese government and from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM, continue to work for a comprehensive peace deal to be signed by the end of December. This issue remains the primary concern for UN envoy Jan Pronk right now.

PRONK NORTH SOUTH IS KEY
"This North-South peace is key for the rest of the solution for Sudan as a whole. It's a conditio sine qua non. This is key."

NARRATOR
Mr Pronk says the negotiators need a clear signal form the international community.

PRONK NO MIXED SIGNALS
"I think it will be extremely important not to send mixed signals either between countries or the same country, different departments, because that's also happening."

And he calls on the powerful veto-carrying member states of the UN Security Council, China, Russia, the UK, the USA, and France can break any potential deadlock

PRONK UNITED P-5
"Powerful countries should play with power. And if the five permanent member states be able to make clear to both that, 'we are no longer divided, do not think that we Americans have a different interest from the Russians or that we Russians do have a different interest to Chinese, don't think that anymore,' then these negotiators could also go back to their constituencies and say 'this is what we have decided, we were confronted with a unified position of the powerful countries in the world'."

NARRATOR
The UN envoy has also been keen to praise the work of the African Union in Darfur.

PRONK AFRICAN UNION

NARRATOR
There are currently 800 AU troops and additional 100 observers on the ground in Darfur. Mr Pronk would like their number increased quickly to 4,000. And he remains positive that a comprehensive peace agreement for the Sudan is within reach.

PRONK SKEPTICISM
NARRATOR
The UN envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk.

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DR CONGO / RWANDA / KANYABAYONGA / MONUC

NARRATOR
The situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo remains volatile with the government of President Kabila saying its soldiers are fighting a war with Rwanda in the east. But Rwanda continues to maintain that its troops are not in the DR Congo. The latest clashes have been taking place around the town of Kanyabayonga which has been deserted by thousands of civilians. On the line to the DR Congo, I asked acting UN spokesperson, Eliana Naaba, what had been happening in Kanyabayonga?

INTERVIEW WITH MONUC'S ELIANA NAABA

NARRATOR:
That was Eliana Naaba, the Acting Spokesperson for MONUC, the UN Mission in the DR Congo, speaking from Kinshasa.

NARRATOR:
And that's all in UN and Africa for this week.
Our producer has been Derrick Mbatha, Production Assistant Nyi Nyi Teza and studio engineering by Zac Prewitt. I'm Ben Dotsei. Thank you for listening. Goodbye.

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