Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Special Representative for Sudan Jan Pronk

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.

As you will recall, on Sunday 22 October, the Secretary-General received a letter from the Sudanese Foreign Minister, which stated that the Government of National Unity considered Pronk's mission as “terminated”, and requested Mr. Pronk to leave Sudan within 72 hours. The Secretary-General subsequently requested his Special Representative to travel to New York for consultations.

The Secretary-General has protested the decision with President al-Bashir of the Sudan, and has reiterated his full confidence in Jan Pronk.

The Secretary-General has made it clear that he alone can decide on the tenure of his Special Representatives. However, he also realizes that at a critical time in the Darfur negotiations, it is important that we preserve a good working relationship with the Government of Sudan and he is certain the officer in charge, Taye Zerihoun, will be able to provide this.