Let me say that I am indeed very happy to be here in Khartoum.

I have always looked forward to coming and the Minister and I have discussed it for some time. And I think I come at an encouraging time for the peace process. I am following very closely the discussions going on in Nairobi, and like all concerned, I am hopeful that the parties will come to an agreement before they conclude their meeting on the 20th of July and then build on it.

Sudan needs peace. Everywhere I've been and the people I speak to, Sudanese I meet within the country and outside the country, are yearning for peace. I think we need to offer that peace to them so that they can live their life in peace, and continue to build this country and focus on economic and social issues.

I have also discussed the question of humanitarian access and the work of the humanitarian agencies and NGOs here in the country, and I think whatever difficulties there are the Government and I will are going to be able to resolve it before I leave, and I hope that operations will be much more smoothly and much more effectively run.

We have discussed the Sudan-UN relationship and we have a good relationship, but we're going to build on it and strengthen that relationship. *****