|
UN Secretary-General calls on Sudan to protect its staff |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 14 July 2008 |
|
The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has called on the Sudanese government to protect United Nations staff in the country.
The Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Ali Al-Sadiq, affirmed Sudan’s commitment to protect all diplomatic missions and international organizations.
Speaking to Miraya FM he said the Sudanese government is committed to that.
Brian Kelly, the Spokesperson of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said in a statement to Miraya FM that the mission will function with minimum staff as a contingency security measure and called on the government to guarantee the implementation of the mission's mandate: "UNMIS is working today as usual, with a specific number of employees and this is part of our precautionary procedure as a stand-by for any developments that may occur in relevance to the declaration that may be issued in the Hague today. These precautionary and preventive measures were implemented based on the recommendations of our security officials, and we will continue to work with the Sudanese authorities in the full implementation of the adjustment, with avoidance of creating anything that may cause disturbances." As for the United Nations/African Union Mission In Darfur (UNAMID), Shereen Zoroba, the Deputy Spokesperson of the mission told Miraya FM that they are carrying out their essential field operations. She also expressed hope the Sudanese government will support the mandate of the mission: "UNAMID is now continuing its basic work on the ground, and all its the basic field work is continuing so far, and we are assessing the situation and we are watching the developments of the events in Darfur with attention. The mandate is our priority, and the attempt to provide security and stability in Darfur and to protect civilians, within our means, and we expect the Government to continue to cooperate with us and to implement what was agreed upon."
|
