Sudan/UN: Text of MFA Letter to UNSYG SR Pronk

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002571 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND S/CRS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UN SU SUBJECT: Sudan/UN: Text of MFA Letter to UNSYG SR Pronk REF: KHARTOUM 2539 ¶1. On October 26, post received a copy of the following letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sudan Jan Pronk. SIPDIS ¶2. The text of the letter, received from UNSYG SR Pronk's office, is as follows: (Begin text) REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Minister Date: 22 October 2006 Excellency, The Government of National Unity in the Republic of the Sudan recognizes with gratitude the vital role of the United Nations in peace building and peacemaking and appreciates the exemplary cooperation existing between the Sudan and the United Nations in safeguarding the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. That cooperation paved the way for the Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations concerning the Status of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan concluded in Khartoum on 28 December 2005, and the creation of the office of the United Nations Special Representative in the Sudan, which is held by Mr. Jan Pronk. Yet, during the past period since Mr. Jan Pronk assumed his duties as your Special Representative in the Sudan, his actions and behavior, especially in relation to the situation in Darfur, prompted a number of protests on part of the Government of National Unity in the Sudan. Those protests were due to unwarranted interferences in matters that do not fall within his mandate. In many occasions he has, in our opinion, acted in a way incompatible with the impartial and international nature of his duties or inconsistent with the spirit of his assignment. Regrettably, Mr. Jan Pronk had developed a history of a pattern of hostility against the Government of the Sudan and its armed forces. He has repeatedly abused the powers of his office, violated his terms of engagement as a Special Representative to the United Nations Secretary General in the Sudan. The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sudan on 20 February 2006 enlists some of the said repeated violations by Mr. Jan Pronk. He has been repeatedly approached by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about his damaging and negative statements to the media and in his own website, the most recent of which the disinformation he volunteered about the National Armed Forces of the Sudan. Recently on 18 October 2006, Mr. Jan Pronk visited the area of Tawila in Darfur where he toured AMIS premises and an IDP camp. There, he made statements that the Government of the Sudan did not implement the Darfur Peace Accord "DPA" and is deceiving those who signed the DPA casting doubts about its achievements. He also stated that the Government of the Sudan is biased and is siding with the Arab Janjaweed with the purpose of cleansing the African tribes. As such, we regret to state that Mr. Jan Pronk is now enticing, aiding and abetting the armed groups, signatories to the DPA to break away from the peace process. It is ironical that in his recent visit to Tawila he did not bother to address activities of humanitarian organizations or the humanitarian situation. It is now evident to us that Mr. Jan Pronk has actually engaged in activities incompatible with his status and had needlessly and recklessly endangered and undermined the nascent Darfur peace process. The ultimate effect of his recent actions, including the discrediting information about the Sudanese Armed Forces and his statements in Tawila, abrogates the legal and moral responsibilities of his position as a Special Representative, violates the UN Charter and compromises the neutrality and integrity of the United Nations. It is under these circumstances that his negative comments about the armed forces became public. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan concludes from the foregoing that the United Nation's Secretary General Special Representative to the Sudan, Mr. Jan Pronk had flagrantly violated paragraph 5 of section IV of the Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations concerning the Status of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan concluded in Khartoum on 28 December 2005, which provides: IIUNMIS and its members shall refrain from any action or activity incompatible with the "...impartial and international nature of their duties or inconsistent with the spirit of the present arrangements...etc..". While appreciating the support and assistance of the international community as represented by the United Nations, and reassuring the United Nations and the international community of Sudan's continued cooperation and commitment, the Government of the Sudan is of the KHARTOUM 00002571 002 OF 002 view that the purposes of realizing peace and stability can better be served by other international civil servants who are dedicated and ready to adhere to the objectives of the United Nations Charter, possess the ability and determination to respect international law and sensitive to the sovereignty and integrity of the nations in which they serve. Therefore, the Government of National Unity in the Republic of the Sudan considers the mission of Mr. Jan Pronk as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in the Sudan terminated and Mr. Jan Pronk is hereby requested to leave the territory of the Republic of the Sudan within 72 hours effective 12:00 noon of Sunday 22 October 2006. The Government of National Unity in the Republic of the Sudan remains committed and will cooperate with a replacement of Mr. Jan Pronk in accordance with the agreements concluded with the United Nations and the recognized principles of international law. Please accept Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. (signed) Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan Addressed to: HE Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nations New York SIPDIS (End text) WHITAKER