PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN: 'Expulsion of UN officials will constitute serious loss for Sudan' - UN chief warns
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reiterated his strong opposition to Sudan’s decision to expel from the country two senior UN officials, calling on the government to reconsider the ruling and allow for essential work to be carried out.
"Departure of these key senior United Nations officials would constitute a serious loss for the humanitarian and development community in Sudan at a time when humanitarian needs are growing and the country faces significant development challenges," Ban said in an information note issued to UN reporters on Wednesday.
The UN chief stated, "It is essential that the United Nations can continue to carry out its crucial duties in the country."
He reiterated UN's commitment to a productive and fruitful working relationship with the Government of Sudan for the benefit of its people, on the basis of respect of sovereignty.
He said: "To that end, the UN counts on the full cooperation of the Sudanese government in enabling all UN entities and their leadership to carry out their work."
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, Ms. Yvonne Helle, were ordered late last week to leave the Sudan by 2 January.
Since then, the Sudanese government has agreed to extend the deadline for Mr. Al-Za'tari's departure from 2 January until the end of the month while the UN continues to engage the government at several levels to obtain a reversal of its decision.
Khartoum has expressed regret about the UN's reaction over its decision to deport two senior officials of the world body saying it has failed to appreciate the reasons behind Khartoum's decision.
It said in a statement that Sudan ordered al-Za'tari to leave for his statement to a Norwegian newspaper insulting the Sudanese head of state and the people of Sudan while Hale was deported for acting without consultations with the government in Khartoum.
It said al-Za'tari was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was asked to produce the recorded interview with the newspaper to prove that he was misquoted but he failed to do so.
The statement said Hale was asked to leave the country because she treated Sudanese officials poorly and suspended a number of development programmes without consulting the concerned Sudanese authorities.
-0- PANA AA/MA 31Dec2014
"Departure of these key senior United Nations officials would constitute a serious loss for the humanitarian and development community in Sudan at a time when humanitarian needs are growing and the country faces significant development challenges," Ban said in an information note issued to UN reporters on Wednesday.
The UN chief stated, "It is essential that the United Nations can continue to carry out its crucial duties in the country."
He reiterated UN's commitment to a productive and fruitful working relationship with the Government of Sudan for the benefit of its people, on the basis of respect of sovereignty.
He said: "To that end, the UN counts on the full cooperation of the Sudanese government in enabling all UN entities and their leadership to carry out their work."
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, Ms. Yvonne Helle, were ordered late last week to leave the Sudan by 2 January.
Since then, the Sudanese government has agreed to extend the deadline for Mr. Al-Za'tari's departure from 2 January until the end of the month while the UN continues to engage the government at several levels to obtain a reversal of its decision.
Khartoum has expressed regret about the UN's reaction over its decision to deport two senior officials of the world body saying it has failed to appreciate the reasons behind Khartoum's decision.
It said in a statement that Sudan ordered al-Za'tari to leave for his statement to a Norwegian newspaper insulting the Sudanese head of state and the people of Sudan while Hale was deported for acting without consultations with the government in Khartoum.
It said al-Za'tari was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was asked to produce the recorded interview with the newspaper to prove that he was misquoted but he failed to do so.
The statement said Hale was asked to leave the country because she treated Sudanese officials poorly and suspended a number of development programmes without consulting the concerned Sudanese authorities.
-0- PANA AA/MA 31Dec2014
