SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS RELIEF COORDINATOR DENIED DARFUR ENTRY, WILL TAKE UP MATTER WITH SUDAN’S PRESIDENT

SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS RELIEF COORDINATOR DENIED DARFUR ENTRY,

WILL TAKE UP MATTER WITH SUDAN ’S PRESIDENT

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General regrets that the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, was not permitted by the Government of Sudan to visit Darfur.

The pressing and urgent humanitarian requirements of Darfur are a priority for the United Nations and coordination efforts to sustain this large programme were at the centre of Mr. Egeland’s visit.

The Secretary-General will be seeking to speak to President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir on this matter.

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For information media • not an official record