S/2003/66
Letter dated 15 January 2003 from
the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council
As you are aware, my Special Adviser, Mr. Mohamed Sahnoun, has been following developments in the Horn of Africa region, especially Somalia and the Sudan, and providing assessment and advice on what useful role the United Nations could play in efforts to help reach negotiated settlements of the conflicts in those countries. He has also been representing me at various meetings and conferences dealing with regional issues.
In recent months, regional peace efforts under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Sudan and Somalia have been reinvigorated. Significant progress was made recently in the IGAD-led peace process on Sudan resulting in the signing of the Machakos Protocol in July 2002. The two sides are scheduled to resume negotiations this month aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement. Mr. Sahnoun will continue to represent me at the talks.
IGAD is also engaged in convening of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference (SNRC) in Eldoret, Kenya. As I have informed the Council in my recent reports (S/2002/189 of 21 February 2002 and S/2002/709 of 27 June 2002), Mr. Sahnoun represented me at the Ninth IGAD Summit that was held in Khartoum in January 2002 and undertook missions in the region to exchange views on how the international community could support their efforts to foster national reconciliation in Somalia. SNRC opened in October and Mr. Sahnoun took part in it.
Donor interest and involvement in support of the IGAD peace processes in both countries, especially that of the IGAD Partners' Forum (IPF), has increased appreciably and has contributed to the positive results achieved so far. Mr. Sahnoun has also participated in meetings of the IPF in support of the peace processes in Sudan and Somalia and will continue to do so in the months ahead as the pace of negotiations to reach agreements is accelerated.
In view of the above, I have decided to extend the appointment of my Special Adviser until 31 December 2003.
I should be grateful if you would bring this letter to the attention of the members of the Security Council.
(Signed) Kofi A. Annan