ReliefWeb

Below is a near verbatim transcript of the press conference held by United Nations Mission in Sudan Spokesperson, Ms. Radhia Achouri, on 9 May 2007 at the UNMIS Press Briefing Room.

DARFUR

Appointment of the Joint AU/UN Special Representative for Darfur

In a joint Communiqué issued on 8 May 2007, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Chairman of the African Union Commission Alpha Oumar Konaré announced their decision to appoint Mr. Rodolphe Adada of the Republic of Congo as Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur.

In accordance with the Conclusions of the 16 November 2006 High level Consultations on Darfur, which were endorsed by the 66th meeting of the PSC and Presidential Statement S/PRST/2006/55 of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the Special Representative for Darfur will head the AUUN peacekeeping Mission in Darfur. On behalf of the Secretary-General and the African Union Commission Chairperson, the Joint Special Representative will have overall authority over the peacekeeping mission in Darfur, oversee the implementation of its mandate, and be responsible for the mission's management and functioning.

Revitalization of the political process/UN and AU Special Envoys for Darfur Visit to Sudan

Special Envoys for Darfur Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim arrived yesterday in Khartoum from Cairo, where they held discussions on the ongoing efforts to re-energize the Darfur political process and the recent developments in this regard, including follow-up on Tripoli meeting and its outcome, the Tripoli Consensus. Today, the two Special Envoys are in Juba where they are scheduled to meet with First Vice-President and President of the Government of southern Sudan Salva Kiir. The focus of the discussion will be on the SPLM initiative to assist in re-energizing the peace process and well as on the way forward in expediting the political process.

The two Envoys will be holding a press conference tomorrow in this room and will brief you on their recent activities.

Meeting of the Joint Commission

UNMIS is taking part in the sixth meeting of the Joint Commission established in accordance of the DPA Final Security Arrangements. The meeting started two hours ago at AMIS DPA Implementation Team Office in Khartoum.

We will update you on the outcome of this meeting when more information is available. The United Nations handed over to AMIS on 8 May the medical support items stipulated in the

Light Support Package.

These items consist of pharmaceutical products, including drugs and vaccines, and a fully equipped ambulance. The hand-over took place during a ceremony at AMIS Forward Headquarters that was attended by Senior AMIS Officials, including AMIS Deputy Head of Mission, the Force Commander and the Police Commissioner, as well as UNMIS senior officials.