Statement by UNAMID JSR on Arrival in Khartoum

Khartoum – 22 Jan 2010

Thank you very much for this warm welcome. It’s been a little while since I’ve been in Sudan, because of my other responsibilities until now in the service of the United Nations. But I feel very much at home. The expectations are very high in terms of what my colleagues and I will be able to achieve but also the goodwill is enormous from the top level of this government and others and I intend to call upon that goodwill so that the mandate of UNAMID will be fully implemented. We will do everything necessary to see to the implementation of the mandate. I’m just happy to be here among friends. I want to thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the confidence they have in me to appoint me as the JSR of both the UN and the AU. I look forward very much to working with all the stakeholders in this country including the media. This is my introductory statement and I look forward to talking with you extensively once my feet are on the ground. While I would like to contribute to the leadership of UNAMID, first of all, my predecessor, Minister Adada as well as the acting JSR, General Anyidoho, whom I have met some decades ago and also my compatriot, General Agwai, who was the Force Commander. I feel confident that with their expertise and their commitment, the mandate of UNAMID will be implemented and that it will be for the betterment of the people, all the peoples of Sudan, especially Darfur, in the context of the AU community. Thank you very much and God bless.