UNMISS declines IGAD request to transport opposition leaders to consultative
conference in Pagak
November 27, 2014 at 2:23 pm UTC 28 views In:
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JUBA, South Sudan, November 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ - The
UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) wishes to correct erroneous media reports
claiming that the Mission has sought the consent of the Government of the
Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) to use the Mission'! s aircraft to transport
delegates of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army In Opposition
(SPLM/A-IO) from locations inside the country to a consultative conference
in Pagak, South Sudan.
UNMISS received a written request dated 17 November 2014 from the Office of
the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoys for
South Sudan to provide air transportation to SPLM/A-IO delegates based in
Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states who are planning to attend this
conference on the IGAD-sponsored peace talks in Ethiopia.
The Mission declined the IGAD request in writing on 19 November, citing
security and practical reasons. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation forwarded a written communication to
the Office of the IGAD Special Envoys for South Sudan advising that the
Government of South Sudan has no objection to the facilitation of
transportation of participants of SPLM/A-IO from locations in Unity, Upper
Nile and Jonglei states to Pagak and back to their respective destinations
after the completion of their consultations.
The GRSS communication did not refer to UNMISS as a facilitating
organization in this regard, and the UNMISS decision that it is not in a
position to provide air transportation for the delegates remains unchanged.
The Mission has accordingly sent a formal communication to the Government
conveying this position and setting the record straight, in view of the
continuing erroneous press reports.
UNMISS takes this opportunity to reiterate its full support for the IGAD-led
peace process and will continue to strictly implement its mandate in an
impartial manner.
Received on Thu Nov 27 2014 - 15:32:32 EST