UNITED NATIONS, April 8 -- Even as Sudan denies visa for UN pilot to fly ballot boxes around, even as the European Union withdraws elections observers due to a lack of safety, the UN has nothing to say about the polls slated for this weekend.
Meanwhile on April 7 a Security Council ambassador of a Permanent Five member bluntly told the Press, "Bashir is going to be re-elected, but he's indicted by the International Criminal Court. He cannot be our interlocutor. It is an awkward situation... but all African leaders will recognize the election and Bashir."
This same ambassador relayed that Ibrahim Gambari, the UN's envoy to Darfur, confided that Bashir might agree to a one week delay in the polls. There's an attempt, it is said, to set up a four way briefing of the Security Council by Gambari, Haile Menkerios, and Messrs. Bassole and Mbeki. "It is hard to get Mbeki to New York," the ambassador said.
The Security Council is slated to receive a closed door briefing by top UN Peacekeeper Alain Leroy about the impending election. It's said that US Ambassador Susan Rice will speak to the Press at 10:45, before an NSC call at 11. Watch this site.
From the April 7 UN noon briefing transcript:
Inner City Press: In the run-up to the elections in Sudan, there are reports that one of the opposition candidates, who is now boycotting the elections, has said that the UN was supposed to transport ballot boxes, and that visas for the UN’s pilots for the planes have been denied by the Government of Sudan. The European Union observers say that they may pull out of the country due to a lack of safety. So I have two questions -- one, can you confirm that the visas were denied and, if so, what is the UN going to do about that? And two, what is the UN and UNMIS’s [United Nations Mission in the Sudan] role in providing safety to election observers, albeit not UN but European Union elections observers?
Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe: Well on the European Union, the question about the European Union observers is a press report, so I do not have confirmation on that. And your first question about…
Inner City Press: …the denial of visas to pilots for the UN.
Deputy Spokesperson: …visas, I have not received anything on the visa situation, so I am going to have to ask DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] to look into that for you.
Inner City Press: But what is the, I guess we are really coming right up to the election, what is the UN’s assessment? You are having more and more opposition parties saying they are going to boycott it. More and more outside observers say it is, you know, I do not want to characterize it, but say that it is not credible. What is the UN, given its presence on the ground, what is its view?
Deputy Spokesperson: Well, while we respect the right of candidates and political parties to reach their own decisions, we continue to encourage all Sudanese political actors to recognize the importance of dialogue, for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
As you know, one of the prime facets of the CPA is the opening of democratic space in Sudan, so that the people and the wide variety of political forces in the country can represent and participate in the process of decision-making. Therefore elections are an important step, designed to revive the democratic institutions and processes, so we encourage the Government of National Unity, the Government of Southern Sudan, and the National Elections Commission to ensure that the elections credibly reflect the will of the Sudanese people.
And, as you know, the UN Mission on the ground is there with a mandate to assist the Government and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) by providing technical and logistical support in order to enable timely conduct of the elections and in advising and encouraging the Commission, the Government and all parties to address concerns that may jeopardize their credibility. Okay?
That credibility is already shot.And see, www.innercitypress.com/sudan1vote040810.html
