A UN official late Friday insisted that Jan Pronk, the UN Special Representative for Sudan, has still not been officially declared persona non grata by the Sudanese Government and despite the Foreign Ministry's complaint earlier today. The media reported yesterday that the Sudanese military had declared Pronk to be persona non grata after posting in his blog last week that the Sudanese Army had suffered two major military defeats in its campaign against the rebels in Darfur.| "Ow! You've dented our Dignity(tm), infidel!". |
"As far as the United Nations is aware, he has not been officially made persona non grata," UN spokesman Dujarric told the daily press briefing. He noted that the views of the Sudanese Government are usually expressed through "normal, official channels" and that "there had been nothing on Pronk being declared persona non grata in those channels". He speculated that Pronk was in Khartoum and continues to express the official views of the UN and the UN Mission in Sudan in his official communications.| "We haven't actually *seen* him in a few days, but you know how diplomats get." |
Asked whether Pronk was told to stop writing his blog, the Spokesman said that there have been discussions with him concerning it. Asked if Annan shares Pronk's comments, Dujarric emphasized that the views expressed by Pronk in his blog are his "personal views". Dujarric said there are no rules or specific regulations for UN staff members to write blogs, but the UN expects staff members to "exercise proper judgment in what they include". |