2/18/00: 
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Press Statement

  
Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
February 18, 2000 
Sudan 

The United States Government is deeply concerned by the Sudan
People's  Liberation Movement's (SPLM) stated intention to expel
relief  organizations who do not sign a comprehensive
Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU) by March 1. The U.S.
Special Envoy for Sudan Harry Johnston, along  with UN Special
Envoy for Humanitarian Issues in Sudan Ambassador Tom 
Vraalsen, met with the SPLM leadership in Nairobi, Kenya, on
February 17  to offer direct U.S. and other donor assistance to
faciliate resolutions  of the outstanding points of the disagreement,
to request a suspension of  the deadline while negotiations are
ongoing, and to request that no NGOs  be expelled. They also met
with NGOs and urged them to be flexible in the  event that
negotiations resume. 

The United States Government is willing to work with other
donors, the  NGOs, and the SPLM to facilitate achievement of an
agreement acceptable to  all parties. The United States believes that
a quick resolution of the MOU  issue is desirable, but one that is
negotiated in good faith by all  parties. Any expulsion of NGOs, or
confiscation of assets, would seriously  jeopardize humanitarian
operations, exacerbating further the human  suffering in southern
Sudan. 
 
[end of document] 
       
____________________
UNITED NATIONS
Washington D.C.,                        
23 February 2000

Dear Colleagues,

Subject: Sudan - NGO Memorandum of Understanding

Further to my communication of 8 February 2000 concerning a
unified response of the international community to the 1st. of
March deadline for humanitarian NGOs to sign the SRRA
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), I would like to brief you
on the results of the joint demarche that I have undertaken with the
US Special Envoy Mr. Harry Johnston and the German
Ambassador on behalf of the European Union when we met Dr.
John Garang in Nairobi on the 18th. of February.

Much to our disappointment, the meeting with the SPLM
leadership did not result in a lifting of the deadline or a revision of
any aspects of the MOU.  At my request, a private meeting with Dr.
Garang took place in the afternoon of the 18th. of February - again
unfortunately without tangible results. It is therefore my duty to
inform you that the deadline imposed by the SRRA for NGOs to
sign the 19th August version of the MOU remains in force. We
have been notified by the SRRA that personnel of NGOs that do
not sign must evacuate SPLM-held areas by the 29th. of  February.
I regret very much this turn of events.

In a meeting on 21 February with the SRRA representative in
Nairobi, the OLS Southern Sector Coordinator obtained from the
SRRA agreement that the assets of departing NGOs will be safely
guarded and could be removed from their locations in the field up
to the end of March. The exercise will be conducted through the
means of an inventory to be jointly signed by an OLS
representative, the concerned NGO and the SRRA counterpart on
the ground. OLS will assist in the evacuation of personnel and
assets as well as logistics.

Please rest assured that the United Nations will respect the decision
of the NGOs and will support them in every way possible. The
United Nations will undertake the evacuation of NGO personnel
from locations in the field and will support NGOs who wish to
establish programmes in areas outside of SPLM territory. OLS will
continue to support the membership of expelled NGOs in the OLS
Consortium and advocate for the right of the people of southern
Sudan to receive humanitarian assistance.

I am reporting on my mission to the Secretary-General and shall
keep you informed of any significant developments.

Yours sincerely, 

Tom Vraalsen
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs for the Sudan

cc: Nairobi Donors (via the Office of the OLS Southern Sector
Coordinator)

UNITED NATIONS