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STORY: SUDAN / MENKERIOS
TRT: 1:06
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 28 MARCH 2010, KHARTOUM, SUDAN
1. Wide shot, press conference room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Haile Menkerios, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General, Sudan:
“The coming elections have two inseparable functions – first they are an important and essential benchmark in the implementation of the CPA and second – they are intended to usher in a democratic process in Sudan.”
3. Cutaway, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Haile Menkerios, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General, Sudan:
“While the responsibility to provide security during election lies with the Government of National Unity, and the Government of Southern Sudan in its area – our peacekeeping forces will also assist in enhancing security in areas where threats of armed confrontation may exist.”
5. Med shot, Georg Charpentier Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN Agencies at press conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Haile Menkerios, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General, Sudan:
“The upcoming elections are an important landmark in the process of peace consolidation and democratization in Sudan - and I encourage all Sudanese to participate widely by exercising their right to vote in a free and fair atmosphere.”
7. Pan right, press conference room
The head of the United Nations (UN) Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Sunday (28 March) said the country’s elections needs to be conducted in a conducive atmosphere to ensure a free and fair process.
Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum two weeks ahead of elections expected to take place in April, Haile Menkerios reiterated his call for the national elections to be carried out next month as scheduled, but stressed that any decision to delay should be made entirely by Government officials and the electoral institution.
The national elections, the first of their kind in 24 years, are seen as a benchmark in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), which was signed in 2005 to end the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan.
Menkerios added that the elections are “intended to usher in a democratic process in Sudan.”
Voters will be able to choose a national president, a southern president, local and national assemblies, and governors.
The next major benchmark in implementation of the CPA would be a referendum next year on southern secession.
Speaking to reporters, Menkerios stressed that the elections are a Sudanese process led by the governments and the National Elections Commission (NEC), with the UN providing only technical assistance and limited logistical support to the authorities staging the ballot.
The UNMIS has also been involved in intensive election security training, instructing almost 24,000 police officers, close to 17,000 in the north and over 7,000 in the south.
Menkerios, however, added that “the responsibility to provide security during election lies with the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan
Menkerios also stressed that the UN does not have a monitoring role in the elections. That role will be filled by various independent observer groups, both international and national, accredited by the NEC that will perform monitoring functions and report accordingly.
Concluding the press conference, Menkerios encouraged “all Sudanese to participate widely by exercising their right to vote in a free and fair atmosphere.”
A total of 16.5 million people countrywide registered to vote in a registration drive late last year.
