New UN Sudan envoy arrives in Khartoum for meetings with top-level officials

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's new Special Representative for Sudan arrived today in the country's capital, Khartoum, where he is expected to hold meetings with top-level officials.

Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, who also heads the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), is expected to meet over the next few days President Omar Al Bashir, First Vice President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir, and senior officials of the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan.

Mr. Qazi, a Pakistani national who was appointed last month, served previously as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq since 2004. This followed a long diplomatic career with his country's foreign service, including postings in the United States, India, China, the Russian Federation, Germany and Syria.

Diplomatic activity on Sudan has intensified in recent weeks as preparations continue for talks on the Darfur conflict scheduled to be held in Libya on 27 October. The UN Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his African Union counterpart, Salim A. Salim, have been heading up that effort.