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President on the expected release of Tomo Križnar

Brdo pri Kranju, 08/28/2006  |  press release

At today's press conference during the visit of the President of Azerbaijan President of the Republic Dr. Janez Drnovšek also replied to topical questions in connection with Tomo Križnar and his release (unedited).

• Question: When do you intend to travel to Sudan and have you already received an answer from Sudanese President Al Bashir to the letter that you sent him? Thank you.

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: Your question concerns Sudan and Križnar. According to information that I have from both official and unofficial sources, matters in connection with Tomo Križnar are developing well and I expect his release in the near future, in the coming days. It thus appears at the moment that my visit to Sudan will not be necessary. I will, of course, continue to monitor the situation there, and try to contribute within my powers to a more peaceful situation there as soon as possible, so that the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that we see there begin to be overcome.

• Question: Mr. President, in relation to Križnar, you said that we can expect his release at the earliest possible time, or in the coming days. Does this mean that President Al Bashir will pardon him or is something else likely? Furthermore, the Prime Minister was very sharp in relation to Križnar's mission, describing it as some sort of solo move, a kind of private diplomacy, and the Foreign Minister was also fairly sharp and said that this mission was fairly uncoordinated and badly prepared. What comment have you on that?

Dr. Janez Drnovšek: In relation to the manner of pardon, we are still waiting, matters are in course. As I said, I expect that they will conclude, positively, in a very short time. Concerning such missions, I would personally find it difficult to characterise any mission that wishes to resolve a problem, that wishes to help people, as uncoordinated or as excessive or solo. It has been demonstrated, in other words, that the international community has been very unsuccessful in Sudan, in Darfur, that it has not so far succeeded in doing practically anything. As you know, we wished to help in a humanitarian way and we also wished to help politically. We have done the most that we as people can do. Thank you.