Farhan Haq, the Associate Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the media briefing on Friday said Buhne was recalled a week ago because of the inability for the UN staff to continue their work due to the disturbances outside their office in Colombo.
The UN recalled Buhne in response to the protest and the subsequent fast unto death campaign launched by the Sri Lanka's National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and Housing, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa outside the UN office in Colombo against the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN chief to probe accountability issues during the war with Tamil Tigers.
The Minister ended his indefinite fast last Saturday after President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited him.
Since then the UN has received a number of assurances from the Sri Lankan government that would allow the UN staff to continue their work without hindrance and the UN has taken the decision to send him back, the spokesman said.
"It is important to continue UN efforts to assist the people of Sri Lanka, particularly with regard to reconstruction and rehabilitation in the North," the UN spokesman noted adding that Buhne will deliver a strong message from the Secretary-General to the Sri Lankan authorities.
"Obviously, the functioning of UN operations in Sri Lanka will require positive cooperation and Mr. Buhne will also convey the Secretary-General's strong expectations for a better treatment of the UN family in Sri Lanka, as well as for progress on the range of commitments covered in the Joint Statement of May 2009 including resettlement of internally displaced persons, political reconciliation and accountability," Haq said.
When asked about the scope of the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Chief, the spokesman declined to comment on the staffing or scope at this time.
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