A/HRC/4/80 page 7 reviewed relevant documentation. Planning our programme, we decided that our work outside of Geneva would take place from 10 to 21 February, and that we would reconvene in Geneva from 26 February to 2 March to draft our report. 6. In considering our travel programme, we determined that priority should be given to visits to Khartoum, Darfur, Addis Ababa, and eastern Chad. In Khartoum, we hoped to meet with senior government officials, United Nations and African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) personnel, and representatives of civil society. In Darfur, we intended to meet victims, witnesses and key parties. In Addis Ababa, seat of the Africa Union, we sought to meet senior AU officials, given the vital role of the AU in addressing the Darfur crisis. Finally, given that hundreds of thousands of Darfurians now reside in refugee camps and communities in eastern Chad, we thought it important for some of our members to also visit those areas to meet directly with witnesses and victims, many of whom are recent arrivals from Darfur. This was particularly advisable given the critical security situation in Darfur, and the consequent greater access to and freedom of expression of those residing in Chad. 7. We decided that our report to the Human Rights Council would include a situation assessment and a needs assessment along with specific recommendations to the Council, to the Government of the Sudan, to the rebels, and to the international community toward stopping violations of human rights and alleviating the acute suffering of the people of Darfur. 4. Cooperation of the Government of the Sudan 8. Decision S-4/101 had welcomed Sudanese cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and called upon the Government to “continue and intensify its cooperation with the Human Rights Council, its mechanisms, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights”. Unfortunately, the Sudanese authorities did not issue visas for the Mission to enter the Sudan. 9. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had the opportunity to discuss the HLM with President Bashir while at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa on 29-30 January and received his personal commitment and assurance that the Sudan would fully cooperate with the Mission as constituted. 10. The HLM applied for Sudanese, Ethiopian and Chadian visas in Geneva. Problems with visas for the Sudan arose immediately. Departing as planned on 10 February for Addis Ababa to continue our programme of work, we hoped that ongoing efforts on our behalf would result in Sudanese visas being issued while we were carrying out the Addis leg of our programme. 11. On 14 February, when we had planned to begin our work in the Sudan (in accordance with our programme of work), we still had no visas. The continuing delay was creating significant logistical and planning challenges to our Mission. Nevertheless, in a spirit of cooperation, and before changing our tickets from the Sudan to Chad that afternoon, we made a final, unsuccessful attempt to secure visas.