The new head of the UN's mission in Abyei (UNISFA), Haile Tilahun Gebremariam, arrived Tuesday in the disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan.

At a town hall meeting in Abyei, Haile Tilahun said that his top priority is to facilitate dialogue between the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and to help move the political process forward.

According to a press release by UNISFA, the new mission chief plans to push for resumption of continuous meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC).

“I am not here to give orders and expect immediate results," he said. "We should all develop the same attitude in order to attain positive results in the shortest possible time."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Haile Tilahun as UNISFA's new head on 28 January.

Related:

Factbox: New UNISFA chief Haile Tilahun Gebremariam (29 Jan.)