United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-08-31

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Marie Okabe

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Marie Okabe

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2001-08-28T17:58:00Z

2001-08-31T19:05:00Z

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HIGHLIGHTS

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MANOEL DE ALMEIDA E SILVA

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, August 31, 2001

SECRETARY-GENERAL OPENS RACISM CONFERENCE IN DURBAN

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today opened the UN Conference against Racism is Durban, South Africa, addressing frontally an issue that continues to divide delegates, as well as non-governmental activists.

The accusations of racism against any individual or group is hurtful, he said, and nowhere is that truer today than in the Middle East. The Jewish people have been victims of anti semitism and in Europe were the targets of the Holocaust - "the ultimate abomination," he stated. "This fact must never be forgotten, or diminished." He added, Yet we cannot expect Palestinians to accept this as a reason why the wrongs done to them - displacement, occupation, blockade and now extra-judicial killings - should be ignored. He then concluded, "Mutual accusations are not the purpose of this conference. Let us admit that all countries have issues of racism and discrimination to address."

The conference is a test of the international community's will to unite on a topic of central importance in people's lives, he said. "Let us not fail this test."

In closing, he said, "If we leave here without agreement we shall give comfort to the worst elements in every society." But if we can leave with a call to action supported by all, he said, "we shall send a signal of hope to brave people struggling against racism all over the world."

Before giving his speech, he paid tribute to Govan Mbeki, the prominent African National Congress leader and father of the current South African President, who passed away yesterday morning.

Before a lunch hosted by the President, the Secretary-General had three bilateral meetings. He met one-on-one with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. With Cuban President Fidel Castro, he discussed the link between racism and poverty. Finally, he met privately with the leader of the U.S. congressional black caucus, Rep. John Conyers .

Also addressing the conference were the President of the General Assembly Hari Holkeri, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and President Thabo Mbeki of the South Africa.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General opened a roundtable discussion on racism among participating heads of state which was chaired by President Mbeki. He then participated in a Global Compact event running parallel to the racism conference at which business and labor leaders discussed the impact of racism and discrimination in the workplace and in the community.

This evening the Secretary-General will attend a working dinner hosted by South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana C. Dlamini Zuma, who was named by acclamation President of the World Conference against racism.

In response to a question on whether whether would be live coverage of the Conference, the Deputy Spokesman said that the speeches delivered would be available on the website of the Conference, but here would be no live feeds.

In response to another question, the Deputy Spokesman said that he had a readout of the meeting between the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat. He said the meeting was a review of the latest efforts to halt the violence between the Israelis and Palestinians and the initiative of Joschka Fischer to bring together Arafat and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. They also assessed the prospects of the return of the two parties to talks that might restore the search for a lasting peace.

ANNAN CONCERNED BY TALIBAN ACTION AGAINST AFGHAN AID COMMUNITY

In a statement attributable to his Spokesman, the Secretary-General expressed his concern at the reported detention of international staff of International Assistance Mission (IAM) by the Taliban in Herat and in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

He also expressed concern about the order of expulsion given to all international staff of both IAM and SERVE, which may bring to an end their assistance activities in Afghanistan.

This action by the Taliban against the aid community could have serious consequences on the provision of international humanitarian assistance. This aid is desperately needed to address extreme suffering caused by war, poverty, massive displacement, and severe drought.

The Secretary-General appeals to the Taliban to assure the security, and freedom to operate, of all international aid workers in accordance with international law.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY PRESENTS PLAN ON SHIP IMPASSE

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees met this morning with representatives of Australia, Indonesia and Norway to propose a three-point plan aimed at resolving the impasse that has kept more than 450 people aboard a container ship off Christmas Island for some five days. New Zealand, which has also taken an active interest, is also attending.

Assistant High Commissioner Soren Jessen-Petersen said the most immediate humanitarian need was to get the people off of the Tampa, which has no facilities for a large number of passengers.

The plan calls for the temporary disembarkation on Christmas Island for humanitarian reasons, immediate screening of asylum applicants, and transfer to third countries. Governments are now considering the proposal.

UNHCR said that talks on the proposals would continue on Saturday.

UNHCR: PAKISTAN DEPORTS AGHAN REFUGEES IN BREACH OF ACCORD

UNHCR today described the Pakistani authorities decision to deport 132 people to Afghanistan on Tuesday unfortunate and regrettable, and has temporarily suspended the Afghan screening process.

It said the deportations are a clear breach of UNHCRs agreement with the Pakistani government on the screening on Afghans in Pakistan, which specifies that there would be no deportations from Jalozai and Nasr Bagh camps during the screening process. The 28 families, including many elderly people, women, children and infants, were in Jalozai camp in Pakistan where they would have been part of the screening exercise.

The World Food Programme meanwhile said it is delivering food supplies to a group of 1,500 stranded Afghan refugees on a small island on the river Pyanj, on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

In answer to a question on the nature of the agreement, the Deputy Spokesman later added that there was indeed a written agreement between UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan, adding that the exact text of the agreement had not been released to the press but that its general content could be found in UNHCR's briefing notes.

VOTE-COUNTING UDERWAY IN EAST TIMOR

Vote-counting got underway in East Timor this morning the day after the countrys first democratic elections.

Carlos Valenzuela, the UNs chief election officers said this evening that counting had been proceeding smoothly with no reported problems. Ballot boxes were last night securely transported from individual polling stations and gathered at the 13 district electoral centers.

The turnout at yesterdays polling is now estimated to be at 91% eligible voters

The results of the count in each district will be made public when they are complete. The first partial results are expected on 3 September, and an unofficial result could be completed by September 5.

After a period in which parties and candidates can file challenges and the examination of those challenges, the Board of Commissioners will present the results to Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello on September 10.

The new 88-member Constituent Assembly, the body which will write East Timors first constitution, will be sworn in on September 15.

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS STATEMENT ON SMALL ARMS

The Council is holding to back-to-back public meetings this morning, both presided over by Colombias Foreign Minister Guillermo Fernandez de Soto.

During the first, they unanimously adopted a Presidential statement on Small Arms in which the council welcomed the adoption of the Programme of Action of the recent UN Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms. In the statement, the council also recognizes its responsibility in implementing the programme of action.

The second meeting is a wrap-session of the Councils work during the month of August.

Today is the last day of Colombias Presidency of the Council. Starting Saturday, September 1st the presidency is transferred to France.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ethnic Albanians using side roads continue to return to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from Kosovo a rate of 2,000 a day despite blockages of main roads by groups of ethnic Macedonians opposed to the ethnic Albanians return, reports UNHCR.

The Vice-President of the International Court of Justice has authorized the submission by Iran of an additional written pleading in the case concerning the destruction of Iranian oil platforms filed in 1992. The additional pleading is to relate solely to the counter claim by the United States that Iran breached its obligations to the United States by attacking vessels and laying mines in the Gulf.

Iceland today became the 106th Member State to pay its 2001 regular budget contribution in full with a payment of more than $341,000.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, September 1

The Secretary-General leaves South Africa for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where he will meet with President Joseph Kabila and other government officials.

The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances continues in Durban South Africa until Friday.

France assumes the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of September.

Sunday, August 2

The Secretary-General will meet with personnel of the United Nations Mission in the DRC and later will visit Kisangani.

Monday, September 3

Today is a U.S. holiday. UN Headquarters will be closed.

The Secretary-General will leave the DRC for Rwanda.

The Conference on Disarmament continues the third part of its 2001 session in Geneva.

Tuesday, September 4

The Secretary-General will meet with President Paul Kagame and other senior officials of the government of Rwanda. He will depart late in the day for Sweden.

The Executive Board of UNICEF begins its Second Regular Session, which ends on Friday.

Informal consultations on the budget of the United Nations Development Programme will be held at 3:00 p.m. at UN Headquarters.

Wednesday, September 5

The Secretary-General will arrive in Sweden.

The resumed 23rd session of the Committee on Information begins today until Friday.

Jean-David Levitte, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, will present the Security Council's work programme for the month of September at a press conference after the noon briefing.

Informal open-ended consultation on the organization of the work of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly at its 56th session, at 11:30 a.m..

An informal press briefing on the Special Session on Children will be held in the Danny Kaye Visitors Centre of UNICEF House at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 6

The Secretary-General will deliver an address in Uppsala, Sweden

Friday, September 7

The Secretary-General will leave Sweden to return to New York.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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