United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-09-21

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HIGHLIGHTS

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, September 21, 2001

(Updated weekdays by 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time)

ANNAN NOTES UN ROLE IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

In an opinion piece in today's New York Times, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says that the United Nations is uniquely positioned to advance the international effort against terrorism. He says it provides the forum necessary for building a universal coalition and can ensure global legitimacy for the long-term response to terrorism.

"Essential to the global response to terrorism," he adds, "is that it not fracture the unity of September 11. While the world must recognize that there are enemies common to all societies, it must equally understand that they are not, are never, defined by religion or national descent."

Asked about a story in the Guardian newspaper on a cable that reportedly called for the U.S. overthrow of the Taliban and the creation of a UN administration in Afghanistan, the Spokesman noted that the report did not concern a UN cable. He said he was not aware of any details concerning that report, but added that the question of a UN administration in Afghanistan would be one for the Security Council to handle.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES TERRORISM, BOSNIA

This morning, the Security Council began its work with closed consultations to discuss international terrorism, on which it received a briefing by the UN Legal Counsel, Hans Corell. Corell noted the important progress that has been made this year on elaborating a draft comprehensive convention on terrorism. Member States will debate that matter in the General Assembly on October 1-2.

He added that some serious difficulties continue to exist on key elements of the draft convention, including on the definition of terrorism, the relationship between that convention and other legal instruments that deal with terrorism and the difference between terrorism and the right of peoples to self-determination.

Following those consultations, the Council held a public debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Council members heard briefings by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jacques Klein. They discussed proposals for streamlining the work of the international community in Bosnia. That session was to resume at 3 p.m.

Also this afternoon, the Council will hold a public debate on the Central African Republic. The Representative of the Secretary-General in that country, Lamin Cisse, will brief Council members.

On Thursday afternoon, the Council issued a Presidential Statement on Angola, condemning terrorist attacks by UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) forces on the civilian population of Angola.

SENIOR UN OFFICIALS URGE COORDINATED STRATEGY AGAINST TERRORISM

Pino Arlacchi, the Executive Director of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, said today in a press conference in Vienna, Austria, that there are 12 existing UN conventions and protocols dealing with terrorism, and he appealed for quick ratification and full implementation of all those conventions.

He also noted the UN's role in developing a coordinated, multi-faceted strategy against terrorism, including legal conventions, cooperation between States, information sharing, and mechanisms to suppress financial support to terrorist groups.

Also today, Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said that in tackling international terrorism, the world must combat poverty, environmental degradation and hatred that spawn intolerance and can lead to fundamentalism and terrorist acts.

UNICEF AIRLIFTING SUPPLIES TO DEAL WITH AFGHAN CRISIS

As part of stepped up efforts by UN humanitarian agencies aimed at easing the Afghan humanitarian crisis, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) announced today that it is airlifting urgently needed relief supplies into the Afghanistan region this weekend in the first of six planned relief flights. The first flight, carrying more than $130,000 of critical medical supplies, tarps, water purification tablets and other relief items, departs from UNICEFs supply hub in Copenhagen this weekend, headed for Turkmenistan. The shipment includes enough basic medical supplies to serve 100,000 people for three months.

Meanwhile, Francesc Vendrell, the Secretary-Generals Personal Representative for Afghanistan, was in Geneva today where he attended a private meeting of the "Geneva initiative" that brings together experts from Iran, Germany, Italy and the United States. The meeting is part of a reconciliation process initiated by the United Nations.

Asked about what that process entailed, the Spokesman said it related to efforts to convene a meeting of traditional Afghan leaders, in a "loya jirga." Asked whether the initiative was a rare example of the United States and Iran meeting together, the Spokesman said there were many other such meetings, including those conducted under the Dialogue Among Civilizations.

In response to a question on media reports that Vendrell could receive Osama bin Laden, whose transfer from Afghanistan has been demanded by the Security Council, the Spokesman said he was not aware of such reports but added that the United Nations would be happy to help in whatever way it could with facilitating Council resolutions.

UN ENVOY SAYS NO WORD YET ON DATES FOR MIDDLE EAST TALKS

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Terje Roed Larsen, is still awaiting word on when new meetings between the Israelis and Palestinians -- including those planned between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, as well as those on security cooperation -- can be held. The United Nations has not been informed yet on any dates for such meetings.

The situation on the ground is relatively calm.

Larsen met Arafat last night, and described Arafat as quite focused and determined on ensuring that the cease-fire holds.

FORMER CHAPLAIN TRANSFERRED TO RWANDA TRIBUNAL

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ( ICTR) reports that Thursday, Emmanuel Rukundo, former Military Chaplain in Ruhengeri prefecture, was transferred from Geneva, Switzerland to the UN Detention Facility in Arusha, Tanzania. Rukundo was arrested in Geneva on July 12 at the request of the Tribunal.

Rukondo was indicted by the Tribunal on four counts of genocide or complicity in genocide, as well as crimes against humanity for murder and extermination. He is alleged to have organized and participated in hunts for Tutsi priests and nuns in various seminaries and convents in the prefecture of Gitarama, and to have identified them to soldiers and Interahamwe militia so that they would be killed.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked to react to a column in the New York Post criticizing the United Nations, the Spokesman said that the views expressed in the article, that the United Nations should get out of the United States, reflected the opinions of a small percentage of the US population.

The Spokesman, in response to a question, said that the Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, was not visiting the United Nations today. [After the briefing, he added that the Prime Minister would visit the United States next week and had scheduled a meeting with the Secretary-General on Monday afternoon.]

The Spokesman noted that Michael McCann, Chief of UN Safety and Security Services, briefed staff today on last week's events and on evacuation and general security procedures, including those that apply to other UN buildings in New York. McCann met with delegations in the General Assembly Hall Thursday for a similar briefing. In response to a request from journalists to have a briefing with McCann, the Spokesman said he would look into the request.

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone ( UNAMSIL) noted a sensitization campaign in the northern towns of Kabala and Alikalia to urge the combatants there to stop cease-fire violations and to hand in their weapons.

The UN Mission in Kosovo ( UNMIK) noted a press conference given by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative Hans Haekerrup on his meeting with Security Council earlier this week, in which he said that Council members raised the question of Mitrovica. Council members underlined that there had to be a solution on doing away with the parallel institutions in that divided city.

Micronesia became the 118th Member State to pay its regular budget contribution in full for this year, with a payment of more than $10,000.

The Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) says fishery resources are declining at the same time as the demands on civil society to preserve the environment are growing. The FAO urges the introduction of new management regimes that take into account marine ecosystems to prevent over-fishing. About 50 percent of all fishery resources are fully utilized, and only 25 percent have the potential to increase.

The Secretary-General has submitted to the General Assembly and the Security Council the names of three candidates nominated by national groups to replace Judge Mohammed Bedjaoui of Algeria, who is resigning his position on the International Court of Justice. The two bodies must decide on a successor for Bedjaoui by September 30, when his resignation becomes effective.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, September 24

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the "oil-for-food" program for Iraq.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child will begin its 28th session in Geneva.

Tuesday, September 25

In Geneva, the Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its 41st session through Thursday, under the Presidency of Ambassador Sverre Bergh Johansen of Norway. During the session, the Council will consider a number of reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners concerning claims filed by corporations.

Wednesday, September 26

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will launch its State of the World Population Report for 2001. In New York, Abubakar Dungus of the UNFPA's Information and External Relations Division will present the report at an 11:30 a.m. press conference.

Thursday, September 27

The International Maritime Organization will mark its 50th anniversary.

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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