United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-10-17

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, October 17, 2001

ANNAN APPALLED AT ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI CABINET MEMBER

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued through his Spokesman, said he was appalled to learn this morning of the assassination of Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi.

He utterly condemns this terrorist act and conveys his heartfelt condolences to Mr. Zeevi's family and to the Government of Israel.

The Secretary-General has consistently condemned all acts of terrorism from whatever quarter, the statement said. He welcomes President Arafat's condemnation of this despicable act and his promise to bring to justice those responsible.

The Secretary-General appeals to all parties to exercise maximum restraint and urges them to resume a sustained dialogue. He continues to believe that peace and security can only be achieved through political negotiations, and that the parties should not be deflected from this path by terrorist acts.

ASSASSINATION IS DAMAGING TO PALESTINIAN CAUSE, ARAFAT TELLS UN ENVOY

Following the assassination of Minister Rehavam Zeevi, the UN Special Coordinator Terje Roed-Larsen met with President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, in Gaza.

Following the meeting, Larsen said that Arafat had condemned the killings in the strongest possible terms and that he had sent his condolences to Zeevis family.

The Special Coordinator added that it was his impression that Arafat regards this assassination as extremely damaging to the Palestinian cause and national interest.

Arafat informed Larsen that he had ordered the immediate search for and arrest of, those responsible for todays operation.

SECURITY COUNCIL BEGINS DISCUSSIONS ON AFGHANISTANS FUTURE

Lakhdar Brahimi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with the Security Council Tuesday afternoon in closed consultations in the presence of the Secretary-General, as well as Fransesc Vendrell, the head of the UN Political Mission in Afghanistan, for a first exchange of views on the UNs potential role in that country.

[Brahimi, who was a guest at the noon briefing today, told reporters that the United Nations was focused on providing emergency humanitarian relief assistance, helping the Afghan people to take charge of their own future and preparing for post-war rehabilitation. He also said the United Nations was not seeking a transitional administration or peacekeeping role in that country. Urging caution in a very complicated situation, Brahimi said We cannot produce a solution to this problem out of a hat.]

NUMBER OF AFGHAN REFUGEES ON RISE; WFP WAREHOUSES TAKEN OVER

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that the number of refugees arriving in Baluchistan, Pakistan, has climbed sharply, with a total of 8,000 believed to have crossed the Chaman border area over the past four days. Around 2,000 crossed yesterday.

Newly arrived refugees in Quetta said there are many more vehicles traveling from Kandahar towards the border. Refugees are also arriving from much further a field than Kandahar, according to UNHCR. Reports from the border incidate that the physical condition of new arrivals is visibly deteriorating.

The World Food Programmes Executive Director Catherine Bertini said the agency was stepping up food deliveries in a race to avoid widespread food shortages in the winter. She outlined some of the challenges to reach that goal including the worsening security conditions, lack of commercial trucking in rural areas and the lack of effective internal communication and the lack of a fully functioning monitoring and distributing capacity.

WFP also reported today that the Taliban has taken over its food warehouses in Kabul and Kandahar, and that it will bypass the warehouses and continue supplying food directly to the needy population.

In related developments, Kenzo Oshima, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will, at the request of the Secretary-General, travel to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from 22 - 27 October to discuss with the governments of these countries ways to enhance cooperation in delivering humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

UN DRUG PROGRAMME SEES DROP IN AFGHAN POPPY PRODUCTION

The UN Drug Control Programme annual opium poppy survey in Afghanistan was released today in Islamabad and Vienna.

The results of the survey indicate that a total of 185 metric tons of raw opium were produced this year, that is to say 94% less than the 2000 output of 3,276 tons. The area estimated to be under cultivation in 2001 was 91% smaller than last years estimate.

At the time of the survey, prices for fresh and dry opium showed great increases over last year. The average farm-gate price reported by farmers was $301 per kilo, which represents a 10-fold increase over last years average price of $30 per kilo.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS TO DISCUSS SOMALIA, ANGOLA

In closed consultations this morning, David Stephen, the Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the Political Office for Somalia, introduced the report of the Secretary-General to members of the Security Council.

Also this morning, Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Africa, introduced the Secretary-Generals report on the UN Office in Angola and will brief Council members on latest developments in that country.

The President of the Security Council, Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, is expected to have a statement to the press following consultations on Angola.

ANNAN URGES AFRICAN LEADERS TO RATIFY TERROR CONVENTIONS

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahima Fall delivered a message yesterday on behalf of the Secretary-General to leaders gathered in Dakar, Senegal, to attend a summit on the African Pact Against Terrorism.

In his message, the Secretary-General urged African leaders to ratify and apply all existing international conventions relating to international terrorism.

Annan added that the global effort against terrorism should not bring us to neglect other issues, most notably efforts to eradicate poverty and disease. Furthermore, this effort should not be used as an excuse to weaken the foundations of good governance, such as human rights and fundamental liberties.

The Secretary-General assured the Summits participants that he will spare no effort so that Africa will not have to bear the brunt of the economic after shock following the September 11th attack.

MORE REFUGEES RETURNING TO EAST TIMOR

More than 370 refugees returned to East Timor from camps in Indonesian West Timor today. Between 500 and 600 refugees are expected to cross the border tomorrow.

This return was facilitated by Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao, former pro-autonomy leaders from the Mahidi militia and the UN Mission.

After crossing the border, the Deputy Commander of Mahidi, Nemésio Lopes de Carvalho, appeared before an Investigating Judge trying to ascertain the degree of his involvement in the 1999 violence in East Timor. He was conditionally released and is expected to be at the border for tomorrows refugee returns.

UN FINANCIAL SITUATION IMPROVING, SAYS ANNAN IN LATEST REPORT

The Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly on improving the financial situation of the United Nations was published today.

Based on information provided by the US Government, the United Nations expects that US payments to the UN for the last quarter of this year should total $1.459 million. Consequently, total payments for the UN should reach $4.716 billion by the end of this year -- allowing the UN to reimburse countries that have contributed troops and equipment to UN peacekeeping.

If projections for the last quarter of this year are accurate, the Secretary-General writes, "unpaid assessments would be lower, combined cash would be higher and debt to Member States would be greatly reduced. At a time when it may be needed more than ever, financial stability and security finally appear closer at hand."

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Conference Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which had been postponed in the wake of the 11 September attacks, has now been rescheduled to take place from 11 through 13 November, at UN headquarters in New York.

Live and archived webcasts of the Noon Briefing are once again available on the United Nations website.

The Secretary-Generals message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was delivered today by Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Nitin Desai. The Secretary-General says that the World Bank estimates that following the events of September 11, a further 15 million people could be forced into poverty next year due to the slow down in the world economy. He goes on to say that more effective poverty-reduction strategies will be needed in order to meet the goal set by the Millennium Declaration of last year, to halve the number of people existing on less than one dollar a day by the year 2015

The Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, will visit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia next week, traveling to Belgrade next Monday and Podgorica next Tuesday in order to obtain better cooperation from authorities there. Among subjects to be discussed would be access to witnesses and archives and the arrest and transfer to The Hague of all indicted suspects.

Today, Bhutan made a payment of more than $10,000, becoming the 126th Member State to pay its 2001 regular budget contribution in full.

This morning, Nicaragua became the 83rd country to sign the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Burkina Faso signed the Protocol to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime concerning the manufacturing and trafficking of firearms bringing the number of signatories to 7.

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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