United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-05-16

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Thursday, May 16, 2002

ANNAN: CORE ISSUES IN CYPRUS CAN BE RESOLVED BY END OF JUNE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan concluded his visit to Cyprus today. In a statement, he said he was "sobered" by the challenge of helping the two sides reach agreement "but even more deeply convinced that this is the time to press on."

He added, "I come away from Cyprus with the commitment of both leaders to go about this effort in a genuine spirit of give and take." He said he was convinced that the core issues -- governance, security, territory and property -- could be resolved by the end of June. He also called on the two "motherlands," Greece and Turkey, to provide "sustained and constructive support."

In a question and answer session, he said he was aware that Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, had indicated that June was too soon. "I think it can be done if the will is there," he commented.

He said that when he had visited the line dividing Cyprus, he saw in the eyes of the people on the street that they would want to see peace on the island. "It was interesting," he said. "I had come to encourage them, but wherever I went they were encouraging me and praying for peace."

This morning in Cyprus, the Secretary-General visited the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), where he was briefed by the military and police and chatted with civilian staff. He then toured the UN Protected Area, including a stop at the closed Nicosia Airport, and then walked around the old city. He also was escorted on a 40-minute walking tour along the section of the buffer zone known as the Green Line, which divides the old city.

After concluding his Cyprus visit, the Secretary-General flew to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from where he will take an overnight commercial flight to Jakarta via Singapore.

He met in Dubai with senior Government officials. He is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta in the late morning Friday.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON PROGRESS IN KOSOVO

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno briefed the Security Council in an open meeting this morning on developments in Kosovo over the past three weeks, including the calming down of the situation in the northern city of Mitrovica and the rescheduling of municipal elections, to October 26. The one-month rescheduling of those elections, he said, resulted from a delay in approving the election budget.

Guehenno noted the quick response to the earthquake that damaged the Gnjilane region on April 24, in which an emergency fund, for which 500,000 euros has been allocated, was set up. He said, "The response is a good example of every level, both local and international, pulling together for the benefit of those affected from all communities," and added it was an example that all sides should heed in finding common ground solutions to Kosovo's problems.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES GEORGIA, EAST TIMOR, DR CONGO

After its formal meeting on Kosovo, the Security Council held closed-door consultations on a wide range of topics. The first item was on Georgia, where members heard a spot briefing by Joachim Hütter, Director of the European and Latin America Division in the Peacekeeping Department.

Guéhenno then briefed the Council on developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past 24 hours, reporting that the situation in Kisangani was calm but tense.

The Council then discussed East Timor, during which a draft resolution establishing the successor mission was introduced for adoption on Friday. A draft presidential statement to be adopted on the day of East Timors Independence was also discussed.

A draft resolution on the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda was introduced with a view to adoption, also on Friday.

UN MISSION STILL CONCERNED BY SITUATION IN KISANGANI

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) reports the situation in Kisangani to be calm but tense. In a statement issued this morning in the capital Kinshasa, the UN missions spokesman said the ongoing events in Kisangani are of concern. The mission calls on all parties to exercise restraint and respect human rights.

Meanwhile, UN officials met on Wednesday night with the Governor of Kisangani to stress the need for the situation to be resolved peacefully, without excessive use of force.

UN ENVOY STUNNED BY CONDITIONS FOR DISPLACED IN ANGOLA

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu, who is in Angola, says that he was stunned by the quantity of war displaced persons who are in an extremely serious situation in the provinces of Moxico and Bie.

He said the displaced lack basic items like food, medicine and clothing. He said he gave guarantees to the Angolan authorities of the UNs readiness to help Angola face this situation, which affects mostly the young, and acknowledged the efforts that are being undertaken by the Angolan authorities in order to cope with the situation.

Nevertheless, he added, such efforts are not enough to deal with the dimension of the present problems.

Otunnu talked to the press after meeting Angolas Minister of External Relations, João Miranda. In that meeting, Otunnu discussed, among other matters, the Donors Conference that the Government is planning to host and the countrys urgent social matters and its reconstruction.

The UN diplomat said the organization is ready to engage itself in the success of the humanitarian initiatives, which in short term will contribute to the social reintegration of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angolas (UNITAs) former soldiers, and in a long term will help the national reconstruction of the country.

Next month, UN Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator Ross Mountain is scheduled to lead an inter-agency mission to assess the emergency needs of the country.

RETURN OF YOUTHS TO KABUL SCHOOLS EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Preliminary results of a UN survey of Kabuls primary schools shows that the return to education by youngsters following the start of the new term in March has exceeded all expectations. According to a rapid appraisal of half of Kabuls 200 schools, there has been a 34 percent increase in primary age enrollment, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). In grade one alone, there was a 68 percent jump in school attendance.

There were also positive trends in the enrolment of girls, as the survey showed 100,000 of the 202,000 primary school-age students attending classes in the 100 schools surveyed were female 42 percent more than anticipated by the UN Mission.

Today, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said that the Governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to pursue a joint partnership for development, economic cooperation and trade. UNDP will act as a facilitator for this regional approach to the long-term development of Afghanistan.

UN ENVOY PAYS FAREWELL TO EAST TIMOR BATTALION

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for East Timor, Sergio Vieira de Mello, today visited the First Battalion of the East Timor Defense Force, stationed in the Lospalos District. The battalion had replaced the Korean Battalion of the UN peacekeeping force this year.

In his farewell call, Vieira de Mello said the Defense Force would play an important role in the success of East Timors future by maintaining a secure and stable environment.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF BRIEFS COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL RIGHTS

High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson today addressed the 28th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva, and briefed the Committee on the recent meetings of the Commission on Human Rights, which she described as one of the most challenging sessions in the Commissions history.

During that time, she said, the Commission adopted a significant number of resolutions on economic, social and cultural rights, notably one on the right to health, which approved the appointment of a new special rapporteur to deal with that topic.

Robinson said she was glad to note that many of the statements made by governments at the Commission session also emphasized that the legitimate and necessary security response to terrorism can and must be compatible with international human rights law.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEET WITH IMF, WORLD BANK

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will be in Washington, D.C. this afternoon and Friday, for a discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

This afternoon she will meet with Managing Director Horst Kohler of the International Monetary Fund, as well as other IMF officials. On Friday, she will meet with World Bank officials, including Managing Director Shengman Zhang and Vice President for External and UN Affairs Mats Karlsson.

The purpose of her visit is to have an exchange of views on strengthening the United Nations, especially looking at the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and the follow-up to Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the food crisis developing in Southern Africa is affecting women and children disproportionately and could turn into a major humanitarian catastrophe if there is not an immediate and adequate response.A rapid assessment of children in Malawi undertaken last month shows there are some 45,000 children facing severe malnutrition, and the situation is likely to get worse.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants received three more signatures today when Chad, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia signed. The Convention now has 136 signatories.