United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-06-03

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY

MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, June 3, 2002

ANNAN VOICES CONCERN OVER ATTACKS ON SYNAGOGUES IN EUROPE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived on Sunday in Kiev, Ukraine, and met today with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma before addressing a meeting on HIV/AIDS. The Secretary-General also visited Babi Yar, the site of a massacre of Ukraine Jews by Nazi soldiers in 1941.

In his remarks at Babi Yar, he said: "I wanted to visit Babi Yar to express my solidarity with the victims of the anti-Semitism and intolerance, and as a sign of my resolve to do everything in my power to fight the hatred and evil that so disfigure our world. The unspeakable acts of murder permitted here half a century ago will always remind us of mans capacity for evil. In the last few months, attacks on synagogues in a number of European countries have happened. These attacks should trouble people everywhere who are concerned about human rights and human dignity.

In his meeting with the President, the two spoke of the democratization process under way in Ukraine. The Secretary-General thanked the President for Ukraines participation in UN peacekeeping and for his leadership in highlighting the AIDS issue in the country, which is experiencing a rise in infection rates. Their talks also touched on international crisis issues, such as the India-Pakistan standoff over Kashmir and the Israel-Palestinian crisis in the Middle East.

The Secretary-General then addressed a meeting of the Government Committee on HIV/AIDS, which was meeting with civil society. He praised the partnership between the Government and private AIDS groups. He took questions from the audience, including from young activists against the disease. He said it was important for young people who were infected to go out and talk to other young people about how to avoid HIV. Peer pressure is very effective among the young, he said.

The Secretary-General also met with Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko. The minister proposed to host a regional conference on HIV/AIDS in Kiev, a suggestion the Secretary-General warmly welcomed.

ANNAN LOOKS TO ALMATY GATHERING TO DEFUSE INDIA-PAKISTAN TENSIONS

At a press encounter with the President Kuchma, in response to questions between India and Pakistan, the Secretary-General said that he hoped that the regional security meeting taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, would offer an opportunity for pressure to be brought on the Indian and Pakistani leaders to de-escalate tensions.

The countries have wise leaders, and I am sure they themselves would not want to see a nuclear flare-up, he told reporters.

Asked if the Secretary-General was going to bring the situation between India and Pakistan to the attention of the Security Council, as he is bound to by the UN Charter when there is a threat to international peace and security, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General continues to strongly support the many bilateral efforts currently underway to try to defuse the situation and added that the Secretary-General has been in touch with the leadership of both countries. The Spokesman went on to say that the Secretary-General is looking forward to discussing the situation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who would be attending the Almaty meeting, during his trip to Moscow.

RELOCATION OF UN DEPENDENTS FROM PAKISTAN AND INDIA UNDERWAY

Asked about the relocation of dependents of international UN staff from India and Pakistan, the Spokesman confirmed that it was underway.

For India, there are 214 dependents who are in the process of being relocated to their home country. With their departure, there will be 171 international staff members remaining in India.

For Pakistan, there were 311 dependants. As of this morning, 30% had departed and by June 6, 98% is expected to have departed. With their departure, there will be 288 international staff members in Pakistan.

Staff, essential and non-essential, remain in place and are continuing to work.

ANNAN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR WORK ON UN MISSION IN DR CONGO

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued through his Spokesman today, strongly deplores the recent public attacks against the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), in particular attempts by Rally for Congolese Democracy Goma (RCD-G) to ban his Special Representative in the DRC, Namanga Ngongi, and the expulsions of several MONUC personnel from areas under its control, as well as the physical intimidation of MONUC personnel.

He trusts that the international community will remain fully supportive of the courageous UN staff operating in the country, in particular Ngongi, who enjoys his full confidence.

The RCD-G leadership should put an end to these unjustifiable attacks and realize that it is in its own interest, and indeed in that of the people of the DRC, to cease harassment of UN officials, cooperate fully in investigations of recent events in Kisangani, and help move the peace process forward.

On Sunday MONUC recalled to Kinshasa two of its staff members from Goma. The decision to do so was taken for their own protection following an expulsion order issued in Goma on Saturday by officials from RCD-G, the de facto authority in Goma. In a statement issued Sunday, the UN mission strongly denied any wrongdoing by the two. It also strongly protested the intimidation tactics followed the RCD which included the deploying troops around the residence of those UN staff.

SYRIA ASSUMES SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY FOR JUNE

Today is the first working day of the Syrian Presidency of the Security Council.

Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe of Syria is holding bilateral meetings on this months program of work.

The President will brief journalists tomorrow after the programme of work is adopted in Council consultations.

WFP FACES SHORTFALL IN FOOD NEEDS FOR AFGHANISTAN

The World Food Programme announced that its Emergency Operation in Afghanistan currently faces a shortfall of 215,400 tons of food, or 43 percent of the total requirements.

Consequently, the food pipeline situation has not improved and has resulted in the continued suspension of project activities. Returning refugees and internal displaced persons are now receiving a third of their re-settlement packages, and food assistance to civil servants may be curtailed in the near future.

During a press briefing in Kabul yesterday, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Nigel Fisher also outlined shortages of fund faced by other UN agencies. "What this means is that we are going to make difficult choices which will leave a lot of people unhappy, Fisher said, adding that unless there was a massive influx of resources into Afghanistan from international community, the prospects do not seem that positive.

UNMOVIC CHIEF WELCOMES IRAQS WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS INSPECTORS

In the ninth quarterly report of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), known as UNMOVIC. In it, UNMOVICs executive chairman Dr. Hans Blix, reports on his participation in the discussions between the Secretary-General and Iraqi officials.

In his talks with Iraqi officials, Blix said he believed that it would be important to fully clarify Iraqs cooperation on a number of practical issues before inspectors are deployed to Iraq. It would be unfortunate, Blix said, if UNMOVIC inspectors were to encounter practical problems when they started work in Iraq.

The Executive Chairman also welcomes Iraqs willingness to discuss issued related to inspections in the country.

Meanwhile, Blix said that as part of its readiness to conduct work in Iraq, UNMOVIC continues to attach high priority to the training of its staff.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS EXTENSION OF UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS

In his latest report to the Security Council on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, the Secretary-General writes that the situation along the cease-fire line has remained calm. He also says that he is encouraged that there were increased contacts between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Concerning his mission of Good Offices, the Secretary-General reports that, as of 29 May, a total of 35 direct meetings had taken place between Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash since the first meeting on December 4, 2001.

When he met with the two last month, the Secretary-General discussed ways in which they could move forward more effectively.

Under the present circumstances the Secretary-General is recommending to the Security Council that the forces mandate be extended a further six months until December 15, 2002.

NEW REPORT NOTES SLOW PROGRESS ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION

In a report released at a preparatory meeting in Bali for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) says a global survey has found that only slow progress has been made on implementing the Sustainable Consumption Guidelines. The survey showed that only 38% of governments knew of the existence of the guidelines.

The Bali meeting entered its second and final week today with delegates continuing their work on the draft implementation plan.

Over the weekend, a new draft of the implementation plan was put together to make interlinked issues, such as trade, finance and the launching of new programmes, more evident. The draft document contains chapters on poverty eradication, protecting and managing natural resources, sustainable development in a globalizing world and health and sustainable development.

The Ministerial segment of the meeting will begin on Wednesday, which is World Environment Day. Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will address the gathering.

SYMPOSIUM ON TERRORISM OPENS IN VIENNA

In Vienna today, a two-day symposium began on the United Nations contribution to combating terrorism.

The symposium, organized with the support of the Austrian Government, will look at how the expertise of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) in the fields of transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering can be used by the international community in combating terrorism.

Hans Corell, United Nations Legal Counsel, Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information and Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the Chairman of the Security Councils Counter-terrorism Committee, all addressed the gathering.

In her remarks, the Austrian Foreign Minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner announced that her government would contribute $1 million to support the ODCCPs Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP).

ANNAN SADDENED BY DEATH OF EX-GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT GARBA

According to a statement released through his Spokesman today, the Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the death of Ambassador Joseph Nanven Garba, the former Nigerian Foreign Minister and President of the UN General Assembly.

During the 1980s, Garba emerged as a leading figure in Nigerias diplomatic campaign against apartheid. Before serving a distinguished term as President of the 44th General Assembly, he was Nigerias Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chairman of the UN Committee Against Apartheid for five years until 1989.

The Secretary-General conveys his condolences to the Garba family and to the Government and people of Nigeria.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A World Health Organization press release today said both India and China, which account for more than a third of all tuberculosis cases in the world, have achieved high rates of case-identification and cure by expanding the implementation of the WHOs Directly Observable Treatment System (DOTS) strategy for the control and treatment of TB. The progress in both countries will be discussed at the 4th World Congress on TB which is scheduled to open today in Washington, D.C.

Asked when the new UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Ramiro Armando de Oliveira Lopes da Silva , was expected to arrive in Baghdad, the Spokesman said he will be in Iraq in July.

Asked if there was a reaction from the Secretary-General to an environment report recently submitted by the United States, the Spokesman said the report in question was a regular submission by the United States to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, based in Bonn, Germany.