United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-06-24

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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

Monday, June 24, 2002

ANNAN DISTURBED BY ISRAELI RE-OCCUPATION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is very disturbed at the trend of developments in the Middle East, and most recently the Israeli re-occupation of six Palestinian-controlled towns in the West Bank. Such actions are in contravention of agreements signed during the Oslo peace process, and significantly increase tensions in a volatile situation.

The Secretary-General strongly deplores the killing of four Palestinian civilians, including three children, in Jenin on 21 June, as well as the apparent extra-judicial killing of six Palestinians in Gaza earlier today. He reiterates his call on both sides to comply fully with the obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

In a statement issued through his Spokesman after the noon briefing, the Secretary-General emphasizes the urgent need for the international community to press the parties to end the violence and to return to the path of political negotiations. There remains no alternative to the resumption of a viable political process between Israelis and Palestinians.

AIDS AWARENESS HIGHER AMONG MEN THAN WOMEN

A newly-released report finds that the level of awareness of AIDS is generally high but is higher amongst men than women and that awareness grows with the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country.

The report, HIV/AIDS: Awareness and Behaviour was issued Sunday by the Population Division (PD) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and it highlights findings from a series on national demographic and health surveys in 39 African, Asian and Latin American countries relevant to the AIDS epidemic.

UN AGENCIES RUSH AID TO IRAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

In response to the earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale that shook western Iran over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released five emergency kits that will serve the primary health care needs of about 50,000 people. WHO has also offered to procure scorpion anti-venom and is prepared to airlift emergency trauma kits if requested by the government.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing water tankers and chlorine tablets and other chemicals for water purification, while the World Food Programme (WFP) is prepared to feed 15,000 people for two to four weeks.

On Saturday, Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement through his Spokesman, conveying his condolences and deepest sympathy to the Government Iran and to the victims of the disaster.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has mobilized a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC). Two members of that team arrived Sunday and met with the Resident Coordinator and another three will arrive today. The cities of Avaj and Razan, about 200 Km west of Teheran, were the most severely affected.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON PROBLEMS FACING BURUNDI

The Security Council held consultations on Burundi this morning. Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed Council members on the political and military situation. He especially highlighted the dire socio-economic problems facing Burundi.

Security Council President Mikhail Wehbe of Syria read a statement to the press afterward, saying that Council members urged armed groups in Burundi to cooperate with regional efforts by engaging in serious negotiations leading to a cease-fire, reminding the parties of their obligations under humanitarian law and condemning all attacks against civilians.

At 3:00 p.m. today, the Councils Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations is scheduled to meet.

The consultations on Angola, which had been scheduled to take place Tuesday, has been postponed until after the next report is issued.

LIBERIA CONFLICT, SECURITY CHALLENGES POSE THREAT TO SIERRA LEONE

The Secretary-General, in his interim report to the Security Council on Sierra Leone, assesses the post-electoral situation and prospects for peace consolidation in that country.

The Secretary-General says that the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) is concentrating on maintaining a security environment that will allow the Government to establish authority. The UN Mission is also addressing the unfinished aspects of the peace process, such as the reintegration of ex-combatants and the promotion of justice, human rights and national reconciliation.

The Secretary-General flags two factors that pose the greatest threat to stability in that country, including the escalating conflict in neighboring Liberia. The increasing incursions by armed elements into Sierra Leone portend a worrying trend, the Secretary-General notes. He urges the Security Council to take concrete measures in support of efforts to address the conflict in Liberia, and to build confidence among the leaders of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The second threat is the challenge facing the Sierra Leone army and police to develop their capabilities to effectively assume responsibility for the countrys security after the eventual departure of the UN Mission.

ANNAN NOTES POSITIVE SIGNS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

The Secretary-Generals latest report to the Security Council on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) says that the situation in the country has developed favorably in many respects. The lifting of the curfew, the return of large numbers of refugees and the start of dialogue between the government and the political opposition are but a few of the tangible signs of progress.

However, he adds, the difficult financial and economic situation is liable to threaten the social peace. To that end, the Secretary-General once again calls on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to conclude an agreement with the Republic rapidly, so as to give the Government access to external financial assistance something it has lacked since January 2001.

ANNAN VISITS CHICAGO, ADDRESSES RAINBOW-PUSH COALITION

Last Friday evening, the Secretary-General delivered the keynote address at Northwestern Universitys 144th commencement ceremonies in Evanston, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

In his speech he encouraged the graduates to engage themselves fully in todays interdependent world. He told them that they held the power to change the world more power than they probably realized they had. In world where there are no shortages of challenges, he encouraged them to use their power and energy in the fight against global poverty.

The Secretary-General also received an honorary doctorate of laws by the university. Afterwards, the universitys president, Henry S. Bienen, announced the creation of the Kofi Annan Fellowship in African Studies, which will be awarded to a student from sub-Saharan Africa pursuing a graduate degree through Northwesterns Department of African Studies. The fellowship, Bienen said, would serve as continuing memorial of the Secretary-Generals commitment to Africa and its people.

On Saturday morning, the Secretary-General, accompanied by his wife Nane, went to the national headquarters of the Rev. Jesse L. Jacksons Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in downtown Chicago.

Prior to speaking at the organizations weekly Saturday Morning Freedom Meeting, the Secretary-General addressed a number of local business and community leaders, as well as the representatives of Chicagos consular corps.

In his introduction, Reverend Jackson spoke of how the ceremonies marking Ghanas independence in 1957, when Kofi Annan was only a teenager, were attended by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other American civil rights leaders. Noting the Secretary-Generals presence in Chicago among civil rights leaders, Jackson said history had come full circle.

The Secretary-General spoke of that time and how Ghanas independence movement had an impact on him. You grow up believing that change is possible, peaceful change is possible, he said, and one should dare to make a difference and change. Thats a message I try to give young people: keep hope alive, be courageous, dare to change.

Following those remarks, the Secretary-General, accompanied by Rev. Jackson, moved to the main hall of the organizations headquarters, which was filled with more than 800 people for the weekly Saturday forum. After a thundering rendition of the gospel classic Oh Happy Day! the Secretary-General spoke of the need for the building of coalitions bringing together governments, the private sectors and organizations such as Rainbow/PUSH, in order to succeed in the struggle for human dignity, for equality of opportunity and for economic progress.

UN ENVOY ATTENDS SWEARING-IN OF AFGHAN CABINET

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, today attended the swearing-in ceremony of Afghanistans new cabinet.

On Sunday, Brahimi held his first formal meeting with members of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, which was set up on June 6. According to the decree signed by President Hamid Karzai, the Commission is charged with developing a national plan of action for human rights in Afghanistan.

Brahimi said at the meeting that their success would be measured by how much help they would provide to those who would need it, and by how much respect they would have from their countrymen.

Brahimi also reiterated the UN Assistance Missions support for the work of the Commission.

UN, NEW YORK OFFICERS STAGE FIRE DRILL

On Sunday morning, the United Nations and the New York City Fire Department conducted their first simulated fire drill at UN Headquarters, in an exercise designed to show how they could work in unison should an explosion and fire occur in the Headquarters building.

To make the simulation as real as possible, smoke machines started pumping in non-lethal smoke into the 26th and 27th floors at about 9:00 a.m. Once those floors had filled up sufficiently with the simulated smoke, the fire drill began at about 9:55, with the first fire truck entering the premises at about 10:00.

Some 26 vehicles and about 150 firemen were used to deal with the scenario, which involved a hypothetical explosion on the 26th floor and subsequent fire, and also included the possibility of injuries to two civilians. Water was pumped up to the 26th floor, and was later cleaned up.

After the exercise ended at about 11:00, Michael McCann, the Chief of UN Security, and other UN Security officials met with their Fire Department counterparts in the Cafeteria to review and critique the experience. UN Security officials agreed that the exercise had gone well.

Asked whether the exercise would have been more realistic if it were conducted on a working day, the Spokesman said that would likely create more disruptions. In any case, he said, the focus was on testing communications between the United Nations and New York fire officials.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Mary Robinson today called on the Colombian Government to protect human rights defenders in the wake of reports of escalation of violence and intimidation against human rights defenders. I have seen for myself, she said, the commitment and courage of Colombian human rights defenders, who, despite horrific violence and ongoing turmoil, continue to work tirelessly to build peace and respect for fundamental freedoms in the country.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, today concluded a week-long visit to the Russian Federation, including the northern Caucasus. He called for several specific actions for the benefit of children affected by the armed conflict, including the observance of the voluntary return of displaced persons. He also called for the end of the use of landmines and for an increase in assistance for children who have been maimed by landmines and unexploded ordnance and particularly for more resources for the production of prosthetics.

Kenzo Oshima, Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is scheduled to be in Geneva on Tuesday for the launch of a new website on assistance to the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. Between June 26 and July 1, Oshima will speaking with government officials and UN Country teams in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Angola to discuss approaches to the humanitarian needs created by the food crisis in the region. He will be in Angola at the beginning of July.

This afternoon, noted U.S. novelist and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison will be the first person to deliver a lecture as part of the Secretary-Generals lecture series. The Secretary-Generals intentions in inaugurating a lecture series was to strengthen the sense of community among those who work at the United Nations, including members of delegations, UN staff and accredited representatives of non-governmental organizations. In his introductory remarks, the Secretary-General praised his fellow Nobel Laureate, saying, If there is one Nobel Prize that all other prize-winners should envy, it is the Prize for Literature.

Regarding the G-8 summit, the Secretary-General is expected to be available to answer questions on this subject upon arrival in the lobby of UN headquarters on Tuesday morning.