United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-09-03

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY

FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, September 3, 2002

ANNAN MEETS WITH WORLD LEADERS AT SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

"Let there be no more disguising the perilous state of the earth," Secretary-General Kofi Annan told world leaders gathered at the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development on Monday, "or pretending that conservation is too expensive, when we know that the cost of failure is far greater."

"The model of development we are accustomed to has been fruitful for the few, but flawed for the many," he said in his statement at the opening of the high-level segment of the meeting on sustainable development. "A path to development that ravages the environment and leaves a majority of humankind behind in squalor will soon be a dead-end road for everyone."

He concluded by saying, "It is said that to everything, there is a season. The world needs today to usher in a season of transformation, a season of stewardship. Let it be a season in which we make a long overdue investment in the survival and security of future generations."

In addition to the speech, the Secretary-General on Monday attended a number of events organized on the sidelines of the official summit, including a meeting of the Business Action of Sustainable Development. The Secretary-General also participated in a question and answer session with members of the Civil Society Forum.

The Secretary-Generals wife, Nane Annan participated Monday in a number of water and sanitation related events organized by the non-governmental organization WASH which spells out Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All.

JOHANNESBURG: NEGOTIATIONS ON FINAL SUMMIT DOCUMENT CONTINUE

The General Debate at the High-Level Segment of the World Summit on Sustainable Development continued today with 84 speakers expected.

The negotiations on the major outcome document are almost complete after round-the-clock sessions at the ministerial level concluded with agreements on all major issues. There are still two or three objections on issues relating to health and human rights.

Among the agreements reached was a goal to reduce the proportion of people who lack access to proper sanitation by half by 2015, an agreement toward increasing the use of renewable energies, and a number of targets and timetables aimed at protecting or restoring ecosystems.

Summit Secretary-General Nitin Desai said today that the Summit had been successful in imparting a sense of urgency, in achieving reasonably clear commitments to action in key areas, and in creating partnerships in the five priority areaswater, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity.

In addition to the Secretary-General and South Africas President Thabo Mbeki, 71 speakers addressed the plenary on Monday. Several European leaders said they would increase their official development assistance in the years ahead, while leaders from developing countries stressed that greater international cooperation was necessary to promote sustainable development.

The High-Level Segment of the Summit is expected to wrap up Wednesday with the remaining speakers, which include U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. At the final plenary session, the Summit outcome documents will be submitted for approval.

ANNAN AND IRAQI OFFICIAL DISCUSS RETURN OF UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS

In the margins of the Summit this morning, he met with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz as part of his ongoing dialogue with the Iraqi authorities aimed at agreeing on the return of UN weapons inspectors to the country, which in turn could lead to a lifting of UN sanctions against Iraq.

In an interview afterwards, he commented, "At this stage I cannot say they've taken a decision to allow inspectors," adding, "They would want to have an assurance that things would be different this time."

He went on: "And also the fact that there's a threat of military action, [Tariq Aziz] is not sure what difference allowing the inspectors would make."

The Secretary-General had a number of other bilateral meetings with heads of delegations, including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada.

Asked about what the Secretary-General said to Tariq Aziz, the Spokesman said that during this meeting as in the previous meetings with Iraqi officials in New York and Vienna, the first item on the Secretary-Generals agenda is the return of inspectors, which is what the Security Council expects and which is also the necessary first step for any progress to be made on the lifting of sanctions.

Asked what sort of assurances the Secretary-General could give Iraq, the Spokesman answered that it was not up to the Secretary-General to give assurances, adding that this was a matter between Iraq and the Security Council. The Spokesman went on to say that while the Secretary-General has gone a long way to assure the Iraqis that the UN weapons inspectors will carry out their work in a professional way, the Secretary-General is not in position to make any commitments on behalf of the Security Council.

BASIC RULES OF PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED AT ICC MEETING IN NEW YORK

The First Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court begins today here in New York.

The one-week meeting will adopt auxiliary documents negotiated at the Preparatory Commission, including the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, financial regulations, the budget, an agreement on privileges and immunities and a headquarters agreement.

The meeting is also expected to adopt procedures for the elections of Judges and the Prosecutor and will appoint the first senior officer of the court, the Director of Common Services Division. The Director will be charged with preparing job descriptions, recruit and oversee the work of the staff that will establish the Court over the next few months.

UN ENVOY DEEPLY DISTURBED AT KILLINGS OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, said today the he was deeply disturbed by the recent Israeli military attacks in the West Bank and Gaza that killed at least twelve Palestinian civilians.

In a statement released today, Larsen urged the Israeli government to fully investigate these incidents and if breaches of international law are found, hold accountable those in violation.

To that end, Larsen welcomed the announcement by Israels Defense Minister that he is conducting a speedy inquiry.

While the killing of so many Palestinian civilians is such a short period has focused the worlds attention on this issue, deaths of innocents on both sides has been a recurring phenomenon of this conflict, Larsen said.

The Special Coordinator went on to add that he had consistently condemned the suicide bombings by Palestinians groups as morally reprehensible acts of mass murder.

Such attacks, however, he said are no validation for the killing of more innocents.

In his statement he reminded both Israeli and Palestinian authorities that whatever the threat, both must act in accordance with the standards of conduct prescribed by international law. No justification can be offered the intentional or unintentional killing of civilians, Larsen said.

BULGARIA ASSUMES SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY

This months President of the Security Council, Ambassador Stefan Tavrov of Bulgaria, is meeting today with other members for bilateral consultations.

He is scheduled to brief reporters Wednesday following closed consultations in the morning.

UN MISSION IN DR CONGO WELCOMES HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER RELEASE

Te head of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Amos Namanga Ngongi, welcomed on Monday the release of Congolese Minister for Human Rights Ntumba Luaba who had been taken hostage last Thursday in the town of Bunia in the northeast of the Country.

Ngongi, who had condemned the abduction as an unacceptable act, also said that the incident raised once more the problem of increasing insecurity in Bunia and the surrounding area. He added that this was a source of concern and the issue must be addressed.

The minister was released Sunday and arrived the same day in Kinshasa.

On Saturday in Kisangani, the 54 future civilian police instructors completed their training course organized by the UN mission The course, which began on July 29th, is meant to enable them to function as executive trainers in various national police training centers. Authorities of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) who control the city have expressed their satisfaction after the training session. They consider it as a proof of their good will to move forward towards the demilitarization of the city of Kisangani. The second class of 54 students is to begin on September 9.

UN AND ETHIOPIA APPEAL FOR $12 MILLION FOR INCREASED RELIEF

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations say nearly $12 million is required to stave off the effects of poor rains in the country.

In a joint appeal launched on today, the United Nations and the government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) said the failure of rains in some parts of the country had led to a further 2 million people seeking additional or continued relief assistance as of July 2002. Existing relief beneficiaries were originally estimated at 3.6 million.

LIBERIAN NURSES RELEASED BY REBELS

After weeks of negotiations, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Monday secured the release of five nurses abducted by Liberian rebels on June 20. They were handed over to UNHCR staff late yesterday afternoon at the Liberia-Guinea border and are now safe in a southern Guinea town.

The nurses were working for the local NGO, MERCI (Medical Emergency Relief Cooperative International) at the time of the attack on a refugee camp that forced some 24,000 Sierra Leonean refugees and displaced Liberians to flee.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNHCR reports today that the last six months have seen the largest single refugee repatriation since 1972, with total returns to Afghanistan currently standing at more than 1.63 million people. In 1972, more than 9.8 million Bengalis who had earlier fled East Pakistan returned to Bangladesh, according to UNHCR.

The Special Rapporteur for Religious Freedom, Abdelfattah Amor, will visit Algeria from the 16 to the 26th of September. During the visit, which is being conducted at the invitation of the Algerian government, the Special Rapporteur will go to Algiers, Constantine and Oran to meet with government officials, religious leaders as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The Protocol on firearms supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Crime will receive three more signatures from Germany, Portugal and Thailand.

This afternoon, Finland will deposit instruments of acceptance to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Asked about the list of bilateral meetings the Secretary-General will be having during the upcoming General Assembly meeting and, specifically if he will be meeting Iraqs Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, the Spokesman said the programme has not yet been finalized but that the Foreign Minister had requested a meeting.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378 New York, NY 10017 Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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