United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-09-09

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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, September 9, 2002

IRAQ: ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT "MORNING AFTER"

When asked this morning on his way into UN headquarters what initiatives the United States and the United Kingdom might bring to the United Nations before they take any military action against Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he had spoken to both leaders but suggested it would be best to wait and see what U.S. President George W. Bush would say during his speech to the General Assembly on Thursday.

The Secretary-General also stressed that the Security Council which has been dealing with this issue for so long -- should have something to say. I think it is appropriate that the Council pronounces itself on the issue, Annan said.

Asked by one journalist about the consequences of an eventual conflict with Iraq, the Secretary-General said that he was concerned about unexpected consequences and also about what the morning after would be like.

What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing, and what happens in the region? What impact could it have? These are questions leaders I have spoken to have also asked, he added.

FRECHETTE, ROBINSON AND BRAHIMI ADDRESS 55th DPI/NGO CONFERENCE

The three day annual conference of the UN Department of Political Affairs and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) opened this morning with addresses by the Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette, outgoing High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakdhar Brahimi.

The Deputy Secretary-General said the theme of this years conference, Rebuilding societies emerging from Conflict: a shared Responsibility, was of great importance to both the United Nations and NGOs as both were involved in helping countries to recover from the trauma of conflict.

She added the United Nations could not hope to achieve its goals without the efforts and expertise of NGOs.

NGOs played an important role in the reform efforts of the Secretary-General she continued, which have led to a streamlining of bureaucracy. We have reached out as never before to new partners, she said, foundations, parliamentarians , the private sector and, of course, NGOs.

Robinson told the gathering it was better to prevent large-scale deadly conflict rather than to have to pick up the pieces afterwards. She said prevention must be a priority for all, including NGOs. She stressed that particular attention should be paid to the establishment of strong systems for national human rights protection when rebuilding societies after conflict.

Brahimi pointed out that in post conflict situations the roles of the United Nations and NGOs were complementary but not identical. He added that the role of the international community was dramatically transformed during post-conflict situations and that all activities should support the national capacity and be responsive to the priorities of the government.

POVERTY REDUCTION ROLE UNLIKELY TO BE MET BY 2015, SAYS ANNAN

Progress towards poverty reduction goals by 2015 are mixed at both the regional and national levels, says the Secretary-General in a report on the implementation of the first UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty.

If performances continue at the present rate, many countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, are not likely to achieve poverty reduction goals by 2015.

Despite this bleak assessment, the Secretary-General writes, a number of best practices have been identified and lessons learned. He points to a number of projects including enhancing access to education especially for girls and women and promoting micro credit and micro financing.

UN ENVOY: HIV/AIDS WORSENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

World Food Programme Executive Director James Morris, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the humanitarian crisis in six southern African countries, says that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is playing a key role in the worsening crisis in Zambia and southern Africa.

HIV/AIDS is devastating Zambian society, said Morris on the last day of his three-day mission to Zambia. Tens of thousands of people have already died and many, many more are infected. One of the tragic consequences is a very rapid rise in the number of orphans, as well as households headed by children and elderly grandparents.

An estimated 20 per cent of the adult population in Zambia is infected with HIV/AIDS.

Traveling with Morris on the UN six-country mission is Carolyn McAskie, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator for the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

UN AGENCIES RESUME HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN CHECHNYA

UN agencies today resumed their humanitarian programmes in Chechnya that had been suspended since 29 July, when a staff member of Medicins sans Frontieres was abducted.

The decision to resume humanitarian operations came after extensive consultations with Russian authorities, the donor communities and NGOs. The main reason for the resumption is the rising need of the civilian population in Chechnya.

DRC: UN ENVOY PRAISES UGANDA-DRC PEACE ACCORD

Last Friday afternoon, the head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Amos Namanga Ngongi attended the signing of the peace accord between Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Joseph Kabila of the DRC.

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony in the Angolan capital Luanda, Ngongi praised the accord and said both heads of state had shown they could make the necessary efforts to bridge their differences.

UN MILITARY ADVISOR STEPS DOWN

Tomorrow will be the last working day for Major-General Tim Ford, the Military Advisor of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Gen. Ford took office as military advisor on September 13, 2000. He will be returning to Australia.

Until a replacement is named, the Deputy Military Advisor, Maj. Gen. Chitra Bahadur Gurung, will be the acting military advisor.

CHIEF UN MILITARY OBSERVER IN EAST TIMOR DIES

The Chief Military Observer for the UN mission in East Timor died on Sunday morning in Dili.

Brig. Gen. Paulo Pereira Guerreiro was 55 years old and had been the Chief Military Observer since July of this year. According to the mission, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

SECURITY COUNCIL SOMALIA SANCTIONS GROUP DISCUSSES UPCOMING MISSION

The Security Council Sanctions Committee on Somalia held a meeting this morning. The Committee members met with the panel of experts who are scheduled to depart for Europe and the region on September 15.

The panel was set up to investigate violations of the UN arms embargo on Somalia and to strengthen its enforcement.