United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-09-13

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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

Friday, September 13, 2002

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS WITH DR-CONGO, RWANDAN PRESIDENTS

The Security Council held a closed meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as well as DRC President Joseph Kabila, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, attended the one-hour meeting.

ANNAN MEETS WITH PERMANENT MEMBERS OF SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General Kofi Annan today hosted the annual luncheon in honor of the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council - China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States. They are expected to discuss major items on the Councils agenda.

Following the luncheon, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, in his capacity as Coordinator of the five permanent members, is expected to speak to reporters at the stakeout microphone outside the Security Council.

ANNAN TO OPEN HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN

At 3:30 this afternoon, in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, there will be a closed high-level meeting on Afghanistan, with participants from key countries involved in the reconstruction and security efforts in that country.

The Secretary-General will open the meeting with a brief statement in which he will pay tribute to the President of Afghanistan for his courage and the Afghan people for their achievement. He will also highlight the challenges that the country is facing now.

The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, will then take stock of the situation in the country nine months after the Bonn Agreement and outline the priorities in the future. The floor will then be open to all the 23 participants.

A communiqué will be adopted at the end of the meeting.

ANNAN GRATEFUL FOR U.S. PLEDGE TO WORK WITH SECURITY COUNCIL ON IRAQ

In response to a question on the Secretary-Generals reaction to U.S. President George W. Bushs speech at the General Assembly on Thursday about Iraq, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-Generals views could be found in his own speech to the Assembly, delivered earlier that day.

Beyond that, the Spokesman said, the Secretary-General was grateful that the President pledged to work through the international community, and specifically through the Security Council, in determining what should be done with Iraq. He hopes all Member States can cooperate in coming up with a political solution to the problem.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would meet Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, the Spokesman said there is no question that there would be a meeting, but he had no date to announce yet.

SECRETARY-GENERAL AFFIRMS UN COMMITMENT ON COLOMBIA

Asked about todays meeting between the Secretary-General and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the Spokesman said they discussed the overall situation in Colombia and the Secretary-Generals continuing good offices in support of the search for a negotiated solution to the countrys long-standing conflict.

The Secretary-General affirmed the United Nations commitment to reconciliation in Colombia, humanitarian efforts and human rights.

The meeting with Uribe is one of the many meetings the Secretary-General is holding on the margins of the 57th session of the General Assembly.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IMPROVING IN YUGOSLAVIA

In a report to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General says that democratic reform in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has stabilized the situation in that country and in south-eastern Europe, but he notes that more than 600,000 refugees and displaced persons remain in the country.

Progress on durable solutions for Kosovos internally displaced people is particularly difficult and protracted, and the Secretary-General says it is perhaps the most important humanitarian issue. But in general, the report says, Yugoslavias humanitarian needs have declined significantly since 2001.

RACING TEAM JOINS UNDP, UNAIDS ON STOP AIDS DRIVE

In their continuing effort to raise public awareness of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Joint UN Programme against HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have embarked in a partnership with the Sauber Petronas Formula One racing team.

In this first partnership of its kind, Sauber Petronas will allow the United Nations to brand its cars with the Stop Aids slogan and the red ribbon symbolizing the fight against AIDS.

The program will run in three upcoming Grand Prix races on three continents: Monza, Italy, this Sunday, Indianapolis in the United States on September 29 and Suzuka, Japan, on October 13. Sauber Petronas has two cars in each of those races.

Adolf Ogi, the Secretary-Generals Special Advisor for Sport and Development, who brought the UN agencies and the Formula One Team together, said: "This partnership is another example of constructive cooperation between the world of sports and the UN. The high profile of Formula One racing is exactly the type of platform that the worldwide fight against AIDS requires." On average, live TV broadcasts of Formula One reach 350 million spectators per race.

The initiative will support fundraising for two projects that provide housing and care to AIDS orphans in Botswana, where close to 70,000 children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The two AIDS orphan projects in Botswana are being managed by local communities and funded by UNDP.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The United Nations Administrative Tribunal has handed down a judgment in the case of Cheickh Bangoura, who worked under a series of short-term contracts for the International Drug Control Programme in Vienna. The Tribunal ordered that Bangoura be compensated for wrongs done to him by the Administration.

Today, the Secretary-General transmitted to the Security Council and the General Assembly a list of 10 candidates for elections to fill the five vacancies that will open on the International Court of Justice next February. Over the course of the current General Assembly session, the Council and Assembly are to elect five judges out of that pool of 10, to serve nine-year sentences on the ICJ, beginning next February 5.

On the eve of the Quartet principals meeting on Tuesday, the Secretary-Generals Middle East Envoy, Terje Roed Larsen, will brief the press at noon next Monday. He will discuss the current diplomatic efforts on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the dire humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza. In addition, he will release the latest UN report on the Palestinian economy, which includes important new statistics from the first half of 2002.

In Geneva today, the UN Children's Fund announced that, starting this September 1, flour milled in Nigeria has been fortified with Vitamin A. Some of the vegetable oil and sugar manufacturers have also started fortifying their products, and others have pledged to begin fortification by the end of the year. The addition of Vitamin A could help prevent the deaths of more than 300,000 children over the next ten years.

The UN Environment Programmes Global Mercury Assessment Working Group, meeting in Geneva, has concluded that international action should be taken to reduce the risks to humans and the environment from the release of mercury. The group of about 150 experts says that there is enough evidence of its adverse impact on the environment and have recommended a number of immediate actions for outreach to vulnerable groups and for technical cooperation to developing countries.

This afternoon, El Salvador will sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Right of the Child on the sale of children and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

Jamaica and Nigeria today joined the list of countries that have paid their regular budget contributions in full. Jamaica made a payment of more than $42,000 and Nigeria more than $621,000. There are now 102 fully paid-up Member States.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Saturday, September 14

At 4:30 p.m., the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the Netherlands will hold a press conference following a ministerial meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Sunday, September 15 Monday, September 16

The Secretary-General will speak at a meeting of the General Assembly on the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD).

The Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty will begin in Geneva today and last until Friday. The guest at the noon briefing will be the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Terje Roed Larsen, who will release the latest UN report on the Palestinian economy, which includes statistics from the first half of 2002. In Geneva, the 31st session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the fourth meeting of the states parties to the Ottawa Convention on Landmines will begin.

Today is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Tuesday, September 17

At 10:00 a.m., a wreath laying ceremony will be held to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the death of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld.

At 11:15 a.m., George Kell will brief the press on the World Investment Report.

The Security Council expects to hold consultations on Burundi.

Wednesday, September 18

The Security Council will hold consultations on Sierra Leone.

Immediately following the noon briefing, UN Childrens Fund Executive (UNICEF) Director Carol Bellamy will launch the UNICEF "Social Monitor" report, which focuses on the situation of children in the Central and Eastern European States and the Baltic region.

Thursday, September 19

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, will brief the Security Council on developments in that country in an open meeting. The Secretary-General is expected to speak at the ceremony for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Disability Award.

Friday, September 20

The Secretary-General will ring the Peace Bell and deliver a message, in observance of the International Day of Peace. The Security Council expects to hold an open briefing with the Secretary-General on the Middle East.

Press conferences will include briefings at 11:00 a.m. by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides of Cyprus and at 1:00 p.m. by President Askar Akaev of the Kyrgyz Republic.

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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