United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-09-18

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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

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, September 18, 2002

IRAQ:CHIEF UN WEAPONS INSPECTOR TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL THURSDAY

[The President of the Security Council, Ambassador Stefan Tavrov of Bulgaria, announced that Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, will brief the members of the Security Council at 4 p.m. Thursday in closed consultations.]

On Tuesday, Blix met with an Iraqi delegation for preliminary talks about practical arrangements related to the resumption of inspections. In a statement issued afterwards, UNMOVIC said the Iraqi delegation had informed them that it needed some time to study and consult in Baghdad about these practical arrangements.

It was agreed that further talks would take place and be concluded at a meeting in Vienna in the week of September 30th, the exact timing of the meeting being subject to the Executive Chairmans need to be available to the Security Council.

Both sides believe the meeting yesterday afternoon was useful and the Iraqi delegation welcomed the return of inspectors, the statement said.

In response to a question, the Spokesman confirmed that the Secretary-General would be meeting Iraqs Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is being held at the Foreign Ministers request, the Spokesman added.

UNRWA CHIEF FIRED UPON BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN GAZA

Earlier today in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza strip, Israeli Defense Forces soldiers fired warning shots in the direction of a delegation of officials from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East led by Commissioner-General Peter Hansen.

The delegation, which also included representatives of several donor countries and Palestinian Authority officials, was visiting an area of the camp where refugee homes had previously been destroyed by the Israeli army when Israeli soldiers fired warning shots from a nearby outpost.

No one was injured, but members of the delegation were forced to take cover and immediately end their visit.

UNRWA had handed over 97 new shelters to refugee families in the Rafah camp whose houses had been destroyed by the Israeli army.

UNRWA will be filing an official complaint with the Israeli authorities.

SIERRA LEONE: UN ENVOY BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON UN MISSION DOWNSIZING

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sierra Leone Oluyemi Adeniji briefed members of the Security Council this morning on the latest report addressed to them.

In that report, the Secretary-General recommended that the UN mission in that country be adjusted and eventually downsized as the first step towards a gradual handover of security and other responsibilities to the country's Government.

The mandate of the mission expires at the end of the month, and the Secretary-General has recommended a six-month extension.

[In comments to the press after the meeting, the President of the Security Council said that the members of the Council had discussed the on-going challenges in consolidating peace and stability in Sierra Leone, particularly strengthening the security sector. Members of the Council, the President said, appealed to the donor community to continue providing financial assistance to Sierra Leone.

The President also read out a press statement regarding the private meeting the Security Council held Tuesday with the Foreign Minister of Burundi, Therence Sinunguruza. In the statement, the Security Council expressed their grave concern about the continuation of hostilities in that country, as a result of the obstinate refusal of the rebel groups to negotiate. ]

Later today, the Security Council was to meet with troop contributing countries to the UN mission in Sierra Leone, the largest current peacekeeping operation with some 17,000 troops.

UN OFFICIALS WITNESS FIRST PULL OUT OF RWANDAN TROOPS FROM DR CONGO

According to the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a first batch of Rwandan troops withdrew from Kindu in the eastern DRC back to Rwanda on Tuesday.

The UNs Force Commander Gen. Mountaga Diallo attended the ceremony marking the departure of about 460 soldiers.

ANNAN WELCOMES AGREEMENT OF GUATEMALA-BELIZE LAND DISPUTE

The Secretary-General, in a statement released through his Spokesman, wholeheartedly welcomes the announcement that Belize and Guatemala have reached agreement ending their longstanding territorial controversy.

He wishes to congratulate both Governments for their leadership and vision in reaching this historic settlement. He also commends their designated Facilitators and the Organization of American States, under whose auspices the process was conducted.

This groundbreaking accord sets an example for the region, and offers hope that other such disputes can also be resolved promptly and peaceably.

He notes that under the terms of the agreement, referenda are to be held in coming weeks in both countries, leading to a treaty concluding a controversy which has delayed regional integration.

In addition to their shared history on the Central American isthmus, Belize and Guatemala are both multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual societies striving to provide their citizens with just and equitable living conditions.

In the firm belief that bringing this issue to closure is a key step in creating conditions for stability and sustainable development, he strongly encourages the people of both countries to endorse this settlement agreement.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ecuador President Gustavo Noboa Bejarano will be presented with the sixth annual Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Award at a ceremony Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at UN headquarters. The Award recognizes outstanding action in support of the UN World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons.

The Food and Agriculture Organization issued a press release today on the amount of toxic waste from obsolete pesticides in Africa is higher than previously estimated. The amount toxic waste, which includes obsolete pesticides, heavily contaminated soils and millions of containers, is now estimated to be around 120,000 metric tonnes, with the previous estimate being 50,000 metric tonnes.

The UN Environment Programme issued two press releases today the conference on the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals taking place this week in Bonn, Germany. The meeting is expected to give the highest degree of protection to the rare hairy-kneed camel of Mongolia and China. The population of this camel is estimated to be around one thousand, making it more rare than the giant panda.

This morning, Barbados ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and acceded to the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

Also today, San Marino will sign the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.