United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-09-24

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

FROM THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, September 24, 2002

SECURITY COUNCIL ENDS MIDDLE EAST MEETING WITH RESOLUTION

Just after 2:00 this morning, the Security Council ended its day-long formal meeting on the Middle East by voting on a resolution that reiterated the Councils demand for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction.

The resolution demanded that Israel immediately cease its measures in and around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure, and withdraw its occupying forces expeditiously from Palestinian cities, towards the positions held prior to September 2000. The Council also called on the Palestinian Authority to meet its expressed commitment to ensure that those responsible for terrorism are brought to justice.

The resolution, submitted by the Councils five European members, received 14 votes in favor and one abstention, from the United States. It was adopted after several sessions of consultations, in which drafts submitted by the United States and Syria were also considered, and an open debate that began Monday morning, following a request from the Arab Group.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the debate on Monday morning, saying that, less than a week ago, the Quartet dealing with the Middle East had agreed on the need for a process driven both by performance and by hope. But the events of the past few days, he warned, represent a tragic step in the opposite direction.

The Secretary-General noted the systematic grinding down of the Palestinian Authoritys headquarters in Ramallah, in which 10 Palestinian civilians have been killed, and the mass protests in Palestinian cities against it.

The Secretary-General warned that any policy built on forcing the other side to capitulate is not working, and will never work, and added that a policy of concentrating on security first had failed, since there will be no lasting security without a political settlement. The Palestinians, he added, need to recognize that there will be no political settlement without security for Israel.

UNRWA FACING $17 MILLION DEFICIT, DONORS TOLD

Today in Amman, Jordan, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said at a meeting of donor countries that it faces a budget deficit of 17 million dollars for this year, even as it is trying to cope with the worst humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1948.

The Agencys Commissioner-General, Peter Hansen, said that in addition to that deficit, half of the Agencys emergency appeal, amounting to $173 million, for this year remains unfunded, and less than $47 million of that appeal has actually been received so far. The shortfall will force the Agency to cut back on food and other emergency aid for Palestinians, despite recent studies showing growing malnutrition among Palestinian children.

Hansen said that the challenges UNRWA faces are as great as any in its long and turbulent history, and added, We have to wonder at the ability of the Palestinian population to continue coping. The breaking point for the Palestinians, he warned, must be somewhere close.

Also, today is the second and final day of an International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People, being held at Headquarters with the theme, End the Occupation! This afternoon, the groups in attendance will present a plan of action.

On Monday, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast addressed the Conference to deliver a message from the Secretary-General that the essential objectives of security and humanitarian relief cannot be achieved in isolation. We must return to the search for a just and comprehensive solution, which alone can bring security and prosperity to both peoples, and indeed to the whole region.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SOMALIA, LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE

After the day-long meeting on the Middle East, the Security Council has rescheduled todays consultations, which are now to begin at 3:30 this afternoon.

Its consultations are to begin with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh on recent developments in Somalia. After that, the Council will also discuss the situation in Liberia.

Last, Council members expect to discuss a draft resolution concerning the extension, by six months, of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, having discussed the Secretary-Generals recent report on the planned draw-down of the Mission last week. The Council may vote on that draft resolution once its consultations have finished.

ANNAN TALKS WITH PERMANENT COUNCIL MEMBERS ON IRAQ

In response to questions about the Secretary-Generals discussions on Monday and earlier today with the five permanent members of the Security Council, the Spokesman said that the meetings were discussions of the Middle East in general and Iraq in particular.

The members of the Security Council, the Spokesman noted, were discussing possible action on Iraq, and the decisions on Iraq would have an impact on the Middle East as a whole.

The Secretary-General, he said, did not want to interfere with the Councils deliberations, and was not involved in the drafting of any resolution. However, the Secretary-General works closely with the Council and has been urging it to maintain its unity. So far, the Spokesman added, to his knowledge, no draft resolution has been circulated.

Asked about any agreement between Iraq and the Secretary-General, the Spokesman noted that last week, when Iraq transmitted a letter to the Secretary-General on the return of UN weapons inspectors, the Secretary-General had advised the Iraqis to keep it short, keep it simple and make the acceptance of inspectors unconditional.

Asked who would attend the talks in Vienna next week between the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the Iraqi Government on practical arrangements for inspections, the Spokesman said that UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix would head the UN side and would be accompanied by senior directors. Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency would also be present. The composition of the Iraqi side has not yet been announced.

The Spokesman reminded journalists that they cannot travel beyond the fourth floor of UN Headquarters without appointment, following reports of regular unscheduled visits to Blixs office by the press.

IRAQI OIL EXPORTS INCREASED OVER PAST WEEK, UN SAYS

According to figures released by the Office of the Iraq Programme, following months of sluggish oil export levels under the UN oil-for-food program, Iraqs exports were up significantly last week, to 1.9 million barrels per day, for a total of 13.3 million barrels. This was the highest single weekly volume of exports registered since the start of the current Phase XII of the program on May 30. The weeks oil shipments netted an estimated $344 million in revenue, at current prices and rate of exchange.

Despite the increase in exports, the shortfall in the volume of approved contracts for the purchase of humanitarian supplies grew to $2.32 billion, covering 1,291 contracts.

UN MISSION IN BOSNIA CONDEMNS KILLING OF POLICE CHIEF

The UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina today condemned the murder, last night, of the Chief of Police of Srpsko Sarajevo.

The police chief, Zeljko Makovic, was shot dead in front of his home, and an intense investigation into the assassination has begun, with the UN International Police Task Force accompanying local police and closely monitoring the investigation. So far, there is no information concerning the perpetrators or motives behind the killing.

DNA-LED IDENTIFICATION PROCESS TO BEGIN IN KOSOVO

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo, Michael Steiner, and the Chief of Staff of the International Commission on Missing Persons, Gordon Bacon, today announced that, for the first time, exhumed bodies in Kosovo will undergo a large-scale DNA-led identification process, so that families can find out what happened to missing family members.

Starting in early 2000, blood collection efforts began in Kosovo, with some 5,500 blood samples, taken from family members who have been missing loved ones, collected to date. Efforts will be made to find any DNA matches between those samples and the DNA of exhumed bodies.

It is expected that the DNA identification process will continue into early next year.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND LEADERSHIP AWARD DINNER

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General will attend the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA)/Business Council for the UN Global Leadership Award dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel.

Former world boxing champion and UN Messenger of Peace Muhammad Ali and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will receive the Leadership Award, while Sir Paul and Lady McCartney will receive the Global Humanitarian Action Award.

Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General will also participate in the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund Luncheon.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked about the dispute between Lebanon and Israel over the Wazzani River, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General supports US efforts to mediate between the two countries, and noted that the United States has sent water experts to the area. The Spokesman added that there was an erroneous report that the United Nations would send water experts as well, which is not the case. The Secretary-General, he said, hopes tensions on the issue would be calmed.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello today addressed an informal meeting of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, and referred to the events of last September 11, saying, A brutal attack and exceptional threat may require an extraordinary and unequivocal response. That response, however, should involve measures that are taken in transparency, are of short duration and respect fundamental human rights norms.

The UN special rapporteur dealing with the independence of judges and lawyers, Dato Param Cumaraswamy, today expressed his outrage over what he called the further deterioration of the rule of law in Zimbabwe, including the arrest and detention of a retired High Court judge. The special rapporteur said there is reasonable cause to believe that arrest is an act of vendetta by the Zimbabwean Government following a fine imposed by that judge on Zimbabwes Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that more than 1.7 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan, under an assistance program launched on March 1 by UNHCR and governments in the region. The rate of returns has dropped to around 20,000 in the past week, from a high of 100,000 per week in May, mainly because of the approaching winter. Around 1.5 million of the returns were from Pakistan, while nearly 268,000 Afghans have left Iran for their homeland since the beginning of April.

The World Food Programme said today it is in danger of running out of food aid to assist more than 91,000 Eritrean refugees in camps in Sudan. The agency has already cut by half the amount of food being distributed and may have to suspend aid delivery if donations stop. WFP says it needs $5.2 million for more than 9,000 metric tons of food aid to assist the refugees until they are repatriated next year.

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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