United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-11-05

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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, November 5, 2002

ANNAN ENCOURAGED BY SRI LANKA PEACE TALKS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued through his Spokesman, said he was very encouraged by the successful conclusion of the second round of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held in Thailand from October 31 to November 3. He sincerely hopes that further rounds will lead to a lasting political solution to the internal conflict in Sri Lanka.

The Secretary-General wishes to reiterate his appreciation and support for Norways facilitation efforts in the peace process.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON DR-CONGO RESOURCE EXPLOITATION

The Security Council is holding an open meeting on the recently issued report by the panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The report came out on October 21, and Mahmoud Kassem, the chair of the panel, presented the report to the Council three days later.

At 3:30 p.m., the Security Council sanctions committee dealing with Iraq is scheduled to meet in conference room 7. The chairman of that committee, Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby of Norway, is available to brief reporters after the meeting.

UN INSPECTION AGENTS TAKE UP POST AT SAUDI-IRAQI BORDER

The Office of the Iraq Programme reported today that Iraqi oil exports jumped from the previous weeks low of 5.1 million barrels to 19.3 million barrels in the week ending November 1, netting an estimated $430 million in revenue at current prices and rates of exchange

The Office of the Iraq Programme also notes that, on November 1, a UN team of five independent inspection agents arrived at the Arar crossing point at the Saudi-Iraqi border, to finalize preparations for the establishment of a UN inspection site at this border crossing point.

The inspection site at Arar, which will become fully operational on November 8, will be the fifth authorized border crossing for the import of goods under the oil-for-food program. UN independent inspection agents at authorized points of entry confirm and authenticate the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Iraq under the oil-for-food program only.

UN ENVOY SAYS RETURNS ARE MAIN UNMET CHALLENGE IN KOSOVO

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo, Michael Steiner, today addressed a donors conference in Brussels, telling them that making the right to return to Kosovo a reality is the greatest unmet challenge the international community faces there.

He said, Members of Kosovos smaller communities have not yet returned to their homes, and most of those who stayed in Kosovo live in conditions that remain unacceptable.

Against that problem, he noted recent accomplishments in Kosovo, including the rebuilding of more than 40,000 houses, the refurbishing of more than 450 schools, and massive improvements in the water and electrical supply.

UNHCR: SWISS VOTE MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF REFUGEES

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, says he is concerned that an initiative to alter Switzerland's asylum legislation, if voted into law on November 24, would transform the country's asylum system into one of the most restrictive in the industrialized world.

According to UNHCR, key elements of the proposed legislation include establishing a list of supposedly safe countries which would presumably include all of Switzerland's neighbors and then summarily rejecting anyone who has passed through such a country. In addition, it is proposed that most of the asylum seekers who remain in Switzerland would receive the barest minimum of assistance.

UNDP TO ASSIST CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will assist the Government of the Solomon Islands to assess the socio-economic impact of proposals for constitutional reform and decentralization, following the official signing today by the countrys Prime Minister, Allan Kemakeza, of the UNDP-funded project.

As part of the project, a widespread information campaign is intended to inform the people of the Solomon Islands about the ramifications of any proposed changes to national governance.

Henry Kellam, UNDPs coordinator for the project, said UNDP would seek views from even the most remote areas, adding, We want to hear the music in the villages but we are not the musicians nor the conductor; we are merely the ushers helping to guide the way.

ANNAN HOLDS TALKS TO BOOST CHANCES OF SUCCESS IN CYPRUS

Asked about the meeting the Secretary-General had on Monday with U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, the Spokesman said that the meeting was on Cyprus.

Were in a crunch now on the Cyprus issue, he said, noting that all sides believe that the year 2002 presents a real opportunity, although whether it can be seized or not depends on the two parties.

The Secretary-General, with support from many Member States, is trying to maximize the chances of success in Cyprus, and the Monday meeting was part of that effort.

MENINGITIS OUTBREAK MAY STRIKE AFRICA SOON

At the launch of an appeal for 10 million Euros, the World Health Organization (WHO) today warned that the next outbreak of meningitis in Africa could be less than two months away. WHO, along with UNICEF, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Médicins sans Frontièrs, say the new funds are needed to provide the vaccine and drugs to prevent deaths and control the epidemic. The appeal comes ahead of a meeting of potential donors and countries in the meningitis belt in Africa, scheduled for Thursday.

Meningitis has the greatest impact on children. Half of those infected, if not treated, will die, and even with treatment, as many as ten percent of patients will not survive. Those who survive are left with serious mental damage or deafness.

Talks are underway with the manufacturers of the vaccine for this current strain, called W135, which costs from $4 to $50 a dose depending on where it is sold. The goal of the talks is to bring the cost to $1 a dose.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked about whether members of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina had been involved in trafficking, the Spokesman said that the UNs Office of Internal Oversight Services had looked into allegations and found no involvement of UN personnel in trafficking. He added that UN personnel who patronized establishments known to be used for prostitution would be repatriated for violating the UN Code of Conduct, although solicitation of prostitutes is not illegal in Bosnia.

France Deng, the Secretary-Generals Representative on Internally Displaced Persons, is scheduled to visit the Philippines at the Governments invitation, starting Wednesday, for a week. During the visit, his first to the country, Deng plans to visit several communities of internally displaced people in Mindanao, where he will also meet with regional and local authorities.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today a new partnership for the improvement of cassava, an important source of nutrition in tropical countries. Thirty leading experts in cassava research have established the Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement to increase the nutritional content of a food on which 600 million people in Africa and Latin America depend for food and income.

India has made its first donation to the World Food Programme (WFP) by pledging one million metric tons of wheat for Afghanistan. The pledge is the largest single donation to WFP and the first tranche of 40,000 metric tons will be used to make high-energy biscuits for WFP's school feeding program in Afghanistan.

A new report on Maternal Mortality in Afghanistan will be launched Wednesday by the United Nations Children's Fund at UNICEF House at 11:30 a.m. The findings indicate that almost half of all deaths among women aged 15 to 49 years resulted from pregnancy and childbirth and that 96 percent of the women who died were illiterate.

Of the UN staff members who participated in the New York marathon on Sunday, the second-best UN time belongs to Stephanie Hodge of the UN Development Programme. She clocked the race at 2 hours and 59 minutes and was the 21st woman to cross the finish line.

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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