United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-11-19

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY HUA JIANG

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, November 19, 2002

UN APPEALS FOR $3 BILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR 2003

The Consolidated Appeals for 2003 were launched today on the theme of Hope for the Future. The appeals call on the international community to provide $3 billion to assist 50 million people.

In a statement issued through his Spokesman, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the international community to give generously.

He also called for redoubled efforts to address the root causes of conflict and other crises, so that people gain not only relief from their most immediate distress, but also the hope for full recovery, development and the resumption of normal life.

In Bern, Switzerland, earlier today, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette spoke at the launch of the Appeals. She said that the theme underscores the need to remember that humanitarian assistance is not an end in itself, but must be accompanied by efforts to build a bridge from disaster to development.

ANNAN ENDS TRIP TO KOSOVO, ARRIVES IN BELGRADE

The Secretary-General is in Belgrade, where he met with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic. The Secretary-General and the President also had a brief press encounter afterward.

The Secretary-Generals other meetings in Belgrade this afternoon include those with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic.

Earlier today, the Secretary-General was in Kosovo, where he visited the northern town of Mitrovica, including the predominantly Serb North Mitrovica, where the UN runs a police academy. He was briefed on the training program there.

Afterward, he and his wife Nane travelled by helicopter to a pair of villages near the Serbian border, one Serb and one Albanian, Gornji Makres and Donji Makres. In a schoolyard in Gornji Makres, he was greeted by children, who offered him traditional bread in welcome, as well as by village leaders.

While in that border town, the Secretary-General spoke to reporters, saying it was good to see a village where the residents including Kosovo Albanians and Serbs realize they have to live together and put the past behind them.

Asked about Iraqi activity in the no-fly zones, the Secretary-General responded, I dont think that the (Security) Council will say that it is in contravention of the resolution which was recently passed.

He also spoke to reporters as he left Pristina, saying that he had a brief but full visit to Kosovo, and that he sees the UN Mission there as a success, with Kosovo having come a long way since he visited two years ago. He stressed the importance of the rule of law in Kosovo, adding, The incidents of last weekend, where bombs were thrown in the churches, is not anything anyone can condone.

Late Monday, the Secretary-General and his wife Nane met with relatives of the missing, who had been demonstrating silently outside the UN headquarters in Pristina, and he said that the issue of missing persons was an important one that he would raise with President Kostunica. He told them, We share your need to know.

UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS CONTINUE TALKS WITH IRAQI OFFICIALS

Today, the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), Hans Blix, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, met with the diplomatic corps and representatives of UN agencies in Baghdad.

They had a second meeting with Iraqi officials this evening to conclude discussions on the resumption of inspections.

Blix and ElBaradei are expected to hold a joint press conference at the UN offices in Baghdad later today, following the meeting with the Iraqi officials.

The two are expected to depart Baghdad on Wednesday morning.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAM

The Security Council held closed consultations this morning on the UNs oil for food program for Iraq. The Executive Director of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, presented to the Security Council the latest report of the Secretary-General on that program.

The current Phase XII of the program ends on November 25.

The regular update on Iraqi oil sales showed a slight increase in the volume of oil exports to 8.3 million barrels in the week ending November 15, up from the previous weeks total of 7.3 million barrels. The weeks exports netted an estimated $169 million.

ANNAN "VERY CONCERNED" ABOUT RESPONSE ON CYPRUS PEACE PROPOSAL

A statement issued shortly after noon said that the Secretary-General was "very concerned" about receiving reactions from the Cypriot parties to his proposal presented on November 11. "A way to get negotiations under way needs to be found urgently, because further delay could result in the disappearance of the opportunity."

The statement added that the Secretary-General had submitted a calendar, which is "part and parcel of the plan," that requires the main issues to be resolved prior to the Copenhagen European Council on December 12.

The Secretary-General has asked Alvaro de Soto, his Special Adviser on Cyprus, to meet him in Europe at the end of the week to take stock and examine what the United Nations can do to bring the process forward.

Asked about the response by the Cypriot parties to proposals presented last week by the Secretary-General, the Spokeswoman noted the Secretary-Generals comments today that he had received a response to his proposals from Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, and was waiting for a reaction from Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who is recovering from surgery. He added that he still believes that the United Nations will be able to bring the sides closer together.

The Spokeswoman noted that Alvaro de Soto had met with Clerides on Monday, and commented on the timetable for responses by saying that the United Nations did not want to put undue or unfair pressure on the two sides, but the clock is ticking.

UNHCR WELCOMES POLANDS DECISION ON ENTRY BY CHECHENS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed today Poland's decision recent decision to allow a group of 150 Russian Federation nationals from Chechnya to enter the country and seek asylum there. They are the first Chechens to be allowed to seek asylum in Poland in weeks.

The Polish authorities had decided to bar Chechens from entering the country following the October 23 terrorist attack on a Moscow theater by Chechen separatists.

UNHCR hopes that the admission of these asylum seekers represents a permanent return of Poland's policy of open doors to Chechen asylum seekers.

UNHCR continues to be concerned about the situation in neighboring Lithuania, which earlier this month barred 26 Chechens mostly women and children from entering the country and applying for asylum. UNHCR hopes that Lithuania will follow Poland's example and reopen its doors to Chechens.

Asked about the fate of those Chechens, the Spokeswoman said they had been turned back to Chechnya.

ANNAN ISSUES MESSAGE TO INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast today spoke on the Secretary-Generals behalf to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Secretary-Generals message noted the immense substantive contribution that the union of Parliamentarians has made to the United Nations work.

The Secretary-General adds in the message that he will be establishing a panel of eminent persons, broadly representative of civil society and government, to consider further UN reform, and he expresses his confidence that the Inter-Parliamentary Union will have much to contribute to that panels work.

UN NOTES NEW INFORMATION ON HEBRON KILLINGS

The Spokeswoman responded to questions about the statement issued last Friday on Hebron. The information available to the United Nations when the statement was issued was that the victims were Israeli civilians returning from religious service. Subsequently, it now appears that the Israeli victims were in fact soldiers and security personnel.

The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the continuing spiral of violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Secretary-General continues to believe that only a comprehensive solution developed through a process that addresses political, security, humanitarian and economic issues in parallel can ensure real security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

In a bid to draw more attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Colombia, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie released a personal, day-by-day account of her recent encounters with Colombian refugees in Ecuador.

UN Messenger of Peace Muhammad Ali wrapped up his visit to Afghanistan, issuing an open letter to the children of that country, in which he told them that they would succeed if they prepare their minds for the challenges of life, by studying hard; prepare their bodies by practicing physical activity and sports; and have faith, which, he said, will help you through the most difficult days.

The guest today was Carolyn McAskie, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who discussed the launch of the Consolidated Appeals for 2003. 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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