United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-11-29

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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

Friday, November 29, 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY MOMBASA ATTACKS

A statement issued today said that Secretary-General Kofi was appalled by the suicide bomb attack on Thursday on a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, in which at least 13 people were killed and many injured, and by the apparent attempt, also Thursday in Mombasa, to shoot down an Israeli civilian aircraft.

The Secretary-General was relieved that a greater catastrophe was avoided. He condemned these terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Governments of Kenya and Israel.

The Secretary-General is utterly opposed to all acts of terrorism, from whatever quarter. He is strongly convinced that the attacks in Kenya once again underscore the need for a broad and sustained strategy to fight the scourge of terrorism.

The Director of the UN Office in Nairobi, Klaus Toepfer, condemned Thursdays attack in Mombasa and reaffirmed that the United Nations will work closely with the Kenyan authorities to ensure security for all, including UN staff.

Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, wrote to Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi to express her heartfelt sympathy to the Kenyan people for the human and material losses caused by the vicious and cowardly terrorist bombings.

ANNAN CONDEMNS THURSDAY ATTACK IN NORTHERN ISRAEL

A statement issued today said that the Secretary-General is dismayed by the attack Thursday in the Israeli town of Beit Shean, in which Palestinian gunmen killed six Israelis and wounded many others. He reiterated his utter condemnation of such terrorist acts against civilians, which are extremely harmful to the Palestinian cause.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Terje Roed-Larsen also condemned in the strongest possible terms the attack in Beit She'an. He sent his profound condolences to the families of the murdered and injured victims and reiterated his urgent call to Palestinians to renounce all forms of violence, which continue not only to harm the prospects of a political solution to the conflict, but also legitimate Palestinian national ambitions.

ANNAN REPORTS DETERIORATION OF PEACE, TRUST IN MIDDLE EAST

The Secretary-Generals report to the General Assembly and Security Council on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, issued today, notes that, over the past year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deteriorated further, eroding many of the achievements of the peace process.

The report says that, since the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000, more than 1,800 Palestinians and more than 600 Israelis have been killed, with some 25,000 Palestinians and 4,000 Israelis injured.

The Secretary-General writes, It is a matter of particular regret to me that so little remains of the mutual trust that had been so painstakingly built by the parties, and he called for regular and consistent third-party involvement to help the parties break out of the vicious cycle of destruction. He says, Illegitimate or illegal means cannot be justified by reference to legitimate objectives whether they be an end to occupation and statehood for Palestinians or security for Israelis.

That report will be presented to the General Assembly this afternoon.

This morning in the Trusteeship Council Chambers, UN chef de cabinet Iqbal Riza read out a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, noting that the human and material losses suffered by the Palestinians over the past two years have been nothing short of catastrophic.

However, the Secretary-Generals message goes on, despite the descent into a seemingly endless cycle of killing and destruction, a parallel process of diplomatic and political progress has taken place. The Secretary-General emphasizes that sustainable progress can only be achieved if simultaneous steps are taken on the security, economic, humanitarian and political aspects of the conflict.

UN INSPECTORS CONSOLIDATE WORK AFTER THURSDAY INSPECTIONS

On Thursday, the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) team in Iraq inspected two sites relating to biological weapons. Meanwhile, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team, comprising nine inspectors and support staff, inspected two sites known for their dual-use capabilities as of 1998: Dhu Al Fiqar and Nassr Company located in the Taji area, north of Baghdad.

The UNMOVIC team inspected the Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Plant in Al Dawrah, which is situated about 15 kilometers south of Baghdad, and which was declared by Iraq as one that was used for production of biological weapons agent, starting in 1990. Equipment declared to have been in the biological weapons program was destroyed under inspectors supervision in 1996. However significant dual use production equipment remains.

The UNMOVIC team on Thursday comprised 14 weapons inspectors and support staff, and the team was able to complete the inspections tasks that it had planned to carry out, taking a number of samples. During the inspection, the team learned that some equipment had been transferred to another facility.

The team followed that inspection by conducting activities at a small veterinary medicine facility about 20 kilometers north of Baghdad.

Both teams left the Canal Hotel Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and returned in the course of the afternoon. They had no difficulty gaining immediate access to the sites, as well as any locations within the sites.

The weapons inspectors are spending today consolidating their work and preparing for the following days. Therefore, no inspection team has gone out today.

Asked whether weapons inspector Harvey McGeorge would resign, the Spokeswoman noted that he said he would if he were asked to do so. However, she said, UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix had no intention to fire McGeorge, whom he considers to be highly qualified and competent. Blix is not aware of any misconduct by McGeorge that requires his resignation.

Asked about whether McGeorges private life was appropriate given cultural sensitivities in Iraq, the Spokeswoman noted that UN inspectors are taught awareness of local culture as part of their training. She said the professional expertise of the inspectors is checked, but not their personal lives.

ANNAN CALLS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION IN VENEZUELA

The Secretary-General has been following closely the political crisis in Venezuela, and is concerned to see that the situation is becoming more and more sharply polarized.

The Secretary-General today called urgently on the Government of Venezuela and the opposition groups to make every effort to reach a peaceful solution to this crisis, on the basis of respect for the Constitution, democratic values and human rights. He expressed his full support for the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Cesar Gaviria, in his mediation mission.

The Secretary-General urged all sectors of Venezuelan society to refrain from actions that could cause the situation to deteriorate even further.

MISSION NOTES PROGRESS OF DISARMAMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that, starting next week, the disarmament process in Kunduz will enter its third stage, when local established sub-commission of the Disarmament Commission will disarm individuals and lower ranked commanders. According to local authorities, more than 6,000 small arms, 30 tanks and 20 vehicles have been collected in Kunduz province.

Disarmament will also continue in Northern Afghanistan. Since November 21, when this drive began, some 663 light and heavy weapons have been collected, and UNAMA has been supervising the return of the weapons.

WFP WARNS OF DETERIORATING SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE

The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday that the situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating rapidly. There have been reports of children dropping out of school and families resorting to desperate measures to survive. Levels of malnutrition are worsening, along with an increase in cases of hunger-related diseases.

WFP faces a shortfall of 200,000 metric tons of food aid between now and next March, which threatens the agencys ability to reach its intended beneficiaries. The agency intends to increase the number of people it reaches with food aid from 3 million in 35 districts in November to 5.8 million in 57 districts by January 2003. The agencys capacity to deal with the crisis has been boosted by the Governments agreement to allow it to distribute genetically modified maize that has been milled.

UNHCR ASKS RUSSIA TO POSTPONE CLOSURE OF CHECHEN CAMPS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is asking the Russian authorities to postpone their announced closures of refugee camps for Chechens in Ingushetia, including one that was to be closed this weekend.

The Aki Yurt camp, which houses 1,500 people, is due to be closed on Sunday, and UNHCR says a real alternative has to be found for its inhabitants as the temperatures are expected to fall to minus five degrees Celsius. The Russian authorities have said that any return to Chechnya will be voluntary and some Chechens have already returned home, but others have expressed fears about returning because of the security situation.

In other refugee news, UNHCR and the Government of Angola have signed separate agreements with Namibia and Zambia for a programme of voluntary return of Angolan refugees. Commissions have been set up for the repatriation of 211,000 Angolan refugees in Zambia and 24,000 in Namibia. Similar agreements are expected to be signed shortly for the return of 193,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 16,000 from the Republic of Congo and 10,000 from South Africa.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked about Cyprus, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto, had met today with the Greek Foreign Minister and was scheduled to go back to Cyprus. She recalled the Secretary-Generals statement this week that asked for both Cypriot leaders to provide more detailed comments on his proposals by Saturday.

The Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples Rights, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, will begin a visit to the Philippines on December 2 to assess the situation concerning the country's indigenous peoples. During this visit, which will last until December 11, the Special Rapporteur will meet with senior government officials, indigenous peoples and NGOs. This is the second official country mission of the Special Rapporteur since his mandate was established by the Commission on Human Rights in 2001.

The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, will visit Equatorial Guinea from December 1 to 7 at the invitation of the Government. He will meet with Equatorial Guinean authorities, and representatives from civil society and the UN system.

Today in The Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia sentenced Mitar Vasiljevic, a Bosnian Serb, to 20 years in prison, for atrocities committed against Bosnian Muslims in Visegrad in 1992.

The Tribunals appeals chamber today also rejected a challenge by Croatia, which had appealed against an indictment that seeks the arrest of Croatian Gen. Janko Bobetko.

The UN Population Fund will launch its State of World Population 2002 next Tuesday. The report, called People, Poverty and Possibilities: making development work for the poor, argues that to meet the Millennium Development Goals, urgent action is needed to combat poor reproductive health, unwanted fertility, illiteracy and discrimination against women.

On Thursday, the UN Environment Programme launched a new book on its role in protecting the Earths fragile ozone layer. Protecting the Ozone Layer is the story of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, one of the most successful environmental treaties, and the thousands of individuals from international organizations, governments and a variety of other organizations, who support it through commitment and leadership.

Malta became the 85th country to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Sunday, December 1

Colombia will replace China in the Presidency of the Security Council.

In Yaoundé, Cameroon, the 13-member mixed commission chaired by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for West Africa, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, will meet to discuss the Cameroon-Nigeria border. Today is the official date of World AIDS Day.

Monday, December 2 In Washington, D.C., the Secretary-General is to meet with the fellows of the Woodrow Wilson Center and to speak at the 100th anniversary ceremony of the Pan American Health Organization.

New Security Council President Alfonso Valdivieso of Colombia is expected to hold bilateral talks with other Council members on its program of work for December. In the afternoon, the Council expects to hold a private meeting on the Central African Republic.

The Secretary-Generals report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Angola is expected in the early part of the week.

This is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

Tuesday, December 3 The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will launch its State of the World Population 2002 report. The report will be launched at a 10:00 a.m. press conference by Stirling Scruggs, Director of the UNFPA Information and External Relations Division, and by Jeffrey Sachs, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General. The Security Council expects to hold consultations on its program of work and on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will also convene a meeting on food security in Africa.

The third lecture in the Secretary-Generals lecture series will be held on The Interface between Energy and Climate Change, with Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic of the Technical University of Vienna and Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to speak.

This is the International Day of Disabled Persons.

Wednesday, December 4 The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Sierra Leone and on the oil-for-food program for Iraq, the current extension of which expires today. Also, the Council intends to hold a private meeting on Burundi. Thursday, December 5 Today is Eid-ul-Fitr, and UN Headquarters in New York will be closed.

This is the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.

Friday, December 6

The Secretary-General is expected to attend the presentation of the Candlelight Award to Maurice Strong and Jim McNeill.

The Security Council intends to hold consultations on Burundi and on the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission for Iraq. It also intends to consider a Presidential Statement on Afghanistan. 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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