United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-12-30

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Instead of Noon Briefings, highlights of daily developments in the UN system will be provided on this page; Briefings resume on Thursday, January 2, 2003.

Monday, December 30, 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PEACEFUL ELECTIONS IN KENYA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued earlier today in Nairobi, Kenya, welcomed the news that the general elections in Kenya have been conducted in a peaceful manner. He offered his warm congratulations to President Mwai Kibaki and the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) for their electoral success. He commended the people of Kenya for their enthusiastic and orderly participation in the elections.

The Secretary-General commended former President Daniel arap Moi and the electoral authorities of Kenya for overseeing a well-organized and credible electoral process and also commended the Kenya African National Union (KANU) for accepting the electoral result.

The Secretary-General reiterated that the United Nations will continue to support the efforts of the new Government and people of Kenya to consolidate the democratic process, improve governance and foster economic development. He looks forward to working closely with the Government in support of its lead role in efforts to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the conflicts in Somalia and Sudan.

SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES REVISIONS TO IRAQI GOODS LIST

The Security Council met in closed consultations this morning to discuss a draft resolution amending the Goods Review List used under the UN oil for food program. The Council then approved the resolution, by a vote of 13 in favor, none against and two abstentions (Russia and Syria).

The Goods Review List contains items that have to be sent to the Council's Iraq sanctions committee for approval. Items not on the list follow a simplified procedure for purchase by Iraq.

The Councils meeting was its last scheduled one for this year. A list of Council members for 2003, accompanied by the photographs of Council Ambassadors, is available in the Spokesmans Office.

UNMOVIC RECEIVES LIST OF 500 NAMES OF IRAQI SCIENTISTS

On Saturday, the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate handed over to the UN in Baghdad a list of over 500 names of personnel associated with Iraqs chemical, biological, nuclear, and ballistic missile programs.

The Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC), Hans Blix, requested such a list in his letter of December 12 addressed to Gen. Amir Al-Saadi, exercising the right granted to UNMOVIC by Security Council Resolution 1441.

Meanwhile inspections continued over the weekend and today. Included in the sites that were visited by teams from UNMOVIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were a juice plant, an industrial resin factory, a vaccines plant, a warhead-filling facility, the headquarters of the Iraqi customs service and a private company that handles procurement for the Iraqi military.

Six UNMOVIC inspectors and two IAEA inspectors left Baghdad on Sunday. In turn, six new UNMOVIC inspectors and six new IAEA inspectors joined their respective inspection teams in Baghdad, bringing the total number of inspectors to 110. The breakdown of inspectors is 100 from UNMOVIC and 10 from the IAEA.

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT TENSIONS IN KOREAN PENINSULA

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued Friday, expressed his concern over the increasing tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

He urged the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and not to undertake actions that could further complicate matters.

The Secretary-General called on all parties concerned to make every effort to resolve the situation in accordance with international norms.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS CONDOLENCES AFTER GROZNY BLAST

The Secretary-General on Friday wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin, extending his condolences to the people and Government of the Russian Federation and, in particular, to the families of those killed or injured in the blast which occurred earlier that day at a Russian Government building in Grozny, Chechnya.

He

said, "Such acts cannot advance any cause and only adds to the suffering of a region that has endured so much already."

UN MISSION REPORTS NORTH AFGHANISTAN DISARMAMENT RESUMED

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that the ongoing disarmament process in the north has resumed after it was suspended temporarily due to the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. The process was resumed in the Khulm District of Balkh Province on December 24, and 140 weapons, including 60 heavy weapons, were collected, all of which were generally in good condition.

The UN Mission also cited as positive signs the participation of Gen. Ustad Atta in Khulm District and Gen. Abdurrashid Dostums approval to disarm Faryab province within the next weeks. That disarmament exercise is to be followed by similar ones in Sari Pul, Samangan and Balkh provinces.

Also in Afghanistan, the UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) reported that it has assisted this year over 2 million Afghans to return to their homes, including 250,000 people that had been displaced within the country. With winter having fallen, the returns are now down to a trickle, with some 300 people returning per day, mainly from Iran. UNHCR said that the current challenge is to provide winter support to help these families get through this winter.

Next year, UNHCR plans to assist 1.5 million returning Afghans, including 300,000 internally displaced people. The program will be similar to this years, and UNHCR also intends to build 60,000 houses, up from 40,000 this year.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS MISSION COMPLETES VISIT TO COTE DIVOIRE

The UN human rights mission to Cote dIvoire, led by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan, returned to Geneva this morning after spending close to a week in country.

During their time there, members of the mission travelled to Abidjan, Yamassoukro, Daloa and Bouaké where they gathered precise information on the human rights and humanitarian situation.

The mission also had the opportunity to meet with President Laurent Gbagbo as well members of his Government. They also met with representatives of the Patriotic Movement of Cote dIvoire as well as civil society and local and international humanitarian agencies.

The missions report will be given to the Secretary-General and to High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello.

WFP, FAO REPORT FOOD SHORTAGES FOR 11 MILLION ETHIOPIANS

More than 11 million people in Ethiopia are facing serious food shortages and possible starvation, following a prolonged dry spell that led to a poor harvest in many parts of the country, according to a joint report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Late, poorly distributed 2002 seasonal rains, which ceased early, were the main cause of the decline of grain production, the report concluded. Crop yields also fell because farmers were reluctant to invest in improved seeds and fertilizer due to the uncertain crop prospects.

Although the drought affected the lowlands most severely, the report says Ethiopia's major cereal producing zones have also been hit, seriously cutting cereal production by 20 to 30 percent. The report also says that rising livestock deaths prompted an early migration of herds, and livestock prices dropped by as much as 50 percent.

In many lowland and pastoral areas of Ethiopia, people have barely enough food to last for even one to two months. Millions of subsistence farmers and herders will soon face a desperate situation.

WFP SAYS SLUMP FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA FUNDING HAS LIFTED

The World Food Programme (WFP) said fresh end-of-year contributions, totaling more than $25.2 million, have lifted WFP's emergency operation in southern Africa out of a weeks-long funding slump. With the new donations, the largest from Japan, the African Development Bank (ADB), Germany and Canada, the operation is now 62 percent resourced.

WFP has been urging donors for a rapid response to its $507 million appeal to feed at least 12 million people caught in the hunger belt that stretches across Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. To date, WFP has delivered more than 270,000 metric tons of relief food to the six countries, but hundreds of thousands more will be needed over the next few months.

Early signs are pointing to another possible drought next year in parts of southern Africa. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has warned of potential problems across the region with lower than expected rainfall in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and beyond.

UNESCO HEAD CONDEMNS REPRODUCTIVE HUMAN CLONING

The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koïchiro Matsuura, today categorically condemned any research or practice directed towards reproductive human cloning and urged the international community to act without delay.

Matsuura said it is urgent that agreement be reached on a binding instrument that prohibits and punishes any attempt at reproductive human cloning. He warned, There can be no progress for humanity in a world where science and technology develop independently of all ethical imperatives.

ANNAN SAYS EL SALVADOR STANDS AT CROSSROADS

The Secretary-General, in an addendum to his report on Central America that was issued today, says that El Salvador in 2002 is a transformed country that has taken considerable steps on the road to democratisation. He notes that the countrys Ombudsmans Office is recovering its envisaged role as an independent watchdog for protecting citizens rights but adds that challenges remain, including recent economic setbacks.

Saying that El Salvador stands at a crossroads, the Secretary-General urges the Government and Faribundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) to persevere on the path of implementing the 1991 peace accords, and he pledges continued UN support for the goals of peace, democratisation and the rule of law in that country.

NO NOMINATIONS RECEIVED FOR CRIMINAL COURT PROSECUTOR

The Secretariat, in a note to the States Parties to the International Criminal Court, notes that no nominations had been received for the position of Prosecutor on that Court by the official deadline of December 8.

The President of the Assembly of States Parties therefore announced his intention to inform the Assembly, when it resumes its session on February 3-7, that no nominations have been received, after which it may consider re-opening the nominating period.

Meanwhile, voting procedures and sample ballots for the election of judges to the Court have been sent out as a document to the Assembly of States Parties.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today that East Timorese who fled to West Timor amid the 1999 violence will formally cease to be regarded as refugees after January 1. The decision applies to some 30,000 East Timorese who still remain in West Timor, after 220,000 others have returned from there to East Timor.

World Chronicle program 867A with Spokesman Fred Eckhard will be shown today at 3:30 p.m. on in-house television channels 3 or 31.

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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