United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-02-07

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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

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, February 7, 2003

UNMOVIC CHIEF STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF INSPECTIONS TO TRAINEES

Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), while in a brief stop-over in Vienna on his way to Baghdad, addressed a group of inspector trainees at the Vienna International Centre.

The group of 57 men and women from 22 countries, having completed their three-week training course, are going back to their respective countries and are now on a roster from which UNMOVIC can draw personnel for future inspections.

In his address to the trainees, Blix said the disarmament of Iraq through the inspection process is an alternative to the avenue of armed conflict. I think everybody would like to see effective inspections to be the way to disarmament, Blix said. This is certainly the wish of the Arab world, all Europeans and Im convinced also of (US) President (George W.) Bush and (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair, whom we saw yesterday.

Blix stressed that the disarmament process requires active cooperation from Iraq, both on process and substance.

The Executive Chairman said a lot had been done during the eight years of the previous inspection regime but that now the pace of disarmament needs to quicken. The world is not going to wait another eight years, Blix told the group.

Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei will be in Baghdad for meetings with Iraqi officials on Saturday and Sunday.

As for the inspections themselves, on Thursday evening in Baghdad, a private interview was conducted with an Iraqi biological scientist who was alone. The interview lasted 3 hours and 32 minutes. During the interview, a number of issues were addressed.

Asked about how the trainees were hired, the Spokesman noted that, unlike the previous UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), which at times accepted inspectors donated by governments, all UNMOVIC inspectors are hired and paid by the United Nations, and are chosen on the basis of their applications and experience.

As UN staff members, they would sign the standard employee form that says they would not accept instructions from any government, but only, in this case, from Blix.

In response to another question, the Spokesman noted that Blix and ElBaradei will give a press conference at 7:00 p.m. Baghdad time on Sunday, and will then leave Baghdad the following day.

Asked whether Secretary-General Kofi Annan would go to Baghdad, the Spokesman said he had no plans to go.

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO

The Security Council has not scheduled any meetings or consultations today.

The next scheduled Council meeting will be closed consultations on Angola next Wednesday, a day after the United Nations is closed for the Eid-ul-Adha holiday.

On Thursday afternoon, the Council ended its open meeting on Kosovo by adopting a Presidential Statement in which it welcomed the progress made in 2002 and reaffirmed its full support of targets in eight key areas for Kosovo's progress, as well as its commitment to a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo.

ANNAN NAMES TEVOEDJRE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR COTE DIVOIRE

The Secretary-General today informed the Security Council that he is appointing Albert Tevoedjre as his Special Envoy for Cote dIvoire. He had originally indicated to the Council his intention to name an envoy during a briefing on Cote dIvoire on January 28.

Tevoedjre, a national of Benin, was a former Member of Parliament there, as well as a former Minister. He also had been Deputy Director General of the International Labour Organization.

Tevoedjre is in New York today for briefings and will be leaving for the region this weekend. He is expected to arrive in Cote dIvoire on Tuesday.

UN RIGHTS CHIEF VOICES CONCERN OVER COTE DIVOIRE VIOLENCE

High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello today expressed grave concern over the growing violence in Cote dIvoire, condemning death squad activity and the propaganda carried by some national media aimed at inciting war and encouraging hatred and xenophobia.

The High Commissioner reminded all concerned that grave human rights violations are punishable as international crimes and declared his readiness to advise the Secretary-General to seize the Security Council of such crimes if needed.

The High Commissioner also underlined the essential role of neutral, independent and impartial media in national reconciliation, as set out in the Programme of Government and National Reconciliation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement of last month, and in the recommendations of the recent UN human rights mission to Cote dIvoire.

UN ENVOY URGES DONORS TO ADDRESS IMPACT OF IVOIRIAN CRISIS

Carolyn McAskie, the Secretary-Generals Humanitarian Envoy for the Crisis in Cote dIvoire, has just completed visits to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Guinea, where she got a firsthand look at the effects the crisis is having on neighboring countries.

Upon her return to Abidjan, she urged donors to address the regional impact. There is a lot that needs to be done by the international community to help. I think we should be generous at this time, she said.

The United Nations has issued an appeal for $22 million to meet humanitarian needs caused by the crisis in Cote dIvoire. To date, only 11 percent of the funds requested have been received.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that a decision by the UN in New York to tighten security for UN staff in the country has not directly affected its operations so far.

In Tabou, the emergency repatriation of stranded and targeted Liberian refugees continues. To date over 1,780 refugees have returned to Liberia with the help of UNHCR.

UN AGENCIES SAY WEST LIBERIA FIGHTING CUTS OFF ACCESS

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, access to western Liberia for humanitarian staff and goods has been cut off by the recent fighting.

Displaced people, mostly women and children, continue to arrive at the camps around Monrovia. Aid agencies in these camps have recorded a total of 5,881 persons as of February 5, and the numbers are increasing.

The UN agencies on the ground report that Sierra Leonean refugees and Liberian displaced persons sheltering outside the capital have fled the camps in which they stayed.

Militias are reportedly harassing and taking valuables from the fleeing population, while rebels have reportedly abducted a number of persons while retreating. Arriving displaced mothers are also reporting missing children.

Aid agencies are responding to the situation at the camps with registration of new arrivals, family tracing services and distribution of food and non-food items.

UNEP BOARD ENDORSES PALESTINIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN

Environment Ministers, gathered in Nairobi for the meeting of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council, unanimously endorsed the report on the environmental situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP, said governments around the world have made it clear that the situation was cause for real concern.Our main hope for the region, he added, is that the conflict can be resolved and the suffering brought to an end.

Toepfer also paid tribute to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for their cooperation and said UNEP looked forward to working with them on implementing the recommendations.

UN CONGO MISSION REPATRIATES FORMER RWANDAN COMBATANTS

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) announced today that it had voluntarily repatriated to Rwanda nine former combatants, along with four of their dependents.

The group left Lubumbashi, in the southern Congo, for Kigali. After spending 45 days in a government center, they will be re-integrated into civilian life.

To date, the UN Mission has organized the return of more than 850 former combatants and their dependents.

UNDP-BACKED REPORT CALLS FOR RURAL REFORM IN SOUTH ASIA

South Asia, home to 1.4 billion people, needs to carry out major reforms in rural areas to achieve high levels of human development, according to a report released Thursday in Kathmandu, Nepal, titled Human Development in South Asia 2002: Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to the report, prepared by Pakistans Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), South Asias substantial progress in agriculture has not been adequate to reduce the regions huge poverty rates. More than a third of the regions people or some 530 million in all live on less than a dollar a day.

The report calls women the invisible and unrecognized backbone of South Asian agriculture, but adds that in rural areas, they remain hostage to feudal traditions. Henning Karcher, UNDPs Resident Representative in Nepal, says, Administrative structures have not shown adequate sensitivity to rural womens needs, and as a result, womens programs are still peripheral.

ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES ELECTS 14 OF 18 ICC JUDGES

The Assembly of States Parties for the International Criminal Court had by this morning elected 14 of the Courts 18 judges, following nine rounds of balloting, in which seven male and seven female judges were elected.

The winners included the current President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Judge Navanethem Pillay of South Africa, and the Chairman of the Courts Preparatory Commission, Ambassador Philippe Kirsch of Canada.

The balloting is continuing today, to pick the remaining four judges.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WILLIAMS AND MARY SPEECH: The snow storm along the east coast today is forcing the Secretary-General to postpone his departure to Williamsburg, Virginia until Saturday. The Secretary-General still intends to deliver an address at a ceremony that day marking the 310th anniversary of William and Mary College.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE: The International Court of Justice Thursday elected a new President, Judge Shi Jiuyong of China, who will replace Gilbert Guillaume of France as the Courts presiding judge for a three-year term. Judge Raymond Ranjeva of Madagascar was elected Vice President.

JAMAICA: Asma Jahangir, the special rapporteur for the Commission on Human Rights dealing with extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, will visit Jamaica from February 17 to 27, and will meet with Government officials, as well as representatives of the police, the judiciary and the security forces. She will also meet with legal officials and members of civil society. The visit comes at her request, and has been agreed to by the Jamaican Government.

WHO: Following a three-day meeting with health officials from West African countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a joint Action Plan for the region. WHO says it needs $3.5 million to implement the plan, which is based on enhanced coordination, health assessments with disease surveillance and emergency public health response. The meeting was organized as a part of the UN situation analysis mission led by the Secretary-Generals Humanitarian Envoy to the crisis in Côte dIvoire, Carolyn McAskie.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Saturday, February 8

The Secretary-General will receive an honorary degree, and speak on Iraq, at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, which is holding its Charter Day ceremony marking its 310th anniversary.

Chief UN weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will begin two days of talks in Baghdad.

Sunday, February 9

Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei are expected to conclude talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad on UN weapons inspections, with a press conference scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time.

Monday, February 10

The Secretary-General will present an award to Arthur Ross at a ceremony organized by the Citizens Committee for New York City.

At 11:15 a.m., there will be a press briefing by Airline Ambassadors International and Peace and Cooperation to launch their annual International Youth Art Competition.

Tuesday, February 11

Today is Eid-ul-Adha, and the United Nations will be closed.

Wednesday, February 12

In Vienna, the Governing Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to hold a meeting to consider the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

The Security Council expects to hold consultations on Angola.

The Secretary-General will attend the annual session of the Special Committee of 24.

Thursday, February 13

The Secretary-General will speak at the launch of the UN Literacy Decade.

In the morning, the Security Council expects to hold an open meeting, followed by consultations, on the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. Then, in the afternoon, the Council intends to hold an open meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello among the speakers.

Friday, February 14

The Security Council will hold a briefing on Iraq, with an update on weapons inspections by Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Secretary-General will speak at an open session of the Palestinian Rights Committee.

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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