United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-07-31

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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

Thursday, July 31, 2003

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MISSIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA, LEBANON

The Security Council wrapped up its work for the month of July by adopting, in two brief formal meetings this morning, resolutions extending the UN peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara and Lebanon.

On Western Sahara, the Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, James Baker, and their peace plan for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, on the basis of agreement between the two parties. It called on the parties to work towards acceptance and implementation of the peace plan.

The Council also extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Western Sahara until the end of October.

A statement issued afterward said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan is gratified that the Security Council has adopted a resolution expressing its clear and strong support for his efforts and those of his Personal Envoy, James A. Baker III, and for the peace plan. Given the unanimous nature of this resolution, he invites the parties to act constructively and to work with each other and with him and his Personal Envoy towards acceptance and implementation of the peace plan.

In another resolution, the Council unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Lebanon until the end of January 2004, and also welcomed the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout the south, calling on Lebanon to extend these measures.

Today is the last day of the Spanish Presidency of the Security Council, and on Friday, Syrian Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe will take over from Spanish Ambassador Inocencio Arias as the Council President for August.

UN ENVOY ADDRESSES IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL

On Wednesday, Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, addressed the Governing Council for the first time since its inauguration.

He highlighted for the members areas in which the UN was ready to assist and for which no new specific mandate would be needed from the Security Council. These include, among others, providing support for the Governing Councils secretariat, the drafting of a constitution and electoral assistance.

Vieira de Mello also mentioned that, while on the security front many Governments are hesitating to contribute to the Coalition without a new Security Council resolution, a number of them are prepared to assist in training and capacity building for police as soon as is practicable.

Beginning this Saturday, the Special Representative will start a new regional tour, which will include stops in Kuwait and Turkey.

UN humanitarian agencies operating in Iraq have been voicing their concerns about the level of insecurity, particularly in a stretch of road south of Nassiriyah where World Food Programme (WFP) contractors reportedly had 18 trucks hijacked. While these incidents have not yet hampered UN efforts, humanitarian official say they could discourage commercial transporters from sending more trucks into trouble spots in Iraq.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS DRAFT RESOLUTION ON LIBERIA

On Wednesday afternoon, the United States circulated within the Security Council a draft resolution on Liberia to authorize Member States to set up a multinational force to support the implementation of that countrys cease-fire agreement. Discussions on that draft are to be held for now at the expert level.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) reports that in Liberia, acute shortages of fuel and food continue to drive up the prices of basic commodities, hindering aid operations and compounding the critical food situation. Aid agencies say that food commodities in Monrovia are in desperately short supply, and when available, their prices are prohibitive.

While Monrovia was reported to be relatively calm, the United Nations continues to receive reports of people having been displaced by recent fighting near Buchanan, Liberias second-largest city, and Gbarnga. Thousands of internally displaced persons are reportedly on the move as a result of recent fighting around Buchanan.

The Secretary-Generals Representative for Internally Displaced Persons, Francis Deng, today voiced his grave concern about the plight of such persons in Liberia, calling for swift action to ensure their protection.

Asked about whether the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made an announcement on when troops would deploy to Liberia, the Spokesman said that no announcement had been received yet, although one was expected soon. The Secretary-General has been in touch with the key actors on this issue.

Asked about UN support for deployment plans for ECOWAS troops, the Spokesman said that the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) would assist in the transport and support of one Nigerian battalion that would travel from Sierra Leone, where it is now deployed, to Liberia.

He added that the battalion in Sierra Leone would arrive prior to another Nigerian battalion, which would travel to Liberia from Lagos. UNAMSILs transport arrangements, he said later, could either involve Ukrainian Mi-26 helicopters currently in Sierra Leone, or Ilyushin-76 aircraft now in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He noted that the Nigerian battalion would also use Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers (APCs), in addition to its own APCs, but would only keep its own APCs upon repatriation.

ANNAN NOTES PASSING OF SIERRA LEONE REBEL LEADER

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General responded to reporters questions about his reaction to the death of Foday Sankoh, the indicted former leader of Sierra Leones Revolutionary United Front, by saying that one should not speak ill of the dead, and by wishing that Sankohs soul rests in peace.

He went on to say, This is a man who terrorized his people and almost destroyed Sierra Leone. In the end, he died an indicted war criminal, a lonely and broken man.

Sankoh died on Tuesday night at the Choithram Hospital in Freetown, where he had been receiving medical treatment since March, according to an announcement made by the Registrar of the Sierra Leone Special Court.

Asked whether Sankoh had received adequate medical attention in Sierra Leone, the Spokesman noted that the Special Court and Sankohs lawyers had been discussing whether he was competent to stand trial, after being described as catatonic following a stroke last year. The Court had proposed that he receive a physical and psychological examination before he travel for medical attention outside Sierra Leone.

UN: BONN PROCESS ON TRACK, AFGHAN SECURITY A CONCERN

The Secretary-Generals latest report to the General Assembly and the Security Council on Afghanistan notes that, despite considerable obstacles, the implementation of the Bonn Agreement continues to be largely on track.

While expansion of Government authority beyond Kabul is making gradual progress, what has been achieved so far is still insufficient, the Secretary-General says, adding that the Transitional Administration needs to send a strong signal to the effect that insubordination and corruption within its ranks will not be tolerated and that its officials will be held accountable for their actions.

The report once again addresses the fragile security situation in the country, which is showing signs of deterioration in some places, the north in particular. The report warns that failing to provide for sufficient security for the Bonn process to succeed may have implications far beyond Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General points out that the right environment for holding free and fair elections in the summer of 2004 does not really exist at the moment. He calls for the establishment of clear and time-specific benchmarks to enable the Afghans and the international community to meet the preconditions for staging a credible election.

UN INVESTIGATORS FIND PATTERN OF ATROCITIES IN DR CONGO

A letter from the Secretary-General to the Security Council transmitted two reports concerning human rights violations that took place late last year and earlier this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

One of them is by an investigation team that visited Mambasa, in the eastern Congo, and received testimony that indicates a pattern of looting, killing and violence against women, used by the armed factions during fighting last October and December. The team also noted acts of cannibalism, and tactics to force family members to eat parts of their loved ones, that could be considered part of a policy of psychological torture, mainly conducted against the Nande and Pygmy populations.

A separate report, on the violence in the Drodro area in Ituri province this past April, concludes that the proliferation of rival factions and militias that are manipulated by warlords and some neighboring countries explains the unprecedented violence that has swept Ituri for a number of months.

FAO SAYS 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK OF HUNGER IN HAITI

The Food and Agriculture Organization today warned of a worsening food crisis in Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, leaving more than 3.8 million people suffering from hunger. According to FAO, the looming food crisis is mainly caused by increased social and political tensions, drought, poor living conditions and the impact of HIV/AIDS in the country.

FAO launched a $6 million appeal for key relief activities in Haiti and it will soon distribute around 180 tons of seeds to help some 60,000 people prepare for the next planting season in September.

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