United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-08-05

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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

Tuesday, August 5, 2003

SECRETARY-GENERAL HORRIFIED AT INDONESIA BOMB ATTACK

A statement issued today said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan was horrified at the bomb explosion today at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, reportedly killing at least 10 people and injuring many more. He condemned in the strongest possible terms this apparent act of terrorism.

The Secretary-General extended his heartfelt condolences to the Government of Indonesia and the families of the victims of this despicable act.

UN MISSION AIRLIFTS NIGERIAN TROOPS TO LIBERIA FOR SECOND DAY

With the support of the UN mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the airlift of Nigerian troops and equipment to Monrovia the vanguard elements of the Multinational Force authorized by the Security Council for Liberia continued for a second day.

As of mid-afternoon, UNAMSIL reported that 152 Nigerian soldiers, two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), one land rover and one days supply of rations had been moved from Sierra Leone to Liberia.

If weather permits, another 112 soldiers, two more APCs, two land rovers, and one fuel tanker are scheduled to be airlifted this afternoon.

On Monday, 184 troops from UNAMSILs 15th Nigerian Battalion, now renamed NIBATT-1, and their equipment were deployed at Roberts International Airport on board Mi8 and Mi26 helicopters.

ANNAN PLEASED BY SWIFT ECOWAS DEPLOYMENT IN LIBERIA

In an official statement issued Monday night, welcoming the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution authorizing the establishment of the Multinational Force in Liberia, the Secretary-General said he was pleased with the swift action taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Government of Nigeria, with UNAMSIL support, in deploying the vanguard elements of the force within less than 72 hours after the Councils action.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call on the Government of Liberia, as well as the rebel forces, to cease hostilities immediately and to cooperate with the deployment of the West African peacekeepers and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

He also, once again, urged all the Liberian parties engaged in the ongoing negotiations in Accra, Ghana, to expedite the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement, which should facilitate smooth transition to a new Government.

MONROVIA: WATER AND CLEAN WATER BECOMING EVER MORE SCARCE

The humanitarian situation in Monrovia is continuing to deteriorate, with food and clean water becoming ever more scarce.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that a specially-chartered supply ship will sail from Abidjan today destined for Liberia.

The 'Seabulk Martin I' will be stationed off the coast of Liberia for the next two months. The ship will provide a secure base close to Monrovia for a team of five essential WFP staff, enabling them to coordinate the agency's expanded relief operations in the city.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people have not had adequate access to food for the past two weeks. With the arrival of the peacekeepers, more people have been able to venture out in search of food. However, prices have soared, and even staple foods are increasingly unaffordable.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed the arrival of the first international peacekeepers in Liberia, in the hope that the deployment will stabilize the security situation on the ground and enable aid agencies to resume helping hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by the conflict.

UNHCR reports that refugees from Liberia continue to arrive daily in the south-western part of Côte d'Ivoire.

In New York, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 2, the United Nations will launch the Revised Humanitarian Appeal for Liberia. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia, Jacques Klein, will deliver opening remarks at the launch, and he and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Carolyn McAskie will brief the press at noon. The original 2003 Consolidated Appeal for Liberia, launched in November 2002 has received less than 22 percent of the more than $42 million requested.

ANNAN TELLS GAYS AND LESBIANS NO DISTINCTION OVER RIGHTS

The Secretary-General, in a statement, said he was glad to be able to attend part of an event held on Monday in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, focused on protecting the rights of lesbians and gays around the world. He believes that the United Nations cannot condone any persecution of, or discrimination against, people on any grounds, and recalls Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says that "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind.

On the specific issue of the rights of gay and lesbian staff members, the Secretary-General intends to act on the Organization's long established principle that matters of personal status should be determined by reference to the law of the staff member's nationality.

On the issue of same sex marriage, his personal view, as stated in last weeks press conference, is that individuals should be allowed to make their own choices and that we should be careful not to draw conclusions, or adopt prejudicial attitudes, towards people for their choices and preferences. However, he recognizes that there is a wide range of opinion on the issue among Member States, with very strong feelings on both sides of the argument, and he does not believe this is something the United Nations should get involved in.

ANNAN COMMENDS REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS

The Secretary-General commends the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum for the collective action to support the Government and people of the Solomon Islands in their quest for the restoration of law and order and stability. He has taken note of the leadership exerted by Australia and New Zealand, in close partnership with other countries in the region, in response to the request for assistance from the Government of the Solomon Islands. The Secretary-General recognizes the particular importance of the unanimous support for this concerted regional initiative undertaken within the framework of the Forums Biketawa Declaration.

The Secretary-General hopes that the prompt restoration of normalcy in the Solomon Islands will quickly lead to the regaining of national harmony and facilitate a peace-building process. He wishes to emphasize that the UN system is fully prepared to contribute actively to such a process.

ANNAN CONDEMNS KILLING OF UN POLICE OFFICER IN KOSOVO

Late Monday, the Spokesman issued a statement expressing the Secretary-Generals shock and outrage at the killing of UN police officer Satish Menon in an attack late Sunday night on a police vehicle in the northern part of Kosovo.

The Secretary-General strongly condemned this appalling act and appeals to all concerned to cooperate with the UN Mission in Kosovo in carrying out the investigation into the circumstances of this brutal murder. The guilty must be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the family of the slain officer and to the Government of India, whose police officers have given great service to the people of Kosovo.

UN MISSION WELCOMES COMMERCIAL CONVOY ON CONGO RIVER

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) welcomed the first commercial convoy to sail on the Congo River since 1998. The convoy, with 4,500 tons of goods, departed Kinshasa at the beginning of July and arrived at Kisangani on August 3.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, who traveled to Kisangani to join with thousands of local citizens in welcoming the arrival of the convoy, hailed this event as an important moment in the physical and geographical reunification process of this vast and beautiful country.

The UN Mission in the DRC said that the arrival of the convoy is expected to have an immediate impact on local price levels and is an important commercial incentive for business people to boost production.

The UN Mission has been making intensive efforts over the past years to reopen the Congo River. Under the escort of the UN Mission, a dozen humanitarian convoys had sailed through the river prior to the first commercial barges.

IRAQ SANCTIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXTBOOK REQUEST

The Security Councils 661 Sanctions Committee dealing with Iraq this week agreed to a request from the Office of the Iraq Programme to fund the production of textbooks for 5.5 million Iraqi students and to pay for 25,000 teacher trainees for the 2003-2004 academic year. The project, worth $72.3 million in all, aims to print more than 66 million copies of newly edited textbooks for nationwide distribution.

Also approved this week were a $104 million project for fertilizer for Iraqs winter wheat and barley crops, and $6.8 million for fungicides to contain smut, a disease that affects wheat and barley seeds.

A letter was made available at the United Nations, transmitted by U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, from the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Faleh Dawod Salman, who urges Member States to transfer all frozen Iraqi assets to the Development Fund for Iraq account that has been established at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would visit Iraq, the Spokesman said there were no plans for such a visit.

UNICEF HEAD ASKS ECUADOR TO DO MORE FOR CHILDREN

Executive Director Carol Bellamy of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), speaking today in Quito, Ecuador, applauded the commitment of Ecuadors Government to improving childrens lives through increased social spending, but said that more investment is necessary to reach all children with basic services.

She also called on the Government to do more for working children, including the establishment of a system to monitor child labor in the country.

Basic education and health for all children are principal concerns for UNICEF in Ecuador, Bellamy said on the first day of an official visit to the country. By investing in services for children, Ecuadors Government is making an investment in its future one that will pay huge dividends. UNICEF applauds this commitment, and we hope it grows.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD LUNCHEON WITH ANNAN: There are no Security Council meetings or consultations scheduled for today. The Security Council is holding its monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General. Asked when the Council would meet with Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, the Spokesman said it was expected to happen later this week.

SPANISH-LANGUAGE UN NEWS CENTER SITE LAUNCHED: The Department of Public Information just launched the Spanish-language version of the UN News Center portal on the Internet.

UN NEGOTIATIONS ON CAMBODIA FOLLOWED ASSEMBLY MANDATE: Asked about criticism by King Sihanouk of Cambodia of the Extraordinary Chambers to try Khmer Rouge leaders, the Spokesman noted that the negotiations for such chambers were based on a mandate given by the General Assembly. UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell indicated that the agreement reached was not optimal, but that it was one that could help bring Khmer Rouge leaders to justice.

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