United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-09-05

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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

Friday, September 5, 2003

ANNAN TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11 A.M. MONDAY

On Monday, September 8th, at 11:00 a.m., Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to launch his Report on the Implementation of the Millennium Declaration 2003 at a press conference at UN Headquarters.

In the report, he calls on the nations of the world to re-forge their unity after the divisions of the Iraq war, agree among themselves on what are the main threats facing humanity, and not flinch from radical reform of the United Nations itself, as well as other international bodies, if this is necessary to make them more effective.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO BE UPDATED FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON IRAQ

The Security Council has scheduled consultations at 3:30 p.m. on Iraq and other matters.

Expected is a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast, who will provide an update since the last briefing by the Secretary-General after the August 19 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

LIBERIA: UN ENVOY SAYS HE WILL ASK SECURITY COUNCIL FOR 15,000 TROOPS

In a press conference held today in Monrovia, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Liberia, Jacques Klein, updated reporters about his work over the past month to determine the size and composition of a UN mission.

He said that the assessment was now complete and that he was planning to go to New York next week to bring the request for a mandate to the Security Council. According to the Security Council programme, the report is due on Friday, September 12 and Liberia is on the Council agenda for Tuesday, September 16.

Klein said he would be asking for 15,000 troops. He said he wants to bring in enough troops quickly to be able to do the work of disarmament and demobilization. He also mentioned that the assessment calls for some 900 international police officers.

Klein also said his absolute top priorities are security and health.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization reports today that water and sanitation problems were massive in Liberia with only 32% of Liberias population having access to clean drinking water. In addition, Monrovia has had no regular garbage collection since 1996.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said there was also a great concern about a possible massive exodus into Monrovia the only area secured by ECOMIL forces for now. But the capital, which already sheltered 1,000,000 inhabitants and at least 300,000 displaced persons living in very difficult conditions, couldnt possibly absorb more people, according to WFP.

The UN refugeee agency (UNHCR) said it remained extremely concerned about security for the displaced and about the presence of heavily armed militia who were circling around the warehouse building where humanitarian staff were placing the relief goods.

UN MISSION BEEFS UP TROOP PRESENCE IN NORTH EAST DR CONGO

Some 2,500 UN peacekeeping troops from the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are now firmly in place in Bunia, in the northeast province of Ituri in the northeast of the country.

They have begun to project their presence outside of Bunia, conducting reconnaissance missions this week.

At the town of Mongbwala, to the northwest, they found the situation stable on Wednesday. To the northeast, where they went yesterday, they confirmed that the town of Fataki was totally destroyed and abandoned. They report that some 18,000 people displaced from Fataki are huddled in the nearby town of Bule, and 5,000 more displaced are in three other adjoining villages.

The peacekeepers are planning two more reconnaissance missions this week. The mission plans to increase its strength in Bunia to some 4,500-5,000 peacekeeping troops by the end of October.

ANNAN SAYS ACCESS TO GENERIC DRUGS IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE

In a message delivered in support of OXFAMs big noise campaign, the Secretary-General says that decisions taken at the upcoming World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun, Mexico, can make the difference between poverty and starvation perhaps even between life and death for millions living in poor countries.

The first of the two most important issued under discussion is that of intellectual property as it affects the right of developing countries to import cheap generic drugs. In his message the Secretary-General said it is a moral imperative the needed drugs reach the millions that are suffering and dying.

The other important issue is that of agricultural subsidies. He called on developed countries to phase out these subsidies to give a chance to poor farmers to trade their way of poverty. He added the current situation where poor countries are under pressure from rich countries to liberalize their markets but yet find their own products excluded from rich countries by protective tariffs, not fair.

UN ENVOY CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS ON NORTH KOREA

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Maurice F. Strong had a round of high-level discussions last week in Seoul on issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

There was a sense of cautious optimism, in the context of the six-party meetings in Beijing, on the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the current impasse. Strong also visited Beijing this week, where he welcomed the holding of the six-party talks and commended Chinas important role in convening this useful forum.

In both Seoul and Beijing, Strong reaffirmed the active support of the Secretary-General for continuation of the negotiating process towards a comprehensive settlement. The Secretary-General will continue to consult closely with the parties involved on this critical issue.

FIVE PRISONERS DIE IN KOSOVO JAIL FIRE

Last night, at the Dubrava prison in Kosovo, five male prisoners died as a result of fire and smoke caused when inmates set fire to their mattresses during a demonstration. Sixteen additional prisoners have been hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation; at least one is in critical condition. One prison officer has been hospitalized for smoke inhalation suffered in an effort to help those attempting to flee the burning building.

The UN mission in Kosovo says that an international judge has been appointed to conduct an investigation and that a special panel of inquiry will also be formed consisting of international and local officials to determine why this tragic incident occurred and how to prevent a recurrence.

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA PEACE PROCESS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO LOSE MOMENTUM

[The Secretary-General, in a progress report to the Security Council on Ethiopia and Eritrea, says that the overall situation in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and the adjacent areas remains generally calm and secure, and the military postures of the two parties indicate that they have no intention of resuming hostilities. He notes, however, that incidents at the local level in and around the TSZ have become more frequent, which he says is a source of concern. He urged both sides to do their utmost to prevent cross-border incidents before they escalate.

He called on the two Governments to provide support to enable the Boundary Commission to maintain its timetable of demarcation-related activities.

Reiterating that a lasting peace would require a relationship that enabled the parties to address any problems that might arise between them, the Secretary-General said that a step in that direction would be the initiation of political dialogue with a view to eventual normalization of relations.

"The peace process must not be allowed to lose momentum," he said.

Noting that the UN mission for Ethiopia and Eritrea was created for limited purposes and was never meant to be a permanent arrangement, the Secretary-General says, "The time may have be approaching when the parties will have to be more actively assisted in fulfulling both the letter and the spirit of the Algiers Agreements and concluding the process without further delay."

In the meantime, he says UNMEE must continue to carry out its essential mandate and recommends an extension for an additional period of six months, until March 15, 2004.]

STURGEON PRODUCTION QUOTAS INCREASED IN CASPIAN SEA

The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has approved increased quotas for Caspian Sea sturgeon catch and caviar exports in 2003. This convention is part of the UN Environment Programme.

CITES Deputy Secretary-General Jim Armstrong said that after a decade that saw the collapse of sturgeon stocks due to over-fishing, the Governments in the Caspian Sea region are now fully committed to enforcing international regulations. As a result of their joint efforts to monitor and manage fish stocks and combat poaching, they are truly starting to turn the situation around.

In developing the new quotas, the Caspian States paid particular attention to Beluga, which produces the most valuable caviar. Beluga stocks appear to be recovering; greater numbers of fish are spawning and a higher proportion of the fish being caught are going into hatchery production rather than into commercial caviar production.

ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE OPENS MONDAY

The annual DPI/NGO Conference will begin on Monday, with this years theme entitled Human Security and Dignity: Fulfilling the Promise of the United Nations.

Mondays session will be addressed by Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Chair of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, and Mary Racelis, Member of the Panel, who will discuss the work of the Panel that was formed by the Secretary-General earlier this year.

The entire conference will be webcast live on www.ngodpiexecom.org.

NEW MEDIA ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES FOR UN HEADQUARTERS

On Monday, the Department of Public Information will launch a new website (www.un.org/media/accreditation) containing information on media accreditation and liaison services offered by the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit.

The new website is designed to facilitate renewal of grounds passes for resident correspondents and speed the process for journalists seeking United Nations media accreditation. Included is information on accreditation requirements for traditional and online media; the accreditation form; liaison services; media services and resources; frequently asked questions; useful links; and contact information.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

DISPLACED PERSONS: The Secretary-Generals Representative on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis Deng, will visit the Russian Federation, at the invitation of the government, from 8 to 12 September 2003 at the invitation of the Government. Deng will hold meetings in Moscow as well as in the Northern Caucasus, where he is also scheduled to visit sites hosting internally displaced persons in Ingushetia and Chechnya.

MALAYSIA: UNHCR says it is extremely concerned after learning that Malaysian authorities this morning deported seven asylum seekers who originated from Indonesian province of Aceh, despite a request for the High Commissioner this week for a moratorium. UNHCR says the deportation was most unfortunate, particularly coming shortly in advance of a high-level mission for UNHCR which was due to arrive Kuala Lumpur next Wednesday to discuss ways in which this specific issue could be addressed.

SRI LANKA:The World Food Programme (WFP) today launched a school feeding programme for 33,000 children in former Sri Lankan war zones, and plans to expand it to 170,000 children next year. The programme, which targets children most affected by the displacement, poverty and food deficits of the 20-year conflict, provides a nutritious mid-morning meal and at the same time it will enhance the daily attendance of the children and their ability to learn.

AIDS WORKSHOP: The Department of Economic and Social Affairs will hold a workshop on HIV/AIDS and Adult Mortality in Developing Countries for African government officials, here at Headquarters from Monday 8th to 13th of September.

UN BUDGET: Zimbabwe today become the 101st Member State to pay its dues in full for this year.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, September 8

The Secretary-General will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m. in Room 226 to launch a report on the Millennium Development Goals.

The 56th annual Department of Public Information/NGO Conference will take place in New York through Wednesday, and will be dedicated to the theme of Human Security and Dignity.

The second session of the States Parties for the International Criminal Court will meet in New York through Friday, and will consider, among other matters, the selection of a Deputy Prosecutor for the Court.

At 12:30 p.m., Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Chair of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations, and Mary Racelis, a member of that panel, will speak to the press.

The International Atomic Energy Agencys Board of Governors will begin a meeting in Vienna.

Today is International Literacy Day, which the Secretary-General will mark with a message.

A message from the Secretary-General to the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa, will be delivered by Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

A message from the Secretary-General will be delivered to the China Disabled Persons Federation on the occasion of this Fourth National Congress.

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs will hold a workshop on HIV/AIDS and Adult Mortality in Developing Countries. The workshop is scheduled to take place from 8 to 13 September at UN Headquarters.

A Symposium on Space Applications for Sustainable Development: Supporting the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development will be held at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Graz, Austria, from 8 to 11 September. The Symposium is organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, the Government of Austria and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Tuesday, September 9

The Security Council is scheduled to meet with troop contributing countries for the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

At 11:00 a.m., the French Mission is sponsoring a press conference by former Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

As the DPI/NGO Conference continues, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover and Kingsley Moghalu, Director of Resource Mobilization and Global Partnerships at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, will speak to the press at 12:30 p.m.

At 3:00 p.m., the non-governmental group Focus on the Family will hold a press briefing on human cloning.

The non-governmental Coalition for the International Criminal Court will brief the press at 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday, September 10

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

At 12:30 p.m., Sadako Ogata, chair of the Advisory Board on Human Security, plans to speak to the press, along with Swiss Parliamentarian Roland Wiederkehr.

A message from the Secretary-General is expected to be delivered by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Danilo Turk to Fifth International Conference on New or Restored Democracies taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Thursday, September 11

Friday, September 12

The Security Council has scheduled open meetings on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea and on the UN Mission in Kosovo.

A video message from the Secretary-General will be delivered to the Fifth Meeting of the UN Information and Communications Technology Task Force in Geneva.

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All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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