United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-09-16

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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, September 16, 2003

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES PROPOSED UN FORCE FOR LIBERIA

The

Security Council began its work today with an open briefing on the

Secretary-Generals report on Liberia by Special Representative Jacques Klein. Council members then moved into consultations on Liberia.

In his briefing, Klein talked about an obligation to assist in putting an end to the cycle of brutality, violence, corruption and instability that has destroyed the social fabric of society and has also spilled over the borders of Liberia and profoundly affected the region.

He said that the multinational force that is now presently in Liberia, with Security Council approval, will be replaced by a United Nations Force on October 1. This UN Force, he said, must be credible, well trained and fully equipped. Its leadership must be focused, impartial, experienced and professional.

He went on to say that one of the major challenges would be the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of all ex-combatants. Therefore, it must be stressed, adequate and secure financing for the program is critical.

In the report, the Secretary-General recommends that the Council authorize deployment of a multi-dimensional peacekeeping operation in Liberia, under Chapter VII, with a troop strength of 15,000 and up to 875 civilian police officers, and an additional five armed formed units, each comprising 120 officers.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES VOTE ON MIDDLE EAST

The Security Council held consultations on the Middle East, following Monday afternoon consultations in which Syria presented a draft resolution on which it is seeking a vote. [Consultations on the Middle East are scheduled to resume at 4 p.m.]

On Monday afternoon, the Security Council also issued a press statement condemning the coup in Guinea-Bissau.

Asked further about Guinea-Bissau, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General had also condemned the coup, in a position consistent with that of the African Union.

UN MISSION IN DR CONGO RESPONDS TO MILITIA THREAT

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that during an aerial patrol today, a UN helicopter spotted a truck carrying armed militias heading towards Bunia. When the patrolling helicopter saw that weapons were pointed at it, it fired shots at the truck in self-defence. Two militia members were hit as a result.

On Monday, gunfire erupted in Bunia after the UN Ituri brigade began conducting cordon and search operations to ensure that the town was weapon-free by 10:00 local time. The UN peacekeepers went to the compound used by the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and found and confiscated a stockpile of arms and ammunition.

Demonstrations organized by UPC supporters then took place in different locations across the town to protest the UN-led operation. The Ituri brigade proceeded to disperse the demonstrators, but at no time did it open fire on the civilian population. In the course of the afternoon, UPC militiamen opened fire on UN soldiers, prompting an immediate riposte from the peacekeepers.

In the past 24 hours, the UN Mission arrested about 100 people, including some top UPC military officials. The situation in Bunia remains quiet but tense.

UN POLICE HAND OVER SECURITY CONTROL OF TIMORESE CITY

At a ceremony today held in Baucau, the second largest city in Timor-Leste, UN Police handed over the security in the city to the countrys police force.

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, in his remarks at the ceremony, reminded Timor-Leste Police officers that their newly acquired authority comes with great responsibilities. He also pledged that the UN Mission would continue to work closely with the Government and the district administration, adding that 9 UN Police Technical Advisers will remain in the district.

Baucau is the 12th district where policing responsibilities were handed over from the UN to Timor-Leste. Only Dili District now still remains under UN Police and the handover there is scheduled to take place in January.

Also on Timor-Leste, the World Food Programme issued an appeal for emergency food aid for 110,000 impoverished people, as a result of a two-year drought stalking the highlands in that country. In order to prevent further deterioration in their health, WFP will give some 24,800 rural families a 55-kilogram monthly ration of maize or rice and beans for four months, starting in November.

SIERRA LEONE: ANNAN RECOMMENDS UN MANDATE EXTENSION

The 19th report of the Secretary-General on the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), available today, says that further progress achieved towards peace consolidation and the overall security environment in the country have enabled the UN mission to continue the progressive drawdown of its military component.

While noting encouraging developments such as progress made in the reintegration of ex-combatants, the report flags areas where serious challenges remain, such as enhancing the capacity of the Sierra Leone police and army and ensuring control of diamond mining in the country.

The Secretary-General recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of the UN Mission for a further period of six months, until March 31, 2004, given the need to continue the gradual drawdown without jeopardizing the security situation.

ANNAN CALLS FOR HEALING AT UN PRAYER SERVICE

On Monday evening, Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the annual prayer service held at the Holy Family Church in New York that takes place before the start of the General Assembly, and he said that, following last months brutal and barbaric bombing in Iraq, We need the comfort of sharing our grief with friends.

Yet, he added, as the work of healing begins, we must learn to draw strength and purpose from this experience, and he asked for prayers for the United Nations and the staff it had lost, and also to pray for Iraq and the whole family of nations.

ANNAN NOTES FIRST SIGNS OF RECOVERY OF OZONE LAYER

The Secretary-General today observed the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer with a message in which he notes that recent findings by atmospheric scientists show that the level of chlorine in the upper atmosphere is at or near its peak, and we are now seeing the first signs of the recovery of the ozone layer.

However, he warns, we cannot be complacent. Even greater political commitment and further action is required to ensure full compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Also today, the UN Environment Programme warned that every year, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, one of the consequences of the depletion of the ozone layer, results in between 2 million and 3 million cases of non-malignant melanomas and more than 130,000 new melanoma skin cancer cases worldwide.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN HOPES CANCÚN SUSPENSION NOT END OF THE ROAD: Asked about what can be done following the suspension of trade talks in Cancún, Mexico, the Spokesman noted the Secretary-Generals statement that one of the positive elements at Cancún was that developing countries had forged a common position. The Secretary-General hoped countries would now reflect and try to return to negotiate in good faith on a trade agreement.

UNITED NATIONS YET TO RECEIVE SIGNAL FROM PARTIES ON CYPRUS: Asked about Cyprus, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General indicated that the United Nations would become involved actively once more if it received serious, credible indications from the parties of a willingness to discuss a settlement, on the lines of the UN plan, but that he has not received such a sign yet.

U.N. OFFICE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RENEWED: The Security Council President, British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, in a letter to the Secretary-General, accepted a one-year extension until December 31, 2004, of the UN peace-building Support Office in the Central African Republic.

COMMISSION ON AIDS AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA TO BE LAUNCHED: The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) chaired by K.Y. Amoako, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will be officially launched Wednesday in Addis Ababa. With its Secretariat at the ECA, the Commission's mandate is to study the impacts of HIV/AIDS on state structures and Africa's economic development.

EXPERTS MEET TO FOLLOW UP ON RACISM CONFERENCE: Four independent experts appointed by the Secretary-General to follow up on the 2001 World Conference against Racism are meeting today for the first time in Geneva, to begin three days of discussions on how they will carry out their mandate. The experts Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, Edna Maria Santos Roland of Brazil, Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania and Hanna Suchocka of Poland will also discuss cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

ANNAN TO MARK DEATH OF HAMMARSKJÖLD, COLLEAGUES: On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Secretary-General will lay a wreath in the Visitors Lobby outside the UN Meditation Room to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the death of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and his colleagues.

UNICEF SAYS 123 MILLION DO NOT RECEIVE SCHOOLING: The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) today said that while, over the last two weeks, schools have been opening again worldwide for the start of the new school year, some 123 million school-aged children are currently being left out. UNICEF also said that globally, girls make up the majority of this group, with 66 million girls of school age not in school.

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