United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-09-23

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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 23, 2003

ANNAN SAYS U.N. AT CROSSROADS: "THIS MAY BE A MOMENT NO LESS DECISIVE

THAN 1945 ITSELF, WHEN THE UNITED NATIONS WAS FOUNDED"

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning opened the 58th plenary session of the General Assembly by noting the challenges the international community has faced over the past year and asserting, We have come to a fork in the road. This may be a moment no less decisive than 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded.

He said we must now decide whether it is possible to continue on the basis agreed when the United Nations was first set up, or whether radical changes are needed, to deal with threats ranging from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction to the possibility that some States may act pre-emptively to respond to threats.

He warned against allowing States to respond with pre-emptive action "unilaterally, or in ad hoc coalitions," but also said "it is not enough to denounce unilateralism, unless we also face up squarely to the concerns that make some states feel uniquely vulnerable, since it is those concerns that drive them to take unilateral action. We must show that those concerns can, and will, be addressed effectively through collective action."

He said that the Security Council will need to consider how it will deal with the possible use of pre-emptive force, and may also need to discuss authorizing measures to address such threats as terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction at an earlier stage, as well as how to respond best to threats of genocide or other massive human rights violations.

The Secretary-General added that other bodies, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council, also need to be re-thought and reinvigorated. The Secretary-General came out with a report to the General Assembly this month calling for concrete ideas for such reforms.

For my part, he said, I intend to establish a High-Level Panel of eminent personalities, which will examine current challenges to peace and security; consider how collective action can address such challenges; review the functioning of the major UN organs; and recommend ways of strengthening the United Nations, through reform of its institutions and processes.

The Secretary-General said, The United Nations is by no means a perfect instrument, but it is a precious one. He urged the Member States to seek agreement on ways to improve it and to use it as its founders intended.

58th GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION OFFICIALLY OPENS

During the General Debate that started today, the General Assembly hears 58 Heads of state, 28 Heads of Government, 3 Vice presidents, 102 Foreign Ministers and Heads of delegations. The representatives of all member statesand Palestine will express their views during that two-week debate : a total of 192 speakers.

The debate will end on October 2nd with the delegation of Iraq, scheduled to speak in the afternoon next Thursday.

In response to a question concerning the Iraqi delegation, the Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly confirmed that the request sent to the General Assembly stated the Iraqi delegation will be headed by Ahmad Chalabi, the Governing Councils current President. There has not been any challenge to the credentials of the delegation from any member state at the General Assembly.

NEW U.N. REPORT SHOWS MANY IRAQIS STILL NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme today warned that despite a better cereal harvest and the lifting of economic sanctions, nearly half of the 26.3 million Iraqis are estimated to be poor and in need of food assistance, with 60 percent of the population unemployed.

The joint nutrition assessment report said that currently millions of Iraqis have no access to food other than through public food assistance, which is financed through the oil-for-food-programme.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON RULE OF LAW

There is nothing on the Security Council agenda today.

A ministerial-level Security Council meeting on Justice and the Rule of Law: the UN Role is scheduled Wednesday morning.

And on Thursday, the five permanent members of the Security Council is scheduled to have their annual luncheon with the Secretary-General.

RESOURCES TO FIGHT AIDS ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE SAYS ANNAN

Monday afternoon, following the conclusion of a high-level panel on AIDS that was attended by 10 Heads of State and Government, the Secretary-General noted that those present at the panel agreed that, while resources available to fight AIDS has doubled since 2001, they remain woefully inadequate.

Yet the panels conclusions were not pessimistic, the Secretary-General said, adding that we are learning more every day about what works, resources are increasing and political leadership is gaining steam.

A total of 126 Member States spoke during yesterdays High-Level Meeting, in a session which lasted until about 1:30 this morning.

CIVILIANS REPORTEDLY FORCED INTO LABOUR IN LIBERIA

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it is worried about reports that civilians were being forced to work in local farms in the city of Gbarnga, Liberia, 150 kilometres north of Monrovia, for rebel groups.

Civilians are reportedly dying of hunger, others facing food shortages and grave violations of human rights in this area. There were also reports of civilians being forced to work in the port city of Buchanan, 120 kilometres south east of Monrovia.

In Monrovia, the Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Liberia, Ross Mountain, praised a call on all parties to pay special attention to gender issues and the protection of children including an immediate end to use of child soldiers -- in the recently adopted Security Council resolution (1509) stablishing the UN mission in Liberia.

HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACKS IN NORTHEAST DR CONGO

The Special Rapporteur dealing with human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iulia Motoc, condemned recent incidents in Bunia, during which fighters of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) fired shots at UN military observers who were carrying out a disarmament operation in the area.

The Special Rapporteur called on the armed militias and the ethnic communities in Ituri to end the fighting which has caused thousands of civilian victims, especially women and children, and to cooperate fully with the United Nations. She reiterated that there will be no impunity for those who are found guilty of the massive violations of human rights that were committed in Ituri.

UNCERTAINTY INCREASING FOR DISPLACED CHECHENS

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it was concerned about a succession of events that had increased the uncertainty affecting around 1,000 displaced Chechens living in a Camp in Ingushetia.

According to UNHCR, during the course of the past week, the camps inhabitants had been subjected to a number of measures that had increased their already substantial fears that they were about to be forced back to Chechnya against their will.

Access for aid agencies, including UNHCR, had also been denied for varying periods and remained erratic.

On Friday, UNHCR made official complaints about the lack of access in both Moscow and Geneva.

JOURNALISM PROGRAM NAMED IN HONOR OF STAFFER KILLED IN BAGHDAD

The United Nations has decided to rename its annual training program for young journalists in honor of Reham al-Farra, one of the UN staff members killed in last months bombing in Baghdad, who had been the first female daily political columnist in her native Jordan.

In a letter to Reham al-Farras mother, Shashi Tharoor, the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said he hoped that the newly-renamed Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalists Fellowship Programme would honor her memory and remind us of the inspiration she gave us all.

style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-weight: 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

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article