United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-09-30

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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 30, 2003

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES RULE OF LAW ON LAST DAY OF U.K. PRESIDENCY

As a follow-up to last weeks Security Council ministerial meeting on Justice and the Rule of Law: the UN Role, the Council today began another open meeting on the same subject.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Marie Guéhenno opened today's meeting with remarks on behalf of several UN departments within the Secretariat that are engaged in supporting justice and the rule of law in post-conflict societies.

Guéhenno underscored the importance of the rule of law, saying, "We have witnessed, time and time again, a population's loss of faith in peace process due to the absence of security and lack of accountability for criminal acts."

He added, "We can no longer afford to treat the rule of law as a side activity in which we engage alongside political objectives. In many cases, it lies at the heart of the success or failure of our peacekeeping operations."

Today is the last day of the British Presidency of the Security Council, with the United States to take over the Presidency for October starting on Wednesday.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT

Secretary-General Kofi Annan met President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia today, and they had a constructive discussion on the current situation in Colombia and the work of the United Nations in that country.

The Secretary-General reiterated his commitment to the goal of assisting Colombia in reaching a negotiated solution to the conflict. His good offices continue to be at the disposal of the parties.

ANNAN APPOINTS FORCE COMMANDERS IN LIBERIA, DR CONGO

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Lt. Gen. Daniel Ishmael Opande of Kenya as Force Commander of the newly established UN Mission in Liberia. He has served in the UN peacekeeping operations in Namibia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

The Secretary-General also announced his intention to appoint Maj. Gen. Samaila Iliya of Nigeria as Force Commander of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He participated in the UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon and Rwanda.

Iliya is expected to assume his duties on January 1 2004, after Maj. Gen. Mountaga Diallo completes his tour of duty with the UN Mission in the DRC. Under Diallos command, the Mission evolved from a small military observer mission to a major multidimensional peacekeeping operation with a strength of 10,800 military personnel. The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude for the outstanding contribution made by Diallo to the DRC peace process.

The Security Council is expected to respond to both appointments.

NO SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS ON RIGHTS IN MYANMAR, ANNAN SAYS

In a report to the General Assembly on the human rights situation in Myanmar, the Secretary-General notes that, contrary to the expectations of the Myanmar people, there was no substantive progress towards national reconciliation and democratization in the country. He appeals once again for the release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues without delay.

He underscores that, unless the parties concerned are able to engage in substantive dialogue, it would then fall on the General Assembly to review the situation carefully and to provide, in its resolution, a clearer framework for further action by Member States and the Secretary-General as to how to help promote national reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar.

ANNAN NOTES ECONOMIC CONCERNS IN DR CONGO

In a report to the General Assembly on special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary-General notes that the security and humanitarian situation remains a matter of concern in that country.

The humanitarian situation is particularly worrying in areas ravaged by the armed conflict, where there are more than 2.7 million displaced persons. The social situation also remains precarious, with the great majority of the population continuing to live below the poverty line.

The report recommends that the international community have a strategic intervention framework that includes three pillars: a special transition assistance program, an emergency public infrastructure rehabilitation program and an emergency humanitarian, social and cultural program.

LIBERIA: HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES FLAG CHALLENGE POSED BY ROAD ACCESS

The latest assessment mission undertaken by humanitarian agencies to areas near the Liberian border with Cote dIvoire reports that road access is the biggest challenge in re-establishing a humanitarian presence in those areas.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency reports that despite an overall improvement in the security situation, hundreds of Liberian refugees continue to flee into Guinea, fearing fighting between Government and rebel forces in central Liberia.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION TO ASSESS ARMS EMBARGO ON SOMALIA

Following consultations among members of the Security Council, it was decided that the Security Council Sanctions Committee regarding Somalia would visit the region from October 12 to 25 and be led by the Chairman of the Committee, Ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria.

The mission will be composed of experts from all 15 Security Council members. It will visit Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia (provided that the security situation so permits) and Yemen.

In accordance with resolution 1474 (2003), the mission will take place within the context of concerns expressed by the members of the Security Council regarding violations of the arms embargo on Somalia imposed by the Security Council. Its primary objective is to demonstrate the Security Councils firm determination to give full effect to the arms embargo.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY CRITICIZES ISRAELI CONSTRUCTION OF WALL

The Special Rapporteur dealing with human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, John Dugard, in his latest report to the Commission on Human Rights, noted the construction in recent months of a wall separating Israel from the West Bank, which, he says, does not follow the Green Line, which marks the de facto boundary between Israel and Palestine.

He writes that the Wall has all the features of a permanent structure and that the evidence strongly suggests that Israel is determined to create facts on the ground amounting to de facto annexation.

The special rapporteur says that Israels legitimate security concerns cannot be denied, but adds that a balance has to be struck between respect for human rights and the interests of security.

WFP HEAD ASKS FOR AID TO OVERCOME AFRICAN FOOD CRISIS

Today, Executive Director James Morris of the World Food Programme called for international support to use humanitarian aid more wisely to overcome Africas food crises. He spoke at the International Conference on African Development in Tokyo.

Stressing that the final goal of aid organizations must be self-reliance for the African people, Morris said that aid, including food, should be used not just as a band aid in emergencies, but it should be packaged into strategies for rebuilding communities and the local economy.

Morris also announced the launch of a new humanitarian partnership with the popular contemporary jazz artist Keiko Matsui. She will dedicate her upcoming concert tours as well as a song on her new album to WFPs work in Africa.

MILOSEVIC TRIAL TO BE CUT TO THREE DAYS A WEEK

Judge Richard May ruled that, starting next Monday, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia will hold its trial of Slobodan Milosevic for only three days every week, taking Thursdays and Fridays off, to take account of the former Yugoslav Presidents health. The ruling was made after a cardiologist reported on Milosevics condition and found him to be suffering from hypertension, steep rises in blood pressure, stress, exhaustion and fatigue.

Also today in The Hague, a Bosnian Serb, Miroslav Deronjic, pleaded guilty to one count of persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds a crime against humanity as part of a plea agreement with the Prosecutors Office. Under the terms of that agreement, the Prosecutors Office recommended that he receive a sentence of ten years in prison in return for his plea of guilt, while defense lawyers recommended a sentence of no more than six years. A time and date for the sentencing hearing will be set in due course.

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