United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-10-06

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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

Monday, October 6, 2003

ANNAN CONDEMNS HAIFA BOMBING, DEPLORES ATTACK ON SYRIA

In a statement issued on Sunday, Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly deplored the Israeli air strike on Syrian territory earlier that day, and was especially concerned that this further escalation of an already tense and difficult situation has the potential to broaden the scope of current conflicts in the Middle East, further threatening regional peace and security. The Secretary-General urged all concerned to respect the rules of international law and to exercise restraint.

On Saturday, the Secretary-General had strongly condemned the horrific suicide bombing that killed at least 18 people in Haifa, Israel and reiterated his utter repugnance at all acts of terror, from whatever quarter. He called on the Palestinian Authority to do everything in its power to halt these vicious attacks, which only harm the Palestinian cause.

Acting in response to a letter from the Syrian Foreign Minister following the Israeli air strike, the Security Council on Sunday held both consultations and an open debate, in which it discussed the Sunday attack.

After the open debate wrapped up in the early evening, the Council went back into consultations, to have a brief discussion of a draft resolution submitted by Syria condemning the Israeli attack. Further consultations are expected on that text, although they have not been scheduled so far.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS IRAQ; UNIKOM MANDATE ENDS

The Security Council expects to hold consultations on Iraq and other matters today, at 3:30 p.m., to hold further discussions of a U.S.-sponsored draft resolution.

Today is the last day of the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, and the head of that Mission, Brig. Gen. Upinder Klair, met in Kuwait last week with that countrys Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, who expressed Kuwaits gratitude for the UN peacekeepers work.

The Mission had suspended most of its work since March 17, in advance of the US military campaign in Iraq. Since August, it had an authorized strength of five military observers, assisted by 41 international civilian personnel and 96 local staff. The Secretary-Generals final report to the Security Council on the Mission is expected later this week.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO SEND MISSION TO AFGHANISTAN

A letter from the Security Council President to the Secretary-General notes the Councils decision to dispatch a mission to Afghanistan. The dates of the Security Council mission, led by Ambassador Gunter Pleuger of Germany, are from October 31 to November 8.

The document contains the composition of the mission and the terms of reference. It says the mission is scheduled to visit Kabul, Herat, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif. It will also visit Islamabad, Pakistan. The mission leader is expected to brief the press prior to its departure.

The Food and Agricultural Organization said in a statement today that more than 430,000 farmers in the mountains of the Hazarajat, one of the poorest regions of Afghanistan, will receive assistance over the next four years through a major development project. The United Kingdom has agreed to provide $6 million for sustainable agricultural livelihood development in the Eastern Hazarajat.

The UN Mission in Afghanistan expressed its serious concern about repeated security incidents involving aid workers in the country. In the latest incident on October 4, a group of de-miners from the De-mining Agency for Afghanistan were attacked near Kandahar city. One driver was injured and agency vehicles were ridden with bullets. The UN Mission said what was particularly alarming in this incident was that the assailants reportedly intended to kill the de-mining group, but were distracted only by another agency vehicle which started up its engine.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXTENDS TERM OF HIGH COMMISSIONER

FOR REFUGEES RUUD LUBBERS

Late last week, the Secretary-General proposed to the General Assembly that Ruud Lubbers' term as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) be extended for two years.

Acting on the Secretary-Generals recommendation today, the General Assembly agreed to extend his term until the end of 2005.

In response to a question on whether Lubbers was working without pay as High Commissioner, the Spokesman later confirmed that, since taking up the job, Lubbers has contributed $300,000 every year to UNHCR, an amount which covers his salary, as well as travel and other expenses. This is a private donation, and UNHCR had not publicized it, at his request.

CEASE-FIRE MONITORING COMMITTEE MEETS IN LIBERIA

The UN Mission in Liberia reported that a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee on the implementation of the June cease-fire agreement is being held today in Monrovia.

The aim of the meeting, bringing together all parties of the Committee, is to discuss issues of security, confidence-building measures and arrangements for the October 14 governmental transition.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has appealed for a further $3.5 million for its special operations to provide relief and recovery in Liberia. The funds are mainly required to support a humanitarian air service set up by WFP to transport aid workers and cargo into and within Liberia.

REFUGEE AGENCY EXPRESSES SHOCK OVER KILLING OF ITALIAN AID WORKER

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees today expressed shock and sadness over Sunday's brutal murder of Annalena Tonelli, an Italian humanitarian worker who had dedicated her life to helping Somalis for more than three decades.

The 60-year-old Tonelli was shot and killed on Sunday night on the grounds of her hospital in Borama, in north-western Somalia. The exact circumstances of the shooting are not yet known.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDRESSES U.N. RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES

The Secretary-General today traveled to Tarrytown, New York, to address a meeting of the UN Development Programme resident representatives, and told them that the United Nations more than ever needs a strong, coherent development voice.

Since the last meeting of global resident representatives three years ago, he said, there have been so many hopeful steps and so much newly minted despair, with a central challenge before the United Nations: to ensure that it has the rules, instruments and institutions to deal with all the threats it must face.

In addition, he said, there is no room for easing up in the UNs internal efforts to improve management, coherence and coordination.

ANNAN STRESSES NEED TO INVEST IN CLEAN WATER, SANITATION

The global observance of World Habitat Day was launched today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, read out a message on the Secretary-Generals behalf, at an event hosted by the Mayor of Rio, Cesar Maia.

In the message, the Secretary-General said that in a rapidly urbanizing world, at least one billion people suffer from lack of clean water and adequate sanitation, and he said increased investment in those areas is critical.

Also, a message was delivered on the Secretary-Generals behalf today at an annual Orthodox Christian Prayer Service in New York for the UN community.

SPECIAL COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS ON TAYLORS IMMUNITY

The Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone will convene for the first time to hear arguments on immunity for former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other issues, according to an announcement by the court.

The dates for the hearings are from October 31 to November 7.

The panel of judges will hear arguments by counsel for Taylor that his indictment is invalid. Taylors lawyer will assert that because he was head of state, he is immune from prosecution. His lawyer will also argue that the Special Court has no power to enforce his arrest warrant outside the borders of Sierra Leone.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW RWANDA TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR TAKES UP JOB: The new Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Hassan Bubacar Jallow of the Gambia, took up his duties in Arusha, Tanzania, on Friday, explaining to his staff his policy to expedite investigations and fulfill the completion strategy for trials recommended by the Security Council. He commended the good work done by his predecessor, Carla Del Ponte.

UN ENVOY ON TORTURE BEGINS VISIT TO SPAIN: Theo van Boven, the special rapporteur on torture for the Commission on Human Rights, is beginning a fact-finding mission today in Spain, at the Governments invitation, which is to last until October 10. During his trip, he will visit the Basque Autonomous Community, and will meet with Spanish and Basque officials.

SMALL ISLAND STATES MEETING BEGINS: More than 150 representatives of Caribbean nations, regional and international agencies, the private sector and civil society are meeting this week in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to explore how to strengthen sustainable development in preparation for next years International Conference in Mauritius on Small Island Developing States. Participants will discuss 15 priority areas for the Caribbean region, including coastal and marine resources, natural and environmental disasters, land resources, waste management and trade.

U.N. BUDGET: Zambia today paid nearly $50,000 to become the 109th Member State to pay its UN regular budget dues in full for 2003.

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