United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-10-15

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

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

ANNAN CONDEMNS ATTACK ON U.S. DIPLOMATS IN GAZA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, strongly condemned the deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic convoy in Gaza today. He views with alarm this apparently deliberate attack on diplomats.

The Secretary-General sent his condolences to the families of the three murdered Americans, and to all those who were injured. He called on the Palestinian Authority to act with speed and determination to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.

ANNAN CONGRATULATES CHINA ON FIRST MISSION INTO SPACE

The Secretary-General today extended his warm congratulations to the Peoples Republic of China on its first mission into space, and hopes for the safe and successful completion of this maiden voyage. He notes that, as the exploration of space knows no national borders, the mission of the Shenzhou V is a step forward for all humankind.

Asked about a televised message from the astronaut aboard the Shenzhou V to the United Nations, the Spokesman replied, We say hello back and wish him a safe return. He added that the United Nations would comment on the flying of a UN flag aboard the space ship once it has safely landed.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS IRAQ RESOLUTION AT 5 P.M.

On Tuesday evening, the Security Council held closed consultations on Iraq to discuss the latest draft resolution.

Following a short break, a new draft resolution, co-sponsored by United States, Spain, the United Kingdom and Cameroon, was put into blue, the form in which it could be put to a vote. The consultations broke up at about 10:30 p.m.

Security Council members are scheduled to resume consultations on Iraq at 5:00 p.m. today, with a view to holding a formal meeting to vote on the resolution afterwards.

SECURITY COUNCIL FAILS TO PASS MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTION

Following last night's consultations, the Security Council voted late Tuesday on a draft resolution sponsored by Guinea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Syria, which would have declared illegal the wall being built by Israel on parts of the Occupied Palestinian territory.

The Security Council failed to adopt it due to a negative vote by a permanent member of the Council, the United States. The resolution also received four abstentions, from Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany and United Kingdom.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views about the wall, the Spokesman noted the statement issued by the Quartet on September 26, which notes with great concern the actual and proposed route of Israel's West Bank fence, particularly as it results in the confiscation of Palestinian land, cuts off the movement of people and goods, and undermines Palestinians' trust in the roadmap process as it appears to prejudge final borders of a future Palestinian state.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES POTENTIAL RISKS IN TIMOR LESTE

The Security Council heard in an open meeting this morning a briefing by Kamalesh Sharma, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste.

He expressed his concern that, as the downsizing of the UN Mission advances, the risk of potential threats to stability in both rural and urban areas may arise, adding that it is doubtful if the National Police would be able to respond effectively or have the confidence or maturity to handle security challenges by the end of the UN Missions mandate, on May 20, 2004.

He underscored that the Timorese and many partner countries strongly believe that continued substantive support would be needed in the immediate post-UN Mission period.

VIETNAM'S FIRST DONATION TO WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME IS RICE FOR IRAQ

Earlier today a cargo ship carrying close to 1,500 metric tons of rice docked at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

What is significant about this particular shipment is that it is Vietnams first donation to the World Food Programme and marks that countrys historic transformation from recipient of humanitarian aid to international donor.

Less than three years ago, Vietnam was on the receiving end of humanitarian assistance. The country has now progressed from being a significant importer of rice in the early 1980s to becoming the world's second-largest rice exporter.

An amount of $500,000 worth of rice will become part of Iraqs nation-wide public distribution system of food.

U.N. DEPLOYMENT IN TOWNS IN DRCS ITURI PROVINCE DELAYED

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had previously announced that it would start today its deployment of troops in Bogoro, Iga Barriere and Marabo in the province of Ituri. Now the Mission reports that this deployment has been postponed, due to the poor state of the roads caused by heavy rains. The Mission said that the deployment would instead take place from Thursday to Monday.

Meanwhile all the armed groups in Bunia are gathering their troops for their future cantonment. The Party for the Unity and the Safeguard of the Integrity of Congo held an information meeting Tuesday with some of its combatants. The Union of Congolese Patriots is using the UN radio to give information to their troops on where to assemble.

All the armed groups are required to give information to the UN Mission on the assembly areas of their respective troops by October 19.

ANNAN TO URGE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE TO ACT AGAINST EXTREMISM;

AND ISSUES TWO OTHER MESSAGES IN BEIJING

The Secretary-General had planned to attend the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference that is taking place in Malaysia, but unfortunately has had to remain in New York for very important discussions relating to Iraq, in which he is intimately involved.

Instead, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, will attend the summit and will deliver a message on the Secretary-Generals behalf, which is to urge a united effort to address the extremism that is on the rise not only in Islam, but among many faiths. He will also discuss recent developments throughout the Muslim world, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.

Among the Secretary-Generals other speeches is a message issued today in Beijing, noting the progress of the International Criminal Court, and saying that the Court is an instrument of justice, not expediency. It can and must serve as a bulwark against evil, but it must also act responsibly and deliberately.

Also, a message was delivered on the Secretary-Generals behalf by UN Childrens Fund Executive Director Carol Bellamy to the High-Level Meeting on the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency, which is also taking place in Beijing today. In that message, the Secretary-General says that making iodized salt available for all is one of the most affordable and effective investments we can make to build a better world for children.

AL-QAIDA SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIR VISITS AFGHANISTAN

In a press briefing held Tuesday in Kabul, Ambassador Heraldo Muņoz, Chairman of the Security Council Committee on Al-Qaida and the Taliban, told journalists that there was a strong suspicion of a link between drug trafficking and the increase in Taliban activities.

Munoz said that one of the most important issues of his Committee is to detect the money trail and the transfer of money, which had become more sophisticated. He said the organizations of Al-Qaida have adjusted in response to the sanctions, so the Committee would also look at other distribution channels of money.

ANGELINA JOLIE EXTENDS TERM AS REFUGEE AGENCY GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says that actress Angelina Jolie has signed on for another two years as its Goodwill Ambassador.

Starting this month, funds raised from exclusive worldwide previews of her new movie, "Beyond Borders", will go towards UNHCR's refugee programs. Already, donations related to these events have started streaming in to the agency, with more than $100,000 raised in ticket sales so far for the movie's world premiere in New York.

In addition to her high-profile work for the refugee cause, the Goodwill Ambassador has also offered private thoughts on refugee situations in personal journals of her field trips. She will donate all proceeds from her upcoming book, "Notes from My Travels: Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UN AGENCIES SCALING UP RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS IN LIBERIA: UN humanitarian agencies and their non-governmental organization partners in Liberia are scaling up their programs to resettle internally displaced persons, tackle shortages of clean drinking water and re-open schools. Humanitarian activities had been temporarily curtailed after a security incident in Monrovia on October 1.

UN RIGHTS ENVOY TO VISIT BRAZIL: The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Juan Miguel Petit, will visit Brazil from November 3 to 14. During his visit, which comes at the invitation of the Government, he intends to meet Government authorities, representatives of the judiciary, parliamentarians and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

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