United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-10-17

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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

Friday, October 17, 2003

ANNAN WILL DO UTMOST TO IMPLEMENT IRAQ RESOLUTION,

BEARING IN MIND UN STAFF SECURITY

Asked today about whether Secretary-General Kofi Annan would respond to Security Council Resolution 1511 on Iraq, passed unanimously on Thursday, by appointing a new Special Representative for Iraq or sending more staff into the country, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General made clear after the vote that he would do his utmost to implement the resolution, bearing in mind the need to maintain staff security.

However, he added, the security situation in Iraq does not permit the United Nations to bring in more staff at this time.

Asked about the language of the resolution, the Spokesman declined to interpret what the resolution meant, leaving its interpretation to the members of the Security Council.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would attend the donors conference on Iraq to take place in Madrid next week, the Spokesman said he had nothing to announce at this time.

SECURITY COUNCIL WRAPS UP DEBATE ON COUNTER-TERRORISM

The Security Council has no meetings or consultations scheduled for today.

At the end of the open debate Thursday on the Counter Terrorism Committee, Ambassador James Cunningham of the United States, which holds the rotating Presidency of the Security Council, said in a Presidential Statement that 48 Member States are late in submitting their reports to the Committee and called on them urgently to do so.

By October 31, the Committees Chairman, Ambassador Inocencio Arias of Spain, will send to the Security Council the list of the States which at that date are late in submitting their reports.

Also on Thursday afternoon, in a press statement on Kosovo released by the Security Council President, members welcomed the opening of a direct dialogue on practical issues of mutual interest between authorities in Belgrade and Pristina on October 14 in Vienna, Austria. They asserted their commitment to the direct dialogue as a means to foster confidence between the parties and to improve peoples daily lives.

WEAPONS CACHE TURNED OVER TO U.N. TROOPS IN LIBERIA

A large quantity of arms and ammunition in the possession of the Government of Liberia was voluntarily turned over to peacekeepers of the UN Mission in Liberia on Thursday by former President Moses Blah.

UN Force Commander Daniel Opande and his troops inspected the weapons that were stored in a shed at Blahs Monrovia residence. The arms included AK-47 Kalashnikov machine guns, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-air defence missiles, mortars and ammunition.

Hundreds of weapons at the barracks in the Executive Mansion of the former Governments Anti-Terrorist Unit, as well as others at the Armed Forces of Liberias Camp Sheffelin near Roberts International Airport, have also been turned over to the UN mission.

Peacekeepers were registering the weapons at the different locations in preparation for their transport to a safe location. The weapons will be eventually be destroyed by a specialist team.

In humanitarian news, the World Food Programme and its partners have nearly completed their first cycle of food distribution in camps for displaced persons in Montserrado and accessible areas farther outside Monrovia. Plans are being finalized for the next distribution to begin in a weeks time.

U.N. ENVOY: ETHIOPIA-ERITREA PEACE PROCESS UNDER STRESS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Ethiopia/Eritrea, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, held an extensive press conference on Thursday, in which he said, in response to questions, that the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process right now is under severe stress.

He also went on to say that the border remains militarily stable and there are no signs of impending war.

Legwaila appealed for calm by saying, In my experience with peacekeeping, rhetoric about war has never been helpful. I would like, therefore, to appeal to the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and to you as journalists whose influence on the public consciousness is so powerful, to stay calm. Not to frighten people.

ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HEAD: IRAN READY TO SIGN PROTOCOL ON SAFEGUARDS

On Thursday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei met in Tehran with Hassan Rohani, Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council. Following their discussions, Dr. ElBaradei indicated that he had received assurances that Iran would accelerate its cooperation with the IAEA and provide without delay information and necessary clarification on all outstanding questions regarding Irans nuclear program.

He said that the Iranian Government had expressed its readiness to sign an Additional Protocol to Irans nuclear safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

On October 18-19, a team of IAEA experts will visit Iran with the objective of providing to Iranian authorities any necessary clarifications with regard to the Additional Protocol.

The special rapporteur for the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of expression and opinion, Ambeyi Ligabo, will visit Iran from November 4 through 10, at the Governments invitation.

REPORTED GAINS FROM ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS WELCOMED

The World Health Organization today welcomed the research published in the British medical journal, the Lancet, which shows a substantially increased survival rate for people with HIV/AIDS who have access to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

These findings give added backing to WHO in its push to deliver antiretroviral treatment to three million people in developing countries by 2005. This project is commonly known as the 3 by 5 target.

The Lancet findings focus on rich countries. The experience of WHO and other public health officials around the world shows that antiretroviral therapy can be delivered effectively and with equally dramatic effects in poor countries.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN SAYS 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE SUFFER FROM EXTREME POVERTY: Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the Secretary-General, in a message, says that approximately 1.2 billion people are now struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day. An estimated 840 million people suffer from hunger, with some 24 thousand people dying every day from it. The Secretary-General argues that a world that is not advancing toward the Millennium Development Goals will not be a world at peace.

BOSNIAN SERBS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: Today in The Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia found one Bosnian Serb suspected of crimes in the Bosanski Samac area, Blagoje Simic, to be guilty for crimes against humanity, for acts of persecution committed against Bosnian Muslims and Croats. The court, in a two-to-one ruling, sentenced Simic to 17 years imprisonment. Two other Serb suspects, Miroslav Tadic and Simo Zaric, were also found guilty of crimes against humanity, and received sentences of eight and six years in prison, respectively.

SPECIAL COURT PROSECUTOR SAYS TAYLOR IS A DANGER: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor remains a clear and present danger to Sierra Leone and the West African region as long as he is at large, argued David Crane, the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The prosecutor contends that Taylor, currently living in Nigeria, will not stop until he is turned over to the Special Court, where he faces 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT TO BE LAUNCHED: The Arab Human Development Report 2003 will be launched in Amman, Jordan next Monday, in a ceremony sponsored by the Jordanian Government, the UN Development Programme and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Written by a distinguished group of Arab scholars and opinion leaders, the new Arab Human Development Report analyzes the current state of knowledge in the Arab world.

UNICEF SAYS ACTION ON MEASLES COULD SAVE CHILDREN: The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) today said that by the year 2005, almost half a million childrens lives can be saved every year if efforts are expanded to immunize and protect all children against measles.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Sunday, October 19

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will address the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization in Beijing.

Monday, October 20

The General Assembly is expected to resume its tenth emergency special session, dealing with the Middle East.

The Arab Human Development Report will be launched by the UN Development Programme in Amman, Jordan.

Tuesday, October 21

The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing and consultations on the Middle East, including the question of Palestine.

The Secretary-General will deliver a lecture at the University of Pittsburgh.

Wednesday, October 22

The Security Council will hold an open briefing and consultations on Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General will attend the UN Correspondents Associations yearly ball and the annual luncheon for the Dag Hammarskjöld fellows.

Thursday, October 23

The Secretary-General is expected to present the UN budget to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly.

The Security Council will meet with the troop contributing countries for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Friday, October 24

Today is UN Day, and the Secretary-General will make remarks in honor of the occasion and will unveil a monument for the UN Memorial.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Western Sahara and on the panel dealing with the exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.