United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-10-23

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY

HUA JIANG

DEPUTY SPOKESWOMAN

FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, October 23, 2003

ANNAN ENCOURAGES FUNDING FOR IRAQS MONUMENTAL NEEDS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning opened the International Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq in Madrid, saying that we gather at a moment of hope for the future of Iraq. The Iraqi people, he said, are determined to restore their country to its former leading position, and will need the international communitys help to achieve that goal.

The Secretary-General described Iraqs reconstruction needs as monumental, saying the challenge now is two-fold: to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and to get the countrys reconstruction off to a good start.

Success will depend on three things, he said: security, Iraqi ownership and leadership of the process, and the legitimacy of Iraqs legal norms and economic and fiscal framework.

The Secretary-General said reconstruction is linked to the wider political process, adding that we all look forward to the earliest possible establishment of a sovereign Iraqi Government. But he added, A start in reconstruction cannot be deferred until that day; it demands our urgent attention now.

He concluded, The people of Iraq have a hard road ahead of them, filled with both risk and opportunity. Let us not leave them to travel it alone.

While in Madrid, the Secretary-General met with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at the VIP lounge at the Palacio de Congress, where he also met with Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator L. Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi delegation.

He then left Madrid in the early afternoon, and should be back in New York later today. He is expected to be back at work at UN Headquarters on Friday, when he will unveil the UN Memorial to all those who have lost their lives while serving the United Nations; that memorial was paid for by the money received by the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to UN peacekeeping.

INSECURITY HAMPERING RELIEF EFFORTS IN IRAQ

Also today in Madrid, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland addressed the conference and told the donors that insecurity is severely hampering the ability of the United Nations to operate and monitor its assistance to the Iraqi people.

Egeland said that the UN's ability to move around the country and interact with those directly in need remains very restricted, and extensive measures have been taken to enhance the security of UN facilities and staff since the August 19 and September 22 attacks in Baghdad.

Egeland also highlighted two key priorities for the humanitarian community in the coming months: to ensure the basic needs of the most vulnerable Iraqis, and to build the capacity of Iraq institutions to service the needs of their people.

Asked about concerns about the dangers of flying glass, noted in the independent report on UN security before and after the August 19 attack, the Spokeswoman noted that most of the casualties in the August bombing had been caused by flying glass.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN

The Secretary-General, after meeting Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar on Wednesday evening, told reporters that they had discussed Iraq and the Middle East, and said he was pleased to see that the King and Queen of Spain visited Syria and the region. He said that was the kind of dialogue and constant communication that is needed.

The Secretary-General added that he looks forward to joining the Prime Minister and other leaders at the Ibero-American summit in Bolivia, adding that the United Nations has been working with Governments to strengthen democratic institutions and encourage development in the region.

Asked about the Madrid donors conference on Iraq that began today, he said, I think we will be able to raise the amount necessary to start the reconstruction of Iraq in a robust and determined manner.

The Secretary-General noted the Monitoring Board to audit the use of funds for Iraq and the mechanism by which the United Nations and the World Bank will be involved in the disbursement of some of the funds. He said, I think we have in place enough mechanisms and arrangements that should assure people that the money will not only be properly used but there will be a good oversight mechanism.

IRAN PROVIDES NUCLEAR DECLARATION TO INT'L ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

The Executive Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, today received from Irans Ambassador to Vienna a documented declaration of Irans nuclear program.

In a press briefing afterward, ElBaradei said he has been assured that the declaration is comprehensive and accurate. He added that the Agency will now embark on an intensive verification process and reconstruct the full history of Irans nuclear program, going back to the mid-1980s.

He added, We are in a new phase. I welcome both the decision by Iran to provide what is hopefully a comprehensive and accurate declaration, as well as its decision to conclude an additional protocol, which he said would help the IAEA to regulate future nuclear activity in Iran.

The Director-General will next report to the IAEA Board on nuclear verification in Iran at meetings in Vienna that begin on November 20.

DISARMAMENT PROGRAM TO BE LAUNCHED IN KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN

The UN Mission in Afghanistan said that there would be an official launch Friday of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program in Kunduz province, which will be attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi.

As of Wednesday, 900 men have been disarmed as part of the first pilot phase of the disarmament process.

In interviews, the soldiers said they were glad to be returning to civilian life and many had known of nothing else than being a soldier.

FIVE NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO SECURITY COUNCIL FOR 2004

The General Assembly, in voting this morning, decided that Algeria, Benin, Brazil, the Philippines and Romania would join the elected membership of the Security Council, effective January 1, 2004.

There are no consultations of the Security Council today.

There is a Council meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. with the troop-contributing countries to the UN Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara. It will take place in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

This morning at 10:30 a.m., the Councils so-called 661 sanctions committee on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait had scheduled a meeting.

SECURITY COUNCIL PLANS MISSION TO SOMALIA, REGION

The Security Council Sanctions Committee on Somalia met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss preparations for the upcoming mission to Somalia and States in the region. The new dates for this mission are November 11 to 21.

The mission, which will be led by the Chairman of the Committee, Bulgarian Ambassador Stefan Tafrov, is aimed at demonstrating the Security Councils determination to give full effect to the arms embargo on Somalia.

The itinerary of the mission includes Somalia -- provided that the security situation permits it as well as Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Italy, Kenya and Yemen.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DUBROVNIK SUSPECT TRANSFERRED TO TRIBUNAL: A former Yugoslav Army battalion commander, Vladimir Kovacevic, has been transferred today to the detention unit of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, where he will be tried for war crimes, including murder and attacks on civilians during the 1991 attack on Dubrovnik, Croatia.

NEW YORK PRINCIPALS VISIT UNITED NATIONS: A program is taking place today for more than 400 New York City school principals, starting at 4:30 p.m., which will include guided tours of the United Nations and a special briefing for the principals by Eveline Herfkens, who is the Secretary-Generals Executive Coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals. Nane Annan, the Secretary-Generals wife, will address the principals at a reception afterwards.

FRIDAY IS UN DAY: A number events marking UN Day have been planned at UN headquarters.

U.N. BUDGET: The United Arab Emirates today paid more than $2.7 million to the UN regular budget, becoming the 116th Member State to pay its dues in full for this year.

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