United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-10-31

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY

MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, October 31, 2003

ANNAN PLEDGES TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON STAFF SECURITY

In a letter to UN staff issued today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was gravely concerned at the findings of the Independent Panel, which he had appointed to look into the safety and security of UN personnel in Iraq. The Panels report reveals serious shortcomings in our provision of security to UN staff in Iraq, he said, adding that accordingly, he is taking immediate action to implement the Panels recommendations.

First, in response to the reports recommendation to set up a separate and independent audit and accountability procedure, the Secretary-General is appointing an independent team of experts to review the responsibilities of key individuals for the lack of preventive and mitigating actions before the attack on August 19.

He is also reviewing the serious weaknesses that have been revealed in the management of the UN, with the details of a strategic reorganization of UN security management, now being worked out under the chairmanship of Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette. Meanwhile, the entire UN system will conduct an in-depth review of all its security measures, with advice from independent experts, while additional measures are being taken to upgrade the security of missions in the field.

Finally, he said, he was keeping the situation in Iraq itself constantly under review, and, in connection with that, he said, our small remaining team of international officials in Baghdad is being relocated temporarily for consultations with a team from Headquarters, to thoroughly review our future operations in Iraq and the security arrangements that will be required.

The Secretary-General concluded that he deeply regretted the systematic failures that the Panels report had revealed and that he will spare no effort in acting on the conclusions of that report.

Asked when the independent panel on accountability would be named, the Spokeswoman said that would happen next week.

Asked about the process that the Deputy Secretary-General will chair on re-organizing UN security, the Spokeswoman said that was a separate issue from the accountability issue, and it was natural for that process to be under her leadership.

Asked if the issue of security would come up at todays meeting of the Chief Executives Board, which brings together the heads of UN funds, agencies and programs, she said that the issue of security is always on their agenda, and they will discuss it today with particular interest. She noted that the Secretary-General had drawn the Boards attention to the fact that their discussions would be taking place in a "new phase" when the blue flag of the United Nations and the neutrality of the Red Cross were no longer serving to protect staff.

Asked about the number of reports the United Nations had prepared on security, the Spokeswoman noted that two reports prepared following the August 19 attack in Baghdad, as well as the findings of an evaluation of UN security arrangements prepared prior to August 19, were given to the Independent Panels report on the security of staff in Iraq headed by former President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari.

U.N. ATOMIC AGENCY HEAD REPORTS GOOD PROGRESS WITH IRAN

Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, today said in a statement that his Agency is making good progress in its intensive verification process concerning Irans nuclear program.

He said that he had received last week what he was assured was a complete and accurate declaration of Iran's past nuclear activities. IAEA inspectors are currently in Iran visiting sites, interviewing key personnel and taking samples with a view to verifying the accuracy and completeness of this declaration.

Sometime towards the end of the second week of November, ElBaradei said, he will issue a report to the Agencys Board of Governors with the results at that time of this verification process.

In addition, he said, he has been told to expect by next week a letter from the Iranian Government accepting the terms of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows for unannounced IAEA inspections of sites. In his statement, ElBaradei said, When this happens, it will be a very positive step forward, particularly in terms of enabling us to effectively regulate all future nuclear activities in Iran.

ANGOLA TO ASSUME SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY TOMORROW

There are no Security Council consultations or meetings scheduled for today, the last day of the U.S. Presidency of the Security Council. Starting on Saturday, Ambassador Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins of Angola will take over as the President of the Council for the month of November.

On Thursday afternoon, the Security Council held consultations in which it received a briefing on the final report of the expert panel dealing with the exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by that panels chairman, Mahmoud Kassem.

Kassem discussed the groups efforts to obtain satisfactory resolutions to cases in which it had previously identified companies or individuals as participating in the exploitation of the DRCs resources, and also suggested ideas for follow-up now that the panels mandate has ended.

Council members received a draft Presidential Statement about the panels last report, submitted by France, which they expect to discuss further next month.

Council members also received a draft resolution on the Road Map for the Middle East, submitted by Russia, which may also be discussed further next week.

ANNAN: CORRUPTION CONVENTION A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT

The Secretary-General this morning welcomed the General Assemblys adoption of the UN Convention against Corruption, calling it a remarkable achievement that sends a clear message that the betrayal of public trust will no longer be tolerated.

He noted that the Convention introduces a comprehensive set of standards, measures and rules for States to apply to strengthen their fight against corruption, and that it makes a major breakthrough by requiring Member States to return assets obtained through corruption to the country from which they were stolen.

He urged nations to build on the momentum achieved so far to ensure that the Convention enters into force as soon as possible, by ratifying it at the earliest possible date.

NIGERIA, CAMEROON END MEETING IN COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT

The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, chaired by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for West Africa, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, on Thursday finished its sixth session of meetings, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Commission discussed the first phase of Nigerias withdrawal from the Lake Chad area, which is to take place by the end of December.

Ould-Abdallah expressed satisfaction with the spirit of collaboration that had prevailed during the meeting, and he noted that the affected population living in the disputed areas at the Cameroon-Nigeria border had shown that they overwhelmingly want peace and support their Presidents decision to resolve any differences in implementing the judgment of the International Court of Justice peacefully.

The Commission is expected to hold its next meeting in December in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS BRING CALM AFTER FIGHTING IN DR CONGO

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Mission (MONUC) reports that fighting broke out near the town of Tchomia, southeast of Bunia. The UN Mission airdropped a company into the area and brought the situation under control. As a result, 30 combatants have been detained and brought back to Bunia for further investigation.

A joint needs assessment mission carried out recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo by several UN agencies has found widespread humanitarian needs in South Kivu Province in the east of the country. Some 375,000 people are affected, many of them internally displaced.

According to the mission, there are serious concerns about the safety of civilians in the area, as well as food insecurity, lack of clean water and considerable health deficiencies.

The final report of the mission will be issued next week.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOYS TO VISIT TURKEY, MYANMAR

The special representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, will undertake a fact-finding mission to the Republic of Turkey from December 1 to 10, at the invitation of the Government. She will assess the situation of human rights defenders in the country and present the findings and recommendations of her visit to Turkey in a report to the Commission on Human Rights.

Also, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar is to visit that country at the invitation of the Government from November 3 to 8. He will take stock of human rights developments since the previous mission in March 2003, and follow up on key issues he had previously examined. He will present preliminary observations from his visit to the General Assembly on November 12.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. BUDGET: Vietnam today paid $216,000 to become the 118th Member State to pay its regular budget dues to the United Nations for this year.

U.N. FUN RUN TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY: The traditional International Friendship Run will take place on Saturday, with more than 12,000 runners from 88 countries expected to take part in this years event. They will assemble Saturday morning at 8:00 at the UN's North Lawn. Many runners come in their national costumes or carry their countrys flags. At 8:30, the runners will leave the United Nations and carry their flags on a three-mile course to Central Park.