United NAtion Daily Highlights, 04-01-06

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

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, January 6th, 2004

ANNAN EXPECTS SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS TO ATTEND MEETING ON IRAQ

In answering journalists questions as he came into the building this morning, the Secretary-General said he expected the United States to send senior officials to the United Nations on January 19th to clarify the organizations role in Iraq during the transition period prior to the transfer of sovereignty.

He told journalists that he hoped the U.S. delegation would also include American officials from Baghdad.

The Iraqi delegation to this meeting, he said, would be led by the current Governing Council President Adnan Pachachi.

ANNAN: SUDAN PEACE TALKS COULD CONCLUDE THIS MONTH

Answering a question on the latest developments in the Sudan, the Secretary-General welcomed the progress being made toward peace both in South Asia and in Sudan, in comments to reporters this morning.

The Secretary-General said that good progress is being made in Sudan, on which he has spoken with Sudanese leaders and with John Garang of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement. He spoke to Garang yesterday, urging the parties to complete the process.

He said, It is highly possible that before the end of this month, they will have concluded an agreement.

That, he added, would be a big New Years gift to the people of Sudan and of Africa.

ANNAN WELCOMES TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

He said he was extremely happy at the talks taking place between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and said he was sure they will find the statesmanship and wisdom to move the process forward.

He added that improved relations between India and Pakistan would mean a lot for the region, not only by reducing political tensions but also in economic and social terms.

Asked what direct role the Secretary-General had played in the on-going dialogue between Pakistan and India, the Spokesman said that over the years the Secretary-General had encouraged both countries to talk but that beyond that the Secretary-General did not have a direct role.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY DISTURBED BY LATEST AFGHAN BOMBING

In a statement released through his Spokesman, the Secretary-General said he was shocked and deeply disturbed to learn of the bomb attacks in

Kandahar, Afghanistan , today in which 14 people were reportedly killed and 70 injured, many of whom were children.

It follows an incident yesterday in which a hand grenade was thrown into the UNHCR compound in Kandahar.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns these heinous acts of violence, and sends his profound condolences to the Government of Afghanistan and the bereaved families of the victims.

Published today is the Secretary-Generals latest report on the situation in Afghanistan in which he says that the peace process in the country has reached a critical juncture.

He warns that Afghanistan's insecurity problem needs to be addressed, and that electoral registration, in particular, cannot be accomplished if broad geographical access is denied to registration teams.

Afghanistan, he writes, has experienced a deterioration in security at precisely the point when the peace process demands the opposite. Reported attacks against civilians over the past 90 days exceeded the number that occurred in the 20 months following the signing of the Bonn Agreement.

In effect, much of the south and south-east of the country is off limits to the United Nations, the assistance community and central Government officials, except under special escort.

The Secretary-General warns that the number of registration centers currently open is too low to meet the target rate of registration, and adds that there must also be an environment enabling free political organization and expression.

He suggests the possibility of convening a new political and donor conference in the first months of this year.

The Secretary-General also pays a special tribute to his departing Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, recognizing his exceptional leadership and commitment.

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW AFGHAN CONSTITUTION

Security Council members welcomed Afghanistans new Constitution as a very significant step on the part towards a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan that respects the rights of all Afghan men and women.

Security Council President Heraldo Muņoz read out a press statement, adding that Council members emphasized the need to create a secure environment and deplored recent acts of violence in the country.

As with the Secretary-General, Council members congratulated Lakhdar Brahimi on his successful tenure as Special Representative for Afghanistan.

The Security Council held consultations this morning on the program of work for January.

ANNAN CONCERNED BY RE-EMERGENCE OF VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

In his latest report to the Security Council on the Central African Republic, the Secretary-General says that the overall situation in the country is less troubled than it was before the national dialogue was held last fall, but he is gravely concerned by the re-emergence of acts of rape, hold-ups and violations of the right to life perpetrated in the countrys hinterland and in Bangui.

He urges the authorities to ensure that these violations do not go unpunished.

SUDANESE SEEKING REFUGE IN EASTERN CHADNEAR 100,000

The number of refugees fleeing Sudan's western Darfur region into neighbouring eastern Chad is now estimated at 95,000 some 30,000 of them in December alone.

The Sudanese refugees are scattered in dozens of makeshift settlements that have sprung up along a 600-km stretch of remote, insecure borderland between the two countries. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they are subjected to periodic raids by bandits and marauding militias from across the border, and many are in dire need of assistance.

UNHCR emergency staff in eastern Chad

are now preparing for the logistically difficult relocation operation, which is tentatively set to begin on January 15.

IRAQI REFUGEES RETURN HOME FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN

A convoy carrying 330Iraqi refugees arrived today in southern Iraq from camps in Saudi Arabia. This ends 13 years of exile.

The UN refugee agency says that more than six hundred Iraqi refugees have returned home from camps in Iran and Saudi Arabia in the last two days.

Once back in Iraq, UN national staff greets them at transit centers where they receive one months food ration as well as other items including blankets, tents and jerry cans. They are also enrolled in Iraq's country-wide food distribution center.

UN CULTURAL AGENCY TO ASSIST IRAN TO REBUILD SCHOOLS IN BAM

Officials from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) met today in Paris to establish how best to assist Iranian authorities to rebuild the Bams cultural and educational facilities.

According to the UN agency, the recent earthquake destroyed almost 70percent of the citys prized cultural sites. Some one hundred and thirty eight schools, leaving eighteen thousand students without a place to study.

Iran has asked UNESCO to coordinate assistance in the educational and cultural fields.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. ENVOY CONCERNED OVER ISRAELI OVER-FLIGHTS:

The Secretary-Generals representative for Southern Lebanon, Staffan di Mistura, once again expressed his concern over continuing Israeli over-flights. This past Sunday five Israeli air violations of the Blue Line were recorded, involving two jets and four drones. In a statement released in

Beirut, di Mistura said that the United Nations again called on all parties to refrain from any violation of the Blue Line in accordance with their obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions.

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON JAMAICA CITES EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS:

A human rights report regarding Jamaica, just issued in

Geneva, concludes that Jamaican police and security forces have carried out a number of extrajudicial executions in recent years. The report was written by Asma Jahangir, the UN Rapporteur on extrajudiciary, summary or arbitrary executions, who visited Jamaica at the invitation of the Government in early 2003.

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

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