United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-01-07

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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

Wednesday, January 7th, 2004

COTE D'IVOIRE: ANNAN HAILS FORCE NOVELLES RETURN TO GOVERNMENT

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, welcomed the participation yesterday of the Forces Nouvelles in the meeting of the Côte dIvoire Council of Ministers, for the first time since that group suspended its participation in the Government of National Reconciliation in September 2003.

The Secretary-General hopes that the return of the Forces Nouvelles to the Government will give fresh impetus to the peace process.

He urges all Ivorian parties to abide by their commitment to implement the Governments work programme and the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement until the elections scheduled to be held in late 2005.

UN ENVOY TO PRESS FORRESUMPTION OF PEACE TALKS ON DARFUR, SUDAN

Tom Eric Vraalsen, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for Sudan, is on his way to Chad today to seek the resumption of the peace talks on Darfur in western Sudan.

Vraalsen will advocate for a resumption of the peace talks being mediated by Chad in order to reach a ceasefire and allow increased access to the victims of a humanitarian crisis, which the UN High Commissioner for Refugees describes as a silent emergency.

Vraalsen will also visit the border region of Chad with Sudan that is affected by the conflict in Darfur and advocate for increased emergency relief to the refugees and other people affected.

After the recent talks on peace in Darfur failed to renew a ceasefire between the Government of Sudan and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), fighting continues to rage in Western Sudan, causing massive displacement. One million are affected by the conflict, at least 600,000 are internally displaced and an estimated 95,000 refugees have arrived in Chad.

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA

The Security Council today held consultations on Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Security Council members heard a briefing and discussed the latest report on Eritrea and Ethiopia, which came out as a document last week. Briefing on the report was Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi.

Separately, the Security Council also finalized the list of Chairs and vice chairs of Security Council Sanctions and other Committees.

When asked about the appointment by the United Nations of former Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy to help reconcile the two sides, the Spokesman said no announcement has been made regarding any appointment in connection with

Ethiopia and Eritrea. He added that a consultation process was still underway and no comment was possible until the process was completed.

[Following the noon briefing, the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile, said in a press statement that members of the Council expressed concerns about the lack of progress in the demarcation process. The members reaffirmed the final and binding nature of the Boundary Commission Decision and underlined the importance of an expeditious implementation of the Decision within the framework of the Algiers Agreement.

Members of the Council also expressed support for the Secretary-Generals intention to consider additional measures to move demarcation and the peace process forward and help the parties overcome their differences, in particular through good offices. They called on upon Ethiopia and Eritrea to respond constructively to proposals by the Secretary-General in this regard.]

U.N. RELIEF COORDINATOR ARRIVES IN IRAN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR QUAKE VICTIMS

Jan Egeland, the UNs Emergency Relief Coordinator arrived in Tehran today to meet with Iranian government and humanitarian officials.

Egeland is carrying with him a letter from the Secretary-General to President Mohamed Khatami pledging the UNs long term support to Irans efforts in Bam.

Thursday, he will travel to Bam to launch the UN's Flash Appeal. The appeal will cover requirements for humanitarian needs for a 90-day period and is designed to smooth the transition from emergency relief to recovery initiatives.

U.N.-GUATEMALA COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL GROUPS

This morning the United Nations signed an unprecedented agreement with the Government of Guatemala to establish a Commission to investigate Illegal groups and Clandestine Security Organizations in Guatemala, to be known by its Spanish acronym CICIACS.

Its aim is to limit current criminal behaviour in Guatemala by prosecuting some cases, as well as to fortify the countrys justice sector. The agreement was signed at UN headquarters by the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Edgar Gutierrez, and by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast.

Once ratified by the Guatemalan Congress, the Commission will have an initial lifespan of two years. It will be headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Secretary-General, and will include a team of investigators and prosecutors experienced in human rights and organized crime.

This is the first time the United Nations has been given prosecutorial powers to work within the justice system of a Member State. In asking the United Nations to establish CICIACS, Guatemalan authorities have recognized that their own justice sector is having difficulty in confronting some kinds of criminality. Likewise, the international community has recognized that not all the assistance given over the years in the justice sector has had the desired effect.

Separately, the UN Mission in Guatemala, MINUGUA, has today issued a report on the dissolution of the Presidential Guard, an institution which was for many years linked to grave human rights violations.

ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT ON BAGHDAD BOMBING EXPECTED MID-FEBRUARY

The report on accountability of UN managerial staff relating to the August 19th bombing in Baghdad, is now not expected until approximately the middle of February.

The delay is mainly due to the extensive travel panel members have had to do to interview staff. A more exact date will be provided when it becomes available.

TEN COUNTRIES PAY 2004 U.N. REGULAR BUDGET DUES IN FULL

Its a new year, and 10 countries have responded quickly by paying their UN regular budget dues in full.

They are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Denmark, Gabon, Madagascar, Monaco, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone and Trinidad and Tobago.

The remaining 181 Member States have until the end of this month to pay before their assessments are overdue.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CLOSES REMAINING FIELD OFFICES IN CROATIA

The UNs refugee agency has closed its remaining field offices in Croatia.

The closure of the UNHCR offices in Knin, Sisak and Osijek recognizes that local relief agencies and the government are now meeting many of the needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

The UNHCR first arrived in Croatia in 1991 and gradually expanded its presence there throughout that countrys upheaval. The UNHCR will continue to operate from its headquarters in Zagreb.

SENIOR U.N. APPOINTMENTS STILL PENDING

When asked when the Secretary-General will appoint a new Special Representative in Iraq, the Spokesman said a decision is not expected imminently. He added that he assumed a factor in this could be that the responsibilities of a Special Representative would be discussed at the Secretary-Generals meeting on Iraq, at which Iraqi and U.S. officials are expected to attend, and which is scheduled for January 19.

When asked about the appointment of a new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Spokesman said there was no announcement to make, but added that people are being interviewed for the post.

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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