United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-01-09

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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

Friday, January 9, 2004

ANNAN TO MEET TODAY WITH U.S., U.K. REPRESENTATIVES ON IRAQ

In response to questions about the future role of the United Nations in

Iraq, and the possibility of the United Nations organizing elections in that country, the Spokesman said that that Secretary-General Kofi Annan wanted to listen to whatever ideas were put forth by Ambassadors John Negroponte of the United States and Emyr Jones-Parry of the United Kingdom in their meeting this afternoon.

The Secretary-General was in a listening mode, but he had made it clear in his comments to the Security Council on December

16, 2003 and his press conference on the December 18, 2003 that he did not believe there was enough time to organize fair and credible elections, given the situation on the ground.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to the December 28 letter from the former head of the Iraqi Governing Council, Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim, the Spokesman confirmed that the Secretary-General had responded yesterday to Al-Hakims letter but added that he would not comment on the contents of confidential correspondence.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views regarding the requests made in the December 28 letter for the United Nations to provide advice to the Governing Council on how to reach agreement on the status of U.S. forces and provisions for security after June 30, the Spokesman said that these were the kinds of issues that could be discussed at the meetings this afternoon and the January 19.

Regarding whether the Secretary-General would be amenable to have the Coalition forces provide security for the UN personnel if they went back to Iraq, the Spokesman said that security measures would have to be looked at very carefully should the Secretary-General decide to send UN international personnel back to Iraq.

Asked whether the United Nations was being pressured to accept security from coalition forces, he replied that any decision regarding security of UN staff would have to be made by the UN Security Coordinator and eventually, by the Special Representative.

Asked whether the Coalition Provisional Authorities had informed the United Nations who would be representing them at the meeting scheduled for January 19, the Spokesman replied that no concrete response had been received so far, although some information may be provided during the afternoon meeting. Regarding who would represent the Iraqi Governing Council at this meeting, the Spokesman said he believed it would be the Troika, in other words the chairs of the Council for last month, the current month, and next month.

Regarding the Secretary-Generals thoughts on the UNs future role in Iraq, the Spokesman said the situation on the ground remained insecure and the scope for the United Nations was very much limited by the security factor this was a fact of life. Everyone wanted to see a successful transition to sovereignty in Iraq and everyone had their thinking caps on as to the best way to do that. The United Nations was listening with an open mind to what the United States and the United Kingdom were saying, and also to what the Iraqis were saying.

SIERRA LEONE DISCUSSED IN SECURITY COUNCIL

The Security Council held consultations on Sierra Leone today. Hedi Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, briefed members on the latest

report on Sierra Leone. Also was attendance is the new Special Representative

Daudi Mwakawago.

In a press statement read by Council President, Ambassador Heraldo Munoz of Chile, the Council welcomed the Secretary-Generals intention to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the security situation in Sierra Leone as well as the progress made in the implementation of the benchmarks.

Meanwhile on the ground, the

UN mission in Freetown today reports that UN peacekeepers and Sierra Leone Armed Forces are conducting a joint tactical exercise code named Exercise Hammer Strike. The exercise is part of various training programs aimed at building the capacity of the Sierra Leone security sector, as the UN mission winds down its work.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS PEACEKEEPING OPERATION FOR COTE DIVOIRE

Out as a Security Council document today is a

report on Cote dIvoire on the findings of a UN assessment mission dispatched by the Secretary-General to look into the possible reinforcement of the UN presence in that country.

The Secretary-General said he would recommend the Security Council consider authorizing the deployment of a multi-dimensional UN peacekeeping operation to support the peace process should the Ivorian parties make sufficient progress in carrying out important steps outlined in the report by February 4.

The operation would comprise a military component with a troop strength of 6,240, including 200 military observers and 120 staff officers, and a civilian component including police, he says.

The Security Council and troop contributors are scheduled to discuss the report next week.

In response to a later question about reaction from the United States to the Secretary-Generals recommendation to establish a peacekeeping operation in Cote dIvoire, the Spokesman said that the reaction would have to come when the Security Council takes up the report.

SUDANESE REFUGEES REPORT MILITIA ATTACKS IN WESTERN SUDAN

Newly arrived Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad report that marauding militia groups are continuing to burn, loot and empty entire villages in the Darfur region of western Sudan in a conflict that has sent an estimated 95,000 people fleeing across the border since early last year.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also

reports that hundreds of thousands of others are believed to be displaced inside Darfur.

Meanwhile, vulnerable refugees have been receiving emergency aid as the search continues for safer inland sites in Chad.

UNHCR and UNICEF began the distribution of UNICEF-provided blankets to pregnant women, children and old people. Thousands of refugees are also receiving food from WFP.

UNITED NATIONS RESCUES SHIP IN DISTRESS CARRYING LIBERIAN REFUGEES

A ship in distress carrying Liberian refugees returning to the country from Ghana was rescued yesterday by the

UN Mission in Liberias Dutch naval ship, which was in the Monrovia area.

The UN mission received information from the Monrovia office of the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees that a Nigerian-registered ship had been stranded three miles southwest of Harper, near the Côte dIvoire border, for four days due to engine failure. On board were 265 returning refugees, among them approximately 60 children and some pregnant women, who had no remaining supplies of food or water.

The ship is expected to arrive in Monrovia tomorrow morning, 10 January, where the refugees will be handed over to the care of UNHCR.

U.N. FOOD AGENCY TO FEED THOUSANDS IN BAM, IRAN

The

UN World Food Programme announced today the launch of a three-month emergency operation to feed 100,000 victims of the Bam earthquake. The$ 2.9 million operation is being financed through the

flash appeal announced yesterday.

In addition to food, the UN food agency will operate an aircraft for one week to facilitate the transport of relief workers to Bam and Kerman from within the country.

Carol Bellamy, head of the

UN Childrens Fund, will

arrive in Iran this Saturday to assess the ongoing relief effort for children affected by the crisis. She will hold meetings in both Bam and Tehran.

MORE ACTION NEEDED ON DISARMAMENT, SAYS ANNAN.

The Secretary-General noted with pleasure the progress in implementing several of his recommendations on how the Security Council can address the problem of small arms, but adds in a

report today that some further action still needs to be taken.

He says that the follow-up to his recommendation to pursue arms embargoes has been mixed, with the restriction on the supply of ammunition to unstable areas requiring more attention and vigorous action.

He also cites the need to finance disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs through the assessed budget for peacekeeping as a remaining issue of concern.

ENVIRONMENT EXPERTS TO DISCUSS HOW TO SAVE THE PLANET

Some of the worlds leading experts will

gather at the UN Environment Programmes headquarters in Nairobi next week to discuss the most pressing scientific issues facing the planet.

These include the health effects of chemical hazards, the impact of urbanization and mega-cities, and improved understanding of the planet's biodiversity.

The overall aim of the week-long set of meetings is to pin-point knowledge gaps in a bid to better forecast the impact of human-kind's actions on the environment of the 21st century.

SOLAR ENERGY DONATED TO INDIAS RURAL POOR

The UN Environment Programme today

welcomed BP SOLAR USAs decision to donate over $1 million worth of solar modules to be used by poor families in India.

The Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy will dispatch the modules to rural and semi-rural areas of India where over 60% of the population doesnt have electricity.

Two years ago, the G8 Renewable Energy Task Force report concluded that alternative forms of electricity generation could be delivered to over a billion people by 2010. Klaus Toepfer, UNEPs Executive Director, says this initiative is the kind of action needed to bring that target to fruition.

ETHICS OF GENETICS TO BE DISCUSSED AT UNITED NATIONS

The sixth lecture in the Secretary-General's Lecture Series will take place next Monday 12 January.

The guest speaker is Nobel Prize winner Professor Eric Wieschaus, of Princeton University and hell give a lecture on Designer Genes: The Ethics of Modern Genetics. Wieschaus was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1995.

The Lecture Series is part of a continuing effort within the United Nations to create a strengthened framework for dialogue and mutual understanding for the international community. The lecture will be held at the ECOSOC Chamber from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

In response to a question about the Secretary-Generals position on the cloning debate, the Spokesman said the idea of this lecture was to stimulate debate on the matter, not to put forward the Secretary-Generals position on it.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN AND MOROCCAN MINISTER DISCUSS WESTERN SAHARA: Asked about Western Sahara, the Spokesman confirmed that the Secretary-General had met yesterday with the Moroccan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Fassi Fihri. The Secretary-General was following developments in Western Sahara and encouraging the peace process forward, but the Spokesman had nothing to add about the contents of yesterdays meeting.

UN MOURNS DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER OF DOMINICA: The UN flag was at half mast today, because of the death of Pierre Charles, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Planning of the Commonwealth of Dominica, on January 6.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, January 12

The Security Council will hold a public meeting on the report of the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee dealing with al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland will speak to reporters at 1:00 p.m. on the humanitarian appeal for Iran to respond to the Bam earthquake.

Professor Eric Wieschaus of Princeton University will deliver a lecture for the Secretary-Generals lecture series on Designer Genes: The Ethics of Modern Genetics. The Secretary-General will introduce the lecturer.

International experts on population and reproductive health will meet in Geneva through Wednesday to examine key issues in Europe and North America.

The World Health Organization is organizing a meeting in Geneva on creating an alliance to prevent violence affecting the abuse of children, aged persons and women, among others.

Tuesday, January 13

The Secretary-General intends to deliver the Robert Burns lecture on the Brotherhood of Man.

The Forum of the Development Partners of the Republic of Burundi starts in Brussels. The event is co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme and concludes the next day.

Wednesday, January 14

At 10:15 a.m., Gen. Mountaga Diallo, the outgoing force commander for the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will speak to the press.

At 11:15 a.m., the UN report, World Economic Situation and Prospects, will be launched at a press conference.

Thursday, January 15

The Secretary-General expects to meet with international media executives to discuss increased coverage of HIV/AIDS. The International Womens Health Coalition will also hold a benefit dinner in his honor.

The Security Council intends to hold a public meeting, followed by consultations, on Afghanistan. It also intends to hold consultations on Cote dIvoire.

Friday, January 16

The Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting to consider a draft resolution on sanctions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It also intends to hold an open briefing, followed by consultations, on the Middle East.

At approximately 5:00 p.m., French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie will hold a press conference.

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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