United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-01-20

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

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

ANNAN CALLS ON SOMALI PARTIES TO TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply concerned by the increased tension between the Administrations of Puntland and Somaliland over Las Anod in Sool region, which threatens the outbreak of hostilities at a critical time in the Somali peace process.he Secretary-General calls upon the parties to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from the use of force.

He urges them to seek a solution through political dialogue and reminds them of their responsibility to protect the civilian population located in their respective areas, as well as to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

The Secretary-General calls on all Somali parties to reach agreement on national reconciliation that would put an end to all the fighting and bloodshed in the country.

UN SECURITY TEAM TO BE SENT TO IRAQ IN NEAR FUTURE

The Security Council held a private meeting early Monday evening with Adnan Pachachi, current chairman of the Iraqi Governing Council, which followed a morning of talks here between the Secretary-General, members of the Governing Council and officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the U.S. Government.

The Security Council meeting on Iraq came after the Council wrapped up an open meeting on small arms. That meeting ended with the adoption of a Presidential Statement encouraging arms-exporting countries to exercise the highest degree of responsibility in small arms transactions. In that statement, the Council reiterates its call for all Member States to implement arms embargoes and other sanctions measures effectively.

When asked today if a decision on whether or not to send a technical assessment team to examine election issues could be ready to go to Iraq by the end of the week, the Spokesman said he did not want to be boxed by any deadlines. He went on to add that the technical talks are on-going. The Spokesman recalled that the Secretary-General stated clearly yesterday that he did not want to drag this process out.

When asked today if a decision on sending an electoral team could be made while the Secretary-General was away from headquarters, the Spokesman said that even while overseas the Secretary-General remained in constant touch with his staff and the decision could be made while he was on official travel away from headquarters.

When asked as to when a UN security team would be sent to Iraq, and who would be on the team, the Spokesman said the team would be sent in the near future, and no specific details on the team's composition was available yet.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO RECEIVE GERMAN MEDIA PRIZE

Following the end of yesterdays meetings on Iraq, the Secretary-General left

New York

to start a two-week trip to Europe.

He arrived today in Baden-Baden, Germany, where

Wednesday, he will receive the German Media Prize, and meet with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS OPEN DEBATE ON CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT

The struggle to ensure the protection, rights and well-being of children exposed to armed conflict has reached a watershed moment, said Olara Otunnu, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative dealing with that issue, in todays open debate at the Security Council.

Otunnu noted concrete and significant progress in protecting children in terms of advocacy, the development of standards and innovative initiatives, but warned that the general situation for children on the ground remains grave and unacceptable. Parties to conflict continue to violate childrens rights with impunity, he added.

Carol Bellamy, the head of UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, agreed, saying that last year, from Liberia to Nepal, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Colombia, girls and boys continued to be caught up in war. She noted particular problems for children in areas where humanitarian access has been denied, and pointed to examples of ways to demobilize child soldiers and to provide children in war zones with education.

The Council also viewed a video in which children from around the world shared their experiences of hardship during wartime.

UN PEACEKEEPERS INVESTIGATE INCIDENT IN

SOUTHERN LEBANON

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, continues to investigate the serious incident that took place yesterday afternoon on the Blue Line, during which an Israeli soldier was killed.

In further developments today, the UN force reports that the Israeli Defence Forces have carried out air raids into

South Lebanon, apparently targeting Hizbollah positions. UNFIL continues to monitor this situation closely.

ISRAELI FORCES DESTROY 36 BUILDINGS IN PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP

The UN Refugee Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports that during an operation which began in the early hours of this morning, Israeli armored vehicles and bulldozers destroyed 36 buildings. These housed some 81 families, or approximately 400 people.

Throughout the operation there were exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters. Israeli soldiers took up sniper positions on the roofs of homes and heavy machine gun fire was directed at houses in the area from the armoured vehicles.

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Not including todays operation, 56 buildings in the Rafah camp in Gaza had already been destroyed in January.

UNRWA Commissioner General Peter Hansen has completed official visits to Japan, China and South Korea to raise financial and political support for the work of the Agency. All three countries expressed support for the agency and acknowledged the difficult conditions in which it operates.

SHOTS FIRED AT UN PEACEKEEPERS IN D.R. OF

CONGO

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed media reports that UN military observers were fired upon when they were conducting a reconnaissance mission near Bunia.

The incident happened when a UN helicopter landed in the town of Drodro, some 65 kilometres north-east of Bunia in the northeastern part of the country. While military observers were attempting to talk to local inhabitants militiamen opened fire from a distance. No injuries or damage were reported and the troops and helicopter took off safely.

PROGRESS IN ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA PEACE PROCESS REMAINS "PAINFULLY SLOW"

In his report on Abkhazia and Georgia, released yesterday, the Secretary-General said that while progress has been made in the peace process, it remains painfully slow.

Nevertheless, the Secretary-General encouraged both sides to continue implementing recommended peace-building initiatives such as the opening of a human rights office in the conflict-affected Gali district as well as resolution of the dispute over language teaching in the area.

He also recommended a six month extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Georgia, up until 31 July this year.

Also yesterday, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini, chaired a meeting between the sides on security in the Gali district.

LIBYA TO EXPLORE WAYS TO FIGHT DRUGS, CRIME AND TERRORISM

The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, will visit Libya for three days, starting

Wednesday, to explore with senior leaders the ways that Libya can help in the fight against drugs, crime and terrorism.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), yesterday met with senior U.S. and U.K. disarmament officials to coordinate their respective efforts in implementing Libya's decision to abandon any nuclear weapons related program and activities.

ElBaradei called the meeting "constructive" and indicated that the sides had "reached agreement on what needs to be done." He said the IAEA will perform its verification responsibilities under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the UK and US will undertake certain logistical activities, particularly with regard to the movement of equipment, material and other sensitive items outside the country. All sides agreed on the importance of moving fast. The Agency expects to field a team of inspectors to Libya this week.

ANNAN URGES CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT NATIONSTO OVERCOME IMPASSE

The Secretary-General today urged the nations sitting on the Conference on Disarmament to show the political will to overcome their current impasse and resume the Conferences substantive work this year.

In a message delivered today in Geneva, the Secretary-General said it was encouraging that the Conference last year addressed a number of emerging threats, such as new forms of terrorism and their potential impact on weapons proliferation.

RWANDA

TRIBUNAL HEARS TESTIMONY FROM FORMER UN PEACEKEEPER

The former head of UN peacekeepers in Rwanda yesterday told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda that an accused genocide suspect had played an important role in the Rwandan Government during the 1994 genocide, and had personally threatened his own life twice.

Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who had been Force Commander of the UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda, told the Tribunal that Colonel Theoneste Bagosora had played an important role in the day-to-day running of the country, particularly after the Rwandan President died that April.

Bagosora, Dallaire added, threatened his life twice over the issue of evacuating orphaned children during the genocide.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE COMMITTEE HEAD TO ASSESS DAMAGE IN BAM

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today the arrival in Bam tomorrow of the head of the agencys World Heritage site committee, Francesco Bandarin. He will assess the damage to the citys historic sites in order to prepare a rehabilitation plan.

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said the first group of children returned to school less than a month after the earthquake which devastated the city. The first of 26 temporary schools housed in inflatable tents provided by UNICEF welcomed 50 primary school children. An estimated 20,000 school-age children remain in Bam, and since the 26 December earthquake, most have been living in tents with little access to recreation and educational opportunities.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNANAPPOINTS PANEL

EXPERTS TO MONITOR SANCTIONS ON

LIBERIA: The Secretary-General has appointed a five-member Panel of Experts on sanctions against Liberia to undertake several tasks, including a follow-up assessment mission to Liberia and neighbouring States in order to investigate and compile a report on sanctions implementation and any violations. The appointment is contained in a letter to the Security Council President.

UN FOOD AGENCY TO HELP NICARAGUAN COFFEE GROWERS: The Food and Agriculture Organization will work with the Nicaraguan Government to help small-scale coffee growers hit by the global slump in coffee prices. FAO will help authorities prevent food shortages among the worst-affected coffee producers, as well as help them diversify their crops and produce more competitive varieties for the international coffee market. Falling international coffee prices have damaged the Nicaraguan economy which is largely dependent on coffee.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY TO SEND FIELD OFFICE TEAM TO BURUNDI: UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, today announced it was dispatching a team for Burundi to begin the first steps toward re-establishing field offices in provinces bordering Tanzania, for the possible return of more than 300,000 Burundian refugees remaining in camps in Tanzania.