United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-01-30

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

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, January 30, 2004

(Monday is an official holiday at UN Headquarters, which will be closed for the observation of Eid Al-Adha.

The noon briefing will resume Tuesday.)

ANNAN APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY TO ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, expressed his concern about the lack of progress in the implementation of the Algiers Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In order to help move the process forward, the Secretary-General offered his good offices to the two parties, and has appointed Lloyd Axworthy, former Foreign Minister of Canada, as his Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The Secretary-General hopes that, in carrying out this important assignment, the Special Envoy will enjoy the full cooperation of all parties concerned.

Asked whether Eritrea has dropped its objections to that appointment, the Spokeswoman said that the announcement of the appointment indicates the Secretary-Generals desire to move the process forward. She was unaware of any recent comments from Eritrea.

ANNAN WELCOMES AGREEMENT AMONG SOMALI LEADERS

The Secretary-General welcomed the agreement of Somali leaders on a transitional charter signed in Nairobi on January 29. He encourages Somali leaders to build on the progress achieved and swiftly conclude the Somali National Reconciliation Conference with the establishment of an inclusive government.

The Secretary-General warmly commends President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, other leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and international supporters of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference for their perseverance to help Somalis reach national reconciliation.

Also today, the top UN official in Somalia strongly condemned the abduction of a UN staff member and called for his immediate and unconditional release. German national Rolf Helmrich was abducted Thursday, approximately 45 kilometers north of Kismayo.

ANNAN WELCOMES DECISION ON OBSERVERS IN VENEZUELA

The Secretary-General is following with special interest the latest developments in Venezuela and welcomes the constructive attitude of all parties in the search for a constitutional solution, as established in the agreement of May 29, 2003, signed by the Government and the opposition Coordinadora Democratica.

In this context, the Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to involve international observers in its ongoing work, an important element in ensuring a peaceful, electoral, and constitutional solution to the countrys political impasse.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS MIDDLE EAST FOCUS MUST BE ON PEACE

Asked about the Middle East at a press conference in Brussels today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the situation there is extremely worrying, with many people killed over the last several days. He added, I have always condemned without reservation suicide bombings that take innocent lives, and have also indicated that we need to be active and energize our efforts to find a way of bringing the parties to the table.

He sent his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of all those who lost loved ones and those who have been injured. But the only solution to this, he said, is to focus on peace.

The Spokeswoman was asked about Israeli criticism of the statement the Secretary-General issued in Brussels on Thursday about the violence, and she emphasized that there has been no change in UN policy on the Middle East. One statement, she said, does not make a policy, and she said the UN Middle East policy should be seen in light of all the statements and reports the Secretary-General issues on the subject. Those statements are consistent, and focus on peace.

The Secretary-General, she said, strongly condemns all violence and acts of terrorism, including the Thursday suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and she noted his condemnation today of suicide bombings and his offer of condolences. The Secretary-General feels that his position is fair and balanced, and is focused on peace and on stopping the killing.

Asked about how the Thursday statement was crafted, she declined to comment but noted that the Secretary-General sees, reads and signs off on all his public statements.

In answer to another question, she added that he has been working consistently to address the Middle East conflict since taking office. He is in constant contact with the parties.

Asked about UN reaction to critical comments made today by Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman, she noted that Gillerman had only spoken recently, and the UN Secretariat had no reaction at present. The Secretary-Generals comments in Brussels, she added, had been made before those criticisms were aired. The Secretary-General would have no further comments to make on the issue.

ANNAN ENDS VISIT TO BELGIUM, ARRIVES IN GENEVA

The Secretary-General concluded his official visit to Belgium today with a meeting with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and a dozen senior members of his Government, including Foreign Minister Louis Michel.

In the hour-long meeting, they discussed the situation in Iraq; the Secretary-General made a strong pitch for troop contributions to peacekeeping operations; and they had a detailed overview of the subject of UN reform.

He then visited the newly-established European Regional UN Information Centre in Brussels, which replaces nine national UN information centers that were closed down at the end of 2003. He said, This inauguration puts Europe in the vanguard of major reforms of UN information services.

At a press encounter afterwards, the Secretary-General was first asked about Cyprus. He said he had had a good meeting Thursday night with His Excellency Tassos Papadopoulos, who indicated his determination to proceed with renewed talks with the Turkish Cypriots. The Secretary-General said he had not yet heard from the Turkish Cypriots, but he had spoken last night with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said that the United States would be supportive of the process.

Before leaving Brussels, the Secretary-General received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Ghent. He then had a working lunch with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and senior members of their staffs, discussing Cyprus and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

After that lunch, the Secretary-General flew to Geneva, where he is to meet with Presidents Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Ricardo Lagos Escobar of Chile and Jacques Chirac of France on a fresh initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. They are also expected to issue a joint declaration and to attend a public meeting to unveil the plan.

SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXTENSIONS FOR THREE UN MISSIONS

The Security Council this morning, in a series of formal meetings, unanimously voted to extend the mandates of three UN peacekeeping missions, which were due to expire at the end of this month.

The Council granted a three-month extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Western Sahara, until the end of April. It also voted to extend the Missions in Georgia and in Lebanon by six months, until the end of July.

At 4:00 p.m. today, the Council will hold consultations on a draft resolution concerning its sanctions measures dealing with al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Today is the last day of the Chilean Presidency of the Security Council.

China will take over the Council Presidency in February.

SECRETARY-GENERAL NOTES MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE IN KOSOVO

The Secretary-Generals latest report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Kosovo notes that while there has been progress in some areas, such as the preparation of legislation at both the central and local levels of self-government in Kosovo, much remains to be done.

The Secretary-General notes that one of the areas of concern is that the Kosovo Assembly is again refusing to take into account the legitimate concerns of minority groups and is over-stepping its competencies.

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONSIDERS UGANDA CASE

On Thursday in London, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, said he has determined that there is sufficient basis to plan for the first investigation of the Court, dealing with allegations against Ugandas rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA). The determination to initiate an investigation will take place in the coming months.

Moreno Ocampo met Thursday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who wanted to establish a basis for Ugandan cooperation with the Court, including the key issue of locating and arresting the LRA leadership.

SUDANESE REFUGEES NEED TO BE RELOCATED TO SAFER AREAS

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is urgently appealing for funds to help up to 135,000 Sudanese refugees in the border region of Chad.

UNHCR says it is racing against time to relocate refugees to safer areas inside Chad. Its call comes amid a bombing attack that killed at least two people and wounded several others. Last September, the agency appealed for $10.3 million for 2004 to protect and provide assistance to some 65,000 refugees; no contributions have so far been received.

The appeal is now being revised as the year-long conflict in Sudans Darfur region has intensified. Some 30,000 new refugees arrived in Chad in December and another estimated 18,000 came this month.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

IRAQ TEAM DOING WORK ON SCHEDULE: Asked today about the work being done by the UN security team in Iraq, the Spokeswoman said its work was on schedule. The United Nations will not report on the movements of its staff into Iraq in advance, because of security conditions. The Secretary-General will have to decide on the composition of the planned electoral team once he has received a security assessment, she added.

UNHCR DEPUTY VISITS ECUADOR: After visiting Colombia, the Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane, is in neighboring Ecuador to review the situation of some 7,000 refugees and 2,000 asylum seekers there, who come mainly from Colombia. Morjane praised Ecuadors tradition of hospitality towards refugees and pledged UNHCRs continued support and assistance to refugee communities.

SUCCESS OF BIRD FLU ERADICATION DEPENDS ON MASS CULLINGS: The success of eradication of bird flu in affected countries in Asia will depend heavily on mass cullings, the Food and Agriculture Organization said today. However, the FAO is concerned that mass cullings arent taking place fast enough to contain the bird flu virus. FAO warns that as long as small farmers and commercial producers, especially in poorer countries, dont receive enough financial incentive for killing their chickens, they probably wont apply suggested emergency measures.

CONFERENCE ON SMALL ISLANDS WRAPS UP IN BAHAMAS: The inter-regional meeting of Small Island Developing States is wrapping up in the Bahamas today, with delegates evaluating how much has been achieved since the Barbados Programme of Action was agreed upon in 1994.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, January 31

In Geneva, the Secretary-General will meet, first separately and then together, with the Presidents of Nigeria and Cameroon, to discuss the International Court of Justice ruling on their boundary.

Sunday, February 1

The Secretary-General expects to return to New York, ending his two-week trip to Europe.

Ambassador Wang Guangya of China takes over as President of the Security Council for the month of February.

Monday, February 2

Today is the Eid Al-Adha holiday, and UN Headquarters will be closed.

In Washington, D.C., UN Development Programme Administrator Mark Malloch Brown will participate in the launch of a report on Reducing Disaster Risk: A Challenge for Development.

Tuesday, February 3

The Chinese Presidency of the Security Council is expected to hold bilateral talks with other Council members on the program of work for February.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Wednesday, February 4

The Security Council is expected to hold consultations on its program of work for February. After those consultations end, the Council President, Ambassador Wang Guangya of China, is expected to talk to the press.

A new exhibition, Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World, opens at the UN Public Lobby today. Under-Secretary-General Anwarul Karim Chowdhury and 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Betty Williams will speak at the opening reception.

Thursday, February 5

A two-day donors conference for Liberia will begin at UN Headquarters.

The first report of the InterAcademy Council, entitled Inventing a Better Future: A Strategy for Building Worldwide Capacities in Science and Technology, will be launched at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room One. The Secretary-General will launch the report, which will be preceded in the same room by a 2:00 p.m. press conference.

Friday, February 6

The Secretary-General, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Liberian transitional chairman C. Gyude Bryant are expected to speak at a donors conference for Liberia.

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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