United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-02-06

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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

Friday, February 6, 2004

SECRETARY-GENERAL AND SECURITY COUNCIL

CONDEMN SUBWAY ATTACK IN MOSCOW

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, said he was appalled to learn of yet another indiscriminate act of terrorism in Moscow this morning. Once again the world bears witness to dozens of innocent lives lost and many more injured, all of whom were merely going about their daily rounds on a rush-hour subway train.

The Secretary-General is adamantly opposed to all acts of terrorism, from whatever quarter. No cause whatsoever can justify such heinous crimes. The Secretary-General conveys his heartfelt condolences to the Government and citizens of the Russian Federation and to the families and friends of the victims. He hopes that the perpetrators will swiftly be brought to justice.

The Security Council President, Ambassador Wang Guangya of China, today expressed the Councils outrage at the terrorist attack in Moscow, saying that the Council condemns it in the strongest possible terms.

LIBERIA HAS ARRIVED AT MOMENT OF HOPE, ANNAN SAYS

After 14 years of conflict and misrule, Liberia today has arrived at a moment of hope, the Secretary-General told the International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia this morning.

With a transitional government in place and the UN Mission in Liberia making good progress, he said, todays conference is meant to demonstrate international solidarity with Liberia at a decisive moment.

He noted the overriding concern for security, including the need to consolidate and extend the security perimeter beyond Monrovia and to restructure and retrain the Liberian armed forces. He urged the delegates at todays meeting, Let us all seize this moment to end a long-running nightmare that has disgraced humankind.

Other officials, including the transitional governments Chairman, Charles Gyude Bryant, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, are also participating in this mornings events. The United Nations and the World Bank have said that Liberia will need some $488 million for reconstruction.

ANNAN WELCOMES MEETING OF U.S., FRENCH OFFICIALS

At a press encounter outside the Liberia meeting site, the Secretary-General noted that Secretary Powell and Foreign Minister de Villepin would meet today. Governments, he said, are putting the divisions over Iraq behind them, and he called todays meeting a sign of evolution in the right direction.

Asked about reports of nuclear technology transfers in Pakistan, the Secretary-General said he had met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Davos last month, who assured him that theyre going to take every effort to make sure this trafficking does not take place.

The Secretary-General also said that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon concerning the question of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and that the Prime Minister told him that Israel fully supports the Road Map.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS LOSS OF LIFE IN HAITI

The Secretary-General has been closely following the situation in Haiti and is deeply concerned about the increasing violence. Thursdays events in the city of Gonaives constitute a further escalation in the violence that is affecting the country.

The Secretary-General regrets the loss of life and calls upon all Haitians to resolve their differences peacefully and through constitutional means. He underlines his full support for the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in seeking a solution to the current political impasse as well as the continuing work of the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Mission in Haiti.

UNITED NATIONS READY TO ASSIST INDONESIA IN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

The Secretary-General was profoundly saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life and terrible damage caused by the earthquake in the Papua province of Indonesia. He extends his sincere condolences to the people of Indonesia as they cope with the effects of the disaster.

The Secretary-General hopes that the international community will give generous and timely assistance to the Government and people of Indonesia. The United Nations stands ready to lend its support in mobilizing international relief efforts.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistances office in Indonesia is in close contact with national and local authorities and is ready to provide support in assessment activities, as required.

SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD DIALOGUE IS NEEDED ON KOSOVO

The fate of missing persons in Kosovo is one of the main practical issues that needs to be resolved in a dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, the senior UN official in Kosovo told the Security Council today.

Addressing the Councils public meeting on Kosovo this morning, Special Representative Harri Holkeri said that Kosovos Provisional Institutions should engage in direct dialogue with Belgrade without further delay.

He noted that a clear political target has been set out for Kosovo, in the Standards for Kosovo document that he launched last December. Now, he said, what we need to do is reach that target.

ACTION NEEDED AGAINST NUCLEAR BLACK MARKET

Experts in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues are taking part in a two-day seminar, hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, to explore new approaches to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and enhance nuclear security.

In opening the session, IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters that it is clear that the control system now in place is not working to prevent black market trafficking.

The black market cases that have been exposed so far, he said, are just the tip of the iceberg, with more work needed to examine the chain of activity in the nuclear black market and ensure that such cases are not repeated.

U.N. DRUGS CHIEF TO VISIT AFGHANISTAN NEXT WEEK

Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will attend an international conference on counter-narcotics in Afghanistan that will take place in Kabul this Sunday and Monday.

Before leaving Vienna today for Afghanistan, Costa warned, If we dont start translating counter-narcotics commitment into lower levels of production, we run the risk of the opium economy undermining all that has been achieved in creating a democratic, new Afghanistan.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MEETING SCHEDULED ON CYPRUS FOR FEBRUARY 10: In response to questions, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General had invited the Cyprus leaders to come to New York on February 10 for talks on the basis of his plan. The objective of the negotiations would be to put a completed text to referenda in April, in time for a reunited Cyprus to accede to the European Union on May 1. Asked about accusations that the United Nations had tried to pressure Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash into participating in the talks, he noted that the invitations had gone to both the Turkish Cypriot leader and Greek Cypriot leader.

UN TEAM IN IRAQ WILL REPORT BACK TO ANNAN: In response to questions, the Spokesman said that an announcement on the UN team heading to Iraq would only be made once they have arrived, because of security concerns. They were not expected to speak to the press, but would report back to the Secretary-General upon their return to New York.

GLOBAL COMPACT MEETING TO TAKE PLACE IN EGYPT: Next Monday, a national launch of the Global Compact will be held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, marking the first time that the initiative has taken root in the Arab world. Some 200 representatives of Egyptian businesses, Government, civil society, labor and the UN system will convene, and a message from the Secretary-General will be delivered to mark the occasion.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, February 9

The Security Council is expected to hold consultations in the afternoon to receive a briefing from the Secretary-General in connection with Cyprus and Iraq.

The Seventh Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will begin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Also today, the UN Environment Programme will launch a report on the state of the worlds cloud forests.

Tuesday, February 10

The Secretary-General has invited the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders to come to New York to resume negotiations on the basis of his plan for Cyprus.

At 11:15 a.m., there will be a press conference by representatives of Airline Ambassadors International and Peace and Cooperation.

Wednesday, February 11

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Thursday, February 12

The Security Council has scheduled a private meeting on 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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