United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-02-18

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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, February 18, 2004

ANNAN TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH GROUP OF FRIENDS OF

IRAQ

Thursdayat 10a.m., Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled tomeet with the Group of Friends of Iraq.

This will be an opportunity for the Secretary-General and the members to exchange views on the current situation and the way forward in Iraq. His Special Advisor Lakhdar Brahimi will also be in attendance.

The Group of Friends is made up of member states. The final list of participants will be releasedThursdaymorning.

Asked about when the Secretary-General would issue his recommendations on Iraq, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General had on Tuesday stated his intention of putting them out before he leaves for Japan this Friday, but that task would be a bit of a challenge.

Lakhdar Brahimi, he said, was arriving late today in New York, and wouldnt see the Secretary-General until Thursday morning. It would be premature to say when any recommendations would come out until after that meeting, Eckhard added.

ANNAN CONVEYS CONDOLENCES OVER TRAIN DERAILMENT DISASTER

IN IRAN

The Secretary-General was distressed to learn of the casualties and damage caused by the chemical train derailment and explosion in

Neyshabur, Iran. He conveys his condolences and deepest sympathy to the Islamic Government of Iran and to the victims of the disaster.

The United Nations stands ready to assist those affected by the tragedy.

CYPRUS

LEADERS TO MEET THURSDAY UNDER U.N. AUSPICES

Direct talks between the Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, in the presence of the Secretary-General's Special for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, will start Thursday at 10 a.m., local time, at the Nicosia Conference center in the UN protected area.

This morning, de Soto met Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, and this encounter was followed by a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash later in the afternoon.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNED OVER POLITICAL CRISIS IN

HAITI

[In a statement read after the noon briefing by Security Council President, Ambassador Wang Guangyu of China, members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over the increasing violence and political crisis "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: in Haiti leading to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, including the loss of many lives.

Council Members strongly condemned these acts of violence and called upon all those who perpetrate them to put an end to such actions. They also expressed their deep concern at the massive violations of human rights occurring in Haiti.

Members of the Council called upon the Government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the opposition sectors to restore confidence and dialogue, and overcome their differences peacefully and democratically through constitutional means.

Council Members commended the work undertaken by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and urged all concerned to collaborate with it.

Members of the Security Council expressed their strong support for the initiatives of the relevant regional organizations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS), to bring an end to the crisis.]

Asked about the work being done by a UN team sent to Haiti, the Spokesman said the team is expected to return to New York by the end of this week and to submit a report to the Secretary-General.

He added that the team had initially been seen as a fact-finding mission, but had since narrowed its focus to humanitarian needs, especially the need to create a humanitarian corridor to Gonaïves.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

Prime Minister Ariel Sharons initiative to withdraw the Israeli military and settlements from the Gaza strip should be welcomed by all, UN "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-font-weight: Envoy Terje Roed Larsen told the Security Council this morning. But, Larsen added, this should be seen as a first step and made in the context of the Road Map as part of a cooperative agreement between Israelis, Palestinians and the international community.

Larsen went on to say that the cautiously positive view of the situation is tempered by the grim reality that confronts both Palestinians and Israelis. He added that the tragic outcome of the violence, which, since last month, claimed the lives of more than sixty Palestinians and eleven Israelis, underscores the importance of the need for both parties to take immediate steps for the resumption of the peace process that is the only viable long term option for both peoples.

Council members are continuing their discussions in closed consultations.

The monthly Security Council luncheon is scheduled for tomorrow.

ANNAN SAYS FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO

TIMOR

LESTE

CRUCIAL

Progress in Timor-Leste has been considerable, the Secretary-General says in a report to the Security Council, but it has become increasingly clear that further assistance to that country will be crucial following the end of the present mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission this May 20.

Following a UN missions in-depth analysis of Timor-Lestes requirements, the Secretary-General recommends that the Security Council extend the UN Mission in that country for a further 12-month consolidation phase.

During that time, he says, the Mission would function under a modified mandate, providing assistance to the countrys justice system and core administrative structures; contributing to the development of its national police; and helping to maintain security.

He suggests that the UN Mission retain 58 civilian advisers, 157 civilian police advisers, 42 military liaison officers and a security force of some 310 military personnel, including an infantry company and air support.

The Security Council will hold a public meeting on Timor-Leste on Friday.

ONE MILLION VOTERS REGISTERED IN AFGHANISTAN

mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; Afghanistan reached today the one million mark in voter registration, the UN Mission in Afghanistan reported, when a young woman, who is a student at a Kabul University student, became the one millionth Afghan to registerfont-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: .

font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: Jean Arnault, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, told the press that the reaching of the one million mark showed the excitement of the election year, adding, We believe that this momentum towards the elections is going to pick up further pace.

U.N. ENVOY URGES HOSTILITIES TO CEASE IN

DARFUR, SUDAN

A UN team has arrived in Darfur, Sudan, to assess humanitarian needs in the highly volatile region, while UN agencies are delivering and pre-positioning food and other supplies for tens of thousands of internally displaced persons they can reach.

Meanwhile, "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: Ambassador Tom Vraalsen, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: for Humanitarian Affairs in the Sudan, who has been in the country since last week, said the parties must immediately cease hostilities, so that displaced persons and refugees in Chad can voluntarily and safely return to their homes and start to re-build a peaceful Darfur.

In both Khartoum and Darfur, he urged the authorities to keep their promises for unimpeded access to the populations in need.

PROGRESS NOTED IN GEORGIA-ABKHAZ PEACE PROCESS

The Group of Friends of the Secretary-General ended today its Third Geneva Meeting, where it had been reviewing progress in the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process.

In a statement to the press, the Group of Friends said it was encouraged by the progress made despite the difficult situation on the ground in areas including political and security matters, refugee return and economic cooperation.

A senior Georgian delegation attended the meeting and presented its position on the peace process. The Abkhaz side declined an invitation to take part.

The meeting was chaired by Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN Under-Secretary-General for 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; Peacekeeping Operations.

KILLING WILD BIRDS WONT HELP CONTROL BIRD FLU VIRUS

The Food and Agriculture Organization warns that killing wild birds isnt an appropriate measure to control the spread of avian influenza, or bird flu, and it does nothing to help prevent future outbreaks.

FAO says prevention needs to be based on a control and surveillance system to ensure that any contact between wild birds and poultry is avoided or at least monitored. So far, 22 people have died from bird flu and thousands of birds have been culled.

PREPARATIONS FOR TRUTH COMMISSION UNDERWAY IN DR CONGO

Preparatory work is underway in the Democratic Republic "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: of the Congo to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look into past human rights abuses, as foreseen in the December 2002 peace accord.

Representatives of the international community, Congolese authorities and civil society will be gathering from 25 and 28 February in Kinshasa to discuss the matter. The idea is to promote a debate among national authorities and civil society about the nature and purpose of truth commissions, and how to improve on a draft law currently being considered by Parliament.

Also from the DR Congo, the UN representative, William Swing, reiterated in a press encounter today that elections can still be held as scheduled in July 2005, as long as the necessary financial, technical and logistic support is available.

NUMBER OF FEMALE STAFF AT U.N. SECRETARIAT INCREASES

The percentage of female staff at the UN Secretariat has increased, with women taking up 41.8% of the posts at the UN that are subject to geographical distribution. The Secretary-Generals report on the composition of the Secretariat notes that proportion shows a steady increase in recent years, with women occupying 38.1% of such posts in 1999.

The report also notes that more than 73% of UN staff come from 25 Member States. All but 13 Member States are represented in the Secretariat staff.

As of mid-June of last year, the average age of the staff was 46 years.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN MEETS PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AT UNITED NATIONS: The Secretary-General was to meet at lunchtime today with the International Association of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, in a gathering hosted by Spain's Ambassador, Inocencio Arias. Discussion topics were expected to include how the events of the past year have underlined the pressing need to make the United Nations the most effective instrument it can be in meeting todays threats to global security.

MORE THAN 10,000 BURUNDIAN RETURNEES IN EARLY 2004: More than 10,000 Burundian refugees have returned home from camps in Tanzania in January and the first half of February this year. More than half of this number have crossed back into eastern

Burundi

through a new border crossing point. The UN refugee agencyis increasing convoys along this route and boosting its presence in other areas as security conditions improve in Burundi.

UNITED NATIONS, EUROPEAN UNION EXPLORE COOPERATION IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT: The European Union and the United Nations are holding a day-long meeting at UN Headquarters, to discuss ways in which the two bodies can deal with crisis management. Assistant "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Todays EU-UN Steering Committee talks, which focus on ways to follow up on a joint declaration, signed last September, between the Secretary-General and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, acting as the EU Presidency. That declaration called for further practical steps to be taken to build on the momentum of positive EU-UN cooperation.

WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION TO VISIT LATVIA: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention will visit Latvia from February 23 to 28at the invitation of the Government. As well as meeting with government officials, the Group will visit several detention centers, prisons, police stations and centers for illegal immigrants in Riga, Daugavpils

and Rezekne. The Commission on Human Rights established the Working Group in 1991 to investigate allegations of arbitrary deprivation of liberty. Its mandate was extended in 1997 to cover the issue of administrative custody of asylum-seekers and immigrants.

PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS CONVENTION TO ENTER INTO FORCE: Tuesday, France became the

50th country to express its consent to be bound by the "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. With that ratification, the Convention will now enter into force on May 17.

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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