United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-02-27

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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, February 27, 2004

[Please note that, because the Secretary-General and other officials will launch a report by the Panel on the Private Sector and Development at noon on Monday, March 1, the daily briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General will be held that day at 11:30a.m.]

SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES PEACEKEEPING MISSION FOR COTE DIVOIRE

The

Security Council, in a formal meeting this morning, unanimously approved a resolution to establish a

UN peacekeeping mission in Cote dIvoire, comprising a maximum military strength of 6,240 personnel. That mission, the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire, would begin its work on April 4, for an initial period of 12 months.

Its mandate includes monitoring the implementation of last Mays cease-fire agreement, investigating cease-fire violations, and promoting, in coordination with the French forces, the re-establishment of trust between all Ivorian forces.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan commended the Security Council for adopting the resolution, saying that Cote dIvoire has come a long way since a crisis erupted there in September 2002. The adoption of the resolution, he said, shows that the international community is determined to ensure that there is no turning back.

However, he warned, there are some hard-line elements among the various Ivorian parties who remain determined to undermine the peace process. He asserted, They must not be allowed to succeed.

JOHN REGINALD DUMAS NAMED UN ADVISOR ON HAITI

In view of the escalating crisis in Haiti, the Secretary-General late Thursday

announced the appointed John Reginald Dumas of Trinidad and Tobagoas his Special Adviser on Haiti.

Dumas is a former Trinidadian Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. He will closely follow developments in Haiti and liaise with all relevant actors, in particular the regional organizations that have been undertaking vital efforts to find a solution to the countrys persistent political impasse.

The Secretary-General hopes that with his appointment as Special Advisor the UN can make a significant contribution to the alleviation of the political, economic and social crises that afflict Haiti.

Also on Thursday afternoon, the

Security Council held an

open meeting on the situation in Haiti. The Council heard statements by the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica and the Bahamas, and by the representative of Haiti. In total, 31 speakers took the floor.

At the end of the meeting, the Security Council issued a presidential statement expressing its deep concern regarding the deterioration of the political, security and humanitarian environment in Haiti and calling on the Government and all other parties to respect human rights and cease the use of violence to advance political goals.

The Council noted its support of efforts by the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and for the CARICOM Plan of Action as an important basis for a solution to the crisis.

The Council acknowledged the call for international involvement in Haiti and said it would consider options in this regard, including that of an international force, in support of a political settlement.

Finally, the Council expressed support for the Secretary-Generals decision to name a Special Advisor for Haiti, and said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Asked if the Secretary-General had spoken to President Aristide recently and if they had discussed the possibility of Aristide's stepping down, the Spokesman said that they had spoken a few days ago, prior to the recent calls for the President to leave office.

Asked for the Secretary-Generals views on CARICOMs current political efforts, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General supports those efforts but that ultimately it will be the Haitian people who will have to do the hard work.

The Spokesman was asked what lessons the Secretary-General had learned from Rwanda which could be applied to the imminent threat of a blood bath in Port au Prince, and he said that the Secretary-General was very much involved in supporting the political efforts by regional organizations concerning Haiti and he had also just appointed a Special Advisor. The Spokesman added that in recent public and private comments, the Secretary-General had told Member States of the great risk of escalating violence in the country.

In more general terms, the Spokesman added, the Secretary-General has often reminded Member States of their responsibilities to set clear ground rules for any type of intervention, because without clear ground rules, operations may become chaotic and undermines international law. He added that the Secretary-General had tasked the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change to look at this very issue.

UN IRAQMEETS COALITION, IRAQOFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD

Ross Mountain, the Secretary-Generals acting Special Representative for

Iraq, left Baghdad after two days in the Iraqi capital.

While there, he met with the UNs national staff, as well as with the leadership of the Coalition Provisional Authority, Administrator L. Paul Bremer and Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock. He also had the opportunity to meet with a number of Iraqi ministers involved in reconstruction and rehabilitation issues.

He is today in Abu Dhabi, where he will attend a two-day donors meeting on Iraq, hosted by the United Arab Emirates.

The Spokesman declined to comment on whether the Secretary-General felt that a second resolution is needed on Iraq

Asked for reaction to Ayatollah Ali al-Sistanis comments that he wanted to have elections before the end of the year, the Spokesman said that in his report, the Secretary-General had asked for a response from the Iraqis on how they wanted to proceed. The Ayatollahs response is a step in the right direction, but he added that the UN was waiting for a collective response.

ARMED MILITIAS ATTACKING PEOPLE DISPLACED BY DARFUR FIGHTING

The

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has received reports from people displaced from Sudans Darfur region that armed militias are robbing them of the aid they have received from UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.

The internally displaced people are reporting that they are still being systematically attacked by militia who burn homes, rape, extort and kidnap. The looting has caused the World Food Programme to consider feeding recipients directly, rather than supplying them with rations that could be stolen.

The

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan today condemned one attack by armed militia in the southern Sudanese town of Nimnim on February 20, in which eight UN and non-governmental staff were deliberately targeted. The UN calls on the Sudanese Government and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement to identify, detain and prosecute the perpetrators.

ANNAN AWAITS FULLER EXPLANATION ON EAVESDROPPING ALLEGATIONS

Asked if the Secretary-General intended to contact former British Minister Clare Short to get more information on reports of eavesdropping at the United Nations, the Spokesman said there was no intention of contacting her. However, he added that the Secretary-General was waiting for a fuller explanation from British authorities as to what happened.

Asked if the Secretary-General had further contact with the British Government regarding the alleged case of eavesdropping, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General had not had any further conversations with British officials since he spoke with British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry by phone on Thursday.

Asked for more details on that conversation, the Spokesman said he would not give further information, as he wanted to protect the confidentiality of diplomatic conversations. He also declined to comment on any additional precautions being taken to safeguard UN communications.

Asked if the UN would consider listening on phone conversations of senior officials via satellite a violation of the

1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the Spokesman said the UNs interpretation of the Article II of the convention, which states UN premises shall be free of any interference, includes the use of satellites.

LIBYA TELLS UN OF INTENTION TO DESTROY CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been informed by the Libyan Government that Libya intends to begin the destruction of more than 3,300 unfilled bombs, intended for the delivery of chemical weapons, starting today.

The Organization will verify their destruction, and an OPCW inspection team has arrived in Libya for that purpose. The inspectors will carry out an inventory of all munitions prior to destruction, and the destruction operations are to be completed by March 5.

The Director-General of the Organization, Rogelio Pfirter, said, This is a very positive step and a confirmation of Libyas intention to actually get rid of prohibited weapons.

Asked for the Secretary-Generals position on whether inspectors from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) could play a role in Libya, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had often said that there was great amount of knowledge and technique accumulated by UNMOVIC that should somehow be preserved. However, the Spokesman added, UNMOVICs mandate deals only with Iraq, and since it reports directly to the Security Council, it would be up to the members of the Council either to expand or to modify the existing mandate.

UNHCR TO RESUME REPATRIATION OF AFGHANS REFUGEES FROM PAKISTAN

The

UN refugee agency announced today that it will be resuming its assistance to

Afghan refugees who wish to return home from Pakistan.

These operations, which will resume next week, had been suspended in November following the death of UNHCR staff member Bettina Goislard.

The agency expects to help about 400,000 Afghans return home during the coming year. The return package offered by the UN to refugees includes a small travel grant, food and non-food items.

FRENCH GOVERNMENTS HONORS FALLEN UN STAFF MEMBER

The French Ambassador to the United Nations offices in Switzerland today posthumously awarded the Legion of Honor to Jean-Selim Kanaan, one of the UN staff members killed in the August 19 attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

In a message delivered by UN Chief of Staff Iqbal Riza, the Secretary-General said that France was honoring Jean-Selims tireless efforts on behalf of the weak and the oppressed. He added that we would remember Jean-Sélim as someone who until the very end fought to make the world better, and his life will continue to inspire us.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN SENDS MESSAGE TO AFRICAN UNION LEADERS: The Secretary-General, in a

message, sent his warmest greetings to the meeting that African leaders are holding, starting today, in the Libyan town of Sirte. He says it is fitting that, as those leaders pursue their efforts to develop the institutions of the African Union, the United Nations will continue to work with the Union to assist it in enhancing its operational effectiveness. The message was delivered by Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

WHO NOTES NIGERIAN STATES USING POLIO VACCINE: The

World Health Organization says 35 of Nigerias 37 states are taking part in polio vaccinations a big increase from the second-half of last year, when only 18 states were taking part. The states of Kano and Zamfara are the only two Nigerian states which have yet to take part in the

campaign. WHO reiterates that rumors about the safety and efficacy of the

polio vaccine are unfounded.

MIXED COMMISSION TEAMS VISIT BAKASSI PENINSULA: Two sub-commissions of the

Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission are currently carrying out a field visit to the southern part of the land boundary between those two nations, to deal with the issues of affected populations and demarcation. Since Tuesday, the group has traveled to the Bakassi Peninsula, where it is scheduled to visit several villages until Saturday.

BIOSAFETY SYSTEM IS MODIFIED: The 87 member states of the

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety have

moved to improve the safety of international trade in genetically modified organisms. Under the new system, all bulk shipments of genetically engineered crops intended for food, feed or processing such as soybeans and maize are to be identified as possibly containing genetically modified organisms. The 87 member states had been attending the first meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, in Kuala Lumpur.

UN MOURNS FYR-MACEDONIA PRESIDENT: The UN flag is being flown at half mast today, and the other flags outside UN headquarters are not flying, to mark the United Nations official

mourning following the death Thursday of President Boris Trajkovski of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, March 1

Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere of France will take over as President of the Security Council for the month of March, replacing Ambassador Wang Guangya of China.

The Secretary-General will speak to the press at noon, along with Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo and UN Development Programme Administrator Mark Malloch Brown, to launch the Commission on the Private Sector and Development's report, Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor.

The Secretary-General will also address a luncheon afterward dealing with the report, and President Martin will deliver the keynote address at that event.

The Commission on the Status of Women will hold its forty-eighth session through March 12 in Conference Room 2. It will focus on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality; and women's equal participation in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace-building.

The Secretary-General will speak at a dinner organized by the Brookings Institution.

On the fifth anniversary Guatemala's Truth Commission, the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala will launch its report on the implementation of the Commission's recommendations.

Tuesday, March 2

The Security Council is expected to hold consultations on its program of work for March. At 12:30, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere will brief the press on the Councils work during the coming month.

Vincent McClean, the UNODC Representative in New York will present the Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board, which is embargoed until 3 March.

Wednesday, March 3

The guest at the noon briefing will be the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, who will discuss Botswana.

The annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board, which this year focuses on the impact of drug abuse on crime and violence, will be launched in Vienna.

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

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article