United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-03-11

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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

Thursday, March 11, 2004

ANNAN IS SHOCKED OVER MADRID ATTACK, CALLS FOR JUSTICE

Upon entering the building this morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his profound shock and indignation about the terrorist attack in

Madrid, and said that the killing of innocent people cannot be justified, regardless of the cause, and he added his hope that the perpetrators would be brought to justice swiftly.

Asked if the Secretary-General had been informed by the Spanish Government about the identity of the perpetrators, the Spokesman noted comments made by the Secretary-General earlier today, when he said that he not been in touch the Spanish Government this morning.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS

MADRID

BOMB ATTACKS

The Security Council voted unanimously today in favour of a resolution, which condemned "in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in

Madrid, Spain, perpetrated by the terrorist group ETA."

In the resolution, the Council expressed its deepest sympathies and condolences to the people and Government of Spain, and to the victims of the terrorist attacks and their families. It also expressed its reinforced determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

Earlier today, the Security Council is holding consultations on Eritrea and Ethiopia, with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Legwaila Joseph Legwaila briefing members on the most recent report

.

COUNTER-TERRORISM CONFERENCE HOLDS MINUTE OF SILENCE

IN HONOUR OF

MADRID

BOMB ATTACK VICTIMS

A counter-terrorism conference, organized by the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) began in Vienna

today with a minute of silence in honour of the victims of bomb attacks in Madrid.The two-day conference is looking at ways to strengthen the joint efforts of international organizations in their global actions against terrorism.

The UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Chairman, Ambassador Inocencio Ariasof Spain, opened todays session by pointing to the collaboration between the OSCE and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime as an example for other organizations to adopt in the fight against terrorism.

Also today, Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan condemned the terrorist bombings in Madrid

as unconscionable and monstrous. But, he added, terrorists should know that they will not succeed in destroying the edifice of international law and human rights the international community has been building for so many years.

UNITED NATIONS HAS A BLACK BOX IN ITS POSSESSION

I have often told you that I would never knowingly mislead you. As it turns out, on the question of the black box, I did mislead you, although unknowingly.

Following the appearance in Le Monde of the article alleging that a black box, supposed to have been from the Falcon aircraft that crashed in Rwanda on 6 April 1994, killing the Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, was in the UNs possession, I denied it. In fact, I ridiculed the idea.

However, yesterday we were able to trace the paper trail of a black box, sent by pouch from the UN Mission in Rwanda in 1994, through

Nairobi, Kenya to UN Headquarters in New York. That paper trail took us to the Air Safety Unit of the UN Peacekeeping Department, located in the UNITAR building across the street. And there, in a locked file cabinet, we found a black box.

I say a black box, not the black box, because what we found was in pristine condition. In fact, when it was received in the Peacekeeping Departments Air Safety Unit ten years ago, the officials in charge at that time apparently concluded that it could not have been the black box, because its pristine condition indicated that it had not been in a crash.

And because of that judgment, the Air Safety experts, after unsuccessfully trying to identify its source, put it in the file cabinet and did not report it up the chain of command.

None of the senior peacekeeping officials of the time had any knowledge of it. In fact, the first time that senior peacekeeping officials knew of this was yesterday. They then reported this to the Secretary-Generals Office.

The black box, which in fact is orange, is now under lock and key in this building. We intend to immediately turn it over to a qualified outside body for analysis of its contents.

The Secretary-General has also instructed the Office of Internal Oversight Services to look into exactly what happened 10 years ago. Until that investigation is completed, I will not be able to answer many of your more specific questions.

Asked to outline how the black box came into the possession of the United Nations, the Spokesman said that Roger Lambo, who had headed the air operations unit for the UN Mission for Rwanda, sent the box by diplomatic pouch, to the Peacekeeping Departments Air Safety Unit, headed at the time by Andy Sequin.

He suggested that the air safety experts who viewed the box at the time may have judged from its pristine appearance that it had nothing to do with the crash, although he added it would have to be examined by a qualified outside body. It ended up in a file cabinet, where it was discovered on Wednesday.

The air safety experts, he added, had made some effort to circulate serial numbers found on the black box, but had not been able to determine its origin. Asked how the information about the black box had been circulated, the Spokesman said that would be an issue for the Inspector- General to look at. At the time that the box was sent, a few months after the beginning of the genocide in April, the Security Council had taken the decision to downsize the UN Mission in Rwanda, as well.

Asked to specify which officials had not been informed of the existence of the black box, the Spokesman mentioned Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who at the time headed the Peacekeeping Department; Chef de Cabinet Iqbal Riza, who had been Annans deputy in the Department; Hédi Annabi, who worked in the Department and is now Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping; Chief Military Adviser Gen. Maurice Baril; and the UN Force Commander in Rwanda, Gen. Romeo Dallaire.

Asked to describe the black box, he said it bore some kind of index number and tag. He said, in response to a different question, that expensive technology would need to be used to determine the contents of the box. He conceded that it was an unusual occurrence for the United Nations to receive a black box.

ANNAN DESCRIBES EXISTENCE OF BLACK BOX AS "FIRST-CLASS FOUL UP"

The Secretary-General was asked this afternoon about the existence of the black box and responded, "From what I have picked up, it sounds like a real foul up, a first-class foul up."

In response to a question on whether this was a case of obstruction, he added that the UN Legal Office has been cooperating very effectively with the judge in France.

MANY HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS IN

HAITI

ARE NOT FUNCTIONING

Asked about whether there would be an inquiry into President Aristides departure from Haiti, the Secretary-General told the morning press encounter that would be a matter for the Security Council to take up. If the Council wanted an investigation and gave him a mandate, the Secretary-General added that he would be duty-bound to take it up.

A security assessment mission by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, yesterday reached the northern city of Cap Haitien, via Gonaives, in Haiti. Tomorrow, therell be an assessment mission of the road from the capital of Port au Prince to the Dominican Republic

border.

The WFP has reported a contribution of 100 trucks from the Norwegian government, which will be used to reinforce logistics capacity. In addition, water trucking has resumed in Port au Prince, UNICEF says its received $300,000 worth of medical supplies, and the French Red Cross has donated seven ambulances.

However, overall, the United Nationsis very concerned as many hospitals and schools still arent functioning due to security conditions. There are also concerns that while there are some food stocks left in the city of Gonaives, these may soon run out due to road blocks.

ANNAN PUTS FORWARD FUNDING

PROPOSAL FOR SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT

In a letter to the Security Council President, out as a document today, the Secretary-General draws attention to the funding shortfall of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

In it, the Secretary-General proposes to members of the Council that one way of addressing the shortfall would be for all or part of the third year costs of the Court to be provided by assessed contributions, while preserving the independence of the Court.

He says that the Security Council may wish him to bring the matter to the attention of the General Assembly with a view to seeking the appropriation of funds for the Court.

Responding to questions on this matter at a press encounter earlier today, the Secretary-General said: I think they have the possibility to take the decision before we run out of money.

CANADIAN DONATION TO POLIO ERADICATION WELCOMED

The spearheading partners in the global fight to eradicate polio these include the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund have welcomed

Canadas announcement of an additional $9.7 million to support the global polio eradication campaign.

The contribution comes in response to an intensification of eradication efforts in the few countries that remain polio-endemic.

These new funds come at a critical juncture as polio has been beaten back to just a few remaining strongholds, mainly in Nigeria, India and Pakistan and efforts are currently underway to head off an outbreak of polio that has spread from Nigeria to previously polio-free areas of west and central Africa.

The goal is to finish the job by the end of 2004 but to succeed, eradication efforts must be intensified, and this means more financial resources are urgently needed.

UN TEAM SENT TO HELP COORDINATE

MADAGASCARS RESPONSE TO CYCLONE

The Johannesburg office of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has sent an emergency team to Madagascar to help coordinate the response to tropical cyclone Gafilo. The government of Madagascar requested international assistance after the cyclone hit the northeast of the country earlier this month.

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, has released $300,000 from its emergency resources and today expects a shipment of items including tents and food. The World Food Programme will provide 40 tons of High Energy Biscuits, and OCHA has provided $50,000 in emergency grants. So far, 17 people have been confirmed dead, and nearly 4,000 people have lost their homes.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNKNOWN IF SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LEGAL ISSUES TIED TO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES: Asked whether the Security Council would ever deal with the legal issues involved in the Guantanamo detainees, the Spokesman the question would have to be referred to the Security Council President. He noted that the Secretary-General has earlier told reporters that he did not sense any inclination from the Security Council about picking up on the issue. The Spokesman added: The Secretary-General was giving his personal view, his sense of the mood of the Council, but what the Council is going to do or feels empowered to do, youll have to ask the Council.

UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION AWARDS TOTAL OF $203 MILLION: The Governing Council of the UN Compensation Commission concluded its 51st session today in Geneva, and approved awards of $203,804,511.74 for compensation. The Council was set up by the Security Council to process claims and pay compensation fore losses and damage related to Iraqs unlawful invasion and occupation of

Kuwait

in the early 90s. To date, the Commission has awarded compensation of approximately $48.2 billion. The Council hold it next regular session from 29 June to 1 July this year.

NO DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF 10% IRAQI SURCHARGE ON OIL CONTRACTS: Regarding whether the United Nations had any evidence that Iraq had imposed a 10% surcharge on oil contracts, the Office of the Iraq Programme says that there no documented evidence was ever provided to the UN Secretariat or to the Security Council 661 Sanctions Committee for Iraq to substantiate those rumours. However, after the Iraq

war "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: when the exercise of prioritizing contracts was handled jointly by the Iraqi authorities, the Coalition Provisional Authority and the UN "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: Iraqi officials stated that there had in fact been a 10% surcharge, imposed since 2000. In response, suppliers were then asked to reduce the value of their contracts by 10%.

INVESTIGATION INTO ANNAN LINKS TO COTECNA ALREAD CARRIED OUT: Asked whether the United Nations had ever carried out any investigation into a possible conflict of interest in the Secretary-Generals son, Kojo Annan, working for COTECNA, the company overseeing the UN Oil-for-Food Programme, the Spokesman said the UNs then Inspector-General investigated at the time, and the then-Director of Management also issued a statement at the time. I think we answered quite fully and amply any questions regarding Kojo Annans relationship with COTECNA.

BIRD-FLU AFFECTED COUNTRIES WARNED NOT TO RESTOCK FLOCKS: The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that countries affected by avian influenza, or bird flu, should not restock their flocks too quickly to avoid the disease flaring up again. FAO says that two months after the outbreak of the epidemic some countries are already planning to declare selected zones disease-free and to restock decimated flocks. It adds that appropriate precautionary measures have to be put in place to be absolutely sure that infected zones are free from infection and will remain free. So far, 22 people have died of bird flu, and its also led to the death of millions of birds throughout Asia .

CAMEROON-NIGERIA MIXED COMMISSION DELEGATION ARRIVES: A delegation from Cameroon, Nigeria, and the United Nations on a mission to mobilize further diplomatic and financial support for the work of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission is arriving in

New York

today. The Commission is implementing the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice related to the border dispute between those two countries.

ALMOST 2,000 AFGHAN REFUGEES RETURNED HOME FROM

PAKISTAN: Almost two thousand Afghans have been helped to return from Pakistan

in the week since UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Afghan Government resumed the repatriation program. UNHCR estimates that 400,000 Afghans will return from Pakistan over the course of the year, with the pace of returns expected to pick up in the coming weeks.

U.N. TECHNICAL TEAM ARRIVES IN

CAMBODIA

TO AID WITH COURT ARRANGEMENTS: A small UN technical mission arrived in Cambodia yesterday to help with practical arrangements for launching the Extraordinary Chambers for the Khmer Rouge Trials. The two-member team will try to finalize a choice of premises for that court; discuss arrangements on services, equipment and facilities provided by Cambodia; and review budget estimates for the Courts work, among other tasks. It is expected to be in the country until March 18.

I.L.O. GOVERNING COUNCIL TO DEBATE

SOCIAL DIMENSION OF GLOBALIZATION:: The Governing Body of the International Labor Organization began its 289th session in Geneva today. It plans to hold a wide-ranging debate on the social dimension of globalization the findings and conclusions of the recently published report, "A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All", will be at the centre of these discussions. That report called for an "urgent rethink" of current policies and institutions involved in the governance of globalization and outlines a vision for making it fair for all. The ILO meeting ends on 26 March.

BOSNIAN SERB GIVEN 18 YEAR JAIL SENTENCE: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today sentenced a Bosnian Serb, Ranko Cesic, to eighteen years in prison, following a plea agreement that the suspected entered into with the Prosecutors Office last October. He had been charged with six counts each of war crimes and of crimes against humanity.

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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