United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-03-17

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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, March 17, 2004

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly condemns today's violence between Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs in Mitrovica, Lipljan, Pec, and Gnjilane, which has reportedly left at least seven people dead and hundreds injured. Preliminary reports indicate that several KFOR soldiers and UNMIK international civilian police are among the casualties.He urges all parties involved to bring an immediate halt to the violence, which jeopardizes the stability of Kosovo and the security of all its people.

He expresses his full support for the efforts of his Special Representative and the rest of the international community, and calls on local authorities to help return the situation to normal, and bring to justice those responsible for the violence.

UNMIK, the UN Mission in Kosovo, reported that earlier today, a crowd of around 3,000 people gathered in south Mitrovica and attacked the UNMIK police station and regional headquarters. They then marched across the bridge and attacked Serbs in the north, which led to a large riot. In the course of that riot, there was repeated automatic gunfire and explosions as a result, over a hundred people are injured and people have died. The situation is far from stable and there are reports of clashes elsewhere in Kosovo.

Harri Holkeri, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, has appealed to all communities to stay calm and not let todays incidents jeopardize the stability of Kosovo. He added that the vast majority of ordinary people want to live in peace with each other, and they dont want to be governed by extremists. He also called on ordinary citizens can do now is to co-operate with the authorities, with the local police and the international police.

CIVIL AVIATION EXPERTS OPEN BLACK BOX

On Tuesday, the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) took the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C., where, in the presence of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization, the CVR was opened.

The tape duration is about 30 minutes and recorded some conversation in French. Nothing heard so far on the tape links the CVR to the aircraft crash on 6 April 1994 in Rwanda. Additional expert attention, as is normally the case, will be required to determine the exact contents of the tape.

This process will take some more time, the length of which cannot be determined now. Only when this additional review is completed can any definite conclusions be drawn.

Asked whether there were indications that the black box had been involved in a crash, the Spokesman said that the nothing heard so far on the voice recording appeared to link the CVR to the air crash of 1994. Efforts continued to trace the serial number on the box to see what flight or plane it may have been on.

Asked to explain the recent movements of the black box, the Spokesman said the box containing the tapes had been taken to Washington D.C. where it had been opened up by the National Transportation Safety Board in the presence of an ICAO expert. The tapes were removed from the box and listened to. It was then put back together and brought back to New York. Copies of the tapes were made for ICAO and taken to

Ottawa

for further examination.

The black box with the original tape was back at UN Headquarters.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO IRAQI OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME

Asked if the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is doing anything other than waiting for a response to letters it sent to the Coalition Provisional Authority an Iraqi Governing Council, the Spokesman said OIOS has interviewed a number of people.

It isnt just that theyre waiting for the Governing Council to provide copies of the documentary evidence that some members of the Council indicated that they had, the Spokesman said. So the investigation is proceeding as best it can, and we dont yet know whether we will ever get this evidence from Baghdad.

He added: Whether were going to leave it at that, that nothing came in the mail, or whether well take further steps to try to get at what they claim to have in Baghdad, I cant tell you at this time.

Asked about exactly whom OIOS had interviewed, the Spokesman said it included United Nations and former Oil-for-Food personnel, as well as people outside of the United Nations. I cant get more specific than that, the Spokesman added.

The Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General doesnt have "the authority to investigate some of the other allegations that have been made in the media about wrongdoing by governments or companies."

Asked whether the Secretary-General would favour the Security Councils possible appointment of a commission to investigate the Oil-for Food Programme, the Spokesman said the Security Council will have to decide what it wants to do. I dont think the Secretary-General wants to comment at this time about discussions they may or may not be having about a wider investigation, the Spokesman said.

Asked about the programme's Executive Director Benon Sevans current leave arrangements, the Spokesman said Sevan who is on the verge of retirement is currently taking accumulated leave.

The maximum leave you can accumulate in the UN is two months, after which if you dont take it, you lose it. I dont know how much leave hes lost over the years, but he did have the maximum two months accumulated and I believe hes taking those two months, which ends towards the end of April, after which he goes into retirement, the Spokesman said.

Asked whether OIOS would want to interview Sevan before the end of April, the Spokesman said that undoubtedly they will be talking to him. And they have the option of talking to him as soon as he gets back or if they acre to, calling him back after he goes into retirement but I dont know what their plans are.

Asked if the Secretary-General has been in contact with Sevan and whether he trusts him, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General does trust him.

At the same time, as a responsible administrator, hes got to investigate these allegations against Benon and others, and hes doing that through OIOS, the Spokesman said. He added that he had not seen any record of the Secretary-General talking to Benon since the latter went on vacation.

Asked whether any alleged corruption regarding oil-for-food contracts was something that the UN Oil-for-Food Programme should have had the responsibility to investigate, the Spokesman said the Programme had no responsibility to oversee or investigate the kinds of allegations had been reported in the media.

It would be something for the Security Council through the Sanctions Committee the 661 Committee to look into, the Spokesman said. It would be something for governments, either individual governments to investigate their own national companies, or the Security Council collectively to look at the actions of companies or governments for that matter, in relation to the Oil-for-Food Programme.

BRAHIMI RECEIVED TELEPHONE MESSAGE

FROM AIDE TO IRAQI SHIITE LEADER

Asked to confirm that Ayatollah Sistani had sent a written message to the Secretary-General saying that he wanted the UN to play a role in Iraq, the Spokesman replied that Lakhdar Brahimi had told him this that he had received a telephone message from an aide to Ayatollah Sistani, who said that he was conveying a message from the Ayatollah to the Secretary-General.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had received a letter from the Iraq inviting the United Nations to return to the country, the Spokesman said that as of the time of the Noon Briefing nothing had arrived. He would let correspondents know as soon as he received information that a letter had arrived.

Regarding how soon it would take Mr. Brahimi and a UN electoral team to return to Baghdad after the United Nations was invited back, the Spokesman said that would depend on what kind of request was made by Iraq.

SPECIAL ADVISOR ATTENDS INAUGURATION OF HAITIAN CABINET

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor for Haiti, Reginald Dumas met with Prime Minister Gerard Latortue on Tuesday and will attend the inauguration of Haitis new Cabinet in Port au Prince around

midday today.

Also Tuesday, a UN humanitarian assessment mission went to Saint Marc, 90 kilometers north of Port au Prince. It reported that basic social services and commerce are slowly resuming.

The port area of Port au Prince, the scene of much looting in recent weeks, is now considered secure and is beginning to function.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has started receiving containers of food from the port terminals. WFP has successfully delivered 20 tons of food to schools in Cap Haitien and will be sending a further 70 tons of supplies to the area today.

The Food and Agriculture Organization has reported that Haitis Ministry of Agriculture has been totally looted.

Asked about the law governing the new Government of Haiti, the Spokesman said he was not sure of the legal path followed by Haiti given that its Constitution called for a Parliament, which was currently not functional, to approve a change of President

Regarding the status of Haitis Ambassador to the United Nations, the Spokesman said that the international community was dealing with the Haitis new President. That President had left in place an Ambassador as his representative to the United Nations, a person whose credentials, in any case, had already been recognized by the United nations. If there was no concrete action to withdraw those credentials, that person represented Haiti as far as the United Nations was concerned.

CALL FOR JUSTICE IN SREBRENICA MASSACRE

Kamel Morjane, the Assistant UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has called for those responsible for the Srebrenica massacre to be brought to justice.

Srebrenica was the scene of the worst massacre of the 1992-1995 Bosnia war thousands of men and boys are believed to have been killed by the Bosnian Serb army after it over-ran the town. Morjane made the remarks during a wreath-laying ceremony in the village of Potocari outside Srebrenica.

He also urged the local authorities to help determine the fate of Srebrenicas men most of whom are officially listed as missing. Morjane is currently on a week-long tour of the Balkans.

EFFORTS STEPPED UP TO CONTROL ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE IN DR CONGO

MONUC, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is stepping up efforts to control the illegal flow of arms into the country, which is driven mainly by militias operating North and South Kivu and in Ituri. The missions action is in response to last weeks Security Council resolution.

The resolution authorized the UN Mission to seize arms found in violation of the arms embargo imposed on all foreign and Congolese groups operating in the east of the country.

The Security Council also established a Committee to monitor progress in implementing the arms embargo.

SITUATION FOR NORTH KOREAS CHILDREN IMPROVES

BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, has completed a three-day visit to North Korea her first since 1997.

At a press conference in Seoul today, Bellamy said that despite international isolation and a political impasse with the West, efforts to save and improve the lives of North Korean children are working. She cited vastly improved immunization rates and better systems for dealing with cases of severe malnutrition.

But despite the positive results, Bellamy said North Koreas social service infrastructure is in a severe state of decline and poses serious challenges to the future of children there.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN WAS FEATURED SPEAKER AT DAVID A. MORSE LECTURE: The Secretary-General was the featured speaker last night in the David A. Morse lecture at the Council on Foreign Relations on the theme of the The United Nations and global security in the 21st century. A conversation with Council President Richard Haass was followed by a question-and-answer session with Council members who posed questions on topics ranging from Security Council reform, the UNs role in Iraq, the Oil for Food Programme, efforts to counter terrorism, the High-level panel on change, the Spanish election results, and Myanmar.

ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY CHIEF IN WASHINGTON: Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is today scheduled to meet U.S. President George Bush, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and other senior officials to discuss a range of issues including the IAEAs verification of Iran's nuclear programme. The high-level working meetings will focus on current efforts to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

NO SECURITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TODAY: There is nothing on the mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; weeks Security Council agenda today.

NEW LIST OF LIBERIANS SUBJECT TO TRAVEL BAN: The Security Council Sanctions Committee on Liberia has issued a new list of individuals subject to a travel ban. These include senior members of former President Charles Taylors Government and their spouses and members of Liberias former armed forces who retain links to Taylor.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FACES MAJOR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: Speaking to correspondents in Geneva today, Ramiro Lopes da Silva, Special Humanitarian Advisor for Central African Republic said there were serious problems in that country that could lead to a major humanitarian crisis in the coming months, if not solved. So far, only $700,000 has been pledged against a $16.8 million dollar humanitarian appeal.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS: From 17 to 20 March, the United Nations will host the National High School Model United Nations Conference. The Conference brings together over 2,100 high school students from across the United States and from several other countries, who take on the role of international delegates to the UN.

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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