United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-03-26

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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

Friday, March 26, 2004

UN ELECTORAL TEAM ARRIVES IN IRAQ

Today at 9:45 a.m. (New York time), the United Nations electoral team, headed by Carina Perelli, arrived in Baghdad. The team is made up of electoral experts and security support.

Asked what the team will do, the Spokesman said that the Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority had asked the United Nations to help them prepare for elections that would be held before the end of next January. The teams work is a technical exercise.

In response to a question, the Spokesman confirmed that the Coalition Provisional Authority and Governing Council were providing the primary security for the UN team. He said that, during the previous UN teams visit, the security provided by those bodies was more than adequate, but it is still a dangerous environment.

Asked whether the Secretary-General believes that existing Security Council resolutions are adequate for the continued presence of US forces, the Spokesman declined to comment, noting that the Security Council was considering the issue.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE LETTER ON OIL-FOR-FOOD INQUIRY

Asked about the investigation into corruption allegations concerning the oil-for-food program, the Spokesman said that, although the names of the panelists for that investigation will not be finalized until next week, the Secretary-General has decided to send the terms of reference for that panel to the Security Council by the end of today.

An announcement on the panelists is expected to follow sometime next week.

Asked about the informal meeting between the Secretary-General and the members of the Security Council on Thursday, concerning the panel, the Spokesman said that Council members had a few minor suggestions to make. But the members, across the board, declared their support for the investigation.

It will be up to the Security Council, once it has seen the letter on the panel, to decide how it would be paid for, he said in answer to another question. He said it was assumed that the investigation would be paid for out of the regular budget.

Asked about any response from the Iraqi Governing Council to the request for cooperation with the investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into the allegations, the Spokesman said he did believe that there had been a response from the Governing Council.

ANNAN EXPECTED TO ATTEND CYPRUS TALKS IN SWITZERLAND

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to arrive Saturday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, where the talks involving the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties, with the participation of Greece and Turkey, are underway.

The Secretary-General has asked that all concerned be in a position to make final commitments at Bürgenstock. He will be personally involved in the effort as it draws to an end.

ANNAN CALLS FOR MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR RWANDA GENOCIDE

The Secretary-General this morning said he has written to all the worlds Heads of State and Government, asking them to honor the Rwandan Governments request that the world observe a minute of silence on April 7, to mark the Rwandan genocide.

That minute of silence would take place at noon, local time, in every time zone, on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the genocide. The Secretary-General urged all people, everywhere, to set aside what they are doing at noon that day, saying, Let us be united in a way we were not ten years ago.

Speaking to a memorial conference on the genocide, organized by Rwanda and Canada, the Secretary-General realized after the genocide that he would and should have done more to sound the alarm and rally support. That painful memory, he added, has influenced much of his thinking as Secretary-General.

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS, DISCUSSES SIERRA LEONE

The Security Council this morning unanimously approved three resolutions respectively, on the two war crimes tribunals, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the UN Mission in Afghanistan.

It called on the tribunals dealing with Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia to review their caseloads as they prepare their completion strategy and to report to the Council by May 31 on their progress in that effort.

That resolution also called on all States to intensify their cooperation to bring indicted persons to the Tribunals.

The second resolution says that the Counter-Terrorism Committee will now be assisted by an Executive Directorate. It also asked the Secretary-General to name the head of that Directorate within 45 days.

In the third resolution, the Council extended the UN Mission in Afghanistan for 12 months.

The Council then went into consultations on Sierra Leone. The Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Daudi Mwakawago, briefed Council members on the Secretary-Generals recent report on Sierra Leone. That report suggests that a residual peacekeeping mission be deployed in that country once the current UN Mission concludes its work at the end of this year.

Council members also received a briefing from the Secretariat on the recent developments in Cote dIvoire. Council President Jean Marc de La Sabliere afterward spoke to the press, expressing the Council members concerns about the violence that had taken place in that country.

MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTION VETOED BY UNITED STATES

The Security Council on Thursday failed to adopt a resolution on the Middle East, concerning the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, after the United States exercised its veto. The vote Thursday afternoon was eleven in favor, one against and three abstentions (namely, the United Kingdom, Germany and Romania).

Asked whether the Secretary-General accepted Israels argument that the assassination was conducted in self-defence, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General respects the right of Israel to defend itself, but he would not condone targeted assassinations, which are contrary to international law.

Asked whether Israel has asked for any UN role in the withdrawal from Gaza, the Spokesman said that no specifics were discussed during Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shaloms meeting earlier this week with the Secretary-General.

UN AGENCIES MAY HAVE TO REDUCE RELIEF OPERATIONS IN GAZA

The heads of the United Nations agencies may have to reduce or terminate some critical humanitarian relief operations in Gaza due to new movement restrictions imposed on UN personnel and humanitarian assistance by the Government of Israel.

For the last three weeks, nearly all UN and other humanitarian agency vehicles have been prohibited from crossing through the Erez checkpoint. In addition, the movement of food containers through Karni the only commercial crossing point in Gaza is currently obstructed.

These unacceptable limitations on access for humanitarian staff and goods are undermining UN operational capability to deliver essential services and food relief to Gazas civilian population. These operations provide more than half of Gazas essential social services, as well as food assistance to several hundred thousand people. Any cutbacks will lead to a further deterioration of the already fragile humanitarian situation in Gaza.

UNHCR HELPS DISPLACED TEACHERS TO RETURN TO LIBERIA

A first group of displaced Liberian teachers have gone home under plans to resume basic services and restore normalcy for tens of thousands of returnees in post-conflict Liberia.

According to the UN refugee agency, this morning, the group of 47 teachers together with about 100 family members boarded trucks in Monrovia and left for Grand Gedeh county, in eastern Liberia. They had fled their homes and jobs at a High School there at the height of the conflict last year.

According to the UNHCR representative in Liberia, Moses Okello, the opening of schools by the Government is a symbolic first step towards nationwide, coordinated efforts for return and reintegration.

ILO WELCOMES REPORT URGING RETHINKING ON GLOBALIZATION

Terming it "ground-breaking," the United Nations labour agency has welcomed a new report that calls for an "urgent rethink" of globalization to ensure that benefits are to be more fairly distributed.

During a two-week session in Geneva that ended Thursday, employer, worker and government representatives at the ILO said the report, was a balanced and coherent analysis of the social impact of globalization.

The study, entitled: A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All was presented by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization. It calls for increased development assistance and measures to improve governance and accountability, including fairer rules for international trade, investment, finance and migration.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM TO OPEN IN SOUTH KOREA

The Global Ministerial Environment Forum will open next Monday in Jeju, Republic of Korea. More than one hundred Environment Ministers are expected to gather for two days. They will discuss problems related to water, sanitation and human settlements, as well as ways to strengthen the UN Environment Programmes scientific and technical capacities.

Mondays opening session will include the launching of the 2003 Global Environment Outlook Year Book, which sets out the environmental milestones of the past year. This year, the book focuses on the problems associated with the nearly 150 oxygen-starved or 'dead zones' in the worlds oceans and seas.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UN REVIEWING ITS WORK IN KOSOVO: Asked about UN views on Kosovo, the Spokesman said that, given the riots, killings and destruction that took place, a review is underway at the United Nations. The four pillars of the Kosovo Mission have met to consider the impact of the disturbances on their work.

UN TEAM HAS NOT YET ENDED WORK IN HAITI: Asked whether the UN team in Haiti has returned, the Spokesman said that the main part of the team wont return until next weekend.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVELS TO EUROPE: UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will be meeting European Union officials in Strasbourg and Brussels from March 29 to April 1. The visit is part of an agreed agenda of strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union.

UNHCR NOTES MOVEMENTS OF SUDANESE REFUGEES IN CHAD: The UN refugee agency is reporting heightened movement along the Chad-Sudan border. On Thursday, UNHCR transferred the largest number of refugees in one day so far, in its operation to relocate tens of thousands of refugees from the volatile Chad-Sudan border to safer locations in the interior of Chad before the start of the rainy season. Convoys brought 1,336 refugees to five camps throughout the vast border region.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, March 29

The Secretary-General is expected to be present as the Cypriot parties meet in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in their effort to agree to a finalized text.

After he leaves Switzerland, the Secretary-General is expected to visit Tunis early this week to attend the Summit of the League of Arab States.

The Global Environment Forum will open in Jeju, South Korea.

Tuesday, March 30

The Security Council expects to hold a formal meeting to consider a draft resolution on the mandate of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone.

Wednesday, March 31

This is the last day of the French Presidency of the Security Council. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger of Germany will take over the Council Presidency for April.

The guest at the noon briefing will be the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis.

Thursday, April 1

Incoming Council President Gunter Pleuger expects to hold bilateral meetings with other Security Council members on the program of work for April.

Friday, April 2

The Chief Executives Board will hold its first semi-annual session for the year in Vienna, and the Secretary-General is expected to attend.

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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