United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-04-19

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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

Monday, April 19, 2004

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS

ON MIDDLE EAST FOLLOWING

ISRAELI

ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS LEADER

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued over the weekend,

condemned Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdelaziz Rantissi. He reiterates that extrajudicial killings are violations of international law and calls on the Government of Israel to immediately end this practice.

He is apprehensive that such an action would lead to further deterioration of an already distressing and fragile situation.

The only way to halt an escalation in the violence is for Israelis and Palestinians to work towards a viable negotiating process aimed at a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement, based on the Quartet's Road Map.

The Security Council has begun an open meeting this afternoon on the Middle East, at the request of the Arab Group at the United Nations.

ANNAN REQUESTS SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVAL

OF MANDATE OF U.N. MISSION IN CYPRUS

In a report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General requests that the Security Council endorse the Foundation Agreement, prohibit the supply of arms to Cyprus, and approve the mandate of a new United Nations operation in Cyprus.

This request is being submitted in accordance with the plan, as finalized on 31 March 2004 at the invitation of the parties.

The decisions requested of the Security Council would be contingent on the outcome of the referenda, and would be null and void if the Foundation Agreement did not enter into force for any reason.

As for the new UN operation on the island, its mandate would include, among others, monitoring and verification of compliance by the parties of the provisions of the plan relating to troops withdrawals, the dissolution of local forces, and police activities.

It would enjoy freedom of movement throughout the island. It would be comprised of some 2,500 troops, 750 police officers, and a substantial number of civilian staff, both national and international.

INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY INTO POLICE SHOOT-OUT IN KOSOVO

Three international UN police officers were killed and 11 injured in a shoot-out at the Mitrovica detention center on Saturday in Kosovo. Among the deceased are two American officers and a Jordanian officer.

Vehicles carrying the Americans, and others, were fired upon by at least one officer from a group of five Jordanian Special Police Unit officers on guard at the detention center.

At this stage, there are no conclusions on the reason for the shooting. An investigation, under the direction of the UN police commissioner, has begun. The immunity of four Jordanian officers has been lifted during the arrest, detention and pre-trial investigation process.

Harri Holkeri, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, and a speedy recovery for the injured.

Asked whether there had been any contact between the American and Jordanian police prior to the shooting, the Spokesman said he did not think enough was known to offer any details at this time.

MORE THAN 50,000 DISPLACED IN SOUTHERN SUDAN

The "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: UN Humanitarian Office for Sudan has expressed concern at the humanitarian consequences of conflict in the northern Upper Nile region of southern Sudan, and is urging all armed groups to protect the lives, property and human rights of civilians and to cease attacks on civilian targets.

It says that since early March, at least 50,000 people have been displaced by militia attacks and clashes between Government of Sudan and rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) forces in the area.

Villages have been burnt. while looting and rapes have been reported. Civilian infrastructure, including schools and clinics, have been destroyed.

UN and non-governmental aid organisations in the humanitarian "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: Operation Lifeline Sudan consortium, working in the SPLM/A-held areas, have been forced to suspend operations and relocate staff several times this year due to the conflict. The latest suspension began on 30 March and remains in force due to continuing insecurity.

EXPULSIONS LEAD TO

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN DR

CONGO

The Angolan Governments policy of expelling Congolese civilians who have been working illegally in Angola as manual diamond miners, is reported to be leading to an acute humanitarian crisis in the south west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that some 20,000 Congolese have been forcibly expelled from Angola across the Tungila River in the past year and returned to remote areas of southwestern DR Congo.

A further 40,000 arrivals have been registered since the beginning of April, with more than 2,500 people arriving every day. This number is likely to be much higher as many of them are not passing through registration points.

OCHA and its humanitarian partners are determining the immediate needs of the returnees in food, water and transportation assistance, especially for the river crossing, where people are already reported to have drowned.

UN TRIBUNAL AFFIRMS BOSNIAN SERB FORCES COMMITTED

GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA

The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today affirmed that Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide in Srebrenica in 1995. Dismissing an appeal in the case of a Bosnian Serb Commander, Radislav Krstic, the appeals chamber ruled that, by seeking to eliminate a part of the Bosnian Muslims, the Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide.

The Tribunal also affirmed Krstics guilt and handed him a sentence of 35 years in prison, a reduction from the 46 years he had been sentenced to by the trial chamber.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSING

RESOLUTION

ON

OIL-FOR-FOOD PANEL

Asked about a possible Security Council resolution concerning the independent inquiry related to the Oil for Food Programme, the Spokesman said that Security Council members were discussing a possible resolution.

He said he would not interfere in that process by indicating the Secretary-Generals own preferences on that issue.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had spoken to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, he said they had spoken by phone on Saturday.

The UN Comptroller has transferred a further $500 million from the Oil for Food escrow account to the Development Fund for Iraq. This brings the total transferred to date to $8.1 billion.

Asked about the travels of the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Spokesman said that while he was in Paris at the end of last week on a private visit, Brahimi met with the French and German Foreign Ministers. Brahimi is in Italy, he added, attending to previously scheduled engagements. He is also expected to meet with Italian officials while in the country. Asked about Brahimis plans for the transfer of power in Iraq, the Spokesman added that Brahimi had not presented a fleshed-out proposal, and had indicated his intention to go back to Iraq for further consultations.

HAITIS POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS SEVERE IMPACT ON CHILDREN

A nationwide assessment, conducted by UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, in Haiti last month, shows that the recent political violence has had a severe impact on Haiti's children, particularly the most vulnerable, such as the 2,000 children living in the streets of Port-au-Prince, and the 120,000 girls who work as domestic servants.

Among other findings, the study finds that children were recruited by armed gangs in almost a third of the surveyed zones and that many children who participated in violent activities now fear retribution for their actions.

ONE MILLION AFGHANS EXPECTED TO RETURN HOME IN 2004

"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: One million Afghans are expected to return to their homes this year, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said while visiting "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; Afghanistan."Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;

That number includes some 50,000 to 100,000 displaced persons who have been living mostly in southern and western Afghanistan.

LEGACY OF PAST ABUSES MUST BE CONFRONTED TO BUILD RECONCILIATION

The painful legacy of past abuses must be confronted if we are to build reconciliation after conflicts, the Secretary-General says in a "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: message to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In a message to the Unions 110th assembly, which began yesterday in Mexico City, the Secretary-General says that perpetrators must be prosecuted, but criminal justice must be combined with efforts to acknowledge the suffering of victims and to deal with the root causes.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO U.N. JOB OFFER MADE TO FORMER PRESIDENT OF

GEORGIA: Asked about reports that the UN had offered Eduard Shevardnadze the post of advisor to the Secretary-General, the Spokesman said it appeared there had been some confusion arising from a meeting between UNICEFs deputy assistant Executive Director, Kul Gautam and Mr Shevardnadze last Friday. It had nothing to do with the Secretary-General, the spokesman said. He added that as a result of the confusion, Lance Clark, the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, met today with the former President to review last Fridays discussion, and thanked Shevardnadze for his willingness to help.

BLACK BOX TESTING CONTINUES: Asked about the analysis of the contents of the black box found at UN Headquarters, the Spokesman said he had nothing new to report, and noted that the kind of testing being done could take weeks to perform.

ST. KITTS HAS PRESENTED

CANDIDATE FOR RWANDA COURT VACANCY: Out today is a letter from the Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council, concerning the resignation of Judge Lloyd George Williams, of St Kitts and Nevis, from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He notes that St Kitts has presented another candidate, Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron, to replace Judge Williams.

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION LACKS CAPACITY TO PROTECT FORESTS: Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region are developing positive policies to protect their forests but many still lack the capacity to deal with illegal logging, forest fires, and forest rehabilitation, "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. These are some of the issues to be discussed at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission which starts today in Fiji.

DEGRADATION REMAINS PRESSING CHALLENGE FOR MEKONG RIVER: Environmental degradation remains one of the pressing challenges in the five countries which share the Mekong River, but wise stewardship could ensure sustainable livelihoods for its people. This is message of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Atlas of the Environment, the first of its kind, which was jointly published today by the Asian Development Bank and the UN Environment Programme.

COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OPENS MAIN PART OF SESSION: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: The Commission on Sustainable Development opened the main part of its twelfth session today in New York, to review the progress made in meeting global targets on water, sanitation and slums.

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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