United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-04-21

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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, April 21, 2004

ANNAN NAMES PAUL VOLCKER TO CHAIR OIL-FOR-FOOD INQUIRY PANEL

The Spokesman welcomed to the noon briefing Paul Volcker, who will chair the Independent Inquiry on the

Oil for Food Program.

This inquiry will look into allegations of impropriety in the operation and management of the programme.

Volcker currently serves as the chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee.

The other members of the panel, who are not here with us today, are Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who previously headed South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He also served as the chief prosecutor of the international tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. And Marc Pieth of Switzerland, an expert in money laundering and a professor of criminology at the University of Basel.

As he came in to the building this morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan reiterated that the organization takes these allegations seriously and that the membership of the panel reflects that. He added that he wants to get to the bottom of this and looks forward to the report of this respected panel.

According to its terms of reference, the panel will have the authority to:

Investigate whether procedures established by the UN for the management of the programme were violated.

Determine whether any UN officials or contractors engaged in any illicit or corrupt activities in the carrying out of their duties.

Determine whether the accounts of the programme are in order and were maintained according to procedures.

The panel is expected to provide an update on its work within three months.

The report will be submitted to the Secretary-General and, as provided for in the terms of reference, the report will be made public.

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming the inquiry. The resolution also calls upon the Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraq and all other member states to cooperate with the inquiry.

Speaking to reporters at the briefing, Volcker said very important accusations had been made about the United Nations, which need to be resolved and need a deliberate and full investigation. He said he was assured that records and adequate financing will be available and that immunity would be waived if needed.

Asked whether the terms of reference for the investigation are adequate, Volcker said the terms of reference are appropriate and appropriately broad. He emphasized that he would need the support of Governments.

Asked whether he believed his hands were tied, he said he did not, and said he believed he would receive cooperation from governments, and that it was in governments interests to cooperate. He said he expected to have contact with the Iraqi authorities. He said he was told that substantial records exist in Iraq, particularly those of the oil-for-food program.

Volcker said the most urgent priority is to deal with specific allegations of corruption within the United Nations, but there are broader questions about the management of the program. He promised that the investigation would be "as complete as we can make it."

He said he would not expect a conclusive report within three months. The investigation would go as long as it needs to, and the panel would work as fast as it can to do its job thoroughly.

Volcker said the most time-consuming and difficult part may involve the investigation into the workings of the oil-for-food program outside of the United Nations.

He said he interpreted his job as not only to determine what had happened in the past, but to draw lessons on what could be done to avoid problems in the future. He said if his investigation shows anything bad about the United Nations, "Clean it up!"

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE U.N. SYSTEM

ANNAN SAYS PEOPLE OF CYPRUS HAVE HISTORIC DECISION BEFORE THEM: The people of Cyprus have a historic decision before them as they vote in referenda this weekend, to allow a reunited Cyprus to find its place in Europe, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said to reporters, in response to questions asked as he entered the building this morning. He said, "This is an opportunity I hope they will not miss." He said that the parties to the talks have not called for a postponement, and the referenda scheduled for April 24 will go ahead. But he warned that it would be "extremely difficult" to find other means to move forward if the plan is voted down, and he said he hoped the people of Cyprus would bear that in mind as they cast their votes.

"WE AWAIT YOUR CALL," ANNAN TELLS PEOPLE OF CYPRUS: In a message broadcast to the people of Cyprus, the Secretary-General said the plan that was before them would end decades of division and allow a united island to enter into the European Union. "After forty years of conflict, and thirty years of division, the choice before you this Saturday is one of truly historic importance", he said, and "the vision of the plan is simple: reunification and reconciliation, in safety and security, in the European Union." In closing he said the fateful decision can only be made by the people of Cyprus. "We await your call," he told them.

ANNAN TALKS TO PRESS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN BASRA: The Secretary-General expressed his concerns about the violence in Iraq, including todays bombing in Basra, and said that he hoped the attempts to reduce the violence will succeed. Until that is done, he said, security will be a constraint as the UN monitors developments and decides on its future activities.

ANNAN WRITES TO STAFF ABOUT SECURITY: The Secretary-General, in a letter to staff about measures taken following the findings of the

Security in Iraq Accountability Panel, says he "had to impose severe penalties on valued colleagues and friends who were found individually accountable, even while knowing that, as Secretary-General, I bear the ultimate responsibility for the security of UN staff. He also assured staff that they "will not be asked to serve in a dangerous environment except when I am absolutely sure, first, that the mission is of an importance commensurate with the risk and, second, that every possible measure is being taken to minimize that risk."

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES IRAQ/KUWAIT, CYPRUS: The Security Council held closed consultations of the whole on Iraq/Kuwait and Cyprus. The Secretary-General's High-level Coordinator, Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov, briefed the Council on the latest report on the compliance by Iraq with its obligations regarding the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains. The Security Council's consultations on Cyprus will resume at 3 p.m. today.

BRAHIMI TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL NEXT TUESDAY: The Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, is scheduled to brief the Security Council in an open meeting at 3 p.m. next Tuesday. Consultations are scheduled to follow the meeting.

FAR TOO MANY LATIN AMERICANS LIVE IN POVERTY AND HUNGER: In a message for todays launching in Peru of a ground-breaking UN report on democratic development in Latin America, the Secretary-General notes that while great achievements have been made in this area, far too many Latin Americans still live in poverty and hunger. He reflects on the results of opinion polls which reveal that only about 50 percent of Latin Americans prefer democracy to authoritarian rule, and points out that the solution to the regions ills does not lie in a return to authoritarianism but in a stronger and deeper rooted democracy. The Report, written by independent experts, examines the state of democracy in the region and suggests ways to strengthen it by expanding political, civil and social rights.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES RESUMED: The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees today resumed its distribution of emergency food aid to some 600,000 refugees in the Gaza Strip. The Agency had suspended its emergency food program on April 1, following restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities at the sole commercial entry point for Gaza, which prevented UNRWA from transporting empty freight containers out of Gaza. For most of the last two weeks, the Israeli authorities have operated workable arrangements at the entry point, and the Agency now has enough food in Gaza to provide for the needs of the refugees for the next 30 days.

UN MISSION IN DRC CONCERNED OVER REPORTED INCURSIONS INTO RWANDA: The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expressed its concern over reports of armed incursions into Rwanda by members of the Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda, who are operating from the DRC and Burundi. The Mission notes that such activities could pose a grave threat to the peace process in sub-region. The United Nations has stepped up its patrols in the border areas and is conducting a full investigation.

ABUSE AGAINST CONGOLESE CIVILIANS REPORTED: UN humanitarian agencies and their non-governmental partners conducted a mission to Western Kasai Province on Tuesday to assess the needs of some 67,000 Congolese citizens, many of them illegal diamond mine workers, who have been expelled from Angola in recent weeks. The mission revealed urgent humanitarian needs for food, health care, clean water and transport. The United Nations also continues to receive many reports of physical and psychological abuse of Congolese civilians by Angolans searching for hidden diamonds.

INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY INTO SHOOTING INCIDENT IN KOSOVO: In relation to the shooting incident in Kosovo last weekend, four Jordanian police officers appeared yesterday before an international pre-trial judge who ordered them into 30 days detention. The international prosecutor has opened a formal criminal investigation into the incident and under his direction the Central Criminal Investigation Unit of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Police is conducting the police investigation. The body of the deceased Jordanian officer has been flown out of Kosovo. A memorial service for the two U.S. officers who died in the shooting will be held at UNMIK Headquarters tomorrow.

UNITED NATIONS INITIATES MEETING ON GEORGIA: Representatives from Georgia and Abkhazia are meeting at the Geneva International Center for Strategic Research today to discuss issues related to international security guarantees in the conflict zone in Abkhazia.The State Minister of Georgia for Conflict Resolution, Goga Khaindrava, heads the Georgian side, while the Abkhaz side is led by de-facto Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba.International experts and some "Group of Friends" representatives are involved in the meeting as well. The three-day meeting, initiated by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini, started with informal consultations and comes ahead of the next meeting of Group of Friends meeting which is expected to take place by the end of the year.

ASIA MEDIA SUMMIT CONCLUDES IN KUALA LUMPER: The Internet holds enormous promise, for health, trade, education, governance and much else, the Secretary-General says in a message to the Asia Media Summit, which ended today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He stressed, however, that "content providers" need the support of policy makers, as well as an environment in which freedom of expression is assured.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

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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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