United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-14

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, May 14, 2004

MYANMAR: ANNAN URGES FULL PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL CONVENTION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a

statement issued through his Spokesman, is disappointed to learn that an agreement has not been reached for the participation of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and some other ethnic nationality parties in the National Convention due to begin on 17 May.

He believes that the opportunity represented by the National Convention should not be missed. He therefore urges all parties concerned, even at this late hour, to make every effort in the next two days to reach an agreement, taking into account suggestions made by the NLD and by other political and ethnic nationality parties, and to move the democratization and national reconciliation process forward.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the removal of all the remaining restrictions imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy, U Tin Oo, and the reopening of NLD offices, so that the National Convention can be reconvened in an all-inclusive manner with all political parties, including the NLD and ethnic nationality parties.

ANNAN DISMAYED AT PUBLIC ATTACKS BY ERITREAN AUTHORITIES

The Secretary-General, in a

statement released through his Spokesman, is dismayed at the recent public attacks made by the Eritrean authorities against the

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and its staff, as well as the restrictions imposed on its operations.

UNMEE has investigated each and every allegation made against it and has shared the outcome, where appropriate, with the Government of Eritrea. UNMEE has further taken action, and continues take action on the allegations brought to its attention. However, the tone and scope of the allegations made by the Eritrean authorities can seriously impact on the effectiveness of the Mission in the performance of its mandated tasks, and could also endanger the security of its personnel.

The Secretary-General expresses his hope that the Government of Eritrea will engage UNMEE in a constructive manner, allowing the Mission to continue carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Algiers Agreements and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

IRAQ: TOMORROW IS NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The Secretary-Generals Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, is in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil today, where this afternoon, he is holding talks with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani.

Carina Perelli, who heads the UN electoral mission to

Iraq, spoke to the press in Baghdad yesterday and said that May 15 is the deadline to accept candidates for the independent electoral commission for Iraq. Anyone can be nominated for that commission, she added.

Meanwhile, Perelli said, her team will be holding public meetings so that Iraqis can have a say in the rules that are to guide the process for elections next January. The team has also been dealing with the Iraqi Governing Council and its legislative committee dealing with elections, to obtain agreement for an electoral law.

CÔTE DIVOIRE: SECURITY COUNCIL URGES THOSE RESPONSIBLE

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

The first item on the Security Council consultations agenda today was

Cote dIvoire.

The acting

High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan briefed members on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry established by his office at the request of the Secretary-General on events which took place on 25 and 26 March in Abidjan.

[Following the consultations, the Security Council President read a press statement, in which Council members urged that those responsible for human rights violations, in particular those committed on 25 and 26 March, be held accountable. Council members also expressed their determination to consider concrete steps to ensure that those responsible for all human rights violations perpetrated in Côte dIvoire since September 2002 are held accountable for their actions.]

In Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said today that, in accordance with the Linas-Marcoussis agreement of January 2003, it was in the process of setting up an independent commission of inquiry to look into serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law which occurred in that country between 19 September 2002 and the signing of the agreement.

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP D.R. OF CONGO, TIMOR LESTE

The Security Council also held consultations on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It later issued a Presidential Statement expressing serious concern about recent reports of incursions into the DRC by elements of the Rwandan army and of incursions by FDLR militia operating in Eastern DRC into Rwandan territory.

The Council called for the DRC and Rwandan Governments to jointly investigate these reports and to continue to take steps to normalise their relations.

In a formal meeting, the Security Council adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the

UN mission of Support in East Timor for a period of six months, with a view to subsequently extending the mandate for a further and final period of six months, until 20 May 2005.

SPANISH DIPLOMAT APPOINTED TO HEAD NEW COUNTER-TERRORISM BODY

The Secretary-General, in a letter to the Security Council President, has informed members of his intention to Javier Ruperez of Spain as Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate at the Assistant Secretary-General level.

The Security Council requested the Secretary-General to make the appointment in Resolution 1535, which restructured the

Counter-Terrorism Committee. The Executive Directorate was established as a special political mission for an initial period ending 31 December 2007, subject to a comprehensive review by the Council by the end of 2005, and will be headed by an Executive Director.

The Security Council President, Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, later told the press that the Councils response, concurring with the appointment of Ruperez had been sent to the Secretary-General.

TOP U.N HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL ALARMED AT VIOLENCE IN GAZA

The acting

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, says he is alarmed over the violence and death toll following Israeli incursions into Gaza this week.

Ramcharan urges all concerned to stop the violence in Gaza and to resume negotiations, in line with the calls of the

Quartet, aimed at securing a lasting settlement and respect for all human rights.

He emphasizes the duty of protection of human rights even in armed conflict and appeals to all concerned to live up to this obligation.

WESTERN SAHARA: REFUGEE AGENCY RENEWS FAMILY VISITS

The

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has expanded its

family visit programme between refugees in Algeria and their relatives back in the Territory of

Western Sahara.

This morning, UNHCR started a month-long series of flights between Algeria's refugee camps and the city of Smarra. Smarra is the third Western Saharan city to be included in the confidence-building initiative, which has been underway since March 5.

To date, more than 420 people both refugees and residents of the Territory have participated in the weekly flights, many of them seeing family members for the first time in decades.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPOKESMAN UNAWARE OF CHARGES AGAINST SENIOR OFFICIAL: Asked about a request by the UN Staff Council for an investigation into charges of impropriety concerning the head of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the Spokesman said he was unaware of any such charges, or of the Staff Councils actions. The Staff Councils request would be reviewed once it is received, he added.

NUMBER OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN BURUNDI REDUCED BY HALF: There are as half as many people in camps for internally displaced persons in Burundi as there were two years ago, according to a new survey led by the

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The results of the survey show that the number of the displaced persons dropped from 281,000 in 2002 to some 140,000 today.

ANNAN HAS MESSAGE FOR SAHEL-SAHARAN STATES TO MEET: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, will deliver a message on behalf of the Secretary-General at the sixth Summit of the 18-member Community of Sahelo-Saharan States which will take place in Bamako, Mali from May 15 to 16. Ould-Abdallah is on his way back from Tunisia where, as a member of a tripartite delegation from Cameroon, Nigeria, and the United Nations, he had meetings with officials from the African Development Bank as part of efforts to muster financial and diplomatic support for the work of the

Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.

CONVENTION ON POLLUTANTS ENTERS INTO FORCE: The

2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants enters into force on Monday May 17, marking the start of an international effort to rid the world of some of the most

toxic chemicals known to humankind. The

UN Environment Programme

says the Convention will save lives and protect the natural environment particularly in the poorest communities and countries. It adds that under the Convention, more than $500 million will be channeled into an overdue and urgently needed initiative to ensure that future generations dont have to live as we do with measurable quantities of these toxic chemicals stored in their bodies.

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO CLEAN SEAS: The

UN Environment Programme took part today in the launch of the WET-WASH campaign in Cairns, northern Australia. WET-WASH stands for Wasterwater Emission Targets Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All and is aimed at cleaning up our seas by ensuring that people have access to toilets and safe drinking water.

DRUG AND CRIME OFFICE TO COOPERATE WITH SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF SECURITY STUDIES:

Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of the

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, and Peter Gastrow, Director, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Cape Town, South Africa,

signed today a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation and the information exchange between the two organizations. The Institute is an expert institution in the field of crime prevention, criminal justice and related security fields.

TOMORROW IS

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES: In his

message for the day, the Secretary-General notes that the well-being of families has become a central focus of all concerned with national development and poverty eradication. He urges Governments, civil society and individuals to keep working for policies that recognize and support the contributions each family makes to its members, its community and its society. Also issued were messages from the

UN Childrens Fund and the

UN Population Fund.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, May 17

The Security Council will hold an open debate on UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General is scheduled to speak at that debate.

The World Health Assembly will begin in Geneva.

Today is International Telecommunications Day.

Tuesday, May 18

At 3:40 p.m., Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis intends to brief the press, following his meeting with the Secretary-General.

Wednesday, May 19

The Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by consultations, on Iraq. Council members also intend to hold their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General.

Thursday, May 20

The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Under-Secretary-General for Management Catherine Bertini, who will discuss the work of the Fifth Committee.

Friday, May 21

The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing, followed by consultations, on the Middle East.

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, K.Y. Amoako, will attend a meeting by African Cabinet ministers in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss economic growth and trade issues.

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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