United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-18

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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

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

BRAHIMI ATTENDS FUNERAL OF ASSASSINATED IRAQI LEADER

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor, Lakhdar Brahimi, this morning attended the funeral of Ezzedine Salim, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council who was assassinated yesterday.

Following speeches by the new head of the Council, Sheikh Ghazi el Yawer and U.S.Administrator Paul Bremer, Brahimi spoke to express his personal condolences and those of the United Nations to Salims family.

In speaking to the mourners, Brahimi explained that he had gotten to know Salim well over the last 10days. He called him a true patriot who was acutely aware of the suffering and aspirations of his fellow Iraqis. Salim worked selflessly to restore sovereignty and rebuild his country, Brahimi said, but in the end he gave his life for his country.

Following the ceremony, which took place on the grounds of the Governing Council, Brahimi met with the governor of Al Anbar province, Abdel Karim Bergis. He also met with the head of Iraqs Central Bank, Sinan el-Chebibi. Lastly Brahimi and his team met with Bremer and his advisors.

ALARM AT ONGOING ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATION IN

GAZA

STRIP

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-Generals Middle East Envoy, is very alarmed by the death and destruction wrought by the ongoing Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Reports say that among the mounting casualty count are many civilians and some children under 16.

In a statement issued today, Roed-Larsen called on Israel, as the occupying power, to act under the framework of international law, most critically in the protection of the civilian population.

The envoy reminds the Government of Israel that it has the responsibility to give free access to humanitarian workers and that if the fighting escalates, which will further endanger civilians, Israel must also allow for search and rescue operations.

On the ground, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says that many Palestinian families are leaving the Rafah camp and are heading north to Khan Yunis, fleeing the fighting and fearing further demolition of homes by Israeli forces.

As many as 500 people have already taken refuge in UNRWA schools in Rafah. UNRWA has pre-positioned emergency supplies such as blankets, mattresses and food at two schools in Rafah, to be used as reception centers for people fleeing and/or becoming homeless.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST

The Security Council has scheduled consultations at 4 p.m. to consider a request for an immediate meeting to consider what the Chairman of the Arab Group describes as the grave and ongoing Israeli violations and breaches of international law, in particular the widespread demolition of Palestinian homes in the Rafah area, and to take the necessary measures in this regard.

NEW U.N. LEGAL COUNSEL APPOINTED

The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Nicolas Michel of Switzerland as the new Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel.

Most recently, Michel has acted as Director of the International Law Directorate in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. He is currently Chairman of the Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law of the Council of Europe.

MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE

AFFECTED BY DARFUR

CRISIS

The latest UN humanitarian profile of Darfur, Sudan, states that there are now in excess of two million conflict-affected people, as compared to 1.1 million people in the previous update of April 2004.

The most recent update posted on Reliefweb also reports that a senior UN humanitarian official was deported from South Darfur, and a UN vehicle carrying food, clearly marked with World Food Programme (WFP) signs, came under attack by the Janjaweed militia last week.

In that attack, two bags of WFP grain were looted, the WFP hired truck driver was robbed, beaten and subsequently hospitalized. The government drivers were also beaten, robbed, and one of the drivers was shot and injured.

Meanwhile, UNICEF said that in Chad, the countdown has begun to the start of the rainy season for humanitarian agencies helping the estimated 137,000 Sudanese refugees in the eastern part of the country. In the rainy season, aid deliveries would become almost impossible.

U.N. ENVOY STARTS VISIT TO NORTH KOREA

Maurice F. Strong will visit the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General from 18 to 22 May to continue the Secretary-Generals initiative aimed at supporting the Beijing process and assisting multilateral efforts to negotiate diplomatically a comprehensive solution to the problems in the Korean Peninsula.

While in Pyongyang, Strong will discuss with the DPRK Government possible ways in which the Secretary-General might be of further help in that regard, as well as humanitarian and economic aspects of this situation.

ANNAN TO HOLD PRESS ENCOUNTER WITH SILVIO BERLUSCONI

The Secretary-General will be meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi this afternoon at 5:00p.m.

Immediately following the meeting, they will hold a short press encounter in the Secretary-Generals conference room.

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR MORE PEACEKEEPING TROOPS

At the end of yesterdays day-long debate on peacekeeping, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement. In the statement, the Council recognizes that meeting the demands of an increasing number of UN peacekeeping missions will require the concerted efforts of the Council, the General Assembly, the Member States and the Secretary-General, so as to ensure that the necessary resources and operational support are provided.

It calls on Member States to contribute sufficient levels of trained troops, police and civilian personnel, and also calls on them to ensure the UN is provided with full political and financial support to meet challenges effectively.

The Council invites the Secretary-General to provide regular assessments of evolving needs in UN peacekeeping in order to identify critical gaps and unmet requirements.

REBELS ATTACK CAMP FOR DISPLACED IN NORTHERN UGANDA

The UN team in Uganda reports and condemns an attack by the rebel group known as the "Lord's Resistance Army" on a camp for internally displaced persons in northern Uganda, in which 39 people were killed and 17 injured.

UN humanitarian officials, together with partners from non-governmental organizations, went to the camp yesterday.

The number of persons internally displaced by fighting in northern Uganda and in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection had increased from 600,000 to over 1.8 million.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF TO START VISIT TO DR

CONGO

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, will begin a weeklong working visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the sub-region tomorrow.

Guéhenno will meet with Congolese authorities to assess the status of the transitional process in the DR Congo and to urge the parties to continue their implementation of the Global All-Inclusive Agreement. He will also travel to Bunia, Bukavu and Uvira, in the east of the country, to review the deployment of the UN Missions Ituri and Kivu Brigades.

After the DR Congo, Guéhenno is scheduled to travel to Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa.

MAURITIUS,

BRAZIL

AND

CHINA

AWARDED UNESCO LITERACY PRIZES

UNESCOs 2004 international literacy prizes have been awarded to programmes in Mauritius, Brazil

and China .

These prizes are awarded in recognition of particularly effective contributions to the fight against illiteracy, one of UNESCOs priorities. This year, the jury focused particularly on candidates whose work promoted gender equality.

One of the prizes is the International Reading Association Literacy Award which goes to a non-governmental organization in Mauritius. The other two prizes are the two King Sejong Literacy Prizes, which this year have been awarded to literacy programmes in Brazil

and in

Chinas Qinghai Province.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DECOLONIZATION SEMINAR OPENS: The UN Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization opened today in Papua New Guinea. In his message to the Seminar, the Secretary-General noted that despite the Organizations proud historic accomplishments in the field of decolonization, the job is incomplete, with 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining on the UN list. It is the duty of the UN and the international community to bring the process of decolonization to a successful donclusion, he said. He hoped that the Seminar would help to devise strategies to support the territories in their quest for self-determination.

URGENT NEED FOR DONATIONS TO HELP FOOD ASSISTANCE IN LIBERIA: The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that unless immediate donations are received, it may be forced to cut back on its food assistance to hundreds of thousands of Liberians. WFP adds that such cuts would undermine the countrys delicate transition towards stability.

MORE INFORMATION ON BLACK BOX EXPECTED TOMORROW: Asked about the progress of the analysis of the "black box" that had been at UN Headquarters, the Spokesman said that a report has come from analysts in Ottawa, and the Office of Internal Oversight Services has drafted an executive summary of that report, which is now being studied. He expected that he would be able to provide more information on Wednesday.

MORE THAN 40,000 BURUNDI REFUGEES RETURN HOME:

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more than 40,700 Burundi

refugees have returned home from camps in Tanzania so far this year. This brings the number of Burundi refugees in Tanzanian camps to below 300,000 for the first time in years.

TOP UN REFUGEE OFFICIAL DENIES IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR: Asked about allegations made against the High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, the Spokesman reiterated a statement issued earlier today by Lubbers: "It has been brought to my attention by Dileep Nair, Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight, Office of Internal Oversight Services, that a complaint about sexual harassment has been filed against me by a UNHCR staff member. The complaint refers to a formal meeting in my office on 18 December, 2003 . The meeting was attended by five other staff members. The complaint was filed on April 27 of this year, more than four months after the alleged harassment. In that meeting of last 18 December, there was no improper behaviour on my part."

U.S.

GOVERNMENTS AIDS DRUGS APPROVAL PROCESS WELCOMED:The World Health Organization today welcomed the U.S. Government's accelerated process for approving HIV/AIDS therapy drugs, which it says will make it easier for people in the developing world to receive simple and effective drugs.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: Cultural sensitivity can help to ensure that development efforts succeed, the UN Population Fund says in a new report. The report, Working from Within: Culturally Sensitive Approaches in UNFPA Programming, highlights approaches and partnerships with local people and institutions in nine countries.

ANNAN TO RECEIVE U.N. FLAG FROM FIRST CHINESE ASTRONAUT: Yang Liwei, the Chinese astronaut who performed his countrys first space flight last year, will meet the Secretary-General tomorrow and will present him with a UN flag that had been on board his flight. In an event beginning tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m., the Secretary-General will receive the UN flag from Yang and will make brief remarks.

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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