United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-19

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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

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

ANNAN CONDEMNS KILLING OF PALESTINIAN DEMONSTRATORS IN GAZA;

URGES IMMEDIATE HALT TO ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATIONS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a

statement released through his Spokesman, strongly condemns the killing and injury of Palestinian demonstrators in

southern Gaza today. He calls on Israel to immediately halt the military operations.

The killing of peaceful demonstrators, many of them women and children, has distressed the Secretary-General, who sends his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims.

The Secretary-General has repeatedly warned Israel, including yesterday via his

Middle East envoy, that it must abide by its obligations as an occupying power, which include protecting the civilian population and eschewing the disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force.

[In a separate

statement, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said today it is deeply concerned about the impact on children of the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip, particularly a missile strike Wednesday that claimed the lives of at least 10 Palestinians, many of them children.]

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON IRAQ;

SCHEDULES CONSULTATIONS ON MIDDLE EAST

The

Security Council began its work today with the quarterly briefing on

Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom, in compliance with

Resolution 1483.

The public meeting was followed by closed consultations on Iraq.

Council members are scheduled to hold their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General.

Then at 3:30 p.m., the Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on a draft resolution on the

Middle East introduced in yesterdays consultations.

UN TEAM RECEIVES NOMINATIONS FOR IRAQI ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The

UN Electoral Assistance team in

Iraq reports that it received more than 1,800 nominations for the top posts of an Independent Electoral Commission.

The nomination process was open to all Iraqis from May 2 to May 15. And despite the security situation, names from all 18 governorates were received.

The United Nations is currently processing the nominations at a secure location to produce a short list of 20 nominees for seven Commissioner jobs and five nominees for the one Chief Electoral Officer.

Those nominees would be interviewed by a UN panel of international electoral experts to whittle the list down to some 15 nominees for Commissioner and three for Chief Electoral Officer.

These final lists will then be submitted to the Iraqi Governing Council to rank the nominees, after which, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer will appoint the top nominees in his capacity as the Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority by May 31.

Asked if Paul Bremer would have the right to veto members of the Commission, the Spokesman said Bremer does not have the right to add names to the list submitted to him and he must chose from the names submitted to him by the United Nations.

BRAHIMI CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS IN IRAQ

Lakhdar Brahimi, the

Secretary-Generals Special Advisor, met today with Ibrahim Mohammad Bahr al-Ulloum,

Iraqs current oil minister.

He also had an opportunity to meet with the leaders of Baghdads Provincial Council, who represent some 7 million Iraqis living around the capital.

Later in the day, he also briefed representatives of European Union countries in Iraq on his current mission.

VOLCKER TO BRIEF JOURNALISTS THURSDAY ON OIL-FOR-FOOD INQUIRY

Paul Volcker, the Chair of the Independent Panel on the

Oil-for-Food Programme, will be the guest at the noon nriefing on Thursday to update journalists on the work of the panel.

Asked about the internal management audits of the Office of the Iraq Programme that have been leaked to the press, the Spokesman said these audits are internal management tools that are used as a corrective mechanism.

A reading of the document, the Spokesman went on to say, shows that these audits are a dialogue between the auditors and the managers, where one party raises concern and the other responds. It is normal, Eckhard added, that there may be some disagreements. He underscored that this procedure is meant to correct whatever management issues might exist.

Pressed as to why these documents are not shared with the press, the Spokesman said these were internal management documents and that they are shared with Secretariat officials as well as the Board of External Auditors.

Asked repeatedly why, in light of this particular leak, the Secretariat was not going to share all of its documents with the press, the Spokesman said that the UNs policy was unchanged. As stated previously, Eckhard said, all of the Oil For Food documents have been secured and made available to the Volcker panel and it will be up to him to decide on a release of documents, if necessary.

Questioned on the status of the Office of the Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) within the Secretariat, the Spokesman said it was an independent body. Pressed on why then the Secretariat appeared to deciding what documents, if any, OIOS could release, the Spokesman stressed that OIOS made its own precise rules and that he was merely relaying those rules. The spokesman said he would ask the head of OIOS, Dileep Nair, to brief the press directly.

Asked if the Secretary-General was aware of the relationship between his predecessor, Boutros Boutros Ghali and a Panamanian oil trading company, the Spokesman said he was not and added that the journalists should contact Boutros Ghali directly.

TIMOR LESTE TAKES OVER POLICE DUTIES FROM UNITED NATIONS

Today in Dili, the Government of Timor Leste took over all responsibility for policing and external security from the

UN Mission, in a colorful signing ceremony.

Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, said, This is an historic occasion and an important milestone in Timor-Lestes history as an independent sovereign state.

Sharma and other UN officials this afternoon signed documents with Timorese President Xanana Gusmão and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri that turn over security responsibilities to the Timorese.

At midnight, the current UN mandate in Timor-Leste expires, although the UN Mission will stay on with a reduced peacekeeping and civilian presence for another year.

JORDANIAN OFFICERS CLEARED IN KOSOVO SHOOTING

Regarding the

investigation into the shooting incident at the Mitrovica Detention Centre in

Kosovo last month, investigations had

centered on four Jordanian Special Police Unit officers for the offence of refraining from providing help.

One of them was additionally investigated for assistance to commit aggravated murder and assistance to commit grievous bodily harm.

The International Public Prosecutor has concluded that there are no reasonable suspicions that any of the four officers has committed any offence.

Accordingly, the investigation against the four has ended and the fourth officer has been released from detention the three others had earlier been released from detention after 15 days.

DARFUR: HUMANITARIANS RACE TO BRING IN AID BEFORE RAINY SEASON

As the June rainy season approaches in Darfur,

Sudan, UN humanitarian agencies and their non-governmental organization partners are

racing to bring aid to people in need.

Efforts are centering on bringing food, shelter, cooking supplies and medical care to the conflict-torn region of Sudan.

The UN Childrens Fund has expressed alarm at the vulnerability of displaced women and children among those displaced from their homes.

UNITED NATIONS AND BRAZIL TEAM UP TO FIGHT HUNGER

James Morris, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), is in Brazil for talks with top officials on strengthening its partnership with the Government to fight world hunger.

Last January, during a meeting in Geneva, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

proposed a World Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and signed a joint declaration with the Secretary-General, President Jacques Chirac of France and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos.

One of the objectives of the Alliance is to create a fund against hunger, which would be replenished with levies imposed on arms transactions, international financial operations or other financial mechanisms. Donor countries and the private sector would also participate with voluntary contributions.

NEW PRESIDENT FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD

Professor Hamid Ghodse, an international drug control expert from Iran, was

elected the new President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) as it began its 80th session in Vienna this week.

Ghodse is Professor of Psychiatry and International Drug Policy at the University of London and the Director of the International Centre for Drug Policy at St. Georges Medical School. He has been a member of the INCB since 1992.

ANNAN ACCEPTS U.N. FLAG THAT FLEW ABOARD CHINESE SPACECRAFT

The Secretary-General met Chinas first astronaut, Yang Liwei, in his office to congratulate China on the success of its first manned space mission.

The Secretary-General also received from Colonel Yang the UN flags that he took with him on his space flight.

In thanking the Colonel, the Secretary-General

said the flag is a sign of great importance and is an affirmation of your belief and your support for this organization.

The Secretary-General added that the flight was a great achievement and that the United Nations has a very keen interest in space, particularly

the peaceful uses of outer space.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Asked if the Secretary-General was going to meet with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers in light of the sexual harassment allegations, the Spokesman said the High Commissioner would be in New York tomorrow, and later said that the two was scheduled to meet. He added they had also spoken by phone.

SECURITY REPORT: Asked about the review underway of UN security system, the Spokesman said that this report would be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly this fall.

BLACK BOX: The Spokesman said the Office of Internal Oversight Services is expected to have its report on Monday on the black box from

Rwanda, which had been discovered on UN premises earlier this year.

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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