United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-20

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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

Thursday, May 20, 2004

ANNAN CONCERNED BY POLITICAL EVENTS IN CÔTE DIVOIRE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply concerned by the disturbing turn of events in Côte dIvoire over the past few days, in particular with regard to the recent announcement by the President of suspension of support to the opposition ministers and the announcement by the Forces Nouvelles that they are withdrawing their remaining staff from Abidjan to Bouaké.

The Secretary-General wishes to reiterate his appeals to all Ivorian parties to stop mutual recriminations, to implement faithfully their commitments under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and to immediately resume political dialogue, with a view to ensuring the effective functioning of the Government of National Reconciliation.

He calls on all parties concerned to desist from any action that may lead to further violence and confrontation, which would have tragic consequences for the people of Côte dIvoire and the West African region.

The Secretary-General urges all parties in Côte dIvoire to cooperate with the Monitoring Committee and his Special Representative in the resumption of a meaningful dialogue and the resolution of outstanding issues on the basis of mutual respect and accommodation.

BRAHIMI MEETS RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE IN IRAQ

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor, Lakhdar Brahimi, today met the representative in Iraq of the International Committee for the Red Cross, Pierre Gassmann. Their discussion focused on the situation of detainees being held in Abu Ghraib and other prisons and detention centers in Iraq. In this context, a number of issues were discussed including due process rights, the whereabouts of the detainees and the conditions of their detention.

Brahimi said he was concerned about the situation of the detainees and had raised these issues publicly, both in Baghdad and in his report to the Security Council last month. He urged the ICRC to engage with the new caretaker government to find solutions to all the outstanding problems regarding the detainees.

Brahimi also met a group of Iraqi former political prisoners who has been imprisoned for over 10 years by the previous regime. They briefed him on the specific problems facing former political prisoners and the lack of progress in the rehabilitation and compensation of victims of past human rights abuses.

He also met a group of representatives of the Turkmen community.

Brahimi and his team have been in Iraq for two weeks to assist with the formation of the new interim government to which sovereignty will be transferred on June 30. He has been listening to the views of hundreds of Iraqis regarding the composition of this caretaker government, the idea of a national conference, and the electoral process.

Brahimi said he trusts there is a good basis for consensus on a government that will effectively serve the interests of the Iraqi people for the forthcoming period of transition. Brahimi will continue this process of broad consultation until consensus is achieved on the composition, structure and powers of the interim government.

Asked whether it was important to bring Baathists back into the government, the Spokesman said that Brahimi was trying to encourage consensus among Iraqis on a representative government. He has said in the past that he though the de-Baathification of Iraq had been too extreme but he has no formula for how many Baathists should be included. Brahimi, he added, intends to ensure that all Iraqis are represented, and that competent and honest people are brought into the government. Brahimi, the Spokesman emphasized, is just helping the Iraqis and not naming names.

SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES BRIEFING ON REFUGEE CRISES

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers gave an open briefing to the Security Council, drawing attention to the humanitarian crises in Darfur, Sudan and West Africa.

He focused on how lines of conflict frequently run across state boundaries and in that context, urged the Security Council, to pay greater attention to finding a formula for peacekeeping missions to operate in cross border conflict situations, where appropriate and where endorsed by governments. He cited as an example Chad, where there are strong indications that armed elements are operating on both sides of the border with Sudan.

Asked when the Office of Internal Oversight Services report on the High Commissioner would be finished, the Spokesman noted that the High Commissioner said he hoped it would be finished quickly.

Asked whether the allegations made against Lubbers would come up when the Secretary-General meets the High Commissioner this afternoon, the Spokesman said it might, but noted that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the situation in Darfur.

SECURITY COUNCIL GRAVELY CONCERNED BY RAFAH HOME DESTRUCTION

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Security Council adopted a resolution expressing its grave concern at the destruction by Israel of homes in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rafah.

The resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 14 in favor, with one abstention, from the United States, calls on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and insists that it not destroy homes contrary to that law.

The text also calls on both parties to implement their obligations under the Road Map.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER CRIMINAL COURT RESOLUTION

In consultations on Wednesday, a draft resolution on the International Criminal Court (ICC) was introduced.

In response to a question on the ICC draft resolution, the Spokesman said the Council is expected to discuss it in consultations on Friday.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views on the ICC draft resolution, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General would not interfere with the Councils deliberations.

ANNAN ASKS MANO RIVER UNION LEADERS TO SHOW POLITICAL WILL

In a message to the Summit of the heads of state of the Mano River Union in Conakry, Guinea, the Secretary-General notes that as peace is being consolidated in Sierra Leone and gradually restored to Liberia, the time has come for the three-nation unions leaders to exercise the necessary political will for key tasks.

He asked them to accelerate the development of their countries, to cut off the flow of small arms and light weapons, to curtail the use of child soldiers, to stop the smuggling of goods and the trafficking of drugs and people, and to address, decisively, the culture of impunity.

UN OFFICIALS CONCERNED OVER FACTIONAL FIGHTING IN SOMALIA

Senior UN officials dealing with Somalia today expressed their deep regret and concern about recent factional fighting in Mogadishu, which has claimed the lives of dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children.

Winston Tubman, the Secretary-Generals Representative for Somalia, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Maxwell Gaylard said they were shocked by the scale and ferocity of the fighting in Mogadishu. At least 60 people are reported to have been killed and 200 injured, most of them civilians.

UN ENVOY CHAIRS MEETING OF GEORGIAN, ABKHAZ OFFICIALS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini, chaired the third meeting of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides on security guarantees, today in the Georgian city of Sukhumi.

The Georgian and Abkhaz sides reiterated their commitment to the non-resumption of hostilities and the settlement of all disputes exclusively by peaceful means. The sides discussed some concrete aspects of the implementation of existing agreements on the Kodori Valley and expressed their readiness to study new approaches and proposals.

Both sides welcomed Tagliavinis initiative to convene a special high-level Georgian-Abkhaz meeting on maritime issues. They agreed to hold the next meeting on security guarantees in Tblisi on September 15.

POLICE RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE HELD ON AFGHANISTAN

A two-day conference on police reconstruction in Afghanistan wrapped up Wednesday in Qatar. The Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Jean Arnault, said there that there is a common consensus among Afghans for a strong central government to be created to restore law and order and combat the misrule of local militias.

He added that, although much has been accomplished over the past two years, building a police force in Afghanistan remains a key task for the Afghan Government and its international partners.

NEW BOOK SAYS WOMEN ARE THE GREAT CONSERVATIONISTS

Women are the worlds great, unsung conservationists, often outpacing men in their knowledge and nurturing of domestic and wild plants and animals.

This is the focus of a new book published by the UNs Environment Programme (UNEP). It notes that many species survive and remain in cultivation largely thanks to women who, especially in developing countries, are the farmers, the feeders and the caretakers in their communities.

The book, which contains case studies and anecdotes, will be launched today in the framework of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

UNICEF APPLAUDS FIFA EFFORTS TO HELP CHILDREN THROUGH SOCCER

To mark the 100th anniversary of FIFA, soccers international governing body, the head of the UNs Childrens Fund, Carol Bellamy said that FIFA has helped children by recognizing that soccer is more than just a game.

Soccer is one of the few things that children adore that is actually good for them, Bellamy said. It teaches them peaceful ways to resolve conflicts, brings some normalcy to the lives of children affected by violence and natural disasters, and encourages physical and emotional development.

In 2004, UNICEF and FIFA will focus on bringing attention to the security of children affected by conflict. Football will be used to help build a protective environment for children bringing communities together, rehabilitating former soldiers, providing safe places for children to vent frustrations and stress through play.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

LANG LANG NAMED UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR: Lang Lang, the 21-year-old Chinese pianist who has dazzled audiences throughout the world with his musical brilliance and youthful exuberance, was appointed UNICEFs newest Goodwill Ambassador today.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SELECTS IRAQ EXTERNAL AUDITORS: In response to questions asked on Wednesday, the Spokesman said that the External Board of Auditors is selected by the General Assembly. Three member states are selected every two years, who provide the staff for that Board. In terms of the oil-for-food program, the External Board of Auditors was required to audit the program every six months, and send the results to the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General would then share those results with the Government of Iraq and with the Security Council.

U.N. DIRECTIVE DEFINES SEXUAL HARASSMENT : In response to a question on Wednesday on how the United Nations defines sexual harassment, the Spokesman noted an administrative instruction issued to every staff member of the United Nations in 1992. That directive reads: Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when it interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. It is particularly serious when behaviour of this kind is engaged in by any official who is in a position to influence the career or employment conditions (including hiring, assignment, contract renewal, performance evaluation or promotion) of the recipient of such attentions.

ANNAN INTENDS TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF UNITED NATIONS: Asked about the Secretary-Generals creation of investigative panels, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General has created, and will continue to create, such panels as necessary, to ensure that the organizations integrity is protected.