United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-25

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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

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

U.N. ADVISOR CONSULTS IRAQI LEADERS ON TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT

In Baghdad today, the Secretary-Generals Special Advisor,

Lakhdar Brahimi, continued what his spokesman Ahmad Fawzi called crunching names, that is, consulting

Iraqi leaders on who would represent all Iraqis in a transitional government that would assume power after 30 June.

Among his many meetings today was one with Sadoun al-Dulame, the head of the Iraqi Center for Research and Strategic Studies, which does opinion polls in Iraq. They discussed public attitudes on a variety of subjects based on the Centers findings.

Asked when Brahimi would be able to produce the names of the representatives in the transition government, the Spokesman said Fawzi had informed him that Brahimi is going flat out trying to develop consensus across a broad cross-section of Iraqi leadership.

And of course, the closer you get to your goal, the tougher the bargaining becomes. So I dont think we can predict exactly when this process will be completed, the Spokesman said, adding that Brahimis original target was to get it done by the end of this month, and that he had indicated that he would stay on until the job is done.

Asked about when Brahimi would return to New York, the Spokesman said it was dependent on his finalizing the names for the transitional government.

Asked if there had been any discussion about the possibility that the June 30 deadline may not be a realistic one for the transfer of power in Iraq, the Spokesman said he had not heard anyone talk of slippage on the transfer of authority date.

Asked how the Secretary-General felt about role the of the United Nations as outlined in draft resolution on Iraq currently before the Security Council, the Spokesman noted that it was the product of rather extensive consultations before it was tabled on Monday.

Many of the issues still remain to be worked out, and those questions are being discussed among Council members now, the Spokesman said, pointing out that the Secretary-General is having discussions this afternoon with Council members on Brahimis work in Baghdad. I dont think he would comment more specifically on the draft except that it does reflect many of the concerns that he has had, the Spokesman added

MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

Today in Doha, Qatar, the Donor Committee of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) is holding its second meeting to discuss reconstruction in

Iraq. Officials from some 35 countries, regional organizations, the United Nations and World Bank are in attendance. The reconstruction fund was set up at the Madrid Conference held in October of last year.

The Iraqi delegation is headed by the Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation, Dr Mehdi al Hafedh.

Ross Mountain, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, ad interim, is heading the UN delegation.

In his speech, Mountain outlined the humanitarian activities the United Nations has been conducting in Iraq notably in the area of food, education and health. He also announced that some $200 million worth of projects that will be financed through the UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund have already been approved.

He added that in light of the security situation, the way the United Nations currently works, and how it will implement the forthcoming programmes and projects, the United Nations will require flexibility and innovative ways of working with Iraqi and other partners. This is key, he said, to successful delivery of projects and is likely to be so for some time to come.

PANEL NAMED TO OVERSEE IRAQ ELECTORAL COMMISSION

On Sunday, Carina Perelli, the Head of the

UNs Electoral Assistance Mission to Iraq, announced the names of a four-member international panel who will be overseeing the selection of an independent electoral commission for

Iraq. The commission will be responsible for the organization and conduct of elections.

The panel includes Judge Johann Kriegler, who was the chief electoral officer in the South African elections that finished apartheid, Jaquine Techien, a former commissioner of the Federal Institute of Elections of Mexico, Dong NGuyen, a former chief electoral officer for the United Nations in areas such as Paraguay and Eritrea and Carlos Valenzuela, former chief electoral officer for UN operations such as in East Timor.

U.N. ENVOY TO KOSOVO ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

Harri Holkeri, the Secretary-Generals

Special Representative for Kosovo,

announced today his intention to resign from his post on health grounds.

He stressed that his decision was taken on medical advice and in consultation with the

Secretary-General.

Holkeri made the announcement in Helsinki, Finland, where he had gone last week to see his doctor. He is expected to return to Pristina soon to finalize his Mission and make farewell calls on Kosovos leaders.

ANNAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO VICTIMS OF CARIBBEAN FLOODING

The

Secretary-General is saddened by reports that severe flooding throughout the Caribbean has caused heavy loss of life and extensive damage, especially in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He

extends his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in this natural disaster.

UN Country Teams in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are currently assessing the extent of needs created by the flooding. UN officials across the Caribbean are in close contact with local authorities and stand ready to mobilize international support for recovery efforts.

ANNAN NOTES CRISES IN DARFUR, EASTERN DR CONGO AND COTE DIVOIRE

The

Secretary-General, in

remarks at a meeting on the commemoration of the 41st anniversary of Africa Day, welcomed all positive trends on the continent, but reminded his audience that we cannot close our eyes to the massive scale of human rights violations and consequent human suffering in Darfur, the continuing tensions in the eastern part of

Democratic Republic of Congo, the current crisis in Côte dIvoire, and the other areas of tension on the continent.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General also called for an intensification of efforts, individually and collectively, to find a definitive solution to these problems.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION BEGINS TO 800,000 PEOPLE IN DARFUR

On the humanitarian front in

Darfur, the

World Food Programme (WFP) says it had started to distribute food aid to 800,000 people. Access to the region had improved after the signing of the ceasefire, and WFP hoped to be able to better assess new needs.

UNICEF, meanwhile,

said today that despite having doubled the numbers of people in recent weeks who have access to clean water in Darfur, hundreds of thousands of people are still excluded from access to safe wells and water points.

And the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

reports that in Chad, a new UNHCR emergency airlift of relief supplies from around the world for the refugees in eastern Chad would start today, with the first flight departing from Denmark and scheduled to arrive in Ndjamena tomorrow.

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL OF AFRICAN UNION

SEEN AS A POTENTIALLY POWERFUL TOOL

In a

message to the official ceremony marking the inauguration of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the

Secretary-General described it as a potentially powerful tool for the prevention, management and resolution of violent conflict.

The new Council is already actively engaged in addressing some important conflict situations, and the United Nations will continue to support these efforts, he said. The message was delivered by his Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea,

Legwaila Joseph Legwaila in Addis Ababa.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP COTE DIVOIRE THIS AFTERNOON

The

Security Council held a public meeting this morning on Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz of Chile, Chairman of the Security Council Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee briefed the Council.

At 5:30 p.m., the Security Council has scheduled consultations on

Cote dIvoire and other matters.

PALESTINIAN REFUGEES RETURN TO IRAQ:

According to the

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, 26 Palestinians who fled Iraq last year during the conflict left a UN camp in Jordan last week to go back to Baghdad. While the refugee agency not promoting return to Iraq, the Palestinians felt they would be better off in Iraq despite the current insecurity and uncertainty. The United Nations provided them with assistance to cover their travel expenses and several months of rental support for their first months back in Baghdad, as well as various other assistance items. Several hundred Palestinians fled Iraq for the safety of Jordan during last year's conflict.

NEARLY 600 PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS IN RAFAH BY LATEST ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATION:

According to an initial assessment, forty-five buildings were destroyed or damaged during the latest Israeli military operation in the Rafah area of the Gaza strip. The

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees says that from May 18 until May 23 the building demolitions in the Tel Sultan, Brazil and Salam quarters of Rafah made 575 people homeless. This latest round of demolitions come on top of what had already been one of the worst months of the intifada in Rafah. Since the start of the intifada 1,354 buildings have been demolished in Rafah, affecting 13,175 people.

FUNDS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR MADAGASCAR RELIEF WORK: The

UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says urgent funds are needed to continue providing relief for more than 300,000 people affected by cyclone Gafilo, which struck Madagascar twice earlier this year. In March, UN agencies launched a flash appeal for $8.7 million to address urgent relief needs, but so far donors have been slow to respond. OCHA said that

UNICEF has received less than 10% of the $1.8 million it requested, while the

World Food Programme says its only received $2 million of the $5.6 million it needs to feed more than 100,000 people.

UGANDAN GOVERNMENT, REBELS URGED TO PROTECT CHILDREN: Arriving for a four day visit to conflict troubled Uganda,

UNICEF Executive Director

Carol Bellamy

called on both the Government and the rebel Lords Resistance Army to protect children, noting that the number of people displaced by the fighting has tripled in just the past 24 months.

EVENTS BEGIN TO COMMEMORATE PEACEKEEPERS DAY: The second observance of the

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to honour those who served and continue to serve the United Nations in field missions will be this Saturday. Currently, there are more than 53,000 men and women serving as peacekeepers in 14 UN field missions. Recently authorized peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Burundi are also in the process of deploying.

ANNAN CONGRATULATES INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY ON 10th ANNIVERSARY: In a message to the commemorative meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the

International Seabed Authority, in Kingston today, the

Secretary-General said that ocean affairs continue to be a critical part of the worlds quest to achieve sustainable development. He noted that Authority has played a key role in ensuring that the benefits of ocean resources are enjoyed by all people.

GLOBAL WARNING SYSTEM SET UP TO FIGHT SPREAD OF ANIMAL DISEASES: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today that in response to an increase in highly contagious animal diseases spreading between countries, such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza (also known as bird flu), the World Organization for Animal Health and FAO have decided have decided to set up a global information and early warning system. The agencies note that these diseases are having a severe economic and social impact, and they urge donors to invest more in preventive mechanisms. In addition, FAO today launched the International Portal for Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health at a Regional Conference on Food Safety for Asia and the Pacific. The site will enable a speedy search for current food safety and food quality standards and regulations.

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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