United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-05-26

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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

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON OVERWHELMING NEEDS IN DARFUR

The

Security Council held two sets of consultations today.

At 10 a.m., Council members began consultations to hear a briefing on the work of the monitoring group of the arms embargo on Somalia and then on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator

Jan Egeland described what UN agencies are doing to meet the urgent and overwhelming human needs in Darfur as they race against time to deliver aid as the rainy season approaches. Egeland also outlined the obstacles facing humanitarian groups in Darfur and what is required to overcome them.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS IRAQ RESOLUTION

At 3:30 p.m., the Security Council has scheduled consultations on the draft resolution on Iraq.

SECURITY COUNCILURGES HUMAN RIGHTS INQUIRY IN COTE D'IVOIRE AND

FOR SUDAN TO HONOR PROMISE TO DISARM MILITIAS IN DARFUR

Early Tuesday evening, the

Security Council held back-to-back formal meetings during which Council President, Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, read out two presidential statements, one on Côte dIvoire and another on Darfur, Sudan.

On Côte d'Ivoire, the Security Council strongly

condemned the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in that country. It requested the Secretary-General to establish as soon as possible the international commission of inquiry in order to investigate all human rights violations committed in Côte dIvoire since September 19, 2002, and to determine responsibility.

In a

statement on Darfur, the Council expressed its grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation and emphasized the urgent need for all parties to observe the April 8 cease-fire agreement. The Council also called on the Government of the Sudan to respect its commitments to ensure that the Janjaweed militias were neutralized and disarmed.

NO. 2 U.N. HUMANITARIAN OFFICIAL APPOINTED FOR TOP U.N. JOB IN BURUNDI

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the Security Council of his intention appoint to Carolyn McAskie, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, as his Special Representative for Burundi.

The Security Council is expected to respond to that letter shortly.

DATE NOT SET FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF IRAQ TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor,

Lakhdar Brahimi, is continuing his work in Baghdad.

He met today with the French Representative in Baghdad, Bernard Bajolet.

Available in the Spokesmans Office is a comprehensive list of all the people Brahimi has met with since his return to

Iraq on May 6.

Asked about Brahimi's schedule for announcing representatives for Iraqs transitional government, the Spokesman said he thought a decision had not yet been made on that.

The timetable is what the Secretary-General told you yesterday, that our target is to get this done by the end of the month; but, of course, its in the hands of the Iraqis, he said. Its when they can agree on a full slate that Mr. Brahimi will be able to make the announcement.

Asked about the nature of Brahimis meetings with foreign representatives in Iraq, the Spokesman said Brahimi has tried to keep the representatives of Security Council members, particularly permanent members of the Council who are in Baghdad, up to date on his activities.

Asked about the nature of Brahimis role in developing the list of names for the transitional government, the Spokesman said Brahimi was a facilitator and was not imposing names; he was trying to get names which Iraqis can agree on: Hes picked up names from talking to a wide spectrum of Iraqi opinion. Hes floating those names, hes getting reactions from the various groups, factions, and individuals, the Spokesman said.

He added: Its now a question of getting a slate that all factions can agree on a consensus slate he has always emphasized integrity and competence for this interim government, and a preference that those who serve on it not compete in the election for January or December. The Spokesman added that the names had emerged from his broad consultations.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals understanding of who would command the Multinational Force, how much political power Iraqis would have over it and how long it would remain in Iraq, the Spokesman said those matters were currently being discussed by Security Council members. So his views are not to be shared publicly at this time, he said. These are delicate and difficult issues that have to be sorted out between the Iraqis, the Coalition Provisional Authority and members of the Security Council as they go through revisions of the draft resolution that was put on the table on Monday," he added.

Asked about press reports that Hussain Shahristani was a leading candidate for prime minister in Iraqs transitional government, the Spokesman said the reports were purely speculative: That kind of speculation is not helpful to the process thats underway and we shall not join it.

NIGERIA: HUMANITARIAN AID NEEDED IN WAKE OF INTER-COMMUNAL VIOLENCE

In the wake of inter-communal violence that reportedly left hundreds dead and some 50,000 displaced, UN humanitarian agencies are bringing aid to people in two Nigerian states.

A joint U.N. and Nigerian Government assessment has revealed urgent needs for food, water, health care, and grants for income-generating activities.

In response,

UNICEF has provided such items as health kits, medicines and food items, and the

UN Development Program has mobilized $50,000 for supporting the humanitarian operations.

DR CONGO: U.N. MISSION INVESTIGATES CLAIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

The UN Mission in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, (MONUC) has provided an update on the investigation into allegations of sexual abuses by MONUC personnel deployed in Bunia, which the Spokesmans Office first reported on May 7.

MONUC has initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by MONUC military and non-military personnel in Bunia. So far, about 30 cases are being investigated.

MONUC special investigative teams are comprised of security officers, military personnel, civilian police, human rights and child protection officers, gender specialists, and investigators.

The

Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has also deployed investigators to Bunia. OIOS intends to assign more investigators to the case. These are expected to arrive early next week.

The investigation into one case has already been completed, and the person found responsible is being disciplined by early repatriation and prosecution follow up by his national authorities.

Under agreement between the United Nations and Troop Contributing Countries, national governments are obligated to prosecute those who have been found to have committed any crimes or misdemeanours. In addition, Governments are also obligated to report the follow-up actions taken by them to the United Nations. The United Nations intends to follow-up vigorously with concerned troop contributing countries to ensure that proper action is taken.

HUNDREDS DEAD IN HAITI/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FLOODS

According to the

UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), hundreds have been killed following floods in

Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

In Haiti, some 350 people are reported dead or missing, while over 800 have been injured. Over 7,000 people in Haiti alone are in urgent need of assistance. Some 2,400 houses have been heavily damaged or destroyed, five schools were destroyed, and crops and livestock have been lost.

Today, a joint team of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations is going to assess the situation in Fond Verette in Western Haiti in a helicopter provided by the Multinational Interim Force.

In the Dominican Republics Jimani municipality in the southwest of the country, initial reports indicate that 45 people were killed, 120 were injured and 200 are missing. Ambulances, rescue personnel, medical supplies, food, and other needs are being mobilized.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

LOCUST WARNING IN NORTHWEST AFRICA: The

Food and Agriculture Organization has

warned that the locust situation in

Northwest Africa is very worrying despite intensive control activities. The FAO says a locust upsurge is underway in the region, and its called on Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal to prepare against the possibility of swarms arriving from the north and invading crop-producing areas.

BLACK BOX INVESTIGATION COMPLETED: Asked about the report on the black box suspected of links to the 1994 aircraft crash that triggered the Rwanda genocide, the Spokesman said the report was complete and in the Secretary-Generals office, from where it would be forwarded to General Assembly members. He said the press would be provided with copies once General Assembly members had received the report, and Dileep Nair, the head of the UNs Office of Internal Oversight Services, would brief press on the report once that occurred. He added that this might take a few more days

NANE ANNAN MEETS N.Y. HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS IN WORLD AFFAIRS CHALLENGE: Mrs. Nane Annan today addressed more than 80 students from eight New York City high schools competing in a one-day educational event, the World Affairs Challenge, on the theme of childrens rights. Organized by the American Forum for Global Education and the University of Denvers Centre for Teaching International Relations, and sponsored in part by the UN Foundation, it was the first World Affairs Challenge to be held in New York. Mrs. Annan thanked the students for taking that extra step to understanding the world, because the world will one day be yours and you will be needed.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: This afternoon at UN headquarters, Mrs. Nane Annan will open a panel discussion on the potential of information and communication technology to accelerate economic growth and enable poor countries to meet key development priorities, including the Millennium Development Goals. The panel will focus on partnerships between the United Nations and the private sector.

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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