United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-06-14

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, June 14, 2004

ANNAN CONGRATULATES UNCTAD AT START OF MEETING IN BRAZIL

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning opened the 11th ministerial meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in Sao Paolo, Brazil, congratulating UNCTAD on its fortieth anniversary.

He said that the world has what it takes to improve living standards for all people, but too often lacks coherence in its approach, as well as a development-friendly trading regime. He called for a successful conclusion to the Doha negotiations, and urged nations to take advantage of the opportunities offered by South-South trade cooperation and integration.

The Secretary-General also took the occasion to pay tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello, saying that his death last year in Iraq was a tragedy for Brazil, for the United Nations and for the world.

Also today, he expects to meet with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil. He is also expected to meet with the head of Sudans delegation to the conference, Finance Minister Hassam Ahmed Taha.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS G-77'S FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY

The Secretary-General arrived in Brazil on Saturday, and that day attended a special ministerial meeting to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Group of Seventy-Seven developing nations.

He noted that "the sad truth is that the world today is a much more unequal place than it was 40 years ago" when the G-77, which now has more than 130 members, was founded. He said, "If these years have taught us anything, it is that opportunities for development need to be more equally distributed."

Also on Saturday, the Secretary-General had a half-hour meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, during which they discussed Iraq and areas of common concern in the Latin American region. The Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude for Brazils contribution toward their common efforts in Haiti.

On Sunday, the Secretary-General met with the Civil Society Forum attending the UNCTAD session, telling them, It is people mobilized as you are, more than any government initiative or scientific breakthrough, who can overcome the obstacles to a better world. He said that next week, he will release the report of the high-level panel, headed by former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, on how the United Nations can get the most out of its expanding ties with civil society.

In a separate program, Nane Annan on Sunday spoke at an UNCTAD panel exploring the importance of creative industries such as music, publishing and photography to development. She highlighted the contribution of women's small-scale economic activities, which often carry forward their cultural heritage, and noted the value of support in the form of micro-finances and access to global markets. Brazilian musician and Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil chaired the panel.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS

The Security Council held today an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. At the debate, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland told Council members that meeting that the tenth anniversary of the Rwanda genocide provided a chilling impetus for us to reflect on ways to better protect vulnerable civilian populations.

Egeland highlighted the continuing problems of gaining humanitarian access to some 20 million people who are cut off from aid in ten conflicts around the world, and the security threats that humanitarian workers face in going about their work.

Egeland added that the United Nations believes the time is right for the Security Council to consider adopting another resolution on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, noting that the Secretary-Generals recent report sets out a number of recommendations to this end.

IRANS ENGAGEMENT WITH IAEA LESS THAN SATISFACTORY

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said today that while progress is being made in understanding the extent of Irans nuclear program, investigations are still underway into whether all of Irans nuclear-related activities have been fully declared.

He described Irans engagement with the IAEA as less than satisfactory, and noted that Iran needs to be proactive and fully transparent.

ElBaradei made the comments in a meeting with the Agencys Board of Governors in Vienna. The meeting covered a broad range of issues, including the Agencys annual report and a number of other issues.

ANNAN ASKS ISLAMIC NATIONS TO SUPPORT IRAQI INTERIM GOVERNMENT

The Secretary-General called on the nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to respond favorably to the Iraqi Interim Governments request for support, in a message delivered by his Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi.

He said that the OIC has an interest in helping Iraq to surmount the many challenges it faces, including the creation of adequate conditions for elections and the convening of a national conference.

In the message, the Secretary-General also draws attention to the appalling suffering in Sudans Darfur region, and he asked for support in persuading Sudan to neutralize and disarm the brutal Janjaweed militia and to allow humanitarian supplies and equipment to reach the population without further delay.

UN RAPPORTEUR TOLD OF SUMMARY EXECUTIONS IN DARFUR, SUDAN

The UN special rapporteur dealing with executions, Asma Jahangir, finished her visit to Sudan on Sunday with a press conference in which she said she received numerous accounts of extra-judicial and summary executions carried out by government-backed militias and the security forces in Darfur.

She said she is also deeply concerned about the current humanitarian situation in Darfur, where millions of civilians are in desperate need of assistance. She said, The crisis is not over, and the right to life of all these people is seriously threatened.

Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, arrived in Darfur, Sudan, this past weekend. On Sunday, she met local officials in Darfurs regional capital Nyalla, and today she went to El Geneina in west Darfur to visit UNICEF relief sites.

Bellamy is in Darfur to see first-hand the situation faced by hundreds of thousands of children there, and to inspect UNICEFs efforts to step up its response to the crisis. Along with other agencies, UNICEF has been speeding up relief efforts that have been underway for more than six months. It is focusing on providing access to safe drinking water, primary health care, shelter material, education and hygiene kits for families.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN TO OPEN SEMINAR ON ANTI-SEMITISM NEXT WEEK: Next Monday, June 21, the Secretary-General will open a seminar on Confronting Anti-Semitism: Education for Tolerance and Understanding, which is being organized by the Department of Public Information as part of a series of events to promote respect and understanding among peoples. The Monday seminar will be held in Conference Room One, and will include a keynote address from Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and panel discussions offering different perspectives on anti-Semitism today and ways to confront it more effectively.

UNDERSTANDING REACHED ON KOSOVOS PRIVATIZATION PROCESS: Consultations on the privatization process in Kosovo were held at UN Headquarters last week. They were attended by representatives of the European Union-led component of the UN Mission in Kosovo, and of the European Commission, as well as the Missions Legal Advisor. An understanding was reached by all involved on the basis under which privatization can continue. This understanding represents a major step forward in ensuring that privatization in Kosovo can proceed in an effective manner and in a way that provides a positive contribution to Kosovos economic development.

UN AFGHANISTAN CHIEF VISITS IRAN: The head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, began an official visit to Iran over the weekend, meeting with that countrys Foreign Minister and other senior officials. In his discussions, Arnault brought up security, the fight against narcotics and trade between Afghanistan and Iran.

NO CONSTRAINTS PLACED ON VOLCKER INQUIRYS FINANCING: Asked whether funding for the independent inquiry into the oil-for-food program, headed by Paul Volcker, was inadequate, the Spokesman said that the Secretariat had provided Volcker with some $4 million for initial start-up costs, approved by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, and was awaiting a further budget from him. In no way has the United Nations constrained Volckers work, he stressed.

SPECIFIC AIDS PROGRAMME USED FOR UN MISSION IN HAITI:Asked whether other UN peacekeeping missions had AIDS programs similar to the one being used in Haiti, the Spokesman said that there was a Haiti-specific program being put in place as this was a new peacekeeping mission. He added however that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and UNAIDS have incorporated AIDS education and prevention in all existing missions.

MURDERED IRAQI MINISTER BELIEVED TO BE PART OF VISITING DELEGATION:Asked whether the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iraq, who was killed over the weekend, had been present for last weeks Security Council vote on Iraq, the Spokesman said he believed that he had been a member of the Iraqi delegation visiting the United Nations.

TESTS UNDERWAY ON POWDERY SUBSTANCE FOUND AT UN HEADQUARTERS:Asked about security incidents reported at UN Headquarters today, the Spokesman noted two separate incidents. In the first, a powdery substance was found on a desk on the 27th floor; in the second, a substance was reported near the first floor automatic transaction machine (ATM). Both substances have been bagged and taken away to be analyzed. The office in question has been cordoned off for cleaning. No other evacuation took place. The ATM area, he added, was cleaned and is now safe to use. Results of tests on the substances found today are expected in a few days.

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