United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-06-15

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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

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

ANNAN VISITS EDUCATIONAL PROJECT IN SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

On the last day of his stay in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited an innovative educational project in a poor district on the outskirts of the sprawling city of 17 million people.

He and Nane Annan visited the educational center, which aims to bring education, culture, sports and art, to the community of nearly 200,000 in Campo Limpo, where a tenth of the people live in shantytowns. They were escorted by the Mayor of Sao Paulo, Marta Suplicy, who initiated the project.

Before that visit, the Secretary-General delivered opening remarks at the High-level Panel on Innovative Sources of Financing for Development, part of the ongoing UNCTAD Conference in Sao Paulo.

The Secretary-General is expected to be back in New York on Wednesday.

ANNAN NOTES UN CONTRIBUTION ON IRAQI INTERIM GOVERNMENT

On Monday afternoon, the Secretary-General spoke to the press in Sao Paulo, telling them that he is convinced that the crucial role the UN has, to provide a framework for international solutions, is needed today more than ever. The successful UN contribution to the establishment of the Iraqi interim government, he said, was a case in point.

Asked about the security situation in Iraq, he said that the signs we are seeing now are not very good. The indications are that the violence will continue.

He added that the UN remains committed to helping Iraq, subject to security conditions.

Asked about UN views on Iraq in the post-June 30 period, the Spokesman noted the worrying security situation on the ground, and said that the Secretary-General condemned recent terrorist acts and all acts that could undermine the transition. He added that there is hope that, after the transfer, such acts could lessen.

UN ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA RESIGNS, ANNAN REPORTS

Security Council members received on Monday a letter from the Secretary-General, saying that James Baker, his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, has turned in his resignation. Baker said that he believed he has done all he can do on that issue.

The Secretary-General accepted the resignation with deep regret, and also voiced regret that the parties did not take better advantage of Bakers assistance.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Western Sahara, Alvaro de Soto, will continue to work with the parties and with neighboring countries in pursuit of a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.

Asked how the Secretary-General was informed of Bakers resignation, the Spokesman said that the Personal Envoy conveyed his decision in a private letter to the Secretary-General, which has not been released to Council members or others.

UN HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS NEED $2.25 BILLION FOR REST OF 2004

The United Nations needs $2.25 billion until the end of the year to address the critical needs of close to 50 million people affected by 25 crises in Africa, Europe and Asia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says as it performs its mid-year review of progress since the Consolidated Humanitarian Appeals were made last November.

At that time, UN humanitarian agencies and their NGO partners appealed for some $2.95 billion to reach vulnerable populations around the world during 2004. To date, less than $700 million has been received.

According to Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, The response so far is too little, too late, for millions of victims in forgotten emergencies. He adds that timely and increased funding is essential for an effective humanitarian response.

UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ENDS VISIT TO DARFUR, SUDAN

Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, today ended her three-day visit to Darfur, Sudan, with a call for greater efforts to avert a humanitarian disaster.

Bellamy urged the Government of Sudan to remove all bureaucratic hurdles that could slow down humanitarian relief work, and called on the world community to respond quickly to calls for urgently needed funds.

Along with Sudans Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, UNICEF is currently in the middle of a mass measles vaccination campaign intended to reach over two million children.

UN HUMANITARIAN ENVOY BEGINS MISSION TO SOUTHERN AFRICA

James Morris, head of the World Food Programme and the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, today led his fourth mission to that region, to review achievements and take stock of Southern Africas future aid requirements.

Morris, who is accompanied by a team of senior UN staff, is in Malawi today, and will also travel to Mozambique, Swaziland and Namibia.

However, he will not be visiting Zimbabwe, because officials from that countrys Government were unavailable for meetings.

UNICEF LAUNCHES SCHOOL ENROLMENT CAMPAIGN

In honor of the Day of the African Child, the UN Childrens Fund today officially launched a child-powered project in Ethiopia to account for children not in school and to accelerate the enrolment of all children.

Called the Child-to-Child Survey, it involves teams of school children who interview out-of-school children to find out the reasons why they are not enrolled. An estimated 121 million children are out of school worldwide, the majority of whom are girls.

Carol Bellamy, the head of UNICEF, says the Fund wants to start a chain reaction, whereby the children and their teachers will not only identify those out of school but will also commit authorities, communities and parents to getting the children enrolled and helping them succeed.

Kenya, Malawi and Chad will be launching their own surveys, and plans are underway to take the project global, starting later in the year with South Asia.

UN DRUGS AND CRIME EXPERTS AID AFGHANISTAN

Experts from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime recently provided assistance to Afghan officials in Kabul on the legislative measures needed against terrorism and transnational organized crime.

Together with Afghan officials, the team of experts explored in detail the implementation of the 12 international legal instruments against terrorism and of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The two-day workshop was attended, among others, by representatives from various ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The mission took place last week, following an official visit to Afghanistan by Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN AWARE OF OIOS ALLEGATIONS: Asked about allegations concerning the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General was made aware of allegations regarding appointment and promotion of staff in OIOS by a letter from the President of the Staff Union. He said that Nair was asked to respond and he is in the process of doing just that. It is normal procedure in matters such as these for the Secretary-General to request information before deciding on the course of action.

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY ON OIL-FOR-FOOD CONTINUES WORK: Asked about the work of the Independent Inquiry into the Oil-for-Food Programme, the Spokesman said that the Inquiry, headed by Paul Volcker, was going about its work, and had information up on its new web site. He said that the Inquiry was working on the basis of an initial budget while the United Nations awaits a fuller budget for its work.

NO SECURITY COUNCIL MEETINGS SCHEDULED: There are no Security Council meetings or consultations scheduled for today.

ANNAN WELCOMES ST. PETERSBURG FORUM: The Secretary-General commended a meeting of policy makers, industrialists, bankers and international representatives that began today in St. Petersburg, Russia, saying that much work remains to be done to improve the quality of life in the Commonwealth of Independent States. He added that the CIS has been one of the most dynamic regions of the global economy over the past four years.

FAO SAYS GLOBAL CEREAL STOCKS WILL FALL: Global cereal stocks are forecast to fall in the new 2004/2005 marketing season, a fifth consecutive annual decline, according to forecasts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO says the fall comes despite an expected increase in cereal production for 2004.

ILO STRESSES SAFETY FOR FISHING SECTOR: The International Labour Organization stressed the need to improve the safety and working conditions of some 35 million people who work in the global fishing sector, at its annual conference in Geneva. ILO estimates say that fatality rates for fishermen are higher than those for fire fighters or police in some countries.

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