United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-06-22

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

ANNAN CONCERNED OVER HOSTAGE-TAKING IN IRAQ

[The following statement is expected to be updated following the reported killing of the hostage.]

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is very

concerned about the recent trend of hostage-taking in

Iraq. In the latest incident, Mr. Kim Sun-Il, interpreter from the Republic of Korea for a trade company, was taken hostage on 17 June 2004.

The Secretary-General condemns all such acts of hostage-taking, which can have no justification and are aimed at undermining international efforts to help restore peace and security in Iraq. He strongly appeals for the immediate and safe release all other hostages being held.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had been in contact with any other people concerning the hostage taking, the Spokesman said he was unaware of any meetings other than one that took place on Monday with the UN Permanent Representative from the Republic of Korea.

IRAQ MONITORING BOARD TO RECEIVE FINAL AUDIT MID-JULY

The

International Advisory and Monitoring Board for Iraq (IAMB) has concluded a two-day meeting in Paris. During this meeting, the Boards seventh, members were given a comprehensive briefing by the accounting firm of KPMG on the status of its audit of the Development Fund for Iraq.

The Board is scheduled to receive the final audit from KPMG during its next meeting in Washington in mid-July. The Board will ensure that the audit reports, and its comments thereon, will be made public.

Asked about allegations of U.S. over-spending in Iraq, the Spokesman said that one media outlet had referred to something in writing from the auditors, which he did not know about. The Spokesman said that the auditors had given a briefing to the IAMB.

He doubted that there would be any comment on the allegations until the final report, which the IAMB intends to make public, was issued on 14 July.

The IAMBs next meeting is in Washington, D.C., on 14-15 July, so the report may be issued there, he said.

ANNAN CALLS FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY

There should be a two-way dialogue between the United Nations and civil society, to ensure that their efforts complement each other, the

Secretary-General told the

Security Council in its open debate today.

Addressing the Councils debate on the role of civil society in post-conflict peace building, which is being chaired by Philippine Foreign Secretary

Delia Domingo Albert, the Secretary-General welcomed the Councils efforts to strengthen its informal relations with civil society. But, he added, the time may have come for the Council to deepen its dialogue with civil society groups.

He asked the Council to pay serious attention to

the report released yesterday by the

high-level panel on UN relations with civil society, adding that the Secretariat is studying the panels recommendations carefully. The report, he said, offers many innovative ideas to strengthen the partnership with civil society in the UNs humanitarian and development work.

The Council open debate is continuing now, with thirty speakers, including the

President of the

Economic and Social Council and the Secretary-General of CARE International, set to speak.

Then, at 5:00 this afternoon, Under-Secretary-General for

Peacekeeping Operations

Jean Marie Guéhenno will brief the Council in closed consultations on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS CAME UNDER FIRE IN DR CONGO

Regarding request for comments on reports that UN peacekeepers in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo were using force against rebel troops and siding with the Government, the Spokesman said that last Sunday a military patrol from the UN Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC), came under fire from rebel forces under the command of Colonel Jules Mutebutsi in Kamanyola, near the eastern town of Bukavu.

A UN helicopter was called in and warning shots were fired at the rebel forces, who then dispersed. No casualties were reported.

This action was fully authorized within MONUC s mandate under Chapter Seven of the U.N. Charter, to take the necessary action to protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel.

The

UN High Commissioner for Refugees

reports that it is watching the DR Congo-Burundi border situation closely following the arrival in Burundi of some 31,000 Congolese refugees since 9 June, and it is deploying emergency staff to the area to provide assistance.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, a group of 137 Congolese refugees returned voluntarily to the DR Congo from Rwanda. They were mostly non-Banyamulenge who were among those who fled to Rwanda following fighting around Bukavu in late May, and who expressed a wish to return home. A second group of non-Banyamulenge will probably be repatriated today.

U.N. STAFF MEMBER KILLED IN INGUSHETIA FIGHTING

The fighting last night in the Russian republic of Ingushetia claimed the life of one local UN staff member, Magomed Getagazov, who was killed by cross-fire in the Ingush capital, Nazran. The UN Resident Coordinator in the Russian Federation said that he had been a much appreciated colleague, and would be deeply missed.

All other UN staff members are safe, and the United Nations has reviewed and enhanced its security arrangements for staff currently in the northern Caucasus. It has also cancelled new missions to the northern Caucasus this week.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION HEADED TO COTE DIVOIRE

The

Security Council mission to

West Africa is headed to Cote dIvoire this afternoon.

Upon arrival in Accra on Monday, mission leader Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom talked about the importance of West Africa for the Security Council and the United Nations.

In Accra, President John Kufuor of Ghana in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), briefed the Council on the recent mini-summit in Abuja, Nigeria, convened to find ways to overcome the current impasse in the Ivorian peace process.

Upon arrival in Abidjan today, the Council delegation will meet with the leadership of the UN mission in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI), and France's Operation Licorne peacekeeping mission.

FIRST POLIO CASE IN THREE YEARS DETECTED IN SUDAN

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund,

reports that a child has been paralyzed by

polio in the

Darfur region of the

Sudan, a country which had not seen the disease in more than three years. The virus is closely linked genetically to poliovirus endemic to northern Nigeria, which has spread through Chad in

recent months.

The

World Health Organization has found 521 suspected cases of measles in a displaced persons camp in north Darfur. About two-thirds of those targeted, a total of over half a million people, have been vaccinated. Challenges include inaccessibility to some areas and delays in commencing vaccination in some remote areas.

Meanwhile,

Kamel Morjane, Assistant high Commissioner of

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was on the second day of his five-day visit to Sudan where he was

discussing the potential return to south Sudan of some 600,000 refugees who fled to neighbouring countries during the 21-year civil war. Tomorrow, Morjane plans to travel to south Sudan to meet officials of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations working there and see for himself how conditions are in the south.

FOCUS ON HAITI TO SHIFT TO RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION

The

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

reports that, with the ending of heavy rain in

Haiti, the immediate emergency phase is winding down. The focus is now shifting from emergency relief towards immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation, with continued attention to health, water, sanitation and nutrition.

However, the situation in Mapou, southeast of Port au Prince, is still considered serious: access by road is difficult, reconstruction work is delayed and

World Health Organization representatives are concerned about possible epidemic outbreaks.

So far, over 5,000 families affected by the floods have received food aid from the

World Food Program and the distribution of rice and biscuits will continue during the next three weeks.

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, is also providing medical assistance and nourishment to those affected.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS MANDATE EXTENSION FOR U.N. MISSION IN GOLAN HEIGHTS

The situation in the Golan Heights has remained generally quiet over the past six months, the

Secretary-General told the

Security Council in his latest

report on the

UN Disengagement Observer Force deployed in that area.

Nevertheless, he adds, the situation in the

Middle East is very tense and likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached. Under the circumstances, he considers the continued presence of the UN peacekeeping mission to be essential, and recommends that it be extended for a further six months, until the end of December.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the Mission for this Friday.

U.N. ENVOY DID NOT MEET NORTH KOREAN PRESIDENT DURING RECENT VISIT

Regarding the visit that Maurice Strong, the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, had made to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) last month, the Spokesman said that Strong did not meet with Kim Jong-il during the trip, which lasted from 18-22 May, but did meet with other senior officials, including Kim Yong Nam, the President of the Presidium of the Supreme Peoples Assembly, and Paek Nam Sun, the Foreign Minister.

The primary focus of his trip was to prepare to meet the DPRKs economic and energy needs, as a necessary component of any settlement of the nuclear weapons issue. As on previous trips, humanitarian issues were also prominently discussed.

EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA THREATENED BY POLIO EPIDEMIC

Epidemiologists of the

Global Polio Eradication Initiative have

warned that west and central Africaare on the brink of the largest

polio epidemic in recent years.

The Initiative is spearheaded by bodies which include the

World Health Organization and

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund its aim is to ensure that

no child will ever again suffer the crippling effects of polio.

Five times as many children in west and central Africa have been paralyzed by polio so far this year compared to the same time period in 2003.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN TO VISIT AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE: Asked about the

Secretary-Generals upcoming travels, the Spokesman said he could not give precise details, given security considerations, but confirmed that the Secretary-General would travel to Africa, including Sudan, and also make stops in Asia and Europe. In response to a further question, he said that the Secretary-General did not intend to visit India or Pakistan on this trip.

U.N. MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA WELCOMES RELEASE OF MOROCCAN POWS: The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has welcomed yesterdays announcement by the Frente Polisario that it intends to release 100 Moroccan prisoners of war. The Mission hopes for an early release of all remaining prisoners of war, in compliance with international humanitarian law and calls on the parties to cooperate with the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to resolve the fate of all those unaccounted for since the beginning of the conflict.

SOUTHERN AFRICA WEAKEND BY DEATH SPIRAL:

Southern Africa is being weakened by the death spiral caused by the combination of

HIV, food insecurity, the burden on public administration and the drain on human resources. Thats the conclusion of

James T. Morris, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa. Morris is in the region on a seven-day interagency mission, which is reviewing how the UN System and the international community can strengthen their assistance to the regions most vulnerable people.

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

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article