United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-07-01

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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

Thursday, July 1, 2004

ANNAN MEETS DISPLACED PERSONS IN CAMPS IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Secretary-General Kofi Annan flew out of Khartoum this morning, to travel to El Fasher, the administrative capital of North

Darfur, in the western part of the

Sudan.

At the airport, he was briefed by the Wali, or Governor, of North Darfur, Osman Yousif Kibir, who described the impact of the fighting in his region and the efforts he was making to deal with it, including the search for a peaceful solution.

The Secretary-General then traveled to the Zam Zam camp for some 12,000 displaced persons.

He sat under a thorn tree at the camp with about a dozen elders, who said they had been there for about four months and described their needs to him. And what would induce you to return home? the Secretary-General asked. One old man reflected responded, Give us security and food and we would go.

The Secretary-General then went on a walkabout in the camp, stopping at a well installed by

UNICEF, after which he sat down with community women and midwives.

He limited his delegation to three senior advisers Special Representative for Sudan Jan Pronk, Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland and Special Adviser for Africa Mohamed Sahnoun and asked all others to stay away so that the women could speak freely. And they did, describing the murderous attacks on their villages that drove them into the camp, as well as conditions in the camp, especially problems relating to childbirth.

One woman mentioned a series of rapes, but gave no specifics. They all emphasized the need for more security. When the Secretary-General pledged to them that no one would be forced to go home without adequate protection, they broke out into spontaneous applause.

The Secretary-General and his party then drove to the site of a second camp, at Meshtel, where 1,000 families had been as recently as yesterday evening.

Meshtel was not a viable site for a camp and had been shut down months ago, but in the last week, over 5,000 people had reoccupied it, most likely in the hope of getting registered as internally displaced and being moved to an established camp.

When the Secretary-Generals convoy arrived at Meshtel, there were no people there. A government official said that the camps residents had been transferred to a better location, but aid workers were stunned by the sudden disappearance of so many people.

The Secretary-General then made a quick drive by to a large, well-organized camp at Abu Shouk, which is home to some 40,000 people and is often shown to foreign visitors. After that, he went for a briefing by African Union military observers who are in the process of deploying to Sudan to monitor the cease-fire.

The Secretary-General then flew to Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, where he talked with the UN country team. After that, he is to meet with Chadian President Idriss Deby, and attend a dinner hosted by the President.

Asked about the disappearance of people from the Meshtel camp, the Spokesman said that the United Nations had been told that the camp was not a viable one, but UN humanitarian staff had seen people there earlier. UN humanitarian staff will look into what happened to the people, he added.

The Spokesman said the Secretary-General is in a fact-finding mode, and will return to Khartoum on Friday afternoon to talk to Sudanese officials about what he has found.

ANNAN SAYS COLOMBIA TALKS SHOULD RESULT IN DISARMAMENT

The Secretary-General

notes the opening of formal talks between the Government of Colombia and paramilitary forces. He recognizes the important role of the OAS in this endeavor and urges that the declared ceasefire be respected fully, and that the proposed concentration of forces take place, allowing the negotiations to proceed.

These negotiations should result in the disarmament and demobilization of paramilitaries, with the ultimate aim of ending paramilitarism in Colombia. The process should not permit blanket amnesties or de facto impunity.

The Secretary-General reiterates his belief that the rights of truth, justice and reparations for victims must be fully respected.

UN MISSION INVESTIGATING KILLING OF TUTSIS IN DR CONGO

The

UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is investigating the killing of ethnic Tutsis within the ranks of the countrys national army in recent weeks.

The investigation stems from reports that more than two dozen ethnic Congolese Tutsis, known as Banyamulenge, have been killed by fellow government soldiers in eastern Congo.

The Missions human rights section is aware of these allegations and is looking into them.

The reported killings were in the towns of Walungu, Shabunda and at Camp Sayo in Bukavu.

FORMER RUF MEMBERS TO FACE TRIAL IN SIERRA LEONE

Next Monday, the trial of three alleged members of

Sierra Leones Revolutionary United Front will begin in that countrys capital, Freetown.

The

Special Court for Sierra Leone will began the trials of Issa Hassan Sesay, who succeeded the late Foday Sankoh as the Fronts leader; Augustine Gbao, its former Chief of Security; and Morris Kallon, an RUF commander. They will be tried on charges that include terrorizing the civilian population, unlawful killing, forced marriage and attacks on peacekeepers.

BODIES BEING IDENTIFIED IN SIERRA LEONE HELICOPTER CRASH

The

UN Mission in Sierra Leone says the remains of those who perished in the helicopter crash were transported to a hospital in Freetown on Wednesday night. Forensic and medical teams are in the process of identifying the bodies.

A memorial service at the UN Mission in Sierra Leone is planned as soon as the process is completed.

Asked about the investigations into the crash, the Spokesman said that investigations were being performed by the United Nations, by local authorities, and also by experts from the Russian Federation, since it was a Russian helicopter that had crashed. He noted that Mi-8 aircraft were grounded for 24 hours following the crash.

ROMANIA TAKES OVER PRESIDENCY OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Ambassador Mihnea Motoc, Permanent Representative of Romania, today succeeds Ambassador Lauro Baja, Permanent Representative of the Philippines, as President of the

Security Council.

There are no meetings or consultations of the Council scheduled for today. The President is holding bilateral meetings on the months program. On Friday at 12:45 p.m., Ambassador Motoc will brief the press on the July program.

ANNAN NOTES IMPORTANCE OF TRIAL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

Asked about the trial of former

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General had

said this week that it was important that the Iraqis see justice being done and being done as close to the scene as possible.

Asked whether elections would be held in January 2005, as scheduled, the Spokesman said that that decision would be up to the electoral commission of Iraq.

Asked when the Secretary-General would name his Special Representative for Iraq, the Spokesman said the announcement would come shortly.

"WORLD'S LARGEST REFUGEE CAMP" CLOSES IN ETHIOPIA

Hartisheik, an Ethiopian site that was once the worlds largest refugee camp with over 250,000 Somalis, has closed after the final return convoy left for Somaliland yesterday, the

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says. UNHCR says this marks a milestone in the Somali repatriation movement, which can only be sustained with international assistance to areas of return.

Ethiopia has received only 20 percent of the funds it needs this year for necessary basic supplies. By contrast, it has received 62 percent of its funding requirements for food. That imbalance has been acutely felt in the countrys HIV/AIDS sector, which has received zero funding.

DISCUSSIONS ON ELECTORAL DATE CONTINUE IN AFGHANISTAN

The

UN Mission in

Afghanistan said today that discussions continue among the Government and political parties in that country on when Afghan elections will be held.

The Mission said that three important elements must be kept in mind as those discussions continue: the integrity of the electoral operation; security for voters and candidates; and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.

The Spokesman for the Mission, Manoel de Almeida e Silva, said that, if elections are to take place in September, a date will have to be announced fairly shortly.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

LOUISE ARBOUR TAKES OVER AS UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF: Louise Arbour today took up her duties as

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, after having stepped down as a member of the Supreme Court of Canada. She is expected to talk to the press on Friday.

TRIBUNAL MOURNS EX-JUDGE RICHARD MAY: The

International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia expressed great sadness at the death of Sir Richard May, who had served as a Judge for the Tribunal, earlier this morning at the age of 65. He had presided over the trial of Slobodan Milosevic from February 2002 until his retirement in May 2004.

UNRWA NOTES VISIT BY REDGRAVE: The

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees noted a visit to the occupied Palestinian territory by the actress and human rights activists Vanessa Redgrave.

FAO MEMBERS SEEK TO CURTAIL ILLEGAL FISHING: Eighty-four members of the Food and Agriculture Organization are recommending that governments increase the severity of penalties for illegal fishing and establish better international controls on fishing boat exports boats from one region to another. The recommendations come at the close of a meeting on how to improve international cooperation in fighting illegal fishing.

UNESCO ADDS FIVE HERITAGE SITES: UNESCO has added five new natural sites to its World Heritage List. They include a glacier-fjord in Iceland and a rainforest in Indonesia. Another three new cultural sites have also been inscribed by the World Heritage Committee.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

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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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