United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-07-02

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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

Friday, July 2, 2004

ANNAN TO MEET WITH SUDANESE PRESIDENT, AFTER VISITING BORDER

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Khartoum, where tonight he is scheduled to meet with the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

This morning, the Secretary-General visited a camp for Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad.

He touched down in the provincial capital of Abeche, where he was briefed by the Governor, Haroun Saleh, on the devastating impact on his province, Ouaddie, of the surge of some 250,000 refugees from Sudan streaming across the border.

The Secretary-General and his party then traveled to Iridimi Camp, about 60 miles from the border, which houses some 15,000 Sudanese refugees. He was briefed by a representative of the refugees, as well as by members of non-governmental organizations who described their work in the camp.

Thousands of refugees stood and sat in an orderly semicircle, holding placards that read, Stop the ethnic cleaning and the genocide and Security first, then voluntary return.

The Secretary-General also held a private meeting with women community leaders and then spoke to the international and local press.

He said that the story he has received from the refugees and internally displaced people he has met over the last few days has been one in which they fled serious violations of human rights gross and systematic ones. He said, Security is paramount for all of them and of course that would have to be assured before they go back.

The Secretary-General met Thursday in the capital of Chad, NDjamena, with President Idriss Deby, and told reporters afterward that the international community must do everything it can to work with the Sudanese Government and the President of Chad to find a solution. Otherwise, he warned, the drama that we are now living is nothing compared to what will come next.

He said, in response to a question, that the international community has tried to help Chad deal with the influx of refugees from Sudan, but added, I think the pace of the assistance and the urgency with which we are dealing with it doesnt measure up to the nature of the crisis.

Asked how the Secretary-General would respond to what he had seen in Sudan, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General would discuss with President Bashir what he had seen in Darfur and in Chad. Having done a fact-finding tour, he would now bring his concerns to the attention of the Sudanese Government.

DARFUR: HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES CONCERNED

OVER ABRUPT CAMP RELOCATION

On Thursday, the United Nations reported that a camp for displaced persons in Darfur, which had at one point housed some 1,000 families, or over 5,000 people, was empty when the Secretary-Generals convoy arrived there.

In an update on that situation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the Government of Sudan had transported the inhabitants from Meshtal camp to another camp for displaced persons, called Abu Shouk camp, between Wednesday evening and midday Thursday.

According to various humanitarian sources, those who had been moved maintain they had been pressured to move from Meshtal.

Humanitarian agencies are concerned that the displaced persons were relocated from Meshtal camp very abruptly and that no consultation was conducted by the authorities prior to their relocation. While the relocation should improve their conditions in the medium-term, prior notice of the move would have enabled site planning and the provision of facilities at Abu Shouk camp ahead of their arrival.

Meanwhile, UNICEF reports today that a significant number of children displaced in Darfur have either been direct victims of violence or have witnessed violent acts, and the situation was breeding a new generation of child survivors.

SECURITY COUNCIL AGREES ON PROGRAM OF WORK FOR JULY

The Security Council met in consultations this morning on the July program of work, which was officially approved.

The Secretary-General is expected to brief the Security Council in consultations next Wednesday.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER TO ATTEND AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

The new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, today met journalists in Geneva, telling them that she will attend the African Union Summit next week, and that Darfur and Cote dIvoire will be at the forefront of her discussions there.

Asked about the trial of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, she said it is important to have a credible and fair process, adding that the international community should be vigilant in ensuring that this process respects all human rights standards.

TOBACCO TREATY TO ENTER INTO FORCE BY END OF 2004

The global treaty to curb tobacco use is on track to become binding international law by the end of the year.

Among other requirements, the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires signatories to restrict tobacco advertising and set new labeling and clean indoor air controls.

Smoking claims almost 5 million lives every year and causes an estimated annual net loss of $200 billion in treatment and lost productivity.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEPARTURE OF U.S. PERSONNEL FROM PEACEKEEPING CONFIRMED: Asked about the departure of U.S. personnel from UN peacekeeping missions in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kosovo, the Spokesman said that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations confirmed that it has been informed by the U.S. Government that the United States would withdraw some personnel from UN peacekeeping operations. The United Nations has taken note of that decision, with regret, he said. Asked whether the US decision had stemmed from concerns about the International Criminal Court, he noted statements from the US indicating that it had.

SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES FINAL EXTENSION OF BOUGAINVILLE MISSION: The Security Council, in a letter, noted the extension of the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Bougainville until the end of December, saying that the Council intends it to be the final extension of that mission.

GOVERNING COUNCIL APPROVES $380 MILLION IN PAYOUTS: The Governing Council of the UN Compensation Commission has concluded its 52nd session today and approved payouts of more than $380 million. The Commission processes compensation claims for losses and damage suffered as a direct result of Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1991.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED BY COLOMBIA SUICIDES: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about a recent spate of suicides by indigenous youth in north-western Colombia. In just over one year, 17 young people in the region aged between 12 and 24 have committed suicide or attempted to kill themselves. According to a local indigenous organization, these young people are "losing the will to live" because of the impact of the Colombian conflict on their communities.

RACE CAR DRIVER PUTS BREAKS ON CHILD HUNGER: The World Food Programme today announced Formula One driver Jarno Trulli is appearing in a WFP public service announcement that indicates the speed at which malnourished children are dying around the world. The Italian racing driver, who won his first-ever Grand Prix at Monte Carlo earlier this year, warns that hunger claims the life of a child in the same time it takes his Renault F1 car to reach 200 kilometres per hour.

UNFPA POPULATION AWARDS TO BE GIVEN TUESDAY: Next Tuesday, the UN Population Awards for 2004 will be presented to demographer John C. Caldwell, and to Dr. Catherine Hamlin of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. The Award ceremony will take place at the Trusteeship Council from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, July 3

The Secretary-General will travel to Asmara, Eritrea, where he will meet with President Isaias Afwerki and visit the headquarters of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He will then travel on to Ethiopia.

Sunday, July 4

Monday, July 5

UN Headquarters in New York will be closed to mark the July 4 holiday.

Tuesday, July 6

The Secretary-General will address the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The UN Population Awards will be presented at the Trusteeship Council at 5:00 p.m. This years awards go to demographer John C. Caldwell and Dr. Catherine Hamlin of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. At 12:30 p.m., the award winners will speak to the press in room 226.

Wednesday, July 7

The Secretary-General will begin an official visit to Kenya, meeting with UN officials in the Headquarters in Nairobi.

The Security Council has scheduled, in its consultations, a video briefing by the Secretary-General, as well as consultations on the Central African Republic.

Thursday, July 8

In Nairobi, Kenya, the Secretary-General will meet with the negotiators for the Sudan peace process. He will then leave for Bangkok, Thailand.

Friday, July 9

The International Court of Justice is expected to issue its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.