United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-07-06

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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 MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, July 6, 2004

DARFUR, REGIONAL CONFLICTS IMPERIL AFRICAN UNION, ANNAN SAYS

The vision of an African Union is imperiled by the persistence of deadly conflict in Africa particularly the horrific situation in Sudans western region of Darfur, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Addressing the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, the Secretary-General said that he had just seen the ruined villages and sick and hungry women and children of Darfur. Without action, he warned, the brutalities already inflicted on the civilian population of Darfur could be a prelude to an even greater humanitarian catastrophe a catastrophe that could destabilize the region.

He noted that he had signed a joint communiqué on Saturday with Sudans Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail, which was a welcome development, and he said its terms must now be implemented.

He also voiced concern at the recent upsurge in violence and human rights abuses in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; the continued instability in Cote dIvoire; and the tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

After delivering that speech, the Secretary-General attended the signing ceremony between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea of an agreement to resolve their border dispute peacefully. The Secretary-General said the signing was one of the rare occasions when two African leaders come to resolve their differences peacefully, and he added it could be an example to other leaders.

In addition to bilateral meetings, the Secretary-General this evening convened mini-summits on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on Cote dIvoire.

U.N.-SUDAN AGREEMENT SEEKS SAFETY, HUMANITARIAN ACCESS IN DARFUR

The communiqué that the Secretary-General and the Sudanese Foreign Minister signed on Saturday, before the Secretary-General left Khartoum, commits the United Nations to do the utmost to alleviate humanitarian need, to help with the quick deployment of African Union cease-fire monitors and to assist with mediation efforts.

Sudan pledged, among other things, to implement a moratorium on restrictions on humanitarian workers; to suspend restrictions on the import of assistance materials; to deploy a strong, credible police force to Darfur; to start immediately to disarm the Janjaweed militia; and to resume political talks in the shortest possible time.

The two sides agreed to form a high-level mechanism to deal with the implementation of the agreement, led by Sudans Foreign Minister and by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Jan Pronk.

Asked about the nature of the Secretary-Generals promises of security for refugees in Darfur, the Spokeswoman said that, at present, the African Union has unarmed monitors in the area. She noted that there are reports coming today that the Union is seeking to increase its presence.

She added: I think the Secretary-General is hopeful that the Sudanese Government has signed this joint communiqué over the weekend, in which it promises to take a number of concrete steps to make the situation in Darfur better.

DESPITE AGREEMENT, REPORTS CONTINUE OF VIOLENCE IN DARFUR

While humanitarian agencies are encouraged to increase their work in Darfur, reports of violence and insecurity have persisted from that region.

The number of checkpoints erected on some strategic routes by both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) has increased, preventing the smooth operation of humanitarian traffic.

In addition, in West and North Darfur, clearly marked humanitarian convoys have been stopped and attacked, by uniformed men, military personnel and unidentified persons on camels.

In South Darfur, tribal conflict -- with support from the Sudanese Government, Arab paramilitary groups and the SLA -- has reportedly caused widespread displacement. Acts of violence committed by the Janjaweed are also still being reported.

The UN Refugee Agency and the World Food Programme are both reporting new population displacements.

UNAIDS SAYS 38 MILLION PEOPLE INFECTED WITH HIV BY 2003

The number of people living with HIV continues to grow, from 35 million in 2001 to 38 million last year. Five million people were infected last year and one out of every four new infections occurred in Asia.

These findings are in the 2004

UNAIDS Report of the global AIDS epidemic, which has been released today in advance of the 15th International AIDS Conference, in Bangkok from July 11-16.

The report notes that there remains a huge funding gap in the fight against AIDS. UNAIDS estimates that $12 billion will be needed by 2005 to respond to AIDS effectively in developing countries. But current annual global spending is less than half of this, at around $5 billion.

While on the subject of AIDS, the International Labour Organization

will release a new global report analyzing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the work place. The report HIV/AIDS and work: global estimates, impact and response will be presented at the AIDS conference on Bangkok. The report covers 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and two developed regions. The report is embargoed until next Sunday.

Also, UNICEF today announced a new partnership with fashion company H&M, which has donated $1.5 million toward UNICEF girls education programs worldwide and HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Cambodia. The donation will be given over a three-year period.

ANNAN CALLS FOR GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA

On Monday in Addis Ababa, the Secretary-General addressed a high-level seminar at the African Union Summit on innovative approaches to meeting the Millennium Development Goals on hunger. He noted the accomplishments of the green revolution in tripling food productivity in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and called for a uniquely African green revolution.

Also on Monday, he had bilateral meetings on the margins of the Summit with the Presidents of Mozambique, Djibouti, Cote dIvoire and South Africa, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the Foreign Minister of Egypt.

Prior to arriving in Ethiopia, the Secretary-General had visited Eritrea on Saturday, reviewing the work of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

He also met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to review the peace process between those two countries, and cited the intelligent way that Nigeria and Cameroon are handling their

border dispute as a model that Ethiopia and Eritrea might follow.

ANNAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO HELICOPTER VICTIMS IN SIERRA LEONE

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone has released the names of the 24 victims of last weeks helicopter accident.

Also, the Mission on Sunday held a wreath-laying ceremony in Freetown in honor of those who were killed in the crash. A message was delivered on the Secretary-Generals behalf, in which the Secretary-General paid tribute to their work, and expressed his condolences to their families and friends.

QUARTET MEETS ON THE MIDDLE EAST IN JERUSALEM

Representatives of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet - US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield, UN Special Coordinator Terje Roed-Larsen, European Union Special Representative Marc Otte and Ambassador Alexander Kalugin of Russia - met in Jerusalem today.

Continuing their recent talks in Taba, Egypt, the envoys reiterated their strong support for Egyptian efforts to assist the two sides in bringing the Israeli initiative to withdraw from Gaza to a successful conclusion.

They also discussed the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza in light of a recent World Bank report.

ANNAN TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL FROM AFRICA TOMORROW

There are no meetings or consultations of the Security Council scheduled for today.

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General is scheduled to speak by videoconference to the members of the Security Council, to discuss his current trip to Africa, in closed Council consultations. The Council has also scheduled consultations tomorrow afternoon on the Central African Republic.

In a letter to the Council President issued as a document today, the Secretary-General appointed five people to the Panel of Experts dealing with Liberia sanctions. That Panel will be chaired by Atabou Bodian of Senegal.

U.N. TRIBUNAL ADJOURNS MILOSEVIC TRIALS FOR HEALTH REASONS

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today adjourned Slobodan Milosevics trial until July 14, after noting his recurring health problems. The judges said that the trial will now adjourn again on July 21, until August 31, to allow Milosevic to have additional time to present his defence.

At the same time, the Tribunals registrar will identify a cardiologist to examine Milosevic and consider the health consequences if he continues to represent himself at the trial.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS READY TO RETURN TO IRAQ, PENDING SECURITY: Asked whether conditions in Iraq were safe enough for UN international staff to return, the Spokeswoman said the United Nations was watching the security situation closely and was prepared to return once it was deemed safe. In response to questions, she said there was no announcement yet on a new Special Representative for Iraq.

UNMOVIC MOVE A ROUTINE MATTER: Asked about the move of some offices for the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), the Spokeswoman said the move was part of routine space management.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FACES FOOD EMERGENCIES IN AFRICA: Twenty-three countries in sub-Saharan Africa are facing food emergencies for the summer season, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. The findings are in FAOs latest Africa Report, which was issued today. It says that despite an overall decline in the region's food aid requirements, poor rains, internal conflicts, AIDS and a locust invasion have exposed millions of people to serious food insecurity and the need for emergency food assistance.

FAO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIGHT LOCUSTS: The Food and Agriculture Oganization is urgently calling for more international assistance to fight desert locust swarms in northwestern Africa. The call comes as the first swarms have moved from their spring breeding areas in Africas northwest to West Africa, specifically Mauritania, Senegal and Mali.

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)

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