United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-08-04

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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 FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, August 4, 2004

ANNAN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON COTE DIVOIRE MEETING

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today briefed the Security Council in closed consultations about his high-level meeting with thirteen African Heads of State in Accra, Ghana, last week, during which the leaders discussed Cote dIvoire and Sudan.

The Secretary-General said it was reassuring to hear all the Ivorian parties reiterate their full commitment to the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, although divergent views emerged on how to achieve that goal.

After two days of intense discussions, he told the Council, the parties signed the Accra III Agreement, which he said provides a good basis for the resumption of the peace process in Cote dIvoire. He noted that the Accra Agreement establishes a timetable for implementation and a monitoring mechanism.

The Secretary-General said he hopes the Ivorian parties will fulfill the promises made in Accra last week. In that connection, he believes that Council members should urge the Ivorian parties to implement the commitments made in Accra without delay.

A draft Presidential Statement on Cote dIvoire has been circulated to members of the Council by France.

ANNAN DISCUSSES SUDAN TALKS IN BRIEFING TO COUNCIL

The Secretary-General informed the Security Council in its closed consultations about his discussions with African leaders in Accra last week on the situation in Darfur, Sudan.

[The Secretary-General afterwards spoke to reporters, telling them that General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the former Nigerian President, had visited Darfur and Sudan and reported to the leaders in Accra on his trip, as a result of which the leaders believed that 300 African Union troops for Darfur maybe insufficient. The troops, the Secretary-General noted, would protect monitors on the ground, and its mere presence could have a positive impact in deterring attacks by militias.]

[He said that if the African Union is going to deploy a much larger force, it will need the support of the international community, as well as assistance in command and control and logistics. Consequently, the Secretary-General has decided to send a UN team, led by Military Adviser Patrick Cammaert, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss how to assist in restructuring the African Union force. The team will leave tonight.]

ENVOY SAYS SECURITY IMPROVED WITHIN, NOT OUTSIDE, SUDAN CAMPS

Jan Pronk, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, said this morning that aside from some incidents, security in the camps for internally displaced people has improved. Outside of the camps, he added, that is not the case.

Speaking to UN radio, Pronk said this is why the UN is asking the Sudanese Government to concentrate its activities particularly in the areas around the camps, so that people are also safe when they go to fetch water or collect firewood.

Regarding the demonstrations in Khartoum today, Pronk noted that there was criticism of the international community but no violence.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said today that some women who were collecting firewood were abducted by Janjaweed militias, who beat and raped them repeatedly before setting them free. A UNFPA assessment confirms that Darfur women are being targeted with sexual violence during armed attacks on their villages, during flight, and in and around refugee settlements.

In West Darfur, due to water and sanitation concerns, UNICEF is conducting health awareness campaigns and plans to bring in two metric tons of chlorine tablets for distribution in various camps. At the Krenik camp, which hosts around 20,000 internally displaced persons, 70 to 80 children are being admitted daily to the Medecins Sans Frontieres feeding center.

UN CONTINUES TO FACE FUNDING GAP FOR DARFUR, CHAD APPEALS

Regarding the funding of humanitarian activities, the UN appeals for Darfur and Chad are still facing a total funding gap of $188 million. Even taking into account an additional $80 million of pledges that have yet to be allocated, more than $100 million in fresh funding is still required. Thus far, the UN has received over $161 million (or 46 percent of its requested $349 million).

Asked why the shortfall in funding the appeals had only fallen by $3 million since last week, despite Germanys announcement that it would increase its contribution by $24 million, the Spokesman said that the shortfall mentioned today was for appeals for both Darfur and Chad. Last week, the United Nations had mentioned a funding gap for the Darfur appeal of $191 million.

The Spokesman noted that an additional $80 million had been pledged, but not yet received. [OCHA later noted that the German contribution had been announced, but not yet pledged to the United Nations.]

UNRWA RELOCATES INTERNATIONAL STAFF TO JORDAN

The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said today that, because of the level of insecurity in Gaza, most international staff are being temporarily relocated from the Agencys headquarters to Amman, Jordan.

Commissioner-General Peter Hansen said that the exceptions to that relocation consist of his own office and that of his deputy. Meanwhile, the Agencys Gaza Field Office will continue to be fully staffed and it will maintain all regular and emergency services.

SECURITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR TRIBUNALS

This morning, prior to the Secretary-Generals briefing, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement reaffirming its support for the Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and welcoming their efforts to carry out their strategies to complete their work.

It called on all States to cooperate with both tribunals. Specifically, it asked for assistance in bring Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as all other indicted suspects, to the Hague Tribunal. The Council also called for all necessary assistance for the Rwanda Tribunal, including on investigations of the Rwandan Patriotic Army and efforts to bring Felicien Kabuga and other indictees to that tribunal.

UN OPERATING ON ASSUMPTION OF JANUARY ELECTIONS IN IRAQ

Carina Perelli, the chief of the UNs Electoral Assistance Division, said, in response to questions asked by reporters on Tuesday about possible delays in Iraqs elections, that she and her team are planning on the assumption that elections in Iraq will take place by January next year.

She does not think it useful to speculate on the question of any delay, she said, and regrets that she cannot brief the media in person at this time.

UNITED NATIONS NOTES DIRE SITUATION IN CENTRAL PERU

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, says the situation in southern and central Peru remains dire following severe cold and snowstorms there.

The number of people affected has risen to almost 340,000, and it is reported that 90 people have died and more than 3,000 houses have been destroyed.

OCHA and the UN Development Programme are helping to channel funds to help those affected.

OCHA ASSESSING SITUATION AFTER TAJIKISTAN FLOODS

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is monitoring the situation on the ground in Tajikistan, following recent floods and landslides, which made the water supply in the capital, Dushanbe, muddy and virus-ridden.

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, has given chlorine to Dushanbes sanitary and epidemiological center.

According to the Tajik Government, over 1,000 cases of typhoid were registered in the summer of 2003 in the country due to the consumption of contaminated water.

UNITED NATIONS ASSISTING PARAGUAY FOLLOWING FIRE

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has donated $20,000 to assist Paraguay in the wake of the deadly fire in the capital, Asunción, which left at least 378 people dead, 170 wounded and 43 missing.

The local UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team expects to finish an assessment of the damage by Thursday morning. Meanwhile, UNICEF and the UN Development Programme are providing computers to support the Paraguayan Governments emergency management efforts.

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR OBSERVANCE OF OLYMPIC TRUCE

General Assembly President Julian Hunte solemnly appealed to all States to demonstrate their commitment to world peace by observing the Olympic Truce during the Olympic Games in Athens.

In an appeal, available today as a document, he says, While conflicts in the world will not cease overnight, if we could have peace for sixteen days, then, maybe, just maybe, we could have it forever.

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

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