United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-08-12

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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 DENISE COOK

ASSOCIATE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, August 12, 2004

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN IRAQ BY ONE YEAR

The Security Council this morning unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq by twelve months. The Council intends to review the Missions mandate in twelve months, or sooner if requested by the Government of Iraq.

The Council vote on the resolution came a day after it received a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast on the Secretary-Generals recent report on Iraq.

Also on Wednesday afternoon, Council members approved the organizational plan for the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, which was established to support the work of the Councils Counter Terrorism Committee.

Asked about the status of the UN Mission in Iraq under the current security conditions, the Spokeswoman said that situation on the ground was very fluid. She said that the hope is that the situation will improve and more people will be able to do some useful work in Iraq.

In terms of the UN presence, she said, UN Special Representative Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and a small team of people would work in Iraq. In response to questions, she said that Qazi was currently in transit, but was expected to be in Iraq in time for the National Conference.

UN ENVOY TO CO-CHAIR IMPLEMENTATION MEETING IN SUDAN

Jan Pronk, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan will co-chair the third meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mustafa Ismail, this evening.

They will discuss the implementation of the Joint Communiqué and the Darfur Plan of Action, including the identification of areas in Darfur that are to be made secure and safe in accordance with the Plan of Action.

On Wednesday evening, Pronk held a preparatory meeting with the Foreign Minister where they also discussed the issue of procedures for humanitarian flights in Darfur, which had been causing delays in the delivery of assistance.

The Foreign Minister agreed to an accelerated set of procedures that will apply to passenger, cargo and helicopter flights. Pronk welcomed this agreement, which will facilitate essential humanitarian air operations, including airdrops of food and the rapid deployment of emergency relief teams to remote areas.

On Wednesday, Pronk held a press encounter with the media in Khartoum. During this encounter, he was asked about the reports of air attacks in Darfur, to which he responded: Attacks as reported have to be checked; when they took place, where they took place, we are checking that at the moment. Information is necessary, but it has to be very concrete.

Also from Sudan, the World Health Organization reports that about 600 cases of water-borne Hepatitis E have been reported in several camps, particularly in West Darfur, the region most affected by the rainy season. UN agencies and non-governmental organizations are responding with a range of immediate assistance, including chlorination, soap distribution, additional latrines and hygiene education.

UN ENVOY IN BURUNDI DENOUNCES VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS

Carolyn McAskie, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Burundi, has strongly denounced continuing acts of violence against the civilian population in Burundi.

In a press release issued today in Bujumbura, McAskie notes continuing evidence of arbitrary executions, torture, sexual violence and arbitrary detention committed by armed men against civilians. She adds that these acts are carried out with total impunity and calls for all belligerent parties to end the violence and respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

ANNAN APPOINTS TWO ASSISTANT SECRETARIES-GENERAL

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced the appointment of two Assistant Secretaries-General.

He announced that Margareta Wahlstrom of Sweden will be appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. She replaces Carolyn McAskie, who has gone on to head the UN Mission in Burundi.

Wahlstrom recently served in the UN Mission in Afghanistan as the Secretary-Generals Deputy Special Representative, dealing with relief, reconstruction and development.

Also today, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Rachel Mayanja of Uganda as the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, a post previously held by Angela King.

Mayanja is currently serving as the Director of the Human Resources Management Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization.

UN APPEALS FOR $210 MILLION FOR BANGLADESH FOLLOWING FLOODS

Millions of people in Bangladesh face great insecurity and health risks after one of the worst floods their country has ever seen, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh said in launching an appeal for that country.

The United Nations is appealing for $210 million to help the poorest Bangladeshis survive the next six months, as the nation struggles to secure access to clean water, food, shelter and income. As the floodwaters recede, diseases such as diarrhea, cholera and typhoid are spreading rapidly.

OCHA: ONE QUARTER OF PEOPLE WILL NEED FOOD AID IN SWAZILAND

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that, by next year, over a quarter of Swaziland's 970,000 people will again require food aid to survive.

Citing a joint report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme, OCHA says that estimated maize production for 2003-2004 is down 13 percent from last years crop. This is due to erratic rains, chronic poverty and a lack of Government funds to purchase previously subsidized fertilizers and seeds.

OCHA notes that the situation is not likely to change after one or two seasons of favorable rainfall. Rather, economic deterioration has made food insecurity a long-term problem for large sections of the population.

Swaziland was once self-sufficient in food production and exported surpluses regionally, but now it imports 60 percent of its food requirements, even in non-drought years.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE OPENS IN GUATEMALA

In Guatemala City, an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was officially opened this morning.

Speaking at the event, Tom Koenigs, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in Guatemala, noted the UNs work in the verification of human rights since the UN Mission was established ten years ago.

He recommended that Guatemala make good use of the unique opportunity that the establishment of this new office represents in terms of technical cooperation, financial assistance and political support on human rights matters.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Today is International Youth Day, and the theme of this years observance is Youth in an Intergenerational Society.

To mark the occasion, the Secretary-General called for recognition of the fact that all members of society have contributions to make and needs to fulfil, and intergenerational solidarity means they can do it together. That message was delivered on the Secretary-Generals behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Public Information Shashi Tharoor, at the Third International Youth Conference in Barcelona today.

OGI TO REPRESENT UNITED NATIONS AT OLYMPICS OPENING

The Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Adolf Ogi, will represent the United Nations at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens on Friday.

Also in Athens, the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships is co-sponsoring a special roundtable discussion this Saturday on the contribution that sport can make to addressing global problems. It aims to encourage Governments to use sport as a policy tool for development and peace.

The Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor, will moderate the discussion, and speakers will include Ogi and UNICEFs executive director Carol Bellamy. The audience is expected to include Government representatives, sports development experts, athletes, and members of the Olympic Family.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UN RIGHTS EXPERT TO VISIT AFGHANISTAN: On Saturday, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Afghanistan, Professor Cherif Bassiouni, will begin a one-week visit to Afghanistan, where he will talk with key Afghan Government and UN officials and make some on-site visits, among other things.

ANNAN REPORTS TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON RULE OF LAW: The Secretary-General says that international or mixed tribunals have helped bring justice and hope to victims in many war-torn societies, in a report to the Security Council on the rule of law and transitional justice. He says that the International Criminal Court offers new hope for a permanent reduction in the phenomenon of impunity. The report says that truth commissions are also potentially valuable in taking a victim-centered approach and helping to establish a historical record and recommend remedies.

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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