United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-08-13

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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 FARHAN HAQ

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, August 13, 2004

UN ENVOY ARRIVES IN IRAQ, MEETS PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, arrived this morning in Baghdad, along with a small team, at about 10:15 a.m., local time.

Upon his arrival, Qazi and his team had a meeting with the Iraqi President, Ghazi al-Yawer. Later in the afternoon, Qazi met Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Both the President and the Prime Minister welcomed the return of the UN Mission to Iraq.

President al-Yawer said the UN should encourage the national dialogue in Iraq. Prime Minister Allawi said his country needed the United Nations good offices, in both the political and economic fields.

Qazi reiterated the UNs commitment to assist the Iraqi people in the political transition process leading to a constitutional democracy by the end of 2005, as outlined in Security Council Resolution 1546.

The Special Representative stressed the need for the forthcoming National Conference to be as inclusive of the range of Iraqi opinion as possible, in order for its outcome to have maximum credibility among the Iraqi people.

With respect to the escalation of fighting and loss of life in the holy city of Najaf, Qazi reiterated the Secretary-Generals call for the peaceful settlement of differences, the urgent need to prevent and avoid the loss of life and respect for international humanitarian law, including access for the wounded to medical assistance. The need for maintaining an appropriate climate for a successful National Conference was also stressed.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views on the usefulness of an international conference on Iraq, the Spokesman noted that the focus of UN activity in the short term was on ensuring the success of the National Conference scheduled to begin on August 15. To that end, the United Nations had been advising the Iraqi interim government on making the Conference as inclusive as possible.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

According to a statement, Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply saddened by the violence that has broken out in Iraq, particularly the situation in the holy city of Najaf. He is especially concerned about reports on the condition of Said Moqtada Al-Sadr. The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to all concerned to show the utmost restraint in these difficult circumstances. The Secretary-General has made clear his position that force should always be a last resort. The United Nations is dedicated to the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The Secretary-General believes that stability ought to be sought through dialogue, reconciliation and on the basis of negotiation rather than violence. The Secretary-General continues to attach great importance to the establishment of the widest possible consensus among Iraqis in support of a peaceful political transition. The United Nations remains committed to doing everything possible to assist the Iraqi people to that end, and stands ready to extend its facilitating role in helping to resolve the current crisis, if this would be helpful.

The Secretary-General believes that all of us want to see Iraq become a civil society, based on the rule of law. The dismantling of all militias would be an important step in that direction.

TIMETABLE ON DARFUR PRESENTED AT IMPLEMENTATION MEETING

In Sudan, the Joint Implementation Mechanism, co-chaired by UN Special Representative, Jan Pronk and the Foreign Minister of Sudan, Mustafa Ismail, held its third meeting on Thursday evening. For the first time, diplomats from some Arab states -- Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia -- attended the meeting.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister presented a set of measures and the proposed timetable the Sudanese Government has put in place in order to implement each of the 12 actions specified in the Darfur Plan of Action.

The measures include a list of areas that the Sudanese Government proposes can be made safe and secure within 30 days. The UN and its partners made some suggestions concerning this proposal, and the Sudanese Government is expected to present its final choice of the selected areas over the weekend.

Pronk indicated that the 30-day Darfur Plan of Action could be seen as consisting of three phases of 10 days each. In the first phase, the Government would decide on policies to meet the requirements. In the second phase, the government would ensure that its policies would be implemented by all regional and local authorities in Darfur.

The impact of the process, in terms of a verifiable, substantial and irreversible improvement of the security situation, should be demonstrated during the remaining 10 days.

The first phase is behind us, Pronk said. The Government has indeed shown its political will to fulfill its commitments, but the coming two phases are crucial.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister stated that, at Pronks request, he had sought information from the Military Headquarters regarding reports of helicopter gunship bombing in South Darfur. The Military Headquarters had denied those allegations. In turn, Pronk indicated that there had been no confirmation of those reports.

OCHA RECEIVES REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN DARFUR

Regarding conditions in Darfur, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has received reports from internally displaced persons, or IDPs, on increasing incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation.

In West Darfur, UN agencies report that there has been a significant increase of Janjaweed presence in and around Sissi camp, further restricting the movement of IDPs.

At the request of OCHA, the International Organization on Migration carried out last month an assessment of camps and gatherings for IDPs in the Greater Darfur Region.

The report confirms that living conditions in Darfur remain greatly below minimum standards and it also makes recommendations for efficient and updated registration and tracking mechanism for IDPs; better coordination of assistance delivered; hygiene training and better water management.

FOOD AVAILABILITY HAS DETERIORATED IN PARTS OF ETHIOPIA

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, due to the failure of rains in some parts of Ethiopia and poor rains in many others, food availability there has deteriorated significantly.

As a result, more than 1.5 million of the people who were expected to no longer need help after July will need food aid until the end of the year, and another 1.35 million people have been added to the list of those receiving aid.

The findings come from a recent multi-agency needs assessment mission in Ethiopia. OCHA says that less than half of basic supply needs are funded, and an additional $7 million is needed for new malaria drugs.

WFP FOOD PIPELINE IN LIBERIA IS IN DANGER OF BREAKING

The World Food Programmes (WFP) food pipeline in Liberia is still in danger of breaking next month.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that WFP has considered some regional purchases to avert the September shortfall, but additional confirmed contributions are required through December.

WFPs work is being hindered in some areas by the worsening conditions of roads, and heavy rains might continue to affect the delivery of food to some people this month.

MYANMAR TO RECEIVE $7 MILLION TO FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today signed a grant agreement worth $7 million over two years for a tuberculosis program in Myanmar. Myanmar is one of the worlds 22 high-burden countries for tuberculosis, with 80,000 new cases of the life-threatening disease every year.

The grant will strengthen and scale up Myanmars national TB program, expanding it to regions not yet covered.

WHO TO HELP ADDRESS BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IN VIETNAM

The World Health Organization is meeting Vietnamese health authorities to work out plans for addressing an outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu. The disease has killed three more people in Vietnam, the first officially reported cases of bird flu there since late February.

Tests are underway to confirm if the outbreak was caused by the same strain of the virus that caused the earlier outbreak. The bird flu outbreak in South and East Asia earlier this year killed 23 people, and led to the deaths or culling of more than 100 million birds.

UN MISSION MEETS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN HAITI

The various components of the UN Mission in Haiti met Thursday with representatives of Haitian non-governmental organizations in that country, to explain the Missions structure and deployment as well as its ongoing projects.

Also, the UN Development Programme noted Brazilian soccer star Ronaldos support to anti-poverty activities in Haiti.

Asked why the Secretary-General would not attend the August 18 soccer match between Brazil and Haiti, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General would be there in spirit, and would deliver a previously recorded video message to participants, but would not be able to attend. He noted that, on the following day, the Secretary-General would be in Geneva to speak at the commemoration of the August 19 bomb attack on the UN Headquarters in Iraq.

UNHCR DISCUSSES NEW CHALLENGES IN LATIN AMERICA

Twenty years after the Cartagena Declaration that addressed the needs of victims of armed conflicts and human rights abuses in Latin America, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has begun consultations to discuss new refugee challenges sparked by the war on terrorism.

The first of three regional consultation meetings started in San José, Costa Rica, on Thursday with representatives of Governments and civil society from Mexico, Cuba and the Central American countries focusing on the situation of refugees in the region, state practices in terms of protection and identification of durable solutions.

The commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration takes place amid growing concern on national security issues, the war against terrorism, increased migratory controls that restrict the access of persons in search of protection and the growth of the phenomenon of trafficking of migrants.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO SECURITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TODAY: There are no Security Council meetings or consultations scheduled for today. The next scheduled Council consultations will be next Tuesday, when Council members expect to discuss Somalia.

UN REPORT ON AFGHANISTAN AND OPIUM RECEIVES AWARD: A study on Afghanistan by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has won the Notable Government Documents 2003 award, presented by the Library Journal, a publication of the American Library Association. The report, The Opium Economy in Afghanistan: An International Problem, was released in early 2003. It looked into Afghanistans opium economy in order to understand its dynamics, the reasons for its success, its beneficiaries and victims, and the problems it had caused both at home and abroad.

NEW SPECIAL HUMAN RIGHTS RAPPORTEUR APPOINTED: The Chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission, Mike Smith, has appointed Okechukwu Ibeanu of Nigeria as a special rapporteur who will study the adverse effects on human rights of toxic waste dumping. Ibeanu is a professor at the University of Nigeria who has published widely on environmental issues.

FAO TO HELP INDIAN FARMERS WITH LAND MANAGEMENT: The Food and Agriculture Organization has signed agreements with three Indian organizations to strengthen land and water management for poor farmers in drought-prone areas of the country. The agreements are part of an innovative model of development assistance that puts project management in the hands of national institutions.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Tuesday, August 17

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Somalia, on the last date of the mandate of the Somalia monitoring group.

Wednesday, August 18

The Security Council has scheduled a public meeting on Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General will deliver a video message to mark the soccer match between Brazil and Haiti taking place in Port au Prince.

Thursday, August 19

In Geneva, the Secretary-General will speak at a ceremony honoring those who died in the August 19, 2003, explosion at the UN Headquarters in Baghdad. In New York, at a brief ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will unveil a plaque commemorating the 22 people who lost their lives in that attack.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Iraq and Kuwait, to consider the Secretary-Generals latest report on missing Kuwaitis and other nationals in Iraq.

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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