United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-09-17

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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

Friday, September 17, 2004

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS MISSION TO LEAVE FOR SUDAN TOMORROW

The mission to Sudan by the

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, and the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide,

Juan Méndez, which was announced by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his statement on the urgent need for action, is heading from Geneva to Khartoum tomorrow.

The High Commissioners Office

said today the aim of the mission would be to look at what more could be done to prevent further violations so that the people of Darfur no longer had to fear massacres, rape, forced displacement, and other abuses.

The mission would last for about a week and was expected to be back in Geneva by Sunday, 26 September. After spending a day in Khartoum, they would go to Darfur, probably to Al Fashir first, on Monday, September 20. The following day, they would travel to Nyala in south Darfur. On September 23, they would be going to Al Geneina, before returning on September 24 to Khartoum where they would have further debriefings.

Arbours return to Geneva from mission would coincide with the informal one-day meeting of the Commission of Human Rights which would be held on September 28. This meeting is meant to prepare delegations for the debate on human rights in the

Third Committee of the

General Assembly, which deals with human rights and humanitarian issues, later in the year.

The mission would report to the

Secretary-General, and the findings would be transmitted through the Secretary-General to the

Security Council and would be made public, the High Commissioners spokesman said.

ANNAN URGED SECURITY COUNCIL TO ACT OF SUDAN DRAFT RESOLUTION

In his

statement yesterday, the

Secretary-General urged the urged the

Security Council to act on the draft resolution for

Sudan without delay, and to be as united as possible in the face of this crisis.

He said, This is the first time in the Councils history that it has ever been seized under Article 8 of the

Genocide Convention, and it seems to me inconceivable that it should fail to respond.

The Secretary-General also said that the draft resolution may require him to appoint an international commission to decide whether acts of genocide have been committed. He said he would so with all speed if the resolution is adopted and that preliminary preparations were being made.

NO SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE SCHEDULED YET SUDAN DRAFT RESOLUTION

The

Security Council met in closed consultations yesterday afternoon during which they discussed the latest draft resolution on

Sudan.

As of midday, Security Council members were awaiting a revised text of the resolution.

A vote has yet to be scheduled.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATES FOR OPERATIONS

IN SIERRA LEONE, LIBERIA, AFGHANISTAN

The

Security Council held there back-to-back meetings this morning during which they unanimously adopted three resolutions, which extended the mandates of the UN missions in

Sierra Leone and

Liberia and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

SUFFERING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS HIGHLIGHTED TO SECURITY COUNCIL

In his periodic briefing to the

Security Council on the situation in the

Middle East, the Under-Secretary-General forPolitical Affairs, Kieran Prendergast. said it had been a bad month in the area, as reflected in the rise in casualties on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, the resumption of suicide bombings, the announcement of renewed settlement activity, as well as stalled Palestinian reform process.

In his review of the past month, Prendergast highlighted the dire humanitarian situation and the continued suffering of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza. The current closures imposed by the Israelis bring Palestinian life to a virtual standstill and undermine efforts to revive the local economy, he said.

He also noted the double suicide bombing, claimed by Hamas, in Bersheva which killed dozens and injured more than hundred. The

Secretary-General has unreservedly condemned such acts of terror, Prendergast said.

Though it has been repeated a number of times, and remains true, Prendergast told Council members, a negotiated settlement remains the only way Palestinians and Israelis can ultimately put an end to the conflict.

Despite the fact that both parties continue to fail to meet their minimum obligations, the Secretary-General remains convinced that the implementation of the

Road Map, which was endorsed by the Security Council, remains the only way forward.

Prendergast expressed concern at the recent remarks made by Prime Minister Sharon that Israel is not following the Road Map, and that Israel might stay in the West Bank long after any withdrawal from Gaza.

In the continued void of an active peace process, Prendergast told the Council, the Israeli withdrawal initiative, if applied in the right way which includes a full and total withdrawal of Israeli forces and is fully coordinated with the Palestinian Authority and the Quartet could lead Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Security Council members continued their discussion in closed consultations.

UNITED NATIONS COMMITTED TO HELPING IRAQ HOLD ELECTIONS IN JANUARY

Asked about the

Secretary-Generals comments on whether Iraqi elections could be held by the end of January, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-Generals comment to BBC was that, if there is no improvement in security, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to hold credible elections in January. He stands by that, Eckhard added.

The Spokesman said that the United Nations hopes the security situation will improve, the political situation will become more inclusive and will herald a return to normalcy.

Asked about UN assessments of the security situation, the Spokesman said that the UN presence in Iraq was too limited to assess security nationwide, and it had to rely on assessments by other parties on the ground. He noted media reports that indicate the situation is not good.

Nevertheless, he said, the United Nations has been working with the Iraqis, including on the electoral framework, and would continue to do what it could, whether inside or outside Iraq.

Asked whether there was any alternative to the current election plan, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any. The current plan, he said, was drawn up with UN input and would provide for fair elections, if security permits.

Asked about the UN presence in Iraq, he said that Special Representative

Ashraf Qazi had a political office, and there are a number of electoral workers, humanitarian workers and security staff.

DESERT LOCUST CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA EXPECTED TO WORSEN

The

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

warns that the

desert locust crisis in

Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and Niger is expected to worsen over the next few weeks, and theres a serious risk that

swarms will re-invade northwest Africa from October onwards.

FAO says the extent of the new invasion depends on the success of ongoing control operations in West Africa, and on the level of rainfall in the coming months.

The financial situation of the crisis is also far from promising at this stage: FAO estimates that $100 million is needed to control the outbreaks.

So far, donor countries have approved a total of $24 million of which FAO has actually received only $4 million it has provided $5 million from its own resources.

FOUR WESTERN COUNTIES IN LIBERIA DECLARED SAFE

The

Office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

reports that the Government of Liberia has declared four western counties safe for return, two weeks before the start of one of the largest voluntary repatriation operations in West Africa.

UNHCR says the declaration will pave the way home for Liberian refugees in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

Although thousands started returning on their own after August 2003, when the departure of former Liberian president Charles Taylor paved the way for peace, many of them could not go back to their home areas, which were still unsafe for return. These spontaneous returnees are currently living in internally displaced persons camps near Monrovia.

The

World Food Programme (WFP) says that it was in urgent need of $6.6 million to buy food to cover needs in Liberia from October to December. WFP warned that operations would have to be reduced starting October if no funds were forthcoming.

ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE IVAN IN JAMAICA

In Jamaica, teams from the UN system and the Jamaican Government plus a Venezuelan Rescue Team conducted a rapid assessment mission to the parishes of Manchester, Elizabeth and the Blue Mountains, in the wake of

Hurricane Ivan.

The mission found limited access to clean water, as well as damaged and destroyed houses. In the Blue Mountains area, landslides have cut off some communities, preventing access and raising concerns about food supply.

Rapid assessments are also currently underway in the parishes of Clarendon, Saint Anne and Westmoreland.

The warehouse at Kingston airport has experienced major damage and has been found to not have the capacity to continue receiving relief supplies.

Regarding the effects of Hurricane Ivan on Cuba, a UN team started a field assessment in the western area of Pinar del Rio on Wednesday. The results of this assessment are expected soon.

PEACE THROUGH SPORTS DISCUSSED ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

To mark the International Day of Peace today, the Department of Public Information organized a discussion around the theme of Peace through Sports.

Nane Annan opened the proceedings by saying this theme is important because sports affirms life. Sports, she said, allows children to use their energy to their fullest and teaches them solve conflicts peacefully through agreed rules. This is true of all children, she underscored, but especially for those living in the shadow of war and poverty.

Student athletes Afghanistan, Kosovo and Sierra Leone engaged in a televised discussion with American student athletes gathered in an auditorium at UN Headquarters.

Also addressing the gathering were Anna Cataldi, UN Messenger of Peace, and speed skater Johan Olav Koss, a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLANS FOR AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REMAIN UNCHANGED: Asked whether election plans in

Afghanistan had changed following the attack on President Hamid Karzai, the Spokesman said that the plans remain unchanged. He added, in response to a question, that the

Secretary-General had not commented on that attack.

APPEAL FOR COTE DIVOIRE REMAINS SEVERELY UNDER-FUNDED: The

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that this years Consolidated Appeal for Cote dIvoire remains under-funded by 83% with the

UN Development Programme and the

UN Population Fund having received no funds to date. On the other hand, the

World Food Programmes (WFP) regional operations are now 78% funded, with a shortfall of $9.5 million.

MOZAMBIQUE REQUIRES FOOD AID: In Mozambique, WFP is planning an assessment mission to parts of the northern province of Nampula, where people are facing food shortages. The findings will build upon a crop and food supply assessment mission earlier this year, which found that some 187,000 Mozambicans would require food aid until March next year.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY RESUMES REPATRIATION OF IRAQI REFUGEES FROM IRAN: The

Office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

says it has resumed its voluntary repatriation programme for

Iraqi refugees in Iran. The first convoy in over a month arrived in Basra earlier this week. UNHCR does not encourage Iraqis abroad to repatriate now, because Iraq is not yet ready to absorb large numbers of returnees. But its does provide assistance to refugees in neighbouring countries who insist on returning despite the difficult conditions in Iraq.

U.N. COMPENSATION COMMISSION TO MEET NEXT WEEK: The

Governing Council of the

UN Compensation Commission will hold its 53rd session from September 21-23 in Geneva, under the Presidency of Ambassador Michael Steiner of Germany. During the session, the Council will consider a number of reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners mainly concerning claims filed by individuals, and discuss issues relating to the processing and payment of claims.

URBAN MIGRATION SEES MORE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO NATURAL HAZARDS: Growing urban concentrations, the effects of climate change and environmental degradation are greatly increasing the vulnerability of the worlds population to natural disasters. According to the Secretariat of the

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, people are becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards, and this is because growing numbers of urban migrants who come looking for better economic opportunities, settle in exposed stretches of land either on seismic faults, flooding plains or on landslide prone slopes. More than 254 million people were affected by natural hazards in 2003, an increase of 180% compared to 1990.

ANNAN SAYS PROGRESS MADE IN AFRICAN COOPERATION: The

Secretary-General, in his second report to the

General Assembly on the

New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD), says that African countries have made much progress towards implementing that plan, which emphasizes sustainable development, peace, good governance and regional integration.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Sunday, September 19

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Juan Mendez, are to begin a visit to Sudan, to examine how to protect civilians in Darfur.

Monday, September 20

At 11:00 a.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber, the World Commission will launch the Social Dimensions of Globalization Report, prepared by the International Labour Organization. World leaders from the North and South will meet to discuss how to create a fair globalization, and the Secretary-General will speak at the event.

At noon, the Secretary-General and the President of the Swiss Confederation are to speak at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated GA-200, near the General Assembly Hall.

At 2:30 p.m., a meeting on Innovative Sources of Finance to Alleviate Hunger and Poverty, organized by President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil will begin, with the Secretary-General attending. Then, at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 4, there will be a press conference featuring President Lula, and expected also to include the Presidents of France and Chile and the Prime Minister of Spain, to discuss the event.

At 4:00 p.m., the Secretary-General is to chair a meeting of the Contact Group on Kosovo.

From 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 7, there will be a meeting of the Coordination Mechanism bringing together the National Transitional Government of Liberia, the United Nations and ECOWAS.

In Geneva, the first Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention will be held through Friday.

Tuesday, September 21

At 8:30 a.m., to mark the International Day of Peace, the Secretary-General will ring the Peace Bell and deliver comments. Three UN Messengers of Peace Muhammad Ali, Anna Cataldi and Jane Goodall will join in the ceremony.

At 10:00 a.m., the General Debate of the 59th General Assembly will begin. The Secretary-General will speak at the start of the Debate. Then, at 1:15 p.m., the luncheon of Heads of State and Government attending the Debate will begin, and the Secretary-General will deliver a toast.

A four-day treaty event, Focus 2004, will begin, in which Member States are to focus on signing, ratifying or acceding to treaties concerning the protection of civilians.

The press conferences for the day will include:

At 11:00 a.m., Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain

At 3:00 p.m., President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka

At 6:45 p.m., President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela

At 7:30 p.m., Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden

Wednesday, September 22

At 10:00 a.m., the Security Council will hold a formal meeting at the Ministerial level on Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management and Peace-Building. The Secretary-General will speak at that meeting.

At 1:15 p.m., the Secretary-General will host a working luncheon in the Delegates Dining Room of the Regional Support Group for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

From 3:00-5:30 p.m., there will be a meeting of the principals of the Quartet, including the Secretary-General.

The press conferences for the day will include:

At 12:45 p.m., Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada

At 2:00 p.m., the launch of the World Investment Report

At 4:30 p.m., President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador

Thursday, September 23

At 10:00 a.m., there will be a high-level meeting of the UN Development Programmes Executive Board with the Commission on Africa.

From 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Conference Room 5, there will be a Ministerial Meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The Secretary-General is to host a luncheon for the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council. He is also expected to speak at a dinner of La Francophonie in the evening, which is being organized by the French Mission.

The press conferences for the day will include:

At 10:45 a.m., President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic

At 11:30 a.m., the Friends of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

At 3:00 p.m., President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria

At 3:45 p.m., President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan

At 6:00 p.m., Don McKinnon, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth

Friday, September 24

The High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change will meet in Tarrytown, New York. The meeting is one of the periodic ones of the panel members, and is closed.

The press conferences for the day will include:

At 11:15 a.m., Ambassador Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania, Chairman of the Security Council Committee on Resolution 1540

At 12:45 p.m., Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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