United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-12-15

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

ANNAN DECLARES INTENTION TO EXPAND U.N. PRESENCE IN IRAQ

Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to proceed with further expansion of the

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) presence in Iraq in implementation of the mandate given to him by the Security Council in

resolution 1546 (2004), according to a statement issued through his Spokesman.

Stressing the high importance he attaches to the provision of essential security protection for the staff concerned, he has given instructions that the first steps be taken to assess the security conditions to establish UNAMI presence in Basra and in Erbil as soon as practicable.

Asked how many people would go to Basra and Erbil, the Spokesman said he did not have specific numbers yet. Right now, he said, essential planning missions are going to the areas, which, he added, would help to assess sites where UN personnel would be housed and where they would work. Asked how long an assessment might take, he said it usually takes a matter of days.

Asked whether the United Nations had decided to increase the number of international staff in Iraq, the Spokesman said that the current ceiling of 59 is not adequate for what we want to do. He declined to specify how many UN staff were in Iraq, saying only that it was in the neighborhood of the ceiling of 59.

There would be two types of expansion in the coming days, Eckhard said: geographic expansion, by having staff go to Erbil and Basra; and the imminent addition of close protection units provided by Fiji. The addition of the Fijians, who are completing training and are in the process of being deployed, would bring the total number of UN personnel on the ground to around 200, he said.

In response to questions about other troops responsible for protecting UN personnel, the Spokesman said that there would be a middle ring of troops that would be integrated into the multinational force, while the Fijians would be controlled by the United Nations. Middle ring recruitment is being done by the US-led multinational force.

The multinational force, he said, currently provides close protection; the deployment of the Fijian unit would be announced once it is accomplished.

Asked whether the raised ceiling of 200 would include the Fijians, he said it would. Asked whether an increase of UN Secretariat staff would also take place, the Spokesman said the matter should be taken one step at a time, to see whether the security situation would allow the Secretary-General to bring in more people.

In response to questions on how this increase would affect the amount of electoral support the United Nations is providing, the Spokesman said that the United Nations hopes to bring the number of UN electoral personnel up to 25. They would work closely with electoral experts from other nations, Eckhard said, including the United Kingdom.

Asked how todays statement differs from comments made this week by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, the Spokesman said that todays statement was a declaration of intent by the Secretary-General.

SUDAN: FIGHTING CONTINUES IN SOUTH DARFUR

The

UN Mission in Sudan reports that fighting is continuing in areas around Nyala in South

Darfur.

The reported build up of rival armed groups in these areas have raised serious concerns in the humanitarian community. UN operations and movements have been suspended in these areas due to the insecurity.

Humanitarian agencies report that militias had entered some sections of Kalma camp on the evening of 13 December, randomly shooting into the air, and looted personal items from some huts and livestock belonging to some new arrivals.

SIERRA LEONE, IRAQ AND KUWAIT, AND GOLAN HEIGHTS

ON SECURITY COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY

The Security Council is holding consultations today on the

UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and on the return by Iraq of Kuwaiti property and repatriation of missing Kuwaitis and third-country nationals.

[In a press statement, Council members welcomed the invitation from the Government of Iraq to Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-Generals High-Level Coordinator, and hoped that, as circumstances permit, Ambassador Vorontsov will be able to visit Iraq to take his work forward.]

Following consultations, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the

UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights for another six months, until the end of next June.

Yesterday, at the end of a day-long meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Council, in a

Presidential statement, condemned all acts of violence against civilians in armed conflict, particularly the use of media to incite hatred and violence. It urged all parties to armed conflict, including non-State parties, to put an end to such practices.

ANNAN WARNS THAT COTE DIVOIRES CRISIS

COULD JEOPARDIZE SIERRA LEONES STABILITY

Out on the racks today are copies of the latest

report of the Secretary-General on the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, which was discussed by Security Council members this morning.

Noting that the mission is continuing its drawdown as planned, the Secretary-General says that by the end of December, the troop strength is expected to be reduced to some 4,000.

He commends the Government of Sierra Leone for its efforts to enhance the control of diamond mining, which has resulted in a considerable increase in revenues from official diamond exports.

He notes, however, that the recent disturbances in Cote dIvoire have created a ripple effect in the region, especially with regard to the influx of Ivorian refugees on the overstretched facilities in neighboring countries.

He warns that if the crisis in Cote dIvoire persists, the stability of the whole subregion, including Sierra Leone, could be seriously jeopardized.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS REPEL INCURSION INTO DR CONGO FROM RWANDA

UN peacekeepers in the town of Bukavu, which is in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have repulsed an attempt by unidentified armed men to cross into the DRC from Rwanda in three dug-out canoes.

The

UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) says the peacekeepers were fired upon by a dozen occupants of the canoes, and they then returned fire, which caused the canoes to turn back.

Meanwhile, regarding reports of renewed fighting in the locality of Kanyabayonga, in the eastern province of North Kivu, the Mission says there is no proof that it involves Rwandan troops, and believes the fighting is between factions of the Congolese national army.

The Mission has sent a military team to Kanyabayonga to investigate whats happening there, and that team reached the area today at around 2:00 p.m. local time.

ANNAN TO COMPLETE INITIAL DISCUSSIONS ON U.N. REFORM

This afternoon, the Secretary-General will complete his initial discussions with Member States of the

report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

He will meet the group of Eastern European states, having met over the past two days with the groups representing African, Asian, Latin American and Western European and other states.

Asked about meetings today between the Secretary-General and U.S. officials, the Spokesman said that U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy will meet the Secretary-General today, as will U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth.

ANNAN SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE MUST NOT HURT PROGRESS TOWARDS

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

We must not allow the consequences of climate change to undermine our work in achieving the

Millennium Development Goals. That statement is part of the Secretary-Generals

message to the Conference of Parties to the

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is currently meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Secretary-General adds that Parties must look beyond the Kyoto Protocol, since it takes them only to the year 2012, and that the longer-term challenge is to promote the use of low-carbon and renewable energy sources, as well as low-greenhouse-gas technologies.

DOCUMENTS CONCERNING KOJO ANNAN REMAIN CLASSIFIED,

UNTIL RELEASED BY VOLCKER

Asked about records of phone calls and hotel bills that U.S. Congressional investigators had shared, indicating a relationship between Kojo Annan and the United Nations, the Spokesman said that any documents that Kojo Annan had provided to the Independent Inquiry Committee headed by Paul Volcker were for the Committee to evaluate and to conclude as it sees fit.

He added that the only relevant information is what Kojo Annan provides to the Volcker panel, which is privileged communication until Volcker decides to release it.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MORE THAN $6 MILLION NEEDED FOR PHILIPPINES FLOOD VICTIMS: The United Nations launched a

Flash Appeal to help those hit by the recent typhoons and tropical storms in the Philippines. The Flash Appeal seeks $6.4 million and covers the period between mid-December 2004 and mid-March 2005.

NEW HUMANITARIAN EARLY WARNING WEB SITE LAUNCHED: UN humanitarian agencies and partners today

launched a new early warning service web site. Designed to enhance humanitarian preparedness, the site displays the latest forecasts, reports and alerts on drought, floods, tropical storms, locust infestation, El Niņo, earthquakes and volcanic activity. The address is:

www.hewsweb.org.

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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