United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-12-16

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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 STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, December 16, 2004

ANNAN, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., MEETS WITH POWELL, RICE AND ADDRESSES

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Washington, D.C. today, where started the day with a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. He then met in the White House with U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Afterwards, he spoke at a luncheon of the Council on Foreign Relations. In that address, where he said that that the only universal instrument that can bring States together in a global effort against the major threats of our age is the United Nations.

He said the United Nations is not perfect, and at times shows its age, but our world will not easily find a better instrument for forging a sustained, global response to todays threats.

He discussed the

report of the

High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, noting that the Panel has proposed a definition of

terrorism, which Member States should use to enact a full anti-terrorism convention.

He added that tomorrows United Nations would provide a more muscular framework to prevent a cascade of nuclear proliferation.

Among other points dealt with in the report, the

Security Council must sometimes have to authorize the use of force to stop mass atrocities in sovereign States. We face such a situation today in

Darfur, he said.

The Secretary-General also highlighted the UN efforts in

Iraq, where it has helped to train 6,000 election workers and to recruit and train up to 130,000 poll workers. The technical preparations for the 30 January election are on track, and the United Nations stands ready, if asked, to support Iraqi efforts to draw up a constitution.

ANNAN DISCUSSED U.N. SUPPORT FOR IRAQI ELECTIONS WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE

This morning, the

Secretary-General also met with Colin Powell. They discussed Iraq, including UN support for the January elections, and the Secretary-General told Powell that the United Nations is strengthening its presence in

Iraq.

The two also discussed

Middle East reform,

Haiti,

Sudan,

Afghanistan and

UN reform. Their meeting included a brief one-on-one encounter.

Afterward, they spoke to the press, and the Secretary-General said about Iraq that the United Nations will put in the staff it deems necessary.

Its not a question of numbers, he said. Its a question of what you need to get the job done.

Asked about the

oil-for-food allegations, the Secretary-General said he is anxious to see the investigations concluded as quickly as possible, so that we can focus on the essential work of the United Nations.

Later today, the Secretary-General will travel to Brussels, to attend the summit of the European Union.

Asked how many of the Iraqi electoral personnel mentioned by the Secretary-General had been trained by the United Nations, the Spokesman said the United Nations had been involved in training them all through a system of cascade training, in which UN electoral experts trained some Iraqis who went on to train others. The United Nations also designed booklets, programs and other instructional material for the whole process.

The Spokesman noted that the United Nations had designed a training program for members of Iraqs Independent Electoral Commission, which included training in Mexico this summer. It also directly trained permanent workers for the elections, both inside and outside Iraq.

MORE THAN 200 POLITICAL ENTITIES HAVE REGISTERED FOR IRAQI ELECTIONS

Yesterday was the last day for the registration of political entities in the run-up to the elections in

Iraq.

The latest figures we have show that 237 political entities have registered. This translates to over 11,000 candidates running for the elections. So far no political entity has been rejected.

The entities represent a broad spectrum of Iraqi society, with all religious and ethnic groups being represented. Some of the candidate lists include representatives from other tribes and minority religious sects, showing that groups are using the electoral process to form alliances and attract wide support.

Regarding the number of UN international staff in Iraq, as of today, the total number of staff with the

UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in Baghdad is around 220. This number includes 157 Fijian guards and a ceiling of 64 for non-guard personnel.

Another 70 UNAMI international staff are based in Amman and in Kuwait. UNAMI electoral staff inside and outside Iraq are part of an integrated team of some 50 international electoral experts from the United Nations European Union and other organizations operating under a single UN command.

Asked whether the United Nations believes that the elections will not be undermined by violence, the Spokesman noted that Special Representative Ashraf Qazi had spoken on the matter earlier this week, saying that the United Nations is working closely with the Iraqi people to make sure that elections go forward.

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI

The

Secretary-General is seriously

concerned to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyis personal security detail has been withdrawn, and the already limited access to her by her physician that currently exists has been further restricted.

He reminds the Myanmar authorities of their responsibility to ensure Daw Aung San Suu Kyis security and well-being.

The Secretary-General also reiterates strongly his calls on the authorities to honour their expressed commitments to the United Nations and to ASEAN by lifting all the restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyis movement and activities as soon as possible; and by taking the requisite steps to ensure that the process of democratisation and national reconciliation in Myanmar is fully inclusive

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

A window of opportunity exists to revitalize the

Middle East peace process, Under-Secretary-General for

Political Affairs,

Kieran Prendergast, told the

Security Council today.

Addressing an open meeting of the Council, Prendergast says that the Palestinian leadership has continued to oversee the transitional period in a highly commendable manner, with no significant internal unrest.

The optimism among the Palestinians, he added, is mirrored on the Israeli side, with a recent survey showing that three-quarters of Israelis favor the resumption of negotiations.

Prendergast also noted with satisfaction and hope for the future that the overall level of violence has dropped in the past month. Nevertheless, casualty figures are still too high, with 52 Palestinians and seven Israelis having been killed since 15 November.

Much work remains to be done, he said, and we should make clear that we expect both Israel and the Palestinians to seize the moment to act constructively, and to work within the framework of the Road Map.

The open briefing on the Middle East was followed by consultations on the same subject, which are still going on.

Asked about reported remarks by a Hamas official concerning the targeting of Israelis living outside Israel, the Spokesman said he was unaware of those remarks. He reiterated the Secretary-Generals condemnation in the strongest terms of all violence and his emphasis on the importance of negotiations. The Spokesman added that we need to focus on the commendably smooth Palestinian transition.

In a statement to the press, members of the Council said that they encourage the Secretary General and the Secretariat to continue to provide full support to upcoming Palestinian presidential elections and encourage parties to do their utmost to ensure success of elections. The Council members added that they agree that the moment is propitious for movement to implement the roadmap and look forward to free, fair and open Palestinian elections.

PALESTINIANS OF DESTROYED HOMES IN WEST BANK CITY

RECEIVE KEYS TO NEW HOMES

The head of the

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Commissioner-General

Peter Hansen, today

handed over new house keys to hundreds of families whose homes have been replaced in the West Bank city of

Jenin.

The rebuilding of homes in Jenin camp that were destroyed during fighting in April 2002 is now complete, the Agency says.

Hansen said that the rebuilding in Jenin has been the biggest humanitarian project in the occupied Palestinian territory since the conflict broke out four years ago.

He said he hoped that the fresh start for the Jenin camp will be accompanied by an improved situation for all Palestinians.

U.N. LIAISON OFFICE TO OPEN IN RAMALLAH

AHEAD OF PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

Regarding UN efforts in the upcoming

Palestinian presidential elections, the UN expects the UN Liaison and Support Unit to open its office in Ramallah the day after tomorrow, and that soon after, a satellite office will open in Gaza.

The primary function of these offices will be to liaise with International Observer Groups, to ensure that they have access to all relevant information needed for them to work efficiently.

It will also promote liaison and collaboration among national and international observers.

The UN officers will act as an interface between the international observers and the Palestinian Central Electoral Commission.

Asked whether the United Nations would open an office in Jerusalem for the elections, the Spokesman said the United Nations is not involved in the voting in East Jerusalem. Instead, he said, Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to implement a 1996 agreement allowing East Jerusalem residents to vote.

NORTHERN AFGHAN CITY OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF IS FULLY DISARMED

The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said today that the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif has been fully

disarmed.

More than 6,700 soldiers in that city have turned in their weapons, and the Mission says that nearly 29,000 military personnel have been disarmed throughout

Afghanistan since October 2003.

The UN Mission expects the numbers to rise even more in the next few days, when another one thousand soldiers from Kabuls Tenth Division are scheduled to turn in their arms.

U.N. MISSION TO ASSESS AID NEEDS OF RESIDENTS

WHO FLED RECENT FIGHTING IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The

UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo says that it has located thousands of people who have fled the locality of

Kanyabayonga, which has been the site of fighting between armed groups this week.

The Mission has sent a team to assess the residents aid needs, but is experiencing difficulty in reaching them from the south, and will now try to do so from the north.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS IMPROVED DIALOGUE BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA

A letter on

Kosovo from the Secretary-General to the

President of the

Security Council was released today. It contains a report by Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, as well as the Secretary-Generals recommendations on how to move forward, in the aftermath of last Marchs violence.

The letter, among other things, recommends transferring further competencies to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, implementing a stronger economic development policy, and initiating a more comprehensive dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.

It also reiterates that achieving progress on the eight basic standards, which were agreed upon by the international community, remain the basis of UN policy in Kosovo.

UNHCR REPORTS ON LIBERIAN, IRAQI AND MYANMAR REFUGEE MOVEMENTS

A group of 385 Liberian refugees has left Ghana in the first sea movement of the Liberian return operation,

according to the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Meanwhile, UNHCR and the

UN Development Programme have signed an agreement to collaborate on self-sufficiency projects in areas of return.

UNHCR and the Iranian government are

closing several camps for

Iraqi refugees with the departure of an estimated 107,000 Iraqi refugees since the end of Saddam Hussein's rule last year. The agency is also helping the Iraqi government to strengthen local capacity to reintegrate the refugees.

In a massive joint operation, UNHCR and the Thai government have

started to re-register the entire population of the nine refugee camps in Thailand that are currently sheltering an estimated 140,000 refugees who fled from Myanmar some years earlier.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. MISSION HELPING HAITIAN AUTHORITIES FIND SOLUTION TO STANDOFF OVER ARISTIDE HOME: In response to a question about developments in

Haiti, the Spokesman noted that a group of former military troops occupied the home of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Wednesday, reportedly with the intention of making it their headquarters to provide security to the population. Today, at 6:00 a.m., peacekeepers from the

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the Haitian National Police have surrounded the residence. The UN Mission is collaborating with the Haitian authorities to find a peaceful solution to the situation.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULES ON SERBIAN CLAIMS MADE AGAINST NATO: Yesterday in The Hague, the

International Court of Justice unanimously

ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to deal with the claims filed by Serbia and Montenegro concerning acts allegedly committed by NATO in Kosovo in 1999. The Court found that Serbia and Montenegro was not a member of the United Nations or a State party to the International Court of Justices statute at the time of its filing.

FUNDING SHORTFALL MAY LEAD TO FOOD AID CUTS FOR DISPLACED AZERBAIJANIS: The

World Food Programme

warned today that, because of a $10 million shortfall, food distribution to 140,000 Azerbaijanis, displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict a decade ago, will come to a complete halt in January. The three-year humanitarian operation started in January 2003, and 75% of the beneficiaries are women and children.

SHIFT REPORTED IN GLOBAL PATTERN ON BLINDNESS: Success in tackling the infectious causes of blindness, combined with changes in the world's population, have caused a dramatic shift in the patterns of blindness around the world,

according to

new data published by the

World Health Organization. Ten years ago, infectious diseases such as trachoma and onchocerciasis were among the leading causes of blindness. Today, these factors are far less important compared to chronic diseases such as diabetes, the new figures show.

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO HELP ACHIEVE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Field representatives of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations have met for the first time and are wrapping up a two-day meeting in Switzerland today, on the eve of the

International Year of Sport and Physical Education. The aim of this innovative workshop is to pool experience on both sides in order to build up new partnerships in developing countries capable of mobilizing the sport movement to make an active contribution to achieving the

Millennium Development Goals.

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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