United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-12-20

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, December 20, 2004

ANNAN CONDEMNS WEEKEND ATTACKS IN IRAQ

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a

statement issued through his Spokesman, condemns in the strongest possible terms the latest series of attacks in the two holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as in Baghdad, in which more than 60 people, including three election workers, were reportedly killed and more than 120 wounded.

No cause can justify the killings of innocent civilians and the cold-blooded murder of election workers whose only purpose is to help the Iraqi people exercise their democratic right to vote.

The Secretary-General once again calls on all Iraqis not to be deterred by these attacks and to come together in a spirit of national reconciliation.

The United Nations will continue to do everything possible to assist the Iraqi people in holding elections and in completing their political transition in an orderly way.

The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims of these callous attacks.

IRAQ: ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION IS IN THE INTEREST OF EVERY CITIZEN

At a ceremony today in Baghdad organized to determine the order of political parties and entities on the ballots for the upcoming elections, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, expressed confidence that the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq will be able to organize credible, fair and transparent elections.

Qazi was given the honor of pulling out the first three numbered balls from a rolling barrel which contained 256 balls each corresponding to one of the political entities running in the elections.

At the ceremony, Qazi said the UN is privileged to have assisted the Independent Electoral Commission in preparing for the polls.

More than 20 UN electoral experts have been working with the commission in Iraq, supported by many more from outside the country, and have helped the commission in drafting regulations, procedures, and modalities as well as training.

It is truly in the interest of every Iraqi citizen, whatever their political views, to participate in this electoral process, Qazi said.

Preparations for the elections were the major topic of the discussions Qazi had today with Iraqi Interim President Ghazi Al Yawer and Prime Minister Iyad Alawi in separate meetings. The discussions also addressed efforts to encourage broader participation in the political process as well as the security situation in the country.

In both meetings, Qazi said the United Nations will continue to do everything it can to support Iraq through the transitional process both on political and humanitarian fronts. He is scheduled to have similar discussions later today with Interim Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh.

Asked about the nationality of the electoral workers killed in Iraq, the Spokesman said that they were Iraqi.

TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEE FROM FIGHTING IN EASTERN D.R. CONGO

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says in a press release that tens of thousands civilians have fled renewed fighting in the territory of Lubero, in North Kivu, an eastern province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The new displacement is in addition to the 30,000 people who fled the locality of Kanyabayonga, also in North Kivu, last week after fighting between what is reported to be factions of the DRCs national army.

OCHA warns that unless the fighting stops, the massive displacement could have disastrous consequences for civilians, as its too dangerous to deliver food aid.

OCHAs humanitarian coordinator in the DRC is calling on the military authorities to provide a neutral humanitarian space in the area, so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to the displaced population.

In its latest update, the

UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) says that fighting appears to have halted around Kanyabayonga, and that the fighting on Sunday was due to efforts by one faction to push back another one from its positions. The Mission has sent teams to investigate the latest developments on the ground.

UNITED NATIONS AND SUDAN MEET OVER DARFUR CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

The United Nations has expressed its concern about recent fighting and ceasefire violations in

Darfur, Sudan.

The Joint Implementation Mechanism, consisting of the United Nations, the Government of Sudan and diplomats, met yesterday in Khartoum at the request of the United Nations and its partners to discuss the situation in Darfur.

The United Nations and its partners expressed concern about the recent fighting in violation of the ceasefire agreement and the Abuja Protocols. They expressed concern also about the scale and nature of the military offensive by the Government of Sudan to clear the roads and its impact on civilians. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the government will immediately cease hostilities.

The United Nations and the African Union are requesting that the rebel groups do the same.

The

UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) also reported that the Government agreed also to withdraw its forces to the lines of 8 April 2004.

At UN Headquarters, a briefing on recent developments in Sudan has been requested in the Security Council and is expected at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Asked who would brief the Security Council on Sudan, the Spokesman later said the briefing would be by a senior UN Secretariat official.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES GUINEA-BISSAU

The Security Council held consultations on

Guinea-Bissau this morning.

Briefing the Council on the latest

report by the Secretary-General was Joao Bernardo Honwana, his Representative for Guinea-Bissau.

In that report, which is on the racks today, the Secretary-General notes that Guinea-Bissau has made important progress since the 1998/99 conflict.

As the country moves towards the completion of the ongoing transitional process, new challenges emerge, as evidenced by the military mutiny of 6 October 2004, he says. It is regrettable that since the beginning of the transition, he says, qualified optimism has been replaced by growing skepticism.

He also notes an enhanced perception that the military poses the greatest obstacle to the consolidation of democracy and peace.

He encourages the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to continue their efforts to complete the political transition peacefully, including by holding presidential elections as envisaged in the Political Transition Charter.

He urges all stakeholders, in particular political and military leaders, to rise above their partisan interests and ambitions and to help to preserve and consolidate peace and stability during the transitional period and beyond.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS HELP END ARMED STANDOFF IN HAITI

In

Haiti, last week's armed standoff between authorities and an armed group of demobilized soldiers, which had taken over the house of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide came to an end late Friday.

At the request of Haitis interim government, peacekeepers from the

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) helped remove the former soldiers. No one was hurt in the operation, which lasted less than an hour.

The removal followed failed attempts at mediation by members of political parties and civil society groups, and the UN Mission.

The Mission says the use of force was a last resort, but was pleased at the lack of bloodshed in the operation.

In addition, the Mission welcomes initiatives taken by Haitis transitional government to address the legitimate claims made by the former soldiers over the payment of pensions, as well as moves to reintegrate them into civil society.

AFGHANISTAN: MORE THAN 30,000 DISARMED

The

UN Assistance Mission in

Afghanistan (UNAMA) estimates that more than 30,000 military personnel have disarmed in that country.

About 1,000 troops were scheduled for disarmament yesterday alone, the Mission says.

As the demobilized soldiers are being taught non-military skills, one activity that has proved very popular is tailoring.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY FOR PALESTINIANS SHELTERS 600 FAMILIES

After a two-day offensive by Israeli forces into the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza, the

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) opened one of its schools to provide temporary accommodation to 600 families displaced by the fighting.

The Agency immediately served these families with hot meals and water in addition to providing mattresses, blankets and mats.

U.N. REPORT LOOKS AT CONFLICTS IMPACT ON BETHLEHEM

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Special Coordinator for the

Middle East Peace Process have published a

report on Bethlehem.

The report takes a look at the economic and social impact of the conflict on this city of importance for Jews, Christians and Muslims.

U.N. CONFERENCE ADOPTS MEASURES TO HELP COUNTRIES

PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

The 10th anniversary UN

Conference on Climate Change concluded over the weekend, after

adopting a package of measures aimed at helping countries to prepare for climate change.

The Conference also considered the carbon market -- which allows for companies to sell or trade credits that they have earned by reducing their emissions, and which will come into force in the European Union on 1 January, 2005.

The next meeting on climate change will be a seminar of governmental experts, to be held in Bonn next May.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MORE THAN 20 AFRICAN COUNTRIES FACING FOOD EMERGENCIES: Food security in sub-Saharan Africa has taken a hit from a combination of factors -- including drought, locust invasions and civil conflicts, according to the Food and Agriculture Organizations

Africa Report, which was published today. The report also says that, despite normal or above-average food production in some countries in 2004, 23 countries in the region are facing food emergencies.

NEAR RECORD LEVELS OF WORLD RICE PRODUCTION IN 2004: According to a statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization, global rice production in 2004 is estimated at 611 million tons, 27 million tons higher than in 2003 and close to the record achieved in 1999. However, production will remain short of consumption, and rice supplies available for international trade might be limited. Also, adverse weather conditions may cause outputs to fall in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

ANNAN SAYS SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION IS VITAL: Yesterday was the UN Day for South-South Cooperation, and the Secretary-General issued a

message, saying that such cooperation is still not as wide-ranging and effective as it could be. At the same time, he acknowledged that political solidarity among countries of the South has helped put development at the heart of the global agenda.

ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT IS UNDER PREPARATION: Asked about reports that the United States might withhold funds to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) over the content of the next edition of the

Arab Human Development Report, the Spokesman said he was unaware of any such plan to withhold funds. He said that he believed the report was still in the process of being edited. He referred reporters to UNDP.

U.N. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY WINS AWARD: The

International Telecommunication Union, which is the UN global telecommunications agency, today was named as one of the world's top 10 most enduring institutions by a panel of distinguished scholars from U.S. universities. The awards were announced by Booz Allen Hamilton, a global strategy consulting firm, in order to celebrate institutions that "have reinvented themselves time and again - and remained market leaders - as the unique circumstances of their founding have given way to changing conditions."

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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