United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-12-22

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

ANNAN: IRAQIS HAVE THE CHANCE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE

Speaking to reporters this morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan

said that with the upcoming elections, the

Iraqis have, for the first time in a very long time, the chance to take their destiny in hand and to determine their own future.

He added that he urges the Iraqi people to reconcile and make every effort to follow a path of dialogue and not violence.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative,

Ashraf Qazi, today continued his contacts with Iraqi officials and political activists regarding the political process in Iraq ahead of the countrys national elections scheduled for January 30.

Qazi had discussions with the leader of the Iraqi Independent Democrats, Adnan Pachachi. Talks focused on the efforts to advance the political process and ensure broad based participation in it.

Qazi held similar talks with Dr. Raad Maoulud Mukhlis, the secretary general of the Gathering for Iraq, and a number of activists from Falluja City and Anbar Governorate as well as Baghdad and Hilla.

The UN Representative said it is natural that there are differences among political trends in Iraq but these differences must be addressed through political dialogue within a political process aimed at building a stable and democratic Iraq.

Qazi also met with Iraqs Minister for Human Rights Bakhtiar Amin. They discussed the ministrys efforts to improve the human rights situation in the country.

Qazi pledged that UN human rights staff in Iraq will continue to work with the government and civil society organizations to build an environment conducive to the application of international human rights standards.

Asked when Qazi would next be in New York, the Spokesman later said that no date had been set for his return.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY PROVIDES AID TO DISPLACED IRAQIS FROM FALLUJAH

The United Nations has begun distribution of food and basic supplies to over 36,000 displaced families from Fallujah. This is being done in a joint programme led by the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its local Iraq partners, including the

International Organization for Migration.

This latest humanitarian effort by the United Nations, which got underway this week, comes at the request of the Iraqi Interim government.

Throughout the recent Fallujah crisis, the United Nations has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, particularly internally displaced persons. This includes continuing efforts by

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, and the

World Health Organization.

Qazi, the UN Special Representative, said he stands ready to support the right of Fallujah residents to return home in dignity and safety.

The United Nations emphasizes the need for any return plans to be guided by civilian humanitarian principles and international human rights and humanitarian law.

U.N. RESPONSE TO DARFUR NEEDS URGENT REASSESSMENT

The Secretary-General, in response to questions at a brief

press encounter about the UNs response to the situation in Darfur,

Sudan, and his reaction to a suggestion that he make another trip there, said quite frankly, our approach is not working and noted the need for an urgent reassessment by the Organization and the Security Council on where to go from here.

He asked, What can the Council do, working with the African Union and others, to accelerate the rate of deployment and ensure that we have more troops on the ground to assist? What other measures can we take to put pressure on the parties and hold some of the individuals who are responsible accountable, hold them individually accountable, for us to be able to move forward?

He then answered, These kinds of decisions and actions have to be decided here and taken here, and so, whilst a trip to the region may some time be necessary, the reassessment is urgent.

"We need to work together," he said, referring to the Security Council and the Secretariat, and stressed he was prepared to do so.

The Security Council, in a

press statement on Sudan yesterday, said it is actively monitoring the situation and, in this regard, expresses it readiness to consider a full range of options to exercise pressure on the parties to ensure full compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.

ANNAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF CHEF DE CABINET

In a

statement issued today, the Secretary-General says that it is with very mixed emotions that he has accepted the long-standing request of his Chef de Cabinet, Iqbal Riza, to retire from the services of the United Nations effective 15 January 2005.

He adds that, since 1978, Mr. Riza has served gallantly the United Nations in various capacities at Headquarters, as well as in the field. From Iran/Iraq, Nicaragua, El Salvador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the Department of Peace-Keeping Operations (DPKO), Mr. Riza has served as Chef de Cabinet since 1997 and has always provided wise and trusted counsel.

Mr. Riza has, throughout these years of service to the United Nations, carried out his duties with unflinching dedication to the ideals and the principles of the Organization.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS LAST OPEN MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2005

The Security Council held an open meeting -- the last scheduled one for 2005 -- during which the outgoing chairmen of committees and working groups briefed.

This afternoon at 3:00, the

Security Council has scheduled consultations on three items

Guinea-Bissau, the Bougainville peace process and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A formal meeting to adopt a resolution on the future mandate of Guinea Bissau is also planned.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, will be briefing on the DRC.

The

Security Council on Tuesday renewed the

arms, timber, travel and diamond sanctions on Liberia, after determining that the National Transitional Government had not yet met the conditions for lifting the measures.

Also Tuesday, the Security Council also issued press statements on

Sudan and

Ethiopia and Eritrea following consultations on those subjects.

On Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Security Council said it was encouraged by recent movements towards a peaceful solution of the border dispute and now looked forward to the beginning of the border demarcation process.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS AND IVORIAN FORCES START JOINT PATROLS IN ABIDJAN

The

UN Operation in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) reports that mixed patrols conducted by UN peacekeepers and Ivoirian Security and Defence Forces started today in Abidjan in a bid to increase the level of security in the city.

Similar patrols will take place in other key towns and cities.

Meanwhile, the situation is reported to be calm all over the country.

SHORTAGE OF ANTI-MALARIA DRUG TO CONTINUE PAST MARCH 2005

Last month, the

World Health Organization (WHO) said it was facing a shortfall of one of the most effective medicines used for treating the deadliest form of

malaria.

WHO said that the shortfall was due to heavy demand for a key ingredient, and would last until at least March next year. WHO now

says that the shortage is expected to continue beyond March again, due to a continued lack of raw materials.

WHO says that only half of the 60 million needed doses of the drug are expected to be produced next year.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN NORTH CAUCASUS

The

UN Development Programme together with the

UNHCR, other humanitarian partners, and the governments of North Ossetia and Ingushetia has

launched a social and economic recovery program in the North Caucasus.

The new initiative aims to facilitate the integration of displaced persons and refugees into host communities, through economic development.

Projects which include road repairs and improvements on schools, community centers and parks will generate some 250 temporary jobs.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT MEXICO

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette will travel for an official visit to Mexico in early January 2005.

She is scheduled to address the annual meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Reform of the United Nations. The meeting will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luis Ernesto Derbez, all Mexican Ambassadors and Consuls and other officials of the Mexican Government.

The Deputy Secretary-General will also meet with Patricia Olamendi, Under-Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. She will also meet the heads of United Nations agencies in Mexico.

FIFTH COMMITTEE AGREES ON BULK OF ANNANS SECURITY PACKAGE

The Secretary-General is pleased that the General Assemblys Fifth Committee, working past midnight last night, agreed on the bulk of his proposed security package.

The Fifth Committee will vote on the package this afternoon, and the General Assembly will vote on it tomorrow.

EMERGENCY SEX AUTHORS BROKE STAFF RULE BUT WILL NOT BE FIRED

Asked about a letter sent by U.S. Senator Richard Luger to the Secretary-General, which reportedly inquires about the employment at the United Nations of Dr. Andrew Thomson and asks for an update on the preparation of rules protecting so-called whistleblowers, the Spokesman later confirmed that the letter had been received.

The Spokesman said that Thomson who co-authored a book on the experience of working in UN peacekeeping missions had violated staff rules by publishing the book without permission from the UN.

We assessed that violation of staff rules and judged that it was not a basis for dismissal, the Spokesman said.

He noted that one of the books other co-authors had had her contract renewed since the controversy erupted, so the intention had not been to fire Thomson, who was on an 11- month contract. Such fixed-term contracts require a separation of service for a month once they expire.

He has been told very clearly that hes free to apply for other posts and in fact he has applied for other posts. But he has not been fired, nor has [fellow co-author] Heidi Postlewait although both of them violated staff rules in a very fundamental way, the Spokesman said, adding that, letters of reprimand have gone into their files, but its not a basis for dismissal."

As for the rules on whistle-blowing, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had addressed the matter in his Tuesday press conference, saying that he has asked the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services to look into ways of strengthening protection for whistle-blowers in the UN system, and he expects that report to come out shortly.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPOKESMAN CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OF U.N. PRESS ASSOCIATION: The Spokesman congratulated the UN Correspondent Associations new incoming President Jim Wurst. He said he looked forward to working with Jim in his new capacity starting 1 January, and wished him good luck. He also thanked the outgoing president, Tony Jenkins, for the professional and efficient cooperation the Spokesmans office had with him during his two years at the helm of the Association.

COUNTRIES WORK TO PROTECT SEA TURTLES: A group of 28 countries has worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to produce a set of

recommendations for reducing accidental sea turtle deaths in fisheries, calling for wider use of new technologies and improvements in fishing practices, among other measures. The countries urged all FAO member states to recognize that some sea turtle stocks are at serious risk due to fishing operations and to take steps to reduce that risk, and charged FAO with developing international technical guidelines to guide governments in doing so.

GRIM CHRISTMAS AWAITS MILLIONS OF HUNGRY SOUTHERN AFRICANS: Millions of people across southern Africa are again confronted by the grim prospect of not having enough to eat during the Christmas season and beyond because the World Food Programme (WFP) lacks the funding to ensure adequate food supplies. WFP has been steadily cutting rations to more than 2.8 million people over the last six months. The cutbacks follow a decline in contributions from donors who are beset by compelling demands for numerous crises.

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

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article