United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-12-23

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

Thursday, December 23, 2004

[This is the scheduled Noon Briefing for the year. This page will be updated daily

until the briefing resumes on Tuesday, January 4, 2005.]

TROUBLED BY REPORTED GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NEPAL,

ANNAN URGES END TO FIGHTING AND START OF DIALOGUE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is

deeply troubled by reports of an escalation of fighting in Nepal and of continued grave human rights violations. The conflict is undermining democracy and human rights and seriously hindering development activities.

Reports that human rights defenders in Nepal face grave threats to their safety and security are very disturbing. The safety and ability of the National Human Rights Commission and all human rights activists to carry out their essential work should be guaranteed.

In that regard, the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between His Majestys Government of Nepal and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is a welcome step.

The Secretary-General once again calls for an urgent cessation of fighting and the initiation of dialogue between the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) with the participation of all political and civil forces. He stands ready to assist such a national effort.

LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR IRAQI ELECTIONS TO BE MADE PUBLIC SOON

In

Iraq, the list of candidates for the upcoming elections is still being processed.

So far, the names of almost 19,000 candidates have been presented in 20 elections -- the National Assembly, 18 governates and for the Kurdish National Assembly. Out of the total number of candidates, there are 6,239 registered candidates for the National Assembly elections.

For all 20 elections, 223 political entities and 33 coalitions have been certified to take part.

The final figures will be made public within the next few days.

AFGHANISTAN: DISARMAMENT IN SOUTH NEARS END

The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

reports that yesterday was the first day of disarmament for the 15th Division in Kandahar.

The event was made possible by the Afghan National Armys establishment of a regional command center in the South.

It marks the beginning of the end of all disarmament for militias in the southern part of the country.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF

GUINEA-BISSAU PEACE-BUILDING OFFICE

The Security Council, in its last scheduled meeting for 2004, yesterday afternoon

extended the mandate of the

UN Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS).

Recognizing the risks presented by recent developments to the conclusion of Guinea-Bissaus transitional process, the Security Council also gave the mission a revised mandate in light of the diverse tasks facing the special political mission.

Argentina will assume the Security Council presidency on January 1, 2005.

Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Japan and Tanzania are the newly elected Security Council members as of January 1. They replace Angola, Chile, Germany, Pakistan and Spain.

SUDAN: U.N. TEAM DISCUSSES HOW TO CONTAIN POLIO EPIDEMIC

The UN country team in Khartoum, Sudan, today held an emergency meeting to discuss how to contain a polio epidemic in

Sudan, where 79 cases have been reported.

According to the

UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS), the World Health Organization and UNICEF highlighted the serious consequences of this outbreak if it is not contained without delay. These consequences include the potential spread of the disease to other countries in the region, and tighter restrictions on the movement of people from the infected countries.

A vaccination campaign is scheduled to take place in the whole of Sudan in January and February.

U.N. MISSION DOCUMENTS ILLEGAL FISHING AND DUMPING IN LIBERIA

The

UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has documented

illegal fishing and bilge dumping in the country's international waters, Jacques Klein, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Liberia says.

Klein said he would like to have the authority to actually force these ships to come into the harbour.

The aim, he explained, would not be to impound the ships, but to make them pay standard fines. That, "at least would generate some revenue for the Government of Liberia."

Bilge dumping describes the ridding of waste that the ship itself produces.

ANNANS CHEF DE CABINET HAD INTENDED TO RETIRE AT 70

Asked when to expect an announcement about a replacement for Iqbal Riza, the Secretary-Generals retiring Chef de Cabinet, the Spokesman said he doubted that anything would be announced in the next week or two.

Theres no definitive date and no decision yet on a replacement for him, the Spokesman said, adding that the Secretary-General has a shortlist of candidates.

Asked to clarify the reasons why Riza was stepping down, the Spokesman noted that the suddenness of the announcement yesterday had triggered a lot of wild speculation, but that Riza had always intended to retire at the age of 70.

He did offer the Secretary-General his resignation at the end of the Secretary-Generals first term, and it was turned down and they eventually agreed that his departure date now that he has turned 70 will be the 15th of January. So it has nothing to do with anything else besides age, the Spokesman said.

Asked if Rizas retirement would affect his availability for the

independent panel investigating allegations of impropriety in the administration and management of the Iraq

oil-for-food programme, the Spokesman said that Riza has assured the Secretary-General that he would continue to cooperate with the panel.

Theres not the formal obligation to obey the Secretary-General as a staff member any longer, but someone so close to the Secretary-General as the Chief-of-Staff of course would continue to cooperate with Mr. Volcker and as I told you he assured the Secretary-General that he would, the Spokesman added.

CYPRUS: ANNANS GOOD OFFICES WILL BE AVAILABLE

WHEN BOTH SIDES ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD

Asked if the Secretary-General plans to restart his

initiative to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman noted that the latest comment the Secretary-General had made on the matter was during his recent visit to the European Union, during which he reiterated his position that when the two sides can agree on a way forward, then his good offices would be available.

So I dont think theres anything new in his position, the Spokesman said.

In response to a question about the Under-Secretary-General for

Political Affairs,

Kieran Prendergast, being appointed mediator between the two sides in Cyprus, the Spokesman said no formal announcement has been made about a new mediator.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ETHIOPIA AND U.N. APPEAL FOR FOOD FOR OVER 2 MILLION ETHIOPIANS: The Ethiopian Government, the United Nations and humanitarian partners today

appealed for food valued at nearly $160 million for an estimated 2.2 million needy people, and $112 million of non-food assistance to meet emergency humanitarian needs in 2005.

TALKS EXPECTED BETWEEN U.N. FORCE COMMANDER AND TOP FRENCH ARMY OFFICIAL IN COTE DIVOIRE: The

UN Operation in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) reports that the Chief of Staff of the French army, General Henri Bentegeat, who is visiting Abidjan, is planning talks tomorrow with the UN Force Commander General Abdoulaye Fall. The discussions are scheduled to take place during his visit to UN command headquarters where he will address UN peacekeepers.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS TO DISCUSS OUTSTANDING ISSUES: Today marks the end of the main part of the 59th session of the General Assembly. The plenary will meet this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. to discuss some outstanding issues and review the report of the Fifth Committee, which deals with financial and budgetary matters.

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