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United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-01-04

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

ARCHIVES

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, January 4, 2005

ANNAN TRAVELS TO JAKARTA TO LAUNCH AID APPEAL FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is on his way to Jakarta, Indonesia, where he will launch the emergency appeal for aid for the earthquake-induced

tsunami victims.

He is also scheduled to visit the worst-affected areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Then, next week, the Secretary-General will attend the

International Meeting on Small Island Developing States that will take place in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 10 to 14 January.

Asked when the Secretary-General would return to New York, the Spokeswoman said he should be back by the end of next week.

U.N. AGENCIES TACKLING RELIEF ISSUES FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS

FACING OBSTACLES IN MANY AREAS

Under-Secretary-General for

Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator,

Jan Egeland,

said that relief efforts by the United Nations and its partners have been working to gain access the majority of the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in the majority of the areas.

At the same time, he said, we are facing extraordinary obstacles in many areas, particularly in northern Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia.

Among the island states that have been hard hit, he added, are the Maldives and the Seychelles.

In general, Egeland said, the response to the disaster has been first-rate, adding that, counting pledges from international banks, we are well above $2 billion. He urged nations to provide the money that has been pledged.

UNICEF has

outlined four fundamental priorities for children, which it considers essential for the overall success of the relief effort. They are: keeping children alive; caring for those who have been separated from their families; protecting them from exploitation; and getting them back in school.

The

World Food Programme has managed to get enough food to Banda Aceh to feed 100,000 people for a week. It has also been able to feed almost 300,000 Sri Lankans. There is still concern, however, over the situation in the Maldives, Myanmar and Somalia where tens of thousands of people are in need of food aid.

Regarding emergency shelter materials, the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has

begun flying them into Indonesia.

ANNAN RENEWS CALL FOR RESTRAINT AHEAD OF PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

The

Secretary-General is gravely

concerned over the killing of at least seven Palestinian civilians and the injury of others caused by Israeli Defense Force operations in the northern Gaza Strip conducted earlier today. He is particularly disturbed that at least five of the victims were under the age of 18.

The Israeli military operations followed a marked increase in recent days of Qassam rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

The Secretary-General renews his call on both parties to follow their obligations under international law and in particular to ensure the protection of the civilian population.

The Secretary-General underlines the vital importance of exercising maximum restraint and responsibility during this critical period before the January 9 Palestinian presidential elections.

MORE THAN 700 INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO BE DEPLOYED

FOR PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

The Palestinian presidential elections, scheduled for January 9, have generated high interest in the international community with many countries sending observer delegations.

More than 700 international observers are expected to be deployed on election day.

Further to the UN's ongoing technical and logistical assistance programmes, the Palestinian Central Election Commission and Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the United Nations to deploy a Liaison and Support Unit.

This will provide an interface for international observer delegations attending the election. It is currently providing assistance to some 320 international observers from 51 delegations.

IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ASKED UNITED NATIONS

ABOUT UPCOMING ELECTIONS TIMING

Asked about reports that Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer has asked for the United Nations to investigate whether elections can go ahead in

Iraq by the end of January, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations has not received any official request from the President on the matter, although it had seen the media reports.

She reiterated that the elections are an Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-run process. Any decision to change the election dates rest with the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, as clearly stated in the Transitional Administrative Law.

In Baghdad, she added, UN staff continues to provide the Electoral Commission with the necessary technical support that they require.

ARGENTINA ASSUMES SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY FOR JANUARY

Argentina has assumed the

presidency of the

Security Council for the month of January.

Today, Council President Argentine Ambassador Cesar Mayoral is holding bilateral meetings on this months programme.

On Wednesday, the Security Council Presidency has scheduled a briefing on the January programme following consultations to be chaired by Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa.

U.N. ENVOY CALLS FOR TRANQUILITY IN SUDAN

AHEAD OF NATIONAL POLIO VACCINE CAMPAIGN

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Sudan,

Jan Pronk, is calling on the Sudanese Government, as well as armed groups in the countrys south and in Darfur, to refrain from any activity that could affect an upcoming

polio vaccine campaign.

Sudan currently has the third-highest rate of polio cases in the world, and the UN is helping the Government there prevent the diseases further spread with national immunization days, the first of which will be held in less than a week.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan says insecurity continues in Darfur, with reports of a helicopter gunship attack yesterday on a rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) stronghold in North Darfur, and acts of banditry, which include attacks on commercial trucks and buses.

UNDP CHIEF MARK MALLOCH BROWN TO BECOME ANNANS NEW CHIEF OF STAFF

The Secretary-General on Monday

announced the appointment of

Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of the

UN Development Programme (UNDP), as his new Chief of Staff, or Chef de cabinet, effective 19 January.

In that capacity, the Secretary-General said, Malloch Brown would assist him in developing and implementing major initiatives to improve the performance and management of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to retiring Chief of Staff Iqbal Riza, who, he said, had offered wise counsel and advice throughout, through thick and thin, and added, I am sure that I will continue to count on his advice.

Malloch Brown has served since 1999 as the UNDP Administrator, a position the Secretary-General said he will continue to hold until a new Administrator comes in.

He previously also served as the Vice President for External Affairs and for UN Affairs at the World Bank, and was the founder and editor of the Economist Development Report.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL POSTPONES MEXICO TRIP

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, had planned an official visit to Mexico in early January. That visit has been postponed due to the Secretary-General's previously unplanned visit to the tsunami struck region.

  • The guest at the noon briefing was Under-Secretary-General for

    Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator,

    Jan Egeland, who provide an update on assistance to the tsunami victims.

    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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