United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-02-18

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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

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, February 18, 2005

ANNAN APPOINTS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE 1999 VIOLATIONS IN EAST TIMOR

Secretary-General Kofi Annan decided to appoint Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati of India, Professor Yozo Yokota of Japan, and Ms. Shaista Shameem of Fiji, to an independent Commission of Experts to review the prosecution of serious human rights violations committed in East Timor in 1999.

The Secretary-General recalls that the Security Council in its resolution 1573 (2004) reaffirmed the need to fight against impunity. In response, the Secretary-General on 11 January informed the President of the Security Council of his decision to establish a Commission of Experts. On 26 January, the President of the Security Council responded to the Secretary-General that the members of the Council had taken note of it.

The Commission would assess the progress made by the judicial processes in Dili and Jakarta, and make recommendations to the Secretary-General with regard to possible future actions. The Commission would further consider how its analysis could be of assistance to the Commission of Truth and Friendship, which Indonesia and Timor-Leste agreed to establish. In his letters of 22 December to President Yudhoyono of Indonesia

and President Gusmao of Timor-Leste, the Secretary-General outlined to them the tasks of the Commission, and requested their cooperation.

The Secretary-General is of the view that the work of the Commission could complement that of the Truth and Friendship Commission, and expresses his hope that the Governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste will extend full cooperation to the Commission of Experts.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON MYANMAR TO MAKE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION EFFORTS MORE INCLUSIVE AND CREDIBLE

The Secretary-General notes that on 17 February, Myanmar

reconvened its National Convention to continue drafting the principles on which a new constitution will be based. Regrettably, contrary to his earlier suggestions, this happened without the participation of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political parties.

The Secretary-General is also concerned about the recent detention of several Shan leaders, including the President of the Shan State Peace Council (SSPC) and the Chairman of the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD).

While accepting that "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: Myanmar

"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: faces complex and difficult challenges in its transition to democracy and its quest for national reconciliation, the Secretary-General believes that for a genuine process of national reconciliation to take root, the views of the NLD and other political parties, as well as the representatives of all the ethnic nationality ceasefire groups, must be sought and considered.

It remains the Secretary-Generals view that the National Convention, in its present format, does not adhere to the recommendations made by successive resolutions of the General Assembly. He thus reiterates his call on the "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: Myanmar

"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: authorities, even at this late stage, to take the necessary steps to make the roadmap process more inclusive and credible.

The Secretary-General also encourages the authorities to ensure that the next phases of the roadmap - the drafting of the constitution and the holding of a national referendum - are transparent and inclusive. It is his considered view that unless this poll adheres to internationally accepted standards of conduct and participation, it may be difficult for the international community, including the countries of the region, to endorse the result.

The Secretary-General, once again, appeals to the Myanmar

authorities to resume without delay a substantive political dialogue with the representatives of all ethnic nationality groups and political leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to help achieve a genuine process of national reconciliation. He reiterates the need for the remaining constraints on all political leaders to be lifted, NLD offices to be allowed to reopen and for political prisoners, including elected officials, to be released. He also renews his readiness to facilitate national reconciliation efforts among all parties concerned and to that end, urges the authorities to agree to a visit of his Special Envoy, Razali Ismail.

ANNAN CONDEMNS DEADLY MOSQUE BOMBINGS IN IRAQ

In response to a question, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General condemns the deadly mosque bombings that took place today during prayer in "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: Baghdad"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: . He conveys his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims.

The Secretary-General regrets the continued acts of intolerance and violence, particularly when perpetrated against innocent civilians and places of worship. Now that Iraqis have successfully held their elections, the Secretary-General appeals to Iraqis of all faiths, ethnic backgrounds and political persuasions to come together in a spirit of dialogue and national reconciliation to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Iraq.

The United Nations will continue to stand by the Iraqi people to help them succeed in this critical period of their history.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals meeting today with US Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte, the Spokesman said that was a previously scheduled meeting in which they discussed Iraq, and had nothing to do with Negropontes upcoming assignment as US National Intelligence Director.

U.N. HEALTH AGENCY SEES SIGNS OF PNEUMONIC PLAGUE IN D.R.

CONGO

The World Health Organization (WHO) is helping health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo deal with what appears to be an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the Ituri district, in the province of Oriental, in the countrys north-east.

As of this past Tuesday, WHO has received reports of 61 deaths from the plague, but the total number of cases is still not known. The cases have occurred among workers in a diamond mine where around 7,000 people work.

Preliminary results from rapid diagnostic tests in the area confirm pneumonic plague, and the cases had clinical features compatible with the disease.

HAITI: U.N. ENVOY NOTES PROGRESS IN IMPROVING SECURITY

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Haiti, Juan Gabriel Valdés, said progress has been made in security for Haiti, but difficulties remain, particularly in the disarmament process.

Valdés made the comments at a conference on Haiti, attended by heads of state and foreign ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which ended Thursday in Suriname .

Valdés also called on the member states of CARICOM to support reconstruction efforts in Haiti, in line with the Secretary-Generals earlier appeals on the subject.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO DISCUSS U.N. REFORM WITH EUROPEAN OFFICIALS

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will travel to Strasbourg and Brussels from 23 to 25 February for her annual visit to European Union institutions.

In Strasbourg, she will address a joint meeting of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee with the Trade, Development and Budget Committees. She will also meet with the President of the European Parliament. In Brussels, she will have meetings with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, with Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and with a number of commissioners

In the course of her visits, she will also meet with Karel de Gucht, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Jean Louis Schiltz, Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, and other high-level officials.

Among the key topics to be discussed during the Deputy Secretary-General's visit are preparations for the 2005 High-Level event of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, UN reform, and cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union.

SECURITY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES RESTRICTIONS ON SMALL ARMS

There are no meetings or consultations of the Security Council scheduled for today. The next scheduled meeting of the Security Council is Tuesday, on the Middle East.

In a presidential statement on small arms, issued by the Security Council on Thursday, the Council encouraged Member States to undertake vigorous actions aimed at restricting the supply of small arms, light weapons, and ammunitions to areas of instability.

At the same, however, the Council reaffirmed the inherent right of States to import, produce and retain such weapons for their self-defense and security needs.

NEARLY 800,000 WILL NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE IN INDONESIA

The World Food Programme (WFP) released a report from its Emergency Food Security Assessment Mission to Aceh province. It estimates that nearly 800,000 people there may be in need of food assistance over the next few months. The agency also notes that, as access improves, more tsunami survivors who are hungry are being found.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) -- in addition to distributing hygiene and reproductive health kits -- is supporting the re-establishment of reproductive health services in the hardest-hit districts of Aceh. It is also conducting a gender needs assessment to identify specific problems faced by women and girls.

For its part, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has begun a programme to teach survivors how to start and improve their own businesses in Banda Aceh.

UN REFUGEE CHIEF MEETS WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL

Asked about a news story today concerning an Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report on UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, the Spokesman said the details of the article published by

"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: London

"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: s Independent are an accurate reflection of the contents of the report.

He declined to speculate on a meeting today between the Secretary-General and Lubbers, taking place after the briefing. It was a previously scheduled meeting, he said, but it could be assumed that the matter would be discussed.

Asked why the Secretary-General had not made Lubbers resign last summer, when he received the report, the Spokesman noted that, of the cases mentioned, none of the witnesses were willing to come forward, and there wasnt a legal basis to proceed with the case. The Secretary-General examined the report, heard Lubberss defense and made the judgment that the allegations were not sustained by the evidence.

The Secretary-General sent letters to Lubbers, OIOS head Dileep Nair and UNHCR staff, the Spokesman added. It had not been an easy decision, he said.

He noted, in response to questions about whether the Secretary-General could ask Lubbers to resign, that the Secretary-General would judge Lubbers as a staff member, as he did when he received the report. He noted that nothing in todays article concerned any new information; the information in the article were the facts the Secretary-General had at his disposal when he made his judgment.

Asked about allegations against OIOS head Dileep Nair, the Spokesman said that the United Nations had asked the staff association to present any evidence it had to the United Nations.

U.N. SEEKS TO HARMONIZE CENSUS-TAKING METHODS

Available today is a report by the Secretary-General on population and housing censuses.

Among other things, it notes that the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs is initiating a program, to be implemented from 2005 to 2014, which intends to get all countries to agree on international principles governing national censuses.

The report also looks at efforts taken by the regional commissions in the area of population and census-taking.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW POLICE & JUSTICE HEAD APPOINTED IN KOSOVO: The Secretary-General has appointed Jean Dussourd as his Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Dussourd will head the Police and Justice component (Pillar I) in UNMIK.

U.N. SEX OFFENDER BEING PROSECUTED IN "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: FRANCE: Asked whether the United Nations was aware of photos concerning sexual exploitation by a UN staff member in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Spokesman said it was. The individual was being prosecuted in France, which has a sexual tourism law, in a trial that is still in progress.

AFRO-COLOMBIANS FLEE FROM IMPENDING VIOLENCE: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that around 1,200 Afro-Colombians have fled their communities along the Bojayá River, in Colombia, fearing impending clashes between various armed groups. A UNHCR team dispatched to the area says that the numbers of displaced people in the area appeared to be climbing.

IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN STARTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

: Almost 1.5 million young people will be immunized against measles and rubella over the next two weeks in Kazakhstan. The mass immunization campaign, supported by UNICEF, will cover the entire country to stop a recent outbreak of measles.

FISTULA FORTNIGHT TO AID VICTIMS OF FISTULA: Volunteer doctors from the United Kingdom and the United States will join forces with a team of Nigerian surgeons to treat hundreds of women suffering from obstetric fistula and train in fistula surgery. The "Fistula Fortnight" will be launched in part by the United Nations Population Fund on 21 February, and takes place at four hospitals in northern

Nigeria

.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, February 21

Today is a US

holiday, and UN Headquarters will be closed.

The 23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council opens a one-week session in Nairobi. The role of the environment in achieving the Millennium Development Goals will be the overall theme of the session, which will involve the participation of over 100 Environment Ministers.

Tuesday, February 22

The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing, followed by consultations, on the Middle East .

The guest at the noon briefing will be Kristin Hetle, Chief of the UN Population Funds Media Services Branch, who will discuss the launch in

Nigeria of the Fistula Fortnight partnership.

Wednesday, February 23

The Security Council has scheduled an open debate on children and armed conflict.

The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters will hold its 44th session in New York .

In Strasbourg, the Deputy Secretary-General will address the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Thursday, February 24

The Security Council has scheduled a public meeting on Kosovo.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Hania Zlotnik, Director of the Population Division, who will present the report World Population Prospects the 2004 Revision.

Friday, February 25

The Security Council has scheduled a public meeting on cross-border issues in West Africa .

Immediately following the noon briefing, Kyung-wha Kang, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, Rachel Mayanja, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, and Carolyn Hannan, Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women, will brief on the Secretary-General's report on progress on the Beijing Platform for Action and the Review and Appraisal meeting.