United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-02-24

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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

Thursday, February 24, 2005

LUBBERS DEPARTS U.N. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

The High Commissioner for Refugees,

Ruud Lubbers, on Thursday said an emotional goodbye to some 6,000 staff members of the

UN Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) around the world and handed over temporary leadership responsibilities for UNHCR to Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin. She will work closely with Assistant High Commissioner Kamel Morjane pending the appointment of a new High Commissioner.

Lubbers left UNHCR's Geneva headquarters at 3:38 p.m., ending what he described as "50 wonderful months" as the world's top refugee official.

Lubbers, who took over as High Commissioner on 1 January, 2001, had been scheduled to retire at the end of this year. He

tendered his resignation to the

Secretary-General on Sunday.

Asked whether the Secretary-General has the authority to accept the resignation of elected heads of UN agencies, the Spokesman said that the legal ruling was that, once a person is voted by the

General Assembly to such a position, that person becomes a staff member and is therefore subject to staff rules and to the authority of the Secretary-General.

Asked whether that rule would also apply to the head of the

UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS),

Dileep Nair, the Spokesman said that was a different case, because the OIOS reports to the General Assembly, not the Secretary-General.

U.N. TEAM ARRIVES IN LEBANON FOR REPORT ON HARIRI KILLING

In a short while, Peter Fitzgerald, the leader of the

team the

Secretary-General named to report on the circumstances, causes and consequences of the killing of former

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, is scheduled to arrive in Beirut.

Fitzgerald may say a few words to the press upon arrival.

U.N. ENVOY IN TALKS ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ

AHEAD OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq,

Ashraf Qazi, today met with head of the Iraqi National Conference and member of the United Iraqi Coalition, Ahmad Chalabi, for talks that focused on political developments in Iraq ahead of the convening of the Transitional National Assembly and the formation of a transitional government.

The meeting with Chalabi is part of a series of contacts that Qazi has been having with Iraqi officials and political personalities to promote national dialogue and discuss ways through which the United Nations can further contribute to advancing the political process.

Several members of the United Iraqi Coalition, which won the majority of seats in the transitional assembly, also attended the meeting.

Asked whether Qazi had become involved in the formation of a government, the Spokesman said that Qazi was not naming anyone for a post in the Iraqi Government or becoming involved in the selection of individuals for the Government.

Rather, he said, Qazi was involved in an open-ended effort to broaden the political base by reaching out to fringe elements and other forces to bring them into the process. Eckhard said that the stability of Iraq depends on including as many factions as possible, including those who did not participate in the elections.

He added that Qazi has received full cooperation from the Iraqis.

DELAYS IN NEGOTIATIONS ON KOSOVOS FINAL STATUS WOULD INCREASE RISKS

There is now a clear timetable that could lead to negotiations on

Kosovos final status in the second half of 2005. To defer this process for much longer would only prolong the pain, increase the risks, and delay the day when the region will turn its back on a painful past and move towards a common European future.

Thats what the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo,

Søren Jessen-Petersen, told the

Security Council this morning. He added that partition is not a realistic option, since Kosovo must have space for all communities as a stable, tolerant, multi-ethnic democracy.

He noted several positive developments, including the upcoming resumption of direct dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, the transfer of more competencies from the UN Mission to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, and the fact that Kosovos Prime Minister has been reaching out to minorities.

At the same time, however, he said that social and economic hardship could at any moment turn into a threat to political stability.

U.N. MISSION IN HAITI INVESTIGATING RAPE CLAIM

The

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti is investigating an allegation that three peacekeepers raped a local woman, who claimed the incident took place in

Gonaives last Friday.

A preliminary inquiry started on Saturday morning; results from that initial inquiry indicate that the incident involved two Pakistani police officers and was a case of prostitution.

Nonetheless, the personal conduct code for peacekeepers rules out any involvement in prostitution and strict disciplinary action will be taken against both officers, including suspension from duty and repatriation, if the allegations are further substantiated.

A board of enquiry is also being established to further probe the allegations.

Asked about the follow-up to the inquiry, the Spokesman said that, if troops have been contributed by a national government, that government retains the responsibility for disciplining them. If these soldiers are found to be guilty, he said, they would be sent back to their home country, where they could face disciplinary action.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF MEETING U.S. OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, is in Washington D.C. today and tomorrow.

His two-day trip includes a speech on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo at the U.S. Institute for Peace this morning, as well as meetings with the press and high-level government officials.

As well as discussing general peacekeeping matters, hell also be talking about the measures being taken by the

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to address sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers.

PROJECTED COST OF U.N. MISSION IN SUDAN IS $1 BILLION

An addendum to the

Secretary-Generals

report on the

UN Mission in Sudan on the financial implications for the deployment of the UN peacekeeping operation in that country. The operation is currently projected at some $1 billion for a 12-month period.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan in Khartoum says that the African Union has confirmed an attack by armed militia on Sunday on a village near Nyala in

South Darfur in which two villagers were killed and two others wounded.

In southern Sudan, the United Nations halted access to Juba while the mission assesses reports of an ammunition dump explosion in that area yesterday.

Asked how many troops would be paid for by the budget, the Spokesman said it was about 10,000, for a 12-month period.

ANNAN SADDENED OVER HARM CAUSED BY AVALANCHES

IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

In a statement issued today, the Spokesman said that

Secretary-General Kofi Annan was

saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage to property in Jammu and Kashmir due to avalanches and heavy snows over the past two weeks.

He extends his deepest condolences to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially to the families of the hundreds who have been killed and injured because of the heavy snowfall.

HEAVY SNOWFALL IN AFGHANISTAN CAUSING CONCERN

The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan warns that the heavy snowfall that has taken place in the country has caused great concern about disease outbreaks, road blockage and food scarcity.

In one of the most-affected provinces, Ghor, the

World Food Programme has managed to distribute 182 metric tons of food, and is now considering food airdrops.

Meanwhile, the

UN Office for Project Services is coordinating snow clearance in 12 Afghan provinces, along with the countrys Ministry of Public Works.

In the long term, UN agencies and the Afghan Government are looking into the possibility of floods throughout the country once the snow melts, and are working to draw a map of high-risk areas that could be affected by floods.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES U.N. REFORM

WITH EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS

The

Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Frechette, is in Brussels, completing the second day of her visit to the European Union.

Yesterday, she met with the President of the European Parliament. Discussion focused on UN reform and the relationship between the United Nations and the European Parliament.

This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General met with the Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean-Louis Schiltz. Luxembourg currently holds the EU Presidency. They discussed the preparations for the 2005 Summit, overseas development assistance, innovative sources of financing for development and aid coordination.

She is also meeting Franco Frattini, Vice President of the Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security.

BENON SEVAN REQUESTED EXTENSION BEFORE REPLYING TO CHARGE LETTER

Yesterday was the deadline for Benon Sevan and Joseph Stephanides to respond to the charge letters that had been sent to them two weeks ago.

Sevan sent a letter to the Office of Human Resources Management requesting an extension before replying in detail to the charge letter. That request is being considered.

Stephanides did respond to the charge letter. His response will now be reviewed according to normal procedures before any action is taken.

In response to a question, the Spokesman later said that internal audits by the

UN Office of Internal Oversight Services were never shared with the members of the

661 committee. They subsequently given to

Paul Volcker and also to the U.S. government as per their request following the

General Assembly resolution passed in December.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION WAS NOT GRANTED

NECESSARY MEETINGS IN MYANMAR

A mission from the

International Labour Organization (ILO) left Myanmar today after a three-day visit there. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the attitudes of the Myanmar authorities towards the elimination of forced labour.

The ILO team issued a

statement in which it made clear that the team had not been granted the meetings that would have enabled it to complete its mission. It also said that there would be no point in continuing talks with Myanmar officials at the technical level.

In addition, the team urged the Myanmar authorities to find credible solutions to the serious forced labour cases identified by the ILO last year.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TOBACCO TREATY ENTERS INTO FORCE ON SUNDAY: The

World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

enters into force this Sunday, 27 February. The

treaty will then become legally binding for the 40 countries that ratified it before 30 November, 2004. Among other things, those countries will have three years to ensure that tobacco packaging carries strong health warnings, and five years to establish bans on tobacco advertising and promotion.

KOFI ANNAN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP TO BE LAUNCHED TONIGHT: The Friends of the Freie Universität Berlin and the

Global Compact will

launch the Kofi Annan International Fellowship in Global Governance at tonights Transatlantic Bridge Award Gala in New York. Under the terms of this fellowship, up to 20 doctoral and postdoctoral fellows from major universities around the world will work with the Global Compact and its partner organizations, as well as with companies participating in the Global Compact. The program is expected to advance research on responsible corporate citizenship and to strengthen the worldwide academic network of the Global Compact.

POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN UGANDA:

UNICEF, the UN Childrens Fund, says the first of two rounds of immunizations to protect more than a million children in

Uganda against the threat of

polio

begins this week in 15 districts of the country bordering Sudan. The campaign is led by the Ministry of Health with the support of UNICEF,

WHO and other partners.

UNFPA RESPONDS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS IN TSUNAMI REGION: Responding to critical needs in Thailands tsunami-affected communities, the

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is

expanding its support for maternal and child health and family planning services, as well as for

HIV prevention. Working with Thai health authorities and NGO partners, UNFPA will offer training, research, supplies and equipment to four hard-hit provinces.