United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-02-28

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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

Monday, February 28, 2005

ANNAN STRONGLY CONDEMNS HORRENDOUS BOMBING IN IRAQ

Secretary-General Kofi Annan

condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrendous suicide car bombing that took place today in Hillah, in which over 110 civilians, police and National Guard volunteers were reportedly killed and at least 130 injured. This terrorist attack constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

These repeated acts of senseless violence, in which the Iraqi people have become the main target, only seek to undermine the prospects of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous

Iraq.

The Secretary-General appeals to all Iraqis to refrain from all acts of violence, put aside their differences and work together in a spirit of national reconciliation. Ultimately, the foundations of a new Iraq can only be built through peaceful means, based on dialogue, mutual understanding and compromise. The United Nations will continue to stand by the Iraqi people in this process.

The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims of this reprehensible attack and hopes for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

ANNAN NOMINATES HEAD OF W.T.O. TO LEAD UNCTAD

The Secretary-General has nominated Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand to head the

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for a term of four years beginning on 1 September 2005. Dr. Supachai currently heads the World Trade Organization.

This appointment will need to be confirmed by the General Assembly.

In a

statement, the Secretary-General said he is absolutely delighted that Supachai Panitchpakdi has agreed that he should propose his appointment as the next Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

He added that Supachai has done an outstanding job as Director-General of the World Trade Organization, particularly in pushing forward the very difficult process of the Doha round, on which rest many of the hopes for economic progress in developing countries and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Supachais willingness to move to UNCTAD is eloquent testimony to the important role of that body in ensuring that the interests of development are taken into account in discussions on world trade, and that the voice of developing countries is heard. In him, the United Nations, and the developing world, will have an advocate of incomparable authority in the trade arena.

Asked whether the new UN recruitment policy applied to Supachais selection, the Spokesman said that his appointment had already been in the pipeline. He added that it was an appointment that we are particularly proud of, saying that the United Nations expects that Member States will applaud the choice.

ANNAN SAYS PROGRESS FOR WOMEN MARRED BY TRAFFICKING

AND TERRIFYING GROWTH OF HIV/AIDS

Ten years after the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing, women are not only more aware of their rights, they are more able to exercise them. Thats what the Secretary-General

said this morning at the opening of the Session of the Commission on the Status of Women marking Beijing Plus Ten.

He added that, while we have seen tangible progress on many fronts including improving life expectancy for women and more girls enrolled in primary education new challenges, such as the trafficking of women and children and the terrifying growth of HIV/AIDS among young women, remain.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES ANNANS ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

ON SEX ABUSE AT PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN LIBERIA

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette arrived in Monrovia,

Liberia today, starting the first leg of her visit to UN

peacekeeping missions.

The purpose of the visit is to drive home with the peacekeeping missions the Secretary-General's zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.

She met with Special Representative Jacques Klein. Tomorrow, she is scheduled to meet with the missions management team and hold a Town Hall meeting with the entire staff.

In the course of the week she will also visit peacekeeping missions in

Sierra Leone and

Côte d'Ivoire.

SUDAN: MORE VIOLENCE REPORTED IN DARFUR

The UN Advance Mission in Sudan continues to report on violence in Darfur,

Sudan.

A number of weekend incidents were reported, including an attack by tribal militia on a village in South Darfur, which the African Union said resulted in the deaths of two villagers.

TIMOR-LESTE: U.N. SUPPORT STILL NEEDED FOR PEACE & STABILITY

If the United Nations withdraws its military liaison officers and police trainers from Timor-Leste as scheduled by May 20, the country may face insurmountable challenges in its path towards peace and stability.

That is what Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Timor-Leste, told the Security Council today in its open meeting on that country, where the

UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) is scheduled to wrap up its work in May.

The Secretary-General, in his latest

report to the Council, recommended that a scaled-down UN Mission be kept in the country for another 12-month period. Hasegawa said that the period could be shortened if bilateral and multilateral arrangements are found to assume the responsibilities that the Mission currently performs. We have copies of his speech upstairs.

Today is the last day of Benins

Presidency of the Security Council. Tomorrow, Brazil will take over the rotating Council Presidency for the month of March.

Secretary-General Condemns Tel Aviv Suicide Bomb Attack

In a

statement issued on Friday evening, the Secretary-General condemned in the strongest possible terms the suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv.

He expressed his hope that immediate action would be taken to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators. This terrorist act should not be allowed to undermine the recent positive steps taken by both sides.

The Secretary-General offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

NEW PLAN AIMS TO PROMOTE SELF-RELIANCE FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

There are two announcements from the

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

First, earlier today in Geneva, the Agencys Commissioner-General, Peter Hansen,

unveiled a 5-year medium term

plan. The plan is designed not only to enhance the quality of its education, health and social services, but also to better promote self-reliance among the refugees by extending the Agencys micro-credit programme, increasing its provision of vocational training and by upgrading the conditions in the refugee camps.

The agency is requesting $1.1 billion over the next five years to implement this plan, which was designed in consultations with major donors.

Second, the Saudi Arabian government

said it will donate $20 million to UNRWAs emergency relief fund. This will go towards a major re-housing project in Rafah in southern Gaza for many of the thousands of refugees who lost their homes during Israeli demolition operations in the last four years.

UNITED NATIONS INVESTIGATES PRISON ESCAPE ATTEMPT IN D.R. CONGO

The

UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) reports that one of its peacekeepers shot and killed a prisoner as he tried to escape from a jail in the countrys northeast.

About 15 prisoners kicked down the door of a makeshift jail cell at the UN base near the town of Bunia, the capital of the Ituri District.

The prisoners then attacked a UN guard and tried to steal his weapon. The guard struggled with the prisoners and managed to fire several warning shots as they tried to flee.

One prisoner was killed in the shooting and another wounded. No prisoners escaped.

Several other prisoners were injured while being apprehended and were taken to a UN hospital in Bunia.

The UN Mission is carrying out an investigation into the escape.

Asked about the circumstances of the shooting that killed one prisoner, the Spokesman said that the matter was under investigation, and the United Nations would wait for that investigation to be completed.

HAITI: THREE U.N. PEACEKEEPERS SHOT AND WOUNDED DURING PATROLS

The

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) reports that three Brazilian peacekeepers were shot and wounded during routine patrols over the weekend in the Bel Air neighborhood of the Haitian capital, Port au Prince.

Two of the soldiers were shot at late Friday, and the third on Saturday.

All three received prompt medical treatment and later rejoined their contingent. All of them are reported in good condition today.

The armed elements who shot at the Brazilians have not yet been identified.

The UN Mission is investigating the shootings.

COTE DIVOIRE: U.N. PEACEKEEPERS QUELL VIOLENCE IN WESTERN VILLAGE

The Secretary-General, in a letter to the Security Council President, has informed members of his intention to appoint Swedens former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Pierre Schori, as his Special Representative in Cote dIvoire. The Security Council is expected to respond to the letter by midday Wednesday.

Meanwhile, peacekeepers of the

UN Operation in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) stepped in to restore security in a western village earlier today following an early morning attack launched by a group of armed young men against a Forces Nouvelles checkpoint.

Following UN peacekeepers action, 87 armed men were detained and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities. Their weapons and ammunition were also seized. A Bangladeshi peacekeeper was seriously injured, as well as two civilians, according to the Peacekeeping Department.

The UN mission says it regrets this attack and considers that it could only serve as a setback to the peace process at a time when the international community, in particular the South African mediation process, as well as all the actors of the Cote dIvoire conflict, have made every effort to find a political solution to the crisis.

In another incident, on Sunday night, fighting broke out at another village. The UN mission managed to send troops to quell the fighting in which nine villagers were injured.

TOGO: ANNAN WELCOMES DESIGNATION OF INTERIM HEAD OF STATE

The Secretary-General, in a

statement issued Friday evening, welcomed the decision by Faure Gnassingbé to step down as Head of State of Togo and the subsequent designation by the National Assembly of an Interim Head of State who will oversee the organization of the forthcoming elections in accordance with the Constitution.

The Secretary-General notes that as a result of those positive developments, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted the sanctions imposed on Togo.

He reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to support current efforts towards facilitating a smooth transition in Togo.

U.N. NUCLEAR WATCHDOG WORKING ON FINDING SOURCES

OF CONTAMINATION ON IRANIAN EQUIPMENT

The Board of Governors for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is meeting today in Vienna, and Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei

told the Board that the Agency has made progress in following up on information provided by Iran on its centrifuge programs.

He encouraged Iran to provide full transparency on its nuclear activities and to work closely with the Agency to build the necessary confidence.

ElBaradei, in response to a question from a reporter today, said he could not put any time frame on when the Iran issue would be resolved. However, he told reporters, the Agency is making progress on the substance of the important issues, including determining the sources of contamination found on Iranian equipment.

ElBaradei also discussed with the Board the failures by Egypt to report nuclear material and facilities to the Agency in a timely manner, which he said was a matter of concern. The IAEA notes that only small amounts of nuclear material were involved in Egypts activities.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SIERRA LEONE COURT PROSECUTOR RESIGNS: David M. Crane, Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, notified the Secretary General by letter that he would not seek reappointment and will leave his position effective 15 July 2005. Appointed in April 2002, Crane assumed his duties as Prosecutor on 15 July 2002, with the mandate of prosecuting those who bore the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the civil war in Sierra Leone in the 1990s.

ANNAN TELLS CIVIL SERVICE BODY TO HELP CREATE GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS FOR U.N. STAFF: The Secretary-General today called on the International Civil Service Commission to do its utmost to create for the staff of the UN system the conditions they need to succeed, at the more than 500 duty stations at which they serve the worlds people. His remark was part of a

message to the Commissions 16th session, being held today in Bangkok.

AFGHANS ASSISTED IN EFFORTS TO COPE WITH UNUSUALLY HARSH WINTER: The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has an

update on the UN systems efforts to deal with the severe winter weather in that country. The World Food Programme

says it has so far distributed 515 metric tons of food to the most affected province, Zabul. Meanwhile, the

UN Office for Project Services, which has helped to coordinate snow clearance activities, says that of 25 major passes throughout Afghanistan, only four remain closed.

U.N. DECADE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATION TO BE LAUNCHED: Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will

launch the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development tomorrow at 5.30 p.m., here at Headquarters. The main goal of the Decade is to encourage Member States to integrate the concept of sustainable development into their education policies.

TOO EARLY TO RESPOND TO LEBANESE GOVERNMENTS RESIGNATION: Asked about the resignation of the Lebanese government, the Spokesman said that it was too early to comment on the event, which had taken place just before the briefing.

ALMOST 40 COUNTRIES FACE SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES: Worldwide, 36 countries need food aid, while 11 countries face unfavourable prospects for their current crops, according to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

report released today. The report, called Foodcrops and Shortages, adds that the highest number of countries facing food emergencies continues to be in Africa, and says that whereas the causes are varied, civil strife and adverse weather predominate.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP KEY TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: An integrated

approach to agricultural investment, emphasizing greater public-private partnership, is key to agricultural development in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, according to the

Food and Agriculture Organization. A two-day

forum opens today at the agency's Rome headquarters, where participants will discuss investment projects in the region.