United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-03-11

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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 MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, March 11, 2005

ANNAN ATTENDS MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF MADRID TERRORIST ATTACK

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on the last day of his visit to Madrid, attended a silent memorial service with King Juan Carlos of Spain that honored the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in the city a year ago today.

This morning, during a press conference, the Secretary-General

said to the people of Spain, The world mourns with you. He said there is much that the world can do to deter terrorism without sacrificing human rights.

In response to a question, he said he was concerned at measures in some countries to undermine civil and human rights. We need to make sure that there is a balance, he said.

Also today, the Secretary-General met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he discussed terrorism, Cyprus and Iraq. They also spoke briefly tete-a-tete.

LEBANON: U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TRAVELS TO BEIRUT

AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH JORDANIAN AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, met today in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulki. They discussed the full implementation of

resolution 1559.

After the meeting, the Foreign Minister and Roed-Larsen declared that they agreed on the relevant issues. Roed-Larsen thanked the Foreign Minister for Jordans full support to his mission and its positive and important role and efforts in safeguarding stability in the region.

Roed-Larsen also spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and they were also in agreement on all the issues. They will remain in close contact.

After his talks in Jordan, Roed-Larsen will depart to Beirut, Lebanon.

In response to a question, the Spokeswoman said she could not confirm a media report, citing an unidentified UN official, that suggested that Roed-Larsen would tell President Bashar al-Assad that Syria would face political and economic isolation if it does not comply.

On the contrary, she said that, after his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Jordan, Larsen said that he was going to Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon to have a constructive dialogue and that the United Nations was not operating with the use of threats.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS CARRY OUT OPERATION IN EASTERN DR CONGO

AIMED AT BRINGING STABILITY THERE

Peacekeepers from the

UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo carried out a cordon and search operation today in the

Ituri district in the countrys north-east.

The peacekeepers were acting on information about the possible presence of militia members in the area, and they carried out a house-to-house search in the village.

Around 600 military personnel were involved in operation around the village of Penyi, which is around 30 kilometres north-east of Bunia, Ituris capital city.

The ground troops were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and Nepal; and the air transport was from Bangladesh, with gun-ships from India.

There was no contact made with any militias, nor were any arms or other military equipment found, and the troops have returned to base.

The operation was not a one-off event. It was a regular operation that is part of an ongoing campaign to disarm local militias who have been terrorizing local residents in Ituri, as well as fighting among themselves for control of the wealth in the area and more of these operations are expected.

AFRICA COMMISSION REPORT WILL MAKE KEY CONTRIBUTION

TO SOLVE CONTINENT'S PROBLEMS,

Chef de Cabinet

Mark Malloch Brown this morning is receiving a report from the Commission on Africa, established by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that deals with the challenges facing that continent.

In a

statement, the

Secretary-General says he is confident that the report will be an important contribution to the continuing search for effective solutions to Africas problems, and a useful input as he finalizes his own report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration.

The

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today also

welcomed the recommendations presented by the Commission for Africa, including its call for substantial new investments in people.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP ERITREA/ETHIOPIA

FOLLOWING BRIEFING ON COTE DIVOIRE

The

Security Council this morning is holding consultations on Cote dIvoire, with the Under-Secretary-General for

Peacekeeping Operations,

Jean Marie Guéhenno, briefing Council members on recent developments in that country.

Then, at 3:00 p.m., the Security Council will return for consultations on the

Eritrea/Ethiopia, to discuss the

Secretary-Generals latest report. The Council also met with troop contributing countries to that UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, earlier this morning.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF U.N. ADVANCE MISSION IN SUDAN

Thursday afternoon, the

Security Council unanimously adopted a

resolution 1585 extending the mandate of the

United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan until 17 March.

NO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES MADE IN SEARCH

FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION TO DARFUR CRISIS

The

Secretary-Generals latest monthly

report on

Darfur, Sudan, has been posted on the website.

He notes that there were no significant advances in the search for a political solution to the crisis in Darfur over the past month. Both sides, he said, failed to capitalize on the momentum that was generated in January by the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The Government has not stopped militia from attacking civilians. Such inaction and prevailing impunity continue to undermine the confidence that statements by the Government are intended to inspire on the other side of the negotiating table.

For their part, the rebel movements do not inspire much confidence that they are prepared to seize political opportunities. Rebel forces have refused to reveal their positions to the African Union Ceasefire Commission, have continued to harass relief workers and have fired on African Union and

World Food Programme helicopters.

The Secretary-General said concerted political pressure must be brought to bear on all sides to create the conditions for serious talks at the negotiating table.

A date for discussion of this report in the

Security Council has not yet been set.

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN WINDING UP SESSION

Today is the last day of the

Commission on the Status of Women, and at this morning's session, Commission members adopted three resolutions tabled by governments.

Two resolutions on women, girls and HIV/AIDS and on integrating a gender perspective into post-disaster recovery particularly in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, were adopted by consensus after oral amendments.

A resolution on Palestinian women was adopted after a vote with 38 in favour, one against and two abstentions.

Consultations are still continuing on three resolutions on reducing the demand for trafficking in women, establishing a special rapporteur on discriminatory laws and gender mainstreaming in national policies. These are being held over until later.

Other resolutions still to be considered today include the economic advancement of women, indigenous women, and women in Afghanistan.

U.N. COMPENSATION COMMISSION AWARDS MORE THAN $265 MILLION

The Governing Council of the

UN Compensation Commission yesterday concluded its 55th session in Geneva by approving awards worth more than $265 million.

Of that amount, $161.1 millions was awarded to the families of 603 Kuwaitis who had been considered Iraqi detainees following the 1991 invasion of Kuwait, but who had in fact been executed by the Iraqi regime.

Each of the families will receive at least $100,000.

ROLL BACK MALARIA CONCERT KICKS OFF IN DAKAR THIS WEEKEND

Youssou N'Dour, Khaled, and Salif Keita are among the artists to perform at a musical event this weekend in the Senegalese capital of Dakar to support the fight against malaria.

Africa Live: The Roll Malaria concert will take place on the evenings of March 12 and 13 at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium in Dakar. Approximately 40,000 spectators will attend the concert, and it is expected to reach an additional audience of one billion worldwide.

The event is part of the

Roll Malaria Global Partnership, initiated by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the UN Development Programme and the World Bank. At present, approximately 3,000 children die from malaria every day.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. MISSION IN BURUNDI HOLDING INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE: The

UN Operation in Burundi is conducting an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse of minors by UN peacekeepers. Major Adama Diop, the Missions military spokesperson, has been in contact with the Burundian police chief from the area where the alleged crimes took place.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS BURUNDIANS FLEE TO RWANDA: The

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

reports that more than 800 Burundians have fled across the border into Rwanda over the past two weeks, citing what they say are rising tensions in three northern provinces.

NEARLY 600,000 AZERBAIJANIS FACE FOOD INSECURITY: The

World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that up to 600,000 rural Azerbaijanis face food insecurity, and that nearly 300,000 of the one million Azerbaijanis displaced by the conflict with Armenia are likely to stay dependent on food aid for the foreseeable future. WFPs operations in Azerbaijan are currently facing a shortfall of about $4 million. The agency had originally appealed for $21 million for a three-year humanitarian operation there.

FOOD RATIONS INCREASED FOR CONGOLESE REFUGEES IN TANZANIA: WFP has increased food rations to some 400,000 mainly Congolese refugees in northwestern Tanzania by 23%. But the rations still do not provide the standard 2,100 calories per person required daily. WFP, along with the

Office of the UNs High Commissioner for Refugees, are therefore

appealing for more funds from donors.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, March 14

The Secretary-General will travel to Ramallah, where he is to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Burundi and on sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also expects to hold a formal meeting to vote on the mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The guests at the noon briefing will be Jan Egeland, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, and a representative of the firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) on PWCs pro bono offer to enhance accountability and transparency of funds entrusted to the UN under the Tsunami Flash Appeal.

The 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights begins in Geneva.

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is holding a two-day forum, beginning today, entitled "Integrating Economic and Social Policies to achieve the UN Agenda," in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber.

Tuesday, March 15

The Secretary-General will visit Israel, where he and Nane Annan are to attend the inauguration of the Holocaust History museum at Yad Vashem.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Somalia.

Wednesday, March 16

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will hold a two-day informal meeting, starting today, to prepare for its high-level segment on achieving internationally agreed development goals.

Thursday, March 17

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Today is the last day of the present mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan.

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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