United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-05-10

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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

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

ANNAN TO MEET WITH LEADERS OF NIGERIA AND CAMEROON IN GENEVA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Geneva today, where this evening, he will meet one-on-one with the leaders of Nigeria and Cameroon, ahead of tomorrows mini-summit to discuss the work of the

Mixed Commission dealing with their boundary dispute.

This evening, he is expected to meet individually with each of the two Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Paul Biya of Cameroon. After that, he will host a working dinner for both Presidents.

The mini-summit will take place tomorrow morning, and we expect a press conference to be held afterward.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO BE BRIEFED ON WORLDS

GREATEST HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES

The

Security Council has scheduled consultations this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. on Africa.

Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will brief members on the world's greatest humanitarian challenges, all of which are in Africa.

He will focus on recent developments in northern Uganda,

Darfur and other emergencies drawing less attention, such as the food and governance crises in some parts of Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa.

He will also draw attention to the bleak funding situation across virtually all humanitarian appeals for the continent.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SLATED TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENT

OF NEW HEAD OF THE UN CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT

The

General Assembly is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to confirm the appointment of Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand as the new Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Secretary-General proposed the appointment in late February. The term of office is for four years, beginning on 1 September 2005 and ending on 31 August 2009.

ANNAN CONCERNED BY ISRAELI OVERFLIGHTS INTO LEBANESE AIRSPACE

In a

statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General expressed concern about Israeli overflights into Lebanese airspace earlier that day. The situation in

Lebanon and in the wider region is fragile.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call on the Israeli authorities to end these overflights. He urged all parties to fully respect the Blue Line and reminded them that one violation of the Blue Line cannot justify another.

In answer to a question yesterday about our electoral team in Lebanon, although Carina Perelli is expected to leave Lebanon on 18 May, she is to leave behind a team of three UN electoral experts who will stay on for the elections.

DARFUR: ATTACKS ON U.N. TRUCKS STILL BEING REPORTED

The security situation in

Darfur has been reported to be relatively calm over the past week, in terms of armed clashes between the Sudanese Government and rebel forces and armed militia and tribesmen, according to the UN mission in Sudan.

However, banditry incidents continue to take place in some areas in North Darfur, where the population continues to be in need of humanitarian assistance. In South Darfur, meanwhile, banditry seems to have decreased during the last week. However, attacks on trucks, including those belonging to the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, are still being reported.

The main concern in West Darfur remains the influx of nomadic tribes from Chad into the bordering areas with Sudan.

MORE THAN 60 NEW POSTS NEEDED TO FIGHT SEX ABUSE IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS

The United Nations will need a total of 63 new posts, at UN Headquarters and in the field, to deal with the efforts to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN

peacekeeping operations.

That is according to a

report that deals with the budget implications of the recommendations reached by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, following a report on the

topic prepared by Prince Zeid Raad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan.

The report says that, in order to address misconduct, Personnel Conduct Units would need to be created at Headquarters and in the peacekeeping missions. The report outlines what the new posts would cost.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ACCEPT U.S. LOAN FOR NEW U.N. BUILDING

In a

report today, the Secretary-General recommends that the General Assembly accept the offer, from the United States, of a loan of $1.2 billion, for the Capital Master Plan. That loan comes at a rate not to exceed 5.54 percent and a duration not to exceed thirty years.

He also recommends that the General Assembly authorize him to conclude an agreement with the United States to preserve the United Nations option to borrow money under the loan offer.

The report notes various alternatives to the use of the proposed UNDC-5 building as swing space for UN staff while the Capital Master Plan proceeds. But it adds that UNDC-5 represents a unique opportunity for the United Nations to accommodate its long-term needs.

Asked about a timeline for the Plan, the Spokeswoman noted that the loan offer had a deadline of 30 September. She said that the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly was scheduled to meet to discuss the topic on 23 May, while the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions would deal with the issue on 16 May.

Asked about the U.S. loan offer, the Spokeswoman noted that the report expressed the UNs view that the United Nations could not obtain a lower fixed rate than the one proposed by the host country. The Spokeswoman later added that the United States was also the only country that offered the United Nations a loan.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MET IN MOSCOW

The Spokeswoman, in response to a question, confirmed that the Secretary-General and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos held an informal exchange, during a luncheon hosted Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, as part of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Papadopoulos confirmed that he would be sending an envoy to UN Headquarters soon for exploratory talks. In light of that visit, the Spokeswoman said, the Secretary-General will decide on what further steps to take.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was present during part of the discussions, she added.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION MUST BE A PRIORITY IN LIBERIA

A two-day meeting on

Liberias reconstruction, wrapping up today in Copenhagen, has concluded that fighting corruption should be a top priority for the West African nation.

Organized by the United Nations and the World Bank, the gathering brought together senior officials from Liberias National Transitional Government and partners such as donor countries, regional organizations and civil society groups.

The UN Development Programme noted concerns about preparations for the upcoming elections, given funding shortfalls, the rainy season, and widespread allegations of corruption.

And participants agreed that fostering sustainable livelihoods and promoting human development should be priorities in Liberia, where the unemployment rate hovers at around 85 percent.

UNICEF RUSHES MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO CHOLERA-HIT SAO TOME

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has

rushed medical supplies to Sao Tome, following a cholera outbreak on the African island.

In addition, the agency -- in collaboration with Sao Tomes government, the World Health Organization, and the UN Development Programme -- has mobilized community health teams to help control the outbreak and deliver safe drinking water to affected neighbourhoods.

As of yesterday, 131 cases and 3 deaths have been officially reported, and most of the islands population lives within 10 kilometers of the outbreak area.

VACCINES SHIPPED TO YEMEN TO STOP POLIO OUTBREAK

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

reports that it has shipped six million doses of polio vaccines to Yemen, as part of emergency measures to stop the ongoing outbreak in the country.

The agency says that the vaccine which works faster than previous versions will arrive in Yemen early next week, for use in the nationwide immunization campaign to be conducted at the end of May, to immunize all children under five.

Ten World Health Organization experts are presently working with the Yemeni authorities to finalize plans for the campaign and train vaccinators and supervisors.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS TO APPOINT NEW ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA: Asked whether

Alvaro de Soto, the new UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, would also stay on as Special Representative for Western Sahara, the Spokeswoman said that an officer-in-charge would take over in Western Sahara, with a new appointment to be made there. She noted that De Soto had immediately taken up his new functions, traveling with the Secretary-General to the Quartet meeting that took place in Moscow on Monday.

U.N. REMAINS NEUTRAL IN HAITI: Asked whether the United Nations was siding with the Haitian police against supporters of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations was acting as neutrally as possible.

KYOTO PROTOCOL ONLY A FIRST STEP: The 2005 Institutional Investor Summit on Climate Risk is taking place right now in the Economic and Social Council Chamber. In a

video message to the gathering, the Secretary-General said that the Kyoto Protocol was only a first step, and that the world needed a framework that went beyond 2012, which embraced all countries and made full use of new technologies. He added that investors were essential to the international communitys ability to slow down climate change and mitigate its worst effects.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOCUSES ON FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT: The General Assembly will hold a closed meeting tomorrow afternoon to adopt a draft resolution on the organization of its High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development. Scheduled for 27-28 June, the High-Level Dialogue is an important part of the preparatory process for the September 2005 General Assembly Summit.

WORSENING FOOD SITUATION IN PARTS OF THE SAHEL: Damage from the 2004 drought and locust infestations is aggravating the food situation in parts of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and northern Senegal, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a

statement today. The agency added that severe child malnutrition is increasing rapidly and that the movement of animals in search of water and food has led to local conflicts.

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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