United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-06-09

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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

Thursday, June 9, 2005

[Prior to the Spokesman's briefing, Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched an interim report on progress towards internationally agreed development targets and told reporters this is a "make-or-break' year for the world's poor, when world leaders must decide on concrete steps to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Then, the Secretary-General, in a press encounter, answered questions on issues ranging from UN reform to Lebanon.]

ANNAN TO SEND PERSONAL ENVOY TO BOLIVIA

The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation in Bolivia and reiterates his concern about the critical juncture the country is going through, according to a statement issued through his Spokesman .

The Secretary-General strongly believes that Bolivians should resolve their differences peacefully and democratically, and that the rule of law should be respected in resolving the current political crisis in the country.

The Secretary-General, in response to an invitation from the Government of Bolivia, will send Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), José Antonio Ocampo, as his personal envoy to observe the situation. He will meet with all the parties concerned and report back to the Secretary-General.

The timing of this mission will be determined by developments in the country.

ANNAN TO HOLD WORKING LUNCH WITH TURKISH PRIME MINISTER

Secretary-General Kofi Annan will hold today a working luncheon with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at UN headquarters.

Once that working luncheon has ended, the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister will take some questions from the press.

U.N. ENVOY REPORTS TO ANNAN ON "PULSE-TAKING VISIT"

TO CYPRUS, GREECE AND TURKEY

The

Security Council held consultations this morning on the

UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

The Assistant-Secretary-General for

Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi, introduced the

Secretary-Generals latest report on Cyprus, which was issued yesterday.

In that report, the Secretary-General recommended that the Council extend the peacekeeping forces mandate by six months, until 15 December, under its present authorized strength and concept of operations.

Meanwhile, the Under-Secretary-General for

Political Affairs,

Kieran Prendergast, has just returned from his pulse-taking visit to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.

He has conveyed the positions of the parties and his assessment of the situation to the Secretary-General, who is considering what action, if any, to take at this stage in the pursuit of his mission of good offices.

Prendergast will be briefing the Security Council on 22 June.

U.N. ENVOY MEETS COTE DIVOIRES PRESIDENT OVER RECENT VIOLENCE

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote dIvoire,

Pierre Schori, held consultations late yesterday with the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo focusing on the recent ethnic violence in Duékoue and its environs.

The Special Representative reiterated the

Security Councils call for an in-depth investigation into the Duekoue events.

The

UN Operation in Côte dIvoire (UNOCI) also reports that its peacekeepers are to start joint patrols with those of the Defense and Security Forces of Côte dIvoire today in and around Duékoue, in the western part of the country.

The security situation in Duékoue town and its environs remains tense and volatile.

Meanwhile, UNOCIs Human Rights Division today launched its report for March-April on the human rights situation in the country. The report deplores the human rights violations committed by all sides.

SOUTH DARFUR LOCATION DECLARED A NO GO

FOR U.N. WORKERS FOLLOWING FIGHTING

The

UN Mission in Sudan continues to report attacks in Darfur,

Sudan.

In South Darfur, Muhujariya has been declared a no go area for the United Nations following last weeks fighting between rebel forces, and the continued unrest in the area. [Two days ago, Jan Pronk, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, said the actions of the rebel groups the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had constituted serious violations of the NDjamena Ceasefire Agreement.]

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDRESSES PEACEKEEPERS IN SOUTHERN BURUNDI

On her second day in Burundi, the

Deputy-Secretary-General, Louise Frechette, travelled outside the capital to the southern province of Makamba where she addressed the Kenyan battalion stationed there.

The Contingent Commander, whose area of responsibility covers four provinces briefed the Deputy-Secretary-General on the measures taken within the three companies under his command to ensure adherence to the UN Code of Conduct.

She welcomed the strict emphasis laid on the Code of Conduct by the Contingent Commander, and measures taken to minimize stress among the troops.

She also thanked the Kenyan contingent for their important role in providing security during the first two steps of the democratic process in Burundi: the referendum in February 2005 and the communal elections on 3 and 6 June.

SEPTEMBER SUMMIT EXPECTED TO BE LARGEST U.N. GATHERING OF WORLD LEADERS

Asked how many world leaders would attend the UN summit this September, the Spokeswoman said that rough figures so far indicate that some 174-5 heads of state will attend, although she added that number is not definitive.

The September summit is certainly anticipated to be the largest gathering of world leaders in UN history, she said.

In response to a question about when the lottery drawing for seating arrangements for the General Assembly would take place, the Spokeswoman said it is expected to take place in July but no date has yet been set.

ANNAN TO MEET GROUP OF FOUR ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

Asked whether the

Secretary-General would meet with the Group of Four nations on

Security Council reform, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had told the press that he would meet that group on Friday.

Asked whether the

Secretary-General met with about 100 ambassadors this morning, the Spokeswoman noted that he had met at breakfast with the members of the International Association of Permanent Representatives.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN SPOKE WITH U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TODAY: In response to a question, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the

Secretary-General had called U.S. President George W. Bush, but she did not disclose the contents of that call.

NO DEVELOPMENTS ON ISSUE OF SPECIAL ADVISER FOR KOREA: Asked about the situation of Maurice Strong, the Spokeswoman said there was no new information since he stepped aside from his UN duties while the

Independent Inquiry Committee proceeds with its work. Given recent developments concerning the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the United Nations would consider appointing someone temporarily to do his work if that is needed.

EARLY 60,000 AFGHAN TROOPS HAVE DISARMED: The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

reports that nearly 60,000 soldiers and other combatants have disarmed in that country. Nearly 50,000 of those disarmed fighters have also entered the reintegration process.

PROTECTED HUNGER SEASON EXPECTED IN ERITREA: The

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

says that a protracted hunger season is expected in

Eritrea. FAO says that last year's meager harvest has already been exhausted and the hunger season, which arrived two months early in March, is seen continuing until the next harvest in November. More than 60% of the population 2.3 million people are dependent on food aid.

GLOBAL COMPACT IN MEXICO LAUNCHED TODAY: At a conference today in Mexico City, President Vicente Fox will officially launch the

Global Compact in Mexico. The event -- which is supported by the

UN Development Programme -- will be attended by nearly 400 business and civil society leaders.With the launch, the Global Compact is now firmly rooted around the world with more than 50 country networks, working to advance corporate citizenship and universal environmental and social principles.

UNITED NATIONS TO HOST MICROFINANCE DISCUSSION: The United Nations will host a panel discussion on microfinance and Wall Street tomorrow, starting at 7:45 a.m. in the Delegates Dining Room, at U.N. Headquarters. Among the guests at that breakfast panel will be Nane Annan, the

Secretary-Generals wife.

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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