United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-06-15

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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

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES US TASK FORCE REPORT ON UN REFORM

Secretary-General Kofi Annan

welcomes the release of the final report the US Institute for Peace task force on

UN Reform and its conclusion that the United States has much to gain from a strong and effective United Nations.

He supports many of the recommendations and believes that the task-forces call for a US commitment to work with other member-states and the UN staff is the best basis on which to pursue and achieve lasting reform.

The Secretary-General particularly appreciates the fact that the report recognizes the ongoing hard work within the Secretariat to tackle internal management reform and is encouraged that it supports and endorses many of his own key initiatives and proposals for wider institutional reform, including the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission, strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight Services and other accountability mechanisms, and revitalizing the UNs human rights machinery, including the creation of a new Human Rights Council. The Secretary-General also welcomes the reports focus on addressing the crisis in

Darfur as a crucial test for both Member States and the United Nations.

ANNAN REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE IN KOREA

On the fifth anniversary of the Joint Declaration, signed on 15 June 2000 at the historic inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, the Secretary-General

reiterates the importance of continuing dialogue, exchanges and cooperation in all areas between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is one of the guarantees for durable peace in the Peninsula, which he wishes to see as a united, prosperous and democratic region free of nuclear weapons.

The Secretary-General is hopeful that the Declaration will be implemented in full and he is encouraged by the progress achieved to date despite the obstacles encountered over decades of confrontation. He calls on both sides to continue their positive efforts, urging them in particular to do everything possible to expedite and facilitate family reunions for those separated since the Korean War.

The Secretary-General firmly believes in the eventual reunification of the Peninsula through the joint efforts of the Korean people and will do his utmost to assist them in attaining this goal with the support of the international community.

SPOKESMAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF COTECNA BID

In response to questions about the e-mail disclosed in Tuesdays New York Times on an alleged 1998 meeting in Paris between the Secretary-General and Michael Wilson, then an employee of Cotecna, the Spokesman said that there is no question in the Secretary-Generals mind that the matter of Cotecnas

oil-for-food bid had not been brought to his attention, and he had no knowledge of it.

The Spokesman noted that the e-mails contents did not reflect the reality of UN procedures. Contracts do not go up to the top floor, he said. They never do.

He declined to comment on Wilsons credibility, but noted that the press corps know the Secretary-General to be an honest and decent man. The Secretary-General said he did not know about the Cotecna bid, contrary to what the e-mail suggests. Eckhard said that Paul Volckers

Independent Inquiry Committee will look at the two sides of the story, and he trusted that it would establish the truth.

The Spokesman added that he expected the Secretary-Generals description of events would be established as the true one.

Asked whether the Volcker panel had asked formally for an interview with the Secretary-General, the Spokesman said it had not. The Committee had received information from the United Nations about the Secretary-Generals visit to Paris in November 1998.

ANNAN WELCOMES START OF BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENT

In a

statement issued earlier today, the Secretary-General applauded the people and the leaders of Papua New Guinea for achieving a major milestone in the Bougainville peace process, with the inauguration today of the first Autonomous Bougainville Government, following the internationally observed elections held in Bougainville over the course of the past few weeks.

The Secretary-General calls on all Bougainville leaders to respect the democratic choice of the people and to constructively cooperate with their legitimate new government for the sake of a lasting peace and a prosperous future for all of the people of Bougainville.

The Secretary-General stresses that reconstruction is now the most pressing challenge for the new Government. He calls on the donor community to provide further assistance to the national and autonomous government in addressing that challenge. The United Nations remains committed to helping make these efforts a success.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTS ON GOLAN HEIGHTS; WILL MEET ON BOUGAINVILLE, CYPRUS AND BURUNDI

The

Security Council today held consultations on the

UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights, to consider the Secretary-Generals recent

report and receive a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi. The Secretary-General has recommended a six-month extension for that force.

Starting at 3:00 this afternoon, the Council will hold three formal meetings, on Bougainville, Cyprus and Burundi.

The first meeting is to respond to the inauguration of the first Autonomous Bougainville Government.

The second is to consider a draft resolution on an extension of the mandate of the

UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, which expires today.

Then, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Ralph Zacklin will brief the Council concerning the

feasibility of setting up an international judicial commission of inquiry in

Burundi.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORTS INCREASE IN VIOLENCE IN DARFUR

The Secretary-General says that his visit last month to

Darfur made it clear that the security situation has improved. Yet he notes in his latest

report on Darfur to the Security Council that the trends are not entirely positive, with violence and insecurity increasing between April and May, and continued attacks on civilians and rapes.

The report says that the rebel movements in particular must take responsibility. For its part, it adds, the Sudanese Government must commence an effective program of disarmament and demobilization of the tribal militias that continue to terrorize the civilian population of Darfur. Warning of the serious threat posed by militia activity, the Secretary-General says, This must stop.

The Secretary-General adds that, after a delay of more than five months, the parties must make the most of the resumed peace talks in Abuja.

UN ENVOY IN SUDAN BEGINS VISIT TO WEST DARFUR

In

Sudan, a team including the Secretary-Generals Special Representative,

Jan Pronk, began a two-day assessment mission to West Darfur. The team, of the Joint Implementation Mechanism that brings together the United Nations and its partners and the Sudanese Government, will visit the Mornei and Riyadh camps today. It will also meet with Sheiks and internally displaced persons, including women, and hear a briefing from the Government and the humanitarian community on the situation in West Darfur since the signing of the Joint Communiqué.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur, the situation in and around Zam Zam camp is described as tense. Two soldiers reportedly shot at a truck travelling along a nearby road on 12 June. During a meeting on 13 June with the African Union and humanitarian agencies, displaced persons expressed concerns that National Security personnel are intimidating people each time they are seen talking to high-level visitors.

In West Darfur, a

UNHCR team was stopped on 12 June and taken to the police station in Habila by National Security personnel, claiming that all humanitarian actors operating in the area need to check in. This is the third time that humanitarian workers have been stopped by National Security in Habila, despite their blanket travel permit.

ASHRAF QAZI MEETS CHAIR OF IRAQI CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq,

Ashraf Qazi, met today with Humam Hamoudi, the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee of Iraqs Transitional National Assembly.

During their meeting, Qazi reaffirmed the UNs position on the need for inclusiveness in the constitution-making process. He encouraged a rapid conclusion to the discussions between the Constitutional Committee and groups not represented in the Assembly, to allow it to begin its substantive work as soon as possible.

Also today, Qazi met with Iraqs Vice Prime Minister, Ahmed Chalabi, to discuss the political situation and the work on crafting the constitution.

LOUISE FRECHETTE ADDRESSES G77 IN DOHA

The Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, is in Doha, Qatar, today where she

addressed the Group of 77 and Chinas second South Summit.

She told the delegates that the 2005 World Summit in September is an opportunity to be seized to remove some of the obstacles that have hampered the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

For this, she said, all nations must understand that human rights, development and security are not only an end in themselves but they are also interdependent and reinforce each other.

Fréchette noted that Group of 77 countries must have an effective national strategy for implementing the MDGs and must also promote transparent and accountable governance.

She also highlighted the responsibilities of the developed world to incorporate major boosts in international assistance, debt relief and trade policies that are conducive to development.

Asked why the Secretary-General had not attended the Doha summit, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had been invited and had considered going, but in the end, his program required that he return to New York. He instead sent the Deputy Secretary-General in his place and hoped that delegates would understand.

UNHCRS ANTÓNIO GUTERRES BEGINS HIS WORK

António Guterres today started work as the 10th

UN High Commissioner for Refugees by reaffirming his commitment to the protection of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people around the world.

Guterres told refugee agency staff in Geneva that he had assured the Secretary-General that he would be "firm in asserting the core values of the office and that refugees and states alike should expect a principled, effective and committed UNHCR."

He is planning his first field mission, to Uganda, next week, where he will spend

World Refugee Day on Monday, 20 June, with refugees in a camp in the north of the country.

As High Commissioner, Guterres heads a staff of 6,000 people who protect and assist more than 17 million refugees and others of concern in 115 countries.

UNICEF: RAPE MOST COMMON FORM OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN UGANDA CAMP

A

UNICEF-commissioned report says that rape is the most common form of violence inside the Pabbo internally displaced camp in northern

Uganda.

Girls aged 13-17 are amongst the most vulnerable, states the report, entitled Sexual and Gender-based Violence. Key recommendations for intervention include strengthening district policies on sexual assault and gender issues, improving the quality of existing health and counseling services for survivors of abuse, and increasing efforts to promote school attendance and education in the camp.

ANNAN CALLS FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS IN GUINEA BISSAU

In a

report on Guinea Bissau, the Secretary-General comments that recent tensions over preparations for the 19 June elections demonstrate that peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau remain fragile and require the continued engagement of all key national and international actors.

He calls on all candidates to do their utmost to ensure a peaceful election on Sunday and to accept the results.

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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