United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-06-29

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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 STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

ECONOMIC GROWTH IS VITAL TO FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, ANNAN TELLS ECOSOC

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning

addressed the

Economic and Social Councils High-Level Segment, saying that while economic growth was vital to the fight against poverty, it was not enough. Instead, the world needed smarter policies, more resources and closer partnerships, so that the benefits of globalization could reach everyone.

He added that, just like the developed countries, developing countries must do their part by devising bold national strategies to meet development goals and through promoting accountable and transparent governance, among other things.

The Secretary-General also laid out steps for making the Economic and Social Council more flexible, dynamic and relevant. And he called on it to reinforce its links with the Security Council, so that it could better address the economic and social dimensions of conflicts.

ICC PROSECUTOR TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL OF GRAVE CRIMES IN DARFUR

The chief prosecutor for the

International Criminal Court told the

Security Council this morning that there is a significant amount of credible information to show that grave crimes have taken place in

Sudans Darfur region.

Those crimes, Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo told the Council in an open meeting, include the killing of thousands of civilians, the widespread destruction and looting of villages and the displacement of some 1.9 million civilians. In addition, he said, his office has received information showing the persistent targeting and intimidation of humanitarian personnel.

He said that his Office is continuing to study what cases in Darfur would be admissible in court. Preparations for investigations, Moreno Ocampo added, are advancing rapidly.

The open meeting was followed by a private meeting of the Council, also on Sudan.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET LATER TODAY ON SUDAN AND DRC

This afternoon, at 3:00, the Security Council will hold consultations on

Sudan, to discuss the Secretary-Generals recent report.

They will also hold consultations on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

TENSIONS CONTINUE IN EASTERN SUDAN

The

UN mission in Sudan, at its weekly press briefing in Khartoum, today reports that tensions continue in the eastern part of the country. The mission also reports that the overall level of insecurity around North, West and South Darfur has improved, although in all three states there are still many incidents of vehicles and residences being looted.

A senior UN refugee agency official, meanwhile, ended a three-day tour of West Darfur during which she assessed protection needs for an estimated 700,000 internally displaced people. The official noted the precarious situation of women in the region who still suffer sexual violence and rape. These attacks normally take place when women venture out of camps or villages in search of water and firewood. She highlighted the lack of resources to fund protection efforts and the need for the international community to do more in this regard.

Meanwhile,

UNICEF reports that African Union police are being trained in child rights and protection orientation in North and West Darfur.

U.N. IRAQ ENVOY MEETS HEAD OF UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, met yesterday with Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the head of the United Iraqi Alliance.

Qazi briefed Hakim on the activities of the UN Mission in Iraq, particularly on the assistance provided by the UN in the constitution-making process, and on the humanitarian assistance projects provided by the UN to help the Iraqi people.

U.N. FORCE IN LEBANON REPORTS FIRING IN SHABA FARMS

The

UN Interim Force in Lebanon reported that there has been an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces today, in the Shab'a farms area.

The hostile activity began in the late afternoon local time and is ongoing, with an IDF air raid into the vicinity of Shaba reported in the last half hour. There are conflicting indications and claims from both sides as to who commenced fire.

UNIFIL is in contact with both sides trying to obtain a ceasefire and is in the process of ascertaining the facts.

Asked about the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Spokesman said

Detlev Mehliss work was ongoing, and that any further news from his team would come out of Beirut.

In response to a question, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General had taken note of the appointment of Nabih Berri, who was recently elected as speaker of the Lebanese parliament.

U.N. ENVOY MEETS PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE IN HARARE

Anna Tibaijuka, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy, met earlier today with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

The President assured Tibaijuka that she could go wherever she wanted in the course of her mission.

She has already begun visits to a number of sites around the capital, including some that have been cleared, as well as government sponsored relocation sites.

She will continue these visits in the coming days and will also meet with a wide array of civil society representatives.

Asked about progress made by Tibaijuka, the Spokesman said Mugabe had told the Special Envoy that she could go wherever she wanted, so that she could be the Secretary-Generals eyes and ears on the ground and report on what exactly was happening on the ground.

Asked if Tibaijuka intended to visit people who had been affected by Mugabes operations, the Spokesman responded that she had done that today.

ANNAN URGES SOMALI LEADERS TO SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS

In a quarterly

report on the situation in Somalia, the Secretary-General says that there is an urgent need for Somali leaders to enter into a serious dialogue to search for consensus on issues regarding relocation of the Transitional Federal Government and institutions from Kenya to Somalia. This would ensure credibility with the people of Somalia and with the international community, he maintains.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the efforts of the leaders in Mogadishu to restore stability in the capital, and urges the international community to provide the necessary technical and material support to improve the quality of those efforts.

2005 WORLD DRUG REPORT NOTES RISE IN DRUG USE

Today the

UN Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, is launching its 2005 World Drug

Report.

According to the Report, some 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 64, or 5% of the worlds population, have used drugs over the last 12 months. That represents an increase from the previous year by 15 million people.

The Report also notes a global increase in cannabis use, and says that the $320 billion global retail market for illicit drugs is larger than the gross domestic products of 90% of the worlds countries.

OCHA: $3 BILLION NEEDED TO MEET NEEDS OF 30 MILLION PEOPLE

Today in Geneva, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) presented its Mid-Year Review of the UNs Consolidated Appeals.

Among other things, it notes that more than $2 billion has been mobilized through the appeals. But nearly $3 billion is still needed to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 30 million people in 29 countries.

Also, eight appeals are less than 30 per cent funded namely the flash appeals for Djibouti, Benin, Niger and Guyana, and the appeals for the Central African Republic, Chad, Cote dIvoire and the Republic of Congo.

ANNAN, RICE DISCUSSED LEBANON, IRAQ, REFORM

Asked if the Secretary-General had discussed Lebanon in his meeting yesterday with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, the Spokesman said they had, just as they had done in Brussels last week, and that the implementation of

resolution 1559 was an ongoing process.

Asked if the Secretary-General and Rice had discussed Iraq, the Spokesman replied that the Secretary-General had indeed briefed the Secretary of State on the UNs activities in Iraq, which included assistance in constitutional drafting and for the upcoming elections, as well as humanitarian work

Asked about the Secretary-Generals reaction to Rices position that the UN should tackle certain key reforms before trying to expand the Security Council, the Spokesman said that the issue was now the focus of negotiations among Member States. That is where the debate is now, he added, and the Secretary-General very much hopes that the Member States will make the necessary decisions.

U.N.S NEW CONTRACTOR NEGOTIATES WITH WORKERS

Responding to a question about how workers would be affected by the UNs new engineering contractor, the Spokesman said negotiations had gone on until very early this morning, and that the UN engineers now had before them a contract offer that they needed to vote on.

Asked what would happen if the new contract was voted down, the Spokesman said provisions were being taken to avoid any interruptions in service. He added that he hoped the parties would find a mutually acceptable solution.

Asked if the UN felt that it did not have to help the engineers since it was dealing with them through a contractor, the Spokesman replied that this was indeed an issue between the engineers and the contractor. The UN expected the contractor to treat its employees fairly and in accordance with labor standards.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

METHYL BROMIDE BEING TACKLED IN MONTREAL: At a meeting this week in Montreal, Canada, the 189 member governments of the

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will decide on how best to manage the

phase-out of methyl bromide, a pesticide for strawberries, flowers and other high-value crops, that also damages the earths ozone shield. 16 countries have asked for critical use exemptions of the product, which should have been phased out by January this year, in order to buy more time for adopting more technically or economically feasible alternatives.

MEETING OF CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION TO TAKE PLACE: The Codex Alimentarius Commission will hold its annual meeting in Rome from 4 9 July. This years meeting of the international food standard setting body of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) will see discussions on the adoption of several draft food standards, among which are Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements, and the issue of whether a standard on Parmesan cheese should be developed. The meeting will be open to the media.

PROTECTION OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS: Asked about recent Human Rights Watch reports on Israel, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had spoken out forcefully on numerous occasions, calling on Israel to protect Palestinian civilians.

MORE PEOPLE GETTING ACCESS TO HIV TREATMENT: The number of people receiving combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS in developing countries is increasing significantly more than doubling from 400,000 in December 2003 to approximately one million in June 2005 according to a new report

released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). However, access to HIV treatment continues to fall short of the growing need.

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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