United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-08-08

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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

DEPUTY

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, August 8, 2005

KOFI ANNAN RECEIVES INTERIM REPORT ON U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has received the third interim report from the Chairman of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) looking into allegations concerning the

Oil-for-Food Programme.

[At a press briefing later Monday on the Oil-for-Food programme, UN Chief of Staff Mark Malloch-Brown read the following statement:

"The Secretary-General this morning received the Third Interim Report from the Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil for Food Programme from Chairman Paul Volcker and his two fellow IIC members Richard Goldstone and Mark Pieth. He is deeply concerned by the conclusions it reaches about Benon Sevan, the former Executive Director of the United Nations Office of the Iraq Programme and Alexander Yakovlev, a former United Nations procurement officer.

The IIC has recommended that the Secretary-General accede to any properly supported request from an appropriate law enforcement authority for a waiver of immunity from criminal prosecution for both Mr.Sevan and Mr Yakovlev. The Secretary-General, as he has made clear many times, will do so.

With specific regard to Mr. Sevan, the United Nations is already cooperating with inquiries from the Manhattan District Attorney and is in the process of replying to a request for cooperation from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. With regard to Mr. Yakovlev, the UNs Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) last month contacted the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to alert them that internal, ongoing investigations of Mr.Yakovlev had turned up prima facie evidence of criminal wrong doing and has shared that evidence with the U.S. Attorneys office.

With respect to broader UN procurement practices, following a series of reforms put in place since the late 1990s, the United Nations recently commissioned an independent review of procurement practices from the U.S. National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. That review, which was completed last month, strongly supported the thrust of the reforms and made a number of additional technical recommendations. As part of its investigation of Mr. Yakovlev, OIOS will separately make recommendations for further reforms, particularly regarding strengthened supervision and controls over individual procurement officers. The Secretary-General intends to act expeditiously to implement those recommendations.

The Secretary-General also notes the IICs commitment to publish its comprehensive report in early September including recommendations for action. That report will include an overall assessment of the Oil-for-Food programme and specific conclusions about the role of Security Council, the UN Secretariat and the Secretary-General and UN agencies. He very much looks forward to that report, not least in the strong expectation that it will clear up any remaining questions concerning his own conduct.

Let me just add one late breaking note. We have in the last hour been contacted by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and been requested to waive Mr.Yakovlev immunity. The Secretary-General has done that within the last few minutes, we believe Mr.Yakovlev is already in custody."]

IRAN HAS STARTED URANIUM CONVERSION PROCESS

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), informed members of the Agencys Board of Governors that Iran today started to feed uranium ore concentrate into the first part of the process line at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Isaac.

The Board meets tomorrow in a special session to discuss the implementation of safeguards in Iran and related Board resolutions.

Before that activity resumed, the IAEA had installed cameras to monitor the input stage of the process line. ElBaradei noted with regret, however, that the feeding of the concentrate happened before the IAEA could test its cameras at the site, which normally takes 24 hours following installation.

The IAEA says that it should be noted that the sealed parts of the process line remain intact.

U.N. ENVOY PRAISES SUDANESE UNITY

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Sudan, Jan Pronk, is back in Khartoum after concluding his three days visit to southern Sudan during which he represented the United Nations in the funeral ceremony of First Vice President John Garang.

Yesterday, Pronk met with Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Peoples Movement and a high-level SPLM delegation, including Riek Machar, Vice-Chairman of the SPLM and Vice-President of Southern Sudan.

During the meeting Jan Pronk praised the SPLM for the cohesion and unity they've shown after Garangs tragic death by acting swiftly in appointing the new leader and reiterating their commitment to continue the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

He recommended that the SPLM identifies its immediate priorities in terms of relief aid and development assistance and he promised that the United Nations would help within its capabilities.

KIDNAPPING OF U.N. STAFFERS ENDS SAFELY

This morning, just before noon local time in Gaza, a Palestinian militant group kidnapped three staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The kidnapping took place in Khan Younis, in the southern

Gaza Strip.

Following negotiations, the staff members were released into the custody of UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority. They have now returned safely to the Agencys headquarters in Gaza.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET TUESDAY ON IRAQ

The

Security Council expects to hold consultations tomorrow on Iraq, to be briefed on the activities of the UN Mission in that country.

The Secretary-General, in

a letter to the Security Council that is now out on the racks, recommended a 12-month-extension of that Mission. The current mandate expires this Friday.

DONORS PLEDGE $12 MILLION FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS

A week after it reported a $31 million gap in its funding for elections, the

UN Mission in Afghanistan says that donors in recent days have made fresh pledges worth $12 million.

The remaining gap of $19 million, the Mission says, does not threaten the elections, and the elections will not be postponed. The UN Mission says it is confident that it will have the money it needs for elections on time.

ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO HOLDING ELECTIONS IS ESSENTIAL

IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

In the latest report by the Secretary-General on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, he observes that, in the run up to elections, Congolese leaders must take steps to ensure respect for political inclusiveness. And he notes that all concerned must refrain from inciting the public to disrupt the process.

The Secretary-General urges the Security Council to approve his request to allow the UN Mission in the country - MONUC - to provide logistical support to the elections, and also appeals to the Council to allow an increase in the mission's civilian police and military contingents.

It is essential that the international community send a clear signal of its determination, he says, to create an environment conducive to the holding of peaceful and fair elections.

PIRATED SOMALIA-BOUND FOOD SHIP TO BE RELEASED

About a month ago, the World Food Programme (WFP) had suspended all humanitarian shipments to Somalia, following the pirating of a WFP-chartered vessel off that countrys coast.

Today, WFP

announced an agreement with community leaders and Somalias Transitional Federal Government to allow for the release of that ship, its 10-member crew and its cargo of food aid within days.

Last week, WFP sent two shipments of food to Somalia to ensure that its operations in the country would continue and that the hungry would not suffer because of the hijacking.

OVER $100,000 NEEDED TO COMBAT CHOLERA IN GUINEA-BISSAU AND NEIGHBORS

The UN system has launched an appeal for $104,000, following a cholera outbreak in Guinea-Bissau, which has killed 64 people.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the onset of the rainy season has increased the risk of contamination for Guinea-Bissaus neighbors.

Already this summer, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal have reported cholera outbreaks.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS THE LOSS OF ROBIN COOK

The Secretary-General, in a

statement issued Saturday upon learning of the death of former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, said that during several years of close collaboration, the Secretary-General looked to Mr. Cook as a partner on a wide range of issues.

Throughout a rich and varied life, Mr. Cook displayed exceptional intellect, eloquence, vision and passion in the domestic and international arenas alike. The Secretary-General extends his condolences to Mr. Cook's wife and family, as well as to his colleagues and friends around the world.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS CONDEMNS KILLING OF REPORTER IN IRAQ: The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, today

condemned the killing in Basra last week of American journalist Steven Vincent and his translator. UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura called the murders an attack on the Iraqi people. He said greater priority should be given to the safety of journalists in that country.

IRAQ SEED COLLAPSE THREATENS FOOD SUPPLY: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

said today that Iraqs seed industry has collapsed. The collapse could threaten the countrys food supply, the agency said. FAO is launching a $5.4 million project to rebuild the seed industry.

PROGRESS NOTED IN CAMBODIAN FACTORY WORKING CONDITIONS: The International Labor Organization (ILO) has a new

report out on the working conditions in factories in Cambodia. The ILO compliments the country on efforts to end child labor and other progress, but says some of its recommendations have not been carried out.

GLOBAL HEALTH PROMOTION CONFERENCE GETS UNDERWAY: The 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion

started yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand, and continues until August 11. Hosted by the World Health Organization and Thailands Health Ministry, the conference is considering the determinants of health and sharing evidence-based experiences about ways in which countries can improve the health and well-being of individuals and populations.

SECRETARY-GENERALS WESTERN SAHARA REPORT OUT TODAY: Available today is a report by the Secretary-General on

Western Sahara, which summarizes reports already submitted to the Security Council between 1 July 2004 to 30 June of this year.

WORLD INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DAY TO BE CELEBRATED TUESDAY: The International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be observed at UN headquarters tomorrow, and the Secretary-General will have a message to mark the occasion.

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