United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-08-29

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, August 29, 2005

UNITED NATIONS AND ZIMBABWE IN TALKS ON HUMANITARIAN APPEAL

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the UN country team met with government officials of

Zimbabwe today to discuss the way forward with respect to the flash humanitarian appeal to assist those in need.

The two sides, according to OCHA, reached agreement to establish a joint committee at the working level, which is scheduled to work over the next few days to develop a new draft of the

appeal

for the people evicted in Zimbabwe.

KOFI ANNAN WELCOMES COMPLETION OF IRAQ'S DRAFT CONSTITUTION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the completion of the new draft constitution of

Iraq, which has been the result of an Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned process.

He also welcomes the earnest efforts made by all Iraqi political entities under the difficult circumstances in which this process took place.

The Secretary-General urges all Iraqi communities and political entities to continue to work together in a spirit of national reconciliation, through a fully inclusive, transparent and participatory political process in the period leading to the national referendum, when the Iraqi people will decide on their new constitution.

The Secretary-General is pleased that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and its constitutional team have been able to provide the necessary support to the constitution-making process and has instructed his Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi, to continue efforts to promote national dialogue and consensus-building among all Iraqi communities and political entities, with a view to helping the Iraqi people build the foundations of a new peaceful, democratic and united Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN REMAINS WORLD'S LARGEST OPIUM SUPPLIER

Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released new statistics for Afghanistans opium cultivation, production and eradication.

According to the report, opium cultivation in

Afghanistan has decreased by 21 per cent, thanks to the Afghans Government success in persuading farmers to refrain from poppy cultivation and current market conditions in the country, among other things.

At the same time, however, Afghanistan remains the largest supplier of opium to the world.

For its part, UNODC is channeling funds to promote rural development in Afghanistan, as a deterrent to drug cultivation.

Costa has stated that democracy may never come of age in Afghanistan as long as half of the national income is generated by opium.

SECURITY COUNCIL STUDIES LATEST TIMOR-LESTE REPORTS

The Security Council held an open meeting on Timor-Leste today and then consultation on the same subject.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, briefed the members on work of the

UN office there since its establishment in May of this year.

Among other things, he reported on successful local elections. He said there was a growing momentum for parliamentary and presidential elections in 18 months.

The Council discussed the

report of the Secretary-General in which he places a special emphasis on setting up a framework for sustainable development assistance before the UN offices mandate expires in May of next year.

U.N. ENVOY PRAISES ETHIOPIAS FOOD PLANS

Martti Ahtisaari, the former President of Finland and the Secretary Generals Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, yesterday wrapped up his one-week mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he

said that reaching all those in need of assistance must remain the basic aim of the Ethiopian Government and its partners as the country moves through a transition period.

He also said he was pleased that Ethiopia is working to increase its self-reliance in food security through various long-term programmes.

Asked if the United Nations had made any comment about the Eritrean Governments reported request that USAID leave Eritrea, the Spokesman said that the

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is concerned that USAIDs withdrawal could have a negative impact on humanitarian assistance as it could discourage greater contributions from other traditional donors as well as affect development programmes in Eritrea. The Spokeswoman added that OCHA will closely follow the situation to avoid any gaps in the provision of assistance to Eritreas vulnerable population.

KOSOVO: U.N. ENVOY CONDEMNS WEEKEND MURDERS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo,

Søren Jessen-Petersen, has strongly condemned Saturdays shooting incident near Strpce/Shterpce, in which two Kosovo Serb men were murdered and two were injured.

Jessen-Petersen, who visited the crime scene near Strpce/Shterpce today, said he was shocked and appalled by the senseless and tragic crime. He also urged restraint and said that it was now up to the police to act.

Meanwhile, the

UN Mission in Kosovo reports that its police and the Kosovo Police Service have arrested two international police officers. The pair is accused of smuggling people into Kosovo. Four foreign nationals were also arrested, and they were charged with possession of falsified documents and entering Kosovo illegally.

ANNAN CALLS FOR EFFORTS TO FULFILL COMMITMENTS TO WOMEN

The

Secretary-General has called for a re-doubling of efforts to make a reality the commitments pledged in the

Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action.

The two items deal with recognizing gender equality and the empowerment of women as a key to development, peace and human rights.

His comments were part of a message delivered in Beijing today by the

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, on his behalf to the 10th anniversary commemoration of the

Fourth World Conference on Women.

MASSIVE POLIO INOCULATION PLANNED FOR INDONESIA

The

UN Childrens Fund and the

World Health Organization

report today that some 24 million children in Indonesia will be immunized against polio tomorrow and Wednesday.

Some 225 children in Indonesia have been paralyzed by the disease since March.

Indonesia had been declared polio-free in 1995 but an infant boy came down with the disease in March. Since then polio has spread to at least four provinces.

Some 750,000 health workers will administer the vaccinations starting tomorrow.

According to UN statistics, 18 countries that were previously polio- free have now been re-infected.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SUMMIT CORE GROUP TO MEET TODAY

The so-called "core group" established by General Assembly President Jean Ping to advance the work on the draft outcome document on UN reform for next months summit will hold its first meeting at 3:30 this afternoon.

A list of the members of the group is expected later this afternoon.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

VIOLENT INCIDENTS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE DARFUR: The UN Mission in

Sudan reports a series of incidents over the last few days in South Darfur, including various lootings of commercial trucks and unconfirmed attacks on several villages. The mission notes that attacks on trucks, including UN contracted ones; banditry and looting are regularly reported in all three States of Darfur.

ANNAN CONDEMNS KILLING OF JOURNALISTS DOING THEIR JOB: Asked about the reported killing of a Reuters media employee in Iraq, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General condemns the killing of journalists doing their work.

FIRE DRILL EXERCISE HIGHLIGHTS MOST SUITABLE METHODS: Asked about the lessons learned during a fire drill exercise carried out at the UN Secretariat Headquarters last Thursday, the Spokesman noted that one of the exercises functions is to highlight what methods are best suited for such emergency evacuations.

U.N. MANAGEMENT CHIEF TO BRIEF PRESS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER: Asked when the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management,

Chris Burnham, will brief the press, the Spokesman said he had indicated that he would be available in early September.

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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