United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-08-31

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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

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

ANNAN: STAKES ARE VERY HIGH FOR UPCOMING WORLD SUMMIT

The

Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, spoke by invitation of the

General Assembly President Jean Ping, in a session of the core negotiating group devoted to development and secretariat and management aspects of UN reform.

In his

remarks, the Secretary-General reminded delegates how important it is for the world that the

2005 World Summit has a successful outcome. "The stakes are high. Very high."

He stressed the value of the

Millennium Development Goals as "the basis of the great pact of mutual accountability between developed and developing countries, which was sealed at Monterey and as "an unprecedented catalyst for global action".

Thereafter, his speech was devoted to management reform, "an area where, by virtue of my office, I have a special interest". He reminded delegates that he has been striving to reform UN management, with their help, ever since he became Secretary-General. Much has been achieved but recent revelations on

Oil-for-Food and misconduct in Peacekeeping operations show that more is needed.

He first referred to reforms he is already carrying out in areas where he has discretion, including creation of an Ethics Office to oversee compliance with new financial disclosure requirements for senior staff, ensuring whistleblower protection, and developing mandatory ethics training for all staff and advise staff on ethical issues such as receiving gifts.

Then he dealt with four issues which require decisions by Member States:

The need for a review of rules on budgetary and human resources, in the light of the "transformation" of the Secretariat over the last 15 years, during which member states have required it "to undertake a far wider range of operations than in the past.

The need for an overview of all mandates older than five years: the Secretariat cannot undertake new tasks within the existing budget "without clearly prioritizing the Organization's mandates, and deciding which old one should be discontinued to make room for new ones that are considered more urgent".

The need for change in the UN's oversight structure, and in particular to make it independent of the Secretary-General by creating a new expert body - the "independent oversight advisory committee", appointed by the General Assembly - to make professional recommendations for the budget of the

UN Office of Internal Oversight Services budget each year without being dependent on input from the Secretariat. The Secretary-General said this would be modelled on arrangements already used in member states such as South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia and United Kingdom.

The need for the Secretary-General to be given the authority and flexibility to redeploy posts and resources. He stressed he was not asking for or expecting "any kind of carte blanche to run the Organization on my own", but similar powers to those of heads of Specialized Agencies. "I want the leeway to do my job properly, but the obligation always to come back to you when strategic decisions are needed."

He concluded by saying he hoped for a balanced outcome from the summit which would justify heads of state and government coming to New York - "an outcome of which they can be proud".

The Secretary-General then answered questions from the delegates and held a press encounter as he left the session.

Asked if the steps Annan was proposing would increase bureaucracy the Spokeswoman suggested the reporter look at the incentive behind each of the proposed initiatives, as detailed in the full text of the Secretary-Generals remarks.

ANNAN SADDENED BY BRIDGE TRAGEDY IN BAGHDAD

The

Secretary-General has learned with great sadness of the human tragedy that took place today in Baghdad when a large number of pilgrims, many of them women and children, died in the crush of a crowd crossing a bridge over the Tigris River.

The Secretary-General

expresses his deepest condolences to the Government of

Iraq and to the families of the bereaved.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, also issued a statement on the tragedy. In it, he

expresses the UNs sympathy and solidarity with the Iraqi people at this time of national mourning, and that the United Nations is ready to provide all help possible to the Iraqi people.

ANNAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

The

Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life and large-scale destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina along the United States Gulf Coast.

He

extends his sincere condolences to all the victims and their families.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON COTE DIVOIRE

The

Security Council heard briefings in a private meeting from South African Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on his country's mediation role, Ambassador Aminu Wali of Nigeria on behalf of the African Union and the Secretary-Generals

Special Representative in Cote dIvoire

Pierre Schori about the situation in that country.

After the meeting, the Security Council issued a press statement in which the members reiterated their full support for the action undertaken by the South African Mediation and the United Nations in preparation for the autumn elections. The members also reiterated their readiness to take all steps they consider necessary, including the implementation of individual sanctions, in order to ensure the respect of the resolutions of the Security Council.

The Security Council then held a formal meeting on Sierra Leone and adopted a resolution, which authorized the creation of a UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone after the withdrawal of the UN Mission there. The resolution says the new office is to be headed by an Executive Representative of the Secretary General and that person should also serve as Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme and as UN Coordinator. The Integrated Office was authorized for 12 months starting 1 January 2006.

UNESCO CONDEMNS KILLING OF MEDIA WORKER IN IRAQ

The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today deplored the killing of Reuters engineer Walled Khaled in Baghdad on 28 August and the wounding of his colleague Haider Kadhem.

In a statement issued in Paris today the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura said, It is paramount that all those willing to help establish democracy in Iraq be mindful of the right of the media to exercise their profession freely.

Matsuura said, I trust that the ongoing U.S. investigation will explain the circumstances of events fully and pave the way for improvements in the future.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF AND CHINA SIGN RIGHTS AGREEMENT

The

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang today signed an agreement aimed at helping China implement recommendations on economic, social and cultural rights, her office

says in a statement issued in Beijing.

According to the agreement, the United Nations will assist China in finding alternative penalty measures to imprisonment and help the country revise its criminal procedure law.

It will also foster the incorporation of human rights education into the curricula of Chinese schools and help in the establishment of a national human rights institution.

Arbour will remain in China through Friday.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WFP TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR 8.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA:

The World Food Programme

says it is working to provide food for at least 8.5 million people in southern Africa by the start of the lean season in December. But due to an immediate funding shortfall of $187 million, only a fraction of those who require assistance -- in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe -- will receive it. Compounding the problem are soaring maize prices in several southern African countries, since people who were previously deemed self-sufficient will now need food aid.

FAO CONCERNED THAT MIGRATORY BIRDS MAY SPREAD BIRD FLU: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization today

reports that it is concerned that migratory birds could bring avian flu to the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Africa. The agency said it was particularly concerned that poor countries in southeast Europe might lack the capacity to detect and deal with outbreaks of the bird flu. Indian and Bangladesh are also at risk, the agency said. FAO has recommended that all countries on the route of migrating birds, step up surveillance of domestic poultry as well as wild birds. They should also develop national emergency plans, the agency said.

MONGOLIA PAYS DUES, BRINGING HONOR ROLL TO 109: The arrival of a check from Mongolia today brings to 109 the number of member states who are paid up in full.