United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-09-14

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

KOFI ANNAN CALLS SUMMIT DOCUMENT A GOOD START

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning

told the leaders gathered for the 2005

World Summit that the

document they have come to New York to adopt is a good start that contains real breakthroughs on some issues.

He pointed to the agreement reached yesterday on a document that condemns terrorism; that for the first time enshrines a responsibility to protect populations from genocide and other atrocities; that agrees on establishing a Peace-building Commission and on the need for a new Human Rights Council; and that unleashes an additional $50 billion a year to fight poverty by 2015.

The accomplishments amount to a far-reaching package of changes, the Secretary-General said. But he warned that we have not yet achieved the sweeping and fundamental reform that I and many others believe is required.

The biggest failing, he said, was on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, where we have allowed posturing to get in the way of results.

He urged the gathered leaders to keep working with determination on the tough issues that remain. A healthy, effective United Nations is vital, the Secretary-General said, adding, If properly utilized, it can be a unique marriage of power and principle, in the service of all the worlds peoples.

The 2005 World Summit the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly opened this morning with statements by the two Co-chairs, Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden and President Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, by the Secretary-General and by the President of the United States, the host country, George Bush.

General Assembly Spokeswoman Pragati Pascale said that as of this morning, a total of 153 Heads of State and Government are expected to speak during the three-day summit, including the Holy See. This makes it the largest-ever gathering of world leaders.

SECURITY COUNCIL ACTS ON INCITEMENT TO TERRORISM; CONFLICT PREVENTION

The

Security Council is holding a summit of its own leaders right now, and they unanimously adopted resolutions calling upon States to adopt measures to prohibit by law incitement to commit terrorist acts and to improve conflict prevention efforts.

The Secretary-General

told the Security Council Summit that the United Nations must be at the forefront in the fight against terrorism, by dissuading disaffected groups from terrorism and by denying terrorists the means to carry out attacks. He added that, while we must deter States from supporting terrorists, we must also defend human rights and support the victims of terrorism.

ANNAN CALLS FOR LEADERSHIP & PERFORMANCE ON DEVELOPMENT

The Secretary-General also

spoke at the Summit meeting on Financing for Development, telling the attendees that, although the document adopted yesterday is not all that we had hoped for this Summit has served as a real catalyst for development advances.

What the world needs now, he said, is leadership that will see this Summits development decisions implemented fully and without delay. The Secretary-General said the challenge now is to transform the breakthroughs of the past few years into a performance pact on the Millennium Development Goals.

The Secretary-General met with leaders who intend to show their support for the UNs newly-established Democracy, Fund, and he will thank them for their support for, and contributions to, the Fund. The Secretary-General is to say that the United Nations must support democratization wherever it can. The pledges made today will enable us to do so more effectively, in more countries.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERROR BOMB IN IRAQ

The Secretary General heard with great sadness the news of the series of attacks in Baghdad today, in which more than 100 people are known to have been killed and even greater numbers wounded.

He vehemently

condemns the use of terror and indiscriminate violence against civilians, which no cause or belief can possibly justify.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest sympathies to the Government of Iraq and to the bereaved families of all the victims.

WORLD LEADERS TO SIGN 32 TREATIES WHILE AT UN SUMMIT

The Secretary-General has invited Heads of State and Government attending the World Summit to sign, ratify or accede to 32 key treaties ranging from human rights and refugees to terrorism and the Kyoto protocol to curb global warming gases.

Treaty actions tentatively scheduled for today include the signing by 35 States of the

Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which opened for signature today.

First to sign the nuclear terrorism treaty this morning were Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President George W. Bush, and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

BURUNDI SUMMIT ENDORSES AID PLAN FOR BUJUMBURA

Participants in a summit on

Burundi held in this building yesterday, agreed in principle to create a new body to coordinate international aid to the new government in that country.

The Secretary-General Co-chaired the meeting with the President of the Republic of Uganda. Leaders of eight African countries and representatives of the African Union, the European Commission and several European countries, also attended.

The new body will be designed to support efforts to consolidate peace and promote development in Burundi.

UNITED NATIONS AND ASEAN PACT TO INCREASE COOPERATION

The Secretary-General also co-chaired a summit held yesterday between the United Nations and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which ended with a joint communiqué that agreed to further broaden cooperation between the two groups.

Among other things, the UN and ASEAN expressed their concern over the serious threat to human health posed by the evolving, unprecedented strain of avian influenza. They reaffirmed their commitment to developing national pandemic influenza preparedness plans.

The Secretary-General, who co-chaired the Summit,

said that he was glad that a number of the regions governments had taken firm action to improve surveillance, identify infections and control avian influenza at its source. He also said that engagement is needed so that progress can be made in resolving Myanmars political impasse.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW ENVOY TO CYPRUS

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Michael Møller of Denmark as his Special Representative for Cyprus and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). A response from the Security Council is expected shortly.

Møller is currently serving as Acting Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary-General and Director for Political, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Affairs in the Secretary-Generals Executive Office.

He replaces Zbigniew Wlosowicz of Poland who will complete his assignment on 30 November 2005.

PAID UP U.N. MEMBERSHIP NOW AT 115

A check from Nigeria showed up on our books today, bringing the number of fully paid up member states to 115.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. APPEALS FOR FUNDS AFRICAN REFUGEES: The

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Executive Director of the

World Food Programme (WFP) have

appealed to donors to give generously to alleviate the funding shortages that are forcing the agencies to cut back survival rations for refugee camps across Africa.

UNEVEN PROGRESS ON DEVELOPMENT GOALS SEEN IN AFRICA: Today, the

Economic Commission for Africa, in Addis Ababa launches a report on The MDGs in Africa: Progress and Challenges, which highlights stark differences among African countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. While most North African countries have either reached or will soon reach the Goals, Sub-Saharan Africa in general is lagging behind.

U.N. AGENCY SAYS DONT HIDE FAILURE OF FIRST MILLENNIUM GOAL: The

UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization today said that the Millennium goal to eliminate gender disparity in schools by 2005 has not only failed but is much further behind schedule than previously predicted. It called upon delegates to openly acknowledge the missed target and take action to rectify the situation.

U.N. FOOD AGENCY ASKS SUMMIT TO FUND HUNGER EFFORTS: The

UN Food and Agriculture Organization today

called on the world leaders meeting here to honour the millennium commitment to cut world hunger in half by 2015. The agency said there are encouraging signs of an international desire to resolve food problems, but the heads of state meeting here must ensure that there is adequate funding for reducing hunger.

INCREASED SUPPORT NEEDED FOR MALAWI: With the next planting season fast approaching, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned today of the need to urgently increase support for the $88 million

flash appeal for Malawi, which was issued last month. Thus far, some $13 million in cash, as well as 30,000 tons of food, have been pledged by the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Ireland. But according to

Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, more is needed, especially from donors among the Asian, Latin American and Gulf States. OCHA reports that 4.2 million Malawians are in need of humanitarian assistance over the next six months.

SECURITY DELAYS TO BE ADDRESSED: Asked about delays of up to two hours that journalists had experienced in security checks entering the premises Wednesday, the Spokesman said that he had been made aware of the delays and had learned that some scanning devices had been out of order Wednesday. He said he would contact Security authorities to attempt to improve the situation, which he did shortly after the briefing.

**For additional Summit-related events, please visit:

http://www.un.org/summit2005/events_schedule.pdf

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

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article