United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-09-28

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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

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN DARFUR THREATENS LIFE-SAVING AID DELIVERY

Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, gave a

press conference in Geneva today, in which he touched on three major issues: humanitarian reform proposals; troubling developments in Darfur,

Sudan; and

natural disasters and climate change.

On humanitarian reform, he said that, by the beginning of next year, there would be a humanitarian response fund for emergencies, which he hoped would eventually reach $500 million. Such a fund was needed because the world was routinely late in responding to crises such as Niger, he said.

Turning to Darfur, Egeland drew attention to sharply escalating levels of violence, saying that if unarmed humanitarian workers continued to face such danger, they might not be able to keep helping the 2.5 million people currently requiring life saving assistance.

U.N. ENVOY TO PROTEST AGAINST ARREST OF SUDANESE LAWYERS

In Khartoum today, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in

Sudan, Jan Pronk deplored two recent attacks in Darfur and expressed concern over fighting in Chad.

At a press conference, Jan Pronk indicated that he would officially protest against the arrest of seven Sudanese lawyers who were taking part in a meeting event organized by a UN agency on human rights, displaced persons and issues relating to the conflict in Darfur.

He also said he would be traveling on Friday to Abuja, Nigeria, the site of peace talks on Darfur.

U.N. OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH VERIFYING SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL

FROM LEBANON ARRIVES IN EGYPT FOR TALKS

The Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Implementation of

Resolution 1559, Terje Roed-Larsen, arrived in Cairo today, where he is to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak tomorrow.

Upon his arrival, Roed-Larsen met with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. They discussed the implementation of the relevant provisions of Resolution 1559. The Palestinian President expressed his full support for Roed-Larsen's mandate and for the full and complete implementation of all the provisions of the resolution. They agreed to remain in close contact.

After that, Roed-Larsen had talks with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. They reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. They also discussed the upcoming report to the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1559.

Later on today, Roed-Larsen will have a working dinner with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboulgheit.

ANNAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

Last night the Secretary-General

spoke at a memorial ceremony for Simon Wiesenthal, the Holocaust survivor and human rights activist who died last week.

The Secretary-General took the opportunity to reiterate his support for a General Assembly resolution to establish an annual international day of commemoration in memory of the Holocaust and its universal lessons.

The Secretary-General said we cannot just consign this evil to the past and forget about it. Every generation must be on its guard, he said.

ANNAN CALLS FOR MORE U.N. PEACEKEEPERS IN D.R. CONGO

Available today is the Secretary-Generals latest

report to the Security Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In it, he urges the transitional government to adopt an electoral law and to stop what he calls gross human rights violations by armed groups and the armed forces.

He asks the Security Council to act on his recommendation for more 2,850 more peacekeepers for the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC).

He also asks for an extension of the MONUC mandate for one more year, which would ensure its presence in the DRC through the elections and the immediate post-transitional period.

Meanwhile, a UN team arrived today in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The mission comprised of Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Margareta Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute, and UN Development Programme Assistant Administrator Kathleen Cravero is there to examine the humanitarian and developmental challenges facing the country.

Before arriving in Goma, the mission examined progress and challenges in the disarmament and reintegration of militias in the Ituri district and visited a camp for internally displaced persons near the town of Bunia.

The team will proceed tomorrow to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, before returning to Kinshasa.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON DRAWDOWN

OF SIERRA LEONE PEACEKEEPING MISSION

The Security Council this morning held consultations on

Sierra Leone. Council members received a briefing on the drawdown of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for that country, Alan Doss.

Following consultations, the Council issued two press statements today. In the first statement, Council members strongly condemned the attempted assassination of May Chidiac, a prominent and respected Lebanese journalist. In the second, the Council referred to its recent consultations on Sudan, during which it expressed serious concern at renewed violence in Darfur and condemned the rise in banditry there.

ANNANS CHIEF OF STAFF BRIEFS U.S. CONGRESS ON U.N. REFORM

Chef de Cabinet Mark Malloch Brown is in Washington, D.C., today, where he briefed the International Relations Committee of the United States House of Representatives on what was and was not achieved at the UN World Summit, as well as the way ahead on reforming the United Nations.

He said that advances in the reform agenda did take place at the Summit, although not to the extent that the UN originally hoped. Still, he said, the result was a document which marks an important step forward, and is a good basis for further progress.

He also detailed the Secretary-Generals priorities for management reform.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TWELVE MILLION SOUTHERN AFRICANS NEED EMERGENCY FOOD: The Food and Agriculture Organization today

reports that about 12 million people in southern Africa need immediate emergency food deliveries because of poor cereal harvests. The report lists 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa in need of immediate assistance. The agency said that in addition to the poor harvests, the countries have been afflicted by problems ranging from civil strife and war to adverse weather and economic crisis.

ITALIAN PRESIDENT HONORED FOR FOOD WORK: The Food and Agriculture Organization today

awarded its Agricola Medal to Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. The agency cited Ciampi for his untiring efforts to promote a more effective and efficient global commitment against hunger and poverty."

DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO MARK WORLD HABITAT DAY NEXT MONDAY: Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals, will be the keynote speaker Monday for the New York celebration of World Habitat Day. The celebration will be at Columbia University.