United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-10-03

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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

Monday, October 3, 2005

U.N. ENVOY TO IRAQ MEETS WITH LEADERS OF KUWAIT AND IRAN

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, is in Kuwait today, where he met with that countrys Deputy Prime Minister, as well as the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He briefed them on the UNs role in promoting dialogue and reconciliation among Iraqis.

This visit, as well as one to Iran last week, is part of Qazis exchanges with neighbouring countries on the latest developments in Iraq.

Asked about a leaked UN report which was reported to say that the Iraqi constitution could be a model for the territorial division of the State, the Spokesman said that phrase came from an internal document that was prepared for the UNs Iraq team as it analyzed the Constitution. It should come as no surprise, he said, that UN staff would try to analyze the Constitutional process. The alleged comment did not reflect the position of the United Nations, he said.

The Spokesman said that the United Nations believes that the Constitution will have to be judged by the Iraqi people themselves, in the referendum that has been planned. He noted that the Secretary-General had welcomed the agreement that put the draft Constitution forward for a referendum.

U.N. LEBANON BOMB PROBE DUE THIS MONTH; COULD BE EXTENDED

Asked whether the work of

Detlev Mehliss investigation commission would be extended until December, the Spokesman said that Mehlis is still writing his report, which is due on 25 October.

He said that, technically, under the resolution, an extension of the Mehlis commissions work is possible (until 15 December). First, Mehlis would have to request the extension to the Secretary-General, and the Secretary-General would have to approve it.

Asked whether Lebanon has requested the continuation of work by the commission, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any official request to change the mandate.

Asked whether Mehlis was interviewing the brother-in-law of the Syrian President, among others, Dujarric said that he was not aware of all of the people that Mehlis was interviewing. Mehlis, he said, would interview anyone necessary for the course of the investigation. Asked about the quality of the interviews, the Spokesman said the quality would be judged by Mehlis and would be reflected in his report.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS BOMBING IN BALI

In a

statement issued on Saturday, Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly condemned the bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali that have reportedly killed at least twenty people and injured many more.

The Secretary-General was dismayed that Bali has yet again been the scene of terrorist outrage almost three years after the attacks of October 2002, and sent his deepest sympathy to the injured and the bereaved, as well as to the Indonesian government.

He urges the Indonesian authorities to act promptly in identifying and bringing the perpetrators of this cowardly attack to justice.

ROMANIA TAKES OVER PRESIDENCY OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Romania has taken over the Presidency of the

Security Council for the month of October, and Romanian Ambassador Mihnea Motoc is holding bilateral talks with other Council members on its program of work for the coming month.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on its program of work tomorrow, after which Ambassador Motoc intends to brief you the press about the Councils agenda for October.

SECRETARY-GENERALS ENVOY IN SUDAN URGES PROGRESS IN TALKS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan.

Jan Pronk. is back from Abuja, Nigeria where he had discussions with the African Unions Chief Mediator, Salim Ahmed Salim, as well as with the delegations of the parties on the ongoing talks aimed at bringing peace to Darfur.

Pronks message to all parties was to move ahead from the procedural discussions that took almost six days and to start as soon as possible with the substantive talks.

He calls on all parties to engage in these talks in good faith and with a tangible commitment to achieving a final settlement to the Darfur crisis.

ANNAN CONGRATULATES NEW PRESIDENT OF GUINEA BISSAU

The Secretary-General, in a

message, congratulated President Joao Bernardo Vieia of Guinea Bissau, who was sworn in at a ceremony in Bissau over the weekend.

The Secretary-General assures the people of Guinea Bissau that the UN system will continue to support the government in its efforts toward national reconciliation, consolidation of democracy and creation of a climate favorable to economic revitalization.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TARGETED SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING TO BEGIN IN NIGER:

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the

World Food Program (WFP) have teamed up with Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), to launch a Targeted Supplementary Feeding Initiative in Zinder, southern Niger. The agencies will screen a quarter of a million children to identify and give intensive care to the children most at risk of malnutrition. They expect that figure to be almost 50,000.

WORLD CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE CONVENTION STARTS: The Third World Congress on conservation agriculture begins today in Nairobi, the

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports. Conservation agriculture involves planting crops directly into the soil, without ploughing. It saves on soil erosion, and is particularly well- suited for Africa, according to FAO.

ANNAN TO RETURN TO WORK TUESDAY: Asked when the Secretary-General would be at UN Headquarters, the Spokesman said he would be in New York on Tuesday, following the conclusion of a private visit.

SECRETARIAT BUILDING PLANNING CHIEF TO BRIEF: In response to a question on UN management, the Spokesman noted that Fritz Reuter, head of the Capital Master Plan, was expected to brief reporters next week.