United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-08

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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

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

KOFI ANNAN CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON IRAQ COURTS DEFENSE TEAM

Secretary-General Kofi Annan

condemns the brutal attacks against three defense counsels to the Special Iraqi Criminal Tribunal since the opening of the Trial on 19 October, including the cold-blooded murders of Mr. Adel al-Zubeidi today and Mr. Sadoun al-Janabi last month.

These actions undermine efforts to uphold the cause of justice and the rule of law in Iraq. In this regard, it is vitally important that the security of all involved with the Tribunal should be equally assured to ensure a trial free from intimidation and coercion.

The Secretary-General hopes that the Tribunal will uphold the international standards of justice necessary to ensure its legitimacy, fairness and independence.

In response to a question about the upcoming elections, the Spokeswoman said that Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, today expressed his appreciation for the creditable conduct of the Independent Electoral Commission in that country.

Despite numerous difficulties, Qazi said, the Commission preserved the levels of transparency and accountability that are consistent with internationally accepted standards and practices for verifications of votes. As the Commission prepares for the 15 December elections, Qazi reiterated the UN's pledge for continued technical and advisory support to the commission.

ANNAN MEETS WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

AND ARAB LEAGUE HEAD IN CAIRO

The Secretary-General began his official program in Egypt this morning with meetings in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa.

Prior to meeting with their delegations, the Foreign Minister and the Secretary-General met tete-a-tete for about 20 minutes. In the larger meeting, they discussed, among other issues,

Lebanon and Syria,

Sudan,

Ethiopia and Eritrea and the

Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Speaking to reporters afterward, the Secretary-General said he and the Foreign Minister were hopeful that States will be able to agree to a comprehensive convention on terrorism by the end of this year.

Asked about Syrian cooperation with Detlev Mehliss investigation, he said that he had spoken to President Bashar al-Assad, who had confirmed to him that Syria will cooperate fully.

The Secretary-General, in response to another question, said he was extremely encouraged by the Arab League initiative to bring Iraqs parties to Egypt for a reconciliation conference, adding, The need for reconciliation in Iraq is real.

He then went on to the seat of the Arab League for a meeting with Amr Moussa. Following that meeting, he again spoke to reporters, and, in response to further questions about the Mehlis investigation, he said that if Syria cooperates fully and we get to the truth, that should suffice. He added that we have no problem with Syria setting up its own commission to investigate while it cooperates with Mehlis and the Lebanese.

Afterward, the Secretary-General left Cairo to visit the Smart Village, a technology center built by the Egyptian Government outside of the capital. There he visited a number of high-tech projects, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Ahmed Nazif. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister had met earlier to discuss development issues in Africa.

The Secretary-General then went to the American University in Cairo to deliver the first Nadia Younes

memorial lecture. He paid tribute to Nadia Younes as almost a prototype of the modern Egyptian woman. He said we must resolve to make the Middle East a region where all nations, including Israelis and Palestinians, can live side by side in peace and justice.

In a separate program, the Secretary-General's wife, Nane Annan, visited the National Council of Women together with Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, who presides over the Council. Nane Annan also visited a slum upgrading project designed to promote peace through poverty reduction, community participation and youth engagement, and she met with a group of prominent Egyptian women active in development issues.

ANNAN URGES LIBERIANS TO CALMLY ACCEPT ELECTION RESULTS

The second round of the Liberian presidential election is presently underway.

Voting started early this morning under peaceful and orderly conditions at all polling places across the country.

Security for voters and polling places is being provided by the Liberian National Police with the support of United Nations civilian police and peacekeeping troops.

IRAQ: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MULTINATIONAL FORCE MANDATE

The Security Council held a formal meeting in which it voted unanimously to approve a resolution to extend the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq by one year, until the end of 2006.

The Council earlier held consultations on the Central African Republic, on which it received a briefing from the Secretary-Generals Representative, General Lamine Cissé.

In other Council-related business, the Secretary-General, in a

letter available today, informs the Council that he has appointed four people to serve on the Monitoring Group dealing with Somalia sanctions.

SECURITY COUNCIL DELEGATION VISITS BURUNDI

The Security Council delegation visiting the Great Lakes Region arrived in Burundi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo late yesterday afternoon.

Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière of France, delegation leader, told the press on arrival in Bujumbura that while a lot of work remains to be done, the transition process has been remarkably successful.

He stated that Burundi is an example for the region and beyond.

Today the delegation met with President Pierre Nkurunziza, members of government, and leaders of political parties.

ERITREA: U.N. MILITARY OBSERVERS SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS WITH SECURITY COUNCIL ENVOY

The Chairman of the UN Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, today visited Asmara and operational sectors affected by Eritreas ban on helicopter flights, and he was briefed on the situation on the ground by UN military observers.

All the observers stressed the debilitating effects of the ban on freedom of movement and the challenge this posed for their monitoring capability.

In Asmara, Ambassador Oshima also met the Acting Chief Representative for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, as well as the Director in the Office of the President of Eritrea.

Oshima also had a very open exchange this evening with ambassadors based in Eritrea.

Asked whether there was any progress on the issue of humanitarian flights, he said that the issue was raised with the Director of the Office of the President but no concrete answer was given.

Oshima also held a brief press encounter in which he noted that what he hopes to do is to report to the Security Council on what hes seen and heard in Eritrea "so that the Council as a whole will be able to make a good judgment" that will above all promote peace between both countries.

AID WORKERS TRY TO REACH QUAKE VICTIMS

IN PAKISTANS HIGH ALTITUDE VALLEYS

Regarding the delivery of aid to the victims of the South Asia

earthquake, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have decided to target up to 200,000 people living in high altitude valleys above the snowline who may become inaccessible within the next four weeks, as well as an estimated 150,000 people who may choose to move down to the lower valleys.

The Office for the High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization have helped the Pakistani Government to establish 18 organized camps, which together house around 10,000 people.

On the health front, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that with 300,000 children vaccinated against measles so far a big achievement has been the prevention of epidemic outbreaks of major communicable diseases.

UNICEF has helped fix the Muzaffarabad water supply system, which is now 90% restored and which serves more than 200,000 people. UNICEF has also provided more than one million packets of chlorine to rural populations, while the World Food Programme has donated more than 8,300 tons of hi-energy biscuits. Regarding education, UNICEF has delivered 300 school-in-a-box kits and worked with partners to establish 36 tent schools.

The UN agencies and the International Organization for Migration now have 300 staff in the

disaster area.

INDIAN LETTER TO BE FORWARDED TO VOLCKER COMMITTEE

Asked at the noon briefing yesterday if the Secretary-General had received a letter from the Indian Government regarding the

Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC), run by Paul Volcker, the Deputy Spokesman said a letter had been received yesterday evening by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General from the lawyers of the Congress Party. The letter was being forwarded to the Volcker Committee.

Regarding reported comments attributed to Under-Secretary-General for Public Information Shashi Tharoor, Okabe said she had been in touch with Tharoor, who was on leave in India. He denied dismissing the Volcker report and said that he had made the points that the Deputy Spokesman had flagged yesterday about the status of the IIC report.

Asked about Indias complaints about Volcker Committee, the Spokeswoman said any questions about that matter could be directed to the Committee, which would remain in existence until the end of this month.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

IRAQI MONITORING BOARD TO POST MINUTES OF MEETING: The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) -- is an audit oversight body for the Development Fund for Iraq --- says it will publish the minutes of its October meeting on its web site (www.iamb.info) today.

REFUGEE AGENCY HEAD VISITS BRAZIL: High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres is in Brazil on a two-day mission. It is his first

visit to Latin America since he took office in June. Today he is scheduled to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Guterres is seeking support for the Mexico Plan of Action, an operational instrument to protect and assist refugees, as well as Brazil's continued promotion of refugee issues at regional and international fora.

MICROCREDIT MEETING UNDERWAY: An international

meeting on microcredit, the International Forum to Build Inclusive Financial Sectors, continues today at UN Headquarters. There are six major panels mainly zeroing on the most effective ways to get credit to the poor. Speakers include the governors of several central banks and the recipients of microcredit loans. This evening there will be a gala hosted by Tim Robbins. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, among other celebrities, will present awards to micro-entrepreneurs from developing nations, whose lives have been changed by access to credit.

RONALDO AND ZIDANE TO PLAY IN MATCH AGAINST POVERTY: The UN

Development Programme (UNDP) today announced that international football players Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane have signed up for the third Match Against Poverty, aimed at focusing world attention on the Millennium Development Goals. This years match will be played 22 December at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. Proceeds from the first two matches have benefited anti-poverty projects in Brazil, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Morocco, Namibia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. This year net profits will also finance projects selected by UNDP in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS CUBA EMBARGO: The General Assembly voted this afternoon to condemn the United States embargo against Cuba by a vote of 182 in favor to 4 against, with 1 abstention.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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