United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-11

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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

Friday, November 11, 2005

KOFI ANNAN EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH JORDANIANS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Amman, Jordan, and was met on arrival by the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Farouk Kasrawi. The Secretary-General then traveled to the Foreign Ministry where he met with Kasrawi for about 45 minutes.

In remarks to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General said he was in Amman to express his solidarity with the King, people and Government of Jordan after they suffered a terrible attack. He noted that many of the victims of the terrorist bombings had been at a wedding party, and said no cause could justify the vicious killing of innocent civilians.

The Secretary-General renewed his call to all Member States to agree on a comprehensive convention against terrorism, which could be a New Years gift to the worlds people if it can be adopted before the end of this year.

Afterwards, the Secretary-General called on King Abdullah and personally expressed his condolences for the terror attacks. The King briefed the Secretary-General on measures that Jordan has been taking nationally to combat terrorism.

The Secretary-General then visited the sites of two of Wednesdays attacks the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Radisson Hotel.

Later, he met with the UN

Country Team and

UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) staff based in Amman.

While the Secretary-General was meeting with the King, Nane Annan, accompanied by Queen Rania, went to Ammans Jordan Hospital, where they visited and spoke to children and adults injured in Wednesdays bomb blast. Many of the victims at the hospital had also lost family members.

The Secretary-General has landed in Kuwait. He was met by the foreign minister at the airport.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had discussed Syria and Lebanon in his meeting earlier this week with the King of Saudi Arabia, the Spokeswoman later said they had exchanged views on that matter.

U.N. LIBERIA TEAM MONITORING POST ELECTION ACTIVITIES

Police units from the

UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have been keeping a close eye on the situation on the ground in Monrovia.

The UN Mission says that some supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party attended a rally earlier today and then marched to the National Election Commission, but there were no reports of significant disturbances there.

Some supporters continued marching on, coming close to the entrance to the U.S. Embassy where a UN police unit used tear gas to disperse the crowd. There have been no reports of injuries.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Liberia,

Alan Doss, has been in contact with the UN Police Commissioner and the Force Commander, and has also spoken by telephone with CDC candidate George Weah.

At his request, Weah was interviewed on UNMIL Radio where he delivered a message of peace.

Asked whether the UN Mission in Liberia could confirm that there is an official result in the elections, the Spokeswoman said it could not, since the final result is not expected for a couple of weeks. She noted that there were some partial results circulating, on the basis of a high percentage of votes counted in some areas.

SECURITY COUNCIL FOCUSING ON LIBERIA

The Security Council, in its closed consultations on Liberia today, considered a draft resolution that would adjust the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia. The Council voted unanimously on a resolution that authorizes the UN Mission to apprehend former President Charles Taylor should he return to that country.

(In a press statement read out after the consultations, members of the Security Council stressed that any concerns related to the election should be pursued and resolved exclusively through peaceful and legal means which will further underline the new Liberias irreversible commitment to the rule of law. The Members urged the candidates, their parties and all their supporters to respect the final results of the election once they are officially declared.)

Also today, under other matters, Council members heard a briefing from Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan on his recent visit to Eritrea and Ethiopia. He visited both countries in his capacity as chair of the Council working group on peacekeeping operations.

ETHIOPIA- ERITREA BORDER REMAINS TENSE

The

UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) reports that the military situation in the Temporary Security Zone and its adjacent areas remains tense, with troop movements reported on both sides.

The ban imposed by Eritrea on UNMEE helicopters remains in place, while other restrictions on the Missions freedom of movement have increased considerably. Night movements have been curtailed almost all along the Zone.

The Mission continues to conduct ground patrols, and also to provide medical assistance to the local population.

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES NOMINATION OF KOSOVO ENVOY

The President of the Security Council yesterday

wrote to the Secretary-General, to inform him that the Council welcomed the Secretary-Generals intention to appoint Martti Ahtisaari as the Special Envoy for the future status process for

Kosovo, and Albert Rohan as his deputy.

Attached to the letter were guiding principles for the future status process, as agreed to by the Kosovo Contact Group.

FLASH FUND FOR SOUTH ASIA QUAKE REMAINS UNDER-FUNDED

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the South Asia

quake flash appeal is only 28% funded. And the $154 million received includes $45 million in unfulfilled pledges.

On the ground in Pakistan, OCHA reports that people are continuing to move from mountainous, remote villages to lower grounds. But some are reluctant to move because of four main factors.

First, some are awaiting compensation payments. Second, there is uncertainty about available services and assistance provided at new locations. Third, the majority of the affected are poor tenants, who are afraid they will lose their land. And fourth, many are reluctant to abandon their livestock, their main source of income.

ANNAN TO RESPOND TO STAFF DISMISSAL REPORT ON MONDAY

Asked whether the United Nations would respond to the finding of the Joint Disciplinary Committee concerning the dismissal earlier this year of Joseph Stephanides, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General intends to respond to that ruling on Monday.

She declined to answer some specific questions about the case until the response is given next Monday.

However, Okabe said, in response to a question about whether Stephanides had been made a sacrificial lamb in the oil-for-food investigation, that he had been the only sitting staff member against whom there were adverse findings in the reports of Paul Volckers

Independent Inquiry Committee. Both the Committee and Stephanides admitted that he had violated UN staff rules. It was on that basis, she said, that the Secretary-General acted.

She noted that other staff members also faced penalties, including Alexander Yakovlev, who had left UN service but subsequently had his immunity waived.

Asked whether the Secretary-General still believes that Stephanides was guilty, the Spokeswoman said the facts of the case still stand, and that Stephanides himself had acknowledged a violation of the staff rules. At the same time, she said, the United Nations is considering the severity of the punishment.

Asked about a comparison between Stephanidess situation and that of Benon Sevan, the Spokeswoman said that Sevan had been retired prior to the Volcker Committees findings.

Asked repeatedly why the United Nations had not mentioned the ruling until news of it came out in the media, the Spokeswoman said that one reporter obtained a scoop on the story, and that the United Nations had been preparing its response to the ruling.

ANNAN HAS CONFIDENCE IN U.N. LEBANON BOMB INVESTIGATOR

Asked whether it is appropriate for Prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who heads the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with Syria, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General has said that he trusts that his very efficient and highly qualified prosecutor can conduct his investigation in the way that he sees fit.

Asked about Syrias reported refusal to cooperate with Mehliss specific requests, Okabe said the Secretary-General is leaving the decisions on how to proceed to Mehlis.

UNITED NATIONS HAS NO MANDATE FOR TRIBUNAL TO TRY SADDAM HUSSEIN

Asked about a request from Saddam Husseins defense attorneys for a UN tribunal to handle that case, the Spokeswoman later said that neither the General Assembly nor the Security Council have given a mandate to follow up on that request.

UNITED NATIONS LOOKING INTO REPORTERS ACCESS CONCERNS

The Spokeswoman was asked about what reporters say are new security restrictions at UN Headquarters that prevent them from having access to the area immediately outside the General Assembly Hall.

She responded that the United Nations is aware of the reporters concerns, and that the Department of Public Information says that discussions with security are underway.

She assured them that the Department has the medias interests at heart and is doing everything it can to keep access open. This will be done in consultation with the UN Correspondents Association.

Asked why the restrictions had been put in place, she noted security concerns.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SEVERE HUNGER CRISIS LOOMS IN GUATEMALA: On Guatemala, the World Food Programme

reports that a severe hunger crisis is looming in that country, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Stan. It is therefore repeating an urgent appeal to donors to help feed an estimated 285,000 survivors. The agency is concerned that, as the weather grows colder, people will need a higher intake of calories. Also, if they are weakened by hunger, they will be more susceptible to disease.

POLIO PREVENTION PLAN TO REACH 100 MILLION AFRICAN CHILDREN: The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization

report that they are assisting in a new polio immunization campaign launched today in 28 African countries aimed at reaching 100 million children before the end of the year. The new round of inoculations was a maintenance programme to follow on a successful vaccination campaign that ended polio epidemics in ten countries.

SUDANESE REFUGEE RETURN TO START SOON: The Office of the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the first organized repatriation of the first of hundreds of thousands of southern Sudanese refugees from neighbouring countries is expected to start before the end of November. UNHCR is strengthening its presence in the region and organised the first 'go and see' visit this week for a group of refugees who have been staying in the Central African Republic (CAR).

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Sunday, November 13

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will make his first trip to the Middle East since assuming the helm of the Department of Political Affairs. He is to visit Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, between 13-21 November.

Monday, November 14

There will be morning Security Council consultations on Afghanistan.

The Deputy Secretary-General will be in Israel to attend the tenth commemoration of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

At 10:30 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library/Department of Public Information will hold a panel discussion on information and knowledge for global decision making.

The General Assembly plenary will hold a debate on strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, among other items.

The World Health Organization will be observing World Diabetes Day.

Tuesday, November 15

There will be an open briefing this morning in the Security Council on the Councils recent mission to Africas Great Lakes region. There will also be a public meeting this morning on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A two-day regional meeting, hosted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Development Programme, starts in Dakar today. The subject is food security and sustainable poverty reduction.

Wednesday, November 16

The Secretary-General will be in Tunis for the

second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, which opens today.

There will be consultations in the Security Council this morning on Sudan and Cote dIvoire.

Thursday, November 17

The 294th session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) ends today in Geneva. Before closing, it will take up the situation in Myanmar in relation to the ILO convention on forced labour.

Friday, November 18

The

second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society closes today in Tunis.

Saturday, November 19

The Secretary-General will address a major conference in Pakistan on that countrys needs for post-quake rehabilitation.

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

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