United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-21

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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

Monday, November 21, 2005

KOFI ANNAN MEETS WITH MEMBER STATES UPON RETURN

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is back at UN Headquarters today, where he will have his monthly luncheon with the Security Council this afternoon, and meet with members of the Group of 77 this afternoon.

Over the weekend, he returned from a 14-day, nine-country visit.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals meeting with the members of the Group of 77 this afternoon, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is trying to help find common ground, so that Member States, who are currently divided, can come together to move forward the UN reform

recommendations agreed upon at the

World Summit. It is a critical time to move the process forward, she said.

ANNAN PLEASED AT PLEDGES MADE FOR SOUTH ASIA QUAKE VICTIMS

The Secretary-General is pleased that the Pakistani Government was able to receive a substantial amount of pledges at the donors conference held in Islamabad on Saturday.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between $4 and $6 billion in unconfirmed bilateral donations have been pledged to Pakistan, mostly at the conference -- the majority for reconstruction and in in-kind contributions. About two-thirds of the money was in loans.

On Saturday, in Islamabad, Pakistan, the Secretary-General

told the International Donors Conference dealing with reconstruction after the October 8 earthquake that we must be prepared to work together in the long run. He said action is needed to deal with urgent humanitarian needs, as well as to jumpstart recovery and deal with long-term reconstruction.

After that, on his way back to New York, the Secretary-General stopped in Tbilisi, Georgia, where he met with President Mikheil Saakashvili. Following that meeting, he

told the press that the United Nations was continuing in its efforts to deal with the talks between the Georgian Government and the Abkhaz side. He added, In the meantime, it is important that all sides respect the rule of law and respect human rights and the dignity of individuals.

ANNAN TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY

In addition to todays Security Council monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General, the Security Council also has scheduled at consultations at 3:00 this afternoon on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Council members will consider the text of a draft resolution, which they expect to vote on following consultations.

In addition to the update in todays program, there are now changes in the program for Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are no meetings or consultations scheduled as of now for tomorrow. The Burundi item has been moved to Monday, November 28.

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General is now scheduled to brief the Council in its consultations on his just concluded visit.

The Middle East item has now been rescheduled to the following Wednesday, November 30. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari is expected to brief then.

GAMBARI CONDEMNS EXCHANGE OF FIRE AT BLUE LINE

Ibrahim Gambari wrapped up his visit to the Middle East today, meeting with UN staff in Israel. He intends to brief the Security Council next week.

Gambari, in a statement today, expressed his grave concern at the heavy exchange of fire that was reported to have begun from the Lebanese side of the Blue Line shortly before 3:00 p.m. today. He condemns these serious attacks across several locations along the Blue Line, and calls on all parties to cease fire immediately.

During a visit over the weekend to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Gambari toured Gaza, held meetings with senior Palestinian officials and observed parts of the Separation Barrier.

Speaking to reporters in Ramallah, Gambari cited Gaza withdrawal and the recent agreement on the Rafah Crossing as signs of progress. More needed to be done, however, on issues such as an airport and seaport in Gaza and in establishing freedom of movement, both between Gaza and the West Bank, and within the West Bank itself. Gambari said he hoped Gaza withdrawal will give new impetus to the peace process and promised the United Nations would be working to use its unique position and authority to help advance the peace process.

ANNAN WELCOMES IRAQI RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE

The Secretary-General

commends the League of Arab States for the holding of the Preparatory Meeting for the Conference on Iraqi National Accord, held in Cairo from the 19 to 21 November.

The Secretary General was recently in Cairo and Baghdad where he lent his support to this worthwhile initiative. He was represented at the meeting by his Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, who worked closely with the Arab League Secretary-General in preparing and facilitating the successful conduct of the meeting.

The Secretary-General is pleased that the meeting was attended by a broad range of representatives of Iraqs different communities, who seized the opportunity to discuss national reconciliation and the future of their country. The Secretary-General has asked his Special Representative to continue to work closely with the League and with the Iraqi Government in the preparations for the proposed Conference.

VIOLENCE MUST BE REMOVED FROM IRAQI POLITICS

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, attended the preparatory meeting that began on Saturday in Cairo dealing with national reconciliation in Iraq, and he read out a message from the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General said in that message that a broad understanding towards a national accord would strengthen and broaden the political process significantly.

Qazi also drew attention to the need to eradicate violence from Iraqs political discourse, condemning attacks on civilians, and he called upon all Iraqis to promote respect for human rights.

IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTORS MEET AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

The 21st Session of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)s College of Commissioners takes place today and tomorrow.

The Acting Executive Chairman, Demitri Perricos, will brief the members on what has been going on in UNMOVIC for the last three months - mainly work on a vast "Compendium" on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs and lessons learned in the inspection and verification process.

The next UNMOVIC quarterly report is due to go to the Council on 1 December, and Perricos is expected to brief the Council during early December.

UNITED NATIONS TO INCREASE PRESENCE IN NORTHERN UGANDA

The UN is

planning to increase its presence in northern Uganda next year, especially through the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It will also increase its request for funding for humanitarian programs to more than $200 million for 2006.

The stronger presence is meant to help some 2 million Ugandans displaced by Africas longest running conflict, which, according to OCHA, has uprooted as many people as the Bosnian war did 10 years ago, but gets only a fraction of the international attention.

SPOKESWOMAN: ISSUES CONCERNING KOJO ANNAN NOT A U.N. MATTER

Asked whether a Mercedes, referred to in the September

report of the

Independent Inquiry Committee, had diplomatic license plates, the Spokeswoman noted that the lawyers for Kojo Annan, the Secretary-Generals son, have been in touch with the relevant Ghanaian authorities on this matter. When his lawyers have something to say in public, they will do so. She referred further questions on to Kojo Annans lawyers, saying this is not considered to be a UN matter.

In response to further questions about Kojo Annan, the Spokeswoman said the matter was dealt with by the Independent Inquiry Committee, which, she noted, is still in existence at least through the end of this year.

Asked how the United Nations was following up on the situation of one UN staff member who had conversations with Kojo Annan, the Spokeswoman said that there were no adverse findings against that staff member.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN TO SEND ENVOY TO ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS MEETING: Asked who would attend a meeting of the High-Level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations, beginning in Spain on November 27, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was sending his Special Adviser on that issue, Iqbal Riza, to attend the meeting, since the Secretary-General would not be able to attend. She noted the difference between that initiative and the Dialogue among Civilizations, which is being followed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

FORMER U.N. ENVOY NO LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH U.N.: Asked about the status of the UN envoy dealing with the Dialogue among Civilizations, Giandomenico Picco, the Spokeswoman said that, by mutual agreement, Piccos work has been completed and his association with the United Nations is over. In response to a question about the IHC company that Picco deal with, she recalled that the company has been suspended from doing business with the United Nations.

END-OF-YEAR PRESS CONFERENCE INTENDED: In response to a question, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was planning to hold an end-of-the-year press conference.

U.N. AGENCIES TACKLE BIRD FLU & HUNGER ISSUES: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that an alliance of international organizations, led by the United Nations will develop a worldwide early warning system for avian flu. The system will focus on the movement of possibly infected migratory birds. It will be ready in two years, UNEP said.