United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-23

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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, November 23, 2005

[***The United Nations will be closed on Thursday, November 24, for Thanksgiving. There will be no noon briefing on Friday, November 25. The Spokesman's Office will, however, be open on Friday, and highlights will be posted that afternoon.]

SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS THAT ERITREA LIFT U.N. HELICOPTER BAN

The Secretary-General this morning briefed Security Council members during consultations on his recent trip to the Middle East. The topics he touched upon included: terrorism; Syria and Lebanon; and Israel and Palestine.

In a formal meeting following the consultations, the Council unanimously adopted a

resolution on Ethiopia and Eritrea, by which it deplored Eritreas continued restrictions on the movement of UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) personnel and demanded that Eritrea lift its ban on UN helicopter flights.

The Council also adopted a

presidential statement congratulating the people of Afghanistan on the parliamentary and provincial elections and stressing that violence in any form intended to disrupt the democratic process in Afghanistan will not be tolerated.

The Council also issued a

press statement expressing deep concern about hostilities near the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel and calling on the government of Lebanon to extend its authority and to exert its monopoly over the use of force all over its territory.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES LIBERIAN PRESIDENT

The Secretary-General

welcomes this mornings announcement by the National Elections Commission of the official results from the Liberian presidential run-off elections. The results show that Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party received 59.4% and Mr. George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change 40.6% of the total valid votes cast.

The Secretary-General extends his warm congratulations to Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on her election as Africas first woman head of state in the modern era.

The Secretary-General notes that the National Elections Commission will continue to conduct active and open hearings on the complaints received concerning the conduct of the run-off elections, in accordance with the established legal procedures. He urges a timely conclusion of this important process in order to allow all Liberians to focus on the urgent tasks of national reconciliation, reconstruction and good governance.

The Secretary-General wishes to assure the newly-elected government of the continued support of the United Nations, as Liberia lays the foundations for lasting political stability and sustainable economic development.

ANNAN: SYRIANS MUST COOPERATE ON BOMB PROBE

Asked repeatedly about a letter sent to the Secretary-General from the Syrians, regarding the

investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Spokesman said that the letter had been received, was being studied, and had not yet been answered. But the Secretary-General had already made his position clear when he said that the Syrian authorities must cooperate with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

As to the details of the cooperation between Detlev Mehlis, the head of the investigation, and the Syrians, on the location of interviews with Syrian officials, that discussion would be led by Mehlis himself. Regarding the role of the Secretary-General in that, the Spokesman emphasized a number of times that the Secretary-General would not be negotiating on behalf of Mehlis.

Asked about telephone calls between the Secretary-General and the President of Syria, the Spokesman said there had been two such phone calls last week.

Responding to a question about UN logistical support for Mehlis, the Spokesman said the UN would do whatever was needed to facilitate Mehliss work. Once a deal was struck, Mehlis would announce it out of Beirut, Dujarric added.

Pressed further on whether Mehlis had approached the UN about potentially using UN offices in New York or Europe as locations for his interviews with Syrian officials, the Spokesman replied that that was a logistical detail, and that the UN would make available whatever UN facility was needed so that Mehlis could carry out his work. However, what was important now was for Mehlis to first reach an agreement with the Syrian authorities.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES NEPAL DOCUMENT

The Secretary-General

welcomes and is carefully studying the details of the understanding that has been reached between Nepalese parliamentary parties and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) aimed at restoring multiparty democracy and resolving the conflict that has brought immense suffering to the people of Nepal in the last decade.

He strongly encourages the CPN-M to extend its unilateral ceasefire beyond December and to fulfill its commitment to human rights. He also urges the declaration of a reciprocal ceasefire by the Government of King Gyanendra.

The Secretary-General remains ready to assist in any manner that would help bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

U.N. ENVOY TO DETERMINE PACE OF KOSOVO STATUS TALKS

Martti Ahtisaari is today wrapping up his first visit to

Kosovo in his role as UN envoy for Kosovos future status talks. Today he met with representatives of the Kosovo Serb community and other minority communities, as well as with Pristina-based representatives of the Kosovo Contact Group.

At a press conference that concluded just moments ago in Pristina, Ahtisaari said that the pace of the status process would depend on the parties, but would ultimately be determined by himself, in consultation with the Secretary-General. He also noted that he had asked all interlocutors to come forward with position papers, detailing their ideas on ways forward.

Saying that he was temporarily based at the UN Office in Vienna, he told journalists that he would be moving soon to his own office in Vienna, which was being provided by the Government of Austria. He also noted that he would be supporting the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, in the implementation of standards

Ahtisaari arrived in Kosovo on Monday and will head to Belgrade tomorrow morning.

NIGER FACES 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR OF EXTREME HARDSHIP

The World Food Programme (WFP)

warned today that unless the international community acted now, Niger would face a second successive year of extreme hardship.

According to WFPs latest food security assessment, more than 1.2 million people only have enough cereal stocks for the next three months, while a further two million are only covered for the next five months.

WFP still requires more than $20 million to fund its current emergency operation until March of next year. And it says that there could be a break in food deliveries as early as next month if donations are not forthcoming.

BUDGET DEADLINE APPROACHING; ANNAN URGES PASSAGE

Asked what would happen if the UN was unable to come up with a budget by 31 December, the Spokesman said it would be very difficult to operate and plan without a budget. He therefore hoped that there would be agreement among the Member States on the budget before the end of the year.

Fielding a question about how the UN would operate if it had to work with a three-month budget, the Spokesman said that a three-month budget would block the UN from long-term planning and limit the UNs ability to work. That is why the Secretary-General had two days ago encouraged Member States to pass a budget, adding that, if need be, the UN would come back with supplementary spending requests.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL ASKS FOR EXTENSION FOR BURUNDI MISSION: The Secretary-Generals latest

report on Burundi is now available. In it, he urges the government as well as the international community to adopt a common approach to resolve the armed conflict in that country. He also recommends the extension of the mandate of the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) there for a further six months, until 31 May 2006.

CANDIDATES FOR KHMER JUDGESHIPS ANNOUNCED: As per the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the prosecution under Cambodian law of crimes committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea, signed at Phnom Penh on 6 June 2003, the Secretary-General is currently in the process of identifying individuals whom he might nominate for appointment to the following positions -- International Judges, International Co-Prosecutor, International Co-Investigating Judge and International Judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber.The short list of candidates who will be interviewed in early December has been posted at:

http://www.un.org/law/khmerrougetrials/

U.N SAYS DOLPHINS ARE UNDER THREAT: A new report published today by the UN

Environmental Programme says that more than two-thirds of worlds dolphins, porpoises and related Species are at risk from being culled or caught in nets. The report, which looks at the impact all aquatic wildlife, also lists threats from pollution, including contamination by heavy metals, pesticides and from ingesting marine litter.

NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON NAIR INVESTIGATION: Asked for an update on Jerome Ackermans investigation into former head of the Office of Internal Oversight Services Dileep Nair, the Spokesman said he had no new information but would update correspondents on developments.

ANNAN ASKS BOTH SIDES TO RESPECT BLUE LINE: Asked about recent tension along the Blue Line, between Israel and Lebanon, the Spokesman referred to the Secretary-Generals

statement from yesterday, in which he had condemned the violations of the Blue Line and called once again on both sides to respect it.

*** The guest at the Noon Briefing was Antonio Maria Costa, executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime who briefed on the

Afghan Opium Survey.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, November 28

Troop-contributing countries to the UN Operation in Burundi will hold a private meeting this morning. The Security Council will also hold morning consultations on Burundi.

The General Assembly will hold a plenary meeting to consider two issues: oceans and law of the sea; and Afghanistan.

Tuesday, November 29

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will host an informal briefing for interested correspondents on how to use the Financial Tracking System, at 4:30 p.m. in S-3627B.

The General Assembly President will be speaking in the Trusteeship Council Chamber in the morning to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The Assembly will meet in plenary during the afternoon on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.

Wednesday, November 30

The Secretary-General will officially launch the Humanitarian Appeal 2006 in the Economic and Social Council Chamber. Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland will host the event, which lasts from 10:00 - 10:30 a.m, and other speakers include Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Cote d'Ivoire, and Raymond Johansen, Norways State Secretary. Egeland will brief the press at 11:00 a.m.

There will be a formal meeting this morning in the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the UN Operation in Burundi. Also in the Council this morning will be an open briefing and consultations on the Middle East. Following that, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will brief the press on the Middle East.

The General Assembly plenary will hold informal consultations, which will kick off intensive negotiations on the Human Rights Council. Those consultations will also be held all day Friday.

Thursday, December 1

The United Kingdom takes over the Presidency of the Security Council.

Friday, December 2

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will brief on human trafficking at the noon briefing.

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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