United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-28

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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

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, November 28, 2005

ANNAN DISAPPOINTED BY EXTENDED HOUSE ARREST OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply

disappointed that Myanmars authorities have extended the detention under house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), for another six months.

The Secretary-General reiterates his belief, shared by ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) and much of the international community, that Daw Aung San Suu Kyis continued detention is not in the interest of Myanmars processes of national reconciliation and democratization.

The Secretary-General continues to make his good offices available in helping to address the many challenges faced by Myanmar.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED BY TOP U.N. ENVOY IN BURUNDI

Following a meeting with the countries contributing troops to the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB), the Security Council began consultations on Burundi, with a briefing by the head of ONUB, Carolyn McAskie.

McAskie discussed the Secretary-Generals recent

report, in which he provided his recommendations for possible adjustments to ONUBs mandate and force strength, in accordance with progress made on the ground.

Council members also discussed recent developments in

Cote dIvoire during todays consultations. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi briefed.

ANNAN DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT DARFUR, WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) led by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Jan Pronk, has been devoting its energy to trying to get the two factions of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in Darfur to work together and to negotiate with the Government of Sudan. The Abuja peace talks are officially scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Pronk has delivered a message to both SLM factions that Abuja is the only game in town. The message has gone out to both faction leaders that the United Nations does not play sides. That message is: You have to come together to negotiate for the sake of your people.

Asked when the Secretary-General will add his moral clout to dealing with the Darfur issue, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has spoken out regularly about the need to act in response to the situation there. He noted that questions about response should also be addressed to Member States.

Asked about the prospects for Darfur, the Spokesman agreed with the reporter that they were rather dim.

He said that the Secretary-General has repeatedly pressed the Sudanese authorities to control the activities of the janjaweed and of paramilitary groups, and has also stressed the need to support political talks and the Abuja process.

The Secretary-General, in his most recent monthly

report to the Security Council, has drawn attention to the looming threat of complete lawlessness and anarchy in parts of Darfur.

The Secretary-General has also urged increased support for the African Union to get them the resources that they need in Darfur, Dujarric said, including desperately needed tactical airlift.

The Spokesman added, in response to further questions about Darfur, that the Secretary-General will continue to speak out on the matter, about which he is deeply concerned.

IRAQI LEADERS SAY ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARE BEING ADDRESSED

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, over the past few days has held talks with a number of Iraqi leaders, including President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari and former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, to discuss the latest political developments.

During those discussions, he reiterated the United Nations commitment to facilitating Iraqs electoral process to ensure fairness, inclusiveness and transparency. He also discussed the recent meeting in Cairo to prepare for the convening of an Iraqi National Accord Conference early next year.

In his meetings over the weekend with the President and Prime Minister, Qazi raised the UNs concerns over alleged human rights abuses in government detention centers, and was told that measures are being taken to rectify the situation.

Asked about UN follow-up to the detention center allegations, the Spokesman noted that human rights experts work as part of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and would continue to follow the response by the Iraqi authorities to the UNs human rights concerns.

Asked about High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbours call for an international investigation into the allegations concerning the detention centers, the Spokesman said the United Nations wanted to see the response to her call.

Asked about reports that a special human rights rapporteur would not be visiting Iraq, the Spokesman noted that such rapporteurs are independent experts and make their own programs for travel.

BELGRADE SHOULD ENCOURAGE KOSOVO SERBS

TO PARTICIPATE IN STATUS PROCESS

Martti Ahtisaari yesterday wrapped up his first visit to the Balkans since his appointment as Special Envoy for the Future Status Process for

Kosovo. The weeklong visit included stops in Pristina and Belgrade, as well as Montenegro, Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Ahtisaari, who was accompanied by his deputy, Albert Rohan, stressed the importance of achieving the internationally agreed standards for Kosovo, and advised Belgrade to encourage the Kosovo Serbs to participate in the future talks process.

Reiterating that there was no timeframe or deadline for his mission, he also stressed that he did not want to prolong the process a single day longer than necessary.

Ahtisaari has now returned to Vienna, where his office will be based. He will travel to other capitals for further consultations before he pays another visit to the region early next year.

LEBANON: COMMISSION PROBING HARIRI KILLING DOES NOT

OFFER COMPENSATION FOR INFORMATION

Asked about when Commissioner Detlev Mehlis, head of the

investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, will begin his interviews with Syrian suspects, the Spokesman said he could only confirm that those interviews would take place in Vienna.

Asked about reports that one witness has recanted testimony that he earlier gave to the Commission, the Spokesman said that the Mehlis Commission issued a press release in Beirut today, in which they noted that one witness, Hussam Hussam, had signed a statement on 1 September that said he had given his testimony voluntarily, without being threatened and without receiving any promises or incentives. The Commission asserted that it does not offer, and has never offered nor provided, any compensation in exchange for information.

Asked about an extension of Mehliss mandate past its current expiry on 15 December, the Spokesman said that would be a decision for the Security Council to take. First, he said, the focus would be on Mehliss report to the Council by 15 December.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had any plans to meet Mehlis before 15 December, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any.

LIBERIA: U.N. MISSION TO GET NEW FORCE COMMANDER

The Secretary-General has sent a message to the Security Council expressing his intention to appoint Lt. Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor of Nigeria as force commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

If accepted by the Council, Gen. Obiakor would replace Gen. Joseph Owonibi of Nigeria, who has served as UNMIL force commander since January 2005.

Gen. Obiakor would assume command on 1 January 2006. He is a graduate of the National War College in Abuja.

In other news, UNMIL today

reports that a member of its peacekeeping force has been accused of rape. In accordance with the UNs zero-tolerance policy for any kind of sexual exploitation and abuse, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia, Alan Doss, has ordered an immediate investigation. It is being conducted in cooperation with Liberian authorities.

In response to a question, the Spokesman said that he did not have information about the nationality of the peacekeeper who was accused of rape.

ANNAN EMBRACES ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS

The High-Level Group on the Alliance of Civilizations began its first meeting in Mallorca, Spain, yesterday, and the Secretary-General welcomed the start of its work, in a message delivered by his Special Adviser, Iqbal Riza.

In the message, the Secretary-General says that we are experiencing a period of sharply increasing intolerance, extremism and violence, which the High-Level Group is to assess and propose ways to respond. He says that the groups overriding goal is that our common humanity must triumph over perceived differences.

Asked about a reference in that message to a global civilization, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General was not proposing a single culture, since he cherishes the diversity of all cultures as they work together for the common good.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN IS IN CONTACT WITH MEMBER STATES TO AVOID BUDGET CRISIS: Asked whether the Secretary-General has held talks with the United States or other nations on an impending UN budget crisis, the Spokesman said that contacts have been going on at all levels. The Secretary-General, he noted, made his position known in comments to reporters last week, in which he said that it would be a grave crisis not to have a budget by the end of this year.

QUAKE-RELATED DEATHS IN PAKISTAN UNDERSCORE IMPORTANCE OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF EFFORTS: In response to a question on recent

earthquake-related deaths in Pakistan, the Spokesman later said that the United Nations is concerned by any and all such deaths. Moreover, these deaths underscore the need to not forget about immediate relief efforts while plans for long-term rehabilitation are ongoing, he added.

156 STATES PARTIES TO KYOTO PROTOCOL TO HOLD FIRST EVER MEETING: The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2005 will be held from 28 November to 9 December in Montreal, Canada, according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is expected to assemble between 8,000 and 10,000 participants, among them government delegates, business and civic leaders and environmental activists. As such, it will be the largest such meeting since the Kyoto Climate Conference in 1997.

SPOKESMAN TO UPDATE PRESS ON MANAGEMENT REVIEW: Asked about updates on the response to the

oil-for-food reports, the Spokesman said he expected to make an announcement later this week concerning the comprehensive management review undertaken by DeloitteTouche, which was done partly in response to the oil-for-food findings.

IRAQ MONITORING BOARD TO BRIEF PRESS: Asked about Jean-Pierre Halbwachss continued status as chair of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) dealing with Iraq, the Spokesman said that Halbwachs had left his full-time position at the United Nations but continued to hold his post as IAMB chairman and to work on that bodys reports. He said that the United Nations was trying to improve efforts to inform the media of the IAMBs work, including through a press briefing by the IAMB.

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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