United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-12-05

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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, December 5, 2005

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET CONDEMNS SUICIDE BOMBING IN NETANYA

Representatives of the Quartet Secretary General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner consulted today on the situation in the

Middle East.

The Quartet condemns todays terrorist attack in Netanya in the strongest possible terms. Representatives of Palestinian Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for the bombing through al-Manar television. The Quartet repeats its demand that the Syrian government take immediate action to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and to prevent the use of its territory by armed groups engaged in terrorist acts.

The Quartet denounces all acts of terrorism and urges all parties to exercise restraint, avoid an escalation of violence, and keep the channels of communication open. The Quartet encourages and supports the Palestinian Authoritys efforts to take immediate steps to prevent armed groups from acting against law and order and the policy of the Authority itself. The Quartet reiterates its support for efforts to assist the Palestinian Authority in the reform and restructuring of its security services.

The Quartet believes it is imperative that all involved act decisively to ensure that terror and violence are not allowed to undermine further progress in accordance with the Roadmap.

The Quartet will remain seized of these matters.

Separately,

Alvaro de Soto, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said he was shocked and saddened at todays suicide bombing in Netanya. He condemned this act of terrorism, saying that no cause can justify the deliberate killing and maiming of civilians. He sent his condolences to the bereaved families and to the Government of Israel. De Soto added that he had no doubt that whoever ordered and carried out this attack wants to undermine efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I hope that all concerned will not play into their hands, he said.

UNITED NATIONS IS CONCERNED WITH MASS GRAVES IN LEBANON

Asked about the reported discovery of mass graves in Lebanon, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-Generals Representative for Lebanon,

Geir Pedersen, expressed his deeply felt concern and said it was a matter that needs to be examined closely.

Pedersen noted that the Lebanese authorities have already started the important work of identifying the victims. The United Nations will be following the matter with them, the Spokesman said.

UNITED NATIONS FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING HARIRI INVESTIGATION

Asked whether the Secretary-General has criticized the United States for its involvement regarding the

investigation headed by Detlev Mehlis, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any such criticism. What the United Nations is focusing on, he said, is supporting Mehlis in his work in the run-up to his report later this month.

Asked whether Mehlis will stay on, the Spokesman said that, if his investigations mandate is extended, the United Nations understands that he would not be able to stay on because of pressing commitments at his regular job in Germany. However, he added, Mehlis would help the United Nations to ensure a smooth transition to a possible successor; the Spokesman declined to provide a timeframe for such help.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had failed to convince Mehlis to stay on, the Spokesman said the first matter to focus on is his report to the Security Council. Mehlis will be in New York for that report, and can then talk to the Secretary-General and other parties about his decision.

UNITED NATIONS DOING WORK IN IRAQ ON WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES

Asked whether Carina Perelli, the Director of the

Electoral Assistance Division, has been fired, the Spokesman said he could not comment on the case until the Secretary-Generals decision on the matter had been conveyed to Perelli. That decision has been taken and is in the process of being communicated to her, he said.

The Spokesman was asked how a decision on Perelli might affect the work the United Nations is doing in Iraq, by a reporter who claimed that electoral assistance was the only work the United Nations is doing in Iraq. The Spokesman countered that the United Nations is doing work in Iraq on a wide range of issues, from its support to the Constitutional process, led by Nicholas Fink Haysom, to its humanitarian efforts, detailed recently by Deputy Special Representative in Iraq

Staffan de Mistura.

As for electoral matters, Dujarric said, the senior international official dealing with electoral issues in Iraq is Craig Jeness, who has been on the ground there since the referendum as the international member of the Independent Electoral Commission. He will continue to work in that capacity, and will lead the UN efforts on the December elections.

Asked about Perellis status, the Spokesman said that she currently heads the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department for Political Affairs.

Asked whether Perelli could appeal any decision that is taken, the Spokesman said that there is an appeals process in place for any UN staff member, whether facing suspension or dismissal.

U.N. ENVOY SAYS IMPUNITY MUST STOP IN COTE DIVOIRE

From Cote dIvoire,

Juan Mendez, the Secretary Generals Special Advisor for the Prevention of Genocide, told a press conference in Abidjan Saturday, that he believed it was necessary to break the circle of impunity in that country.

Mendez said the lack of responsibility and punishment for massacres had aroused the indignation of the international community.

He spoke at the end of a four-day visit to Cote dIvoire.

Meanwhile, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, that the Humanitarian Coordinator in Cote dIvoire has condemned the destruction of two communities in Abidjan.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF IN ZIMBABWE TO ASSESS NEEDS

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator

Jan Egeland arrived in Zimbabwe over the weekend, on a three-day mission on behalf of the Secretary-General to assess the humanitarian needs of the population, including those affected by Operation Restore Order.

On Sunday, Mr. Egeland met with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo.

During the meeting, there was discussion as to how the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and other humanitarian partners in Zimbabwe can better support the many people in need of humanitarian assistance, including temporary shelter.

Egeland emphasized the critical role of the government in facilitating the work of the humanitarian community, particularly in regard of granting access to humanitarian organizations and helping them to expedite bureaucratic procedures.

Today, Egeland visited areas where he assessed the living conditions of those who had been affected by the governments clean-up operation and an orphanage caring for HIV-positive children.

He also met with church leaders, representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations, and others.

Tomorrow, Mr. Egeland will visit Bulawayo and Matabeleland South to assess the humanitarian situation there. He is also expected to meet with President Robert Mugabe during his mission and brief the press before leaving for South Africa.

U.N. FOOD AGENCY GUARANTEES CHOPPER AID TO QUAKE VICTIMS

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said over the weekend that it can guarantee winter food supplies for 400,000 earthquake survivors in remote villages in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. But the agency said continuing donor support is vital.

The Pakistani government has agreed that the United Nations and its choppers should ferry food to those people who can be reached only by air.

The United Nations is capable of flying in 6,000 tons of food a month, the agency said.

The helicopter program is part of a coordinated winter feeding plan the United Nations has developed for all of the affected areas.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORTS ON REFORM ITEMS

The Secretary-Generals

report to the General Assembly on the ethics, governance, external evaluation and oversight plus other reform items requested by the 2005 World summit is out on the racks today.

In it he presents recommends the establishment of an ethics office, the conduct of an independent external evaluation of governance, oversight and auditing, and the establishment of an independent audit advisory committee.

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENTS ON INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

The Secretary-General, in a

message says that, from the flooded streets of New Orleans to the flattened villages in Pakistan, ordinary people have risen to extraordinary challenges in volunteering to save lives and rebuild communities.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, in his capacity as UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, said: "In the hours and days immediately after the December 2004 tsunami struck the shores of the Indian Ocean, thousands of volunteers, many of them survivors themselves, were the very first to respond. Their unwavering courage and compassion was extraordinary as they fought to save lives, give comfort, cook food, build shelter, move rubble to bury the over 200,000 dead." Tens of thousands of local and foreign volunteers continue to be on the front line of the recovery effort, as part of informal community associations or more formal organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross movement.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. KOSOVO ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACK: Soren Jessen-Petersen, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo, condemned the weekend bus attack in Prizren, which fortunately failed to cause any major damage or injuries.

U.N. COMMANDER APPOINTED FOR LIBERIA: The Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Lieutenant General Chikadibia Obiakor of Nigeria as Force Commander of the

United Nations Mission in Liberia, effective 1 January 2006.

IRAQ COMPENSATION COMMISSION GROUP TO MEET TOMORROW: The Governing Council of the

United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its fifty-eighth session, from tomorrow until Thursday, under the Presidency of Ambassador Tassos Kriekoukis of Greece. During the session, the Council will discuss various issues relating to the activity of the Commission.

URBAN PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY 25,000 ON LINE: The UN

Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) said today that some 25,000 persons worldwide had participated in a Habitat Jam online discussion session on urban problems. Habitat organized the global chat to prepare for its World Urban Forum in Vancouver next June. Even people who could not read or write participated -- through town meetings arranged by Habitat, the agency said.

THERES NO RISK OF BIRD FLU FROM PROPERLY COOKED CHICKEN: Chicken and other poultry are safe to eat if cooked properly, according to a joint statement by the UN

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the

World Health Organization (WHO) issued to national food safety authorities. However, no birds from flocks with disease should enter the food chain. FAO/WHO made the statement to clarify food safety issues in relation to the current bird flu crisis. The statement has been issued through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and is available in six languages.

INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS MEETING STARTS: The 14th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA) started today in Abuja, Nigeria. The group is expected to press governments to honour commitments and examine new intellectual property policies and trade arrangements that can help ensure access to life-saving drugs for nearly 26 million Africans infected with HIV, according to the UN

Development Programme (UNDP), one of the conference sponsors.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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