United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-03-13

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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

Monday, March 13, 2006

KOFI ANNAN WELCOMES RESULTS OF ERITREA-ETHIOPIA TALKS

The Secretary-General

welcomes the outcome of the meeting of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission convened in London on 10 March. He was pleased to hear that the parties participated in the meeting constructively, and encouraged by their agreement to arrangements for the demarcation of the boundary, which the Commission delimited in April 2002, to be resumed.

The Secretary-General hopes that this positive development will allow the Commissions decision to be implemented without further delay. He urges the parties to cooperate fully with the Commission and with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) for this purpose, and also to carry out their full obligations to facilitate the work of UNMEE under UN Security Council resolutions

1320 (2000),

1398 (2002) and

1430 (2002).

The United Nations stands ready to provide the necessary support to facilitate the demarcation process. The Secretary-General firmly believes that full and prompt demarcation of the border is a central element in the overall peace process and can be a key to its early and successful conclusion, with the establishment of normal peaceful relations between the two countries.

U.N. ENVOY TO ETHIOPIA & ERITREA BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL

Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Ethiopia and Eritrea, briefed the Security Council today on the Secretary-Generals latest

report on those two countries and on recent developments. Legwaila also attended the London meeting of the Boundary Commission.

A resolution was also introduced concerning the technical extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

After that, the Council discussed Sudan in its consultations, with Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi briefing on the latest developments, including the African Union meeting.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Secretary-General has arrived in South Africa, where he is to meet with President Thabo Mbeki and address the Parliament tomorrow.

He is meeting with the heads of UN agencies working in the country, as well as the

UN country team, this afternoon.

MILOSEVIC DEATH DEPRIVES VICTIMS OF JUSTICE

Carla Del Ponte, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),

told reporters yesterday that she deeply regrets the death on Saturday of Slobodan Milosevic. It deprives the victims of the justice they need and deserve, she said.

She added that, although it is a great pity for justice that the trial will not be completed and no verdict will be rendered, other senior leaders have been indicted for the crimes for which Slobodan Milosevic was also accused.

The Tribunal yesterday received a brief summary of the autopsy results from the Dutch authorities. According to the pathologists, Slobodan Milosevics cause of death was a myocardial infarction. Further, the pathologists identified two heart conditions that Slobodan Milosevic suffered from, which they said would explain the myocardial infarction.

The Prosecution Service of The Hague informed the Registrar that a toxicological examination will still be carried out. The Tribunal has been informed that the final report will be issued as soon as possible.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals reaction to Milosevics death under Tribunal custody, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General believes that people accused of genocide and similar serious crimes should be tried in an open court.

He added that other suspects, notably Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, should be transferred to stand trial in The Hague.

Asked how such proceedings would affect the timeframe to end the Tribunals operations, the Spokesman said that a timeframe to complete the Tribunals work is under discussion in the Security Council, but, while the Tribunal remains in operation, it is important for all suspects to be transferred.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY OUTRAGED BY MARKET BOMBINGS

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, today expressed his outrage at yesterdays criminal bombings in four crowded markets situated in Sadr City in Baghdad.

He strongly condemned these barbarous acts, which killed more than 64 innocent civilians, and caused the injury of at least 300 more.

Qazi called upon the Iraqi political and religious leaders to rise to the challenges posed by the perpetrators of these killings, in order to ensure that their plans to fan the flames of sectarian strife are thwarted. He also called on Iraqs leaders to redouble their efforts to form a broad-based government as soon as possible.

Asked about reported comments from Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr that Iraq was experiencing a civil war, the Spokesman said that Qazis message was an appeal for calm. Now, more than ever, he said, political and religious leaders should come together for the good of the Iraqi people.

U.N. ENVOY AND RUSSIAN OFFICIAL AGREE ON SYRIA-LEBANON RESOLUTION

The present fragile and complex situation in the Middle East was the key subject of talks in Moscow today between

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the implementation of resolution

1559, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

After his meetings with Lavrov and other senior Russian officials, Roed-Larsen said that he had discussed the multitude of issues that affect the implementation of resolution 1559. He added, We see eye to eye relating to the implementation of the resolution.

In particular, talks focused on the importance of the Lebanese national dialogue, which the Special Envoy reiterated was a central means for implementing the resolution. This is a momentous event in Lebanese history: the first ever such dialogue without foreign interference or facilitation, he said. It is guided by the Taif Agreement and the principles of 1559 and offers a historic opportunity.

Roed-Larsen also thanked his Russian interlocutors warmly for their facilitation of a private, closed meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid Al-Muallem.

Yesterday, Roed-Larsen met with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, and we put out a note to correspondents describing that meeting.

UNITED NATIONS DEPLORES BOMBING IN KABUL

The UN Mission in Afghanistan

deplored the bomb attack that took place in Kabul yesterday, apparently directed at a former Afghan President who escaped serious harm. The Mission, in a statement, expressed its confidence that the attack will only deepen the resolve of Afghans to strengthen their democratic institutions.

Also, a

press briefing took place in Kabul today about a small outbreak of avian influenza in the country.

U.N. FIRM ON FREE ELECTIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC REP. OF CONGO

The Under-Secretary-General for

Peacekeeping Operations,

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, today ended a visit to the town of Kalemie, on the western shores of Lake Tanganyika, in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

His activities there included meeting with the local offices of UN agencies and non-government organizations, as well as a press encounter during which he reiterated the firm resolve of the United Nations to see free fair and credible elections in the country.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUSPENDS MEETING

The

Human Rights Commission opened its annual session in Geneva this morning, but then

decided by consensus to suspend its work for one week.

The Commissions Chairman, Ambassador Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros of Peru, pointed to the ongoing negotiations on the Human Rights Council as a reason for the suspension, noting that the present situation was extraordinary.

At the same time, however, he said that the Commission still had a mandate, which it was determined to fulfill.

In other human rights related news, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Mission in Iraq recently met in Cyprus with Iraqi officials and civil society groups, to

discuss the establishment of a national human rights commission in Iraq.

Asked about the Iraqi human rights commission, the Spokesman said it was a matter on which the UN Mission in Iraq was working closely with the Iraqi authorities.

U.N. COMMISSION ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON AFGHAN & PALESTINIAN WOMEN

At its

50th session, the

Commission on the Status of Women adopted five resolutions on Friday relating to women and girls in Afghanistan, Palestinian women, HIV/AIDS, hostage-taking of women and children and the advisability of a rapporteur on laws that discriminate against women.

Adoption of the two agreed conclusions and the Commission's programme of work for 2007-2009 were held over until the session resumes at a date to be advised.

The two agreed conclusions deal with

enhanced participation of women in development and the

equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. CONDEMNS MURDER OF IRAQI JOURNALIST: Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today

condemned the murder of Munsuf Abdallah al-Khaldi, a presenter for Baghdad TV, and of a passenger travelling with him in his car on 9 March on the way from Baghdad to Mosul in northern Iraq. Matsuura said, The level of brutality in Iraq has reached appalling proportions. I cannot find words strong enough to condemn acts which target brave professionals intent on defending the basic human right of freedom of expression and its corollary: freedom of the press.

QUARTET DISCUSSING WOLFENSOHN MANDATE: Asked about reports that Quartet envoy

James Wolfensohn may resign, the Spokesman noted that Wolfensohn is appointed by the Middle East Quartet as a whole and discussions on his mandate are continuing in the Quartet. Dujarric said he was not aware of any recent conference calls among Quartet members.

U.N. STAFF MEMBER IN ISLAMABAD DIES FROM APPARENT NATURAL CAUSES: Asked about the death of a UN staff member in Islamabad, the Spokesman said that an investigation is currently being carried out, but the United Nations has seen nothing to suggest that this death was the result of anything other than natural causes.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 100178

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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