United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-04-03

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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 FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, April 3, 2006

U.N. REGRETS SUDANS DECISION NOT TO WELCOME ENVOY

The

UN Mission in Sudan today expressed its

regret at the decision of the Government of Sudan not to welcome the visit of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland.

Egelands flight into Sudan was not given authorization to land in Sudan yesterday. Egeland had been scheduled to visit Sudan this week and had notified the Sudanese authorities well in advance.

Egeland had planned to visit Sudan in order to assess the humanitarian relief operation in South Sudan, as well as in Darfur, which amounts to approximately $1.5 billion annually.

Asked if the Secretary-General was trying to contact the Sudanese authorities about their decision to block Egelands visit to Sudan or planning to make any sort of statement on that decision, the Spokesman said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan was currently monitoring developments, and that a statement might be issued after the Secretary-General had an opportunity to speak to Egeland directly.

Asked for the reasoning behind the Sudanese decision, the Spokesman said the UN had not received any clear reason for why he was denied entry.

Asked where Egeland was at the moment, the Spokesman later added that he was in Rumbek, in southern Sudan. After his UN flight had been unauthorized to land in the area, the Spokesman said, Egeland ended end up flying yesterday from Uganda into southern Sudan on a commercial flight.

Asked if it was normal for Egeland to be barred from visiting any areas, the Spokesman said it was not.

U.N. ENVOY TO SUDAN MEETS PEACE MEDIATOR

Jan Pronk, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Sudan, visited Abuja, Nigeria, over the weekend, where he met with Special Envoy and chief mediator Salim Ahmed Salim about the peace talks. He also met the main stakeholders of the different parties.

Pronk welcomed the progress made recently on security arrangements and encouraged the parties to finalize discussions on power and wealth sharing.

TAYLOR PLEADS NOT GUILTY AT SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE

The

Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) reported that Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President, has had his first appearance at the Court today.

Taylor was formally presented with the charges against him, and pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Asked for information concerning the possible transfer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to The Hague, the Spokesman said that the Special Court for Sierra Leone had written to the Dutch authorities and the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week to see if the ICCs facilities could be used by the Special Court for that trial. The Special Court was awaiting a response.

The Spokesman added that a draft resolution had been circulated on Friday afternoon in the Security Council concerning the possible transfer of Charles Taylor to The Hague. For now, however, Taylor was in Freetown, and that is where his appearance today took place.

CHINA TAKES OVER PRESIDENCY OF SECURITY COUNCIL

China has assumed the rotating Presidency of the

Security Council for the month of April, and Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya is conducting bilateral discussions with other Council members today on the Councils work over the coming month.

The Security Council expects to hold consultations on its program of work for April on Tuesday, and once those consultations are done, the Council President intends to brief the press.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING

As part of the continuing dialogue between staff and management on the Secretary-Generals recent

report on management reform,

Mark Malloch Brown met today with UN Secretariat staff in a town hall meeting.

This was an opportunity for staff to ask questions and to express their concerns directly to Malloch Brown, and it also provided an opportunity for senior management to clarify some of the misperceptions that may exist about the report and its goals.

This is just one event which is part of a broader effort by management to consult with staff on the implementation of the reports recommendations.

U.N. HELPING VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE IN IRAN

In response to the earthquakes that recently struck western Iran, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UN agencies

sent relief supplies including water storage containers and purification units, generators, kitchen sets, tents and blankets to hard-hit areas over the weekend. In addition, several emergency cash grants have been mobilized.

For their part, the

World Health Organization has established a temporary field office in the area to help local authorities deal with medical needs, and

UNICEF is assessing educational and psychological needs of the children involved.

Meanwhile, the joint UN Rapid Assessment Team, reports that 50 percent of the population in and around the city of Boroujerd has been displaced and approximately 10,000 homes have been damaged.

KOSOVO STATUS TALKS FOCUS ON DECENTRALIZATION

The third round of direct Kosovo status talks just ended in Vienna today.

The discussions, which took place under the auspices of Special Envoy

Martti Ahtisaari, focused on decentralization.

The parties agreed to meet again in Vienna on 4 May.

ANNAN SAYS SPORT SHOULD HELP DEVELOPMENT

The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly this afternoon will accept the report on the achievements of the International Year of Sport and Physical Education, which took place last year.

Making the presentation at 4:00 p.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber will be

Adolf Ogi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Development and Peace. Also on hand will be tennis player Roger Federer, who recently became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and New York marathon winner Tegla Loroupe of Kenya.

The Secretary-General is expected to say that our task now is to make sport an essential component of efforts to reach the worlds development goals.

U.N. SAYS MIGRATION SHOWS DIVIDE BETWEEN EXCESS AND NEED

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of the

UN Population Fund, today addressed the UN Commission on Population and Development.

In her remarks, Obaid said that, perhaps more than any other issue, international migration puts into stark relief the enormous social, political, economic and cultural transformations now occurring in a world divided between excess and need.

PROCEDURES FOR RIGHTS COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP LISTED

This morning, an Information Note on procedures for election of members of the Human Rights Council was issued by the Secretariat. Member States that have chosen to announce their candidacies in writing are being listed on the General Assembly website, at

www.un.org/ga/60/elect/hrc/.

Sixteen Member States have thus far submitted their names. Pledges and commitments submitted by Member States in support of their candidacy are also posted on that website. The elections are scheduled to take place in the General Assembly on 9 May.

The Fifth Committee this morning began its consideration of management reform issues. The Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, introduced the Secretary-Generals

report, Investing in the United Nations: for a stronger Organization worldwide. The Fifth Committee has been requested to conclude its consideration on the item as soon as possible, at the latest by 18 April. The matter will then be sent for consideration in the plenary consultations.

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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