United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-04-24

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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, April 24, 2006

ANNAN URGES SOLOMON ISLANDERS TO REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan

expresses concern over civil disturbances in the Solomon Islands following the election of the Prime Minister on April 18, 2006.

He calls on the people of Solomon Islands to refrain from acts of violence and reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful and constitutional resolution of their differences in a spirit of goodwill which they convincingly demonstrated during the general elections.

He welcomes the assistance provided to the Government of Solomon Islands by the Pacific Islands Forum through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to restore order. The Secretary-General stands ready to complement the efforts of regional partners.

UNITED NATIONS RENEWS CALLS FOR NON-VIOLENCE IN NEPAL

The UN human rights office in Nepal report that protests continued today throughout Nepal, though in relative terms, things remained quiet.

Despite the 11am-to-6pm curfew in Kathmandu, UN human rights teams were able to monitor the area, visiting hospitals and investigating the security forces behavior over the past days.

The office in Nepal is now focused on a massive demonstration, which the Seven-Party Alliance is planning for tomorrow in Kathmandu. The office is renewing its appeal for non-violence by demonstrators and strict observance by security forces of international standards regulating the use of force and firearms in law enforcement.

It is also keeping a list of prominent journalists and civil society leaders who have been arrested after taking part in peaceful demonstrations. The UN human rights office is concerned that the conditions under which they are being kept are not adequate or suitable for prolonged detention.

Meanwhile, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that hospitals in Kathmandu are reported to be overcrowded, with bullet wounds, baton injuries and tear gas-induced respiratory tract problems as the most common ailments. A joint UN assessment team is now on the ground and visited six hospitals today.

Asked if the Secretary-General or any of his staff are involved in negotiations between the Nepalese monarchy and protesters in that country, the Spokesman said neither the Secretary-General nor his staff was directly involved in the talks.

ANNAN NOTES PERILOUS LACK OF AGREEMENT ON WORLD TRADE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today opened a high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council and members of the Bretton Woods Institutions plus the World Trade Organization, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

He

said that a lack of significant progress on trade is conspicuous and could be perilous.

He said it is time for trade -- distorting subsidies for agriculture to be eliminated -- and rapidly so for sensitive products such as cotton.

He called on developed countries to adopt bold liberalization measures.

Developing countries, he said, need genuine market access; and the least developed countries should enjoy duty-free and quotafree access.

He also welcomed the steps taken at the International Monetary Fund this weekend to increase participation by developing countries in the Fund's decision-making, and he urged the Fund to use its meeting in Singapore in September to give a real voice to the developing world.

U.N. ENVOY WARNS OF DANGEROUS DETERIORATION IN MIDDLE EAST

Alvaro de Soto, the UN Special Coordinator for the

Middle East Peace Process, today warned the

Security Council that we are witnessing a potentially dangerous deterioration of the situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Addressing an open meeting of the Council, de Soto noted the failure of the new Palestinian government to commit to the principles articulated by the Quartet on non-violence, recognition of Israels right to exist and acceptance of previous commitments and obligations. He also pointed to the withdrawal of support by several key donors for the Palestinian Authority, and to worsening lawlessness.

De Soto said that the first challenge is to stabilize the security environment, where the primary responsibility rests with the parties.

On the humanitarian side, he said, it is likely that, in light of current developments, the scale of UN activities will increase. UN programs and agencies will continue to interact with their Palestinian Authority counterparts, to ensure that the United Nations serves the interests of peace and meets the needs of the Palestinian people as effectively as possible. De Soto added that political and diplomatic contacts may take place at the discretion of the Secretary-General.

The Security Councils open briefing on the Middle East was followed by consultations on the same topic.

WESTERN SAHARA: ONLY RECOURSE LEFT IS DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS

The

Secretary-Generals latest

report on the situation in the Western Sahara was released today.

In it, the Secretary-General says hes concerned that the current deadlock might lead to a deterioration of the situation in Western Sahara, as seen by continued demonstrations and allegations of human rights abuses.

He says the only recourse left is direct negotiations, held without preconditions and with the aim of accomplishing what no plan could namely to work out a compromise that produces a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Given the stabilizing and monitoring role the

UN Mission there plays, the Secretary-General recommends its mandate be extended for another six months, until the October this year.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SUGGESTS NEW OFFICE FOR TIMOR-LESTE

The Secretary-Generals end of mandate

report on the

UN Office in Timor-Leste is out today on the Security Council web page.

In it, he recommends the establishment of a small integrated UN office there to assist preparations for the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections, and to help strengthen institutions in the period leading to the elections.

The office would include teams specializing in electoral support, political advice, police training and human rights.

U.N. ENVOY CONGRATULATES NEW IRAQI LEADERSHIP

Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Iraq, yesterday offered his congratulations on the election of the new Iraqi political leadership.

Speaking on the Secretary-Generals behalf, he offered his best wishes to the officials elected over the weekend by the Council of Representatives and congratulated Jawad al-Maliki on his nomination as Prime Minister designate.

Qazi hopes that the election of Iraqs Presidency, Prime Minister and Speaker leads to the strengthening of democratic institutions and consolidation of the political process. He hopes that Iraqs political leaders will seize this new political momentum to form a government of national unity in a manner that will heal political and social divisions.

TOP U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY VISITS ETHIOPIA

High Commissioner for Human Rights

Louise Arbour is in Addis Ababa this week to undertake a first-hand assessment of the situation in Ethiopia and hold talks with Government and civil society representatives on how to address human rights challenges in the country.

The visit, which is to last through 26 April, will see the High Commissioner meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi tomorrow, as well as with senior judicial and law enforcement officials. The High Commissioner will also meet representatives of parties from across the political spectrum.

U.N. ENVOY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO DROUGHT AND FOOD INSECURITY

IN HORN OF AFRICA

The situation of poverty-stricken and conflict-affected people living in parts of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has been a cause of particular concern. Several years of successive rainfall failures and the rapid erosion of assets and livelihoods have left these people to suffer from water shortages and declining access to food.

Starting tomorrow, the Secretary-Generals Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa,

Kjell Magne Bondevik, will be visiting those five countries. In each, he will meet with Government officials, representatives of donor countries, as well as UN agencies and their partners.

The United Nations has appealed for $426 million to meet the needs of more than eight million people in the Horn of Africa.

ANNAN INAUGURATES GLOBAL CENTER AT HIS ALMA MATER

Over the weekend, the

Secretary-General was an inaugural speaker this past Saturday at his alma mater, Macalester College, in St Paul, Minnesota, as part of the launch of its newly created Institute for Global Citizenship.

In his

remarks there, he called on students to make a difference and take a role in their communities, whether in research, leadership or advocacy and to help hold governments to their commitments.

At a luncheon afterwards, he was presented with the 2006 Caux Round Table Award for Principled Leadership in recognition of his leadership in initiating the Global Compact.

The Secretary-General also

spoke to the press while in St Paul on Saturday.

INFORMATION SOUGHT ON MAN SENTENCED OVER U.N. BOMBING IN BAGHDAD

Asked about the reported sentencing of an Iraqi man in connection with the

bombing of the headquarters of the UN Mission in

Baghdad in 2003, the Spokesman said the situation could best be described as confusing and more information was being sought on the matter.

Weve asked our colleagues in the field, at our mission in Baghdad, for more information, Dujarric said. Our regular interlocutors concerning the investigation into the Canal Hotel bombing meaning the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iraqi authorities have up to now never mentioned that anyone had been formally charged with this bombing.

He added that the announcement made last Friday by a UN official in Geneva of the mans sentencing had come as a surprise.

DECISION AWAITED FROM 5th COMMITTEE ON REFORM PROPOSALS

Asked if the Secretary-General was frustrated over the Group of 77s efforts to stall, in the

5th Committee, his

reform proposals, the Spokesman said he had no comment to make but noted that the 5th Committee had suspended its work until Thursday and the Secretary-General hoped that Member States would sit down to resolve the issues.

In response another question on the matter, the Spokesman said the Secretary-Generals concern is focused on seeing the Secretary-Generals reform proposals enacted and put in to place.

Asked about the implications involved in the 5th Committee not approving the budget, the Spokesman declined to speculate and said it was best to wait for a decision first.

Asked what the UN Secretariat has done to explain the management reform proposals to Member States, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General had presented the report containing the proposals to Member States in the General Assembly as a whole, as well as to smaller groupings of Member States, and the Secretariat was always available to those who sought further clarification.

UNICEF WELCOMES DISARMAMENT OF CHILDREN IN SUDAN

UNICEF today welcomed the renewed process of disarmament and demobilisation of children associated with armed forces and groups in Southern Sudan.

The latest demobilisation, of about 250 children in Upper Nile State today, is the biggest of its kind since the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005 which commits the parties, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army, and the then Government of Sudan to child demobilisation throughout the country.

"It is time for these children to go home, go to school and enjoy the fruits of peace", said UNICEF Sudan Representative, Ted Chaiban.

NO COMMENT ON BIN LADENS CALL FOR JIHAD

AGAINST UNITED NATIONS IN SUDAN

Asked if the Secretary-General had any comment on Osama bin Ladens reported calls for a jihad against the United Nations in

Sudan, the Spokesman said the United Nations felt no need to respond directly.

Our efforts in Darfur are pretty clear. We the UN, as representing the international community, are working with the people of Sudan to try to achieve peace and stability in Darfur for those people, the Spokesman said.

He added that Darfurians are clearly in need of protection and humanitarian assistance and the international communitys efforts are aimed at meeting these needs.

Asked if the call for jihad affects the UNs deployment plans or activities in Sudan, the Spokesman said that security arrangements for staff working in dangerous areas is reviewed on a daily basis and adjustments are made accordingly.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS IS HELPING FLOOD VICTIMS IN AFGHANISTAN: The

UN Mission in Afghanistan is coordinating relief efforts with the countrys Red Crescent Society to help people affected by floods in the province of Samangan, in the north. The Mission says that 30 houses were destroyed by floods last week and 76 damaged, while farming lands supporting some 500 families were destroyed.

NOTHING TO REPORT ON QAZI INVESTIGATION: Asked about the progress of an investigation by the

UN Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into allegations concerning Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, the Spokesman said there was nothing to announce at this point in time.

ALL U.N. OFFICIALS EXPECTED TO COOPERATE WITH INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS: Asked if the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, had blocked an investigation in Darfur by the

UN Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the Spokesman said he was unaware of such a situation and said all UN officials, at whatever level, are expected to cooperate fully with any OIOS request.

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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