United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-08

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, June 8, 2006

DEATH OF AL-ZARQAWI A RELIEF, ANNAN SAYS

In a press encounter following the election of the next General Assembly President, the Secretary-General was asked today about the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq, and said that it was a relief that such a heinous and dangerous man is no longer around. He said he thinks Iraqis will all be relieved that he is gone.

The Secretary-General said that he had been monitoring closely the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue, and was pleased that it seems to be moving forward. He said, I think we are off to a reasonably good start, adding that he hopes this time, it will lead to serious negotiations where all parties are at the table.

He also urged the Member States to come together not only to reform and strengthen the United Nations, but to overcome the debate over the budget. And he said that Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Browns recent speech should be read in the right spirit, on the need for the United Nations and United States to support each other.

Asked whether the Secretary-General was concerned that the response to Mark Malloch Browns Tuesday statement was following partisan lines in the United States, with some Republican politicians attacking it and some Democratic politicians defending it, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-Generals message had been that the statement should be read in the right spirit. He reiterated that the speech was a call for greater U.S. involvement in the United Nations and declined to comment further.

Asked about the comments made specifically about Fox News, the Spokesman said that the Deputy Secretary-General had addressed the question in comments to the press on Wednesday, and had similarly asked for the speech to be read in the right spirit.

Asked about how the Secretary-General would resolve the situation with Ambassador John Bolton, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General, in his comments today, had said that he had no differences with Bolton, and had added, I have my work to do; he has his to do.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals comments today that he does not foresee a UN budget crisis, the Spokesman said that the United Nations was watching the debate over the budget very closely, and urged the Member States to approach it in a calm and reflective manner.

He added, in response to a question speculating how the United Nations might respond to budgetary problems, that the United Nations would take any measures that it needs to do so as to continue functioning.

Asked about Zarqawis claims that he had been involved in the 1993 bombing of the UN headquarters at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, the Spokesman said that was something that was seen in media reports. However, he said, the full investigation into the bombing by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iraqi authorities was continuing, and the United Nations continues to be briefed on their investigations.

Asked whether the Secretary-General has had any recent contact with any Iranian officials, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General had spoken on Wednesday with the Iranian foreign minister and had encouraged Iran to give full consideration to the package that had been presented.

U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES COMPLETION OF IRAQI GOVERNMENT

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, today

welcomed the completion of the Iraqi government.

Qazi expressed his hope that the government of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki will now be able to move forward in tackling its many challenges.

He reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to assist in building the capacity of the new administration to deliver basic services, including a human rights protection system, to the people of Iraq. He also said the United Nations stood ready to promote peaceful political dialogue and national reconciliation in accordance with its mandate.

Asked about a request from the Iraqi Vice President for a UN investigation into killings by the multinational force, the Spokesman said that the United Nations had not received any official request from Iraq.

IRAQ NEEDS INTER-COMMUNAL DIALOGUE & CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES

The Secretary-Generals latest report on Iraq is available today, and he says in it that it is encouraging that Iraqs political leaders can rise to the challenge and engage in a spirit of compromise to form an inclusive and democratic Government, despite the overall circumstances.

However, he warns, the need for sustained inter-communal dialogue and confidence-building measures remains as urgent as ever. Unless a strong positive dynamic towards national reconciliation is generated soon, there is a danger of increased polarization and sectarian strife.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION MEETS WITH SOUTHERN SUDANESE OFFICIALS

The UN Security Council delegation led by British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry traveled to Juba, in southern

Sudan today.

The Council members met with Sudans First Vice-President, Riek Machar, and the President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, and other senior officials in southern Sudan.

Discussions focused on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of Sudan and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

Ambassador Jones Parry held a joint press conference with Salva Kiir during which many questions focused on the LRA and reported planned talks between an LRA delegation and the Government of Uganda facilitated by the Government of Southern Sudan.

U.N. ENVOY TO DISCUSS ASSISTANCE TO SOMALILAND REGION

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, is expected to travel to Hargeisa tomorrow to discuss UN assistance for Somaliland with Somaliland leader Dahir Riyala Kahin and other local authorities. Among the issues to be discussed is the UNs continued commitment of support for humanitarian and development activities in that region of Somalia.

Ambassador Fall will be accompanied by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche. He is expected on 19 June to brief the Security Council.

SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS FROM IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTORS CHIEF

The Security Council held consultations on the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission for Iraq (UNMOVIC) this morning. Council members heard from Acting Executive Chairman Demetrius Perricos about the Commissions recent report.

Under other matters, Council members are also heard a briefing on the latest developments in Somalia from Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh.

TIMOR-LESTE: MEASLES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in

Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, today conferred with President Xanana Gusmão on political and humanitarian efforts aimed at helping the country out of its current crisis.

Meanwhile, UNICEF reports that it will launch a measles vaccination campaign and distribute vitamins to displaced children living in camps. The agency has also begun a psychological and social support programme for the displaced, some of whom have been living in crude tents since late April. UNICEF is also working to build latrines and organize garbage collection in those camps.

Asked about Special Envoy Ian Martins schedule in New York, the Spokesman said Martin was expected to meet with the Secretary-General on Friday and to brief the Security Council next Tuesday. He said he would try to make Martin available to reporters.

REFUGEE AGENCY LAUDS RESCUE OF PEOPLE STRANDED AT SEA

The UN refugee agency today

praised the rescue of 22 people whose vessel had sunk in the Aegean Sea by the crew of a Dutch-registered cruise ship.

The ship was on its way from the Greek city of Piraeus to the Turkish port of Kusadasi on Tuesday, when the crew spotted several people in the water off the Greek island of Samos. The ship was able to rescue a total of 22 people from various countries, including Somalia and Iraq.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE GETS NEW CHAIRMAN

Craig Barrett of Intel Corporation will serve as the first Chairman of the Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development -- a new initiative of the Secretary-General to promote effective use of ICT for development.

The Global Alliance will hold its inaugural meeting on 19 and 20 June in Kuala Lumpur. The Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, will inaugurate the Alliance on behalf of the United Nations.

Asked about the effort to promote the effective use of ICT, the Spokesman said this was an offshoot of the summit that took place in Tunis last year on Information and Communication Technology. It was an attempt to bring together all the relevant stakeholders, including companies, governments and non-governmental organizations.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE SEMINAR BEGINS IN MOSCOW

The Department of Public Information, in cooperation with Russias Foreign Ministry, today began a two-day International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, the 14th time this annual, General Assembly-mandated seminar has taken place.

In a message delivered to the seminar, the Secretary-General says that the United Nations overarching goal remains lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. For this to be achieved, the message says, the parties must deal with each other, face to face.

Asked where the seminar is taking place, the Spokesman said it was being held in Moscow.

Asked whether Israel was represented at the seminar, Dujarric said that about a dozen Israelis had been invited for the Assembly-mandated event. He said he was not aware if the Israeli Government would participate, but added that the United Nations would have welcomed their official participation..

Asked whether Palestinians journalists were invited, he said both Palestinian and Israeli journalists had been invited.

Asked whether the title of the event had changed from one referring to the Question of Palestine, the Spokesman said that the General Assembly resolution had allowed the Department for Public Information to choose the seminars title.

U.N. AGENCY WARNS OF HIGH FOOD PRICES

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released its June issue of Food Outlook. According to the report, there will be an increase of over 2 percent in the world food import bill in 2006 compared to 2005.

The increase is expected to be strongest for cereals and sugars, where demand is forecasted to outstrip supply in the coming 2006/07 marketing year. The increase is expected to be smaller for meat, due to unsettling animal disease concerns - including avian influenza and disease-related bans on beef - in 2006.

The report also predicts the developing countries bill to grow by 3.5 percent, given their higher share as importers of food and feed, while that of low-income food-deficit countries could jump by nearly 7 percent.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN MEETS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT: In response to questions, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General met today with President Boris Tadic of Serbia. They discussed Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbian cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. President Tadic also expressed his appreciation for technical assistance provided to Serbia by the United Nations Development Programme.

UNITED NATIONS IS CLOSELY WATCHING FORMER SECRETARY-GENERALS HEALTH: Asked about the health of former Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, the Spokesman said the United Nations was watching that situation closely.

NO UPDATE ON ABDUCTED PEACEKEEPERS: Asked about the situation of UN peacekeepers abducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokesman said that UN efforts to secure their release continue.