United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-09

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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

Friday, June 9, 2006

KOFI ANNAN TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY

The Spokesman told reporters that the Secretary-General intended to give a press conference next Thursday, likely in the morning.

Asked why the press conference was being planned, the Spokesman characterized it as a mid-year review of developments. The Secretary-General had wanted to talk to the press before he embarks on further travels this summer.

Dujarric added that topics that could come up might include Iran, Iraq, UN reform and Timor-Leste.

LEBANON BOMB PROBE CHIEF TO ARRIVE IN NEW YORK IN NEXT FEW DAYS

Asked when Serge Brammertz, the head of the

Commission investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, would turn in his next report, the Spokesman said that Brammertz is expected to arrive in New York in the next couple of days, and to hand in his report to the Secretary-General then.

Brammertz is still expected to brief the Security Council on the report next Wednesday. Dujarric said that he would also be expected to talk to reporters that day.

Asked why the report hadnt been turned in yet, the Spokesman said the report was not yet completed, but when it was, it would be given to the Secretary-General and Security Council. He noted that the deadline for the report was 15 June.

Asked how long would the Secretary-General want the mandate for the Commission to be extended, the Spokesman declined to give a specific amount of time for an extension, which would be up to the Security Council, but said that the Secretary-General is determined to maintain cooperation with Lebanon on a number of fronts, including this one.

SECURITY COUCIL MISSION LEAVES SUDAN, HEADS TO CHAD

The Security Council mission to

Sudan, led by British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, is finishing up its work in the country today. It met with the Wali, or governor, of North Darfur, as well as with the UN country team and various non-governmental representatives based in Darfur. They heard detailed accounts of the security situation, humanitarian issues and gender-based violence.

The Council mission is traveling later today to Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, from where, early tomorrow morning, they will go on to visit refugee camps in Abeche and Goz Beida. In addition to meeting refugees who fled the violence in Darfur, the Council mission also plans to talk to internally displaced Chadians.

The mission will then continue its travels over the weekend by paying a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they have scheduled meetings next Monday with the President and Vice Presidents before heading back to New York.

TIMOR-LESTE: U.N. ENVOY WORKING TO FOSTER DIALOGUE & EASE TENSION

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in

Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, today traveled to the Eastern District of Baucau to meet with military and civil leaders in his continuing effort to forge a dialogue for peace. Last week, Hasegawa met separately with the leaders of two groups of dismissed soldiers from the western part of the county, and he maintains close contact with the government as well, having met President Xanana Gusmao on Thursday.

In Baucau, Hasegawa also visited a displaced persons camp and spoke with camp residents to learn firsthand of their experience and assessment of living conditions in the camp.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agencies in Timor-Leste, and some international non-governmental organizations, today reported the delivery of 19 metric tons of food to camps in Dili. UN agencies also report conducting a census of school-aged children, helping to reunite displaced children with their families and setting up an early-warning system for outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Asked about calls for the United Nations to stay on in Timor-Leste for another ten years, the Spokesman said that Ian Martin was briefing the Secretary-General today on possible options. The Secretariat, the Spokesman said, would make some recommendations on the future to the Security Council, which would discuss it over the coming week.

He said that it was clear that the United Nations will probably have to increase its posture in Timor-Leste.

Asked how the United Nations would find the troops for such an increased posture, the Spokesman said that was a matter for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to discuss. If there are troop increases in Darfur and in Timor-Leste, he said, countries will have to come up with the resources that are needed.

Dujarric added, in response to further questions, that Hasegawa is continuing his work on the ground in Timor-Leste.

SOMALIA: MOGADISHU GOVERNOR APPEALS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID

The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, yesterday held a meeting with Ambassadors and senior members of the international community in Nairobi to discuss the situation in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Also yesterday in Nairobi, Fall met with the Governor of Mogadishu, who briefed him on the situation in Mogadishu and appealed for humanitarian and medical assistance for people affected by the recent fighting in the capital.

Fall arrived today in Hargeisa in the Somaliland region of the country where he is meeting with local authorities. He is traveling with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, and will be in New York soon to brief the Security Council.

LESS REFUGEES GLOBALLY BUT NUMBER OF DISPLACED PEOPLE RISES

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR,

launched its "2005 Global Refugee Trends"

report in Geneva today.

According to the report, while the number of refugees worldwide has reached a 26-year low, the number of uprooted people in general including the internally displaced, the stateless, and asylum seekers rose last year to nearly 21 million.

The report shows that five nationalities account for nearly half of the worlds total number of uprooted people: Afghans; Colombians; Iraqis; Sudanese; and Somalis.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO CHANGE IN ANNANS POISITION ON DEPUTYS SPEECH: Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to comments from US Ambassador John Bolton, as well as from some US politicians, criticizing Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown for a statement he made earlier this week, the Spokesman said that there was no change in the Secretary-Generals position, which he had expressed in comments on Thursday. The Secretary-General, he said, was carrying on with his work, and he had nothing to add.

U.N. OFFICIALS ALLOWED TO MENTION COUNTRIES BY NAME: Asked whether international civil servants have to refrain from mentioning specific countries, the Spokesman disputed that point, saying that UN officials often mention countries. He corrected a reporters contention that Zimbabwe had not been specifically mentioned last year, noting envoy Anna Tibaijukas full report on that country.

JUSTICE SHOULD BE DONE IN NORTHERN UGANDA: Asked whether leaders of the Lords Resistance Army who have been indicted by the International Criminal Court should be arrested, the Spokesman noted that there are political and humanitarian dimensions to the situation in northern Uganda. He emphasized that impunity should not stand and justice should be done.

U.N. STILL WORKING TO SECURE RELEASE OF PEACEKEEPERS: Asked about the situation of detained UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congos Ituri Province, the Spokesman said that the United Nations continues to work to secure their release.

U.N. TO HELP BUILD HOUSES FOR THAI FLOOD SURVIVORS: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have

released emergency cash grants, following severe flash floods and landslides that hit northern Thailand. UNDP will also work with the Thai Government to build permanent housing for flood survivors.

NO ONE CAN BE INDIFFERENT TO SUFFERING, ANNAN TELLS GRADUATES: This afternoon at 3:00 in the General Assembly Hall, the Secretary-General delivered a graduation speech to the UN International School. He said that, in an interconnected world, none of us can be indifferent to, or immune from, human suffering. Educated minds and open hearts are the basis of true scholarship and humanity. He also said that there will always be people who make a difference one by one people such as Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Bono.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

10-16 June 2006

Sunday, June 11

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow heads to Darfur today, accompanied by her son Ronan, who is a UNICEF Spokesperson for Youth.

Monday, June 12

At 11:00, Philippe Djangone-Bi, the Permanent Representative of Cote dIvoire, will be holding a press conference on the situation in Cote dIvoire.

Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will be the guest at the noon briefing, to launch an appeal for Timor-Leste.

The Special Rapporteur on racism and racial discrimination, Doudou Dične, will visit the Russian Federation from 12 to 17 June.

Tuesday, June 13

In the morning, the Security Council will be holding meetings to consider draft resolutions on Liberia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the UN Disengagement Observer Force, followed by a public meeting on Timor-Leste.

The Secretary-General will attend the Security Council luncheon.

Dennis McNamara, the Chief of Internal Displacement Division in the Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, will be the guest at the noon briefing.

Wednesday, June 14

In the morning, the Security Council will be holding an open briefing followed by consultations on the International Independent Investigation Commission. In the afternoon, the Security Council will hold an open briefing followed by a private meeting involving the International Criminal Court Prosecutor on Darfur.

Thursday, June 15

The Secretary-General will give a press conference at 10:30.

In the morning the Security Council will be holding meetings to consider draft resolutions on the International Independent Investigation Commission and on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. It will also hold an open briefing on Sudan and Iraq, followed by a private meeting on Iraq.

Friday, June 16

At 11:00 there will be a press conference to launch UN-HABITATs State of the Worlds Cities 2006/7 report. The speakers will include Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITATs Executive Director.

In the morning, the Security Council will be holding an open briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, followed by consultations on Liberia.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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