United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-19

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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 FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, June 19, 2006

INAUGURATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MARKS NEW ERA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke to the first meeting of the new

Human Rights Council, saying that a new era had been proclaimed in the history of the UNs human rights work. He told the delegates that the eyes of the world are on them.

The Secretary-General called on the new Council to make a clean break with the past. In place of culture of confrontation and distrust, the Secretary-General told the assembled guests, we must see a culture of cooperation and commitment, inspired by mature leadership.

He also held a number of bilateral meetings following the opening of the Council. Among others, he met with the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Nepal and Serbia, as well as with the Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management of Sri Lanka.

He was also scheduled to hold a town hall meeting with UN staff in Geneva.

ANNAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOLUTION FOR U.N. BUDGET CRISIS

On Sunday, the Secretary-General attended the World Food Programmes Global Meeting, which every two years brings together the Programmes managers, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Prior to addressing the meeting, the Secretary-General was hosted by Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen for a working lunch at his official residence just outside of Copenhagen.

Following the luncheon, the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister held a press encounter, at which the Secretary-General said there was currently an opportunity to resolve the current crisis over Irans nuclear programme diplomatically.

He was also asked about the current UN budget impasse, and the Secretary-General expressed optimism that the situation would be resolved soon. There has been a considerable mistrust within the membership and between groups, the Secretary-General said, and I think that is dissipating and all of them seem to be working very seriously now towards reform.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON SOMALIA

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, briefed the Security Council this morning on the political, humanitarian and security situation in that country, in light of recent developments.

Fall also updated Security Council members on a series of meeting he held with Somali and regional officials.

SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN DARFUR MARRED BY INCREASES IN BANDITRY

The UN Mission in Sudan says there has been an improvement in the security situation in

Darfur due to a significant reduction of fighting between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army.

However, there has been an alarming increase in banditry, in which convoys and compounds belonging to international non-government organizations and the United Nations have been targeted.

The Mission also says there has been an increase in insecurity in and around camps for internally displaced persons that cannot be addressed at the moment by the African Union forces on the ground.

In Khartoum, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sudan, Manuel Aranda da Silva, held a press conference today where he expressed concern over significant funding shortfalls despite an increase in pledges. For instance, only slightly more than a third has so far been received of the $1.7 billion needed for humanitarian, recovery and development activities in Sudan this year.

Da Silva also spoke about restrictions on access to eastern Sudan for the humanitarian community and warned that if these continue, it could lead to a serious humanitarian situation in that part of the country.

The UN Childrens Fund, meanwhile, has welcomed the demobilization of 181 children from the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army in Sudans Nuba Mountains area earlier this month.

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET BACKS FUNDING MECHANISM FOR PALESTINIANS

On Saturday, the members of the

Middle East Quartet the European Union, Russian Federation, United States and United Nations issued a joint statement endorsing a European Union proposal for a temporary international mechanism, limited in scope and duration, which facilitates needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people.

The Quartet expressed its hope that other donors, international organizations, and the State of Israel would consider participation in this mechanism. The Quartet will review the continued need for such a mechanism after three months. Donors are also encouraged to respond to humanitarian and other assistance requests by international organizations, especially UN agencies, active in the West Bank and Gaza.

In its statement, the Quartet reiterated its call for the Palestinian Authority government to commit to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.

U.N. ENVOY CONDEMNS LATEST VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, over the weekend strongly

condemned Fridays attack on Buratha Mosque in

Baghdad, which killed a number of innocent worshippers and injured many others.

He also strongly condemned the assassination of the Imam of Al-Basra Kabir Mosque and three other persons accompanying him, while he was on his way to the mosque for the Friday prayers.

Qazi called on the government and political and religious leaders to intensify their mutual efforts to bring about a reduction of violence and to strengthen human rights protection for all Iraqis. He also called for the protection of the sanctity of holy sites and places of worship.

UNITED NATIONS TO SUPPORT NEW IRAQI COMPACT

Late Friday, a statement was issued, saying that the Secretary-General had agreed to an Iraqi request for the UN to provide strong support in developing an International Compact for

Iraq.

The Secretary-General looks forward to receiving more details from the Iraqis on the Compact and on the role they would wish the UN to play.

U.N. MISSION CALLS ON SECURITY FORCES TO ENSURE SAFETY OF AFGHANIS

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has

called on security forces, both national and international, to ensure the safety and protection of local communities in areas where operations are taking place.

Also, in the UNAMA press briefing earlier today, the spokesman noted the latest casualties among deminers in the country and that deminers have cleared more than one billion square meters of contaminated land across Afghanistan since 1990, but more than 700 million square meters of contaminated land remain. The remaining contaminated land affects an estimated four million Afghans.

NUMBER OF DISPLACED PEOPLE GROWS TO NEARLY 80,000 OUTSIDE OF DILI

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in

Timor-Leste, Finn Reske-Nielsen, and the Timorese Labour Ministry said today that the number of people displaced throughout the countrys 13 districts has now been discovered to be 15,000 more than previously recorded, bringing the total number of displaced people outside of the capital to 78,000.

Reske-Nielseen met President Xanana Gusmão today for talks on ways of getting food aid to the outlaying districts of the country.

In addition, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, today met Japans Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs to discuss Tokyos $5 million pledge made in response to the recent

flash appeal for humanitarian assistance for Timor-Leste. Hasegawa also met Norwegian diplomats about Norways continued support for Timor-Leste.

PEACEKEEPING DEPARTMENT CHECKING ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING DR CONGO

Asked about the United Nations reaction to a UK press report over the weekend, which claimed that UN peacekeepers provided support to government troops who razed a town called Kazana in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokesman said that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations is aware of the report and is looking into the allegations.

Asked whether the United Nations would carry out any assessments on the number of civilians hurt during operations in peacekeeping missions, the Spokesman noted that UN peacekeepers have clear standing rules and these include avoiding civilian casualties. Whenever there are problems reported to us, we look into them and well continue to do that, Haq said.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT AND CRISIS SETTINGS: UN organizations and civil society groups today announced a Joint Partnership to tackle sexual violence in conflict and crisis situations around the world. This Joint Partnership builds on existing initiatives and will address not only the threat that sexual violence poses to life and livelihood of survivors, but also the longer-term impact on community and national development. The need for stronger collaborative efforts to deal with gender-based violence is extremely urgent, UNIFEM Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer said, speaking at the launch of the partnership at the Swedish permanent mission in Geneva.

THAROORS COMMENTS MADE DURING ANNUAL LEAVE: Asked whether comments made in India by the Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor, concerning his candidacy for the position of Secretary-General were made while there in an official capacity, the Spokesman said Tharoor was in India on annual leave.

UNITED NATIONS CONCERNED OVER HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTHERN UGANDA: Asked about the UNs stance on the situation in northern Uganda, the Spokesman noted that the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, has raised his concerns about the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda and Security Council members have been briefed on the issue on the occasions they have taken up the issue of humanitarian crises in Africa. Asked about Egelands concerns, the Spokesman said that he had made these known to the Security Council.