United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-20

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

ANNAN WELCOMES TRANSFER OF CHARLES TAYLOR

Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomes the transfer of the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, to the Netherlands, to stand trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone sitting in The Hague.

He wishes to thank all who have made this transfer possible, in particular, the Government of the Netherlands for its willingness to host the Special Court for the conduct of Taylors trial, the International Criminal Court for agreeing to the use of its premises by the Special Court and the Government of the United Kingdom for agreeing, subject to parliamentary approval, to allow Charles Taylor, if convicted, to enter the United Kingdom to serve any sentence that the Special Court might impose.

The Secretary-General encourages all States to cooperate with the Special Court with respect to Charles Taylors trial, in particular by ensuring that evidence and witnesses are made available to the Special Court upon its request. He also recalls his appeal to States to contribute generously to the Special Courts budget.

The Secretary-General expresses his determination to work together with the Special Court and relevant States to make the future trial proceedings available and to the people of West Africa in particular.

He is confident that Charles Taylors trial will mark a further victory in the struggle to end impunity and will contribute to reconciliation in Liberia and the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia and in Sierra Leone.

Taylor was today transferred to The Hague in accordance with an order issued on Monday by the President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Taylor was taken by UN helicopter from the Special Court compound earlier today and flown to Lungi International Airport in Freetown, where he was transferred under heavy UN security to a chartered commercial jet. He departed from Sierra Leone at 9:40 a.m. local.

BURUNDI: ANNAN WELCOMES AGREEMENT AS AN IMPORTANT STEP

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of the Agreement of Principles towards Lasting Peace, Security, and Stability in Burundi between the Government of Burundi and PALIPEHUTU-FNL (Forces Nationales de Libération). He considers the Agreement an important step towards ending the devastating thirteen-year conflict in Burundi.

The Secretary-General would like to express his sincere appreciation to the South African Facilitation, members of the Regional Peace Initiative for Burundi, and the African Union for their crucial contribution.

The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Burundi and PALIPEHUTU-FNL to build on this positive step and to continue working together towards reaching an early comprehensive agreement, within the framework of the national constitution.

He would like to reiterate the United Nations continued commitment and support to the peace process in Burundi.

ANNAN DISCUSSES RANGE OF TOPICS WITH FRENCH LEADERS

The Secretary-General today attended the inauguration in Paris, with President Jacques Chirac, of the new Musee du Quai de Branly. The Secretary-General told the gathered dignitaries at the inauguration that the museum, much like the United Nations, illustrates the universality of the human family.

Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General met with Frances Defence Minister, Michelle Alliot-Marie. The two discussed a number of issues related to peacekeeping in Africa, notably the situation in Cote dIvoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Chad.

Later in the day, the Secretary-General met with the French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, for a working lunch during which they discussed a wide range of issues, including the broader Middle East, the Iranian nuclear issue, Sudan, Chad, Cote dIvoire and UN reform.

In comments to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General, in answer to a question, expressed concern over the situation in North Korea. He said he hoped that North Korean leaders will listen to what world leaders are saying, adding that they must be careful not to create a situation that is even more complicated on the Korean peninsula.

Asked about UN efforts on North Korea following the departure of Maurice Strong as an envoy dealing with that country, the Spokeswoman said that the Department for Political Affairs was in the lead on that issue, and no replacement for Strong was envisioned.

She said that the Secretary-General, during his recent tour of East Asia, had repeatedly underscored his support for the six-party talks and the need for a negotiated solution.

Asked what the United Nations is doing to deal with North Korea, Okabe said that the Secretary-General had made clear his concerns and his support for six-party talks. He has also articulated a clear position on nuclear non-proliferation.

SANCTIONS ON LIBERIAN WOOD IMPORTATION LIFTED;

MANDATE OF U.N. OFFICE IN TIMOR-LESTE EXTENDED

After brief consultations on Liberia this morning, the Security Council moved to a formal meeting in which it decided not to renew the sanctions measures that obliged Member States to prevent the import into their territories of all round log and timber products originating in Liberia. The Council will review that decision after 90 days.

The Security Council also voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the UN Office in Timor-Leste until 20 August. The Council also requested the Secretary-General to provide a report on the future role for the United Nations in the country, taking into account the current situation and the need for a strengthened UN presence.

The Council is now holding an open meeting on Kosovo, during which it heard a briefing from Soren Jessen-Petersen, the Secretary-Generals departing Special Representative for Kosovo.

Jessen-Petersen said Kosovo was making steady progress and that its leaders had become more dynamic and progressive than ever. He added that, after seven years, Kosovo was ready indeed impatient to move on, and that it would be risky to keep the province in limbo for much longer. In that context, he called for the Kosovo status process to wrap up sooner than later.

UNITED NATIONS-AFRICAN UNION MISSION WINDING UP VISIT TO SUDAN

Asked whether the Secretary-General had responded to comments made by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, which reportedly questioned any effort to bring Western peacekeepers to Darfur, the Spokesman noted that Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno is in Sudan leading a UN-African Union assessment team, and the United Nations would wait for him to return and report back on his work.

Asked what the Secretary-Generals message to Bashir is, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General has repeatedly stressed the need to improve the protections of civilians in Darfur; to improve the capacity of the African Union force; to support a donors conference; and to prepare for a possible transition to a UN force.

To that end, Okabe said, he has spoken to world leaders on the phone and also dispatched an envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, who went to Sudan and received agreement for the assessment team to travel there. Now the United Nations awaited that teams return.

The Spokeswoman later announced that the joint assessment mission, which is winding up its conclusions and findings on support needed to the AU mission in Darfur and on a possible role of the UN in Darfur, have requested to meet with President Al Bashir before they leave the country. The leaders of the joint technical assessment mission are also planning to hold joint a press conference before their departure.

U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES ISSUANCE OF ARREST WARRANT IN TIMOR-LESTE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, has welcomed the issuance by the Timorese Prosecutor-Generals office of an arrest warrant against former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato for alleged distribution of arms to a civilian group.

Hasegawa said the independence of the judiciary branch is key to re-asserting the rule of law, and the action taken is a clear sign that the Timorese are carrying out their constitutionally mandated tasks.

Meanwhile, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Timor-Leste, Finn Reske-Nielsen, said that a pledge of $3 million has been received from Australia, bringing the total pledged so far to $13.2 million. Last weeks UN flash appeal asked for some $19 million to help the Timorese people.

UN agencies say that food distribution continues to reach the camps in Dili, averaging more than 25 tons a day.

Asked whether the Secretary-General has appointed a new Special Representative for Timor-Leste, the Spokeswoman noted that Hasegawa continues to do that job. Meanwhile, she added, the Secretary-General had sent Ian Martin to Timor-Leste as a Special Envoy following the latest developments, and he will return there to deal with the Security Councils request for an assessment of the future UN role.

VIOLATIONS OF CHILDRENS RIGHTS CONTINUE IN D.R. CONGO

A report by the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was issued today.

In it, he notes that grave violations of childrens rights are continuing with impunity. Those violations which have been reported in Katanga, Ituri and North Kivu Provinces include the recruitment and use of children in armed forces and groups, abduction, sexual violence, killing and maiming, and attacks on schools.

The Secretary-General strongly urges all stakeholders to take all necessary actions for the complete and unconditional release of children still present in the armed forces of the DRC and in armed groups operating in the country.

He also says that he will send his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to the DRC in the near future to draw attention to the problem.

WORLD REFUGEE DAY A REMINDER OF THE WORLDS RESPONSIBILITY

Today is World Refugee Day, and the Secretary-General has issued a message, saying that for the thousands of people forced to flee their homes each year, escaping with their lives and a few belongings is often just the start of a long struggle.

Noting that more than half of the people cared for by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have spent more than five years in exile, the Secretary-General says that today should serve as a reminder of our responsibility to help keep hope alive for those who need it most -- the millions of refugees and displaced who are still far from home.

Meanwhile, the UNs High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, is in Liberia today, where he is

marking World Refugee Day by meeting refugees returning from Sierra Leone.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MALLOCH-BROWNS COMMENTS ON GUANTANAMO SIMILAR TO THOSE OF ANNAN: Asked about recent comments on the Guántanamo detention centre that were reportedly said by Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown during his visit this week to Malaysia, the Spokeswoman said that she could not confirm the cited comments, and added that Malloch Browns views on Guántanamo are not a departure from those of the Secretary-General.

NEPALESE PEACEKEEPERS STILL BEING HELD IN D.R. CONGO: Asked about the UN peacekeepers detained in Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokeswoman said that she had nothing to report, adding that the United Nations hopes for their early release.

NO COMMENT ON SECURITY ASSESSMENTS: Asked about comments made by Special Representative for Somalia Francois Lonseny Fall about an upcoming visit by UN security officials to that country, the Spokeswoman said that although the United Nations conducts security assessments as a routine matter, it does not comment on them, for security reasons.

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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