United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-07-07

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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

Friday, July 7, 2006

SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES DRAFT RESOLUTION ON NORTH KOREA

FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

The Security Council today held consultations on the situation in the Central African Republic, including the effects of events taking place in its neighbouring countries. General Lamine Cissé, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative to the Central African Republic, briefed the Council on recent developments there.

Afterwards, Dmitry Titov, the Director of the Africa Division of the Department for Peacekeeping Operations, provided an update on developments in Chad and Sudan and their effect on the Central African Republic.

[The Security Council President later read a press statement in which Council members expressed serious concern that the persisting violence in Darfur and the deterioration of relations between Chad and Sudan might further negatively affect the security and stability of the Central African Republic.]

[The consultations suspended just before noon, and resumed after 12:30 p.m. when Council members received a draft resolution in response to the launch of missiles by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.]

CYPRIOT LEADERS TO ATTEND MEETING WITH U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF

The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, announced in Cyprus today that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, H.E Tassos Papadopoulos and H.E Mehmet Ali Talat, have accepted his invitation to a meeting on Saturday to discuss the way forward in resolving the Cyprus question.

Gambari told reporters, after a meeting this morning with Papadopoulos: The idea is to really find ways of moving forward so that we can begin to start some of these processes, perhaps at a technical level, but also address some of the substantive issues."

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the residence of the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Cyprus, Michael Moller.

REPORT ON SOMALIA REVIEWS SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

The

Secretary-Generals latest report on the situation in Somalia was made available today.

In it, the Secretary-General reviews the security and humanitarian situation in all regions of the country and describes the vital role of the UN in fostering dialogue between the Somali parties.

The Secretary-General also analyses the political dynamic within the transitional federal institutions in light of the recent spate of violence and the resulting emergence of Islamist militias as the new rulers of the capital Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, is expected to brief the Security Council on Monday.

U.N. HELICOPTER ASSISTING WITH DR CONGO ELECTIONS COMES UNDER FIRE

In the UNs continued effort to support the July 30 elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a helicopter from the UN Mission there yesterday was dropping leaflets in the region around the northeastern town of Bunia calling on militiamen to disarm, when it came under fire.

Seven people were on board the aircraft, when it was hit by ground fire from militiamen. A bullet hit the pilot in the thigh and he was immediately taken to the UN Mission military hospital in Bunia for surgery. His life is not in danger.

ANNAN URGES GEORGIA, ABKHAZIA TO IMPLEMENT AGREEMENTS

The Secretary-General, in his latest report to the Security Council on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, said that the UN Observer Mission in Georgia, supported by the Group of Friends, continued its efforts to facilitate and expand the dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

He urges the sides to implement the understandings reached during the February 2006 meeting in Geneva of the Group of Friends. At the same time, he says, it is essential that both sides honour their previous commitments in an expeditious way.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME ASKS FOR UNHINDERED ACCESS TO GAZA

The World Food Programme (WFP) today said that the frequent closing of the crossing points into Gaza, as well as the hostilities there, continue to put enormous strains on the population. WFP is asking for permanent and unhindered access for humanitarian personnel and relief goods to Gaza, whenever needed.

The agency noted some positive signs over the past week, as the Karni crossing point was open for three out of the last six days, allowing WFP to bring wheat and flour in. But it warns that there are only ten days of emergency supplies left to feed the 160,000 people that WFP serves in Gaza.

Asked about the Israeli incursion into Gaza, the Spokeswoman noted that, prior to that incursion, the Secretary-General had issued a statement appealing strongly to the parties to practice restraint and to step back from the brink.

In that statement, she said, the Secretary-General called on the Government of Israel to refrain from actions that amount to collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.

He also reminded the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority of their obligations under international humanitarian law regarding protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Okabe added that the Secretary-General deplored the large number of people who had been killed and wounded since that statement was issued on Wednesday.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SCHEDULED TO MEET LATER TODAY

The General Assemblys Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet this afternoon at 3 pm to take action on a draft resolution on management reform, according to the General Assembly Spokesperson. Action by the Plenary is scheduled to follow at 4:30 pm.

Informal consultations are still going on this morning on some details of the draft resolution, the bulk of which was agreed late last night in a positive and constructive atmosphere. We will make the text of that draft resolution available as soon as it has been finalized informally.

General Assembly President Jan Eliasson will issue a letter to all Member States today wrapping up the work thus far on UN reform and other issues, and outlining the work that remains through the end of the 60th session.

He will be leaving for Sweden tomorrow. In mid-July he will be traveling to China at the invitation of the Government, both as President of the General Assembly and as Foreign Minister, accompanying the King and Queen of Sweden. He expects to return to Headquarters around 21 August, when work will continue on counter-terrorism, ECOSOC reform and other issues.

In the Presidents absence, his office will continue to support the Assemblys work on revitalization, migration, Security Council reform and a number of other issues, and the Vice-Presidents from Mali and Kenya will, in turn, be serving as Acting President.

ANNAN ATTENDS UNVEILING OF EMBLEM FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Berlin, where today he spoke at the unveiling of the World Cup emblem for the 2010 contest, which will be held in South Africa.

He said that this is an exciting day, not only for all Africans, but for all speakers of the universal language of football. He thanked the Federation of International Football Associations for bringing the World Cup to Africa, and added that he intends to migrate briefly to South Africa for the July 2010 games.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, July 10

There will be consultations on Somalia this morning in the Security Council.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Francois Lonseny Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia.

In Geneva, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will hold a special event on Avian Influenza, in which decision-makers and experts will assess the spread of the virus, prevention efforts, and economic and social impact, and examine the gaps in international response. ECOSOC President Ali Hachani of Tunisia, and David Nabarro will hold a press conference at 12:45 pm in Geneva.

The Follow-up Committee on the withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula will be meeting at the Palais des Nations. Former Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, has been charged by the Secretary-General with the follow up and will serve as Chairman.

Tuesday, July 11

The Secretary-General today arrives in Italy for an official visit.

The Security Council will hold a private meeting this morning on Georgia, with the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini, briefing. Ms. Tagliavini will then be the guest at the noon press briefing.

Wednesday, July 12

The General Assembly will hold hearings with civil society on Migration and Development.

Thursday, July 13

The Security Council will hold consultations this morning on Kosovo. The Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Kosovo future status process, Martti Ahtisaari, will brief.

At 11:00, Ambassadors Yashar Aliyev (Azerbaijan), Revaz Adamia (Turkey), and Baki Ilkin (Turkey) will hold a joint press conference on the occasion of the official inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, to be held on 13 July, in Ceyhan, Turkey.

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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