United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-09-18

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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

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, September 18, 2006

ANNAN ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS IN LEBANON CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today briefed the Security Council in closed consultations on his recent report concerning his travels to the Middle East and other recent developments in the implementation of

resolution 1701, concerning Lebanon.

That report, which is out as a document, details some progress in ending the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, including the expansion of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the lifting of Israels blockade on that country. A start has been made, the Secretary-General says in his report, but many other steps are required.

The Secretary-General notes with pleasure that Lebanons Government has decided in clear terms that there can only be one source of law, order and authority and adds that he is greatly encouraged by statements from relevant parties, including Syria and Iran, during his recent mission. He says that a sustainable long-term solution can only be implemented on the basis of inclusive political processes, domestically in Lebanon as well as in the wider region.

In Lebanon itself, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie met today with the Force Commander of UNIFIL, Major-General Alain Pellegrini, and other officials at UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, where she was briefed on the continuing withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Following the arrival in recent days of personnel from France, Italy and Spain, UNIFIL now has about 4,800 personnel on the ground.

Asked about the meeting this afternoon between the Secretary-General and the Lebanese Foreign Minister, the Spokesman said that the meeting would focus on resolution 1701.

Asked about an offer from Gen. Michel Aoun to provide his good offices for the release of the Israeli and Lebanese soldiers, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-Generals efforts remain focused on supporting the work of his facilitator.

For that facilitators work to be successful, the Spokesman said, the Secretary-General wants that persons work to be as much below the radar as possible; he consequently declined further comment.

Asked about Palestinian prisoners and Cpl. Gilad Shalit, Dujarric said that the facilitators work was focused on the Israel-Lebanon prisoner issues, although that should not be read as a lack of concern for the other prisoners. The Secretary-General, he said, has expressed his concern at the arrests of Palestinian legislators and called for the release of Corporal Shalit.

DE-MINING, ELECTRICAL REPAIRS CONTINUE IN SOUTH LEBANON

Also on Lebanon, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that electrical repairs in the country are proceeding more quickly than originally projected.

Meanwhile, the UN Mine Action Service reports that, so far, nearly 17,000 cluster bomblets and more than 600 other items of unexploded ordnance have been cleared and destroyed jointly by the Mine Action Coordination Center of South Lebanon, which is overseen by the UN Mine Action Service, UNIFIL engineers, and the Lebanese Armed Forces.

ANNAN TO ATTEND HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON IRAQ

The Secretary-General will open a high-level meeting on Iraq, at 3:00 this afternoon in Conference Room 4, which is designed to review the implementation of Security Council resolution 1546 and to discuss the

International Compact with Iraq.

The meeting brings together 31 delegations, including 14 foreign ministers, as well as officials from regional organizations and international financial institutions.

Most of the meeting is closed to the press, but the first two speakers the Secretary-General and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will give statements that will be made public.

Asked whether relations between the United Nations and some States had worsened since the Iraq war, the Spokesman said that relations vary, but the work of the Secretary-General and his staff have concentrated on assisting the Iraqi people, including on their political and economic development, humanitarian concerns and human rights.

ANNAN URGES DIALOGUE IN IRAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views on Irans talks with the three European Union nations and three other permanent Security Council members, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has encouraged both sides to negotiate in a positive atmosphere. He noted, in response to a further question, that the United Nations was not directly involved in those talks.

The United Nations, the Spokesman said, has encouraged those discussions, but it is up to the parties to conduct them and find a negotiated solution.

Asked about reports that several Iranians traveling to the United Nations this week had not received visas to enter the United States, the Spokesman recalled that, under the Host Country Agreement, the host country is expected to facilitate the entry of all officials into the United Nations. He noted that there is a Host Country Committee that can look into visa problems.

PROGRESS SUSTAINED IN AFGHANISTAN DESPITE HURDLES, U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tom Koenigs, said at a press conference today that Afghanistan needs more sustained international support, at what he described as a difficult time.

He noted that NATO and the International Security Assistance Force have recently called for more troops, and he supported their call.

At the same time, Koenigs said, the fear of failing is quite popular, but it is wrong. We are making real and sustained progress in Afghanistan in spite of the problems in the south.

ANNANS DEPUTY: PROGRESS BY LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES INSUFFICIENT

The Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch-Brown, this morning addressed a

High-Level Meeting of the Least Developed Countries.

In his remarks, Malloch-Brown said that, over the past five years, least developed countries have experienced higher economic growth, greater exports and larger investment flows. They have also made some progress towards several human development goals, including reducing maternal and child mortality and increasing universal primary enrolment.

Yet, despite significant progress by some least developed countries, their gains as a group have been insufficient to meet the goals agreed to in 2001 in Brussels. And they have had minimum impact where it is most needed, he said.

ANNAN WELCOMES SUPREME COURT RULING ON D.R. CONGO VOTE

The Secretary-General welcomes last week's validation by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the results of the first round of the presidential election held on 30 July. This confirms that a second round will be contested by President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.

The Secretary-General calls on the two candidates to adhere to the electoral calendar, which sets 29 October as the date both for the second presidential round and for the provincial assembly elections, and to reach an early agreement both on the rules of conduct for the electoral campaign and on mutual assurances for security and political engagement thereafter.

He also calls on all candidates and political parties to ensure that the 29 October elections are conducted in conditions of security, and are credible and transparent, and to respect the outcome. Any incitement to hatred and violence during the electoral period is unacceptable, and anyone engaging in such activity must be held accountable.

The United Nations remains committed to provide all possible support to the Congolese people in holding peaceful and successful elections on 29 October.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SUDAN PEACE AGREEMENT INCOMPLETE

The Secretary-Generals latest report on

Sudan is out on the racks today and the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Jan Pronk, is briefing the Security Council later today.

In the report, the Secretary-General says that one year after the inauguration of the Government of National Unity, the parties have made progress in carrying out their commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement but on a limited scale.

He says that while the parties are observing their security commitments reasonably well, the implementation of several other major provisions of the Agreement has fallen behind schedule and it appears that the implementation is being done on a selective basis.

He also says that efforts to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will prove inadequate until durable peace also comes to Darfur.

Jan Pronk is expected to speak with you on this at the Security Council stakeout area after his briefing.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals position on sending troops to Sudan without the Sudanese Governments permission, the Spokesman said that the United Nations would be hard-pressed to get countries to commit troops under those conditions.

The Secretary-General, he said, continued to work to get the Government to ultimately accept a transition to a UN force and to get the African Union force extended until the end of December. He had discussed those matters when he met with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Havana last Friday.

The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Dujarric noted, was working with the African Union on ways to strengthen its forces.

ANNAN APPEALS TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN DARFUR

The

Second Session of the Human Rights Council began today in Geneva and will run for three weeks until 6 October.

Most of this session will be devoted to considering all reports under the "special procedures" mechanisms of the previous Commission on Human Rights, that is, all reports of the human rights special rapporteurs and independent experts who have country-specific or thematic mandates.

In a message delivered to the Human Rights Council delegates by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, the Secretary-General drew the Councils attention especially to the violations and abuses to which the people of Darfur are being subjected, and which threaten to get even worse in the near future.

In a direct appeal to the delegates, the Secretary-General said: Do not disappoint the hopes of humanity.

In her own remarks to the Council, Arbour

said the deteriorating situation in Darfur stands out as a tragic reminder of the collective failure to protect civilians, with combatants routinely making a mockery of the principles of international humanitarian law.

She also referred to Iraq, where existing mechanisms for preventing and redressing human rights violations were still insufficient due to the abysmal security situation and a lack of adequate resources; to Sri Lanka, where there was an urgent need for the international community to monitor the unfolding human rights situation; and to Nepal, where despite significant positive developments, progress remained fragile.

On the Council itself, she said it should be equipped to seize itself of perilous and long-neglected situations, and to intervene to defuse them before they escalate into full-scale brutality or irreparable damage.

UNITED NATIONS CONDEMN ATTEMPT ON SOMALI PRESIDENTS LIFE

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations and all member states of the European Union, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, strongly condemned todays car bombing attempt on the life of the Somali President.

President Abdullahi Yusuf escaped unharmed, but at least five people are reported to have died and scores were wounded.

Fall said that he was relieved that the President and other leaders had survived the attempt. He also expressed sadness at the loss of life and injuries to innocent bystanders.

ANNAN SAYS MORE MUST BE DONE TO HELP THE DISABLED

The Secretary-General attended the presentation ceremony for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award at UN Headquarters.

Addressing the event, he said that people with disabilities form a group thats larger than many realize and for many years, their needs and rights tended to be overlooked but, while that situation has been changing, much more must be done.

He told the audience theres a need to remember that equal participation requires not only dismantling barriers, but creating opportunities; and he spoke of the inspiring example provided by Poland where the rights of persons with disabilities are enshrined in the countrys Constitution and in the Charter of Disabled Persons.

ANNAN VOLUNTARILY SUBMITS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORM

Asked whether the Secretary-Generals financial disclosure form would be made public, the Spokesman said it would not, nor would those of the UN staff who filed. The forms would be handled by the UN Ethics Office.

The Spokesman said the Secretary-General has always abided by the commitments required of him by the organization.

During the Volcker commission, he submitted all his financial statements. In its report in September 2005, the Commission found that nothing in his finances raises any suspicion.

On advice of lawyers, the Secretary-General had not filled out a financial disclosure form, which he was not required to, so as not tie the hands of his successor.

However, in order to avoid misinterpretation of his position, the Secretary-General has decided to voluntarily submit a financial disclosure form. That decision was made on Friday.

Asked whether filing a financial disclosure creates any problems for the Secretary-Generals successor, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had taken his decision voluntarily, and whoever succeeds him would have to decide whether to follow that example.

ANNAN TO ADDRESS UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Secretary-General will be addressing the General Assembly tomorrow.

His address will review of some of the major challenges the world has faced during his ten years as Secretary-General, and still does now. It argues that many of these challenges have become more acute, and above all more divisive, to the point where they now "threaten the very notion of an international community, upon which this institution stands".

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN APPOINTS DEPUTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER: The Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. The appointment is at the Assistant-Secretary-General level. Ms. Kang is currently Director-General of International Organizations at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, with a portfolio that covers a wide range of UN issues, including human rights.

ENVOY CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACKS IN KOSOVO: Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Steven Schook condemned two explosive attacks targeting parked vehicles in Gjilan/Gnjilane and Ferizaj/Uroevac on Friday and Saturday nights. The explosions, which heavily damaged the vehicles, were caused by bombs placed under them.

ANNAN TO DISCUSS DARFUR, IRAN WITH U.S. PRESIDENT: Asked about the discussions the Secretary-General will have with U.S. President George W. Bush, he said that they have wide-ranging discussions when they meet. He said, in response to a specific question, that it would be expected that Darfur and Iran would be among the topics.

ANNAN HOLDS BILATERAL MEETINGS AT NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT: Asked about the Secretary-Generals trip to the Non-Aligned Summit, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General spoke at the summit and also met, among others, with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, to discuss Darfur; with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; and South African President Thabo Mbeki, with whom the Secretary-General discussed Cote dIvoire.

ANNAN HAS NO COMMENTS ON RACE TO REPLACE HIM: Asked about the inclusion of the Latvian President in the race to succeed Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General will not discuss his successor with Member States; it is up to them to decide. The Secretary-General, Dujarric noted, has spoken in the past in favour of having a woman serve as Secretary-General, but that should not be interpreted as support for any specific candidate.

NO U.N. RESPONSE YET ON COTE DIVOIRE PRESIDENTS REFUSAL TO ATTEND MINI-SUMMIT: Asked about reports that Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is not coming to the United Nations, the Spokesman said the United Nations was aware of press reports that he was not coming but had not received an official indication.

BETTER HEALTH SERVICES NEEDED IN POORER COUNTRIES: Political leaders and health experts are gathering in New York today at a Symposium on Child Survival, hosting by the Government of Norway, the Lancet and the UN Childrens Fund as part of the Millennium Development Goal project. The symposium calls for stronger health services in countries with high child mortality, better access to medical supplies and low-cost health measures to prevent child deaths.