United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-09-20

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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 STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETS AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is meeting this afternoon with the other principal members of the

Middle East Quartet which brings together the European Union (EU), the Russian Federation, the United States and the United Nations in his conference room.

Following that meeting, the Secretary-General and the other principal members of the Quartet are to speak to reporters to discuss todays work.

In addition to the Secretary-General, the other speakers are to include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, European Union High Representative for a Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and, representing the EU Presidency, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuimioja.

Asked whether the Secretary-General has met so far with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Spokesman said he had not.

LEBANON: U.N. TROOP STRENGTH REACHES 5,000

The troop strength of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reached approximately 5,000 troops, following the arrival of contingents from France, Italy and Spain in South Lebanon in recent days. This concludes the first phase of UNIFIL deployment, with additional contingents planning to join UNIFIL within the next few weeks.

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major-General Alain Pellegrini, said that he looks forward to inspecting all the new contingents as soon as they are ready to deal with the tasks ahead.

Meanwhile, a trilateral meeting was held yesterday between Pellegrini and senior officers from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in which they discussed, among other things, further Israeli withdrawals and Lebanese troop deployment. Afterward, Pellegrini said, The meeting was positive; we are making progress. IDF withdrawals and LAF deployments are on track.

Asked when UNIFIL will be at full troop strength in Lebanon, the Spokesman said that was expected within 90 days, with deployment moving ahead well so far.

UNITED NATIONS IS CONCERNED BY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN IRAQ

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) today

expressed concern that human rights violations, particularly against the right to life and personal integrity, continue to occur at an alarming daily rate in Iraq.

In its latest human rights report, the UN Mission affirms that number of civilians killed violently in the country were at an unprecedented 3,590 in July and 3,009 in August. The report adds that hundreds of bodies have continued to appear throughout the country, bearing signs of severe torture and execution-style killing. Displacement of population has also continued to grow and affects all Governorates.

The report also raises the alarm at increasing number of honour crimes affecting women in a disproportionate manner.

SECURITY COUNCIL LOOKS AT COOPERATION

BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Security Council today is holding an open debate, at the ministerial level, on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in maintaining peace and security. The meeting is being chaired by the Foreign Minister of Greece, Dora Bakoyannis, and Greece has also submitted a non-paper, available as a document, on the subject.

The Secretary-General addressed the Council debate, saying that the partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations is stronger today than in the early 1990s, with cooperation occurring in places from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Afghanistan and Kosovo.

We have a better sense today of our respective strengths and advantages, the Secretary-General noted. He added that, as the demand for peacekeeping and other services grow, the time has come to take the regional-global partnership to a new level of clarity, practicality and seriousness.

ANNAN ATTENDS AFRICAN UNION MEETING ON DARFUR

Prior to attending todays Security Council meeting, the Secretary-General this morning took part in African Unions Peace and Security Council meeting on Darfur, Sudan at the African Union (AU) mission. On the sidelines of the AU meeting, the Secretary-General met with Heads of State of the 15-member Peace and Security Council.

Meanwhile, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations reports that a troop and police contributors meeting for Darfur is now scheduled to take place on Monday afternoon. More than 140 countries have been invited to attend.

Asked about U.S. President George W. Bushs criticism that the United Nations was moving too slowly on Darfur, the Spokesman said that Darfur had been one of the main issues that the Secretary-General had discussed with President Bush.

The Secretary-General, he said, has expressed frustration at the pace of events, and has made it clear that actions are needed by all nations to help Sudan accept a UN force. The Secretary-General has also moved ahead as much as possible on the humanitarian front.

However, Dujarric said, Darfur is on the verge of a manmade catastrophe, and there is a need to push hard to see whether UN troops can be brought in.

The Secretary-General, he said, was in touch with anyone who can influence the issue and has worked hard to convince President Omar al-Bashir to alter his position. But it is also the responsibility of Member States who can influence Khartoum, including those in the Arab world and in Africa, to find a solution to help the millions of people who are now suffering.

Asked about comments from President Bashir that the push for action on Darfur came from Zionist organizations, the Spokesman said that it was in the interests of everyone, not simply those of one group, to find a solution in Darfur; that includes the interests of Sudans Government. It is time, he said, for Member States to follow up on their responsibility to protect civilians.

ANNAN SENDS ENVOY TO GAMBIA IN WAKE OF ELECTIONS

In advance of the presidential elections to be held in Gambia later this week, the Secretary-General has appointed Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the former Head of State of Nigeria, as his Special Envoy for the Gambia. Gen. Abubakar will be traveling immediately to Banjul.

He will work within the framework of the Secretary-Generals good offices, to promote dialogue between all concerned parties aimed at ensuring a smooth and peaceful electoral process.

D.R. CONGO: U.N. PEACEKEEPERS CONTAIN VIOLENT RALLY

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) says that the countrywide campaigning for the run-off presidential election will take place from 13 to 27 October. Campaign for the provincial elections will run from 28 September to 27 October.

The UN Special Representative in that country, William Lacy Swing, has commended Congolese police and UN peacekeepers for their prompt and salutary intervention to contain yesterdays violent rally by supporters of Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. Bembas supporters were apparently angered by a fire that destroyed the Kinshasa building housing two television stations owned by their leader.

COTE DIVOIRE MINI-SUMMIT TO BE HELD TODAY

The Spokesman, in response to a question, noted that a mini-summit on Cote dIvoire was taking place starting at 3:00 this afternoon at UN headquarters.

SECURITY REMAINS STABLE IN LIBERIA, ANNAN REPORTS

Available today is the Secretary-Generals latest progress report on Liberia. In it, the Secretary-General says that security has remained generally stable in the wake of the transfer to The Hague of former Liberian President and accused war criminal Charles Taylor.

The report says that the authority of the Liberian state is being consolidated throughout the country, with the UN Mission facilitating the redeployment of state officials to their duty stations. Meanwhile, some 19,000 former fighters are expected to be absorbed by UN-run projects as part of a disarmament and rehabilitation program.

MINISTERS GATHER TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

This morning, a ministerial meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was held here at UN Headquarters.

In a message to the gathering, delivered by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Nobuaki Tanaka, the Secretary-General said that each additional signature of the Treaty would bring the world closer to achieving its longstanding goal of outlawing all nuclear tests, thereby advancing both nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

ANNAN TO RING BELL IN HONOR OF PEACE

Tomorrow is the International Day of Peace.

To mark the occasion, the Secretary-General will ring the Peace Bell at 9.30 a.m in the West Court Garden on the front lawn of the Secretariat Building.

Five Messengers of Peace will accompany him Vijay Armitraj, Anna Cataldi, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Elie Wiesel.

The Secretary-General will also observe a minute of silence in the name of peace.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

THAI MISSION SAYS IT WILL FORWARD NEW CREDENTIALS: Asked about the change in speaking plans for the Thai delegation, the Spokesman noted that on Tuesday, the Thai Mission to the United Nations had first informed the United Nations that it was giving up its speaking slot, and then later informed the United Nations that it had rescinded the credentials of Thaksin Shinawatra, who had earlier been scheduled to speak as Prime Minister.

U.N. CONDEMNS KOSOVO ATTACK: The Secretary-Generals Principal Deputy Special Representative in Kosovo, Steven Schook, today

expressed outrage at an attack in the western town of Klina, in which four members of a Kosovo Serb family were wounded. At the same time, Schook said he was encouraged to see the immediate reaction of the Kosovo authorities to the incident, including by the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Klina.

RWANDA COURT ACQUITS FORMER MINISTER: A trial chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today unanimously acquitted André Rwamakuba, a former Rwandan government minister, of all charges brought against him. He was charged with complicity in genocide, extermination and murder as crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in specific incidents in April 1994 in the areas of Gikomero and Butare. Rwamakuba had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

U.N. APPEALS FOR FUNDS TO HELP TAJIKISTAN QUAKE SURVIVORS: UN agencies and their partners working in Tajikistan have

appealed for $1 million to help the survivors of two earthquakes, which struck a southern district last July. The appeal aims to secure 500 winterized tents so that survivors can cope with Tajikistans harsh winter. The gathered funds will also be put towards the reconstruction of 200 houses and seven schools damaged by the earthquakes.

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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