United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-09-21

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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 YVES SOROKOBI

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, September 21, 2006

ANNAN WELCOMES MANDATE EXTENSION OF AFRICAN UNION FORCE IN DARFUR

Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomes the extension, by the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), of the mandate of the African Union Mission (AMIS) in Sudan until 31 December 2006.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the support expressed by the PSC for United Nations efforts to strengthen AMIS and notes that the United Nations will move forward urgently to assist the AU Mission in the areas of logistical and material support, military staff support and advisory support to civilian police, as well as civilian support in the areas of mine action, public information and implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

The Secretary-General also stresses that additional funding for AMIS is urgently required for it to function effectively for the duration of its new mandate.

The Secretary-General emphasizes that the continued presence of a strong AMIS in

Darfur has an important role to play in protecting civilians and improving a deteriorating security situation.

He stresses once again that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Darfur, and that a multi-dimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur can have a significant and positive role in helping the Sudanese people to restore peace and stability to that troubled region.

U.N. ENVOY CALLS FOR TRANQUILITY IN DARFUR DURING RAMADAN

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, speaking at a press conference today, called for tranquility in

Darfur during the month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan says that its received reports from the African Union that one of its vehicles with four of its monitors on board was ambushed in Um Barunga, near Tawilla in North Darfur yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was later found.

A UN humanitarian assessment team visited Deribat, north of Nyala in North Darfur on Tuesday, following fighting there earlier this month they identified water and health supplies as the items needed most urgently by residents.

ANNAN APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC MILITARY CELL FOR LEBANON FORCE

The Secretary-General has appointed Lieutenant General Giovanni Ridinó as Director of the newly established Strategic Military Cell (SMC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The SMC, which will be located at UN Headquarters in New York, will provide military guidance to UNIFIL at the strategic level, and will report to the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

General Ridinó has served in the Italian Army for over 30 years, most recently as a Corps Commander at the Italian Army Headquarters (1st, Vittorio Veneto). Among numerous other posts, he has served as the Deputy Commander of the Multinational Division (Southeast) of the Stabilization Force for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) and the commander of the Territorial Military Autonomous Command for Sicily. The Secretary-General is grateful to the Government of Italy for making him available for this important mission.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS, LEBANESE TROOPS TO JOINTLY INSPECT BLUE LINE

Major-General Alain Pellegrini, the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) met today with General Michael Sleiman, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The two generals agreed that, after the full withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces from South Lebanon, UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army will jointly inspect the entire

Blue Line, to ensure that there are no violations of it. Pellegrini said afterward, We had a very productive meeting.

Asked whether there would be a full withdrawal by Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, the Spokesman said we would have to wait and see what would happen. He noted the recent series of coordination meetings taking place between UNIFIL, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defence Forces.

Asked how many UNIFIL troops were on the ground, the Spokesman said that the milestone of 5,000 troops had been reached, which accounted for the increased activity by UNIFIL.

SURGE IN VIOLENCE POSES SEVERE THREAT TO AFGHANISTAN

The Secretary-General, in his latest report on

Afghanistan, says that the most significant development there in recent months has been the upsurge in violence, particularly in the south, south-east and east of the country.

It is estimated that more than 2,000 people, at least a third of them civilians, have lost their lives in the fighting since the start of this year.

The Secretary-General writes that the recent violence represents a watershed, warning that at no time since the Taliban fell in late 2001 has Afghanistan faced so severe a threat. The report notes a broad insurgency, which relies heavily on cross-border fighters, many of whom are Afghans drawn from refugee camps and radical seminaries in Pakistan.

He says that the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force to the south of Afghanistan is particularly welcome and timely, and he strongly encourages all nations to continue to support the Force. He also calls for the need to deal with corruption and the narcotics industry in the country.

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET WELCOMES

PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

The Secretary-General and the other principal members of the Middle East Quartet which brings together the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union met yesterday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in that

region, and issued a joint statement afterward.

In that statement, the Quartet welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement.

The Quartet also stressed the need for a credible political process in order to make progress towards a two-state solution through dialogue and parallel implementation of obligations. In this context, it welcomed the prospect of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Abbas in the near future.

ANNAN URGES HOLDING OF ELECTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN THAILAND

In a statement issued yesterday on Thailand, the Secretary-General appealed for a prompt return to civilian, democratic rule and the holding of new elections as quickly as possible.

The Secretary-General expressed his profound hope that efforts to establish and strengthen democratic institutions in Thailand will resume very soon.

U.N. REFORM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

Last night, the Secretary-General briefly attended a dinner jointly hosted by the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Italy to speak about Security Council reform.

In prepared remarks, he said that no reform of the United Nations will be complete without Security Council reform.

Such reform is needed he stressed so that the council can be accepted as fully legitimate as it addresses the major challenges of the Middle East peace process, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq to name just a few.

For the good of the worlds people, he said, we can not allow the current stalemate on reform to persist. He encouraged member states which are entrenched for a specific option to think anew and find a compromise.

MINI-SUMMIT ON COTE DIVOIRE FAR FROM A FAILURE

Asked whether the Wednesday mini-summit on Cote dIvoire had failed because Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo had not attended, the Spokesman said that, although the

Secretary-General was disappointed that Gbagbo did not attend, the meeting was far from a failure.

He said that the non-attendance placed some serious limitations on what the meeting could achieve. However, Sorokobi said, as a result of the meeting, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional actors will hold a series of meetings over the next few weeks to study the situation in the country, with a view to holding a Security Council meeting on Cote dIvoire by the end of October.

Asked about comments from Gbagbo that UN forces could leave the country, the Spokesman said that the United Nations has received no formal notification of such a request from Cote dIvoire.

Asked whether Gbagbo had arrived in New York, the Spokesman replied that, to the best of his knowledge, the President had not come.

UNITED NATIONS MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

Today is the International Day of Peace, and the Secretary-General marked the occasion this morning by delivering a peace message, observing a minute of silence in the name of peace, and ringing the Japanese Peace Bell.

He was accompanied by: his wife Nane; Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis of Greece, who is President of the Security Council; and Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the General Assembly.

Also present were the following Messengers of Peace: Michael Douglas; Vijay Amritraj; Anna Cataldi; and Jane Goodall. Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the newest Messenger of Peace, was at the ceremony and performed a short piece. Nearly 200 children were also there, dressed in their national costumes and holding flags.

In his message, the Secretary-General said that for far too many people in the world today, the precious gifts of peace are only an elusive dream. Those people live in chains: a climate of fear and insecurity. It is mainly for them that this day exists, he said.

He added that, 25 years ago, the General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Peace as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and that the UN has observed it ever since. It is meant to get people not just thinking of peace, but doing something about it, he said.

The Secretary-General also sent a message to todays High-level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace. He said that relations between adherents of major world religions have been particularly affected by sharply increasing intolerance, extremism and violence. If unaddressed, these may even threaten stability in many places, he added. We have those remarks upstairs as well.

Meanwhile, worldwide, UN offices, as well as governments, schools, non-governmental organizations and communities of faith are also engaging in activities to mark International Peace Day. For example, the UN Political Office for Somalia

said that communities in major population centers throughout the country are celebrating the Day with special activities ranging from peace marches and sporting events to music and dance. In Burundi, UNICEF and the UN Operation there have organized similar activities.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL BRIEFED ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND EXPRESSION

Earlier today the Human Rights Council in Geneva heard presentations on reports by the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion and freedom of expression, and concluded its discussion with the Special Rapporteurs on torture, the Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on arbitrary detention.

The Council also just ended its consideration of a joint report on the situation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay submitted by five UN-appointed rapporteurs. In that report, the Rapporteurs call on the U.S. Government to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay without delay and to ensure that all detainees are not returned where they might be tortured.

At present the Council is taking up a joint report on the incitement to racial and religious hatred and the promotion of tolerance.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

I.C.C. PROSECUTOR HOLDS SECOND PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH STATES AND NGOS: In September and October 2006 Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo of the International Criminal Court will hold a second public hearing in The Hague and New York with States and NGOs. The first public hearing in June 2003 was devoted to discussing the regulations, policies and plans of the Office of the Prosecutor. With more operational experience, the Prosecutor has decided to organize a second set of public hearings this year in order to provide information and increase awareness about the work of the Office.

F.A.O. OPENS A SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE FOR WEST AFRICA IN ACCRA: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced the opening of a new Sub-regional Office for West Africa in Accra following an agreement with the Government of Ghana. The Office will host a multidisciplinary team of international FAO technical experts complemented by junior Ghanaian professionals in the fields of animal health/production, plant production/protection, fisheries, land and water, forestry, policy and investment by the end of November.

NO REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATING REPORTED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN SOMALIA: Asked about any possible UN involvement in investigating a reported assassination attempt against the President of Somalia, the Spokesman said that no formal request for such involvement had been received from the Somali authorities. He noted that the United Nations is in regular contact with the Somali authorities and has an office in Nairobi that deals with Somalia.

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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