United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-03

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

ANNAN PLEASED THAT GEORGIA AND RUSSIA RESOLVE ARREST ISSUE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is pleased that Georgia and the Russian Federation have been able to resolve the issue of the recent arrest of Russian officers in Georgia in a peaceful and constructive manner.

He appreciates the efforts undertaken by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office, H.E. Mr. Karel de Gucht, to help bring about this result.

The Secretary-General expresses the hope that all parties concerned will refrain from statements or actions that could affect stability in the region, and encourages them to engage constructively to address existing problems.

U.N. FORCE IN LEBANON ENHANCING ITS OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is steadily enhancing its operational capabilities in order to fulfill its responsibilities under Security Council resolution 1701. More than 3,000 additional troops, for a current total of around 5,200, plus an Interim Maritime Task Force, have been deployed so far.

UNIFIL says that, should the situation present any risk of resumption of hostile activities, its rules of engagement allow UN forces to respond as required. UNIFIL commanders have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind.

UNIFIL has set up temporary checkpoints at key locations within its

area of operations, while permanent checkpoints are being established by the Lebanese Armed Forces to stop and search passing vehicles.

In case specific information is available regarding movement of unauthorized weapons or equipment, the Lebanese Army will take the required action, but if it is not in a position to do so, UNIFIL will do everything necessary to fulfill its mandate.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN LEBANON TO REACH 655,000 PEOPLE

The World Food Programme has started its third and final round of food distributions. This round, which should wrap up by 15 October, is expected to reach 655,000 people in southern

Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization is helping Lebanon speed up the recovery of its agriculture sector. Among the agencys current projects is one aimed at strengthening veterinary services, in order to prevent and control bird flu outbreaks.

UN-HABITAT plans to establish an office in Beirut to coordinate with the Lebanese Government on projects dealing with reconstruction and shelter issues.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED GEORGIA, NORTH KOREA

The Security Council met in consultations this morning to discuss the programme of work for the month of October.

Under other matters, members also discussed the situations involving Georgia and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea as well as the timing of the formal vote on the selection of the next Secretary-General.

NEW TENSION BETWEEN GEORGIA AND ABKHAZIA

The Secretary-Generals latest report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, which covers a period from 26 June 2006 to 28 September 2006, was issued today.

In it, he says a new and tense situation emerged between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides, particularly as a result of the Georgian special operation in the upper Kodori Valley.

He adds that a negotiated solution for the conflict is undoubtedly difficult to reach today, as the positions of the two sides have grown further apart over the years on the question of political status. Nevertheless, there is no alternative to dialogue.

The threat of force can only deepen existing mistrust, and a resumption of violence would be the worst possible outcome for the communities concerned and for the stability of the region and beyond, he says.

Given recent developments, the Secretary-General recommends an extension of the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia for a further six months, until 15 April 2007.

SPECIAL PATROLS BEGIN IN KINSHASA AIMED AT PREVENTING CLASHES

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is taking part in patrols called Kinshasa, city without weapons that have been launched with the aim of preventing armed clashes in the

capital.

The patrols follow an agreement reached by representatives of President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the two candidates for the second round of the presidential poll.

The patrols started yesterday and they are made up of elements of the Congolese National Police, the Military Police of the Congos armed forces, formed UN Police units and the European Union police mission in Kinshasa.

ENDURING TENSIONS HIGHLIGHT RISK OF SETBACKS IN GUINEA-BISSAU

The Secretary-Generals latest report on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the UN Peace-building Support Office in that country was issued today.

In it, the Secretary-General says a strong commitment to improve the political climate continued to emerge over the past three months, but enduring tensions and difficulties highlight the ever-present risk of occasional setbacks.

He says the socio-economic situation remains dire, and its important that the international community continue to support Guinea-Bissaus efforts to attain greater political stability.

He adds that he believes the United Nations should continue to play a key role in Guinea-Bissau, and with that in mind, he plans to slightly revise the mandate of the UN Peace-building Support Office and request its extension until the end of 2007.

HOSTILITIES IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN

RESULT IN GROWING NUMBER OF DISPLACED PERSONS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it is concerned about the increasing number of internally displaced people in southern

Afghanistan, following the recent hostilities between government forces, NATO and insurgents.

UNHCR, together with UNICEF, has distributed plastic sheeting, blankets and warm clothes for children to approximately 3,200 families in the region. The World Food Programme, for its part, is providing food aid.

U.N. ENVOY IN ETHIOPIA AS PART OF MISSION TO PROMOTE PEACE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, visited Ethiopia today as part of a seven-nation mission to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia. He is scheduled to travel to Eritrea tomorrow to continue his discussions.

Acting on recommendations contained in the Security Council

Presidential Statement of 13 July 2006, Ambassador Fall also plans to visit Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen for consultations with their respective leaders.

Among the most critical issues on Ambassador Fall's agenda is the third round of the Khartoum peace talks, scheduled for 30 October between the Transitional Federal Institutions based in Baidoa and the Union of Islamic Courts established in Mogadishu.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED ABOUT PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN IRAQ

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is deeply concerned about the well-being of Palestinian refugees inside Iraq, as well as those who fled targeted harassment and violence in Baghdad and are now stuck at the border between Iraq and Syria and in camps in Jordan and Syria.

UNHCR says that the security situation of Palestinian refugees in Iraq has deteriorated -- particularly since the Samarra bombings last February. Palestinians in Iraq lack protection, have serious problems obtaining identity cards, and have been the target of continuing harassment, death threats, kidnapping and killings.

Under the present circumstances, UNHCR says, return to Iraq was not an option for the Palestinians who have fled, unless security was restored.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROCEDURES REVIEW

Today in Geneva, the Human Rights Council heard a progress report from the working group dealing with the review of mandates of special procedures of the UNs human rights machinery.

Tomorrow, the Council will hear a presentation on last months mission to Lebanon and Israel by: the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on the right to health; the Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights of internally displaced persons; and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing.

The Council will also hear a separate presentation by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, on his separate mission to Lebanon last month.

Asked whether the Secretary-General shared the view that the Human Rights Council is biased against Israel, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General made clear in his press conference last month that he hoped that the Council would look at human rights situations around the world, rather than focusing on one country in the manner of the old Human Rights Commission.

Dujarric added that the Secretary-General had hoped that the Council would help countries to build better protection structures for human rights.

Asked whether it was appropriate that the Human Rights Council was raising the issue of Uzbekistan in a private meeting, the Spokesman said that the Council is the master of its own operations, but added that it would be good if it could operate with the greatest amount of transparency. He noted that one of the main accomplishments of the new Human Rights Council was its peer review mechanism.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS NEW UNITED NATIONS BEING CREATED

The Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, is in Brussels today, where this morning he addressed the European Parliaments Development and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Yesterday, also in Brussels, he delivered a speech to the Belgian Royal Institute of International Relations. In those remarks, he said that, for those who believed in international organizations, there had been a real sense of dismay at the fact that nearly all of those bodies were in a profound crisis of legitimacy, mandate and purpose.

Nevertheless, he added, we really are creating a genuinely new United Nations based around the three pillars of development and security and human rights, backed by a reformed management structure and a more coherent, committed system working on the ground around the world, that we hope will reconnect us with the people.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. AGENCIES PROVIDING AID FOLLOWING FLOODS AND CHOLERA IN WEST AFRICA: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that, following flooding and cholera outbreaks throughout West Africa, UN agencies have been handing out food, medicines, disinfectants and tents in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Guinea.

HOLE IN OZONE LAYER OVER ANTARCTIC IS MOST SERIOUS ON RECORD: The World Meteorological Organization says the hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was the most serious on record. It was the largest in surface area and also suffered the most mass deficit, meaning that there was less ozone over the Antarctic than ever before.

U.N. PEACEMAKER WEBSITE LAUNCHED TODAY: At 3:00 p.m. today at UN Headquarters, the UN Department of Political Affairs launched into the public domain a new website, U.N. Peacemaker, which is designed as a support tool for U.N. and non U.N. peace envoys, as well as the general public. The site already contains the most comprehensive indexed database of modern peace agreements available on the Internet. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will hosted the event.

ANNAN CLOSELY FOLLOWING SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA: Asked whether the Secretary-General would revive the position of a special envoy for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Spokesman said he was not aware that anyone would be appointed to that position, but said that the Secretary-General was following the situation in that country closely through the Department for Political Affairs.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article