United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-16

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

Monday, October 16, 2006

FOUR SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECTED FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS

[The General Assembly today elected Belgium, Indonesia, Italy and South Africa to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms starting 1 January 2007.

A fifth non-permanent seat, to be awarded to a member of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, remains in contention after neither Guatemala nor Venezuela obtained the needed two-thirds majority during the first four rounds of voting today.]

ANNAN URGES ERITREA TO WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA SECURITY ZONE

This morning, the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) reported that the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) have moved approximately 1,500 troops and 14 tanks into the Temporary Security Zone. The EDF took over one UNMEE checkpoint in Sector West.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the incursion into the Zone, which was established under the 2000 Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities. This development constitutes a major breach of the ceasefire and the integrity of the TSZ, and could seriously jeopardize the peace process and undermine the Algiers Agreements between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with potential consequences for the wider region.

The Secretary-General urges the Government of Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops from the Zone and cooperate with the United Nations in restoring the ceasefire arrangements.

ANNAN IS ALARMED BY UPSURGE OF VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is alarmed by the upsurge of violence in Sri Lanka in the past several months, including todays appalling suicide bombing of a convoy of military buses. The Secretary-General deplores the escalation of violence.

The Secretary-General stresses once again that a return to civil war will not resolve the conflict. He calls upon all parties to refrain from the use of force and to return to the negotiation table at the end of this month, as tentatively agreed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

ANNAN WELCOMES SUDAN PEACE AGREEMENT

The Secretary-General welcomes the peace agreement signed by the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front on 14 October in Asmara, following the mediation by the Government of Eritrea.

The Secretary-General expresses the hope that the agreement will consolidate the settlement of the conflict in eastern Sudan, and contribute to peace and stability throughout the country. The United Nations stands ready to support the parties in their efforts to implement the agreement.

SUDAN: U.N. ENVOY MEETS WITH OFFICIALS IN NORTH DARFUR

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, is in North Darfur, where he is on a three-day visit as part of his efforts to inform the population there about the UNs support package for the African Union Mission in Sudan.

Today he met today the states governor as well as senior officials from the local government.

He informed them of the implementation process for the support package to the African Union, and he also expressed concern about the fighting that took place near the Chadian border recently between government forces and rebel groups.

Yesterday, Pronk met with the U.S. Presidents Special Envoy, Andrew Natsios, at the latters request, and briefed him on the current situation in Darfur.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan says it has received reports that an international NGO team was attacked at gunpoint by five armed men near the Dorti camp for internally displaced people in West Darfur this past weekend.

LEBANON: U.N. MARITIME TASK FORCE NOW OPERATIONAL

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) yesterday began the work of its Maritime Task Force, led by Germany, which took over from the interim task force that had been led by Italy.

The UNIFIL Maritime Task Force will support the Lebanese Navy in monitoring its territorial waters, securing the Lebanese coastline and preventing arms smuggling. It will include ships and other assets from Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

ANNAN CONCERNED BY LATEST ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE

Asked about the recent violence between Israelis and Palestinians, the Spokesman said that the development was of great concern to the Secretary-General, who calls on all sides to avoid the increase in violence and to push for a return to talks.

Asked what the Secretary-General would do in that regard, the Spokesman said he will continue his contacts, including within the

Middle East Quartet, to advance the process as much as he can.

SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON DPR KOREA

On Saturday, the Security Council unanimously adopted a

resolution condemning the nuclear test proclaimed by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and demanding that it not conduct any further nuclear tests or launches of ballistic missiles.

The Council also decided to ban the supply to the DPRK of a number of specific items, including tanks, combat aircraft, warships, missiles or missile systems and luxury goods. The resolution calls on all Member States to report to the Council within 30 days on the steps they have taken.

There are no Council meetings or consultations scheduled for today.

D.R. CONGO: BEST WAY TO ENSURE PEACE IS TO HAVE AN INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari left Kinshasa yesterday after a three-day visit to the the Democratic Republic of the Congo, satisfied and optimistic about the countrys transition to democracy and the rule of law. Today is the official start of the campaign for the run-off presidential election.

Before he left the country, Gambari appealed to Congolese politicians to accept the results of the elections and urged them not to incite their supporters to violence through their statements or through slanted news coverage in media controlled by them or sympathetic to them. He added that the best way to guarantee peace after the election is to have an inclusive government.

Gambari, who was in the country to reaffirm the UNs support to the electoral process, met with President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the two contenders in the run-off presidential vote. Gambari also met with members of the international community in Kinshasa as well as Congolese civil society leaders.

Asked about reports of the use of forced labour by the Congolese Armed Forces, the Spokesman said that the UN Mission in the DRC and its human rights office have been at the forefront of drawing attention to human rights violations by the Congolese Army. He noted that the Mission has worked with a number of army units to make sure that they adhere to human rights standards.

POLITICAL CARTOONISTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY

The Secretary-General this morning attended the fifth seminar in the Department of Public Informations Unlearning Intolerance series, entitled Cartooning for Peace: The Responsibility of Political Cartoonists.

In remarks to the gathering, the Secretary-General said that cartoons have a special role in forming public opinion. In that regard, cartoonists need to be aware of their responsibility, and at least to think about how their work may be seen, and felt, by different groups of people. We have his full remarks upstairs.

WORLD MUST RENEW ITS PLEDGE TO FIGHT HUNGER

Today is World Food Day, and the theme this year is: Investing in agriculture for food security.

In a message to mark the day, the Secretary-General says the world has the resources and the know-how to make hunger history. But what is needed in sufficient quantity is resolve. On this World Food Day, the Secretary-General says, let us renew our pledge to work together towards a day when no man, woman or child goes to sleep hungry.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization today launched a cartoon-style storybook entitled The Right to Food: A Window on the World and a companion resource and activity guide, to educate young people and motivate them to join in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

U.N. STAFF STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY

UN staff members are participating in an event today to stand up against poverty and show support for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Deputy-Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown, who delivered remarks at a related event at Times Square yesterday, led UN staff and delegates in reciting a pledge against extreme poverty. Also attending was the President of the General Assembly.

Todays event was part of a worldwide effort by the Millennium Campaign to show support for the MDGs and remind world leaders of the commitments they made at the 2005 G8 and UN Summits.

OPIUM CULTIVATION DROPS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today that opium cultivation in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Thailand fell 29 percent in 2006, bringing the total decline in the region to 85 percent since 1998.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said, "It represents an important step towards the goal of eliminating the cultivation of illicit crops worldwide."

According to UNODC, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and Thailand have both reached such low levels of cultivation that they are no longer exporters of opium. In Myanmar, cultivation fell dramatically 85% since 1998. But the country remains the world's second largest opium poppy grower after Afghanistan.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN ENCOURAGES SMOOTH TRANSITION TO NEXT SECRETARY-GENERAL: Asked about the transition to the next Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the Spokesman said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told his staff to make that transfer as smooth and efficient as possible. The Secretary-General, Dujarric said, was happy that Bans appointment was made quickly enough as to give him more time for a transition than the two weeks that Annan had.

U.N. AMBASSADOR NICOLE KIDMAN VISITS KOSOVO: Yesterday, Nicole Kidman

concluded her first two-day visit to Kosovo as UNIFEMs Goodwill Ambassador. Together with UNIFEM Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer, she met with women who had been victims of sexual violence, war widows and women who are still searching for missing family members. She also met with women leaders and representatives from civil society.

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