United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-23

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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, October 23, 2006

ANNAN REVIEWS SUDANESE REQUEST TO WITHDRAW U.N. ENVOY

Secretary-General Kofi Annan received yesterday a letter from the Government of

Sudan requesting him to withdraw his Special Representative, Jan Pronk, from the Republic of the Sudan.

The Secretary-General is reviewing the letter and has, in the meantime, requested Pronk to come to New York for consultations.

Pronk is leaving Sudan tonight and is expected to be at UN Headquarters on Wednesday.

Asked about Pronks status, the Spokesman said that he has been called back to discuss the Sudanese letter, but his status remains unchanged. He remains the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sudan, and serves with the Secretary-Generals full confidence, Dujarric said.

The Spokesman noted that Pronk will be at UN Headquarters on Wednesday, which would provide an opportunity to hear firsthand from him. The Secretary-General is keen to hear from Pronk, he said, adding that he did not want to prejudge what the result of those discussions would be.

He added that the United Nations commitment to working in Sudan remains unchanged, including its implementation of the peace agreement between the North and South and its effort to resolve the situation in Darfur.

In response to questions, the Spokesman noted that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would hold a meeting with Sudans UN Ambassador this afternoon, as part of the effort to follow up on the Sudanese letter.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would relay concerns about his blog to Pronk, the Spokesman said he had answered those questions on Friday.

Asked whether the United Nations shared the assessment in Pronks blog that the Sudanese military had suffered recent setbacks, the Spokesman said that the United Nations has provided regular updates on the military situation in Darfur, and the Secretary-General had repeatedly expressed his concern about the Sudanese military buildup there.

Asked who will replace Pronk while he is in New York for consultations, the Spokesman said that his deputy would be in charge of the UN Mission in Sudan while he is in New York.

Asked whether Pronk would speak to the Security Council, the Spokesman said that was a decision for the Council, but added that the Secretary-General intended to inform the Council about the latest developments. The Secretary-General, he added, had brought his Special Representative back for consultations on his own authority.

Asked whether the United Nations would establish a policy on UN officials talking to blogs about their official work, the Spokesman said that whatever policy changes are made would be interpretations of existing staff rules. He said that the Secretary-General has fairly liberal rules on staff being able to write and speak freely, but they need to exercise judgment.

Asked whether U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken by phone with the Secretary-General about this matter, the Spokesman said that no call had taken place earlier this morning.

Asked about the UNs work in helping the African Union Mission in Sudan, the Spokesman said that was moving ahead, with more than a dozen police and military advisers sent to the African Union Mission and more on their way. The UN effort is continuing, as is the cooperation for this effort by the Sudanese Government.

SLOVAK AMBASSADOR TO CHAIR NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE

Following consultations last week, the members of the Security Council have agreed to elect Ambassador Peter Burian of Slovakia as the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee dealing with

resolution 1718, concerning the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Argentina and Qatar will be the Vice Chairs of that Committee.

There are no consultations or meetings of the Security Council scheduled for today.

DISAPPOINTING TURN IN COTE DIVOIRE, ANNAN REPORTS

Available today is the latest report of the Secretary-General on the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire. In it, the Secretary-General notes that events in that country have taken a negative and disappointing turn over the past three months. He says that the Prime Minister continues to face constraints in exercising the authority granted him by the Security Council, in particularly as it relates to the Defence and Security Forces and public funding for key aspects of the transition.

The Secretary-General also reports that public hearings for a comprehensive identification of the population have ground to a halt in many areas, due to the disruptive activities of the Young Patriots and other supporters of the Ivorian Popular Front of President Laurent Gbabgo.

The report also says that a breakdown in the military dialogue between the government and rebels has led many combatants to abandon the pre-cantonment sites set up as part of the disarmament program.

Asked about the plans for a transition in Cote dIvoire, the Spokesman said that the Security Council would discuss that matter this week, and he added that the United Nations hopes that any decisions taken by the Council will be heeded by all parties.

CRISES OF LEADERSHIP PERSIST IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Available today is the interim report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic. In it, he says that disagreements persist within many of the political parties, due to crises of leadership and reorganization.

The Secretary-General also notes that lack of security continues to be a major concern, especially as deadly violence flares intermittently between government troops and rebels, a situation that has had a negative impact on the human rights situation as a whole.

The Secretary-General concludes with a request for an extension of the mandate of the local UN Office, saying that UN commitment remains essential in the consolidation of peace in that country.

NEW HUMANITARIAN APPEAL LAUNCHED FOR AFGHANISTAN

On Sunday, the Afghan Government and the United Nations

appealed for a further $43 million to respond to the humanitarian needs of people affected by Afghanistans drought and those families displaced by the recent conflict in southern Afghanistan.

That is on top of the appeal launched in July for nearly $76.4 million, for an initial six month-period. Approximately 53 per cent of that appeal has been received so far.

It is now estimated that, due to the drought conditions, 1.9 million people will need food assistance -- 200,000 more than estimated in July.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES RELIGIOUS LEADERS

COMMITMENTS AGAINST VIOLENCE

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq,

applauded the declaration agreed to in Mecca on halting the violence in Iraq, and he called it a major step towards healing that countrys wounds. Qazi applauded Iraqs religious leaders, who drafted and signed the text of this declaration, and called on Iraqi leaders to commit themselves to the letter and spirit of this declaration.

As the declaration noted, the worsening security situation made it imperative that Iraqi Muslims were united against sectarian violence. Qazi said that the United Nations stands ready to provide any assistance required to facilitate the implementation of this declaration.

TRANSITION TO NEXT SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDERWAY

Asked about the transition to the next Secretary-General, the Spokesman said that process was going smoothly, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan determined to have a smooth and effective transition.

As part of that effort, Dujarric said, a transition team was being formed with both current UN officials and people chosen by the Secretary-General-designate. He said that the representatives from the current Executive Office were Chef de Cabinet Alicia Barcena and Robert Orr, director of the Office for Strategic Planning.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN MARKS UNITED NATIONS DAY: Tomorrow is UN Day. In a message to mark the day, the Secretary-General says that over the past ten years, we have made some big steps forward in our common struggle for development, security and human rights yet there is much needs to be done. He encourages all leaders to work with his successor to make the UN stronger and more effective.

VIOLATIONS OF LEBANON RESOLUTION ARE ISSUES OF CONCERN: Asked about the Secretary-Generals concerns about Israeli overflights of Lebanon, the Spokesman said that any violation of

resolution 1701 is a concern to the Secretary-General. He said the matter would be dealt with primarily on the political and diplomatic level.

ANNAN CONCERNED AS ALWAYS ABOUT NORTH KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION: Asked about the Secretary-Generals concerns following the recent human rights report on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has always been extremely concerned about the human rights and humanitarian situation in that country, on which the report painted a severe picture.

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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