United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-11-10

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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

Friday, November 10, 2006

ANNAN TO VISIT TURKEY, KENYA, ETHIOPIA AND SWITZERLAND

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is leaving New York this weekend for Turkey, Kenya, Ethiopia and Switzerland.

In Istanbul, the Secretary-General will receive the final report of the High-Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations, an initiative of the Secretary-General, co-sponsored by the Prime Ministers of Spain and Turkey. He will deliver a speech about the need for concerted social and political action to repair relations between people of different traditions and cultures.

Then in Nairobi, he will address the high-level segment of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, where he will stress the need for leadership and urgent action on a global threat that grows more alarming with every passing day.

While in Addis Ababa, the Secretary-General will attend the opening of the Fifth African Development Forum, where he will deliver his last major speech on development.

In St. Gallen, Switzerland, he will deliver a speech on biotechnology and human security - discussing the need to ensure biotechnologys advances are used for the public good, and shared equitably around the world, while managing the potential risks. There, he will accept the Max Schmidheiny Foundation Freedom Prize, which is presented to individuals and institutions that have made special contributions to the maintenance and development of open societies. He has directed the $100,000 portion of the prize to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

His program in Switzerland also includes the inauguration of the UNAIDS/WHO building and remarks to the opening of the Sixth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention.

He intends to be back in New York on Tuesday 21 November.

SECURITY TO MEET ON MIDDLE EAST THIS AFTERNOON

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations today at 4 p.m. on the situation in Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals position on whether there should be an international investigation into Israeli attacks in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Spokesman said that the Security Council is discussing a draft resolution concerning that issue at present, and it would be up to Council members to comment on the issue.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSIONS HEAD TO AFGHANISTAN

AND AFRICAN UNION MEETING ON DARFUR

The Security Council mission to Afghanistan led by Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan is on its way to Kabul. Out as a document is a Security Council letter with the composition of the delegation and its terms of reference. That mission returns to New York on 17 November.

And in a letter to the Secretary-General, the Security Council President informs him that the members have decided to send a mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend a consultative meeting on Darfur on Monday 13 November, organized by the African Union. That mission is being led by Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom. And the U.N. Secretariat will be represented at that meeting by Assistant-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Heidi Annabi.

U.N. RIGHTS CHIEF WARNS OF MORE MILITIA ATTACKS IN WEST DARFUR

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today

warned that unless the Sudanese Government curbs and disarms militia in West Darfur there could be more attacks like those around the Jebel Moon area that left over 50 civilians dead and thousands displaced late last month.

Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expresses serious concern about the Norwegian Refugee Council having to withdraw from Darfur and the implications of this development on those they were assisting. They have played a key role in the Kalma camp, the largest and most difficult camp housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur as well as in the largest IDP concentration in the region, which is in the town of Gereida.

And Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland is currently en route to the region, where he will visit Sudan and Uganda.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF URGES INCLUSIVENESS AND TRANSPARENCY

DURING MYANMAR VISIT

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari held a number of meetings today with representatives of diverse groups participating in Myanmars National Convention, and also briefly witnessed the Convention in session at its location outside of Yangon.

In the course of his discussions, Mr. Gambari stressed the need for a more inclusive and transparent political process in Myanmar, one in which all of Myanmars people can find their voice, including those groups not represented at the Convention. In response to appeals made by representatives of ethnic groups, he made it clear that the U.N. stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance to all regions of the country.

U.N. ENVOY TO UNVEIL PROPOSAL ON KOSOVO STATUS IN EARLY 2007

The U.N. envoy for the Kosovo status talks, Martti Ahtisaari, has

said that, after consulting with the Kosovo Contact Group today, he has decided to present his proposal for the settlement of Kosovo status to the parties without delay after the parliamentary elections in Serbia, which are to be held on 21 January.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, Joachim Rücker, says that while awaiting Ahtisaaris proposal, he expects Kosovos leaders to continue to speak with one voice.

TOTAL STRENGTH OF UN FORCE IN LEBANON REACHES 9,700

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that 129 troops from the Indonesian Battalion have arrived in Lebanon today, bringing the forces total troop strength to about 9,700. Twenty-one countries are now represented in UNIFIL.

On the humanitarian side, more than 700 civilians received medical and dental treatment from the French, Indian, Italian and Spanish battalions over the past week. Also, UNIFIL Engineers conducted 58 controlled demolitions of unexploded ordnance.

Meanwhile, UNICEF and the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International have launched a television series that is the first of its kind in the Middle East region. Airing twice a week, Sawtna (Our Voice), is created and produced by young people aged 15 to 21.

Asked how UNIFIL would respond to further Israeli violations of the Blue Line, the Spokesman said that UNIFIL has been dealing with all violations through political and diplomatic efforts.

In response to a comment about recent friction between Israeli and French forces, the Spokesman said that there had been a series of air violations on 31 October, in which Israeli planes flew over French UNIFIL positions.

UNIFIL, Dujarric said, responded by making strong protests to the Israelis, asking them to cease those actions, which were in violation of Security Council resolution 1701. The UN force issues protests every time that violations of the resolution occur.

Asked whether UNIFIL was not helping the Lebanese Army, the Spokesman added that UNIFIL has been working actively with the Lebanese Army to ensure its full deployment throughout all of Lebanon. He noted that, except for the northern part of the village of Ghajar and some of its surrounding area, Israel has completely withdrawn from Lebanon. UNIFIL, meanwhile, continues to work with both sides.

UNITED NATIONS WARNS OF SURGE IN VIOLENCE IN NORTHEAST UGANDA

In a statement today, the Acting U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in that country, Theophane Nikyema, expresses grave concerns about the escalating violence and loss of life, property and human dignity in Ugandas northeastern Kotido District.

He urges national and local authorities to undertake all measures required to protect the civilian population, and notes that the U.N. has been handing out food and basic supplies to civilians affected by the violence.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT REACHES HISTORIC HIGH

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations says that U.N. peacekeeping deployment reached a historic high at the end of October, with some 80,900 military and police personnel and some 15,000 civilians serving in peace operations around the world.

The current surge in U.N. peacekeeping began in October 2003, with the deployment of major operations to Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Burundi and the Sudan as well as the expansion of the mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This represents a growing confidence in United Nations peacekeeping as a means to help build post-conflict stability, according to Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

ANNAN: DEVELOPMENT INEFFECTIVE WITHOUT WOMENS INVOLVEMENT

This afternoon at three, in the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) chamber, the Secretary-General will mark the 60th anniversary of the Commission on the Status of Women.

In his remarks, he is expected to say that the world is finally starting to grasp that there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women and girls.

He is also expected to say that, although this will be his last time addressing the Commission as Secretary-General, it will not be the end of his fight for the empowerment of women.

After he leaves office, he will add, he hopes to make the advancement of women and girls a main theme of his efforts -- particularly in Africa.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEADING CHINESE PHYSICIAN CONFIRMED AS NEW W.H.O DIRECTOR: Dr. Margaret Chan of China will be the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (W.H.O), following the confirmation of her appointment last night by the World Health Assembly. After her appointment, Chan told the Assembly that she wanted to be judged by the impact W.H.O's work has on the people of Africa and on women across the globe.

LIVE WEBCAST OF CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE TO BE PROVIDED: The U.N. Webcast team is providing Live and on-demand Webcast coverage of the Climate Change Conference now underway in Nairobi. The live and on-demand Webcast is available at: http://www.un.org/webcast/unfccc/

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, November 11

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland starts his mission to Africa. Expected stops include: Juba, Southern Sudan; Kampala, Uganda; and Khartoum and Darfur, in Sudan.

Sunday, November 12

The Secretary-General arrives in Istanbul, Turkey.

Monday, November 13

In Istanbul, the Secretary-General is scheduled to attend the final meeting of the High-Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations and accept its "Action Plan."

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for consultations on Darfur with African Union officials. A Security Council mission led by British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry will also attend.

Tuesday, November 14

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations this morning on the prevention of armed conflicts.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno will come to the noon briefing to present the new Portfolio of Mine Action Projects.

Wednesday, November 15

The Secretary-General plans to deliver a speech to the high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown will be in Brussels to participate in the first edition of European Development Days and address the segment on "Perspectives on Governance." The event is part of the follow-up to the new European Consensus on development.

Thursday, November 16

Today is the International Day for Tolerance.

The Secretary-General will be in Addis Ababa, where he is expected to attend the opening of the Fifth African Development Forum and deliver a speech.

Friday, November 17

The Security Council mission returns from Afghanistan.

A team of experts led by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate begins a weeklong visit to Pakistan to monitor progress in implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001).

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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