United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-12-21

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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 STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, December 21, 2006

ANNAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO TURKMENISTAN ON LEADERS DEATH

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has learned of the sudden death of Turkmen President Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov. President Niyazov made important contributions to United Nations peace processes in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the family of the late President and people of Turkmenistan.

U.N OFFICIAL DELIVERS ANNANS LETTER TO SUDANESE LEADER

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the senior UN official sent to Khartoum, by the Secretary-General, met today with Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir and discussed the way forward on Darfur.

He delivered a letter from the Secretary-General, which has now been distributed to Security Council members.

Also today, Mr. Ould-Abdallah met with the Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol.

Asked for a readout of the meeting between Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the senior UN official currently in Khartoum to deliver a letter from the Secretary-General to President Bashir and follow up on the three-phase approach to the deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur, the Spokesman said that his meeting with the Sudanese leader went well and that the UN was expecting an answer from President Bashir. "Mr. Abdallah will wait for a response in Khartoum," Dujarric added.

Asked if the League of Arab States would take on a greater role in persuading Sudan to allow peacekeepers into Darfur, Dujarri said that Kofi Annan has repeatedly urged countries in the region, including leading ones among the Arab League, to do just that.

REFUGEE CHIEF DEPLORES VIOLENCE

AGAINST CIVILIANS ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER

Despite increasing insecurity, High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres on Thursday pledged his agency's continued support for hundreds of thousands of Darfur refugees and displaced people in remote eastern Chad. But the UNHCR chief said a stronger international presence was needed to protect those affected by the violence and the aid workers trying to help them.

Beginning a two-day mission to Chad, Guterres stressed UNHCR's engagement in the central African nation as it struggles to cope with growing violence and more than 370,000 refugees and internally displaced people.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES BURUNDI, SANCTION-RELATED ISSUES

The Security Council this morning met with the troop-contributing countries to the UN Operation in Burundi and, in closed consultations, heard a briefing by Nureldin Satti, the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi.

Following that, Council members will hold an open meeting on general issues relating to sanctions.

Yesterday, the Council adopted a presidential statement following a meeting on the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, in which it welcomed the Directorates renewed focus on the implementation of the UNs global counter-terrorism strategy and related Security Council resolutions.

In the afternoon, the Council renewed its arms and travel embargoes on Liberia for one year, unanimously adopting a resolution to that effect. Later, the Council held another open meeting on the Great Lakes region of Africa and adopted a presidential statement congratulating the Great Lakes region leaders on the signing of a security pact.

The Security Council wrapped up the day with closed-door consultations on non-proliferation.

SOMALIA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION DETERIORATES FURTHER

The UNs Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, says he is extremely disturbed by the sudden deterioration of the situation in that country.

The resumption of fighting is hurting the frail humanitarian situation in Somalia, which is already aggravated by widespread flooding, he says.

COLOMBIA MUST WORK HARDER TO STEM CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING

According to a new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Colombia needs to do more to crack down on organized crime and illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.

At the same time, however, the perception that Colombia is plagued by a culture of indiscriminate violence is incorrect, the report says.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARAB LEAGUE INITIATIVE ON LEBANON HAS U.N. FULL SUPPORT: Asked if there is also coordination between the United Nations and the League of Arab States on Lebanon, the Spokesman said that the initiative by the League of Arab States Chairman Amr Moussa has the full support of the United Nations, which is being regularly updated by Mr. Moussa through conversations with the Secretary-General and working-level contacts with UN officials on the ground in Lebanon. However, Dujarric added, the initiative is entirely Mr Musa's even as the UN hopes for a positive outcome to it.

KOSOVO ENVOYS REPORT DUE OUT SOON: Asked if Marti Ahtasaari, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the future status process for Kosovo, would recommend that the international community cease to support Kosovo's law enforcement and judicial structures once the process is completed, the Spokesman advised against prejudging the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Envoy's report.

NEPAL PARTIES MUST ADHERE TO PEACE AGREEMENT: Asked the UN perceived the recent Maoist call for a general strike as a threat to the peace process in Nepal, the Spokesman replied that the UN hopes that all parties that have joined the peace process will live up to their commitments under the agreement.

U.N. ETHICS WATCHDOG TO BRIEF THE PRESS: Asked if the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) would brief the press on its work, the Spokesman said that OIOS would so as soon as the General Assembly passes its resolution on OIOS.

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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