United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-12-22

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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, December 22, 2006

[This is the last planned noon briefing for 2006. The briefing resumes on January 2, 2007.]

ANNAN OFFERS U.N. SUPPORT TO ADDRESS NEEDS

OF H.I.V.-INFECTED CHILDREN IN LIBYA

The following statement was made in the Secretary-Generals name today: I have long been following the painful events taking place in Libya regarding the trial of the five Bulgarian nurses, the Palestinian doctor and the fate of the infected children. I was greatly encouraged by the glimpse of hope offered by the appeals process and by the way the international community had recently come together to provide treatment and medicines to the infected children.

I am deeply concerned by confirmation of a guilty verdict and a death sentence and, therefore, appeal to the Libyan and the international community to continue working together in a spirit of reconciliation.

Once again, I offer the support of the United Nations in all efforts to address the needs of the infected children and to find a humane solution for the fate of the medics.

Asked if there had been any recent direct contacts between the Secretary-General and the Libyian and Bulgarian governments, the Spokesman said that Kofi Annan has personally been following this matter closely over the past years and has previously been in telephone contact with the leaders of the two countries in order to resolve the situation. However, Dujarric added, there had been no recent phone conversations between the Secretary-General and the parties.

UNITED NATIONS DEPLORES FIGHTING IN SOMALIA

The Secretary-General strongly deplores the recent outbreak of fighting between the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) near Baidoa.

He is deeply concerned that the escalation of conflict in Somalia will have disastrous consequences for civilians, who are already suffering from the effects of years of instability and deprivation, compounded by the severe flooding that has recently affected parts of the country.

He calls on the TFG and the UIC to cease the hostilities immediately and to resume the peace talks initiated in Khartoum without delay and without any preconditions. He further calls on the two parties to respect the commitments previously agreed upon at Khartoum.

The Secretary-General expresses his grave concern about the continuous reports of the involvement of foreign forces in the current conflict, and he implores all involved to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.

He urges all the countries of the region to do whatever they can to ensure that the parties return to the peace talks and pursue a negotiated settlement of the crisis.

The Security Council, in a presidential statement, also expressed its deep concerns over the continued violence inside Somalia.

SECURITY COUNCIL PAYS TRIBUTE TO KOFI ANNAN,

PLANS TO TAKE ACTION ON IRAN THIS WEEKEND

In the first in a series of meetings held today, the Security Council today paid tribute to the outgoing Secretary-General by adopting by acclamation a resolution that acknowledged the Secretary-Generals contribution to international peace, security and development. The Council President then read a statement on behalf of members expressing their appreciation for the Secretary-General.

Council members then adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone.

That was followed by a meeting that adopted a resolution that extends the mandate of the independent team that assists the Security Council sanctions committee to monitor implementation of sanctions by states against Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their associates.

Council members then adopted a resolution on the Democratic Republic of the Congo that authorizes an infantry battalion on loan from the UN Mission in Burundi to continue to serve with the UN Mission in the DRC until mid-February 2007.

ANNAN AWAITS RESPONSE FROM SUDANESE PRESIDENT

ON WAY FORWARD IN DARFUR

The Secretary-General spoke before the Security Council vote on Sierra Leone, which he described as one of the success stories of our work together.

In that farewell speech to the Security Council, the Secretary-General also spoke on Darfur.

He said he fervently hoped that we are now at last close to rescuing the people of Darfur from their agony.

He went on to say, The reports I have received from my envoy in Khartoum, Mr. Ould Abdallah, encourage me to think we may tomorrow receive a green light from President Bashir for a full ceasefire, a renewed effort to bring all parties into the political process, and deployment of the proposed hybrid African Union-United Nations force to protect the population.

However, he also cautioned, after so many disappointments I take nothing for granted. What I do know is that the Council will continue to work, ably helped by my successor, on these and many other crises.

Asked when to expect a response from President Bashir of Sudan to the Secretary-General's letter on the proposed hybrid peacekeeping force for Darfur, which was hand-delivered to the Sudanese leader by top-ranking UN official, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, who is on special assignment in Khartoum, the Spokesman said that Ould-Abdallah is expected to receive a response from the Sudanese president this weekend and will then forward that to the Secretary-General who may decide to release its contents in parts or in whole to the public.

Asked if Kofi Annan will continue to work on solving the Darfur crisis in the last week of his term in office, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General will continue to press Sudan for a deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur until he leaves office and will continue to follow the dossier as a private citizen. However, Dujarric added, "the helm of the UN will switch to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and in that capacity he will lead the UN's work on Darfur."

STRONGER INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE NEEDED IN CHAD

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres is today visiting strife-torn eastern Chad, where his agency and its partners are struggling to maintain the humanitarian lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Darfur refugees and internally displaced people.

Guterres emphasized his agencys commitment to carry on its work in Chad even in the most difficult of security conditions, but noted that a stronger international presence was needed to improve security for those affected by the violence and the aid workers trying to help them.

Currently, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is only able to maintain skeleton crews in half of the 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad.

ANNAN APPOINTS HEAD OF U.N. OFFICE IN BURUNDI

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint his Deputy Special Representative for Burundi, Youssef Mahmoud of Tunisia, as his Executive Representative for Burundi and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).

BINUB will be established on 1 January 2007, following the conclusion of the mandate of the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) on 31 December.

GEORGIA: PATROLS RESUME IN KODORI VALLEY AFTER MORE THAN 3 YEARS

The UN Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) reports that last week, it resumed its patrols of the Kodori Valley, together with the Commonwealth of Independent States Peacekeeping Forces.

The joint patrol enjoyed freedom of movement throughout the Valley with security guarantees and full cooperation from both the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

Joint patrols of the upper Georgian-controlled part of the Kodori Valley stopped after June 2003, when UN military observers were taken hostage.

The UN Mission says that the resumption should de-escalate current tensions.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES THAILAND

TO RESPECT OBLIGATIONS VIS-À-VIS LAO HMONG MINORITY

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today urged the Thai Government to fully respect its international human rights obligations in relation to some 150 members of the Lao Hmong ethnic minority facing imminent deportation to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Arbour said the group, which includes 85 children, may be subjected to serious human rights violations if returned to their country of origin.

U.N. AGENCIES CONCERNED BY FOOD SHORTAGES IN D.P.R. KOREA

UNICEF says it is afraid that there will be severe food shortages in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea by springtime. The agency has only received half of the $11 million it needs for humanitarian aid to North Korea for 2006, and says that additional funding is immediately required to ensure basic services for women and children in 2007.

The World Food Programme (WFP) meanwhile has identified nearly 2 million North Koreans who are in need of food aid, but only has the funds to feed some 700,000. The Food and Agriculture Organization, for its part, says the situation is critical, as the country faces an estimated cereal deficit of 1 million tons for next year.

U.N. MISSION RESPONDS TO KIDNAPPINGS IN HAITIAN CAPITAL

The UN Mission in Haiti is conducting a joint operation with the Haitian National Police in two neighborhoods in Port-au-Princes Cité Soleil. The objective of this large scale mission, which started early this morning, is to address the current insecurity caused by the recent wave of kidnappings in Port-au-Prince. Part of this mornings plan was to open the main road leading to a neighborhood where a notorious gang leader has his operations. During this operation, exchanges of fire occurred.

Throughout the week, the UN Mission and the Government of Haiti have been working together to conduct security operations in high-risk areas aimed at arresting suspected kidnappers. Such operations so far have resulted in the arrest of 24 kidnapping suspects and the freeing of 6 kidnapped victims. A number of weapons were also seized in the course of these operations.

POST-EMPLOYMENT POLICY ENTERS INTO FORCE

Today the Secretary-General signed a bulletin putting into force regulations regarding post-employment restrictions.

In summary, it outlines clear limitations on UN staff who have been involved in various levels of "procurement activity," in the broadest possible sense; this includes signing or managing a contract, handling bids, etc.

There are two lengths of "restriction": one year and two years -- one year of no employment with a company with which a staff member has had procurement dealings, and two years of no retroactive contact with the UN if the new job relates to his/her former responsibilities.

It also sets out sanctions, such as blacklisting of vendors who have hired former staff with procurement dealings within these timeframes, and placing a note in the personnel file to prevent future re-employment of the individuals.

Asked if the above-described revolving-door was unprecedented for the UN Secretariat, the Spokesman said that the scope of this policy is indeed unprecedented. He added that the policy was on par with best practices in the public sector. Asked if the Secretary-General was subject to the same policy, Dujarric recalled that the Secretary-General is technically not a staff member but that he will continue to follow the highest ethical standards as he has done in the past ten years.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO VERY BEST SPOKESMAN

Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown paid tribute to Stéphane Dujarric, the outgoing Spokesman for the Secretary-General, at todays noon briefing.

Noting he had worked with a number of UN spokesmen throughout the years, he said Dujarric had been the very best. He also acknowledged the hard work Dujarric had done, as he was required to speak on and respond to questions about not only war and peace issues, but difficult topics such as oil-for-food and procurement as well.

Malloch Brown lauded Dujarric for his clarity of communication and for having brought tremendous wit, sharpness, speed and nimbleness, but above all integrity to his job.

Dujarric also said a few words, thanking his Deputy, Marie Okabe, and his staff for their hard work. He also thanked the press for its confidence and for giving him a hard time when he deserved it. When I didnt deserve it, he added, I was enough of a masochist to actually enjoy it.

Asked if a new Spokesman would be named to replace him, Dujarric said that there would be continuity and an announcement would be made in early January as to who will assume the duties of Spokesman for the Secretary-General in the Ban Ki-moon administration.

Asked where documents currently posted on the official website of the Secretary-General would be stored, Dujarric said that the website would be redesigned to reflect the new administration and that documents produced by Kofi Annan's administration will be archived and electronically available.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DESIGNATE TAKES UP DUTIES ON 2 JANUARY

Today was the last planned noon briefing for 2006.

The new Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, is as of now scheduled to arrive for his first day in the office on January 2, 2007. He is expected to arrive at the Secretariat entrance at 9:30 a.m. that day.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

RULES ON OIL-FOR-FOOD DOCUMENTS RELEASED: The rules regarding the handling of the files of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) into the oil-for-food programme, chaired by Paul Volcker, were released today. Their purpose it to ensure the safekeeping and access to the documents, so that investigations by national authorities can continue.

THERE SHOULD BE NO IMPUNITY FOR LARGE-SCALE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES: Asked if the Secretary-General had any comments on the conviction of genocide by an Ethiopian court of former Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam, who is living in exile in Zimbabwe, Dujarric said that it has always been the Secretary-General's belief that there should be no impunity for large-scale abuses of human rights and more even more so for leaders who abuse their people.

UNICEF WELCOMES DUTCH DONATION: UNICEF reports that the Netherlands has just pledged more than $200 million to the agency, to radically expand UNICEFs ongoing efforts to ensure that children in conflict, natural disasters and emerging from crisis can go to school. It is the single largest earmarked donation UNICEF has received in its 60-year history. In related news, tennis star Roger Federer today met with young tsunami survivors in southern India. It was his first official field trip as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

SUPPORTS CHILDRENS HEALTH CAMPAIGN IN AZERBAIJAN: WFP today warned that it will have to stop providing full food rations to more than 106,000 Bhutanese refugees living in camps in eastern Nepal from January 2007, unless the international donor community provides funds immediately. Meanwhile, in Azerbaijan, WFP is helping the Government with a de-worming campaign, aimed at improving the health and intellectual development of the countrys most impoverished children, many of them internally displaced because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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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