United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-08

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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 MICHELE MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, February 8, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS EXPRESS CONCERN

OVER LATEST ISRAEL-LEBANON SKIRMISH

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned about the exchange of fire between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) across the Blue Line last night in the general area of Maroun Al Ras.

The exchange of fire, which was initiated by the LAF after an IDF bulldozer crossed the technical fence in an apparent attempt to clear the area between the technical fence and the Blue Line of mines, constitutes a breach of the cessation of hostilities as laid out in Security Council

resolution 1701 (2006).

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) deployed to the area immediately and was in contact with both sides urging them to cease hostilities. UNIFIL is currently ascertaining all the facts concerning the incident. The Secretary-General encourages the parties to make use of the tripartite coordination mechanism in order to avoid similar incidents in the future.

All such violations of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) endanger the fragile calm that prevails in southern Lebanon. The Secretary-General calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid provocative actions and display responsibility in implementing resolution 1701 (2006).

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Claude Graziano, was in contact with both sides, urging them to cease hostilities immediately. At around 23:30 hrs both sides ceased firing.

UNIFIL troops have been deployed in the area and are ascertaining the facts concerning the incident.

In response to further questions about the situation on the ground, the Spokeswoman said that, according to UNIFIL, the situation in the general area of Maroun Al Ras has been relatively quiet today.

UNIFIL troops have been deployed in significant numbers. They have been ascertaining the facts of yesterdays incident and the findings will be communicated to both parties.

UNIFIL troops, in coordination with the Lebanese army, have also placed a sign to visibly mark the Blue Line in this area.

The Force Commander, Maj. Gen Graziano, has been in contact with the parties and has called for a tripartite meeting with the senior representatives of the Lebanese Army and the Israel Defence Force early next week, Montas added.

After the noon briefing, the Security Council read a press statement on the same subject that said, "The members of the Council expressed deep concern about this incident. They look forward to the ascertaining of all the facts by UNIFIL and to the forthcoming tripartite meeting asked for by UNIFIL Force Commander. The members of the Council appealed to all parties to respect the Blue Line in its entirety, to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that could further escalate the situation."

IRAQ: HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF AGAINST DEATH PENALTY

FOR SADDAM HUSSEINS CO-DEFENDANT

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today filed a legal brief with the Iraqi High Tribunal asserting that international law prohibits the imposition of the death penalty in the case of Taha Yassin Ramadan.

Arbours intervention was submitted in connection with the Court's reconsideration of the sentence of Ramadan, a co-defendant alongside Saddam Hussein, Awad Bandar and Barzan Hassan in proceedings concerning events at Dujail.

In the brief, Arbour argues that the Courts imposition of the death sentence on Taha Yassin Ramadan would violate Iraqs obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Covenant, which Iraq has ratified, provides that a death sentence may only be imposed following proceedings conducted in strict adherence to due process requirements, and guarantees the right to seek a commutation or pardon. In these circumstances, Arbour says, the Court should refrain from imposing the death sentence.

Asked whether Arbour had taken a similar initiative concerning Saddam Hussein and his two co-defendants, the Spokeswoman said that Arbour had made appeals in those cases.

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT IN SUDAN

The Security Council today held consultations on Sudan. Council members heard a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Marie Guéhenno about the Secretary-Generals recent report on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between northern and southern Sudan.

In that report, the Secretary-General warned that both parties must cease using militias as proxy forces and make the integration of other armed groups a top priority. He added that a swift, peaceful resolution to the Darfur conflict could go a long way towards restoring trust between the parties to the Agreement.

DARFUR: INCREASING ATTACKS ON AFRICAN UNION FORCE CONDEMNED

The UN Mission in Sudan reports a number of incidents in Darfur, including an assault on a group of women from the Kalma Camp housing displaced persons who were on their way to collect firewood. The assailants attempted to abduct one of the women but failed, the Mission said.

Meanwhile, the Darfur Peace Agreement Joint Commission met in North Darfur yesterday and issued a statement that deplored and strongly condemned the increase in assaults and attacks on the African Union force in Darfur, as well as aid agencies and organizations personnel and properties, including killings, abduction, stealing and snatching of vehicles.

The meeting was chaired by the African Union and was attended by the signatories of the Darfur Peace Agreement and the Declaration of Commitment, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States as members, and Canada, France, the League of Arab States, the Netherlands, Egypt and the United Kingdom as observers.

AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES RESTORES OPERATIONS IN GAZA

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has restored its humanitarian operations in Gaza, which had been interrupted during recent factional fighting, to full operation.

In a meeting with head teachers from the worst-affected schools in Gaza City, UNRWAs Director of Operations in Gaza, John Ging, expressed the Agencys commitment to continue with the delivery of humanitarian services, in spite of the new and dangerous challenges it faces.

He added, We are all hoping that the political leaders meeting in Mecca will have the courage and wisdom to find solutions to avoid a return to the violence of the past days.

TIMOR-LESTE: SITUATION REMAINS VOLATILE

The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) reports that the situation in Dili remains volatile with some 24 reported instances of fighting and stone-throwing. Ten houses were torched and three UN vehicles were damaged overnight.

Meanwhile yesterdays influx of Movement of National Unity of the Republic (MUNJ) supporters from Liquica District into Dili continued.

Earlier today some 400 to 500 MUNJ supporters made their way to the Government Building, where three representatives met with President Gusmao. Demonstrators are now reportedly moving back toward Liquica, east of Dili.

UNITED NATIONS IS INVESTIGATING RECENT VIOLENCE IN D.R. CONGO

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has put at 134 the number of civilians killed in the recent violence in the Bas Congo province. The Mission says that human rights officers attached to the multidisciplinary teams now investigating the aftermath of the violence will also conduct a survey in four of the provinces towns worst affected by the fighting.

While the World Food Programme continues food delivery to the wounded now in treatment at the Kikanda general hospital, a Mission helicopter yesterday flew a team from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to South Kivu to assess humanitarian conditions there, a few days after UN peacekeepers deployed a mobile operations unit to help maintain public order in the region.

U.N. AGENCIES IS HELPING INDONESIAN FLOOD SURVIVORS

Yesterday it was announced that the World Food Programme was feeding Indonesian flood survivors in Jakarta, following Indonesias request for international assistance. Other UN agencies are now

involved in that relief effort as well. UNICEF, for example, is preparing water bladders and purification tablets and will provide zinc supplements to children to treat diarrhea.

For its part, the UN Population Fund will distribute hygiene kits and reproductive health packages. And the World Health Organization has already helped to establish 15 mobile health units across Jakarta and is carefully monitoring cases of a number of diseases.

CATS CAN GET INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU VIRUS

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning today that cats can become infected with the bird flu virus. But currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that there has been sustained transmission in cats or from cat to human.

As a precautionary measure, FAO recommends that, in areas where the virus has been found in poultry or wild birds, cats should be separated from infected birds until the danger has passed. On commercial poultry premises, cats should even be kept indoors.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS ON SENIOR APPOINTMENTS EXPECTED TOMORROW: Asked whether senior appointments at the UN Secretariat would be announced on Friday, the Spokeswoman said she hoped there would be announcements tomorrow. In response to further questions, she added, some senior appointments would be announced prior to the conclusion of the restructuring process.

UNITED NATIONS AWARE OF PROTESTS IN HAITI: Asked about protests against UN peacekeepers in Haiti, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations was aware of the protests, which have been going on in recent weeks. She added that the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was not reacting to those protests.

NO CHANGE IN START DATE FOR FOOD AGENCY CHIEF: Asked about the Secretary-Generals meeting with World Food Programme Executive Director-designate, Josette Sheeran, the Spokeswoman said that there has been no change in the date, in April, when she will take up her duties.