United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-14

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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

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN IRAN

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns the terrorist attack on a bus in the southeastern city of Zahedan carrying Iranian security officers, which killed at least 18 people and wounded many more.

He reiterates that no cause can justify the use of terrorist violence.

He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

BAN KI-MOON OBSERVES SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF HARIRI ASSASSINATION

On the second anniversary of the terrorist attack which took the lives of Rafic Hariri and twenty two others, the United Nations reaffirms its commitment to assisting Lebanon in its efforts to uncover the truth and bring to justice the perpetrators of this despicable act. On this sad occasion the Secretary-General reiterates his sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the people and Government of Lebanon.

At this critical point for Lebanon, and as homage for other lives lost, it is important that all sides return to dialogue and seek the reconciliation, national unity and stability for which Rafic Hariri worked during his lifetime.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS LEBANON BUS ATTACKS

Yesterday afternoon, following the conclusion of the open debate on the Middle East, the Security Council held consultations on Lebanon.

Afterwards, in a statement to the press, the Security Council President, Ambassador Peter Burian of Slovakia, said that Council members condemned in the strongest terms the targeted attacks that took place earlier that day on two public buses. Council members welcomed the determination of the Lebanese Government to bring the perpetrators and sponsors to justice.

Asked about a phone conversation held yesterday between the Secretary-General and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, the Spokeswoman said that they had discussed the incident that took place on Tuesday. Siniora, she said, had written to the Secretary-General, requesting technical assistance from the International Independent Investigation Commission in the effort to investigate the bombing near the town of Bikfaya. The Secretary-General has forwarded that letter to the Security Council.

BAN KI-MOON TO VISIT GERMANY AND AUSTRIA NEXT WEEK

The Secretary-General will travel to Berlin and Vienna next week.

In Berlin, he plans to attend the

Middle East Quartet meeting and will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German officials.

Following an invitation by the Government of Austria, the Secretary General will also visit Vienna from the 22 to 24 February. He will meet with Federal President Heinz Fischer, Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and Parliament President Barbara Prammer. The Secretary-General will also visit the Vienna International Centre, to meet with the Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, Antonio Maria Costa, with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, and with UN staff.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MISSION IS UNABLE TO VISIT DARFUR

The Human Rights Councils fact-finding mission to Darfur, in a

press release issued in Addis Ababa, announced that it decided that it can no longer allow the continued uncertainty regarding visas from Sudan to impede the continuance of the mission, having completed its very important and productive Darfur consultations and briefings in Addis Ababa.

Mission Leader Jody Williams said that the mission will proceed and collect all relevant information from locations outside the country. The missions report to the Human Rights Council, she said, will be presented as mandated.

The mission will continue its work in Addis and other locations and return to Geneva, as scheduled, on 21 February, after which it will prepare its report to present to the Council at its fourth regular session in March.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals discussions with President Omar al-Bashir about the human rights team, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is disappointed that the mission is not proceeding to Sudan. She noted that he had pressed President Bashir in his meeting at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa to allow the team to proceed, and had hoped the mission would be allowed to go in as soon as possible.

She added that the Secretary-General was disappointed as well that humanitarian access has been impeded.

Asked whether Bashir had promised that the team would be allowed access, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is expecting a letter from Bashir, notably on peacekeeping issues, and would press for answers on those questions.

INSECURITY CONTINUES IN DARFUR

The Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and African Union Special Envoy Salim Ahmed Salim left today for Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. They will be holding in Darfur, today and tomorrow, meetings with local authorities, representatives and field commanders of the non-signatory rebel groups of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), meanwhile, continues to reports security incidents in Darfur. Todays bulletin includes reports on blockages of UN humanitarian convoys in North Darfur, the hijacking of an ambulance in South Darfur and an attack on a compound housing an international non-governmental organization.

KOSOVO: POLICE COMMISSIONER RESIGNS IN WAKE OF PROTESTORS DEATHS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo, Joachim Rucker, today

asked UN Police Commissioner Stephen Curtis to resign from his post, in the wake of two deaths that resulted from last weekends violent protest in Pristina.

Expressing his regret over the tragic deaths, Rucker stressed that the Commissioners resignation did not prejudge the investigation into the incident. That investigation will proceed in a transparent and independent manner, he added.

Asked about the reasons that Rucker had asked for the resignation of the police chief, the Spokeswoman said that the fact that two deaths occurred and were caused by rubber bullets, along with the initial results of the investigation, raises some serious questions about possible cases of misconduct.

Rucker wanted to ensure accountability and to restore public confidence in the police, she said. She added that the investigation into this matter is continuing.

Asked with whom Rucker consulted before making his decision, Montas said he had consulted with the Department for Peacekeeping Operations and with the Secretary-Generals office.

UNITED NATIONS TO OPEN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN BOLIVIA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the Government of Bolivia have signed in La Paz an agreement to establish an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the country. The Government was represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Choquehuanca.

The new office, to be based in La Paz and be active throughout the country, aims to contribute to the reinforcement of national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular by assisting the Bolivian authorities in the elaboration and implementation of strategies and programmes.

U.N. AGENCIES HELP BOLIVIAN FLOOD SURVIVORS

As the number of people affected by severe flooding in Bolivia has risen by 25,000 in recent days, UN agencies and their humanitarian partners are

working to support the Government of Bolivia in its response. Overall, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, some 200,000 people have been affected by the flooding.

In response, the World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed food to more than 60,000 people, and is planning to assess needs in Beni province, where five rivers have overflowed their banks,

UNICEF has made $30,000 available for water analysis and treatment activities, and for the construction of emergency latrines. Also, the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization have provided medicines and medical supplies used to treat those injured in the flooding and help prevent the spread of disease.

GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES MUST COOPERATE TO REDUCE TENSION

Yesterday, the Secretary-Generals Group of Friends for Georgia Germany, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States wrapped up a two-day meeting in Geneva. Also participating were the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Georgia, Jean Arnault, and representatives of the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.

Encouraging the sides to resume dialogue, the Friends stressed the need for immediate engagement on security issues, both in the upper Kodori valley and the zone of conflict. They highlighted the need to refrain from any action that could impede progress or undermine confidence, and urged the sides to take into account one anothers sensitivities and to cooperate to deescalate tensions.

The Friends also reaffirmed the right of return of internally displaced persons and refugees to Abkhazia, Georgia; and encouraged the sides to focus on practical steps to improve conditions for returns.

The Georgian and Abkhaz sides assured the Friends of their willingness to move forward on these issues.

RICH COUNTRIES CAN DO MORE TO IMPROVE CHILDRENS WELL-BEING

The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre today released the Report Card 7, which is the first comprehensive assessment on the welfare of children and young people in the worlds advanced economies.

The report - dubbed Child Poverty in Perspective - states that in rich countries, childrens basic needs have been generally met but there is scope for further progress in child well-being.

The report shows that among all of the 21 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), there are improvements to be made and that no single OECD country leads in all six of the areas that measure childrens well being, including material well-being, health and safety, education, and peer and family relationships.

BAN KI-MOON LAUDS LATIN AMERICAN NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-FREE ZONE

On the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the Secretary-General, in a message, today says that the commemoration of nations forging agreements to ban nuclear weapons can help energize efforts to halt, and reverse the spread of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world.

His message is being delivered by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Nobuaki Tanaka in Mexico City today.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL WANTS ANTI-GENOCIDE POST STRENGTHENED: Asked about the post of Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General never intended to downgrade that post, and in fact wanted it reinforced, and made into more than a part-time position. She noted that Special Adviser Juan Mendez intended to leave the post, and would be replaced.

BAN KI-MOON CONTINUES RESTRUCTURING TALKS: Asked about UN restructuring, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General and his team were holding three meetings today with groups of Member States on restructuring. She added, in response to a further question, that it was a priority for the Secretary-General to fill the posts of Special Representatives presently vacant.

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD ENSURE JUSTICE: Asked about a request from the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Relations Committee for Benon Sevan to be tried, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations believes that justice should take place, and it is up to national authorities to act.

MARIA SHARAPOVA IS APPOINTED UNDP GOODWILL AMBASSADOR: The worlds top-ranked womens tennis player, Maria Sharapova, was

appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). At the same time, Sharapova announced a donation of $100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects.

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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