United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-15

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, February 15, 2007

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATES OF HAITI AND D.R. CONGO MISSIONS

The Security Council this morning unanimously adopted resolutions extending the mandates of two UN peacekeeping missions.

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was extended by two months, and the mission in Haiti was extended by eight months.

The Security Council went back into consultations to consider a letter they received on Tuesday from the Secretary-General, concerning a request from Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora for technical assistance from the International Independent Investigation Commission in the effort to investigate the bombing that took place that day near the town of Bikfaya.

Council members also intended to discuss a possible press statement concerning the recent attack in Iran, on which we issued a statement from the Secretary-General yesterday. [Security Council President Peter Burian of Slovakia later read a press statement on Iran):

The Security Council later held their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General, who spoke to reporters afterwards.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MISSION TRAVELS TO CHAD TO

ASSESS HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN DARFUR

In response to a question about the denial of visas to a team sent by the Human Rights Council to Sudan, the Spokeswoman said that the

team had announced in Addis Ababa that they would continue their work on Darfur outside Sudan.

The Secretary-General, Okabe said, was disappointed that the team could not get into Sudan, and she added that he had raised that issue with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when they had met on the sidelines of the African Union summit.

Now, she said, the mission will continue its work, and it has gone to Chad, where it is interviewing refugees who have fled from Darfur. The team intends to complete its work on the ground by next week.

AGENCY CHIEF URGES FURTHER ADMISSION OF IRAQI REFUGEES

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement by the United States that it will contribute $18 million dollars to UNHCRs $60 million appeal for its Iraq operations this year. The United States also said it would expand its capacity to receive referrals for up to 7,000 of the most vulnerable Iraqi refugees this year.

Those pledges came following a meeting yesterday between Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.

In a press release today, Guterres also noted that Syria and Jordan have been generous in welcoming Iraqi refugees, but that situation is becoming difficult to bear. He said that it is important that the international community help those countries in their efforts to protect and assist Iraqi refugees.

Asked which countries from the Middle East may attend a donors' conference on Iraqi refugees in Geneva this April, the Spokeswoman later said that among the countries in the region expected to attend were Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Other countries from the region could also attend but had not yet confirmed.

U.N. OFFICIAL GATHERS THE VIEWS OF IRAQS NEIGHBORS IN REGIONAL TOUR

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, met today with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The two discussed recent developments in Iraq and the important role the neighbouring states can play in reducing violence and promoting stability in the country.

The meeting in Ankara is part of Qazis regional tour, designed to learn the views of the governments of the region and explore the different ways these governments can help enhance Iraqs stability and regional reintegration.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PROPOSES DRAFTING

OF CODE OF CONDUCT FOR D.R. CONGO MINING SECTOR

Available today is a report of the Secretary-General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In it, the Secretary-General proposes that alternative measures be explored with a view to reducing the influence of economic operators that use proceeds from natural-resource exploitation to buy and import weapons.

He also recommends that the Congolese Government promote a business climate that discourages extortion, fraud and other illegal practices to strengthen the authorities ability to raise public funds. To meet these goals, the Secretary-General proposes the drafting of a code of conduct specifically designed for private actors in the DRC.

SECRETARY-GENERAL IS ENCOURAGED BY FRENCH COMMITMENT

TO AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

In a message to the France-Afrique Summit, delivered earlier today in Cannes by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reaffirmed his pledge to support Africas efforts to end violent conflict, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and to be a full and effective partner in international affairs.

The Secretary-General said he is encouraged by Frances continued commitment to African development, which largely complements with the United Nations own efforts to assist Africa. Let us strengthen that spirit of partnership, he vowed, and of solidarity with Africas people.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

RESIGNATION LETTERS OF SENIOR OFFICIALS ARE INTERNAL U.N. DOCUMENTS: Asked whether the United Nations would release the resignation offers that had been turned in by more than 50 senior UN officials, the Spokeswoman said those were not public documents. She noted that the Secretary-General, having received the offers, had already announced the first tranche of new appointments and would announce others as they arise.

BAN KI-MOON HAILS THE WORK OF PARTIES IN NORTH KOREAN DENUCLEARIZATION DEAL: Asked whether the Secretary-General appreciated Chinas role regarding the recent six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had commended the role played by the six parties at the talks, which included China.

FOOD AGENCY DELIVERS SUPPLIES TO MOZAMBIQUE FLOOD VICTIMS: The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that a WFP-chartered helicopter has started rescue and food delivery missions in flood-hit areas of central Mozambique. So far, some 10,000 flood survivors have received WFP food, the agency says.

AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION AND HUMANITARIAN OFFICE LAUNCH REVAMPED WEBSITES: The Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that its Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) have revamped and re-launched their web site. IRIN is a multimedia humanitarian news and analysis service.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also announced the launch of an interactive web site on the right to food, providing practical information for policy-makers and the general public.

NUCLEAR WATCHDOG UNVEILS IMPROVED RADIATION WARNING SYMBOL: The International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Organization for Standardization today launched a new ionizing radiation warning symbol to supplement the traditional symbol for radiation -- the three cornered trefoil. With radiating waves, a skull and crossbones and a running person, the new symbol is expected to help reduce needless deaths and serious injuries from accidental exposure to radiation. The adoption of new symbol was motivated by that the average person had no intuitive understanding or recognition of the trefoil.

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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