United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-20

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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

Monday, February 20, 2007

BAN KI-MOON TRAVELS TO BERLIN FOR MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETING

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travels to Berlin today for a meeting tomorrow of the diplomatic Quartet on the

Middle East.

The other principal members at the meeting will be U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, representing the Presidency of the European Union.

The Secretary General looks forward to another opportunity to meet with his Quartet partners, and to discuss and review with them the Mecca Agreement as well as the trilateral meeting yesterday of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Rice. This is the second time in a month that the Quartet is meeting, which is illustrative of the Secretary-General's desire to reenergize the process.

Asked about Mondays tripartite meeting that brought Rice together with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the Spokeswoman said that the meeting was expected to be discussed at the Quartet meeting, as was the earlier meeting among Palestinian leaders in Mecca.

Asked about ways to re-energize the Quartet, the Spokeswoman said that the meeting itself was a signal of efforts to revitalize the Quartets work. She said that the Secretary-General believes that having a structure for discussion to take place multilaterally on Middle East issues is important and can help to move issues on the ground.

As for other issues, including the funding of the Palestinian Authority, she said that the Quartets positions on those issues would be clarified following the Wednesday meeting.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals further travels, Montas said that he would meet with UN staff in Vienna after departing Berlin, and would then travel back to New York.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS INDIA TRAIN BOMBING

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued yesterday, strongly condemned the brutal terrorist bombing of the Delhi-Lahore "Friendship Express" in which 67 people were killed and nearly 20 injured. This heinous crime cannot be justified by any cause and its perpetrators should be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General conveyed his deep condolences to the families of the innocent victims and the Governments of India and Pakistan.

The Secretary-General expressed his satisfaction that the leaders of India and Pakistan have reaffirmed their determination to continue on the path of dialogue. He is also encouraged by the strong reaction among the various communities in the subcontinent and their common resolve to thwart the motives of the terrorists.

SECURITY CRUCIAL FOR POST-CONFLICT PEACEBUILDING

The Secretary-General this morning addressed the Security Councils open meeting on security sector reform, chaired by Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, and he said that the search for sustainable security has long been a preoccupation for the United Nations.

For the United Nations, the Secretary-General said, security sector reform aims to achieve effective, accountable and sustainable security institutions that operate under a framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights.

He said that security is a crucial and immediate condition for peacebuilding after conflict, and warned that security cannot be restored and maintained in a vacuum. And he outlined several steps to strengthen the United Nations support for reforms in national security sectors.

Council members expect to adopt a Presidential Statement at the end of todays debate.

The Security Council began its work this morning with a briefing by the Ambassador of Peru on the work of the panel of experts dealing with sanctions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Once the open debate on security sector reform ends, the Security Council expects to vote on a resolution on Somalia.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY MEETS WITH IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, met yesterday with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouschehr Mottaki, and

discussed with him the important role the neighbouring states can play in reducing violence and promoting stability in Iraq.

Today, Qazi also met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Araghchi for further talks on issues pertinent to Iraq.

The Iranian authorities raised their concern for the need to identify constructive solutions to Iraqs current difficulties. In this context, they also raised the issue pertaining to the detention of Iranian diplomats in Iraq.

The meeting in Tehran is part of Qazis regional tour, intended to learn the views of the governments of the region and explore the different options to enhance Iraqs stability and regional reintegration.

Also, the UN Development Programme says that one third of todays Iraqi population lives in poverty, with more than five percent living in extreme poverty.

UNITED NATIONS WELCOMES CONGOLESE DECISION IN CASE

INVOLVING KILLING OF U.N. OBSERVERS

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has welcomed the life sentences handed down by a Congolese court to four men convicted of murdering two UN military observers in the restive Ituri province in 2003. Two other suspects were sentenced to 10 and 20 years in prison.

The Court ruled that the killings amounted to war crimes, a decision the Mission has hailed as an important step in the fight against impunity and an affirmation of the Democratic Republic of the Congos commitment to the implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a State Party.

U.N. MISSION REPORTS MILITIA MOBILIZATION IN WEST DARFUR

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reports that armed militia have been mobilizing in large numbers over the last five days in an area of West Darfur. The reason behind the massive militia mobilization is so far not known, the Mission says.

The Mission also says it is holding today a one-day workshop on sexual exploitation and abuse in Southern Sudan. It is being held jointly with the Government of Southern Sudan, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. The workshops objectives are to share information about the UN zero-tolerance policy and code of conduct, assess achievements, identify gaps and challenges in preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, especially of children in Southern Sudan; and establish a joint risk assessment, reporting and monitoring mechanism.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals work following up on issues in Sudan, the Spokeswoman noted that over the weekend, he had spoken with his Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and with Alpha Oumar Konaré, the African Union Chairman.

Asked about assaults and rapes of humanitarian workers last month, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had raised the issue with Sudanese officials, including at the African Union summit.

Regarding a question on a meeting hosted by Libya on Darfur, Montas later said that the UNs envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his African Union counterpart were not in Tripoli. The United Nations, however, welcomes and supports any efforts to work toward peace in Darfur that are in line with the high-level consultation in Addis Ababa that took place late last year.

NEW BURUNDI PEACEBUILDING OFFICE LAUNCHED TODAY

The United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi is being formally launched today in the capital Bujumbura. The creation of this peacebuilding office was mandated by the Security Council to secure and expand on the achievements of the UN peacekeeping operation in that country, whose mandate expired on 31 December 2006.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will see the participation of Burundis President Pierre Nkurunziza and members of the international community and will be presided over by the newly-appointed Executive Representative of the Secretary-General in Burundi, Youssef Mahmoud of Tunisia.

UNITED NATIONS CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON U.N. PROPERTY IN KOSOVO

The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) yesterday announced that its Deputy Crime Commissioner, Trygve Kalleberg of Sweden, has been appointed as Police Commissioner ad interim. That designation will remain in effect until the formal appointment of the UN Missions Police Commissioner by the Secretary-General following the usual procedures, which are expected to take several months.

Asked about a bombing that took place in Pristina, the Spokeswoman said that UNMIK confirms that, last night in central Pristina, an unidentified explosive device went off under a parked UNMIK vehicle. Two other UN vehicles and one civilian vehicle, as well as windows in surrounding shops and houses, were also damaged. No injuries were reported.

The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, Montas said. The United Nations, she added, condemns any acts of violence directed at UN property or personnel.

HAITI: U.N. MISSION ARRESTS GANG LEADER

The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti

reports the arrest this weekend of Johnny Pierre Louis, also known as Ti Bazil, a presumed gang leader in Cite-Soleil, the poor neighborhood of the capital Port-au-Prince where UN police have been conducting a robust anti-gang operation in recent weeks.

The Mission says that Ti Bazil, an associate of main gang leader Evens, is responsible for the killing of members of two families for their participation in the U.N.-run disarmament program. Ti Bazil is also accused of forcibly enlisting residents of Cite-Soleil in his illegal pursuits.

U.N. & TIMORESE POLICE ENHANCE SECURITY IN TIMOR-LESTE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, said police officers from the United Nations and Timor Leste are working to enhance security arrangements across Dili in response to growing violence in the capital.

UN and Timorese police officers today responded to a fighting and arson incident related to inter-gang rivalry in the town of Kampung Alor. Khare visited the area and expressed his condolences and sympathy to the residents.

UN police, meanwhile, are also investigating an incident in which 700 bags of rice were stolen from a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Dili. WFP has announced that no further distribution will take place until further notice and after due security clearance.

U.N. AGENCIES HELP FLOOD SURVIVORS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

reports that, while the overall situation in Mozambique has stabilized for the moment, it is concerned about the possible impact of tropical storm Favio, which is expected to hit the country on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) is currently providing food aid to 33,500 flood survivors. And UNICEF has provided water and sanitation supplies including plastic sheeting, chlorine, water tanks and latrine slabs for newly established accommodation centres. UNICEF is also supplying high protein supplements to feeding sites.

OCHA also reports that Mozambique is not the only country in southern Africa that has been hit by floods. In Angola, for example, UNICEF and the World Health Organization are helping the Government to prevent flood-related cholera outbreaks. And in Madagascar, WFP is working to distribute some 450 tons of food to flood survivors.

REFUGEE AGENCY APPEALS FOR FUNDS TO HELP DISPLACED COLOMBIANS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said that it needs over $14 million to help hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the armed conflict in Colombia.

According to UNHCR, Colombias complex internal conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people since 1990, most of them civilians. Over three million people have been forced out of their homes by violence, persecution or gross human rights violations.

In other news, UNHCR reports that, despite an increasingly uncertain situation in Guinea, it is scheduling two voluntary repatriation movements there for some 500 Liberian refugees. Those operations will take place this week.

U.N. RESTRUCTURING PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD

Asked about doubts that the Group of 77s concerns about the Secretary-Generals restructuring plan have been resolved, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had met with nearly all Member States last week, and had told them on Friday that he had heard their concerns and changed some of his proposals in response to their inputs.

She said that the Committee of 34 is now expected to discuss the proposals this week, and the Secretariat is prepared to answer any further questions. The process, Montas said, is moving forward. She said that the Secretary-General fully respects the legislative process. She added that it was expected that a framework resolution would be circulated in the General Assembly soon.

Asked whether the proposals being presented to Member States are budget-neutral, Montas said that, for now, they are.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

BAN KI-MOON CONCERNED BY ANY MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE: Asked about press reports concerning a possible U.S. attack on Iran, the Spokeswoman, while noting that she does not comment on press reports, said that the Secretary-General was following the situation concerning Iran closely. She said that he is concerned about any violence in the region, which could cause further deterioration in the Middle East.

AUDIT OF U.N. AGENCIES MOVING FORWARD: Asked about the audit of UN agencies, funds and programmes, the Spokeswoman said that audit was moving forward, starting with an audit of UN Development Programme (UNDP) operations in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. She said that the Secretary-General was following the issue and expected a report on it.

UNICEF CHIEF COMMENDS EGYPTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS: UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman today ended a three-day visit to Egypt which included discussions with government officials and other partners on ways of advancing childrens issues in the country. Speaking at the end of her visit, Veneman commended Egypts progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals within the 2015 target date.

NIGERIA URGED TO INCREASE BIRD FLU CONTROL MEASURES: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has urged Nigeria to increase control measures on poultry farms and markets to prevent the spread of bird flu and reduce the risk of further human cases. A recent FAO mission to Nigeria said that the virus is still circulating in poultry flocks in the country with outbreaks reported in at least ten states over the past few months.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN OFFICIAL VISITS AFGHANISTAN: Over the weekend, Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, began a five-day visit to Afghanistan to see how the United Nations can better deliver humanitarian aid in the coming year. During her fact-finding mission, Wahlström will be looking at how to improve humanitarian coordination; how to ensure civilians are better protected; and how to deliver support and aid to people in areas that are affected by conflict.

BAN KI-MOON DISCUSSES WATER & DEVELOPMENT WITH DUTCH PRINCE: Regarding a question about the Secretary-Generals meeting with the Crown Prince of the Netherlands, the Spokesperson later said they had discussed his work as Chairman of the Secretary-Generals Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and ways to reach the Millennium Development Goals in that context. The Secretary-General also thanked the Netherlands for its increasing contribution of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries.

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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