United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-22

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY

SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, February 22, 2007

SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES IRAN REPORT FROM ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY;

BAN KI-MOON URGES IRAN TO FULLY COMPLY WITH SECURITY COUNCIL

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei has circulated his latest report to the upcoming meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council

Resolution 1737 (2006) in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report - submitted in parallel to the UN Security Council - covers developments since Dr. ElBaradei´s report of 14 November 2006.

The 35-member Board will consider the report at its next meetings beginning in Vienna 5 March.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Vienna that he is deeply concerned that the Iranian Government did not meet the deadline set by the Security Council. The Iranian nuclear issue, he said, has great implications for peace and stability, as well as for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He urged that the Iranian Government fully comply with the Security Council as soon as possible and engage in continued negotiation with the international community to address and peacefully resolve this issue.

Asked whether the IAEA report had been made available to the public, the Spokeswoman noted that Mr. ElBaradei has announced that the report had gone out to the IAEA Board of Governors and to members of the Security Council. She added that the report was not yet an official document.

She said that the Security Council President had just met the IAEA New York representative, who handed him the report, and later informed correspondents that Security Council members had received copies of the report.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUSTRIA

The Secretary-General arrived in Vienna from Berlin and began his official visit to Austria. He held a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and then had a joint press encounter.

He then had a working luncheon hosted by the Foreign Minister and attended by foreign ministers in the region.

Also on his schedule today is a meeting with the meet with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and Barbara Prammer, Speaker of Parliament.

In response a question, the Spokeswoman elaborated on the working luncheon in Vienna with foreign ministers from the region bringing together representatives of Hungary, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and Poland during which the region's concerns were discussed, including Kosovo, Iran and the Middle East Quartet.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF MISSION IN EAST TIMOR

The Security Council held a meeting this morning on Timor-Leste, in which it decided to extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste by one year, until 26 February 2008.

The Council then held consultations on Iraq. [Following those consultations, the Security Council President, Ambassador Peter Burian of Slovakia, read a press statement urging an end to the violence in the country and the redoubling of efforts to allow fulfillment of the goals of relevant UN Security Council resolution. Council members also reaffirmed the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and by all means, in accordance with international law]

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET HOPES FOR CONTINUED ISRAEL-PALESTINE DIALOGUE

In a statement issued after yesterdays meeting in Berlin and read out by the Secretary-General, the Middle East Quartet expressed the hope that the dialogue initiated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will continue in the framework of a renewed political process.

The Quartet reaffirmed its determination to promote such a process, in cooperation with the parties and other regional partners. It also urged the parties to refrain from measures that prejudge issues to be resolved in negotiations.

DARFUR: VIOLENCE FORCES DISPLACEMENT OF SOME 46,000 PEOPLE LAST MONTH

From Khartoum today, we have the latest Sudan Humanitarian Overview produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with UN Agencies and partner Non-Governmental Organizations.

The Overview, which covers the month of January 2007, indicates that new population displacements were registered weekly as attacks on villages, sexual violence and intimidation continued to force large numbers of people to move throughout Darfur. An estimated 46,000 people were newly displaced throughout the region.

The Humanitarian Overview also indicates that generalized violence, attacks on humanitarian assets and bureaucratic impediments continued to affect humanitarian operations throughout Darfur.

Humanitarian access continued to be compromised. While access was regained in some long cut-off areas, key locations, such as Gereida in South Darfur remained out of bounds for most agencies.

I.C.C. PROSECUTOR TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF CRIMES IN DARFUR

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced earlier today that on Tuesday next week Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will submit evidence to the Courts Pre-Trial Chamber in connection with individuals suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

That same day, February 27th, the Prosecutor will also brief the press on this important development. And the ICC informs us that interested correspondents can view a webcast of the prosecutors press conference on the ICCs website.

SIERRA LEONE WAR CRIMINAL ON TRIAL DIES

The Special Court for Sierra Leone today announced the death of Sam Hinga Norman, who was on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged leadership of a murderous militia during Sierra Leones civil war. A verdict in the case was to have been delivered shortly.

Court officials say Norman, a former Sierra Leone Internal Affairs minister, died at a military hospital in Dakar, Senegal, where he was transferred for routine medical procedures, which were performed on February 8th without complication.

Earlier today, however, Norman collapsed and, despite attempts to revive him, was pronounced dead about half an hour later.

Prosecutor to Present Evidence of Crimes in Darfur

RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY REPORTED

IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

The United Nations has warned that rising unemployment and poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, coupled with economic suffocation, are posing acute challenges to food security in the occupied Palestinian territories. Many families have become totally reliant on outside assistance, and vital sectors of the Palestinian economy are under threat.

That warning comes in a report by the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization, which is due to be released this month.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR ERADICATION OF COLONIALISM

Speaking at the 2007 Session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the Deputy Secretary-General today highlighted the responsibility of the international community to bring about a speedy, successful and sustainable solution for the total eradication of colonialism.

She also urged all administering Powers to adopt a constructive attitude while taking a due account of the political aspirations for the people in these territories, and assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions.

Today, there are 16 Non-Self-Governing territories remaining; in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

GUINEA REQUESTS SPECIAL ENVOY TO CONAKRY: Asked to confirm press reports that the Secretary-General would send a goodwill mission to Guinea, the Spokeswoman said that the Government of Guinea has indeed requested the Secretary-General to send an envoy to Conakry and that the Secretary-General had not yet made a decision on the request or excluded any possibilities. "All options are on the table," Okabe said. "And at the same time, we would like to make sure that, if sent, our mission will add value to ongoing regional efforts and work in synergy with them."

SECRETARY-GENERAL RECEIVES LETTER FROM DPRK: Asked if the Secretary-General had received and responded to a letter from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on UNDP operations in that country, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the Secretary-General has received a letter dated 13 February from the DPRK Government requesting that the letter be circulated among member states.

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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