United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-03-09

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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 SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, March 9, 2007

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES E.U. PLAN ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SAYING

''AMBITION AND LEADERSHIP" ARE NEEDED TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the decision of the leaders of the European Union (EU) to establish targets for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. In the face of rising greenhouse gas emissions, committing to a substantial decrease for the next decade is ambitious. But ambition and leadership are just what is needed to respond to climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing humankind.

The EU's moves can help put the world's energy systems on more sustainable footing. They offer business strong incentives to develop the advanced technologies that the world, and above all the developing world, needs to meet its energy needs while at the same time addressing climate change.

The EU decision also raises hopes for further advances in the course of this year. In particular, the world looks to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December, to launch intensive talks on strengthening international cooperation to reduce emissions. The Secretary-General calls on all countries to participate in these talks with ambition and creativity.

SUDANESE PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO LETTER OUTLINING U.N. SUPPORT

FOR AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS IN DARFUR

On 24 January 2007, the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, sent identical letters to the President of Sudan, Omer Hassan Ahmed El Bashir, which transmitted details of the United Nations Heavy Package of support for the African Union peacekeeping efforts in Darfur,

Sudan.

Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General received a reply from President Bashir, dated 6 March. The reply from President Bashir includes a 14 page annex in Arabic, which is being translated and will be reviewed along with the letter. The Secretary-General will then consult with the Security Council on the next steps.

Asked for a reaction by the Secretary-General to the Sudanese letter, the Spokesperson said it contains some positive elements including a strong expression of support for the joint AU-UN efforts to re-energize the political process and some assurances with regard to humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur.

But it also contains some elements, which seem to challenge the agreements reached last November in Addis Ababa and Abuja on peacekeeping in Darfur.

Asked about the next steps, Okabe said that the Secretary-General needed to see the translation of the annex first. He would also consult with the Security Council on any next steps, she added.

SUDANESE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME FROM ETHIOPIA

The UN refugee agency says the planned opening on Saturday of two new repatriation corridors from western Ethiopia to south Sudan is expected to pave the way home for thousands of refugees.

The first two convoys are scheduled to depart on Saturday bringing some 800 Sudanese refugees from camps in western Ethiopia to their homes.

The two new return corridors, bringing to three the total number of corridors operating from Ethiopia, will help us repatriate most of the 37,000 refugees living in Fugnido, Dimma and Yerenja camps. Many of the refugees will return to areas in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Blue Nile States in south-eastern Sudan.

The new corridors bring to eight the total number of corridors linking Sudan's southern neighbours the Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia with various locations inside south Sudan.

U.N. ENVOY TO ATTEND MEETING IN BAGHDAD TOMORROW AS OBSERVER

The Secretary-General has asked his Special Representative for

Iraq, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, to attend the preparatory meeting in Baghdad on 10 March 2007 as an observer.

The Secretary-General hopes that the meeting will focus on preparing for the gathering of foreign ministers of neighbouring countries of Iraq.

He believes that such an event should have clear objectives and tangible outcomes, as well as an effective follow-up mechanism, to constructively contribute to the stabilization of Iraq.

SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS WELCOMES REMOVAL OF DIVIDING WALL

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Cyprus, Michael Mĝller, has warmly welcomed last nights removal in the Cypriot capital of a wall at the southern end of the buffer zone dividing Ledra Street.

He added that the demolition represents a very positive contribution of great symbolic significance.

Once the sides are in agreement as to the way ahead, the UN Mission in Cyprus will immediately move to ensure the areas overall safety.

U.N. MISSION IN NEPAL REPORTS ON REGISTRATION OF ARMS AND COMBATANTS

In a statement issued in Kathmandu today, the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) made public the conclusions of a tripartite report on the first phase of UN registration of arms and combatants of the Maoist army.

According to the report of the Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee -- which is composed of representatives of the UN, the Maoist Army and the Nepal Army -- nearly 3,500 weapons were registered as well as more than 31,000 Maoist combatants.

Ian Martin, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Nepal, congratulated the Committee for completing its report and noted that it is now for the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to consider its findings and to conclude whether they are satisfied with the first phase of the monitoring of arms and armies.

Martin also called on the two sides to immediately finalize arrangements regarding security of the Maoist leadership so that the UN Mission can put in place full monitoring procedures and thus be able to investigate any reported breaches of the agreements regarding arms.

BAN KI-MOON ENCOURAGES CONSTRUCTIVE EFFORTS IN

TALKS ON DENUCLEARIZATION OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA

Asked if the Secretary-General felt that the six-party talks on

denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula were historic, the Spokesperson referred to past statements, in which the Secretary-General had welcomed the talks and encouraged the constructive efforts being made.

She added that, when he had been in Vienna recently, he had welcomed the fact that the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei would visit the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) soon.

Asked about links between audits of UN agencies, funds and programmes in the DPRK and talks related to the DPRKs nuclear programme, the Spokesperson said that was like comparing apples and oranges; there was no connection. She added that the United Nations had been monitoring the talks. If there was any role the Secretary-General could play to facilitate, he would.

Asked if the recent meetings on the DPRK between the Secretary-General and US officials had touched on financial issues, Okabe said that last Wednesdays meeting between the Secretary-General and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill, had dealt with the status of the six-party talks.

Asked about talks between Japan and the DPRK, the Spokesperson said the Secretary-General had no specific comment but in general hoped for constructive results.

SECURITY SITUATION REPORTED CALM IN TIMOR-LESTE

The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) reports there have been no serious security incidences reported in Dili recently and the situation remains calm but tense.

The situation in the southern city of Same has improved and UNMIT also reports that a number of International Security Forces (ISF) personnel are now going back to DILI. Responsibility for maintaining law and order in Same is increasingly being handed over by ISF to UN police.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that today is the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Over the past year, more than $376 million from the Fund has been used to provide life-saving humanitarian aid in 40 countries.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS MEETING ON GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA: The Security Council held a meeting this morning on the Great Lakes region. The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for that region, Ibrahima Fall, briefed Council members.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CLOSELY MONITORING UN RESTRUCTURING: Asked about a resolution before the General Assembly on UN restructuring, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General was closely monitoring the issue but that it was now in the hands of the Member States.

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED AS THEY ARE MADE: Asked on the status of senior officials and their resignations, the Spokesperson said she had no blanket response. After all, some had already resigned, some had been reassigned, etc. Starting dates were staggered, and new appointments would be announced as they were made, she added.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

[This document is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.]

Monday, March 12

The Deputy Secretary-General starts her trip to Europe. Stops will include Bonn, Strasbourg and Brussels.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations this morning on Cote dIvoire.

The Human Rights Council begins its fourth session in Geneva. It will last three weeks.

The Human Rights Committee will begin its three week session in New York, during which it will review reports submitted by Madagascar, Chile, and Barbados, on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres today begins a weeklong visit to Ecuador and Colombia.

The General Assembly plenary is scheduled to hold informal consultations in a closed meeting at 3:00 p.m. on the Secretary-General's proposal to realign the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Tuesday, March 13

At 11:15 am, there will be a press briefing in Room 226 by the Director of the UN Population Division, Hania Zlotnik. She will release the results of the 2006 Revision of World Population Prospects.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations this morning on Somalia.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will launch the State of the Worlds Forests 2007 in Rome. FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo will participate.

The General Assembly's Open-ended Working Group on reform of the Security Council is scheduled to hold an informal interactive panel discussion in a closed meeting at 3:00 p.m. with the five facilitators (Ambassadors of Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Netherlands and Tunisia) on all five themes under discussion (size of an enlarged Council; regional representation; the veto; working methods of the Council and its relationship with the Assembly; and categories

Wednesday, March 14

The Security Council is scheduled to hold an open briefing followed by consultations this morning on the Middle East.

Thursday, March 15

The Deputy Secretary-General and European Commissioner Louis Michel will today jointly launch a report called The Partnership between the UN and the EU in Brussels.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold an open briefing this morning on Iraq.

The Secretary-General plans to attend the monthly Security Council luncheon today.

Friday, March 16

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations this morning on cross-border issues in West Africa.

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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