United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-03-22

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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 SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, March 22, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGHDAD

Although we could not mention this in advance because of security concerns, the Secretary-General today made a one-day visit to

Iraq, where he met with Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki to discuss the United Nations commitment to help the people of Iraq.

The Secretary-General stressed to the Prime Minister the need to include all major political groups in the political process; the importance of upholding international human rights standards; and the UNs commitment to move forward on the International Compact for Iraq.

Afterward, the Secretary-General attended a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister, at which a number of Parliamentarians and leaders of Iraqi political groups were also present. He then met later in the day with some of the other Iraqi political leaders, as well as with the diplomatic corps in Baghdad.

Earlier, the Secretary-General had met with the UN staff in Baghdad, both international and national, and listened to their concerns. He laid a wreath on the monument that was made in honour of the former head of the UN Mission in the country (UNAMI), Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The Secretary-General and Prime Minister al-Maliki also held a joint press conference.

Asked about an explosion that was heard as the press conference was taking place, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General and his delegation were all fine, and she noted that the Secretary-General answered two more questions following that blast and complete the rest of his programme in Baghdad.

Okabe confirmed that there had been a mortar attack, which, according to two sources, took place in an open field about 100 meters away from the compound where the press conference took place. No one was reported hurt.

She said that the UN Mission was investigating the incident. But, she noted, the Mission told her that such incidents occur daily in Iraq.

Asked about the UN role in Iraq, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had identified the UNs role in the Iraq Compact as one of the four key issues on his trip, along with Lebanon, the Middle East peace process and Darfur. She noted that some 100 delegations had attended the Iraq Compact meeting last week in New York.

The Secretary-General, she said, had gone to Iraq to show the UNs commitment to help establish peace and security in the country.

The United Nations, she said, helped with Iraqs elections and its Constitutional process, and also works on humanitarian, human rights and reconstruction work.

She later noted that the United Nations had more than 80 international civilian staff in Iraq, out of more than 320 international staff, including guard units.

Asked whether the United Nations would expand its role in Iraq, Okabe said that the Secretary-General has made clear his intention to do more to help the Iraqi people, depending on the security conditions on the ground.

Asked about the last visit by a Secretary-General to Iraq, the Spokeswoman said that Kofi Annan had visited the country in November 2005.

Asked why the trip to Iraq had not been announced, and why traveling press had not come along, Okabe stressed security concerns, and noted that the procedures followed for this trip were the same as for Kofi Annans 2005 trip.

Asked about the rest of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons itinerary in the Middle East, the Spokeswoman said that he will proceed with his Middle East trip as previously announced, starting with his visit to Cairo on Friday.

Asked about other stops, she noted his visit to the Arab League summit next week in Saudi Arabia, and also mentioned the schedule of stops that had been previously announced, including Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan and Lebanon.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would visit Damascus or Iran on this current trip, the Spokeswoman said she was not aware of such visits, but recalled that he would meet different leaders at the Arab League summit.

Asked about her personal impressions concerning the mortar attack, the Spokeswoman said that she had seen a video in which the Secretary-General briefly ducked and then stood up and resumed the press conference, while Prime Minister al-Maliki stood beside him. She described herself as relieved. She also voiced sorrow once more about what had happened to Sergio Vieira de Mello.

SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS BRIEFINGS ON LIBERIA

The Security Council, in consultations this morning, heard from Alan Doss, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Liberia, on the work of the UN Mission in that country (UNMIL).

Doss presented the Secretary-Generals recent report on Liberia and said that, although the political situation has remained quite stable, there are still serious security challenges that require continuing attention and action.

UNITED NATIONS EXPRESSES ALARM ABOUT FIGHTING IN KINSHASA

The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed at the outbreak of fighting in Kinshasa between the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the guards of former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba.

The Secretary-General calls for an immediate halt to the fighting, which threatens the lives of innocent civilians in the area and risks grave consequences for peace in the country.

The United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) stands ready to assist the Government in bringing about an end to the current fighting, to re-establish security in the area, and to work with the Congolese Government in addressing the underlying issue of appropriate security for Mr. Bemba.

The Security Council has also issued a statement expressing serious concern about the clashes in Kinshasa. It called upon both parties to immediately cease the exchange of fire, act responsibly and resolve outstanding issues solely by peaceful means.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HEAR FROM SPECIAL ENVOY

FOR LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY-AFFLICTED AREAS

This afternoon at 3:00, the Security Council intends to hear in consultations from the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Lords Resistance Army-afflicted Areas, Joachim Chissano, and may hold a formal meeting on that matter.

Council members also intend to hold further consultations on the non-proliferation draft resolution concerning Iran.

Asked about a possible visit by Irans President to see the Security Council, the Spokeswoman said that the President of Iran had sent a letter to the Security Council President, expressing his interest in such a visit. However, she said, UN Protocol has not received any official request from Iran so far.

Asked about any possible briefing to the Security Council on Zimbabwe, the Spokeswoman said that it is up to the Security Council to schedule such a briefing. If one were to take place, she said it would involve senior officials from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR MEETS WITH SENIOR SUDANESE OFFICIALS

On the first working day of his two-week, three-country trip to Africa, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes met with several senior Government officials, including the Foreign Minister, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Minister of National Security.

He also met with representatives of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations working in Sudan.

The meetings focused on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, where the operating environment for the worlds largest humanitarian assistance programme has become ever more challenging over the past ten months.

While security incidents targeting aid workers have increased, bureaucratic obstacles such as visas, travel permits, and customs restrictions have become more cumbersome, and threaten to slow, or even stop, humanitarian operations.

Mr. Holmes is expected travel to Darfur to visit several field locations this weekend.

Tomorrow, he plans to travel to Juba, Southern Sudan, for the day.

SUDAN: U.N. OPERATION ALLOWS DISPLACED PERSONS TO BEGIN RETURNING HOME

The fourth of four operations to return internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their areas of origin in Southern Sudan planned for 2007 kicked off last week with the organized return of 100 IDPs from Wau County (in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State) to Kwajok, capital of Warrap State. A further 1,800 internally displaced persons are currently registered for the operation.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are leading an assessment in Lankien and Pieri (Jonglei State in southern Sudan), focusing on the food security and humanitarian needs of the local population, who have reportedly been the victim of numerous attacks by cattle raiders over last year. Once needs are established, a humanitarian response will be planned.

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR BRIEFS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

ON SITUATION IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

From Geneva, the Human Rights Council is holding a discussion with John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, who presented both his annual report to the Council and a report concerning the fact-finding mission authorized by the Council at its first special session last July that he was appointed to lead.

After this discussion, the Council will hold a dialogue with Professor Christine Chinkin, a member of the high-level fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun, Gaza, which was commissioned by the Council at its third special session last November. Professor Chinkin is presenting a report on behalf of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was appointed to head the mission and couldnt attend todays session.

Earlier in the day, the Council

concluded its discussion on the report of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and then debated various thematic issues raised earlier in the week, including freedom of religion and the rights of children, women, minorities, migrants, indigenous peoples and internally displaced persons.

MIDDLE EAST: QUARTET OFFERS STRONG SUPPORT FOR U.S. PEACE EFFORTS

Yesterday afternoon, we issued a statement by the Middle East Quartet, which summarized the telephone discussions held by the Secretary-General and the other principal members of the Quartet concerning the situation in the region, and in particular the establishment of a Palestinian National Unity Government.

The Quartet expressed its strong support for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rices efforts to further facilitate discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The Quartet agreed to meet in the region soon to review developments and discuss the way ahead.

PALESTINE: BAN KI-MOON HAILS LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PEACE PROCESS

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is today hosting the UN International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, organized under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

That event is taking place at the Rome headquarters of the FAO. And in a message delivered by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that important developments are taking place among Palestinians, between Palestinians and Israelis, in the region, and internationally. Taken together, he said, these hold the potential, if not yet the promise, to overcome a period of violence and despair and replace it with a future of dialogue and hope.

And from Gaza in the occupied Palestinian territory, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) says that its Commissioner-General, Karen Koning AbuZayd, today attended the re-opening of the Wadi Gaza bridge, a project supported by UNRWA in its continuing commitment to improving the welfare and well-being of Palestinian refugees within the broader Palestinian community.

The 88-metre long bridge is an important transportation link, connecting the south of Gaza with the north, especially during the winter season, when heavy rains and flash flooding make movement difficult. It was originally built by Egypt in 1962 and was destroyed during Operation Summer Rain" in June 2006. Its reconstruction took a total of 14 weeks.

HAITI: GANG MEMBERS HAND OVER WEAPONS, MISSION REPORTS

The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) reports that gang members have handed in dozens of automatic weapons to the National Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration Commission in recent days.

This is one further sign of the progress made in bringing stability to the crime-ridden areas of the nations capital as a result of the recent anti-gang activities carried out by the Haitian National Police and supported by UN peacekeepers.

U.N. OFFICIALS EXPRESS ALARM AT NEPAL KILLINGS

Ian Martin, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Nepal, yesterday issued a press statement in which he said that the recent killings in Rautahat have shocked the international community and could and should have been avoided.

Martin said he hopes that the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice, and that all Nepalese, especially in the Terai region, will pause and commit themselves to pursuing their goals by exclusively peaceful means. Even legitimate claims are discredited by the use of violence, he said.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, which

confirms at least 25 killings in the recent clashes in the Terai region. Arbour said that such incidents must not be allowed to jeopardize the peace process.

GUINEA-BISSAU FACES THREATS TO STABILITY

The Secretary-Generals latest report to the Security Council on Guinea-Bissau, which is out as a document, says that the persistent and bitter divisions among key national stakeholders threaten to compromise the independence and authority of the judiciary and the legislature.

The Secretary-General has strongly urged all actors to use the proper constitutional channels to resolve their dispute.

U.N. OBSERVES WORLD WATER DAY

Today is World Water Day. The Secretary-General has issued a statement, in which he notes that 700 million people suffer from water scarcity, a number that could quadruple by 2025. He added that rapid population growth, unsustainable consumption patterns, and pollution are among the threats to current supplies.

In Rome, the Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) called coping with water scarcity the challenge of the 21st century, while the head of the UN Environment Programme issued a statement

calling for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is one of the main threats to the water supply, he said.

Here in New York City, many top restaurants are today asking diners to pay one dollar for the tap water they normally get for free. The funds will go to UNICEFs drinking water projects around the world.