United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-03-29

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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 FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, March 29, 2007

BAN KI-MOON: NEW FIGHTING THREATENS SOMALIAS PEACE PROCESS

The Secretary General is deeply disturbed by the intensification of fighting in Mogadishu today, which resulted in the tragic loss of civilian lives. He is highly concerned about the introduction of tanks, heavy artillery and air strikes into densely populated parts of the city, further worsening the threat to the security of a large number of innocent civilians.

This is a dangerous and troubling new development that can unravel the peace process. He urges all the parties to put an immediate end to the fighting and to honor the cessation of hostilities agreed to last week.

The Secretary General emphasizes once again that sustainable peace in Somalia can only be attained through an inclusive dialogue leading to a political solution and national reconciliation.

SOMALIA FACES DISARMAMENT AND RECONCILIATION DILEMMA

Francois Lonseny Fall, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Somalia, says the situation is becoming very dangerous and the dilemma now facing Somalia is whether to secure Mogadishu before the planned reconciliation congress by forcing disarmament or to broker a political settlement to the crisis before any disarmament can take place. Even so, Fall remains confident that the Somali parties are open to genuine dialogue.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that 57,000 people have fled the outburst of deadly violence in the Somali capital in the past 2 months, and that figure includes some 12,000 Mogadishu residents who escaped last week.

UNHCR says that some among the dead of the latest violence are internally displaced people whose settlements were hit by rounds of mortar.

SUDAN LEADER AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO MOVE DARFUR PROCESS AHEAD

On Wednesday evening in Riyadh, the Secretary-General, President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, African Union Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, met to discuss the situation in

Darfur, in a meeting chaired by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued afterward, the participants recognized the need for the United Nations, African Union and League of Arab States to work together to seek an early and comprehensive settlement to the conflict and humanitarian suffering in Darfur.

Based on this recognition, they agreed to redouble efforts to bring all parties concerned, including non-signatories and the Government of Sudan, to the peace process to accelerate political reconciliation.

In parallel with the political process, they also agreed on the shared need to move expeditiously ahead with the AU-UN peacekeeping operation. Reaffirming the commitment of the Government of Sudan to the Abuja and Addis agreements, they agreed to hold a technical consultative briefing at the earliest possible date, to finalize the agreement on the heavy support package.

The Secretary-General told reporters after the meeting, I think we made progress, where there had been an impasse.

BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR RESOLUTION OF IRAN/U.K. DISPUTE

On the last day of his visit in Riyadh, the Secretary-General hosted a breakfast meeting with Manouchehr Motaki, the Foreign Minister of Iran. In the meeting, the two discussed Irans nuclear programme and the detention of 15 British marines and sailors in Iran.

The Secretary-General urged Iran's compliance in full, with Security Council

Resolution 1747 and earlier Council resolutions. On the issue of the British marines and sailors, the Secretary-General expressed his wish to see an early resolution of this problem.

The Secretary-General also held separate bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Algeria, Yemen and Iraq and with the Emir of Kuwait.

Then, in the afternoon, he attended the closing session of the Arab Summit before leaving Saudi Arabia for Lebanon, where he is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and other senior officials.

Asked if the United Nations could help settle the dispute between the United Kingdom and Iran by pronouncing itself on the exact position of the British vessel at the time of the arrest of the 15 sailors, the Spokesman said that the UN was not in a position at this time to rule on the position of the ship.

Asked if UN had a cartography team capable of deciding the exact maritime border between Iran and Iraq, the Spokesman said that the UN does have an active cartography unit, which has worked, among others issues, on delineating the Lebanon/Syria border around the disputed Shebaa Farms. Haq added that it is premature at this time to discuss any possible UN cartographers' involvement in the Iran/UK dispute.

Asked if the Secretary-General would meet with Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament during his ongoing visit to Lebanon, the Spokesman said that Ban Ki-moon's earlier draft schedule for Lebanon had listed meetings with a number of officials, including Berri.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES GUINEA-BISSAU AND ZIMBABWE

The Security Council held consultations this morning on Guinea-Bissau. Shola Omoregie, the head of the UN Peace-building Support Office in that country, briefed Council members on the Secretary-Generals latest report on Guinea-Bissau, in which he says that the persistent and bitter divisions among key national stakeholders threaten to compromise the independence and authority of the judiciary and the legislature.

After that, the Security Council heard, under other matters, a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe by an official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Rashid Khalikov.

SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW COTE DIVOIRE PRIME MINISTER

The Security Council concluded its open meeting yesterday on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, by adopting a Presidential Statement that asked the Secretary-General for a report with specific proposals on how the world body could foster collaboration and deeper partnerships with other intergovernmental organizations and regional and subregional actors, especially the African Union.

The Security Council, in another Presidential Statement yesterday afternoon, welcomed and endorsed the agreement signed by President Laurent Gbagbo of Côte dIvoire and Guillaume Soro, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 4 March, and supported the appointment of Guillaume Soro as Prime Minister.

The Council also unanimously approved a resolution amending the sanctions placed on Rwanda.

U.N.: CHAD MUST INCREASE SECURITY FOR DISPLACED CIVILIANS AND RELIEF WORKERS

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in the eastern part of Chad.

Meeting with Chads Prime Minister, he stressed the need for the Government to increase its protection of internally displaced persons and to deal with nearly 300- thousand refugees from Sudan and the Central African Republic.

He underscored the need for the Government to work with the UN to increase security in the refugee camps and their surroundings, noting the impunity prevailing for perpetrators of carjackings and other crimes. Even though humanitarian actors have not been directly targeted, this underscores the dangerous environment in which they work.

UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE CLEARED FROM KEY SUDANESE TRADE ROUTE

Organized return operations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are continuing in Southern

Sudan, with nearly 1,200 additional people returning from South Darfur, Khartoum and other areas.

On a related front, clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) on one of Southern Sudans main routes for trade and delivering humanitarian aid was completed last week.

U.N MISSION SETS UP CRISIS MANAGEMENT CELL IN FLOOD-STRICKEN HAITIAN TOWN

The United Nations is helping out in relief efforts in Haiti following recent heavy rains and flooding. In Ouanaminthe, in the Northeast, a crisis cell has been set-up under the leadership of the Mayor and with the support of the UN mission, MINUSTAH, and other humanitarian partners.

MINUSTAH is also helping the Haitian Government assess damage, evacuate populations in high-risk areas and provide drinking water. The World Food Programme (WFP), meanwhile, has sent two trucks of food to provide assistance to approximately 500 people in temporary shelters for two weeks.

SPEAKERS AT RIGHTS COUNCIL DECRY VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE

In Geneva, the Human Rights Council today held a debate on reports presented and issues raised throughout the week, during which several delegations expressed concern about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

A number of speakers called on the Government of Zimbabwe to cease human rights violations, restore the rule of law, and allow Zimbabweans to freely express their opinion and expression. Zimbabwe was also urged to start a dialogue with opposition figures in the country, aimed at forging national unity and reconciliation.

Earlier in the day, the Council concluded its interactive dialogue on the reports of experts on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; the right to health; and the situation of human rights defenders.

On Friday, the Council is scheduled to vote on a number of drafts resolutions before it which have either been tabled during this session or deferred from previous sessions. More information is available on the Human Rights Council webpage.

U.N., UGANDA LAUNCH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN

UN agencies led by UNICEF and the Ugandan government and civil society organizations have launched a campaign to improve primary-school enrollment in the Lango sub-region of war-affected Northern Uganda.

This is part of a countrywide campaign aiming to speed up enrollment, and strengthen retention and completion of school by both boys and girls. Go to School, to School, Stay in School as the campaign is known, looks to benefit some 1.3 million children in and out of school as well as 13,000 teachers in 1,600 schools in 18 districts.

UNICEF is taking the lead in providing educational and teacher-training materials for people in the region.

IN A FIRST, U.N TRIBUNAL TO TRANSFER CASE TO SERBIA

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia yesterday dismissed a filing by detainee Vladimir Kovacevic in his attempt to stop the transfer of his case to the Republic of Serbia, thus clearing the way for the Tribunals first-ever referral of a case to the Serb jurisdiction.

The Tribunals Registrar now has 30 days to transfer the accused and the Prosecution is also expected to hand over material and supporting evidence for Kovacevics indictment to the relevant Serb authorities.

To date, the Tribunal has transferred 9 accused to Bosnia and Herzegovina for trial and referred one case involving two accused to Croatia.

DRUG OFFICE, U.A.E. SIGN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT

The UN Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) is teaming up with authorities in the United Arab Emirates in the battle against illicit drugs. UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa and Dubais Police Chief today signed an agreement to work together to tackle drug abuse and trafficking in the UAE and elsewhere in the region.

As part of the project, UNODC will help upgrade the Dubai Police Training Centre and assist in developing a national action plan for reducing drug demand, as well as develop drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes for schools and universities.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS CAN HELP FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING

In a new report, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is highlighting the significant gains that can be made in the fight against global warming by reducing energy use and improving energy efficiency in buildings.

Emissions from the building sector account for 30 to 40 per cent of global energy use, UNEP says. The right mix of government regulation, energy-saving technologies and behavioral change can substantially reduce CO2 emissions.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

KOSOVO SPECIAL ENVOY TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL EARLY APRIL: Asked when the Special Envoy for the Kosovo final status process would be briefing the Security Council on his proposals to settle the province's status, the Spokesman said that Martti Ahtisaari would be in New York whenever the Council set a date for a briefing and that the Council would soon be announcing a specific date for his briefing. Haq added that the Special Envoy would also speak to correspondents on the day he reports to the Council.

FIRST APPOINTMENTS EXPECTED IN MOBILITY PROGRAMME: Asked if the posts in the Secretary-General's Executive Office that were advertised as part of the Mobility Programme had been filled and if there would be any announcements to that effect, the Spokesman said that, to the best of his knowledge, those posts had not yet been filled and that most were fairly low-level and might not warrant a public announcement. For the higher-level posts advertised, Haq said that there would be announcements once they were filled, as per established UN practice.