United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-03-30

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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

Friday, March 30, 2007

LEBANON: SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES NEED FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

The Secretary-General met today in Lebanon with many key leaders, including Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Speaker of the Assembly Nabih Berri, and stressed to all the leaders the need to engage in dialogue for the purpose of promoting national reconciliation.

Following his meeting with Berri, the Secretary-General said they had discussed cooperation with the UN Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, as well as the issue of the special

Tribunal of an international character. He emphasized his commitment to the establishment of that tribunal as soon as possible, saying that he welcomes Lebanese national consensus on the tribunal but stresses the importance of moving forward on this issue.

Later, the Secretary-General held a meeting with Prime Minister Siniora, which began with a political meeting, after which he had the opportunity to confer with many ministers in the cabinet and then held a meeting focused on security issues.

He told reporters afterward that he was disappointed that the political crisis that has now lasted some four months has not been resolved, and he added that the path of dialogue and compromise has to be the way forward out of this impasse. He also noted the continued Israeli overflights of Lebanon, saying, These violations of Lebanese sovereignty must stop.

The Secretary-General also met with other Lebanese political leaders, including Saad Hariri and Walid Jumblatt.

Asked if the Secretary-General would be visiting southern Lebanon and the border area with Syria and Israel, the Spokesman confirmed that Ban Ki-moon would be in southern Lebanon on Saturday for a planned helicopter tour of UNIFIL positions and the region in general.

Asked if the Secretary-General would be meeting with members of Hezbollah, Haq said that the Secretary-General was meeting with cabinet members across a wide spectrum of political parties.

Asked if the Secretary-General would seek novel ways of addressing Israel's repeated violations of

Resolution 1701, the Spokesman said that the Secretariat regularly reports such violations to the Security Council.

BAN KI-MOON TO SPEAK WITH SEVERAL LEADERS ABOUT RECENT VIOLENCE IN SOMALIA

Asked if the Secretary-General had any further comments on the deadly unrest in the Somali capital, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General expressed his concern Thursday in a statement on the significant escalation of violence in Mogadishu. He added that the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia has also deplored the fighting and is continuing to monitor the situation. "Today, as yesterday," Haq said, "the fighting is a cause for concern by the UN."

Asked if the Secretary-General was making phone calls or speaking to the Organization of the Islamic Conference in a search for a solution to the crisis, Haq said that Ban Ki-moon was expected to make phone calls to a number of leaders in the coming days.

U.N. MISSION IN LIBERIA EXTENDED FOR SIX MONTHS

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) by six months, until the end of September.

On Thursday, following the end of consultations, the Council President, Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, told the press that members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the capture by the Revolutionary Guard, and the continuing detention by the Government of Iran, of 15 UK naval personnel, and appealed to the Government of Iran to allow consular access, in terms of the relevant international law.

He added that Council members support calls, including by the Secretary-General in his 29 March meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, for an early resolution of this problem, including the release of the 15 UK personnel.

The Council President also read out a press statement on Guinea-Bissau, saying that members of the Council express concern about the continuing political and social tensions there and call on the parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and strict respect for the constitutional framework.

Today is the last day of scheduled meetings under the Council Presidency of South Africa. The United Kingdom will assume the rotating Presidency of the Council for the month of April, and the Security Council is expected to hold its first consultations for that month on Tuesday, to discuss the programme of work.

Asked if the United Nations had any further comments on the case of the 15 UK sailors detained by Iran, the Spokesman said that the United Nations continues to monitor the situation.

DISABILITIES CONVENTION OPENED FOR SIGNATURE

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were formally opened for signature earlier today at an event in the General Assembly Hall in the presence of Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro.

In her remarks to the gathering, the Deputy Secretary-General said that the Convention went from dream to reality in three short years. It is the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, and the fastest negotiated international human rights instrument in history, she said.

She also expressed confidence that the Convention would relatively easily garner the 20 signatures that are required for its entry into force, and she urged Member States to sign it, noting that around the world today there are fewer than 50 countries with specific legislation that protects persons with disabilities.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. PLANS TO ESTABLISH COORDINATION OFFICES IN REMOTE AREAS

Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, today after spending the morning visiting some of the areas most affected by civil conflict in the northern part of the country.

Holmes said that the UN plans to establish coordination offices in these remote areas since one of the greatest challenges for humanitarian workers is reaching people in need. Tens of thousands of people are hiding in the bush, the road system is degraded, and there are few NGO partners on the ground, he added.

DISPLACED PERSONS ARE RUNNING OUT OF FOOD IN EASTERN CHAD

In Chad, the World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that thousands of displaced Chadians in the eastern border region with Sudan are running out of food.

WFP had planned to feed some 50,000 displaced persons but, because of continuing conflict and instability in the region, that number has almost tripled. WFP says it needs more than seven million dollars to provide additional food for the next six months.

U.N. MISSION TRAINS MEMBERS OF HAITIAN JUDICIARY

The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) says that its Justice Section has so far helped train a total of 334 judges and registrars working in 16 districts as part of an effort to strengthen the rule of law and the Haitian judiciary.

The programme, which was begun in August 2006, aims to deepen local judges and registrars understanding of the rules and regulations of the Peace Tribunals with a view to improving and streamlining the administration of the tribunals and reducing the backlog in pending cases, among other goals. The programme is run jointly with the International Organization of the Francophonie and the US National Center for State Courts.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON DARFUR

From Geneva, the Human Rights Council today

concluded its fourth session, adopting nine resolutions and decisions including, by consensus, one on

Darfur, in which it expressed deep concern about the seriousness of the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law there.

In addition, the Council decided to convene a group, to be presided over by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Sudan, to work with the Sudanese Government and African Union mechanisms to monitor the situation on the ground and follow up existing resolutions and recommendations.

Other human rights resolutions and decisions adopted today addressed unilateral coercive measures, international cooperation, globalization, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, and the right to development.

Asked if the Secretary-General had any comment on the resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on Darfur, Haq said that Ban Ki-moon had previously advised the Council to broaden its scope of work rather than focus narrowly on a limited number of issues or countries. "It is a good sign that the Council is dealing with issues such as Darfur," Haq said. "The members of the Human Rights Council have come to an agreement on how to deal with this issue, and that is a step forward. We are hoping that they will continue to work on this issue."

In response to a question concerning allegations that remarks made by a representative of the group UN Watch had been stricken from the records of the Human Rights Council, the Spokesperson later obtained a clarification from the Human Rights Council that the remarks had not been stricken from the record.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST MATERNAL AND INFANT DEATH LAUNCHED IN MALAWI

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says that the Malawi Government today launched the first African Road Map to combat maternal and infant death.

Every day, 16 Malawian women die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The new Road Map provides strategies that will reduce these numbers and ensure that women go through pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery safely, while also ensuring that their babies are alive and healthy.

UNESCO TO GIVE AWARD TO MURDERED RUSSIAN JOURNALIST

For the first time, UNESCO is giving its annual press freedom award posthumously, to Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. She was killed in front of her Moscow home last October.

The award jury for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize cites Ms. Politkovskayas incredible courage and stubbornness in chronicling events in Chechnya after the whole world had given up on that conflict.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPECIAL ENVOY TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL ON KOSOVO IN COMING DAYS: Asked to describe the nature of a report allegedly requested by the Security Council on Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, the Spokesman said that to the best of his knowledge the Council had not made any such request. He noted that the next Security Council meeting on Kosovo will concern the proposal by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Kosovo's final status process, Martti Ahtisaari, who is expected to brief Council members in the coming days.

COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THREATS TO PEACE AND SECURITY: Asked if the Secretary-General considered the situation in Zimbabwe a threat to international peace and security, the Spokesman said that the Secretariat has in the past noted that certain problems brought about by the crisis in Zimbabwe could have cross-border consequences. Ultimately though, he added, it is up to the Security Council to decide what constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIAS DEPORTATION OF CHINESE ASYLUM SEEKER: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is expressing concern about a Chinese asylum seeker and her 8 year old daughter deported from Russia to China. Both were registered by UNHCR as persons in need of international protection and had submitted a legal claim for asylum. UNHCR says it has credible information that the two were taken from their St. Petersburg residence by Russian authorities on Wednesday and put on a plane to China.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

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

Monday, April 2

At 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 1, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research begins a two-day seminar on preventing genocide.

At 9:45 a.m., the Economic and Social Council holds a half-day informal event entitled Eradicating poverty and hunger joining forces to make it happen. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will deliver the opening address.

At 10 a.m. in Conference Room 2, the Department for Disarmament Affairs holds a one-day workshop for Member States and international, regional and subregional organizations to exchange information on conventional arms control measures.

At 11 a.m. in Room 226, there will be a press conference sponsored by the Ugandan Mission to the UN on the International Summit of Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers. Among the guest speakers will be 1950s recording artist Patti Page.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Eloho Otobo from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, who will brief on the Economic Report on Africa 2007, to be launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the following day.

In Singapore, political, business and opinion leaders are gathering today for a high-level global debate, hosted by the World Health Organization and the Government of Singapore, on the urgent need to improve international health security.

Tuesday, April 3

This morning, the Security Council holds consultations on its program of work for April. At 11 a.m. in Room 226, Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom, which holds the Security Council presidency for April, will brief the media.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, who will brief on the International Day for Landmine Awareness, which is tomorrow.

At 1:15 p.m., there will be a press conference by Dr. Peter Boyle, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, on the Globalization of Cancer, Making a Difference.

Wednesday, April 4

Today is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Several events are planned at Headquarters to mark the occasion. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the North Lawn, there will be a mock minefield and free demining demonstrations by the Humanitarian Demining Training Center.

At 1 p.m. in the Visitors Lobby, the opening of Enduring Fear, a monthlong exhibition of photographs about landmines, explosive remnants of war and the people affected by them, will take place. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., next to the exhibition, UNICEF will host free mine-risk education workshops.

In Geneva, there will be a press briefing by Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF Representative in the Central African Republic, on the situation in that country.

Thursday, April 5

The UN Development Programme today launches a joint UN energy system publication entitled Mainstreaming energy considerations into MDG-based national development strategies.

Friday, April 6

Today is an official UN Holiday. Headquarters in New York will be closed.

In Brussels, Belgium, the UN Environment Programme holds a press conference to release the Summary for Policymakers of the report of Working Group II of the UNEP/World Meteorological Organization Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability".

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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