United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-04-04

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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 MICHELE

MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF IRANS RELEASE OF UK HOSTAGES

Asked about an announcement on the release of 15 UK naval personnel by the Iranian Government, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General welcomes Iran's announcement today. He reiterates his hope that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible.

She declined to comment on questions about any UN involvement.

U.N. IS STUDYING LETTER FROM LEBANESE PARLIAMENTARIANS

In response to questions, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretariat has received the memorandum addressed to Secretary-General by 70 Lebanese parliamentarians and is studying it. The Secretary-General continues to be concerned by the political impasse in

Lebanon and hopes that the relevant Lebanese institutions will take the steps necessary under their Constitution to conclude the Agreement.

During his visit to Beirut, all of his interlocutors expressed to him their support for a process that would bring to justice those responsible for the attack that killed former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and others. The Secretary-General remains convinced that the preferred path toward justice is through the fulfilment of the Lebanese constitutional process, but he notes the difficulties described by the parliamentarians relating to the convening of the Parliament to consider the matter.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON AFRICA VISIT

The Security Council today heard a briefing in an open meeting on the humanitarian situation in Africa from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who has returned from his first mission to

Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic.

He said that there is a clear regional aspect to the conflicts in those countries, which drive the deep humanitarian problems there. The spillover effect from Darfur is clear, not least in eastern Chad, he said.

Yet Holmes added that there is a clearly internal aspect to each conflict, too, and there have to be national solutions in addition to the regional approach. The fundamental need, he said, is for political solutions brought about through dialogue and mediation.

This afternoon, the Security Council intends to hold consultations on the Democratic

Republic of the Congo, with a briefing by the head of the UN Mission, William Swing.

U.N. KOSOVO ENVOY SAYS STATUS DECISION SHOULD BE MADE SOON

On Tuesday afternoon, the Security Council heard a briefing by the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the future status process in Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, in a private meeting, which was later followed by closed consultations.

Ahtisaari later spoke to reporters, telling them that this was the start of a process and that he was pleased by the discussions with the members of the Security Council. He said that the process, if not a marathon, was at least a 10,000 meter run.

He said it is important that the Security Council should recognize that the sooner a decision is made on Kosovo, the better.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would become more involved in resolving the situation in Kosovo, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had expressed support for Ahtisaaris report. It is now up to the Security Council to discuss the matter, she said, adding that the Secretary-General would not be involved in the Councils discussions.

U.N. SOMALIA ENVOY CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR A.U. FORCES

On Tuesday in Cairo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, took part in a meeting of the International Contact Group for Somalia, along with officials from the League of Arab States, Egypt and other key members of the international community.

In his remarks to the gathering, Fall said that the surge in violence in Somalia brings into sharp focus the differences between the proponents of forced disarmament to secure Mogadishu and those staking out the position that reconciliation must precede any disarmament. He also noted the establishment last month of a National Governance and Reconciliation Committee and the expected holding of a reconciliation congress, now scheduled for mid-May. Citing the ongoing violence, Fall questioned the choice of Mogadishu as the venue for that congress.

On the peacekeeping front, he said that African Union member states should be encouraged to commit and deploy more troops. Meanwhile, he noted, donors have pledged only $120 million out of the required $377 million for the AU force, and he appealed for further financial support.

U.N. PARTICIPATES IN MEETING ON SUDAN

The Tripartite Mechanism, composed of representatives from the United Nations, the African Union and the Government of Sudan, which oversees the implementation of the UN support to the African Union Mission in Sudan, met today in Khartoum.

The United Nations informed the meeting that 21 additional military staff officers and 10 civilian staff members have been recruited as part of the Light Support Package staff, to be deployed in support of the African Union Mission. The newly recruited military and civilian staff members are still in Khartoum and will be deployed to Darfur once the arrangements for them are in place.

The UN Mission in

Sudan also reports that more than 1,000 internally displaced persons arrived at the Hamediya camp in West Darfur during the last week. They are mainly women and children, who claim that they are fleeing violence perpetrated by Abala tribesmen, and that many of their men were killed.

TIMOR-LESTE: U.N. MISSION SUPPORTS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

In Timor-Leste, the United Nations continues efforts in giving support to candidates during the campaigning period of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary electoral process, including technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice and verification or other means.

The assistance of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) for the presidential election also includes a Candidate Resource Centre to support all eight candidates. The Centre established in Dili on 28 February provides candidates with the use of computer and office facilities.

Following the Presidential Elections, the Centre will transform into the Political Party Resource Centre, with three district branches established in other major cities.

Meanwhile, U.N. police responded to campaigning in Dili today by increasing its number of patrols. One hundred patrols were conducted between approximately 6a.m. and 3p.m.

Under phase two of electoral security operations, U.N. and Timorese police are providing close protection to all candidates as well as conducting risk assessments across the countrys 13 districts for political events.

U.N. AGENCIES HELP SOLOMON ISLANDS RECOVER FROM TSUNAMI

UN emergency responders are on the ground in the Solomon Islands, helping in the recovery from the recent earthquake and tsunami. The death toll is currently at 34, with dozens still missing and more than five thousand displaced, according to Government statistics.

A temporary hospital has been established in Gizo to replace one that is reportedly damaged beyond use. Eight emergency field hospitals are also being set up. UNICEF will support four of them, while the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners will support the others. Those agencies are also sending eight additional emergency medical kits.

Meanwhile,

UNESCO is also offering support in tsunami recovery efforts. The agency's director, Koïchiro Matsuuma, expressed sorrow over the loss of life and extensive damage. He also stressed that while the Pacific Tsunami Warning System had functioned well across the region, there was a clear need to reinforce emergency response systems in vulnerable island States.

UNICEF CALLS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

UNICEF is calling for urgent action to tackle what it calls a humanitarian disaster in the Central African Republic.

UNICEFs country representative, Mahimbo Mdoe, told journalists in Geneva today that escalating conflict between the Government and rebel groups has forced more than 200,000 people to flee their homes in recent years and left 40 per cent of children malnourished.

UNICEF launched an appeal for nearly $12 million in January but has received less than a quarter of that amount so far.

SOUTHERN AFRICA STRUGGLES TO RECOVER FROM HEAVY RAINS

An unusually long and intense rainy season in southern Africa has once again

highlighted the regions vulnerability to natural disasters and food insecurity, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). An unprecedented series of cyclones and storms has stretched local authorities and humanitarian partners to the limit, threatening the lives of more than a million people.

A flash

appeal for almost $9 million for Zambia remains less than five per cent funded, OCHA says, while a similar

appeal for Madagascar has yet to receive half the funds sought. Angola, Mozambique, and Namibia are struggling to recover from the months of relentless rain.

NEPAL: U.N. AGENCIES CALL ON POLITICAL LEADERS TO PROTECT CHILDREN

Representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNICEF in Nepal jointly spoke out to prevent the use and abuse of children by political actors in that country.

Urging political leaders to protect childrens rights, UNICEF and OHCHR released a 10-point statement which guides the Nepalese government in protecting their children from being used in political activities.

An electoral code of conduct and legislation is also being drawn up to be endorsed by the political parties, aimed at preventing children from being exploited and manipulated, and to protect them from violence and arrest.

The code of conduct also commits political parties to keep schools free of political activities and not to encourage or force children to participate in any political gathering or demonstrations.

UNDP INVESTIGATION TO CONTINUE IN DPRK

In response to questions about the work being done in auditing UN activities in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Spokeswoman recalled that the Audit Operations Committee of the UN Board of Auditors said that last week, the Committee completed the preparatory portion of the DPRK assignment, which was being done at UN Headquarters. She said that the Board would proceed to work in the DPRK.

Asked about counterfeit money that had reportedly been in the possession of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Montas said that UNDP has cooperated with any investigations, and she noted that the work of auditors was continuing. She noted that UNDP was open to talk to the press about this issue.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH I.C.C. PROSECUTOR: During a meeting Tuesday with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Secretary-General underscored that the establishment of the International Criminal Court constituted a unique opportunity to hold accountable those responsible for the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crime, and to bring an end to impunity. He also stressed the deterring effect that the work of the Court already had on potential perpetrators of such crimes. The Secretary-General thanked the Prosecutor for his work and affirmed that the United Nations would continue to assist and support the International Criminal Court in its endeavours.

NO U.N. RESPONSE TO U.S. SENATORS REMARKS ABOUT IRAQS SAFETY: Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to comments from a US senator about whether

Iraq is safe, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General would not respond to the comments, but she noted that the Secretary-General had recently acknowledged the security risks in Iraq while saying that he wanted to study ways for the United Nations to become more involved there.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE MIDEAST DIALOGUE: Asked whether the Secretary-General would encourage dialogue between Israel and Syria, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Saudi Arabia last week and discussed a range of matters. She said that the Secretary-General had always encouraged the parties in the region to consult with each other.

BAN KI-MOON PLANS TO TRAVEL TO SYRIA: Asked whether the Secretary-General intended to travel to Syria in the near future, the Spokeswoman confirmed that he did.

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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