United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-04-05

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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

Thursday, April 5, 2007

[Due to the official holiday, UN Headquarters will be closed on Friday.]

SECRETARY-GENERAL BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON MIDDLE EAST TRIP

The Secretary-General this morning briefed the Security Council on his recent trip to the Middle East, on which, he told them, he focused on the

Middle East peace process,

Lebanon,

Iraq,

Darfur and Somalia.

He also discussed his recent report to the Council on the implementation of

resolution 1701, concerning Lebanon. Afterward, the Secretary-General told reporters that the Lebanese Speaker of the Assembly, Nabih Berri, had invited Saudi Arabia to initiate consultative meetings, and that the Secretary-General was willing to dispatch his Legal Counsel, Nicolas Michel, to those meetings, if the parties are agreeable.

He said it is crucial to establish a tribunal for Lebanon at an early date, and asked the Lebanese parties to follow the constitutional procedures.

Asked further about Berris proposal for talks on Lebanon, the Spokeswoman added that no dates had been set yet.

The Secretary-General also said that the United Nations, the African Union and the Government of Sudan will participate in a technical-level meeting in Addis Ababa on 9 April, to finalise the measures for the heavy-support package for Darfur.

This afternoon, the Security Council expects to hear a briefing on the work of the Councils sanctions committee on Sudan by its chair, Italian Ambassador Marcello Spatafora.

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR PEACEFUL TIMORESE ELECTIONS

On Wednesday afternoon, the Council President, Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, read a statement to the press, saying that the members of the Security Council expressed their full support for the holding of the presidential elections in Timor-Leste on 9 April and called upon all parties in Timor-Leste to adhere to the principles of non-violence and to democratic and legal processes.

The Secretary-General will also put out a video message over the weekend, expressing his hope for Timorese elections that will be free, fair, transparent and credible, and unmarred by violence and intimidation.

DR CONGO: JEAN-PIERRE BEMBAS FORMER GUARDS DISARMED

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) says that the former guards of Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba and their dependents who are currently under the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) protection have been disarmed.

The Mission is in discussions with the Government regarding their handover to Government authorities for disarmament or integration into the armed forces.

No handover has yet taken place, however, as a detailed agreement is being negotiated by which the Government would guarantee respect for the human rights of the former guards, their proper treatment before the law should they face legal action, and would guarantee MONUC human rights officials access to them for follow-up.

As of 30 March, 149 DPP have taken refuge with MONUC. In addition to the 149 DPP 'guards', some 93 women and 109 children who claim to be family of DPP members have also taken refuge with MONUC.

HAITIAN AND U.N. PEACEKEEPERS CAPTURE GANG LEADER

The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) says that the Haitian National Police and UN peacekeeping soldiers earlier today captured wanted gang leader Alain Cadet, the alleged number two in the now dismantled Belony gang, which operated in the Bois Neuf and Drouillard areas of Cité Soleil in the Haitian capital.

The operation involved Haitian police, as well as 30 United Nations soldiers, police and formed police units, and was conducted at a home east of Petionville in the capital.

DISEASE THREATENS SOLOMON ISLANDS IN WAKE OF TSUNAMI

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says UN agencies are warning of potential health concerns in the Solomon Islands following the recent tsunami, due to the shortage of clean drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, and malaria prevention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the number of malaria cases to rise in the next two months, due to an increase in mosquito breeding sites and the greater vulnerability of displaced persons.

There are also reports of diarrhea outbreaks in camps where people have sought shelter. UNICEF says theres a need for water purification tablets, jerry cans and water tanks. UNICEF has already used pre-positioned medical supplies and financial reserves, and is appealing for 500-thousand dollars to meet the most urgent needs of women and children in the region.

W.F.P. DELIVERS EMERGENCY RATIONS TO AFGHAN FLOOD VICTIMS

As spring floods devastate much of Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered one thousand tonnes of emergency rations to Kabul, enough to feed 60,000 people for 30 days.

The major highways linking Kabul to both the north and south of the country have been cut off by a combination of melting snows and heavy rains, and WFP remains concerned about people who may be beyond the reach of immediate assistance.

Also, in the southern province of Helmand, WFP says its trucks are frequently attacked by anti-government insurgents.

REPORT: MARCH INCIDENTS WERE A MAJOR SETBACK IN ABKHAZIA

The Secretary-Generals latest reportto the Security Council on the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the situation in Abkhazia welcomes the recent progress between the two sides, including the continuation of joint patrolling in the Kodori Valley. He hopes that the sides will take further measures to improve the confidence between them.

However, the Secretary-General writes, the firing incidents that took place in the upper Kodori Valley on 11 March were a major setback, although no casualties resulted. He notes with regret that the situation along the ceasefire line has remained tense.

The report recommends the extension of the UN Mission by another six months, until mid-October.

W.F.P. WELCOMES DONATION FOR BHUTANESE REFUGEES

The World Food Programme has welcomed a 1.5 Million Euro donation to its Bhutanese refugee operation in Nepal from the European Commissions Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO).

WFP aims to provide food aid to more than 108,000 Bhutanese refugees over the next two years, at a cost of nearly 18.5 million Euros.

PALESTINIAN CHILDREN SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIOLENCE

Hundreds of children are marking Palestinian Childs Day by gathering today in Gaza and Ramallah to speak out against violence. It is the culmination of months of children-led campaigns, during which UNICEF has been training children on their rights and how to protect themselves.

UNICEF says the ongoing conflict is partly to blame for the violence, but cultural practices and the acceptance of violence as a fact of life also play a role.

BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR GREATER PARTICIPATION IN OUTER SPACE TREATIES

The Secretary-General has sent a letter to the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) encouraging greater participation in the five UN-sponsored outer space treaties. That letter went out to the Outer Space Offices legal subcommittee, which just

completed its 46th session in Geneva.

A key item of discussion was the registration of space objects, and the subcommittee adopted elements of conclusions regarding the practice of States and international organizations in registering space objects. It also reviewed the status and application of related UN treaties and the definition and delimitation of outer space, among other topics.

This year is of particular importance in outer space affairs, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the launching of the first artificial satellite and the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Outer Space Treaty.

CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT TO BE RELEASED FRIDAY

On Friday, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will be released in Brussels.

After the report comes out, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will have additional information on their websites.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO U.N. COMMENT ON SEIZED IRANIAN DIPLOMATS: Asked whether the Secretary-General could play a role regarding five Iranian diplomats who had been seized in Erbil, Iraq, the Spokeswoman declined to comment.

NO NEW SENIOR-LEVEL U.N. APPOINTMENTS: The Spokeswoman, in response to a question, said that there were no new senior-level UN appointments to announce at this stage.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

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

Monday, April 9

Beginning today in Conference Room 2, the weeklong 40th Session of the Commission on Population and Development will focus on the changing age structures of populations and their implications for development.

To mark the 13th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, the Secretary-General will open a traveling exhibit entitled, Lessons from the Rwanda genocide. The event takes place from 5 to 6 p.m. in the South Gallery of the Visitors Lobby.

Tuesday, April 10

This morning, the Security Council holds consultations on Georgia.

In the Trusteeship Council Chamber, the Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, José Antonio Ocampo, will open the 6th session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration. For the next four days, the Committee will examine the role of citizen engagement in achieving the UN Development Agenda.

Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, begins a 10-day visit to Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.

Wednesday, April 11

At 1:15 pm in Room 226, there will be a press conference on the occasion of the Commission on Population and Development. Briefing the media will be Dr. Somnath Chatterji, Team Leader of Multi-Country Studies at the World Health Organization, and Dr. Nyovani Madise, Senior Researcher at the African Population and Health Research Center.

In Geneva, the Food and Agriculture Organization will hold a press conference to launch its publication on Agricultural Commodity Trade and Markets.

In Geneva, the International Strategy For Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will hold a press conference on the April 6 release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

In Geneva, Andreas Fischlin, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and IPCC Lead Author; Martin Beniston, University of Geneva and IPCC contributor; and Renate Christ, IPCC Secretary, will brief on what the IPCCs findings mean for Europe and the Alps.

Beginning today, an eight-member delegation of the Peacebuilding Commission will conduct a four-day visit to Burundi.

Thursday, April 12

Friday, April 13

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to consider resolutions on Georgia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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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