United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-04-23

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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

Monday, April 23, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IN SOMALIA FIGHTING

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the continuing heavy fighting in Mogadishu, which has reportedly killed more than 250 people and forced more than 320,000 from their homes in the past six days alone. He deplores the reported indiscriminate use of heavy weapons against civilian population centers, which is in disregard of international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General calls on the parties to immediately cease all hostilities and to facilitate access for the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance. He reiterates that there is no military solution to the Somali conflict and renews his call for an urgent resumption of political dialogue.

Asked about UN actions in response to the violence in Somalia, the Spokeswoman noted that the Security Council was seized of the matter.

BAN KI-MOON EMPHASIZES NEED FOR PROGRESS ON DOHA ROUND TRADE TALKS

The Secretary-General arrived in Doha, Qatar from Geneva late Sunday afternoon, to open the Seventh Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade.

He began the day Monday with a meeting with the President of Finland, who was also scheduled to open the Forum later in the day. The Secretary-General then held talks with the Prime Minister of Qatar and then with the Emir of Qatar.

The Secretary-General told reporters traveling with him that the international conference being convened by Qatar on democracy, free trade and development focuses on three key issues that the United Nations is working for in the region, as well as worldwide.

He added that, on free trade, he was frustrated by the level of progress concerning the Doha Round of trade talks. In his speech today, he emphasized progress on the Doha Round as soon as possible.

The Secretary-General is scheduled to leave Doha for Damascus tomorrow morning.

Over the weekend, the Secretary-General chaired the meeting in Switzerland of the Chief Executives Board that brings together all the leaders of the UN System.

The Board agreed, at the conclusion of its meeting, to restructure arrangements for cooperation among UN organizations to ensure a more transparent, cost-effective and coherent approach to developing common programmes. The Board will meet again in six months to complete the new arrangements.

It also decided to develop a coherent approach to support the Aid-for-Trade initiative launched at the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to build capacity to underpin the efforts of developing countries to benefit from the changing international trade regime.

SUDAN: NORTH-SOUTH PEACE AGREEMENT AT DELICATE STAGE

The Security Council this morning is holding consultations on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), with a briefing by Taye Brook Zerihoun, the acting head of that Mission.

In his most recent report to the Security Council on the Mission, which came out last week, the Secretary-General says that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan has reached a delicate stage, and the parties must devote considerable attention to the verification of the redeployment of their forces.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION HEADS TO KOSOVO TOMORROW

The Security Council is holding consultations this afternoon on Kosovo and other matters. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno will brief Council members on the current situation on the ground in Kosovo.

The Security Council will be sending a

mission tomorrow to Belgrade and Kosovo. The six-day trip will also cover Brussels and Vienna. Its objective is to get a firsthand look at the political, economic and social situation on the ground. For details about the missions composition and terms of reference, the relevant letter from the Security Council Presidency to the Secretary-General is out on the racks today.

U.N. ADVISER WORKS TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR IRAQ COMPACT

Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-Generals Special Advisor dealing with the International Compact with Iraq, is beginning a week of travels to build up support for the Compact. He is accompanied by the Governor of Iraqs Central Bank.

Gambari is in the United Kingdom today, and will travel from there to Kuwait, Bulgaria and Belgium before returning to New York next week. The Compact will be launched formally in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 3-4 May.

WHEAT SHIPMENT LETS U.N. AGENCY FEED SUDANESE SCHOOLCHILDREN

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that, because of a Russian wheat shipment that arrived in Sudan today, it will be able to feed nearly 300,000 schoolchildren. Those children are enrolled in WFP's school feeding programmes in three chronically food insecure Sudanese states.

WFP will also be able to feed 6,000 participants in food-for-work projects.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME CHIEF MAKES FIRST VISIT TO AFRICA SINCE TAKING OFFICE

Also from WFP, the agencys new head, Josette Sheeran, is currently on her first visit to Africa since taking office earlier this month. She was in Ethiopia today to discuss how WFP can increase the amount of food it buys on local markets.

On Wednesday, she will head to Sudan, where WFP has its biggest aid operation. She intends to visit Khartoum, Darfur and Juba, before heading to Chad this Saturday.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN KINSHASA, REAFFIRMS U.N. COMMITMENT TO CONGOLESE PEOPLE

The Deputy Secretary-General is currently on a three-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the

Congo. Asha-Rose Migiro arrived Sunday in Kinshasa. At the airport, she reiterated the United Nations commitment to assist the government and the Congolese people in their efforts towards reconstruction and reconciliation.

During her visit, she is expected to meet President Kabila and Prime Minister Gizenga. She will depart tomorrow.

U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO WITHDRAW REMAINING INTERNATIONAL STAFF FROM NORTH KOREA

At the request of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) authorities, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) will withdraw its remaining two international staff members from Pyongyang on 3 May. They will proceed to Beijing and will be accessible to facilitate the audit.

WFP has agreed to provide storage and support for current UNDP office assets, as well as to make any necessary further payments on behalf of UNDP. All UNDP records are secured.

UNDPs programme in DPRK remains formally in suspension. UNDP will retain its lease on its Country Office building in Pyongyang until further notice.

Asked whether the United Nations believes that the DPRK had rendered UNDP staff persona non grata, the Spokeswoman noted that UNDP had taken the decision to leave the country considerably beforehand. UNDP had announced that it was withdrawing, and had only kept two staff there on a temporary basis.

Asked about the work being done by External Auditors to review UNDP activities in the DPRK, Montas said that the auditors will have full access to UNDP records. Priority records are being copied and transported out of the country.

Whether or not the External Auditors are able to visit UNDP projects will be up to the DPRK authorities, she added.

The Spokeswoman said that the United Nations does not anticipate that the suspension of UNDPs programme in DPRK and the departure of its staff will have an impact on the audit of other UN agencies in the country.

Asked about the work of the auditors, Montas said it was proceeding. She noted that the DPRK was the first step in the auditing process, before the auditors deal with other issues.

HAITIAN GANG LEADER ARRESTED

The arrest of gang leader Belony Pierre on Saturday 21 April by the Haitian National Police marks another significant step forward in the fight against Haiti's armed gangs. Belony, who led a gang in Bois-Neuf, Cite Soleil, was arrested by HNP officers in St. Michel de l'Attalaye, 100 kilometers north of Port-au-Prince. He was immediately transferred to the capital, where he faces charges of murder and kidnapping.

Belony's arrest was carried out by the HNP. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) provided additional security during his transfer and subsequent detention at the headquarters of the police judiciare in Port-au-Prince.

The gang leader has been on the run since the end of February, when MINUSTAH forces, in support of the HNP, seized control of his Cite Soleil headquarters.

GOVERNMENTS URGED TO STEP UP FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is urging Member States to develop a more coherent global regime for fighting organized crime.

Speaking to the 16th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Antonio Maria Costa said law enforcement is operating in an informational fog, due to a lack of information on organized crime activities.

He urged countries to improve tracking methods and to provide information similar to what UNODC already collects on illicit drugs.

He also urged member states to support UNODCs recently launched Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking.

BAN KI-MOON URGES GREATER INVESTMENT IN ROAD SAFETY

Today marks the start of the first UN Global Road Safety Week. Road collisions kill more than a million people each year and are the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24, according to a new World Health Organization report.

The Secretary General has issued a message urging Governments to improve road safety and invest in prevention measures.

He noted that road traffic collisions, in addition to their devastating human impact, are a major obstacle to development, costing low and middle income countries more than one per cent of their Gross National Product.

UNESCO ADOPTS DECISION ON WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN JERUSALEM

The UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted a landmark

decision on protecting the Old City of Jerusalem.

The unanimous reaffirmation by UNESCOs Executive Board of the need to safeguard the World Heritage site marks the first time that Israelis and Palestinians have worked together on this issue. Both sides consulted with the board on reaching this decision and continue to work together.

UNESCO sent a technical mission to Jerusalem in February after Islamic authorities there complained about an Israeli construction project they said threatened the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

LEBANON: U.N. PEACEKEEPERS FROM INDIA ORGANIZE SPECIAL CLINIC FOR CLUSTER BOMB AND MINE VICTIMS

Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have organized a special clinic in their headquarters in Ibil as Saqi to provide artificial limbs to victims of mine and cluster bomb explosions in southern Lebanon. The artificial limb, known as the Jaipur Foot, was developed and manufactured in Jaipur, India.

The peacekeepers have identified over 100 Lebanese people who could benefit from the artificial limb, and around ten patients are currently being fitted with the limbs each day. These patients have started receiving free medical examinations and limb fittings by a medical team flown over from India especially for this project.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF TO TRAVEL TO CENTRAL ASIA: High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour

leaves tomorrow for Central Asia.Her two-week trip will take her to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Arbours aim is to increase her offices engagement in the region.

U.N. POPULATION FUND HEAD VISITS AFGHANISTAN: Thoraya Obaid, the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), is in Afghanistan today, where she will meet with the countrys president, vice president, and ministers of foreign affairs, education and womens affairs, as well as UN officials and civil society representatives. Obaid told reporters that she will make a strong call for greater investment in the health and well-being of Afghanistans women and their families.

BAN KI-MOON APPEALS FOR CALM AFTER NIGERIAN ELECTIONS: Asked about the reported irregularities in Nigerias weekend elections, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General continues to closely follow developments in Nigeria, including the reports from observer groups who have expressed concerns about the recent elections. He strongly urges those with grievances to use legal and constitutional means to address their complaints, and he appeals to all national actors to resist any resort to violence. Montas added that the United Nations did not have observers for the elections.

TIMELY ACTION ON CÔTE DIVOIRE AGREEMENTS URGED: Asked whether the United Nations was satisfied with developments in Côte dIvoire, the Spokeswoman expressed the hope that the Ivorian parties will proceed on schedule with the agreements that have been reached.

U.N. LEGAL COUNSEL EXPECTED TO BRIEF PRESS NEXT WEEK: Asked when the press might hear from UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel, the Spokeswoman said that he will be traveling soon, and will talk to reporters when he returns next week.