United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-04-26

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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 26, 2007

BAN KI-MOON TO LAUNCH IRAQ COMPACT NEXT WEEK

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a press briefing today in which he described his recent travels in Europe and the Middle East, including what he described as a good visit to Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad expressed his strong commitment to work with the United Nations on regional issues, including

Lebanon.

Asked about his talks with President Assad on the tribunal for Lebanon, the Secretary-General said that the President had expressed the need for a national consensus in Lebanon on that matter, following its own procedures. But, the Secretary-General added, he had strongly urged the Syrian President to do whatever he could to promote national reconciliation among the Lebanese.

He was also asked about the UN Mission in Iraqs (UNAMI) recent human rights report, and he expressed his concerns about the sectarian violence and human suffering there. The Secretary-General encouraged the international community to respond by actively participating in the launch of the International Compact with Iraq, which he will attend on 3 May in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Asked about the lack of data from Iraq on casualties, which had previously been included in the regular human rights reports of the UN Mission in Iraq, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations had expressed its regret that it could no longer receive the figures from the relevant Iraqi authorities. She said that the United Nations would continue to ask the Iraqi Government for that information, adding that the UNAMI human rights report is a strong one.

FORMER PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL IS NAMED

TO LEAD ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS

Following consultations with the Heads of Government of Spain and Turkey, the Co-Sponsors of the Alliance of Civilizations, the Secretary-General has designated Jorge Sampaio, the former President of Portugal, as High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.

The High Representative will provide the vision and leadership required, especially to promote the Alliance of Civilizations as a credible and viable attempt to diminish the dangerous tensions between diverse societies and their threat to international stability.

Asked about the process by which Sampaio had been selected, the Spokeswoman said that there had been a list of candidates, and the Secretary-General had consulted with Spain and Turkey, the co-sponsors of the Alliance.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL WRAPS UP AFRICA VISIT

Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro met with the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in Brazzaville, before departing for Kinshasa en route back to New York.

While in Brazzaville, the Deputy Secretary-General had met with the Congolese Prime Minister and addressed an annual UN Development Programme (UNDP) meeting of its African Regional Management team. She also chaired a panel on the Millennium Development Goals at a Conference on African development priorities.

U.N. REFUGEE CHIEF SAYS IMPROVED SECURITY

NEEDED TO HELP DISPLACED IN DARFUR

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres yesterday visited thousands of Chadian refugees who fled to strife-torn Darfur. He then met with African Union officials in West Darfur and stressed that security was a key component for humanitarian workers trying to help the displaced.

He acknowledged the vital importance of water for everybody living in the region, and promised the refugee community that UNHCR and its partners would try to find the best solution for all.

Today, Guterres was to travel to Kassala State in eastern Sudan and visit two refugee camps hosting Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees. The camps were established almost four decades ago.

Meanwhile, The World Food Programmes (WFP) Executive Director, Josette Sheeran, is in North Darfur, where she visited a camp for displaced people during which she met women residents and distributed hand mills for grinding cereals. WFP fed more than two million displaced people in Darfur last month.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reports a number of security incidents in todays bulletin, including an attempted rape of a female staff member at a compound housing a non-governmental organization in Nyala, South Darfur.

SOMALIA: DISPLACEMENT OF MOGADISHU RESIDENTS

IS LARGEST IN THE WORLD THIS YEAR

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes

briefed journalists in Geneva today on the dangerous humanitarian situation in Somalia. He told them that international humanitarian law is being flouted by all sides in Mogadishu.

Holmes noted that the recent fighting in Mogadishu is the worst the city has seen in the last 15 years, with even hospitals being shelled. He also pointed out that roughly 350,000 people, or a third of the citys population, are now displaced making this the largest displacement of people in the world this year.

In some cases, the displaced primarily women, children and the elderly have had to "rent" trees for protection and shelter.

On the ground, the UN refugee agency is distributing basic supplies including plastic sheeting, mattresses, jerry cans and kitchen utensils to displaced persons just outside of Mogadishu.

The World Food Programme, meanwhile, is delivering food to those who need it.

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION HEADS TO KOSOVO

Here at Headquarters, there are no scheduled Security Council meetings or consultations, but the Councils mission to the Balkans is still continuing its work.

Today the mission was in Belgrade, where it met with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

This evening the Mission will head to Pristina, in Kosovo.

BAN KI-MOON CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

TO HELP AREAS AFFECTED BY CHERNOBYL DISASTER

The Secretary-General marked the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster with a statement, which says that science has shown that, after two decades, a return to normal life is a realistic prospect for people living in the Chernobyl-affected regions.

What these areas need most now, the Secretary-General said, is sustainable social and economic development, new jobs, fresh investment and the restoration of a sense of self-sufficiency for the affected communities.

The Secretary-General calls on the international community to do its part in helping to bring a region so rich in history and potential fully back to life.

SECRETARY-GENERAL IS SADDENED AT DEATH

OF UNCTAD DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has

announced that its Deputy Secretary-General, Dirk Jan Bruinsma, passed away in The Hague on Sunday, following a brief illness. He was 56 years old.

Mr. Bruinsma had served as DSG of UNCTAD since January 2006, after a long and distinguished career working for the Dutch Government.

Here at Headquarters, the Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Bruinsma. He extends his condolences to Mr. Bruinsmas family, friends and colleagues.

HAITI: SCHOOL SEIZED FROM GANGS TO BE REHABILITATED

Brazilian peacekeepers with the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) have handed over to the local authorities a school that was seized from drug gangs earlier this year.

The École Nationale de Cité Soleil is to be rehabilitated with funds from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Also yesterday, elected officials returned to the bullet-scarred town hall of Cité Soleil, which is now once again operational.

TOWN HALL MEETING TOMORROW TO DISCUSS STAFF MOBILITY POLICY

Asked about a vote by the New York staff representatives objecting to the mobility policy at the United Nations, the Spokeswoman said that the policy, decided upon by the General Assembly in 2002, would be implemented gradually and noted that there would be a Town Hall meeting on Friday to discuss it.

Montas said that the Secretary-Generals view is that managed mobility is essential for a strong and efficient United Nations.

The current exercise, she said, would involve about 150 staff members, who had been in their positions for at least five years. Montas added that there were differing attitudes to the mobility policy among staff, with some in New York and Geneva voicing concerns but others, in the most difficult field postings, generally welcoming it.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WAS NOT BARRED FROM VISITING UZBEKISTAN: Asked whether High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour had been barred from visiting Uzbekistan, the Spokeswoman said that the information received from Arbours office was not that she had been barred, but rather that Uzbekistan was not ready to receive her at that time.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEET NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Asked about the Secretary-Generals meeting on Monday with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the Spokeswoman said it would be the occasion on which the Secretary-General receives Khalilzad's credentials.