United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-08-15

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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, August 15, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS NORTHERN IRAQ BOMBINGS

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was shocked and saddened by the series of attacks that took place Tuesday in northern Iraq in the villages of Qahtaniya, al-Jazeera and Tal Uzair, which reportedly left at least 200 people dead and many more wounded. He extends his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and his wishes for a full and speedy recovery to those wounded. The Secretary-General reiterates in the strongest terms his condemnation of such attacks against civilian targets, including the one on a bridge in Taji, north of Baghdad, on the same day. Nothing can justify such indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians.

The Secretary-General reiterates the urgent need for all Iraqi leaders, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, to work together to protect civilian lives and to dedicate themselves towards a meaningful dialogue aimed at ending the violence and achieving lasting national reconciliation.

Asked what the latest incident demonstrates about the security situation in Iraq, the Spokeswoman noted that the United Nations continues to assess security conditions in Iraq regularly. At present, she added, the United Nations deploys up to 65 international staff in the country.

U.N. IRAQ ENVOY CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, strongly condemned the multiple car bombings in northern Iraq yesterday as an abominable crime aimed at widening the sectarian and ethnic divide in Iraq.

Qazi called on the Iraqi authorities to redouble their efforts in the protection of minorities in the country and ensure that those responsible for this horrible crime are brought to justice.

Asked about a replacement for Ashraf Qazi, the Spokeswoman said that one would be named shortly.

DPRK: U.N. AGENCIES ASSESSING SITUATION FOLLOWING FLOODING

In response to the recent flooding in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, which has affected most of the southern half of that country, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the Government invited UN Agencies based in Pyongyang UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization to participate in a needs assessment in one flood-affected province near the capital on Tuesday. The assessment found immediate needs of food, shelter and medicines.

UNICEF has a ready stockpile in Government warehouses of thousands of essential medicine kits, as well as family water kits containing basic household items and water purifying tablets.

Asked about access to affected areas, the Spokeswoman said that the UN agencies would go to the most affected areas and were working on the assumption that they would have access.

She noted, in response to further questions, that an assessment team is there to determine further needs, separate from the work that is already being done. A number of needed items are in warehouses already and more will be flown in.

U.N. FEEDING NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SUDAN

Following recent flooding, the World Food Programme (WFP) is

providing food for 38,500 people in North Sudan and nearly 9,000 people in Southern Sudan, but estimates suggest that these figures could rise rapidly.

Health is also a vital concern in Sudan, with 691 suspected cases of acute diarrhea reported so far, which have led to 48 known deaths. To date, 17 treatment centres have been set up in affected areas, where water chlorination and health education are also being carried out.

Meanwhile, in south Darfur, a group of Arab militiamen kidnapped two internally displaced persons collecting firewood outside the Kalma camp on Monday, in an incident connected to accusations of cattle theft. One of the IDPs was released and asked to carry a message to the camp demanding the return of three herds of cattle, but the second remains in custody.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would visit Darfur, the Spokeswoman said that he is to visit Sudan, adding that the dates and the details of the trip are yet to be announced. She said the Secretary-General would provide more details in the coming days.

Asked about comments from Sudanese rebels that they want to see non-African troops as part of the UN-AU hybrid operations, the Spokeswoman said that the composition of that mission is still being discussed. She noted that one criterion for that force was the involvement of countries, not necessarily from Africa, that could provide the special capabilities that the force will need.

Asked about the situation of Suleiman Jamous, Montas said that Jamous is not a prisoner. The Sudanese Government, she said, has said that Jamous is free to leave the hospital for medical treatment abroad, and can return on the condition that he does not fight.

The United Nations is discussing with the Government arrangements to fly Jamous to Nairobi for treatment.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE IN LEBANON

The Secretary-General and the Security Council had their monthly luncheon on Tuesday, and the Secretary-General told reporters afterward that they had mainly discussed the situation in Darfur, Haiti, Somalia, Chad and the Middle East.

Asked about the situation in Lebanon, one year after the end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Secretary-General said that he is still concerned about the ongoing violence, although the United Nations has helped the Lebanese people to restore their society to a more peaceful and economically stable situation. He praised the UN Interim Force in Lebanons (UNIFIL) contribution and urged the countrys leaders to engage in a more inclusive political dialogue to promote national reconciliation.

Asked about Western Sahara, the Secretary-General said that, even though there has not been any visible progress during last weekends negotiations, both sides had substantially good discussions. What is important at this time, he said, is that they have agreed to continue their dialogue.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF ARRIVES IN KYRGYZSTAN

B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, arrived today in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, ahead of the Seventh Summit of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where he will deliver a message of the Secretary-General on Thursday.

Pascoe met today with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, and was expected to meet later in the day with the President and Prime Minister. He is also scheduled to meet on the margins of the summit with the Presidents of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

On his way to the region, Pascoe conducted two days of talks with Chinese Foreign Ministry officials in Beijing, touching on issues including Darfur, the Middle East peace process, Nepal, Myanmar, Kosovo and the Korean Peninsula, as well as cooperation between China and the United Nations in Africa. He will also visit Nepal this weekend.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH SPEAKER OF ISRAELI KNESSET

Asked about reports that Israel's parliament speaker, Dalia Itzik, had asked the Secretary-General for Irans expulsion from the United Nations, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the subject had been brought up when the two met on Tuesday.

The Secretary-General, she said, reiterated what he had said before: that it was unacceptable that anyone would advocate wiping any country off the map. The Secretary-General did not comment on the expulsion of any country from the United Nations.

Montas added that the Secretary-General and Itzik had discussed the question of the Israeli prisoners, and the Secretary-General had expressed his concern for all prisoners.

ATOMIC AGENCY FINDS LESS DAMAGE THAN EXPECTED AT JAPANESE NUCLEAR PLANT

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) finished its work in examining the nuclear plant in Japan that had been damaged by an earthquake last month, and the IAEA experts have concluded that the damage to the plant was less than expected. The plant, they say, was shut down safely.

The IAEA team adds that physical stresses resulting from the earthquake could affect the long-term safe operation of some plant components.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SHABAA FARMS CARTOGRAPHER EXPECTED TO VISIT SITE IN COMING WEEKS: Asked about an update on the cartographic work being done on the Shaba Farms, the Spokeswoman said that the cartographer is expected to go to the site in the coming weeks.

NO COMPLAINT FILED WITH U.N. AGAINST EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR: Asked about comments made by a Sri Lankan official concerning Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, the Spokeswoman declined to comment on press reports. She noted that no formal complaint has been filed in this matter by the Sri Lankan Government.

DETAILS OF UPCOMING MIDDLE EAST MEETING STILL UNDER DISCUSSION: Asked whether the United Nations will participate in an upcoming meeting organized on the Middle East, the Spokeswoman said that it would likely participate, but the details of the meeting are still to be determined.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

to the Spokesperson's Page

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