United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-08-24

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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

Friday, August 24, 2007

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF U.N. FORCE IN LEBANON

The Security Council this morning voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the UN Interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, until 31 August 2008.

The new resolution calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the United Nations and its force in Lebanon and to abide by their obligation to respect the safety of the UNIFIL and other UN personnel.

It also calls on all parties to cooperate with the Security Council and the Secretary-General to achieve a permanent cease-fire and a long term solution as envisioned in resolution 1701.

And the Secretary-General is required to continue to report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 every four months, or at any time as he deems appropriate.

SUDAN: U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH AFRICAN UNION

The acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Taye Zerihoun is today in Addis Ababa for the African Unions Peace and Security Council meeting, which is reviewing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south

Sudan.

Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are reporting that there has been a rise in the number of cases of jaundice reported in several camps housing internally displaced persons in South Darfur, and in West Darfur, the UN mission reports new arrivals at two camps of people fleeing recent tensions.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that a Flash Appeal for victims of flooding in the Sudan was being launched simultaneously next Tuesday. So far, the United Nations had allocated $13.5 million so far to aid Sudanese flood victims to respond to the most immediate needs, including clean water and emergency shelter. But more funds would be needed to provide clean water for over 3 million people.

U.N. ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF PERU FLASH APPEAL FOR QUAKE VICTIMS

This morning, Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian affairs, gave a briefing on the United Nations relief efforts in response to natural disasters. She said that the number of events such as hurricanes, floods and heat-waves had been impressive this year.

She also stressed the importance of preparedness and early warning systems in order to reduce the impact of natural disasters on people and economies.

Concerning

Peru, she announced that a UN Flash Appeal would be launched on Tuesday. An inter-agency mission is in Pisco today to assess the coordination structures that will be needed there.

The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team has already been to five areas hit by the earthquake and identified that 200,000 people need shelter. Around $5 million in funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is expected to go towards this.

RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES NEW INVESTMENTS

Responding to climate change in the next 25 years will require significant changes in the patterns of investment and financial flows. Thats according to a new report by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The report says that the additional amount of investment and financial flows in 2030 will amount to between 1.1 to 1.7% of global investment. It also says that additional investment and financial flows of 200 to 210 billion dollars will be needed by 2030 to return Greenhouse gas emissions to current levels. These findings are slated to be discussed at UNFCC

meeting in Austria next week.

YOUTH CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS TECHNOLOGY IN SERVICE

OF THE ENVIRONMENT

More than 180 young people from 85 countries will

meet in Germany, starting Sunday, to discuss ways in which technology can be used to promote environmental protection.

The discussions will take place during the third Tunza International Youth Conference organized by UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

This conference seeks to reinforce the links between a growing number of young people working with UNEP on various environmental issues. It also provides participants with an opportunity to develop regional and global networks for joint implementation of environmental programmes.

COTE DIVOIRE: U.N. REMAINS DETERMINED TO ENSURE

FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

Following allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by members of the Moroccan contingent of the United Nations Operation in Côte dIvoire, a joint investigation by Morocco and the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was launched in Côte dIvoire on 31 July.

The joint team, however, was unable to complete its work as it could not gain access to the alleged victims. The Moroccan team discontinued its investigation and departed Abidjan. OIOS remains on the ground and its investigation continues.

The United Nations remains determined to ensure full compliance with its zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse by its personnel in the field. The United Nations will therefore review the substantial evidence gathered during the preliminary internal investigation it had earlier conducted and determine further appropriate measures that could be taken to address the issue.

Asked why United Nations and Moroccan investigators could not gain access to witnesses and victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, Montas said that an investigation was underway to identify why the joint team was unable to have access to the alleged victims. She added that, while the Moroccan investigators have left Cote d'Ivoire, a team from the Office of International Oversight Services remains on location to pursue the investigation.

DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO CONDUCT PROBE INTO ALLEGED

ABUSIVE DISMISSAL OF FORMER EMPLOYEE

In response to a question on the case of a former UNDP whistleblower, Montas said that both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had agreed on the process set up by the UNDP to probe allegations that the whistleblower was dismissed from the agency in retaliation for his whistleblowing.

That process, Montas said, would cover all the issues and steps not covered by an earlier probe into the same matter by the UN Office for Internal Services Oversight. She added that the UNDP would imminently release information on the terms of reference of its planned probe and also identify the leader of the team assigned this task.

The Spokeswoman, in response to a further question, said that the Secretary-General had not yet received a letter apparently sent to him by the complainant seeking to forward his case to the UN Administrative Tribunal.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEET WITH CHAIRMAN OF BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY: The Spokeswoman, in response to a question, confirmed that the Secretary-General will be meeting with the Chairman of the Bosnian presidency on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS HAS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF REPORTED SUDANESE ARMS DEPLOYMENT: Saying that the United Nations has no independent information on the matter, the Spokeswoman declined to comment on a report by a leading human rights group that the Sudan government continues to deploy weapons to Darfur in violation of a Security Council arms embargo.

UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF RESOLUTION 1701: Montas said, in response to a question, that the United Nations continues to collect and report violations of Resolution 1701 by all the parties, including Israeli air violations.

HACKERS INTO U.N. WEBSITE NOT YET IDENTIFIED: Asked if the United Nations has identified the hackers behind a recent crippling attack on its website, Montas said that the United Nations has not yet been able to identify the attackers. She said that the damage to the site has been successfully repaired. An investigation by UN security services into this matter continues, she added.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Sunday, August 26

Starting today and until Thursday, UNEP is organizing the third Tunza International Youth Conference in Germany. The theme this year is Technology in service of the environment.

Monday, August 27

The Security Council will hold consultations on Sierra Leone.

From today through Friday in Geneva, the Preparatory Committee of the Durban Review Conference holds its first the first organizational session.

From today through Wednesday, the 19th UN conference on disarmament issues takes place in Sapporo, Japan.

From today through Friday, the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG 4) and the 4th workshop under the dialogue on long-term cooperative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the Convention takes place in Vienna, Austria.

Tuesday, August 28

The Security Council will hold an open debate on conflict prevention and resolution in Africa.

The Small Arms Survey will be launched today in Geneva.

The United Nations system will launch a Flash Appeal for victims of the earthquake in Peru.

Wednesday, August 29

The Security Council will hold an open debate on the situation in the Middle East.

Thursday, August 30

No major events are scheduled.

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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