United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-08-27

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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, August 27, 2007

OPIUM PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN SOARS TO RECORD LEVELS

In Afghanistan, opium production has soared to frightening record levels in 2007, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In its 2007 Annual Opium Survey, launched today in Kabul, UNODC says that the amount of Afghan land used for growing opium is now larger than the combined total coca cultivation in Latin America. The province of Helmand, along the border with Pakistan, has single-handedly become the worlds biggest source of illicit drugs, surpassing the output of entire countries, adds UNODC.

The report also shows the divergent trends between the south of the country -- where most opium production is concentrated and the north where the number of opium-free provinces have doubled since 2006.

UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, said the Afghan opium situation looked grimed but was not hopeless. He called on the Afghan government and the international community to build on the promising developments in the north of the country and react to the failures in the south.

He also called for higher rewards for non-opium farmers, underlined the need for greater deterrents to dissuade farmers from planting opium and urged the government to get though on corruption.

Asked how serious the opium situation was in Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman said that it was extremely serious as production figures stand at an unprecedented high and that the UNODC was regularly assessing Afghanistan's cultivation of poppy seeds and output of opium.

Asked to explain the UN's opposition to the production of opium, Montas said that the UN's stance on the cultivation and distribution of opium is based on the mere fact it is harmful to people's lives and health.

In response to a further question, she said that the head of UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, and members of his office travel regularly to the region in a bid to devise, in consultations with local actors, the best way to end the spread of opium cultivation and redirect Afghan farmers toward other legal means of earning a living. His role is one of persuasion, Montas added.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SIERRA LEONE

Security Council members will be meeting this afternoon at 3 p.m. to discuss the situation in Sierra Leone after a briefing on the same subject by Dimitri Titov, the incoming Department of Peacekeeping Operations Under Secretary-General for the Rule of Law, will brief Council members. After that, Council members will discuss other matters.

And tomorrow, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the "maintenance of international peace and security: the role of the Security Council in conflict prevention and resolution in particular in Africa." The Secretary-General will be present at the stakeout tomorrow after that Security Council meeting.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT CHINESE MAJOR-GENERAL

AS MINURSO FORCE COMMANDER

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Major-General Zhao Jingmin of China to the post of Force Commander of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

He succeeds General Kurt Mosgaard of Denmark who will complete his tour of duty today. This will be the first time that the UN has had a Chinese Force Commander heading one of its missions.

SUDAN: U.N. VOICES CONCERNS OVER EXPULSION REPORTS

OF NGO COUNTRY DIRECTOR

The Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is concerned about reports emerging from Sudan that the Country Director for CARE, Paul Barker, may be forced to leave Sudan within 72 hours.

CARE is a significant provider of vitally-needed humanitarian assistance to some four million people across Sudan, and is a vital NGO partner for the UN humanitarian community. Mr. Barker's ambiguous status in Sudan is all the more distressing given the positive cooperation that has characterized recent implementation of the Joint Communique, signed by the Government of Sudan in May of this year.

OCHA hopes that this spirit of constructive cooperation will continue to prevail, and will assist in resolving any misunderstandings that may apply to Mr. Barker's case. Throughout Sudan, the critical humanitarian work of NGOs, including CARE, along with all UN humanitarian agencies and partners, needs the active support and facilitation of the Sudanese government.

OCHA is carefully following the situation, and is in touch with all relevant parties.

DEATH TOLL OF IRAQI AUGUST 14 BOMBING RISES TO OVER 430 PEOPLE

UN humanitarian officials in Iraq report that the full scope of devastation caused by the bombings of August 14th in northern town of Sinjar is still emerging. The death toll now well over 430. 500 have been confirmed to have been wounded in the attack while some 500 homes were destroyed or damaged.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq

says that much-needed resources include drinking water and sanitation, medical supplies, food, fuel, and durable shelter. He said that the prevailing insecurity on the Mosul-Sinjar road impedes the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to victims of the Sinjar bombing.

U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS URGES MYANMAR

TO RELEASE STUDENT LEADERS AND PROTESTERS

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, has

expressed concern over reports that student leaders and other protesters have been arrested by the Myanmar authorities following a series of peaceful demonstrations against the sharp increase in the prices of fuel.

In a statement issued yesterday, the High Commissioner stressed that the freedoms of expression and association are touchstones of human rights. Allowing greater space for citizens to express their views and discontent will be essential in fostering the way towards a democratic transition and reconciliation in the country.

U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TO LRA-AFFECTED AREAS MEETS D.R.C. PRESIDENT

Continuing his consultative tour of the region, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Lords Resistance Army (LRA)-affected areas, Joaquim Chissano, was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the weekend.

He held a meeting with President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa and was briefed by the senior leadership of the UN Mission in the DRC on the situation there.

Earlier last week, Chissano met the President of the Central African Republic in the Ugandan capital Kampala, and also traveled to Juba, in southern Sudan, for further consultations with southern Sudanese and UN officials.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has urged the parties in the ongoing efforts to resolve the armed conflict between the Government of Uganda and the LRA to ensure the immediate and safe return home of some 1,500 children and women now in LRA custody.

VIENNA TALKS TO SET STAGE FOR FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE REGIME

Around 1,000 representatives from governments, business and industry, environmental organizations and research institutions are

gathered this week for the Vienna Climate Change Talks 2007.

The talks, held under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aim at setting the stage for the United Nations Bali Conference, next December.

Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC

Executive Secretary, said these talks presented an opportunity to measure whether or not the political community was willing to advance a comprehensive agenda on a future climate change regime.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

REPORT ON LEBANON SPECIAL TRIBUNAL DUE LATER THIS MONTH: In response to a question, Montas said that the Secretary-General's report on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is due out later this month.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUDAN TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON: The Spokeswoman, in response to a question, said that the appointment of Special Representative for Sudan would be announced soon.

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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