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Sunday, 1 September 2024
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United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-09-24United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgARCHIVESHIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY MICHELE MONTAS SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON Monday, September 24, 2007BAN KI-MOON COMMENDS PEACEFUL MYANMAR RALLIES URGES CONTINUED RESTRAINT Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely following events in Myanmar. He commends the peaceful approach the demonstrators are using to press their interests, and he calls upon the Myanmar authorities to continue to exercise restraint. The Secretary-General hopes that the Government will seize this opportunity to engage without delay in dialogue with all the relevant parties to the national reconciliation process on the issues of concern to the people of Myanmar. The Secretary-General, through his good offices mandate, is committed to continue to intensify his assistance in this process with a view to promoting national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights in Myanmar. CLIMATE CHANGE CALLS FOR CONCERTED GLOBAL SOLUTION, BAN KI-MOON SAYS AT OPENING OF KEY MEETING Representatives from nearly 160 countries, including more than 70 heads of state, are taking part in a high-level, informal discussion on climate change. The Secretary-General convened this meeting to give participants an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges of climate change and how to respond to it. Addressing the opening plenary this morning, the Secretary-General stressed that science has proven that climate change is real, and it is affecting most those who are the least able to cope. He called for national action, with industrialized countries taking the lead in reducing their emissions and support for adaptation being provided for poor countries. But national action alone is not enough, he said. Climate change must be confronted within a global framework, namely the UNs climate change process. He stressed the need for a breakthrough at the upcoming negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. When todays plenaries wrap up, the Secretary-General will issue a Chair Summary of the event. BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES AGREEMENT BY MONTREAL PROTOCOL SIGNATORIES The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached over the weekend by the signatories of the Montreal Protocol to sign up to an accelerated freeze and phase-out of hydrochlorflurocarbons (HCFCs), the chemical compound which damages the ozone layer and also contributes to climate change. The Secretary-General is especially pleased that this historic agreement was reached on the eve of the High-Level Event on Climate Change convened by him on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. He notes that international efforts to protect the ozone layer and to combat climate change are mutually supportive. He also notes that the agreement reached in Montreal includes a commitment to make sufficient funding available to implement the strategy of phasing out HCFCs. The Secretary-General hopes Member States will demonstrate the same urgency and boldness as they turn to the sources of greenhouse gases. UNITED NATIONS TO OFFSET CARBON EMISSIONS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE MEETING The United Nations will substantially offset the carbon emissions caused by today's High Level Event on Climate Change, which is estimated at about 500 tons of carbon dioxide. These carbon emissions are primarily from the energy use for the meeting, the travel of UN staff involved in the organization of the meeting, special invitees and speakers, and heads of state and government and ministers who have come to New York only for the High-Level Event. The carbon emissions from the Event will be offset by a small-scale hydroelectric project located in Intibuca, Honduras, near the city of La Esperanza. In addition to providing power stability to the electric grid in the area, this high quality renewable energy project provides significant local social and environmental benefits, such as rural electrification and reduced dependency on fuelwood, increased employment of local people, and improvement of the watershed through reforestation. The effort to offset the carbon footprint of the Event, which will cost $15,800, is supported by the UN Foundation. PALESTINE ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE BEGINS PLANNING WORK FOR DECEMBER DONOR MEETING The Secretary-General this morning addressed the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, which is chaired by Norway and serves as the main coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people. Among other things, the meeting will help prepare for an international pledging conference in December. In his remarks, the Secretary-General said living conditions were worsening for a growing number of Palestinians. Institutions -- weakened by several years of crisis, by fiscal uncertainty, and by recent divisions must be rebuilt and reformed if they are to lay credible foundations for a future State. He added that a political solution was required to deliver long-term security to Israel. The Secretary-General also said he was particularly concerned for the welfare of the ordinary people of Gaza, who find themselves and their goods increasingly cut off from the outside world. QUARTET PRINCIPALS MEET WITH ENVOY, ARAB PARTNERS The Quartet Principals Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner met on Sunday in New York to discuss the situation in the Middle East. They were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair. The Quartet expressed support for the international meeting on Israeli-Palestinian peace called for by President Bush in his July 16 statement, according to a communiqué that was read out by the Secretary-General at a press conference following the meeting. He said that Quartet Representative Tony Blair briefed the Quartet on his meetings and discussions in the region, and discussed the way forward on the development of a functioning Palestinian economy, and the institutions of governance that will form the foundation of a Palestinian state. The communiqué added that the Quartet expressed concern over conditions in Gaza. It agreed on the importance of continued emergency and humanitarian assistance without obstruction. It expressed its urgent concern over the continued closure of major crossing points given the impact on the Palestinian economy and daily life, and also expressed its grave concern over the continued rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. The Quartet principals later held a working iftar and dinner with their Arab partners. HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OFFERS SUPPORT FOR IRAQ, U.N. MISSION On Saturday, the Secretary-General and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki co-chaired a high-level meeting at the foreign ministers level on Iraq. The Secretary-General, speaking at a press conference afterward, said that there was a very positive and supportive tone from all the participants at the meeting. And there was strong Iraqi support for an enhanced UN role within the framework of the new mandate in Security Council resolution 1770 (2007). He added that th4ere was an emphasis by many speakers on the key United Nations role in helping to promote national reconciliation. Neighbouring States pledged their support for a stronger United Nations role in promoting regional cooperation. In this context, many speakers also stressed the need for strengthened border security. HIGH-LEVEL GATHERING URGES SUSTAINED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN The Secretary-General and Afghan President Hamid Karzai co-chaired on Sunday a meeting of the countries belonging to the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board of the Afghan Compact about Afghanistans future. According to a communiqué issued afterward, the meeting addressed the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the increase in violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, illegal armed groups, criminals, and those involved in the narcotics trade against the local population and government, national security forces and international military and civilian personnel. Speaking to reporters afterward, the Secretary-General said that, while the participants agreed that the challenges are enormous and difficult, they also hope that the Afghanistan Government, under the leadership of President Karzai, will continue to focus their efforts in good governance, eradicating corruption, eradicating opium cultivation and drug trafficking, and promoting more education and sanitation and health facilities. NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE COMPLETES FIRST VISIT TO SOMALIA The new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, was in Mogadishu over the weekend for a working visit with the leaders of the Transitional Federal Government. He met with President Yusuf, Prime Minister Gedi, Honorable Aden Mohamed Nur, Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament and other officials. Ould Abdallah held another meeting with Ali Mahdi Mohamed, the chairman of the National Reconciliation Congress. He called for the full implementation of the outcome of the Congress and called for broadening it. He encouraged NRC members to pursue their objectives vigorously. Ould Abdallah also held a separate meeting with the local UN staff and commended them for their courage in discharging their duties in difficult conditions. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS UNICEF PROVIDING AID FOLLOWING INDONESIAN QUAKES: As part of continuing relief efforts following the recent earthquakes in Indonesia, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has delivered family tents, school tents, basic household items, anti-mosquito nets and water purification items to two districts of Bengkulu province. Similar items were dispatched from its warehouse in Medan to Pesisir Selatan and Mentawai Islands districts, West Sumatera province. UNICEF plans to deliver a total of 2,000 bottles of water purification substances in West Sumatera. IN HISTORIC FIRST, FOOD AGENCY BUYS LESOTHO MAIZE FOR LIBERIAS HUNGRY: The World Food Programme (WFP) has completed a historic purchase by buying maize directly from a group of small-scale farmers in Lesotho, the first ever direct purchase in that country. This is a win-win situation, said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. It helps provide income for small-scale farmers while saving money for WFP. The maize will help feed thousands of poor, hungry children attending nearby primary schools in the isolated and impoverished district of Qachas Nek. UNAIDS ENVOY VISITS RUSSIA: Actor Rupert Everett, UNAIDS Special Representative, is currently in Russia, where he is visiting AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) projects. This is his first official trip with UNAIDS since being appointed a Special Representative on World AIDS Day last December. While in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Everett is meeting with networks of People Living with HIV and activist groups, and witnessing how effective prevention programmes are set up. Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, to brief on the success of the Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer and its relevance to the multilateral climate change process. 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 United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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