United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-11-29

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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

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, November 29, 2007

BAN KI-MOON TO HEAD TO SOUTHEAST ASIA & FRANCE

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference on the island of Bali from 12 to 14 December. There he wants to maximize the prospects for the launch of climate change negotiations.

The Secretary-General feels we need a breakthrough in Bali as a critical first step. If the world is to meet the challenge of global warming, a new and comprehensive agreement that all nations can embrace is needed.

The Secretary-General does not expect world leaders to walk away from the summit with a new global accord to succeed Kyoto. But he would expect them to agree to an agenda of issues and set a timetable for reaching such an accord, before the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.

In Bali, the Secretary-General will meet key Heads of State and Government on the margin of the talks, as well as major players in the climate change field.

On his way to Bali, the Secretary-General will stop for an official visit to Thailand, where he will meet with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. An audience with the King of Thailand is also scheduled. In Bangkok, the Secretary-General will visit the Headquarters of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and meet UN staff working in the region.

On 14 and 15 December, the Secretary-General will visit the UN Mission in Timor-Leste. In Dili, he will meet with Government officials and address the National Parliament. He will also visit camps for internally displaced persons.

From Dili, the Secretary-General will fly to Jakarta on his way back to New York.

The Secretary-General has also confirmed his attendance the following Monday, 17 December, in Paris, at the International Donors Conference for the Palestinian Territories, co-hosted by France, Norway, the European Commission and Tony Blair, in his capacity as Special Representative for the Middle East Quartet.

SECRETARY-GENERAL NOMINATES NEW MIDDLE EAST ENVOY

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Robert H. Serry of the Netherlands as the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and his Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. In this capacity, Serry will be the Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Quartet.

The Security Council has been informed of the Secretary-Generals intention, and a response is being awaited.

The appointment of a new Special Coordinator comes at a critical juncture, as the Annapolis conference has created renewed momentum for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Serry will play a pivotal role in coordinating all United Nations activities related to the Middle East peace process and in representing the Secretary-General in all arenas involving the parties and the international community.

Serry brings with him a distinguished career in diplomacy.

NEW HEAD APPOINTED TO U.N. REGISTER OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY CONSTRUCTION OF WALL IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Mr. Vladimir Goryayev of the Russian Federation as Executive Director of the office of the United Nations Register of Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The office of the UN Register of Damage, based in Vienna, is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly operating under the administrative authority of the Secretary-General.

Goryayev currently serves as Director ad interim for the Asia and the Pacific Division in the Department of Political Affairs. In his new capacity, Goryayev will be responsible for overseeing and administrating the work of the office of the UN Register of Damage.

ANNAPOLIS PROCESS MUST CHANGE LIVES OF PALESTINIANS

Today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Speaking this morning to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General said the process launched at Annapolis must change the lives of Palestinians, and secure their independence and freedom. It must end the occupation and create an independent and viable State of Palestine, at peace with itself and its neighbours, he added.

The Secretary-General also said that indignities, injustices, and fear on both sides make it difficult to build faith in the political process. But that is exactly what we have to do, he stressed. We must abandon piecemeal approaches, and address all aspects of the conflict.

In conclusion, he said that now that the Palestinian leadership has embarked on a new quest with Israel to end the conflict and secure a better future for their children, let us show our solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Israeli people, too by giving our unyielding support to their efforts and not resting until the goal is achieved.

The Secretary-General spoke to reporters after speaking at the commemoration.

BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACKS IN SRI LANKA

A statement was issued yesterday afternoon, which said that the Secretary-General condemned the bomb attacks that occurred in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which had killed and wounded dozens of civilians. He also expressed his concern about an aerial attack on Tuesday which damaged the office of the United Nations World Food Programme in Kilinochchi.

The Secretary-General appealed for an end to the destructive spiral of violence in Sri Lanka and called on the parties to the conflict to return to the peace process while making every effort to ensure the protection of civilians.

SECURITY COUNCIL DELEGATION TRAVELS TO EASTERN TIMOR-LESTE

In Timor-Leste, the Security Council mission today traveled to the eastern district of Baucau, where they met with local authorities, political party representatives, and officials from the UN and local police.

Discussions in Baucau focused on the needs of the people in the district and identifying ways in which the international community can continue to assist and support Timor-Leste to strengthen its democracy, security and development. In meetings with the police, the delegation reiterated the importance of ongoing collaboration between each organization, citing that it will be key to future stability in the new nation.

The delegation also visited students at a primary school where school-feeding and training programmes are ongoing to gain a firsthand view of how the UN and its agencies work together in the development field, specifically the World Food Programme and UNICEF.

In Dili, they met with political party representatives and members of civil society to hear the views of the wider Timorese community about the work of the United Nations and the future challenges.

Later in the day, they exchanged views with the diplomatic community before concluding their day with a visit to the Australian-led International Security Forces.

SUDAN: HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CALLS FOR SAFER CONDITIONS

FOR AID WORKERS

Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is in Khartoum today, as part of a four-day

visit to Sudan that will also take him to Darfur.

Today, he met with the countrys Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Commissioner General of the Humanitarian Aid Commission. He said he received clear assurances that the 2004 Moratorium enabling non-governmental organizations to continue operating in Darfur would be extended. In addition, he also raised the issue of the continuing need for a safer and more conducive environment for humanitarian workers.

Tomorrow, Holmes travels to South Darfur, where he will meet people directly affected by the conflict.

SOMALIA: U.N. ENVOY TAKES PART IN PEACE TALKS

The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, traveled to Baidoa today for talks aimed at furthering the peace process.

The visit provided him with the opportunity to continue his consultations with President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and to meet the new Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein.

After an earlier visit to Mogadishu, this is the second time that Ould-Abdallah has been to Somalia since taking office in September this year.

Meanwhile, the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a resolution today appealing directly to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to take any action it deems necessary to prevent and suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the countrys coast.

U.N. OFFICIAL SEEKS CAMBODIAS SUPPORT FOR MYANMAR EFFORTS

The Secretary-Generals Special Envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, is in Cambodia, where he met this afternoon with the Deputy Prime Minister, Hor Namhong, who doubles as the Foreign Minister.

There, Gambari delivered a letter from the Secretary-General addressed to Prime Minister Hun Sen, in which the Secretary-General seeks support from the Government of Cambodia for the efforts by the United Nations in Myanmar.

Gambari also briefed the Foreign Minister on UN efforts in Myanmar as well as his assessment of the situation in that country.

Gambari said he is grateful for the constructive discussions and feels that a good cooperation has been established between the U.N. and the Government of Cambodia.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO WORK

TOWARDS ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN AFRICA

Tomorrow, the Deputy Secretary-General is scheduled to chair the second meeting of the Millennium Development Goals Africa Working Group, which is comprised of United Nations, multilateral and regional organizations, as well as international financial institutions.

The Group is engaged in supporting and promoting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

The meeting will examine proposals to strengthen international mechanisms and commitments to support the MDGs in a number of key areas, notably: infrastructure and trade facilitation; agriculture and food security; education; health; national statistical systems; and improved predictability in aid flows.

The meeting will also examine ways to ensure greater collaboration of these organizations to identify and scale up opportunities to support the MDGs at the country level.

MEASLES DEATHS IN AFRICA PLUNGE BY 90 PER CENT

The UN goal of cutting measles deaths in Africa by 90 per cent has now been

reached, years before the target date, according to UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Foundation, and other partners in the Measles Initiative.

Measles deaths in Africa fell from an estimated 396,000 to 36,000 between 2000 and 2006.

WHOs Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, lauded this development as a major public health success and a tribute to the commitment of countries in the African region.

U.N. AGENCY TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM FOOD AID

TO CYCLONE-HIT BANGLADESH

Regarding Bangladesh, the World Food Programme (WFP) today announced plans to provide long-term food aid to more than two million people left hungry and homeless by Cyclone Sidr.

The initiative, which will take place over the next six months, is aimed at preventing a surge in malnutrition, especially among children. It will supplement the immediate food assistance that WFP is already providing to the country. So far, more than 300 metric tons of biscuits and more than 400 tons of rice have been delivered by air and land.

Meanwhile, WFP is also appealing for nearly $100 million to help provide food aid to more than 800,000 of Indonesias poorest people over the next three years.

CRITICISM OF CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM WORTH STUDYING

Asked about criticism of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in a new report by the World Wildlife Fund, the Spokeswoman said that such criticism is not new, but it is important, relevant and worth studying.

As for the reports assertion that one in five of the projects would have happened anyway, carbon finance is a new field, and not an exact science; as such, Montas said, it is impossible to say what would or would not have happened. New systems are constantly being improved over time.

In addition, she clarified, the rules about CDM projects are decided by the Conference of Parties - the 175 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol - not the United Nations per se.

As for concerns that the offset projects are generally not promoting sustainable development, the Spokeswoman said that this is exactly why the UN Development Programme created the MDG Carbon Facility to focus on projects that offset carbon but also provide other MDG-related benefits.

LEGAL OFFICE FOLLOWING DUTCH IMMUNITY RULING

In response to questions about a local court ruling in the Netherlands in a case involving the Mothers of Srebrenica, the Spokesperson said the UNs Office for Legal Affairs is trying to obtain a copy of the Dutch lower courts ruling to determine whether it deals with the issue of immunity, as had been reported in the media.

The United Nations has received information from the Netherlands Mission to the United Nations that the media depiction might not be accurate, and the ruling this week may not have to do with a determination of the immunity issue. That issue may be decided on 12 December.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP D.R. CONGO: The Security Council today held consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Council members heard from the departing Special Representative of the Secretary-General for that country, William Lacey Swing. Those consultations were preceded by a private meeting among Council members and troop contributing countries for the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).

BAN KI-MOON STILL MONITORING SITUATION IN PAKISTAN: Asked about the situation in Pakistan following President Pervez Musharrafs resignation as Army Chief of Staff, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had nothing further to say beyond his previous statements on Pakistan. She added that he continues to monitor the situation closely.

BAN KI-MOON REMAINS ENGAGED ON LEBANON: Asked about reports concerning the Presidential elections in Lebanon, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General gets regular updates from his Special Representative in that country. She noted, in response to a further question, that the Secretary-General had not spoken to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in the last few days, since he travelled to Lebanon.