United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-03-13

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, March 13, 2008

BAN KI-MOON ADDRESSES ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the 11th session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and he told the leaders gathered in Dakar, Senegal, that the United Nations and the OIC stand side by side in rejecting forcefully and wholeheartedly any linkages between terrorism and Islam.

He warned them that the situation in the Middle East remains precarious, nowhere more so than in the Gaza Strip, and urged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take urgent measures to ease the suffering in Gaza and give hope to its people.

He also expressed his regret that regional interests and domestic Lebanese dynamics have forestalled any breakthrough in the selection of a President there, and discussed the situations in Iraq and Iran.

Speaking on Darfur, the Secretary-General emphasized that the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfurs (UNAMID) deployment is no substitute for a political process, adding, That remains the key to lasting peace in the region.

The Secretary-General also held, as he did on Wednesday, bilateral meetings with heads of state and government on a number of issues from the Middle East to Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Sudan and Chad.

He met this morning, among others, with Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He expects to meet with the Presidents of Afghanistan and Indonesia, among other leaders, later today.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had met with his Special Adviser dealing with Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, the Spokeswoman said that they had not yet met. She noted that the start of the OIC summit, as well as the Sudan-Chad mini-summit, had been delayed, and the Secretary-Generals schedule had been adjusted accordingly.

Asked whether Gambari was in Dakar, Okabe said he had arrived there, and expected to meet with the Secretary-General. Gambari is expected to return to New York at the end of the week, she added.

BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH PRESIDENTS OF CHAD, SUDAN AND SENEGAL

The Secretary-General is in discussions today with the Senegalese, Sudanese and Chadian Presidents.

He had been scheduled to attend a 'mini-summit' Wednesday evening convened by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in Dakar that brings together President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and President Idriss Deby of Chad. But the 'mini-summit' did not take place as scheduled last night.

Asked why there was a delay in the mini-summit, the Spokeswoman noted press reports that the Sudanese President was absent because he had had a headache.

DARFUR PEACE ENVOYS TO HOLD INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS

NEXT WEEK IN GENEVA

The African Union and United Nations Special Envoys for

Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson, will hold informal consultations with regional partners and international observers in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 and 18 March respectively, as part of their continuing efforts to move the Darfur Peace Process forward.

The consultations in Geneva will provide an opportunity to review the current status of the political process in Darfur in view of the prevailing security situation and delays in the parties preparations for substantive talks.

The aim of the meeting is for the Special Envoys to reach an understanding with the regional partners and the international observers on the road ahead for the political process.

Regarding the deployment status of UNAMID, the Egyptian contingent is starting deployment this week with the arrival of an advance team of 72 people and accompanying equipment. The first company consisting of 158 people is expected to arrive later this month.

That information is contained in

briefing notes from UNAMID. In them, Darfur is described as one of the worlds most vexing problems and one of the worlds most challenging environments.

GAZA: UNITED NATIONS URGES ALL SIDES TO WORK TOWARD

PEACEFUL SOLUTION

In a response to a question on recent violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations has stated on many occasions its deep concern about the situation in Gaza.

She said, We urge all sides to work towards a peaceful situation which will allow civilians to go about their lives free from fear of violence.

Asked about recent comments about Gaza made to the media by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, Okabe said that Holmes repeatedly discusses the dire humanitarian situation in all parts of the world and continues to be outspoken about such matters.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON ETHIOPIA/ERITREA, SUDAN SANCTIONS AND AFRICAS GREAT LAKES REGION

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno this morning briefed the Security Council, in closed consultations, on the work of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

After that, Council members heard from the Chair of the Sanctions Committee dealing with Sudan, Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy.

Once consultations have ended, the Security Council intends to hold a formal meeting to vote on a draft resolution concerning the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Asked about the UNs concerns about UNMEE, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretariat was providing regular updates and reports to the Security Council on the temporary relocation of the peacekeepers. Okabe said that the relocation of UNMEE personnel from Asmara was proceeding, following the restrictions hindering the ability of the peacekeepers to do their job.

She said she could not confirm yet whether all UNMEE personnel would be relocated from Eritrea by the end of next week.

SOMALIA: U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES PLANS TO RESUME

WIDE-RANGING RECONCILIATION TALKS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has welcomed the announcement by the Transitional Federal Government that it is appointing a negotiating team to resume reconciliation talks with the opposition.

The Special Representative said that representatives of the Somali opposition and civil society, as well the Somali diaspora, also expressed a desire to engage in talks to restore peace and reconcile the war-torn nation.

He expressed confidence that Somalias neighbours and friends would support the parties stated commitment to resume talks and that no parties inside Somalia would obstruct this effort.

Ould-Abdallah also said that he has agreed, at Somalias request, to assume the leadership role in bringing together the parties and determine the calendar and terms of reference for the talks.

IRAQ: U.N. OFFICIAL DENOUNCES KILLING OF ARCHBISHOP

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq,

condemned in the strongest terms the murder of Monsignor Paul Faraj Rahu, Archbishop of the Chaldean Church of Mosul.

He said the killing was especially abhorrent since it was committed in cold blood against a man who has dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of peace, non-violence and reconciliation between different faiths and groups.

De Mistura called on the Iraqi government authorities to do everything in their power to safeguard the protection of minorities and their human rights.

DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADDRESSES COUNCIL

This morning in Geneva, the Human Rights Council held a general debate on the promotion and protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang presented a number of reports by her office and by the Secretary-General.

The topics included access to medication during pandemics, extreme poverty and human rights, integrating gender into the UNs human rights mechanisms, and the human rights of persons with disabilities.

On extreme poverty and human rights, the Deputy High Commissioner said there is a growing recognition in the international community that extreme poverty is an affront to human dignity.

CITING SECURITY CONCERNS, KENYANS DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE ARE RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES

Large numbers of displaced people remain in camps, with many reluctant to return home until the government provides solid assurances regarding security, and a system is in place to resolve property rights.

There is a consensus among humanitarian partners that, no matter what happens on the political front, Kenya will face a food security crisis that could possibly last beyond this year, a result of post-election violence and increasing drought conditions in many parts of the country.

As part of the efforts to promote a culture of peace, the UN and the Kenyan Government have trained 134 participants in a scheme aimed at promoting conflict resolution, peacebuilding and reconciliation in their neighborhoods.

Many of the volunteers actively took part in or were victims of post-election violence in Nairobis slums. The plan is to introduce the program to similar communities in western Kenya and the Rift Valley.

DEM. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: WOMEN FACE TRIPLE TRAGEDY

OF PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DAMAGE

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador, South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba said today in Kinshasa that women survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face a triple tragedy of physical, psychological and social damage.

Makeba added that this situation undermines the countrys attempts to improve living conditions.

Noting that women are the breadwinners in 80% of Congolese households, Makeba said she will visit farming projects that are helping rape victims earn a living and develop self-reliance.

The projects grew around donations the FAO made to some 500,000 Congolese households, including seeds, farming tools and training.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME RECEIVES DONATION TO AIR SERVICE IN DARFUR: The World Food Programmes (WFP) Humanitarian Air Service in Darfur, which is at risk of shutting down by the end of the month due to a lack of funds, today received its first donation in 2008: $500,000 from Not On Our Watch, the humanitarian and advocacy organization founded by Hollywood actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and others. WFP says it has heard from other traditional donors and is hopeful that more contributions will arrive before the end of March. The Humanitarian Air Services helicopters and airplanes carry crucial supplies and relief workers to otherwise inaccessible areas; nearly every aid organization working in Darfur depends upon it.

U.N. CONVENES MEETING ON AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT: Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has opened the first in a series of fora of development partners at the ECA headquarters in Addis Ababa. The six monthly forums seek to promote dialogue between the ECA, its donors and key partners on development in Africa. This joins the Secretary-Generals effort, through his Africa Working Group on the MDGs, to highlight challenges facing Africa in its effort to develop new, sound economies. And participants in the ECA Partners Forum are now engaged in expert-level discussions that are to conclude tomorrow.

UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED STATES COOPERATED FULLY IN FRAUD CASE INVOLVING U.N. TRANSLATOR: Asked about the fraud case of former UN translator Vyacheslav Manokhin, the Spokeswoman recalled that the United Nations and the host country have cooperated fully with each other on that case.

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