United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-03-14

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, March 14, 2008

BAN KI-MOON COMMENDS CHAD AND SUDAN FOR REACHING AGREEMENT

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commends the Governments of Chad and the Sudan for the Agreement they reached in Dakar yesterday under the auspices of President Abdoulaye Wade.

He is encouraged by their stated determination and commitment to normalize their bilateral relations. He calls on the two countries to remain steadfast in their resolve to restore peace and stability along their shared border, as this would contribute to wider stability in the region as a whole.

The United Nations remains supportive of the ongoing regional peace efforts, and looks forward to working closely with all parties concerned to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the Dakar Agreement.

The Secretary-General is now back at UN Headquarters, after returning this morning from his visit to Dakar, Senegal, for the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Before departing Senegal, the Secretary-General last night witnessed, at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, the signing of an agreement between Chadian President Idriss Deby and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, concerning reconciliation and the normalization of relations between their two countries.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had convened a mini-summit for the two leaders, and the Secretary-General participated Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon in closed door discussions with the two delegations and the facilitators: President Wade, President Omar Bongo of Gabon and Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare of the African Union Commission, as well as the observers: the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the OIC and representatives of the European Union, the United States and France.

During these discussions, the Secretary-General, who attended as an observer, urged the parties to reach an agreement on the implementation of previous accords reached in Tripoli, Cannes and Riyadh and to establish follow-up mechanisms to stop the violence.

The Secretary-General also expressed his strong support for President Wades mediation efforts. The closed door discussions led to further negotiations between the two parties and to the agreement signed last night.

The Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings late yesterday with the Palestinian Authority President, the Indonesian President, the Egyptian Foreign Minister and the King of Morocco. The Secretary-General also received a briefing yesterday from Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari about Gambaris recent visit to Myanmar.

Asked about future steps in Myanmar, the Spokeswoman noted that Gambari had just briefed the Secretary-General and would be returning to New York. She said, in response to a question about whether Gambari would brief the Security Council, that no meeting had been scheduled on the Council programme so far.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals meetings with President Bashir, Okabe said that the Secretary-General had both a one-on-one bilateral meeting with him and meetings with him in the context of the group attending the Chad-Sudan mini-summit.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals views on a Dutch film, which is accused of promoting Islamophobia, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had discussed Islamophobia with leaders when he attended the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Dakar and the subject of the upcoming film came up during his meeting with the OIC Secretary-General.

CHAD-SUDAN BORDER TENSION AFFECTS REFUGEE RELOCATION

The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says tensions remain high along the Chad-Sudan border and that situation is affecting its efforts to complete its refugee relocation operations. As of yesterday, the agency had managed to transfer a little more than 1,000 Sudanese refugees further inland into Chad.

The refugees being transferred away from the border area are part of some 13,000 Darfurians who crossed into Chad in February. UNHCR and its partners are providing for a current total of 240,000 Sudanese refugees from Darfur in 12 camps across eastern Chad.

KOSOVO: U.N. ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACK ON U.N. COURTHOUSE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, Joachim Rücker, has

condemned in the strongest possible terms this mornings attack on the District Court building of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in North Mitrovica. A large mob used force against UN Police to enter the building at around 8:30 a.m.

Rücker said, Those who turned to violence in North Mitrovica have crossed one of UNMIKs red lines. This is completely unacceptable. He added that he has instructed UNMIK Police to restore law and order in the North and to ensure that the Court House is again under UN control.

Rücker informed the Serbian Government of the unfolding events and asked them to prevent such attacks. He also said he expects that the perpetrators of todays attack will be brought to justice, adding that UNMIK will defend its mandate throughout the whole territory of Kosovo without exception.

TIBET: CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID CONFRONTATION AND VIOLENCE

[In a press release issued following the noon briefing, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed concern about escalating tensions between protestors and security forces in the Tibet Autonomous Region and surrounding areas in China.

It is reported that some 60 monks were arrested on Monday 10 March in Lhasa when they gathered for a peaceful demonstration. On Tuesday 11 March, Chinese police fired tear gas at approximately 600 monks who protested in front of police headquarters in Lhasa to demand the release of the monks arrested on Monday. Today there have been further reports of violence, including deaths and destruction of property.

The High Commissioner urges the Government of China to allow demonstrators to exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly, to refrain from any excessive use of force while maintaining order, and to ensure those arrested are not ill-treated and are accorded due process in line with international standards.]

Asked if the Secretary-General had a comment on reports of violent protests in Tibet, the Spokeswoman said: "We are following that situation. We urge that care be taken by all concerned to avoid confrontation and violence.

TALKS PLANNED ON WESTERN SAHARA AND F.Y.R. MACEDONIA

The latest round of talks on Western Sahara will get underway on Sunday at the Greentree Estate in Manhasset, on Long Island. Participating in the discussions are representatives of the parties, Morocco and Polisario, as well as the neighboring states, Algeria and Mauritania.

The talks will be mediated by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Peter van Walsum. As in the past, the discussions are private and closed to the media.

And in Vienna on Monday, Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Greece and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, will be continuing his efforts on the name issue next week. He will be holding a meeting with representatives from the two sides.

GUINEA-BISSAU IS ELIGIBLE FOR PEACEBUILDING SUPPORT

The Secretary-General has declared Guinea-Bissau eligible for support from the Peacebuilding Fund. This important announcement comes in response to a decision of the Peacebuilding Commission on February 20, in its country-specific configuration on Guinea-Bissau, to advise the Secretary-General to declare the country eligible.

The amount of the country allocation will be determined at a later stage, based on the outcome of consultations between the Government of Guinea-Bissau and the United Nations.

DR CONGO: SECURITY SITUATION IMPROVING IN EASTERN PROVINCE

Ross Mountain, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said efforts to restore public safety and security are making good progress in the Ituri province.

During a two-day visit there, Mountain attended a consultative meeting on the Action Plan for Stabilization and Community Recovery in Ituri. The Plan seeks to merge aspects of UN Mission, the UN Development Programme and Congolese government programmes for Ituri.

Describing the progress made in Ituri, Mountain noted that in 2003 there were 800,000 displaced persons in the province. Today, that figure stands at 115,000. He also noted that out of the 7 armed groups in 2003, only two remain active. Meanwhile, 25,000 militiamen and 11,000 children associated with armed groups have been demobilized.

Mountain said he is confident that full stability for Ituri is within reach.

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ON RWANDAN GROUPS TO DISARM

Yesterday afternoon, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that all members of the Rwandan armed groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately lay down their arms and present themselves without any further delay or preconditions for disarmament. The Council also demanded that those groups immediately stop recruiting and using children, release all children associated with them, and put an end to gender-based violence.

There were no meetings or consultations of the Security Council today.

U.N. AGENCY APPEALS FOR FUNDS TO FEED BURUNDIAN RETURNEES

The World Food Programme (WFP) today asked the international community for $6 million, in order to maintain food aid to some 90,000 Burundian refugees returning home from Tanzania.

The current stocks are due to run out in the middle of this year.

In order to meet the urgent needs of the returnees, WFP has already been forced to cut rations to other Burundians, including schoolchildren and mothers of malnourished children. In addition, food-for-work and food-for-training projects have been suspended.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees has been providing 50,000 Burundian francs to each returning refugee.

MORE THAN 100 MILLION EUROPEANS LACK ACCESS

TO SAFE DRINKING WATER

More than 100 million Europeans still do not have access to safe drinking water. As a result, nearly 40 European children die each day, according to the UNs Economic Commission for Europe. The spread of water-transmitted diseases is especially common in Eastern Europe.

Now tackling the issue is an independent body in Geneva, called the Compliance Committee, which is working under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization.

SANITATION PROBLEMS PLAGUE ASIA

More than 1.5 billion people in the Asia-Pacific region still lack basic sanitation, such as access to a toiletleaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases such as cholera, worms, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.

Globally, one child dies every 20 seconds as a result of poor sanitation.

BAN KI-MOON MAKES THREE NEW SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

The Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Susana Malcorra of Argentina as Head of the Department of Field Support (DFS) at the Under-Secretary-General level. Malcorra will direct all support for the UNs peace missions worldwide.

Ms. Malcorra will take over from Jane Holl Lute who has been leading the Department since its establishment in July 2007. Malcorra currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

The Secretary-General has also appointed Mr. Johnston Barkat of the United States as the new UN Ombudsman at the Assistant Secretary-General level. He will function independently of any UN organ or official, with direct access to the Secretary-General as needed.

Mr. Barkat will head a single, integrated and decentralized Ombudsmans Office that will serve the Secretariat, Funds and Programmes. Barkat has served as Ombudsman at Pace University and has a background in mediation and conflict resolution.

In addition, the Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Rima Salah of Jordan as his Deputy Special Representative in the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). Salah has served for 20 years in UNICEF, most recently as Deputy Executive Director.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, March 15

Through Tuesday, the 9th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, takes place in Mérida, Mexico.

Sunday, March 16

From today through Tuesday, the latest round of talks on Western Sahara takes place in Manhasset, New York.

Monday, March 17

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hear a briefing on its 1737 Committee.

Through Thursday in Conference Room 8, the Tenth Session of the Committee for Development Policy meets to consider its contribution to the Annual Ministerial Review and examine the current financial turmoil and implications for developing countries.

Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Greece and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, today holds a meeting in Vienna with representatives from both sides.

Today and tomorrow in Geneva, the African Union and UN Special Envoys for Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson, hold informal consultations on the Darfur Peace Process with regional partners and international observers.

In Geneva, the World Health Organization launches its report on Global Tuberculosis Control. Events are also planned in London and Paris.

Today and tomorrow in Athens, Greece, there will be an international conference on the Return of Cultural Property to its Country of Origin, organized in cooperation with UNESCO.

Tuesday, March 18

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) holds a briefing in the ECOSOC Chamber on the mandates, functions and activities of the International Narcotics Control Board.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Conference Room 6, there will be an informal, open meeting of the Sierra Leone configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission.

From 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in Conference Room 7, the International Organization of the Francophonie and the UN University Office in New York hold a Forum on multilingualism entitled Peace through Languages.

Wednesday, March 19

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hear a briefing on the renewal of the mandate of its Counter-Terrorism Executive Committee Directorate, and adopt a resolution on that topic.

Thursday, March 20

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to adopt a resolution on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, followed by a debate and consultations on Somalia. Following consultations, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, holds a press conference as the guest at the noon briefing.

From 10 a.m. to 12 noon in Conference Room 1, the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission holds its third meeting.

At 11 a.m. in S226, Ambassador Nassir Abdelaziz Al-Nassir of Qatar briefs the press on the first World Autism Day to be observed on 2 April 2008.

Friday, March 21

U.N. Headquarters is closed for an official holiday (Good Friday).

In Nicosia, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat meet under UN auspices in the citys UN Protected Area.

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as the beginning of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

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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