United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-03-18

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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

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

BAN KI-MOON STRONGLY CONDEMNS KARBALA BOMB ATTACK

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attack in Karbala, Iraq, near the Imam Hussein shrine which has killed several dozen people and left many more injured. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack.

The Secretary-General appeals to all Iraqis to show maximum restraint in the face of these provocative actions. He also urges all Iraqi leaders to resolve their differences through political dialogue and in a spirit of national reconciliation.

KOSOVO: U.N. POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN RAID ON MITROVICA COURTHOUSE

The Secretary-Generals Principal Deputy Special Representative in Kosovo, Larry Rossin, today said his condolences go to the family of the Ukrainian police officer who was killed as a result of yesterdays operation to reassert control over an occupied UN courthouse. He also expressed his condolences to the Government and people of Ukraine.

Turning to other matters, Rossin said the overall situation in the north of Kosovo is calm for now.

Regarding yesterdays operation, he

said that 42 international police officers were injured, and that 32 of the court occupiers were temporarily detained, processed, and then released back to north Mitrovica. Criminal investigations into all illegal acts perpetrated on UN and KFOR personnel, including murder and attempted murder, are ongoing, he said. He added that the UN Mission in Kosovo firmly intends to bring to justice those responsible for the recent crimes.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had received a letter from Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic about the violence, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the letter has been received and is being studied.

Asked about the reasoning behind the actions taken by the UN personnel on the ground on Monday, the Spokeswoman said that the fact that UN police left the Mitrovica courthouse and KFOR stayed is part of the standard procedures under the agreements for escalating violent circumstances -- where police alone cannot maintain law and order. UNMIK and KFOR will consult on when to end the temporary departure of UN police from north Mitrovica, Montas added.

WESTERN SAHARA TALKS ENTER FINAL DAY WITH SESSION ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES

Talks on Western Sahara under UN auspices continue for a second day today in Manhasset, with the participation of Morocco, the Frente Polisario and the neighboring states, Algeria and Mauritania.

Yesterdays discussions focused on implementation of Security Council resolutions 1754 and 1783. This mornings discussions began with a session on expanding confidence-building measures.

This fourth round of talks led by the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Peter van Walsum, is scheduled to conclude this afternoon.

DARFUR ENVOY CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON PEACE PROSPECTS AFTER GENEVA CONSULTATIONS

The UN and African Union special envoys for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, are continuing their informal consultation with regional partners and international observers in Geneva today.

Eliasson told UN Radio that the talks in Geneva offered the opportunity for Sudans neighbours, Security Council members and other concerned countries to discuss how they all can move forward in dealing with Darfur.

He added his hopes that the Darfur factions could come up with one negotiating team representing all of them, but cautioned that we still have a long way to go before that can be achieved.

SOMALIA: U.N. SECRETARIAT NOTES 4 SCENARIOS FOR POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPER DEPLOYMENT

The Secretary-Generals latest report on the situation in Somalia is available today. In it, he says that an inter-agency team led by the Department of Political Affairs has completed a strategic assessment in order to craft a coherent UN strategy for Somalia. That assessment is included in an annex.

Another fact-finding mission led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) found the security situation volatile throughout the country, despite significant regional variations, the north being relatively more stable than southern and central Somalia.

The situation in Somalia is further complicated by regional and international factors, including the proliferation of arms, the potential use of Somalia as a stage for a proxy war among neighbours and the continuing threat of piracy, which adversely affects the delivery of humanitarian supplies. The DPKO mission notes four scenarios that could lead to possible UN peacekeeping deployment, which are detailed in the report.

Meanwhile, the United Nations maintains a team of military and civilian experts at the African Union headquarters to increase planning and implementation capacity for the AU peace mission to Somalia, AMISOM, which the Secretary-General commends for its attempts to stabilize Somalia.

CONSIDERABLE PROGESS ACHIEVED IN CREATING SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON

In a report to the Security Council that is available as a document today, the Secretary-General details the considerable progress made in recent months in setting up the Special Tribunal for

Lebanon.

He says that all actions relating to the Tribunals preparatory phase have been undertaken, including the signing of a Headquarters Agreement with the Netherlands and the identification of Tribunal premises; the selection of judges, the prosecutor and the registrar; and the development of a draft budget that will be submitted soon to the Tribunals Management Committee.

The start-up phase for the Tribunal has now commenced, the Secretary-General says.

Asked about comments by Lebanese leader Samir Geagea that the Secretary-General was bewildered at the continuing impasse on selecting a Lebanese President, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had often expressed his dismay that no agreement had been reached on a President.

Asked whether Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen had discussed holding a conference on Lebanon with Geagea, Montas denied that Roed-Larsen was working to set up such a conference.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW SPECIAL ADVISOR ON SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

The Secretary-General has appointed Wilfried Lemke of Germany as his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace. Mr. Lemke will serve at the Under-Secretary-General level on a $1 a year salary. He replaces Adolf Ogi of Switzerland who completed his work at the end of December last year.

The Special Adviser leads and coordinates the efforts of the UN system to promote understanding and support for sport as an instrument for development and peace. Mr. Lemke has over 25 years of professional experience in both sport and politics and he has been a dedicated advocate for the importance of sport in education and society.

NEPAL: UNITED NATIONS HONORS COLLEAGUES KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH

A memorial ceremony at the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) was held today, to honour UN staff members who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter accident two weeks ago.

The Secretary-General, in a message, expressed profound sorrow and sent his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished, and to UNMIN staff who have lost irreplaceable colleagues and friends.

Stressing that the loss of these courageous and dedicated individuals was a terrible blow to the entire United Nations family, the Secretary-General said their commitment and professionalism will never be forgotten.

The Secretary-General asked for the UNs rededication to realizing lasting peace in Nepal, adding that this will be the best tribute to their memory.

MOST ORPHANS IN CHAD KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES

The following is an update on the more than one hundred children at the center of last years controversy involving French charity Arche de Zoé and its attempt to remove them to France for adoption.

The first 83 children have now been reunited with their families. UNICEF has provided each family with a small amount of money; it is also establishing programmes to support those children and thousands of others with food, water, sanitation, education and protection, as well as income-generating activities for their families.

Thirteen more children are expected to be reunited with their families on Friday.

HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES RESPOND TO CRISES IN COLOMBIA, MOZAMBIQUE AND CENTRAL AFRICA

In Bolivia, devastating floods continue; up to 90 percent of crops have been destroyed in some areas. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has provided more than two million dollars through the Central Emergency Response Fund, but an US$ 18 million appeal launched last month remains only about one-quarter funded.

The Government of Mozambique has asked the World Food Programme to provide a months worth of emergency assistance to 60,000 people affected by Cyclone Jokwe. WFP plans to begin distributing aid from existing stocks early next week, but needs more than US$ 500,000 dollars to replenish the stocks as soon as possible.

In the Central African Republics Nana-Gribizi province, nearly 65,000 people or three quarters of the population have been vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis, following an outbreak last month. The campaign was carried out with help from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Those two agencies also helped with a measles vaccination campaign in Ethiopias Somali region that reached nearly 800,000 children. WFP has also distributed nearly 17,000 tons of food there, amid an extended dry spell that has left more than one million people facing food insecurity.

DISPLACED IRAQIS FUEL RISE IN GLOBAL ASYLUM APPLICATIONS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says that a five-year downward trend in asylum applications in industrialized countries was reversed last year, largely because of an increase in the number of Iraqi asylum seekers.

For the second year in a row, Iraqis topped the list of asylum seekers in industrialized countries, with the number of Iraqis applying for asylum almost doubling in one year, from 22,900 in 2006 to 45,200 in 2007. There were some 338,000 new applications for refugee status submitted last year in 43 industrialized countries.

STATES MUST PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS FROM GENOCIDE

This morning in Geneva, the Human Rights Council wrapped up a general debate with Francis Deng, the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide.

Deng said that, as his mandate was still in an initial stage, a large part of his current efforts was devoted to developing a strategy for his work, in consultation with a wide range of actors.

He stressed that it was up to States to ensure that genocide did not happen on their territory and to protect their own citizens. He also underlined that it was important for the international community to help countries in that regard.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES STATES TO SIGN UP TO CONVENTION AGAINST RACISM

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today called for all States to sign up to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. She said that racism lies at the roots of many conflicts and therefore poses risks to international peace and security. She added that no country can claim to be free of racisms destructive influence.

So far, 173 countries have ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was the first human rights treaty to be adopted by the General Assembly and came into force in 1969. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will be observed this Friday.

SECOND WAVE OF GLOBALIZATION AMONG TOPICS OF UPCOMING CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT

Earlier this morning in Geneva, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpadki briefed the media on issues to be discussed at the upcoming UNCTAD conference, to be held next month in Accra, Ghana.

Some of the big themes at the 20-25 April Accra meeting, Mr. Supachai said, will include containing the global economic slowdown and adapting development thinking to the second wave of globalization, which is underway as developing countries become major players in the world economy.

Delegates will also address the trade and development implications of emerging challenges such as high energy prices and climate change, he said, and the special development challenges of Africa.

U.N. APPEALS FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH

The international community, including oil-rich countries, should increase support to Bangladesh as the country struggles to cope with global price shocks and simultaneously try to strengthen its democratic systems.

That is according to Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, who just wrapped up a three-day visit to Bangladesh.

During his trip, Dervis met with high-level officials, including leading economists. They discussed international commodity price shocks and their consequences for the poorer, food-importing countries of the world.

U.N. LEGAL CHIEF LEAVING FOR FAMILY REASONS

In response to questions, the Spokeswoman confirmed that Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel intends to leave the United Nations when his current contract expires, saying that it was for family reasons.

Asked about housing subsidies that Michel had earlier received, Montas said that the contributions have been fully disclosed in all his Financial Disclosure statements and cleared by competent organs. He had fully disclosed the housing subsidies in 2006. Michel is not receiving any contribution, in any form, under his current contract, which started on 1 March 2007.

She added that the contributions he received were explicitly authorized by the United Nations, before he accepted the position as Legal Counsel, in an arrangement between the Swiss authorities and the Organization, on the ground of exceptional family circumstances. The practice of exceptional authorizations was well established, and supported by relevant administrative issuances, over a long period of time, she said.

Asked about the process by which the financial disclosures of UN officials are made public, the Spokeswoman said that was the responsibility of the new Ethics Office.

Asked whether any other officials were receiving exemptions for housing subsidies, Montas said that they were not.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MYANMAR ENVOY TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON: The Secretary-Generals Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, will brief the Security Council on his recent visit to

Myanmar this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. The Security Council has scheduled an open meeting, followed by consultations. Yesterday, Gambari briefed the General Assembly President on his travels, and he is also to meet with the Group of Friends on Myanmar at 3:00 this afternoon.

NO INVESTIGATION REQUESTS RECEIVED ON TIBET: Asked whether any requests for the Secretary-General to investigate the violence in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China had been received, the Spokeswoman said nothing has been received.

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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