United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-03-26

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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

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

KILLING OF DRIVERS IN SUDAN UNACCEPTABLE

The World Food Programme (WFP) today expressed deep sadness and shock at the killing of three drivers of WFP-contracted trucks in two separate incidents in Sudan.

One driver was shot dead on Monday on the main route to Nyala in South Darfur. And last Saturday, in southern Sudan, two truck drivers were stabbed to death by assailants in the town of Abiemnom in Unity State, as they were carrying WFP food to Abyei.

WFP said that this situation is completely unacceptable, with drivers who transport its food aid facing daily acts of violence. The turnaround time for food deliveries has been slowed because truckers are unwilling to risk driving on dangerous roads.

The incident in Darfur brings to 56 the number of trucks involved in hijackings this year; 36 trucks remain missing and 24 drivers are unaccounted for. A further six WFP passenger vehicles have been stolen in Darfur this year.

ATTACKS ON HUMANITARIAN ACTORS JEOPARDIZE RELIEF EFFORTS IN DARFUR

In a statement, the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan says attacks against humanitarian actors in Darfur have reached unprecedented levels, jeopardizing operations there and the welfare of people in Darfur.

The humanitarian community condemns all acts of violence. It calls for a cessation of all attacks, the immediate release of those abducted, and no impunity for those who target humanitarians anywhere in Sudan.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SOMALIA DETERIORATING

Responding to the joint statement by 39 humanitarian agencies working in Somalia, in which they warned of an impending catastrophe, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) believes that the humanitarian situation in the country is deteriorating.

The agencies noted that close to one million displaced Somalis rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic needs and that violence continues to displace Mogadishu residents at a rate of 20,000 people each month. The agencies deplore the fact that humanitarian workers are routinely attacked, robbed, or killed and that relief supplies are stolen or looted. They call on the international community and the Somali parties to urgently focus their attention on Somalias crisis.

OCHA agrees with the agencies that Somalias

situation is precarious, deteriorating and in urgent need of international attention. It says that the prevailing violence and impunity in Somalia are unacceptable and cannot be allowed to persist.

While the UN has the personnel and resources to help the people of Somalia, UN workers often cannot gain access to those in need because the parties and the violence restrict their movement. OCHA calls on the parties to remove roadblocks, ease restrictions on humanitarian agencies and ensure the protection of all civilians.

ELECTIONS KEY TO REDUCING TENSIONS IN GUINEA-BISSAU

The Security Council this morning heard a briefing, in an open meeting, on the situation in Guinea-Bissau by the Secretary-Generals Representative in that country, Shola Omoregie.

He told the Council that President Vieira last night announced that Guinea-Bissau will hold legislative elections this 16 November. Omoregie said that the announcement should significantly reduce the tensions that have been building in the country in the past few days, and said it is important that the countrys partners provide resources to enable the holding of the elections in November.

The Council went on to discuss Guinea-Bissau further in closed consultations.

After that, the Security Council was expected to hold consultations on the Great Lakes region, to hear from João Honwana, Director of the Africa I Division of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), about the talks taking place in Juba between the Ugandan Government and the Lords Resistance Army.

FRAMEWORK ENDORSED FOR CERTIFYING ELECTORAL PROCESS IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Five criteria proposed by Choi Young-Jin, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Côte d'Ivoire, to certify the electoral process in that country have been welcomed by the follow-up committee to the Ouagadougou peace agreement. The committee, formally known as the Evaluation and Accompanying Committee, endorsed the five-criteria framework after a consultative meeting this week in Ouagadougou.

According to the framework, the UN should be able to ascertain the following in order to certify the validity of the elections: restoration of peace across the country, an inclusive political process, equal access to the state media, the establishment of objective electoral lists and fair and unbiased poll results.

These criteria were developed by the United Nations in consultation with the Facilitator of the inter-Ivorian dialogue, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso and the Ivorian parties --- who have also welcomed them.

U.N. COMPLETES SAFETY CHECK OF SOON-TO-BE-OPENED CYPRUS CROSSING POINT

The UN Development Programme (UNDP), with funds from the European Union, today completed a safety check in the area of the proposed Ledra Street crossing point in Nicosia.

The check for unexploded ordnance was necessary to secure buildings before the opening of the crossing point.

A six-person mine action team carried out the search, with support from the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). No dangerous items were found.

Also on Cyprus, according to UNFICYP, the advisers to Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have agreed, in accordance with the agreement reached by the leaders, to establish, as soon as possible, several specific working groups and technical committees.

The working groups will deal with: governance and power-sharing; EU matters; security and guarantees; territory; property; and economic matters. The technical committees will deal with: crime and criminal matters; economic and commercial matters; cultural heritage; crisis management; humanitarian matters; health; and the environment.

Subject to need, both advisers agreed to establish further working groups and technical committees, as required, in order to ensure that their respective leaders may be able to negotiate as effectively as possible on the full spectrum of issues to be discussed in Cyprus. The advisers have agreed to meet again on Friday under UN auspices.

FORMAL REQUEST FROM PAKISTAN NEEDED BEFORE U.N. CAN TAKE UP POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION INTO BHUTTO ASSASSINATION

In response to questions on a phone call today between the Secretary-General and new Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had called the Prime Minister this morning to congratulate him. At that point, the Prime Minister informed the Secretary-General that the Pakistani Parliament intended to take up the issue of a potential UN investigation into Benazir Bhuttos assassination.

Montas said that the Secretary-General had informed the Prime Minister that the United Nations could not react until it receives a formal request about the investigation from the government.

Asked whether such a request would be transmitted onward to the Security Council, the Spokeswoman said that was the expected procedure. She noted that the Security Council would be the body to decide on such a matter.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR BROAD-BASED EFFORT TO FIGHT AIDS IN ASIA

In remarks made at the launch of a new report called Redefining AIDS in Asia Crafting an Effective Response, the Secretary-General said that Asia has proved before that it can act decisively and effectively in the face of grave threats including with SARS five years ago. But tackling AIDS will require a collective effort on all fronts -- from fighting gender inequality to combating stigma, discrimination, and marginalization of certain populations.

The Secretary-General added that AIDS will challenge Asia for years to come. But if we invest early enough and judiciously enough, we can achieve an effective response.

NEW STUDY LINKS BIRD FLU WITH DUCK POPULATION AND EXTENT OF RICE CULTIVATION

A new study finds that outbreaks of avian flu in Southeast Asia, rather than being linked with the number of chickens, are actually associated with the number of ducks and people, as well as the extent of rice cultivation.

The newly published study involved experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization. It looked at conditions in Thailand and Viet Nam, but the link could also explain persistent outbreaks in other Southeast Asian nations

U.N. SIGNS SIX-YEAR LEASE FOR TEMPORARY SPACE IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

The United Nations has signed a six-year lease agreement to occupy 460,000 square feet of office space at 380 Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. That will provide temporary space for the majority of UN staff members who will be relocated during the upcoming renovation of UN Headquarters under the Capital Master Plan (CMP).

The United Nations will begin work on the first construction phase of the CMP, for a temporary conference building on the North Lawn, in early May.

Asked where journalists would be located during the CMP, the Spokeswoman said they were to be temporarily relocated in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library building during the renovation of the Secretariat.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. ENVOY TO BE ON HAND FOR SIGNING OF UGANDAN PEACE AGREEMENT: In response to a question, the Spokeswoman confirmed that UN envoy Joachim Chissano would be on hand for the signing ceremony of a peace agreement between the Ugandan Government and the Lords Resistance Army, which is expected to take place in early April in Juba, Sudan.

U.N. AFGHANISTAN MISSION HAS DISCUSSED FUNDING ISSUES EXTENSIVELY: Asked about criticism by Oxfam of the funding by donors for Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman said that the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had discussed problems about funding extensively.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT REDUCTION OF ANTARCTICA GLACIERS: Asked about reports that an ice shelf in Antarctica is diminishing, the Spokeswoman recalled that, when the Secretary-General visited Antarctica last year, the plane that was carrying him was unable to land on one ice shelf because it had cracked and it was unsafe to land. The reduction of the size of Antarcticas glaciers has been one of the Secretary-Generals concerns, Montas said

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

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