United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-05-01

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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

Thursday, May 1, 2008

BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN LONDON AHEAD

OF MIDDLE EAST MEETING

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in London today, where

this afternoon he is meeting with some of the other senior officials attending

tomorrows

Quartet meeting on the Middle East, which he will chair.

He has already met today with European Commissioner for

External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and with Salam Fayad, Prime Minister

of the Palestinian Authority.

He is scheduled to meet later today and tomorrow with

other officials, including Quartet envoy Tony Blair and European Union High

Representative Javier Solana.

UNITED KINGDOM ASSUMES MAY

PRESIDENCY OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Today, Ambassador John Sawers of the United

Kingdom replaces Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa in the rotating

Presidency of the Security Council.

Tomorrow, the Security Council is expected

to hold consultations on its programme of work for the month of May.

The Security Council

concluded its work for April last night by adopting resolutions extending the

UN peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara and Sudan, and by issuing a

Presidential Statement on Ethiopia and Eritrea. It extended the UN Missions in

Sudan and in

Western Sahara by

one year each.

In its

Presidential

Statement, the Security Council recalled its prior condemnation of

Eritrea's obstructions and said that the restrictions posed by Eritrea have

induced the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)

to relocate temporarily. The Security Council will, in the light of

consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future UN engagement

and on the future of UNMEE.

HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF

AID OFFICIAL IN CHAD

Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and

Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes today strongly condemns the killing

of Pascal Marlingue, Country Director of Save the Children-UK in Chad, and

extended his condolence to the agency and Mr. Marlingues family.

The incident occurred earlier today about 20 kilometers

east of Farchana, on the road to the town of Andre.

The targeting of humanitarian workers who are in Chad to

assist people affected by civil strife is an inexcusable crime, Mr. Holmes

says, adding that the killing must be quickly investigated and those

responsible brought to justice.

U.N. ENVOY CONSULTING WITH OFFICIALS ON

HOW TO INCREASE AID TO AFGHANISTAN

Kai Eide, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative

for Afghanistan, is meeting today in

Ottawa with Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and Defence Minister

Peter Gordon MacKay, as part of his continuing effort to consult with

concerned countries about how assistance can be increased for Afghanistan.

Tomorrow, he will be in New York to talk to Secretariat

officials about the Paris conference that is to be held this June in support

of the Government of Afghanistan and also to speak with Afghanistans

international partners about how coordination efforts can be stepped up.

Based on its recent travels to assess food security in

Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) says

that inflation in food costs hit 30 percent in February, with wheat prices

rising by 50 to 100 percent in parts of the country. WFP is using $77 million

from a recent appeal to provide food assistance to 2.5 million Afghans.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF SPEAKS OUT ON FOOD

ACCESS & PRESS FREEDOM

High Commissioner for

Human Rights

Louise Arbour says the underlying inequalities and inabilities to access food

must be addressed by a comprehensive solution.

She stresses that addressing the plight of the socially

excluded, and the causes of any such discrimination, will be essential to

resolving the current crisis.

She adds that food-related social unrest could also

result in other human rights risks, such as the freedom of expression and

peaceful assembly.

Meanwhile, in a message to mark World Press Freedom Day,

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says that Governments are

becoming more secretive and offering propaganda disguised as objective

information especially when alleged security-related issues are on the

table.

The proliferation of new or strengthened secrecy laws

means that the media are forced to resort to speculation, which can then be

used against them to further undermine their credibility, or even as a

justification for initiating legal proceedings against them, she adds.

CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER RUSSIA-GEORGIA

RELATIONS

Asked about the recent

situation between Russia and Georgia, the Spokeswoman noted with concern the

current dynamics in the bilateral relations between Georgia and the Russian

Federation, which clearly affect the Georgia/Abkhazia and Georgia/South

Ossetia conflicts.

She said that the issue of

recent decisions by the Russian Federation to establish direct ties with

Georgia's breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia had been brought to

the attention of the Security Council by Georgia and others on 23 April.

At this point, Okabe said, we

wish to recall that the Security Council has established a clear framework in

its resolutions on "The Situation in Georgia". All actions by the parties and

Member States should be in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the

Security Council decisions, including with regard to the sovereignty,

independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally

recognized borders.

Asked about monitoring by UN

peacekeepers, the Spokeswoman said that the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)

has indeed observed movement of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

personnel and equipment from Sukhumi, in Abkhazia, to the conflict zone.

Such movements were observed on

29 April, when the Russian decision was announced, and on Wednesday, she said.

The CIS notified UNOMIG of the increase but without specifying troop numbers.

At this stage, it is difficult to say whether these movements will continue

and how many more soldiers and equipment will arrive.

At this point, Okabe said,

UNOMIG cannot confirm the number of CIS troops deployed.

U.N. BUILDING RENOVATION TO START THIS

MONDAY

The Secretary-General, together with senior

representatives of the Member States, special guests from the Host Country,

and senior officials of the Organization will break ground for the

construction of the North Lawn Conference Building on Monday, 5 May 2008,

marking the beginning of the renovation of the UN Headquarters under the Capital Master Plan.

Almost 60 years after the original groundbreaking, the UN Headquarters will go through a complete renovation, resulting in a greener, safer, more secure and more occupant-friendly facility by its completion in 2013, while its unique architectural heritage will be preserved.

The event will happen either rain or shine, and will start at 11:00 a.m.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS TAKES STAFF GRIEVANCES VERY SERIOUSLY: Asked about the response to a U.S. ruling on Wednesday concerning former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations would have no comment on the case, since there could be an appeal. In response to questions, she expressed the belief that the appropriate forum for staff members to air their grievances is the UN internal justice system. She also noted that the Secretary-General has made it a priority to improve that system. In response to questions of immunity, she said that the Secretary-General can waive immunity of staff, on the advice of the UN Legal Counsel.

NO DIRECT INFORMATION ON REPORTED SOMALIA ATTACK: Asked about a U.S. attack that reportedly killed a Somali leader, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations does not have any direct information or comment on these reported attacks or any repercussions they might have. She said that the United Nations continues its effort through Special Representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah and the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) to promote dialogue and reconciliation, security sector reform and other areas in its mandate, in addition to its humanitarian work in Somalia.

U.N. OPENS NEWLY-REHABILITATED ROAD IN LIBERIA: The UN Special Representative in Liberia, Ellen Margrethe Lųj, has officially opened the newly rehabilitated 43-kilometer Madina-Robertsport road. The PAK-ENGINEERS company of the U.N. Mission in Liberia replaced all 15 bridges and provided side drains to prevent rains from damaging the roads surface. The company is also planning on rehabilitating several other roads in Liberia. Lųj called on Liberians to protect newly-rehabilitated roads and report any individuals who unlawfully scoop gravel or laterite, which they then sell to construction companies.

U.N. AGENCY OFFERS CLARIFICATION: To clarify previous announcements, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reports that it is making $200 million available to small farmers to buy inputs before the next growing season and improve their harvests. This is separate from the $72 million for rural poverty programs IFADs board recently approved as part of its regular ongoing work.

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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