United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-07-16

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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

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

BAN KI-MOON IS DEEPLY SATISFIED WITH HUMANITARIAN MOVES BY ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply

satisfied that the humanitarian aspects of Security Council

Resolution 1701 (2006) have finally been met today.

His thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. He conveys his heartfelt condolences to all.

He expresses his great appreciation to the work of the UN Facilitator. He also thanks the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for their important logistical support.

The Secretary-General is looking forward to witnessing further positive moves as envisaged during the negotiations. He has received messages to that effect from both the Government of Israel and from the leadership of Hezbollah.

Finally, the Secretary-General hopes that there will be action soon for the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and of Palestinian prisoners. He believes these steps will contribute to improving the overall humanitarian situation in the region.

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES PROGRESS IN TALKS ON DENUCLEARIZATION OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA

The Secretary-General

welcomes the recent progress at the sixth round of the Six-Party Talks in Beijing, which includes an agreement to establish mechanisms to verify the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to monitor the implementation of related commitments.

The Secretary-General recognizes this continuing progress as an important contribution to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and urges all participants to intensify their efforts and dialogue to further advance this multilateral process, and to contribute to the resolution of bilateral issues.

Asked about tensions between the Republic of Korea and Japan, the Spokeswoman recalled that the Secretary-General had recently visited both countries, as well as China, and had encouraged the progress being made by those three countries towards improving their relations.

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP U.N.-A.U. MISSION IN DARFUR

The

Security Council this morning received a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Marie Guéhenno on the work of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, known as

UNAMID. He earlier briefed troop contributing countries for UNAMID about recent developments in Darfur.

Council members later adopted a President Statement on UNAMID.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN LACK OF PROGRESS ON DARFUR

In his latest report on the deployment of UNAMID, covering the period from April to June 2008, the Secretary-General says he is deeply disappointed by the lack of progress that has been made towards resolving the Darfur conflict.

The parties continue to pursue the path of military confrontation instead of dialogue, the deployment of UNAMID is far behind schedule, sexual and gender-based violence continues with impunity, and heightened insecurity and banditry has severely hampered the ability to provide life-sustaining humanitarian aid.

The Secretary-General notes that tensions between Chad and Sudan and the suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries should also be highlighted as a source of considerable instability in Darfur.

The newly appointed Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassolé, will face the enormous challenge of having to take all of these complicating factors into consideration.

In the meantime, the Secretary-General says it is critical to press forward with the maximum possible deployment of UNAMID.

Asked about the factors involved in the delays in deploying UNAMID, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General, in his report, was echoing his past appeals to get the force up to speed so that it can carry out its mandated tasks. She noted that there has been no progress in obtaining the needed helicopters yet.

ONE PEACEKEEPER KILLED AS MISSION IN DARFUR CONDUCTS PATROLS AND HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

UNAMID reported that that one of its peacekeepers has been killed today in Forobaranga in West Darfur whilst on patrol. Investigations are ongoing and further information will be made available. UNAMID condemns all acts of violence against its peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, the mission reports that during the past 24 hours, 16 security and confidence building patrols were conducted throughout the region. Humanitarian activities also continued as usual.

UNAMID also reports today that a Chinese Engineering Company (consisting of 175 officers) is expected to arrive in Nyala in South Darfur tomorrow. This expected deployment will bring the number of the Chinese contingent in Darfur to 318 and the total number of military personnel on the ground to 8,003.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported some student demonstrations but said that the mission conducted its regular activities, including daily police patrols in Juba and all sectors and training for South Sudan police.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals remarks concerning support for the International

Criminal Courts work regarding President Omar al-Bashir, the Spokeswoman drew attention to his

press encounter in Paris after he met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

In that encounter, the Secretary-General said, The International Criminal Court is an independent judiciary organ. Peace and justice are both very important elements and we need to respect and to promote peace and justice. Peace and justice should go hand in hand. At this time we have discussed in depth with the Foreign Minister how to address all these situations. At this time what is important is that the Sudanese Government do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers and premises and all international humanitarian workers. I hope that the Sudanese Government will address this issue widely with the full cooperation of the United Nations.

Asked about reported threats by an official of the Justice and Equality Movement for further attacks in Sudan, Okabe noted that the Secretary-General has repeatedly appealed for a negotiated solution to the Darfur crisis and had recently appointed a mediator to work continuously on the ground with the parties on a political solution.

U.N. POLITICAL OFFICIAL HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA TO DISCUSS ZIMBABWE

At the invitation of South Africa, Haile Menkerios, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is traveling today to Pretoria, where he plans to meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki and African Union Commission Chairperson Jean Ping.

During their meeting, scheduled for Friday, the Secretary-Generals envoy plans to be briefed on developments up to now and consult on the way forward.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WRAPS UP VISIT TO GERMANY WITH VISIT TO U.N. OFFICES IN BONN

The Secretary-General today held a working breakfast in Berlin with the German Minister of Defense, Franz Josef Jung, with whom he discussed Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Darfur. They also discussed at length the situation in Georgia/Abkhazia. After that working breakfast, he

spoke to the press.

The Secretary-General then flew to Bonn, where he received a warm welcome at the Old City Hall. He later addressed about UN staff after visiting the UN campus where 17 UN agencies and programmes work. The Secretary-General is now on his way back to New York.

U.N. IRAQ MISSION OFFERS FULL SUPPORT IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER ELECTION LAW

Following months of hard work by members of Parliament, the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) offered its full support to the efforts of the Council of Representatives to reach agreement on the Governorate Council election law, which is scheduled for next week.

The UN Mission urged the parliamentarians to reach political agreement on the remaining clauses in dispute, so that the Iraqi people may have an election in December 2008.

UNAMI is encouraged by the continued inclusion of protections in the draft law that provides quotas and mechanisms for womens inclusion on party lists. Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, said, Having Iraqi women on governorate councils will contribute to the development of a more peaceful and stable Iraq.

SOMALIA:U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES PROGRESS IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has

welcomed progress in the implementation of the agreement signed last month in Djibouti by the Somali transitional government and opposition.

He said that the path towards Somalia regaining its dignity and sovereignty is irreversible. He is encouraged by the determination of the Somali parties to uphold the spirit and letter of the Djibouti agreement, which came after indirect reconciliation talks endorsed by the Security Council.

The Special Representative said that the international community has also mobilized significant resources to implement the agreement and that a joint Somali delegation might be visiting the Security Council soon.

In the same statement, Ould-Abdallah also condemned the recent spate of deadly attacks on UN workers and prominent Somali business figures.

FOOD AID RESOURCES FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE IN DR CONGO ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Food Programme (WFP)

says its resources in North Kivu are stretched to the limit. Malnutrition is running at alarming levels, as increasing numbers of people flee the fighting and seek refuge in camps.

Last July, WFP was planning to distribute 800 metric tons of food per month; now that number has risen to 10,000 tons of food per month. The agency is also helping to establish new feeding centres, but it has already been forced to cut rations in half for some people. WFP needs more than US$ 142 million in additional donations to continue its operations there.

In other news, the Food and Agriculture Organization has

launched an emergency rice programme in 11 West African countries. Consumer prices for this staple food doubled over the past year in parts of the region, and rice seed for upcoming plantings is in short supply. FAO is helping to address that shortage by ramping up seed production during the next few months and making sure the seeds are in place in time for the first crop in spring 2009.

BAN KI-MOON TO ADDRESS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON GLOBAL FOOD AND ENERGY CRISIS

And this Friday, the Secretary-General is scheduled to address the

General Assembly plenary session on the global food and energy crisis.

The finalized Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA) on the global food crisis, along with a

letter from the Secretary-General, has been sent to Member States this morning.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ORDERS U.S. TO DELAY EXECUTIONS OF FIVE MEXICAN NATIONALS

The International Court of Justice this morning

ordered that the United States take all measures necessary to ensure that five Mexican nationals on death row in US prisons are not executed pending the ICJs final ruling on the matter. The Court also ordered the US to report to it the steps taken to enforce this decision.

The decision is an interim injunction, protecting the rights of Mexico and of its nationals pending a final decision of the Court on the request for interpretation of its earlier judgment in the case.

The ICJ had earlier ruled that the US was in breach of its international obligations for not granting Mexican consular services to the prisoners.

UNAIDS UNVEILS NEW POLICY ON HIV AND INTERNATIONAL LABOR MIGRANTS

UNAIDS, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization and International Organization for Migration, has

developed a new policy on the HIV-related needs and rights of international labor migrants -- irrespective of their legal status.

The policy, which contains guidance and recommendations for national authorities, notes that migrant workers face particular risks and vulnerabilities to HIV which must be addressed.

According to UNAIDS, around 100 countries restrict people living with HIV from entering or remaining in a country. Among other things, the new policy urges countries to remove such restrictions and make services available to migrants.

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS AS PEACEBUILDERS

The Secretary-General today called for strengthening cooperation among world religions in a

message to the World Conference on Dialogue, an initiative by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi-Arabia.

He noted that many conflicts that appear to be rooted in religion often have their origins beyond the confines of faith. He also called for more outreach to young people who feel alienated and stressed the importance of religious leaders as peacebuilders.

The conference is taking place in Madrid over the next three days.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MORE THAN $33 MILLION NEEDED FOR VICTIMS OF CHINA EARTHQUAKE: The United Nations today

launched a US$33.5 million appeal for Early Recovery Support to assist victims of the devastating earthquake that hit China in May killing nearly 70,000 people, and leaving over five million people homeless. The Appeal addresses the needs of the poor and vulnerable among the affected population, focusing on shelter, health, sanitation, and education.

GLOBAL COMPACT LAUNCHED IN ISRAEL: The

Global Compact was officially launched in Israel today, in a ceremony hosted by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The event set the stage for the future establishment of a Global Compact country network in Israel. Leading Israeli businesses are expected to join the initiative in the weeks ahead.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO FINALIZE CONSULTATIONS ON NEXT HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Asked about progress towards appointing a High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Spokeswoman said that the selection process for that post is continuing. Okabe said that the Secretary-General would finalize consultations with Member States on the appointment upon his return to New York later today.