United Nations Daily Highlights, 09-09-22

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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 THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

BAN KI-MOON'S SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE DRAWS NEARLY 100 WORLD LEADERS

Now is your moment to act, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

told the nearly 100 world leaders gathered today for the High-Level

Summit on Climate Change that he has convened. With only 15 negotiating days left until the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, the Summit aims to mobilize political will and strengthen momentum for a fair, effective and ambitious climate deal.

Your negotiators need your direct political support and guidance to resolve core issues, to accelerate the pace of negotiations and to strengthen the ambition of what is on offer, the Secretary-General told the delegations. He added that a successful deal in Copenhagen will mean more prosperity, more security, and more equity.

He called on the leaders of the industrialized countries to take the first steps forward and called on leaders from developing countries to accelerate their efforts. All countries must do more now, he said.

The Secretary-General warned that failure to reach broad agreement in Copenhagen would be morally inexcusable, economically short-sighted and politically unwise.

Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also addressed the Summit, followed by leaders of eight countries and a representative of civil society. The opening session ended with the voice of the next generation, when Yugratna Srivastava, a 13 year-old environmental activist from India, addressed the world leaders.

After the plenary, the Secretary-General attended a luncheon of the UN Leadership

Forum on Climate Change, organized by the UN Global Compact.

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES TRANSFER OF SUSPECT TO RWANDA GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL

The Secretary-General

welcomes the transfer, on 20 September 2009, of Grégoire Ndahimana, by the Congolese Government to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Ndahimana, a Rwandan national and high-level figure in the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), was arrested in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Congolese Army on 10 August 2009.

Ndahimana was among 13 of the remaining fugitives indicted before the ICTR for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Rwanda in 1994. Ndahimanas arrest and transfer to the ICTR was facilitated by MONUC, at the request of Congolese authorities.

COMMITTEE COORDINATING AID TO PALESTINIANS GATHERS IN NEW YORK

The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates and promotes donor assistance to the Palestinian people, is meeting today, here at Headquarters.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe today delivered a

message from the Secretary-General to that meeting. In that message, the Secretary-General noted that the Palestinian Authoritys achievements in security, the economy, financing, reform and planning over the past two years are unprecedented. The Secretary-General also expressed strong support for the Palestinian Authoritys plan to complete the building of the state apparatus for Palestine in two years. He pledged the UNs full assistance in that regard.

Asked about the meeting today that brings together the Presidents of the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was following that meeting with interest. Montas said that the Quartet would meet later this week and would be expected to discuss, among other matters, todays meeting.

YEMENS FAILING CEASEFIRE IGNITES FEARS OF FURTHER VIOLENCE

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that the situation in Yemen's northern Sa'ada province remains volatile, despite an announced two-week suspension of military operations on the occasion of the Eid holiday. This is the second failed ceasefire in less than a month.

Relative calm was reported in the city of Sa'ada at the end of last week, UNHCR says, but renewed clashes erupted over the weekend in several neighbourhoods. During the brief lull in fighting some 1,600 people in the city of Sa'ada received assistance through UNHCR's local NGO partner. The Agencys stocks in Sa'ada are diminishing and establishment of humanitarian corridors for delivery of aid to this area remains a top priority.

AFGHANISTAN ENVOY WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ELECTORAL DISPUTES

Speaking yesterday in Kabul, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Afghanistan, Kai Eide, welcomed the joint announcement by the countrys Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaints Commission on their agreement on resolving issues before electoral results can be certified.

Eide said that such cooperation is essential, adding that the Afghan people need to know the outcome of the election, including whether a run-off vote is required, without undue delay.

He called on the two commissions to ensure a timely conclusion to the process while respecting international standards and the need for transparency. The final result of this election must reflect the will of the Afghan people, Eide said.

HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY TO BEGIN SRI LANKA VISIT TOMORROW

Following last weeks visit to Sri Lanka by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, the Secretary-Generals Representative on the Human Rights for Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kaelin is set to make a 5-day visit to the country starting tomorrow.

Kaelin's visit is an important next step from Pascoe's latest trip to Colombo, which will provide an opportunity to flesh out the specifics on the Government's renewed commitment to moving all internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of the camps and home by January and in fully implementing their 180 day plan.

Asked about Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoes efforts to obtain the release of two UN staff detained in Sri Lanka, the Spokeswoman said that Pascoe met last week in Sri Lanka with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and raised the issue of the two detained staff with him. The United Nations, she added, is providing the staff members with legal support.

SOMALIA: FALLEN PEACEKEEPERS LAID TO REST

The Secretary-Generals Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Charles Petrie, has called on the international community to do more now, in order to plant seeds of durable peace in Somalia.

Petrie was speaking on behalf of the United Nations at a funeral service held on Sunday in Bujumbura, for the Burundian officers and soldiers killed in last weeks suicide bomb attacks on the Mogadishu Headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia,

AMISOM. He paid tribute to the valiant peacekeepers who gave their lives for peace in Somalia.

A full investigation into the circumstances of the attacks is being undertaken.

Asked whether there had been UN personnel in the AMISOM camp when it was attacked, the Spokeswoman said she was unaware of any UN presence. She added, in response to further questions, that the United Nations has provided support to AMISOM.

CHAD TO RELOCATE REFUGEES FROM UNSAFE BORDER CAMP

The UN Refugee Agency has welcomed a decision by Chad to relocate some 28,000 Sudanese refugees from the Oure Cassoni camp, in the troubled northeastern border region with Sudan.

UNHCR had been pressing Chad to remove refugee from that camp for a number of years, partly because of its location just 7 kilometers from the border, which was deemed too unsafe and often inaccessible. UNHCR also suspected that Sudanese armed groups were recruiting children and weapons circulated all too freely inside the camp.

UN and Chadian teams are now evaluating a replacement site near the town of Bahai.

HIV/AIDS A THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE & SECURITY

The AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative, which is supported by UNAIDS, today

released a new report that shows how HIV threatens international peace and security. The new report suggests that the transition from war to peace can increase risks of HIV transmission as refugees go home, soldiers leave the army, and relief agencies wind down their work.

It adds that, in many countries, laws and law enforcement drive the AIDS epidemic underground by criminalizing injecting drug use, sex work or homosexualitythereby ruling out proven HIV prevention methods such as needle exchanges and the promotion of condom use.

According to Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS, the reports findings underscore the importance of aligning efforts to prevent both sexual violence and HIV.

PRINCESS MÁXIMA TAKES ON ROLE OF SPECIAL ADVOCATE ON INCLUSIVE FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT

The Secretary-General has designated Princess Máxima of the Netherlands as his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

In her new role, Princess Máxima will work to highlight and promote inclusive finance for development to Governments and international institutions.

She will also contribute to raising awareness -- among intergovernmental organizations, Governments, parliaments, civil society, the private sector and the media -- on the importance of developing inclusive finance to reduce poverty, equalize opportunity and achieve development goals, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.

CITY OF ROTTERDAM TO HOST SIGNING EVENT FOR NEW U.N. TREATY

Tomorrow the city of Rotterdam will be hosting a signing ceremony for the new UN

Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea. The event is being jointly organized by the Dutch government, the city of Rotterdam, the UN Office of Legal Affairs and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

The Convention, also known as the Rotterdam Rules, was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2008. It creates a legal regime for container transport on itineraries including an international sea leg but not limited to port-to-port carriage of goods.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUPERMODEL GISELE BÜNDCHEN TO SERVE AS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen has been

designated a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In her new position, Gisele will help to inspire action to protect the environment. She will also work to draw attention to some of the biggest threats facing the planet, including climate change and environmental degradation.

BILLION TREE CAMPAIGN HITS TARGET: The United Nations

Billion Tree Campaign has hit its seven billion goal target, reports the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Today's milestone was reached with the news that the Government of China has planted 2.6 billion trees as part of this unique campaign, bringing the total to 7.3 billion trees planted in 167 countries worldwide.

BHUTTO COMMISSION WORK MOVING APACE, QUIETLY: Asked about the work of the independent commission that is looking into the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General, in a meeting yesterday, discussed the commissions progress with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. The commission is working steadily but has avoided commenting about the details of its work, she added.