United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-05-06

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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 MARTIN NESIRKY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, May 6, 2010

BAN KI-MOON HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS IN ADVANCING NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AGENDA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to speak to a gathering of Parliamentarians this afternoon to discuss the role of Parliaments in advancing a nuclear disarmament agenda. He will tell the Parliamentarians that he hopes the negotiators at the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference will seize the moment by thinking big, taking risks and aiming for the prize of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

He also made

remarks at the event earlier today marking the end of the Second World War. In those remarks, he said it was fitting that we are commemorating the wars end at a moment when nations are gathered to advance the cause of peace, by working to advance a vision for a nuclear-weapon-free world.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would talk about suffering from totalitarianism, the Spokesperson said that, in his remarks, the Secretary-General had made clear the enormous human cost of the Second World War while looking ahead to the progress that can be made in attaining nuclear non-proliferation.

BAN KI-MOON HAS MADE CLEAR THAT ONUS IS ON IRAN

TO CLARIFY CONCERNS ON NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

Asked about the reason the Secretary-General was not in attendance when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran addressed

the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the Spokesperson said that was normal procedure.

The Secretary-General, he said, was not presiding over the meeting, but he addressed the speakers prior to a discussion of procedural matters, which was followed by speeches from the Indonesian Foreign Minister, the Iranian President and others. Because the Secretary-General had a lengthy schedule of bilateral meetings to attend, he left the conference after the opening proceedings.

Asked about criticism of the Secretary-Generals views on Iran from President Ahmadinejad, the Spokesperson recalled that the Secretary-General on Monday had called once more on Iran to fully comply with Security Council resolutions. He made clear that the onus is on Iran to clarify the doubts and concerns about its nuclear programme.

BAN KI-MOON SADDENED BY DEATH OF PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA:

LOOKS FORWARD TO WORK CLOSELY WITH NEWLY SWORN-IN PRESIDENT

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened to learn of the death of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Mr. YarAduas death is a great loss for Nigeria and its people. He will be remembered, among other things, for his efforts to bring peace and stability to the Niger Delta region and for his commitment to democratic governance and electoral reforms.

The Secretary-General will remain grateful for Mr. YarAduas unwavering support to the United Nations and its ideals and principles and for the initiatives he undertook as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

He extends his heartfelt condolences to Mr. Yar' Aduas family and the people and Government of Nigeria.

The Spokesperson later said that the Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work closely with the newly sworn in President of Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, in order to deepen the UNs very constructive cooperation with Nigeria on a wide range of issues facing the region and the world.

U.N. VOICES CONCERN OVER PROBABLE ARSON FIRE IN WEST BANK MOSQUE

Robert Serry, the

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said today that he is deeply concerned at a fire service report that a blaze that took place on Monday at a West Bank mosque was probably arson.

Serry condemned the attacks upon mosques in recent months, as well as violence against Palestinian property and individuals by extremist settlers. He said that it is vital that the Israeli Government imposes the rule of law and that those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice. Extremists from either side must not be allowed to set the agenda and undermine the vital efforts to renew negotiations.

AFGHANISTAN ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Afghanistan, has condemned the attacks that took place yesterday on Government buildings in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz.

Reports indicated that at least three police officers and a Provincial Council member, Ms Gul Makai Wakili, were killed and that four civilians and seven police officers were injured in the attack. De Mistura said, These attacks were a despicable display of violence. He paid tribute to Gul Makai Wakili, who was committed to working for womens rights, as well as to all those killed and injured in the attack.

KYRGYZSTAN: U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME HELPS COUNTRYS MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS

In a response to a question yesterday on the allocation of $12 million by the United Nations to Kyrgyzstan, the Spokesperson said that this amount refers to projects already being or about be implemented soon by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan in order to help the countrys most vulnerable groups to overcome the current crisis. This is not direct financial support to the Interim Government.

In earlier comments, Mr. Miroslav Jen&#269;a, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), has said that the United Nations would not provide cash grants to the Interim Government. This remains the case.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES: Asked about a new poll showing strong public support in the United States for the United Nations, the Spokesperson said that the findings were the results of a welcome initiative by the UN Foundation, which commissioned the poll.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: The UN Regional Information Centre in Brussels in partnership with the European Union Spanish Presidency and some major European newspapers, has

launched the European Millennium Development Goals campaign with a web-based Ads Against Poverty competition.

HAITI: Asked about UN support for the next round of elections in Haiti, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations has helped provide logistical support to Haitis elections in the past and would be willing to do so again if requested by the Government of Haiti.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, SA-1B15

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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