United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-05-07

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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

Friday, May 7, 2010

TWO U.N. PEACEKEEPERS KILLED IN DARFUR AMBUSH; SECRETARY-GENERAL INCENSED

The

UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that at around 11:30 local time this morning, one of its convoys was ambushed. Two Egyptian peacekeepers were killed and another three seriously wounded.

The patrol was attacked by unidentified armed men near the village of Katayla, in

South Darfur.

The attackers opened fire on the peacekeepers and fled when the convoy returned fire. The wounded were air-lifted to UNAMIDs hospital in Nyala and theyre reported to be in stable condition.

The AU-UN Joint Special Representative,

Ibrahim Gambari, has expressed outrage over the attack.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is aware of the attack and is equally incensed.

UNAMID is calling on the Government of the Sudan to identify, capture and bring the perpetrators to justice.

This attack brings to 24 the number of UNAMID personnel killed in hostile actions since the Mission was established in January 2008.

SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES UP U.N. MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CHAD

The

Security Council held consultations on the

UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

Youssef Mahmoud, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative and head of MINURCAT, briefed Council members on the plan to reconfigure that peacekeeping mission.

Under the plan, outlined in the

Secretary-Generals recent report, the Missions military component will be reduced from its current strength of 3,300 personnel in Chad to 1,400 troops and 500 support elements.

Meanwhile, the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

says that it has begun this week to transfer some 1,100 newly arrived Central African refugees from the border in southern

Chad to a refugee camp where the Agency can assist them. These refugees crossed into southern Chads Moyen Chari province two weeks ago, after violence forced them from villages in northern

Central African Republic.

SECRETARY MET BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES

Earlier today, the

Secretary-General concluded two back-to-back meetings.

The first was with Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma and representatives from civil society organizations that participated at the recent climate conference in Cochabamba in Bolivia. He held his second meeting privately with President Morales.

The Secretary-General told President Morales that the voices of civil society and indigenous peoples must be heard. He welcomes all initiatives that can contribute to a comprehensive, equitable and effective global response to climate change.

The Secretary-General said he was pleased that conclusions of the Cochabamba conference had been submitted to the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the one universal forum where all nations and peoples come together to resolve climate issues.

SOMALI ARMED GROUPS URGED TO ALLOW UNFETTERED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for

Somalia, Mark Bowden, is

calling on armed groups to put down their arms, allow unfettered humanitarian access and vacate a medical clinic treating victims of fighting.

As of Friday afternoon, armed groups were occupying the medical compound in the Afgooye corridor and were holding the clinics director hostage. Patients had to be evacuated.

There are more than 360,000 displaced people in temporary settlements along the 1.3 kilometer corridor between Mogadishu, the capital and the town of Afgooye.

INITIAL PHASE OF PRIORITY RELOCATION IN HAITIS CAPITAL COMPLETED

Concerning the initial phase of priority relocations of Haitians displaced by the January 12 earthquake in

Haiti, the

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) says that since the earthquakes aftermath, it has helped to relocate more than 7,400 Haitians to more secure areas.

Movement to new sites has been and continues to be a last resort option for displaced Haitians who are determined to be in priority areas at risk of flooding, mudslides or other immediate hazards.

U.N.D.P ADMINISTRATOR STRESSES NEED FOR AVOIDING COMPLACENCY WITH HIV/AIDS

The Administrator of the

UN Development Programme (UNDP),

Helen Clark, today wrapped her visit to Burkina Faso by focusing on

HIV/AIDS projects supported by UNDP. On a visit to a community association, she spoke with sex workers about their concerns for the future. She stressed the need avoiding complacency in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Clark is now heading to Tanzania and then South Africa as part of tour of Africa to highlight progress towards the

Millennium Development Goals in the run-up to the Summit in September 2010.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN NEPAL CONCERNED OVER ONGOING POLITICAL STALEMATE

The

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) today expressed growing concerns about the impact of the continuing political stalemate and the ongoing indefinite bandh on the human rights situation in the country particularly in the Kathmandu Valley and in the districts.

Speaking to reporters in Katmandu today, OHCHR-Nepals Representative, Richard Bennett, said the Office is deeply concerned about the increasing levels of violence and intimidation in the past couple of days of the bandh.

OHCHR-Nepals 21 human rights monitors deployed throughout the country are reporting rising tensions culminating in clashes in the capital and in several districts.

While upholding the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion and expression, OHCHR opposes the coercive enforcement of the bandh, including threats, psychological terror, intimidation and any other violent measure.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MYANMAR SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO HOLD FREE, FAIR ELECTIONS: Asked about the dissolution of the National League for Democracy party in Myanmar, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations has made it clear that it respects the decisions taken by political parties in

Myanmar. The

Secretary-General has emphasized that Myanmar should be encouraged to hold free, fair and inclusive elections.

WORK PROCEEDING ON PANEL OF EXPERTS FOR SRI LANKA: Asked about the advisory Panel of Experts being considered for Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that active work is proceeding on the panel.

U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS HEAD ATTENDING GREEN ECONOMY CONFERENCE: The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs,

Sha Zukang, is in Beijing where he is delivering a keynote statement at the opening of the International Cooperative Conference on Green Economy and Climate Change. The High-level conference, which opened today and concludes on 9 May, aims to facilitate discussion and international cooperation on developing a green economy and using renewable energy, so as to mitigate climate change and achieve sustainable development.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, 8 May

There are no major events scheduled for today.

Sunday, 9 May

Monday, 10 May

This morning, the Security Council will hear a briefing and then hold consultations on the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).

Tuesday, 11 May

This morning, the Security Council will hold an open debate on its 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees.

Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, will be the guest at the noon briefing, and will brief correspondents on Somalia.

Wednesday, 12 May

This morning, the Security Council is expected to adopt resolution on the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). It will then hold a debate on Somalia.

At 11:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, will hold a pres conference. She will speak about efforts to rekindle momentum in the international climate change negotiations.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will address the International Association of Women Judges 10th Biennial International Conference in Seoul, before continuing on to Japan for a three-day visit. Her activities there include talks with Japans Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice, as well as with representatives of civil society and of minority groups.

Thursday, 13 May

Today, the Security Council will depart for its mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mission will return on Sunday, 16 May.

At 10 a.m., the election of fourteen members of the Human Rights Council will be held in the General Assembly Hall.

At 12:30, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner will be launching a new report on "Metals Recycling Rates" by its International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management. He will be joined by the report's lead author Thomas Graedel, Professor of Industrial Ecology at Yale University.

At 1:30 p.m., in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will hold a press conference following the adoption of GA resolution A/64/L.52 on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Friday, 14 May

At 12:45 p.m., in theDag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, Rear Admiral Peter Hudson of EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta will hold a press conference to brief on the latest state of play of the operations to combat piracy off the Somali Coast.

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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