United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-06-30

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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

FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

SECRETARY-GENERAL ATTENDS D.R. CONGOS 50th ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY; HOLDS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KABILA

The

Secretary-General today attended the ceremony marking the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In an interview with

Radio Okapi, the Secretary-General said that the celebration is a historic moment for the Congolese people. He said that the DRC has a major role to play in Africa and the world, including on climate change and biodiversity protection. And the country, he said, has entered a new phase, marked by consolidation and stabilization.

After the ceremony, he held bilateral meetings with Congolese President Joseph Kabila and with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Later today, he is also expected to meet with King Albert of Belgium.

The Spokesperson later added that in his meeting with President Kabila, the Secretary-General congratulated President Kabila on the fiftieth anniversary of the DRCs independence. He noted the new phase in the cooperation between the DRC and the United Nations, as the country goes from peacekeeping to peace-building and stabilization.

The Secretary-General said the UN would work closely with the DRC in order to further stabilization, to protect civilians, to promote human rights and the rule of law, and to fight impunity and sexual violence against women and girls.

The Spokesperson also added later that in his meeting with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the Secretary-General thanked President Kagame for accepting to co-chair the

High Level Advocacy Group on the Millennium Development Goals and said he look forward to the forthcoming meeting of the Group in Madrid.

The Secretary-General noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo was entering a new phase of its partnership with the United Nations and that, as a neighbouring country, Rwandas continued collaboration towards stabilization in the region would be vital. He welcomed the improved relations between the DRC and Rwanda, while noting that challenges remained with respect to eastern DRC.

Today is also the last day of the present UN Mission in the country, the

UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), before it enters a new phase as the UN Stabilization Mission, known as MONUSCO, starting on Thursday. The Secretary-General will meet with the senior management of MONUC and unveil a plaque for MONUSCO.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND CARIBBEAN LEADERS CONFERENCE

The

Secretary-General will travel to Jamaica to attend the Thirty-First Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which begins in Montego Bay on 4 July.

While he is there, he will deliver the message that the international community must act with solidarity in addressing the impact of the sustained economic crisis, particularly on those most vulnerable. In addition to discussing the global economic situation, he will talk to CARICOM leaders about the need to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and to keep moving forward in dealing with climate change. He will also talk about the United Nations support to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake in January 2010 and the security situation in the region.

While in Jamaica, the Secretary-General will have bilateral meetings with Heads of Government and regional organizations.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL DECREES ON ELECTIONS IN HAITI

The

Secretary-General

welcomes the presidential decrees of 24 and 29 June 2010, mandating

Haitis Provisional Electoral Council to organise the upcoming presidential and legislative elections on 28 November, 2010.

The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Haiti, the Provisional Electoral Council, political parties and all Haitians to ensure that the upcoming elections are transparent and credible and serve to reinforce Haitis democratic institutions as the country strives to recover from the worst humanitarian crisis in its history.

The Secretary-General reiterates the United Nations' commitment to provide comprehensive support to the Haitian authorities in the preparation and conduct of the elections. To this end, the

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the

UN Development Programme have already begun putting in place the capacities required to provide security, logistical and technical assistance.

The Secretary-General encourages United Nations member states, especially those participating in the Task Force on Elections, to ensure that the financial resources required for electoral operations and the smooth running of the elections are made available as soon as possible.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION AGAINST IMPUNITY IN GUATEMALA

The

Secretary-General has appointed Francisco DallAnese Ruiz of Costa Rica to head the

International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). Mr. DallAnese will replace outgoing Commissioner Carlos Castresana who announced his resignation on 7 June 2010.

The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to reiterate his appreciation for Mr. Castresanas excellent work heading the Commission during the first two and a half years of its mandate. The achievements of CICIG during that period have been praised by Guatemalan authorities, civil society and the international community alike.

Mr. DallAnese is currently the Attorney-General of Costa Rica, a post he has occupied since 2003. As Attorney-General, he has been a staunch opponent of narco-trafficking and organized crime, and led major anti-corruption investigations.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN, EXTENDS MANDATE OF COTE DIVOIRE MISSION

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-Generals

Special Representative for Afghanistan, briefed the Security Council this morning on recent developments in that country.

He discussed the need to build on the results of the peace jirga recently held among

Afghan parties and the need to assist the Afghan authorities in providing security.

Earlier today, the

Security Council adopted an extension of the

UN Operation in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) until the end of this year.

Later this afternoon, the Council intends to hold consultations on the

UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF), with a view to holding a vote on that missions mandate.

This is the last day of Mexicos Security Council

Presidency. Nigeria will take over the Councils rotating Presidency for the month of July.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY URGED NOT TO FORGET PLIGHT OF DISPLACED IN KYRGYZSTAN

The

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

António Guterres, has

appealed to the international community not to forget the tens of thousands of people faced with having to rebuild lives and overcome trauma following the violence in mid-June in and around Osh in southern

Kyrgyzstan.

Guterres is in Kyrgyzstan to assess operations on the ground. He made his comments while speaking to journalists at a site for returned refugees and other displaced people.

"Entire communities here have been left fractured and embittered. Immediate and sustained humanitarian help is needed to avert a dangerous expansion of grievance and loss," Guterres said.

Earlier today, Guterres witnessed the arrival and offloading in Osh of humanitarian supplies brought over by a 27-truck convoy from

Uzbekistan.

The trucks carried supplies from the

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

UN Childrens Fund and the

World Food Programme. They included 150 metric tonnes of wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses and beans among other items. These will be distributed to internally displaced people, returnee refugees and others affected by the recent violence.

Asked whether Uzbek returnees to Kyrgyzstan had been forced out by the Uzbek Government, the Spokesperson recalled that UNHCR was interviewing returnees to make sure that they were returning voluntarily. He noted UNHCRs policy against refoulement.

U.N. MISSION IN LEBANONS TROOP ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO ENSURE READINESS

Asked about activities undertaken by the

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Spokesperson said that, since Monday evening, UNIFIL has been carrying out activities aimed at checking its own internal capacity for deploying maximum troops on the ground on a regular day of operations. This is to enable the commander to have a clear picture of the military assets that can be available to him at any given time.

Asked whether UNIFIL did this unilaterally, Haq said that the Lebanese army is fully informed about this activity, its nature and purpose.

This is not related to any incident or development, but is a regular activity like numerous others that are conducted to ensure the readiness of the troops on the ground.

Particular care has been taken to minimize disturbance or inconvenience to the local population during the operation, he said.

In cooperation with the Lebanese army, the Spokesperson added, UNIFIL is making every effort to talk to the communities and explain to them the nature and purpose of the activity in order to clear any misunderstandings they may have in this regard. The enhanced deployment operations will conclude on 30 June.

Asked about an Israeli pullout from Ghajar, the Spokesperson said that UNIFIL would have to verify on the ground whether a pullout was taking place. He noted UNIFILs work with the Lebanese and Israeli sides towards achieving a withdrawal.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW TOOL LAUNCHED TO HELP STOP USE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN WAR: A new tool has been

launched to help stop the use of sexual violence as a tactic a war.

Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence an Analytical Inventory of Peacekeeping Practice catalogues direct and indirect ways to combat sexual violence during and in the wake of war and documents the best practices for a more effective response by peacekeepers to womens security concerns, The inventory is a collaboration between the

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the

UN Development Fund for Women.

MORE DETAILS SOUGHT ON RESIGNATION OF NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER: Asked about the resignation of the

Nepalese Prime Minister, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations is checking with the

UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for more details. He noted that UNMIN has been working to end the political deadlock and advance the peace process.

SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT SAYS CABINET MINISTERS REMARKS DO NOT REFLECT POLICY: Asked about remarks attributed to a Cabinet minister and whether they constituted a threat to UN staff in

Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that the Sri Lankan Government has assured us this is an individual opinion and not their policy. The staff at UN House in Colombo has not seen any actual mobilization of people there.

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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