United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-07-01

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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

Thursday, July 1, 2010

SECRETARY-GENERAL: GABON SHOWING THE WORLD THAT MDGS ARE WITHIN REACH

The

Secretary-General met in Gabon today with President Ali Bongo. They talked about the recent measures taken by Gabon to fight corruption, help industry and protect the environment.

Other topics included the Central African Republic, the border dispute with Equatorial Guinea and Gabon's peacekeeping contribution. The Secretary-General also noted the good record that Gabon has had in achieving the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). And he welcomed calm during recent elections and encouraged the Government to maintain dialogue with opposition in the run-up to elections in 2011.

The Secretary-General also

spoke to the National Assembly, and said that he has made three visits to Africa in recent weeks for one simple and powerful reason: because he wanted to see for himself the enormous strides that all Africa is making. He said that Gabon was showing the world that the MDGs were within their reach. He added that maternal health is the goal that has lagged furthest behind, and, if we make progress on that goal, it will help to achieve all the MDGs.

REPORTS OF FORCIBLE TRANSFER FROM EAST JERUSALEM BEING FOLLOWED CLOSELY

The Office of the

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,

Robert Serry, says that it is closely following reports that four Palestinian legislators have received orders for their forcible transfer from East Jerusalem by the

Israeli authorities.

Serrys office is concerned at all measures which may heighten tension in the city and at the potentially broad consequences for Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem. It calls on Israel to respect its obligations under international law.

NIGERIA ASSUMES PRESIDENCY OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL FOR JULY

Nigeria has assumed the

Security Councils rotating Presidency for the month of July. Ambassador Joy Ogwu of Nigeria will brief reporters on the Councils programme of work tomorrow, at 12:30 p.m.

The Security Council wrapped up its work for June on Wednesday afternoon by adopting a resolution extending the mandate of the

UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights by six months.

HOSPITALS AND HEALH FACILITIES IN OSH APPEAR TO BE FUNCTIONING

The

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

says that all hospitals and health facilities in Osh, in southern Kyrgyzstan, appear to be functioning and primary healthcare providers have begun house-to-house visits, although small health facilities are reporting a shortage of medicine.

The

initial assessment of the needs in southern Kyrgyzstan identified 560,000 beneficiaries. This is being re-evaluated as a result of the near-complete return of refugees from Uzbekistan.