United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-07-09

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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

Friday, July 9, 2010

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF U.N. OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME

The

Secretary-General appointed Yuri Fedotov of the Russian Federation as the new Executive Director of the

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), replacing

Antonio Maria Costa of Italy. He will also serve as the Director-General of the

UN Office at Vienna (UNOV).

The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. Costa for the services he has rendered to the Organization and for his commitment in leading UNODC since 2002.

Mr. Fedotov will bring a wealth of senior-level experience to his new function. He is well informed on the issues of the International Community and on those that are on the agenda of UNODC: the rule of law, policy and trend analysis, prevention, treatment and reintegration, and alternative development.

Mr. Fedotov is currently the Ambassador of Russia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF

The

Secretary-General has appointed Valerie Amos, of the United Kingdom, as Under Secretary-General for the

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). She succeeds

John Holmes, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service to the Organization and commitment to alleviating the conditions of the many peoples affected by emergency situations.

Ms. Amos brings to this position extensive background and experience coupled with well-honed leadership skills and the ability to forge consensus, coordinate delivery of results and work with diverse stakeholders. Ms. Amos is currently UK High Commissioner to Australia.

John Holmes said that he was delighted by the appointment of Valerie Amos as his successor. He said that she will bring to the job a lifetime of commitment to issues of economic and social justice, and huge political experience, not least in Africa, where so many of our operations are. Holmes added that he has no doubt she will be able to make a great contribution to the future development of the humanitarian system.

Asked whether the OCHA job had been set aside for a UK national, the Spokesperson said that there was no set formula for senior appointments and that there was a diverse range of nations represented at the senior posts. He noted that Holmess predecessors were not from the United Kingdom.

NEW DEPUTY FOR U.N. OPERATION IN COTE DIVOIRE IS NAMED

The

Secretary-General has appointed Ndolamb Ngokwey of the Democratic Republic of Congo as his Deputy Special Representative of the

UN Operation in Côte dIvoire, where he will also serve as UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.

He will replace

Georg Charpentier, who was appointed Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in

Sudan.

Ngokwey has served with the United Nations since 1986, and most recently as the UN Resident Coordinator/UN Development Programme Resident Representative in Mozambique.

BAN KI-MOON APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY FOR U.N. OPERATION IN TIMOR-LESTE

The

Secretary-General has appointed Shigeru Mochida of Japan as his Deputy Special Representative for Security Sector Support and Rule of Law of the

UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste. Mr. Mochida succeeds the late

Takahisa Kawakami of Japan, who passed away on 15 March 2010.

Mr. Mochida has served the United Nations with commitment over the past 30 years in various capacities, most recently as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW FORCE COMMANDER FOR U.N. PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN D.R. CONGO

The

Secretary-General has appointed Lieutenant-General Chander Prakash, a national of the Republic of India, as the Force Commander for the

UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or MONUSCO.

Lieutenant-General Prakash, who is currently in charge of Indias United Nations peacekeeping operations at the Ministry of Defence, will succeed Lieutenant-General

Babacar Gaye of Senegal.

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR MEASURES AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHEONAN SINKING

The

Security Council this morning adopted a Presidential Statement in which it deplored the 26 March attack which led to the sinking of the Republic of Koreas naval ship, the Cheonan, resulting in the tragic loss of 46 lives.

The Council calls for appropriate and peaceful measures to be taken against those responsible for the incident, aimed at the peaceful settlement of the issue in accordance with the

UN Charter and all other relevant provisions of international law.

The Security Council members held their monthly luncheon with the

Secretary-General this afternoon.

And at 4:30 pm, the Council will hold consultations on the

UN Interim Force in Lebanon, to discuss the recent incidents in south

Lebanon.

ENVOY: UNIFILS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT A KEY ELEMENT FOR DISCHARGING ITS MANDATE

The

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon,

Michael Williams, met today with Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami, with whom he discussed the recent incidents in south Lebanon involving the

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

He expressed his hope that the situation has now calmed down and that there will be no recurrence of such incidents; and he welcomed the announcement made by the Council of Ministers yesterday evening that it is reinforcing the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in south Lebanon.

Williams asserted that UNIFILs freedom of movement is a critical element for it to discharge its mandate and it must be fully respected. This means coordination and information sharing, he clarified, though not necessarily that activities can only be carried out jointly.

Asked whether the situation in Lebanon was calmer today, the Spokesperson noted that Williams hoped the situation would remain calm.

Asked whether Williams had been in contact with Hezbollah officials, Haq said he had met on Thursday with a senior Hezbollah official, Ammar Moussawi.

He noted that Williams would be travelling to New York next week to brief the

Security Council on

Lebanon.

CYPRIOT LEADERS DISCUSS; WILL MEET AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS

The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met in Nicosia today for around three hours, concentrating on the issue of property.

Their representatives will continue the property discussions next week and the leaders will meet again during the following week, on 22 July.

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor for Cyprus,

Alexander Downer, outlined the meeting schedule for July and some of August to the press following todays meeting. He also said he is glad to see the leaders meeting in August.

U.N.D.P. HEAD WRAPS UP VISIT TO FRANCE

The Administrator of the

UN Development Programme (UNDP),

Helen Clark, has wrapped up a two day official visit to France today.

In her meetings with French officials, she discussed the upcoming

MDG Review Summit in September, as well as the development agenda for the G8 and G20 summits to be hosted by France next year. They also agreed on increasing areas of cooperation between France and UNDP.

While in France, Clark met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, and the Minister of Economy, Christina Lagarde. She also met with members of the National Assembly and the Senate.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

CLOSURE OF U.N.D.P. CENTRE IN COLOMBO IS A RESPONSE TO OBSTRUCTION OF U.N. OFFICES: Asked about the closure of the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that the decision to close it was taken on Thursday by the

Secretary-General as a direct response to the situation in Colombo affecting the main UN compound. Prior to the crisis, he noted, there had been discussions with the Foreign Minister to downsize the Regional Centre, but, in light of the Secretary-Generals decision, it is now being closed outright.

SECRETARY-GENERAL AWARE OF ATTACK IN PAKISTAN: Asked about a suicide bombing that took place today in Pakistan, the Spokesperson said that the

Secretary-General was aware of the horrific attack, and recalled that the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned all terrorist attacks against civilians.

EFFORTS TO BRING IN HALTED AID FOR GAZA CONTINUE: Asked about efforts by UN officials to deal with ships that had been halted while on the way to deliver aid to

Gaza, the Spokesperson said that the senior UN officials in the area,

Robert Serry and

Filippo Grandi, continue to work to bring the aid on board those ships into Gaza. He noted that they had been able to get some of the aid that had been on board the Turkish flotilla into Gaza.

U.N. WORKING WITH DISPLACED PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN KYRGYZSTAN: Asked about UN efforts in southern

Kyrgyzstan, the Spokesperson said that UN personnel are working with the displaced and returnee population in that area, and are also helping to distribute aid to the south. He noted the repeated calls by the United Nations for improved security in southern Kyrgyzstan, to allow for the distribution of aid there.

MEETING HELD IN NEW YORK BETWEEN U.N. PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION AND AFRICAN UNION COUNCIL: Members of the

UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the African Union Peace and Security Council held their first consultative meeting in New York on Thursday, to discuss ways of boosting cooperation between the two bodies to support the efforts of post-conflict countries, particularly in Africa, to establish lasting peace. The meeting built on the visit of the PBC to the African Unions headquarters in Addis Ababa in November 2009 and sought to lay a foundation to further develop the channels of communication between the two bodies.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS[1]

10-16 July 2010

Saturday, 10 July

Walter Kaelin, the United Nations Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), will carry out a follow-up visit to the Central African Republic until 17 July.

Sunday, 11 July

Today is World Population Day.

Monday, 12 July

Today, the Security Council will hear a briefing on the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI/AIMB).

The guest at the Noon Briefing will be Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

At 1 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend a commemorative event marking the 15th Anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, in the Delegates Entrance of UN Headquarters.

In Geneva, the Human Rights Committee will hold its ninety-ninth session until 30 July and review the reports submitted by the Governments of Estonia, Israel, Colombia and Cameroon.

Tuesday, 13 July

This morning, the Security Council will hear a briefing and hold consultations on the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA). Following this meeting, Said Djinnit, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for West Africa will speak to reporters at the stakeout position.

The Security Council will also hold consultations on its Liberia Sanctions Committee this morning.

At 2:30 p.m., the Secretary-General will hold a joint stakeout, on the 2nd floor of the North Lawn Building, with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, co-Chairs of the Secretary-Generals Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.

In Geneva, UNAIDS will launch its Outlook Report 2010.

Wednesday, 14 July

Today, the Security Council will hold consultations on its 1701 report.

Thursday, 15 July

This morning, the Security Council will hear a briefing and hold consultations on the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).

At 12:30 p.m., in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, Thomas Mayr-Harting, Chairman of the 1267 committee and Permanent Representative of Austria, and Verena Nowotny, Press Attachée of the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations, will present the new ombudsperson for the 1267 committee, Kimberly Prost.

Friday, 16 July

Today, the Security Council will hold an open debate on conflict prevention and the settlement of disputes.

In Madrid, the High-Level Millennium Development Goals Advocacy Group will hold its first meeting.

[1]This document is for planning purposes only and is current as of DATE \@ "HH:mm" 14:26 DATE \@ "dddd, dd MMMM, yyyy" Friday, 09 July, 2010.

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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