United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-07-14

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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, July 14, 2010

SECURITY COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON LEBANON

Michael Williams, the

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, briefed the

Security Council in its closed consultations on the Secretary-Generals

latest report on the implementation of Resolution 1701, and he spoke to reporters afterward.

He said he told the Council that the arrangements put in place by resolution 1701 have allowed the longest period of stability between the parties since the 1970s.

Williams emphasised to the Council that the cooperation between the UN Interim Force,

UNIFIL, and the Lebanese Armed Forces is very important, and that the full and unimpeded freedom of movement for UNIFIL in its area of operations is indispensable for the discharge of its mandate.

DARFUR PEACEKEEPING MISSION CONFIRMS LATEST CLASHES BETWEEN SUDAN AND REBEL FORCES

The UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur,

UNAMID, reports that on Tuesday, Sudanese Armed Forces clashed with Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) fighters near the Adola Mountains and near Kuma, in North Darfur. The number of possible casualties has yet to be determined.

UNAMID is also currently investigating reports of similar fighting in Daba Tago, which is also in North Darfur.

Meanwhile, UNAMID continues to face restrictions in its movements. In South Darfur, a UNAMID convoy conducting a routine patrol was denied access to Changi village, 20 km east of Nyala, by authorities for the second time in ten days, with no reasons given. Flight restrictions on UN aircraft in South Darfur are still in place, limiting the efforts of many aid groups, which cannot travel by road due to security concerns and rain-damaged roads.

Asked about reports warning of possible violence following the referendum in Sudan, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was trying to make sure that arrangements were in place to ensure a successful referendum process and a peaceful atmosphere following its holding.

BAN KI-MOON SADDENED BY DEATH OF MARRACK GOULDING, FIRST U.N PEACEKEEPING CHIEF

The Secretary-General was

saddened to learn of the death of Marrack Goulding of the United Kingdom, the first Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations.

Mr. Goulding was initially appointed Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, in charge of Peacekeeping Operations, in 1986 after a distinguished career in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He played a decisive role in shaping the new Department for Peacekeeping Operations when it was created in 1992.

Known to all his colleagues as MIG, he led an area of exponential growth at an exceptionally challenging time of change for the Organization and for the world as a whole. His sure-footed diplomatic judgement and firm leadership were indispensable assets as he distinguished himself on delicate assignments ranging from Namibia's post-independence settlement to the Iran-Iraq conflict, while also involved in the UN's work in Cambodia, Central America, Lebanon and former Yugoslavia. From 1993 to 1996 he served as Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and continued to inspire a generation of younger colleagues before moving on to serve for ten years as Warden of the St Antony's college at Oxford.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to Mr. Goulding's family and to the Government of the United Kingdom, as he joins colleagues and friends around the world in paying tribute to a pioneer among international civil servants.

U.N DELIVERING HAITI FOOD AID AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Asked about the provision of food to

Haiti, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations was trying to distribute food there as quickly and efficiently as possible.

He added that, compared with other disasters, coordination systems in Haiti have actually functioned reasonably well.

Part of the challenge of coordination is that it is largely a voluntary process, Haq said. There is no formal requirement for organizations coming to Haiti to engage with the existing coordination mechanisms, even though it is to their advantage to do so.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TWO D.R. CONGO PEACEKEEPERS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: In response to a question, the Spokesperson confirmed that the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has received an allegation of sexual exploitation against two military personnel serving with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An investigation is currently being conducted. As due process must be respected, once the investigation process has concluded, we will be in a position to provide more information, he added.

LEBANON TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR MET WITH SENIOR U.N LEGAL OFFICIAL IN NEW YORK: Asked about a recent visit to New York by the prosecutor of the

Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Daniel Bellemare, the Spokesperson confirmed that Bellemare had met with the Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Peter Taksoe-Jensen.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, SA-1B15

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article