United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-08-06

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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, August 6, 2010

BAN KI-MOON TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY

On Monday, at 11:00 a.m. the Secretary-General will hold his monthly press conference. He will talk about his trip to Japan, among other topics.

In light of that press conference, the Spokesperson will not have a noon briefing on Monday.

BAN KI-MOON, AT HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL EVENT, CALLS FOR A WORLD FREE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

The Secretary-General

took part today in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, becoming the first UN Secretary-General to do so. He said: Together, we are on a journey from ground zero to Global Zero -- a world free of weapons of mass destruction. That is the only sane path, he said, to a safer world. For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will live under a nuclear shadow.

The Secretary-General noted encouraging new commitments by the world's nuclear powers and said that he will build political momentum by convening a high-level meeting in New York next month in support of the Conference on Disarmament.

The Secretary-General and Mrs. Ban then visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and listened to the experiences of atomic bomb survivors. Later, he was given an honorary citizenship to Hiroshima and in turn, he presented 1,000 paper cranes, folded by UN staff, to the mayor of Hiroshima. And he

told the people of Hiroshima: You have become citizens of the world, delivering a call that resounds around the world: No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis. Never again.

He also paid tribute at the Memorial for Korean Atomic-Bomb victims, had a lively exchange with students at a local high school and gave a

press conference before flying back to Tokyo.

His last scheduled appointment on Friday was a

reception and dinner hosted with the Global Compact Japan Network.

The Secretary-General leaves for New York on Saturday morning.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES KENYANS AS NEW CONSTITUTION IS PASSED

The Secretary-General congratulates the people of Kenya for the passing of the new Constitution, a major milestone in addressing the countrys long term challenges.

The Secretary-General wishes to also congratulate all who helped to make this an inclusive, peaceful and well-organized process. The United Nations was pleased to provide assistance to the electoral authorities and to support national conflict prevention efforts involving national leaders, institutions and civil society.

The United Nations will continue to support the Kenyan Government and people in their efforts to further reconciliation, accelerate development and strengthen democratic institutions and governance in their country.

SECRETARY-GENERAL AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSSED MIDDLE EAST PROCESS

In response to questions, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General and Secretary Clinton, in a recent phone call, discussed the Middle East peace process and efforts to move to direct talks. They also discussed the role of the Quartet in the peace process. The Secretary-General briefed Secretary Clinton on his recent conversations with leaders in the region.

Asked whether the Panel of Inquiry looking into the 31 May flotilla incident could question Israeli military personnel, the Spokesperson said that it would be up to the Panel to decide how it goes about its work. The Panels first meeting will be on 10 August, he noted.

He added that the Panel intended to fulfil the mandate provided by the Security Council for it to conduct a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation, conforming to international standards into the flotilla incident.

PEACEKEEPING CHIEF, FORCE COMMANDERS ADDRESS SECURITY COUNCIL ON REFORM AGENDA

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy and many of the Force Commanders of the UNs 15 peacekeeping missions attended todays

Security Council meeting on

peacekeeping.

Le Roy told the Council that the United Nations has almost 120,000 peacekeepers currently deployed around the world. He added that the United Nations remains committed to its reform agenda under the New Horizons process.

The Security Council then heard from five of the Force Commanders of the UNs peacekeeping missions as part of its effort to learn about the diverse experiences and challenges faced in UN peace operations.

UNITED NATIONS IS PUSHING FOR HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO KALMA CAMP IN DARFUR

Asked about access to Darfurs Kalma Camp, the Spokesperson noted that the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that it has not had access to Kalma Camp since 2 August. No humanitarian access has been granted so far in eastern Jebel Marra since February 2010.

OCHA is advocating for access at the local level and coordinating assessment and response missions.

Asked about the situation at Kalma, the Spokesperson said that the situation remains tense.

The UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) continues to be engaged at all levels to peacefully resolve the situation and ensure security for internally displaced persons and civilians.

Asked about a purportedly leaked UN document concerning Darfur, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations continues to follow up on the Government of Sudans commitment to negotiate a comprehensive agreement towards a peaceful outcome of the situation in Darfur.

For obvious reasons, Nesirky added, the United Nations does not comment on any interaction with our missions.

Asked about six people whom the Sudanese Government has been asking UNAMID to transfer, the Spokesperson added that, further to Government demands, we are engaging closely with the Government in discussions on the issue. Our objective is to ensure their rights and protection.

CLIMATE CHANGE BODY REPORTS PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS AHEAD OF CANCUN CONFERENCE

The Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres, said today that the Governments meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn have made progress towards deciding the shape of a successful result at the UN Climate Change Conference, which is to take place later this year in Cancún, Mexico. She added that Government now need to narrow down the many options for action on climate change that are presently under negotiation.

In Bonn, many Governments said they believed a set of Conference of Parties decisions, which would make key elements of the Bali Action Plan quickly operational, would be an achievable outcome of Cancún.

Figueres said that this means that countries could agree to take accountable action to manage and deploy climate finance, boost technology transfer, build skills and capacity and deal with adaptation, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS[1]

9 -14 August 2010

Saturday, 7 August

The Secretary-General returns from his official visit to Japan.

Monday, 9 August

The Secretary-General will hold a press conference at the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, at UN Headquarters, at 11:00 a.m. [There will be no Spokespersons Noon Briefing today.]

Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. At an event to mark the occasion, to be held between 2:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. at the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General will deliver a message, as will the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang.

Tuesday, 10 August

The Security Council will hold a briefing followed by consultations on the UN Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

Wednesday, 11 August

The Security Council will hold consultations on the Central African region.

Thursday, 12 August

Today is International Youth Day. Also taking place today is the Global Launch of the International Year of Youth. The launch will take place in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters, between 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Speakers will include the Secretary-General; U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith A. McHale; and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang. UN Television will cover the event, which can be seen at:

www.un.org/webcast.

Friday, 13 August

Saturday, 14 August

A Global Model United Nations will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Secretary-General has a message for the event.

[1]This document is for planning purposes only and is current as of DATE \@ "HH:mm" 15:03 DATE \@ "dddd, dd MMMM, yyyy" Friday, 06 August, 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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