United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-08-25

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

SECRETARY-GENERAL SETS OUT OPTIONS FOR COMBATING PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

The Secretary-General

addressed the Security Council during its open debate on Somalia piracy.

He said that more could be done and he added that that would require political and financial commitment from Member States. He

set out seven possible options to further the aim of prosecuting and imprisoning persons responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.

In a Presidential Statement, the

Security Council said it strongly believed that persons responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, including those who incite or intentionally facilitate such acts, should be brought to justice. It added that it considers in this regard that the effective prosecution of suspected pirates and their supporters may deter future pirate attacks.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS D.R.C. RAPE INCIDENT IS BRUTAL REMINDER OF CHALLENGE OF PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN CONFLICT

While addressing the Security Council, the Secretary-General also

spoke about the latest incident of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He said it was one more brutal reminder of the challenges of keeping the peace and protecting civilians in conflict zones. At such times, he said, we should always ask if we could have done more. He requested that the Security Council members seriously consider what more could be done in the DRC and elsewhere to ensure the successful protection of civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General

decided to dispatch Athul Kare, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, to the DRC and instructed his Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström, to take charge of the UNs response and follow-up to this incident. Following this, UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, said in a

statement that UNICEF supports this response, including essential support and care for girls and women who have been attacked, and stands ready to assist however we can.

Lake adds that this incident must serve as an urgent call to stop the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, adding that sexual violence is an international crime and all perpetrators must be held fully accountable.

U.N.I.F.I.L. COMPLETES INVESTIGATION INTO EL ADEISSE INCIDENT

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) says it has completed the investigation into the exchange of fire incident between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defence Forces in El Adeisse area on 3 August 2010.

It says both the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defence Forces cooperated fully with the UNIFIL team during the investigation and that the report confirms the preliminary conclusions of UNIFIL.

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, said he hoped that this report would assist the parties in preventing the reoccurrence of such incidents.

Asked about details on this report, the Spokesperson said that report was sent to the parties today. He added that the report with its findings, conclusions and appropriate recommendations had been transmitted to UN Headquarters and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations overnight.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS GROUP OF EMINENT PERSONS ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

In view of the forthcoming Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) due to take place in Istanbul, Turkey from 30 May to 3 June 2011, the Secretary-General has

appointed a Group of Eminent Persons to advise on the strong international support measures needed to accelerate development in the LDCs.

The members have been selected in view of their high international stature, expertise and strong commitment to global development. They will be making efforts to raise public awareness and build strong political commitment in support of the LDCs in key areas, including trade, investments, technology transfer, official development assistance, building productive capacities, adaptation to the effects of climate change, and a stimulus package to manage the impacts of the global financial crisis.

The full membership of the Group is as follows: Alpha Oumar Konaré, former president of the Republic of Mali (co-chairperson of the Group); Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission (co-chairperson of the Group); Sir Fazle Hassan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee; Nancy Birdsall, the founding president of the Center for Global Development; Kemal Dervi&#351; vice president and director of Global Economy and Development at Brookings Institution; James Wolfensohn, chairman and CEO of Wolfensohn & Company and former President of the World Bank; Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd.; Louis Michel, member of European Parliament and formerly the European commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid; Louis A. Kasekende, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda and formerly executive director at the World Bank; and Sir Richard Jolly, Honorary Professor of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.

The Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs is a milestone event for the United Nations. It will assess the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Actions for the LDCs for the decade 2001-2010 and reach agreement on a new generation of international support measures for the LDCs.

The Secretary-General thanks each member of the group for agreeing to work with the United Nations in this undertaking.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT SPECIAL ADVISOR ON SOMALIA PIRACY: Asked to confirm the appointment of a Special Adviser on Legal Issues Related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the Spokesperson said an announcement was expected tomorrow.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ATTACKS IN IRAQ: In response to a question on todays attacks in Iraq, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-general had consistently condemned such acts and was doing so again today.