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PRESS BRIEFING
14 SEPTEMBER 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MARGARET NOVICKI- UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN
SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMN TERRORIST ATTACKS ON UNITED STATES
The following is a statement made by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 11 September 2001:
We are all traumatized by this terrible tragedy. We do not know yet how many people have been killed or injured, but inevitably the number will be high. Our first thoughts and prayers must be for them and for their families. I wish to express my profound condolences to them, and to the people and Government of the United States.
There can be no doubt that these attacks are deliberate acts of terrorism, carefully planned and coordinated -- and as such I condemn them utterly. Terrorism must be fought resolutely wherever it appears.
In such moments, cool and reasoned judgment is more essential than ever. We do not know yet who is behind these acts, or what objective they hope to achieve. What we do know is that no just cause can be advanced by terror.
The following is the text of a press statement issued by the President of the Security Council, Jean-David Levitte (France) issued on 11 September 2001:
Members of the Security Council are shocked by and unanimously condemn in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks which have taken place today in New York, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the United States. This is a tragedy for and a challenge to all humanity. There can be no excuse or justification for these acts and any terrorist act.
Members of the Security Council express their deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and to the people and government of the United States of America.
Members of the Security Council call on all States to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of today's outrages. They call on the international community to redouble its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts by increased cooperation and full implementation of relevant international anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council resolutions.
Members of the Security Council express their readiness to take urgent further steps in accordance with their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.
IN LETTERS TO US PRESIDENT, NY MAYOR, SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN SAYS UN GRIEVES WITH TERROR VICTIMS
The United Nations yesterday released the letters of condolences Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent to President George W. Bush of the United States and the Mayor of New York City, Rudolf Giuliani, in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
"The vicious acts that have been perpetrated against your country have cut us all to the core, for they are an attack on humanity itself," wrote Mr. Annan in a letter to President Bush, sent on Wednesday. "The United Nations grieves with other New Yorkers, and expresses its solidarity with the American Government and people in this hour of trial."
Underscoring that terrorism threatened democracy, the rule of law, human rights and stability, the Secretary-General said all nations of the world must now work together to identify the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to justice. "All of us must renew our efforts to eradicate terrorism from the face of the earth," he wrote.
In his letter to Mayor Giuliani, Mr. Annan said that the UN was grieving with other New Yorkers at the "gaping wound that has been inflicted on this wonderful city - the city that has been such a good and welcoming host to us."
"Above all, we mourn the deaths of so many valiant police officers, fire fighters and other city officials who lost their lives in this tragedy and in the rescue and recovery efforts - people to whom the UN owes a special debt of gratitude for their work to keep us safe over the years," he said.
The Secretary-General sent a message to the UN staff yesterday urging them to "help and comfort those colleagues whose loved ones are missing or have been injured."
Recalling that there had been anxiety on Tuesday and Wednesday about possible threats against the UN complex, Mr. Annan sought to reassure the staff and expressed his gratitude to those who had worked despite the tense circumstances. "I want to thank you all for the calm and good humour you have shown, and are showing, in spite of the stress."
"These tragic events make our work to promote peace and relieve suffering all the more important," he said.
UN SPOKESMAN SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED
The United Nations General Assembly's annual high-level debate - which normally attracts the participation of Heads of State and government from around the world - will proceed in New York as planned, a UN spokesman announced yesterday, 13 September.
The "general debate," which offers national leaders a chance to voice their views on a virtually all global issues of concern, will take place from 24 September to 5 October. Referring to the potential attendance of heads of State and government, spokesman Jan Fischer said, "I don't think there have been any cancellations that we are aware of."
Meanwhile, the General Assembly, which was forced to postpone by one day the opening of its annual session due to the evacuation of UN Headquarters on Tuesday, continued its work yesterday, taking procedural decisions necessary for its work to go forward. The Assembly elected its 21 Vice-Presidents and was informed of the selection of Chairpersons for its six Main Committees.
Vice-Presidents were elected from Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Greece, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Mauritania, Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, as well as the five permanent members of the Security Council - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY POSTPONES SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN
In the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks against the United States, the General Assembly decided on 11 September to postpone its upcoming special session on children.
In a unanimously adopted resolution on the matter, the Assembly did not set a new date for the session, which was to have convened from 19 to 21 September with the expected participation of more than 70 heads of State or government.
Reacting to the decision, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, issued a statement pledging to help the world's neediest children "with deepened resolve."
"We regret the awful circumstances that have caused this summit to be postponed, but if this tragedy makes anything clear, it is that creating and defending a world that is fit for children is hard, hard work," she said, adding, "On days like today, it seems harder."
Her call for re-dedicated efforts on behalf of children was echoed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who urged the Assembly to keep young people's concerns high on its agenda. "The issue is still very much with us," he said. "I think we should stay the course and adopt a concrete agenda for action for this decade."
UNAMSIL CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE WITH PRESENTATIONS BY CHILD EX-COMBATANTS
Laying strong emphasis on the importance of peace in Sierra Leone, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, yesterday called on Sierra Leone's war-affected children to seize opportunities available to them by going to school.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Headquarters to commemorate the International Day of Peace, Ambassador Oluyemi stressed that peace was paramount in Sierra Leone so that children who have suffered during the 10-year war could regain their lost childhood. The SRSG advised them not to feel ashamed of engaging in trades such as carpentry and tailoring because they were equally important as other professions to the development of Sierra Leone.
More than 100 child ex-combatants, refugees and other war-affected children from around the country, assisted by child protection agencies-COOPI, Family Homes Movement, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children [UK and Sierra Leone], ADRA, Caritas-and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), participated in the event. Children from the Milton Margai School for the Blind and Talking Drum Studio in Freetown also took part.
Highlights of the day's programme included drama performances, poetry readings, peace songs, and a display of art by the children depicting their experiences during the war. In the drama performances, children showed how they were conscripted, drugged, and forced to participate in the killing and raping of civilians and destruction of property.
In a statement read on behalf of the children of Sierra Leone, the President of the Children's Forum Network Programme, Chernor Bah, 16, described the day as "a crossroad to peace for everybody." He noted the essence and relevance of peace not only to Sierra Leone's children, but to everybody in the world, especially in light of the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General responsible for governance and stabilization, Mr. Alan Doss, also emphasized that it was not only the people of Sierra Leone that needed peace, but people all over the world. "We need peace everywhere, for a better future," he said. The day's activities were organized by the UNAMSIL Public Information Section and Child Protection Office, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNHCR, as well as the child protection agencies.
THE NETHERLANDS DONATES TRUCKS TO NIGERIAN BATTALION
The Dutch Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Peter Van Leeuwen, on 11 September donated 100 DAF trucks to the Nigerian contingent serving under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
At a ceremony held at Wilberforce Hockey Pitch in Freetown, the Dutch Ambassador handed over the trucks to the Nigerian High Commissioner in Sierra Leone, His Excellency Polycarp Azigwe.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji; his deputy, Mr. Behrooz Sadry; the Deputy Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; and other senior UNAMSIL and Sierra Leonean military officers also attended the ceremony.
Presenting the keys of the trucks to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Mr. Van Leeuwen said the purpose of the donation was to help install and reinforce democracy in Sierra Leone so that sustainable peace could be achieved.
In response, Ambassador Azigwe expressed his gratitude to Mr. Van Leeuwen, the Government, and people of the Netherlands for the gesture and promised that the trucks would be used for their intended purpose. He also expressed hope that the fraternal relations that have always existed between Nigeria and the Netherlands would be further strengthened.
DUTCH AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON UNAMSIL FORCE COMMANDER
The Dutch Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Peter van Leeuwen, paid a courtesy call on the Force Commander of the United Nations Missions in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande on 12 September.
The Force Commander thanked The Netherlands Government for its bilateral assistance to the Nigerian contingent for its contribution of 100 DAF trucks to support the contingent's logistical requirements. He also briefed Ambassador Van Leeuwen, who is based in Côte d'Ivoire, on the security situation in Sierra Leone, progress achieved thus far in the ongoing disarmament exercise, and the successful deployment of the Pakistani contingent in Kono District.
Ambassador Van Leeuwen assured the Force Commander that his country would continue to support UNAMSIL in various ways and commended its peacekeepers for their sacrifice.
UNAMSIL FORCE COMMANDER VISITS NIBATT 5 AND 6 IN FREETOWN AND BANARTY TROOPS IN LUNSAR
The UNAMSIL Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, yesterday, 13 September, visited Nigerian Battalions 5 and 6 in Freetown to bid them farewell as they prepare to leave Sierra Leone upon their completion of duty. Sector 2 Commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph Kasaon and senior UNAMSIL military officers accompanied him.
In a brief address, the Force Commander commended the peacekeepers for providing security to Freetown and its peninsula. He also praised the two units for the humanitarian assistance they have provided to local residents and advised them to continue with their exemplary behaviour when they get home.
Later in the day, the Force Commander visited Bangladeshi Artillery Battalion based in Lunsar where he was received by hundreds of people including Archbishop of Makeni, George Biguzzi, traditional chiefs and Sector 1 Commander Brig. Gen. Shekari B.S. Biliyok.
Gen. Opande had a meeting with the spiritual leaders concerning the possibility of handing over Murialdo Secondary School and Vocational Training School in Lunsar to the Catholic Church for use by local residents. The Bangladeshi Artillery Regiment has been using the buildings but is now expected to relocate to Lunsar General Hospital. Gen. Opande appealed to the proprietors of the school to train ex-combatants in various vocations.
The Force Commander later met with the Paramount rulers and reminded them of his promise that his troops would not leave Lunsar until the disarmament exercise throughout the country was successfully completed. He assured them of UNAMSIL's responsibility for providing security to the people.
Responding on behalf of the elders, the Town Chief of Lunsar, Pa Ahmadu Kabia, assured Gen. Opande of their cooperation to UNAMSIL and all the non-governmental organizations that are assisting their people.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: What is the status of disarmament and the overall peace process following RUF's failure to attend the last Tripartite Meeting in Makeni?
Margaret Novicki: As I said in the last press briefing, disarmament basically is on track. We expect that the Tripartite Meeting is going to be rescheduled for sometime next week and that disarmament will begin as scheduled in the next two districts of Bombali and Bo.
Q: Do you have any indication from the RUF that they are now ready to talk to the Government of Sierra Leone?
Ms. Novicki: The RUF has indicated its readiness to attend the rescheduled Tripartite Meeting. So I would infer from that that yes, they are ready to talk to the Government of Sierra Leone.
Q: When would disarmament start in Bo and Bombali districts?
Ms. Novicki: Disarmament is expected to start in Bo and Bombali districts at the middle of this month.
Q: What are the total number combatants disarmed this year?
Ms. Novicki: The total disarmament from January this year to yesterday [13 September] is 18,103. Total RUF disarmed is 6, 946 and that of the CDF is 10,685.
Q: Are you going to attend next Sunday 'Security Tok' on FM 98.1?
Ms. Novicki: No. We feel that 'Security Tok' has outlived its usefulness to UNAMSIL because it's covering so many different issues that are really extraneous to the security situation in this country.
Q: When are you going to organize disarmament in the western area of Freetown?
Ms. Novicki: Disarmament of the western area of Freetown is going to be a topic for discussion at the next Tripartite Meeting.
*********** For additional information, contact UNAMSIL Public Information Office: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Tel: 232-22-273-183/4/5 Fax: 232-22-273-189
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