PRESS BRIEFING
23 OCTOBER 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MS. MARGARET NOVICKI - UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN AND
MAJ. MOHAMMED YERIMA- UNAMSIL MILITARY SPOKESMAN

NEW SECURITY COUNCIL COUNTER-TERRORISM PANEL MAKING PROGRESS, CHAIRMAN SAYS

Work is progressing well in the United Nations Security Council committee monitoring the implementation of a broad counter-terrorism resolution adopted in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks against the United States, the panel's chairman said on Friday, 19 October.

"The point of all this exercise is to establish the highest common denominator of action against terrorism in every territory of Members of the United Nations for the long-term," Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom told reporters at a briefing in New York. "We are there to help the world system upgrade its capability to deny space, money, support [and] haven to terrorism, and to establish a network of information sharing and cooperative executive action."

Resolution 1373 that set up the committee obliges every State to take specific action, "as opposed to reacting to a sanctions regime or supporting passively something that is happening in a narrow, specific area," Ambassador Greenstock noted.

He said the committee had already adopted its rules of procedure and agreed on a work plan, while advancing other aspects of its work. Under the work plan, the committee will send detailed guidelines to each State by the end of October on how best to fill out reports required under the resolution.

"We are also asking all Member States to set up contact points, both in New York and in their capitals, for efficient business but also to signal, by implication, that we hope that every Member State will see to the coordination of its own activities on counter-terrorism," Ambassador Greenstock said. A list of the contact points would eventually be published as a directory.

By the end of November, experts should be appointed to work with the committee on "what is already out there by way of models, machinery, executive action, etc., on counter-terrorism," he said. "Even the most sophisticated systems on this subject - and I think the United Kingdom may be one of them - have to develop new legislation or new executive action as a result of 1373." According to the committee chairman, all Member States were expected to report to the panel by 27 December. "We're not expecting that those reports will say 'we have done it all;' on the contrary, those first reports will need to identify, for many Member States, those areas where action is in hand or needs to be completed to implement 1373," he said. "We will hear the needs, we will understand where help can be provided, and we'll put the two into contact with each other, with the help of other institutions."

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS DEVELOPMENT GOALS SHOULD SHAPE FRAMEWORK OF GLOBALIZATION

The key challenge for upcoming international policy forums on how to manage globalization is to place development at the centre of their discussions, instead of viewing it as a product of globalization, according to a just released report by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"Development goals should shape the framework of globalization rather than allowing the blind forces of globalization to define the outcome of development," the Secretary-General writes in the report on the UN's role in promoting development.

He notes that his views and recommendations should be seen in the context of two events that will provide major opportunities to address many of the core issues that arise from the dynamic interaction of trade, finance, technology and investment - the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting, scheduled for next month in Doha, Qatar, and the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in early 2002 in Mexico.

Citing recent assessments, the report suggests a substantial decline in global economic growth, with industrial production and business and consumer confidence falling in many developed countries. Practically every forecast made towards the first half of 2001 had to be modified downward in the year's third quarter without even taking into account the potential effect of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the global economy.

The attacks' precise impact could depend on how trade, business and consumer confidence, investment and capital flows will be affected, the report says, pointing out that certain industries - most notably travel and tourism - are already experiencing a direct impact. "Events over the forthcoming weeks will therefore be essential for assessing the direction in which the world economy is moving," Mr. Annan says.

Given its universality and broad mandate, the UN "has an important role to play in promoting policy coherence with the explicit goal of placing development and poverty eradication at the centre of policies and processes related to global integration," the Secretary-General says.

"There is an urgent need," he writes, "for a partnership encompassing the Governments of both developing and developed countries, international organizations, civil society and the private sector in order to ensure the adequate flow of resources, knowledge and technology to developing countries so that they can effectively address the underlying causes which stand as obstacles to sustainable development and poverty eradication."

UN SYSTEM IN SIERRA LEONE CELEBRATES UN DAY 2001

The United Nations family in Sierra Leone will celebrate United Nations Day on 24 October 2001. This year's celebration is remarkable following the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the UN and to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for promoting peace, defending human rights and fighting poverty. The celebration will spotlight UN activities in Sierra Leone and further emphasize the UN system's commitment to peace and development in Sierra Leone.

To kick off the celebration, a photo exhibition entitled, "The UN and its Agencies: Working for Sierra Leone," was opened by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, at China House, today. The exhibit will run until Friday, 26 October, at 3 pm and it is open to the public.

On UN DAY itself, 24 October, a March Past will take place from Victoria Park to the Youyi building, including UNAMSIL military and staff members of UN agencies, to culminate in a flag-raising ceremony at UNAMSIL headquarters at the Mammy Yoko Hotel.

Finally, a free concert on Saturday, 27 October, from 2pm to 6:30pm will round up the celebration, to be held at Attouga Stadium in the East End of Freetown.

Journalists are invited to cover all events.

UN DAY 2001 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Photo Exhibition: "The UN and its Agencies: Working for Sierra Leone
Date: Tues., 23 October through Friday, 26 October at 3pm
Opening: 10:30 am on Tues., 23 October
Place: China House

Press Conference
Date: Tues., 23 October
Time: 12:00 pm
Place: UNAMSIL Mammy Yoko Press Conference Room, Ground Floor

March Past/Flag-raising/Reception
Date: Wed., 24 October
Time: 9:00-10:30 (March Past) 12:00 (Flag-raising, reception)
Place: March from Victoria Park to Youyi Ground, convoy to Mammy Yoko car park for flag-raising and reception

UN Day Concert for Community
Date: Sat., 27 October
Time: 2:00-6:30 pm
Place: Atouga Stadium, East End of Freetown

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SUPERVISES DISARMAMENT IN MOYAMBA, BO

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, on 20 October witnessed the disarmament of Civil Defence Force (CDF) combatants in Moyamba and Bo districts.

In a symbolic disarmament ceremony in the town of Moyamba, CDF combatants and their senior commanders handed over more than 50 weapons to United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers. The weapons included AK47s, self-loading rifles, 60mm mortars and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

In the town of Gerihun, the SRSG and his delegation also witnessed the disarmament of more than 80 CDF combatants, who were later transported to Gondoma demobilization camp outside Bo. Addressing the ex-combatants at the Gondoma camp, Ambassador Adeniji advised them to go about their normal business while awaiting assistance from the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. He urged those who cannot go back to school to enroll with vocational training centres.

UNAMSIL Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel I. Opande, his deputy, Maj. Gen. Martin Agwai, the Chief Military Observer, Maj. Gen. Syed Athar Ali, and other senior officials accompanied the Special Representative on his visit. Mr. Charles Moiwo, the National Public Relations Officer of the CDF, also attended.

ECOWAS LEADERS LAUNCH REGIONAL SYNCHRONIZED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME

In a bid to eradicate poliomyelitis through a concerted regional effort and partnership, two Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) flew into Sierra Leone on Friday, 19 October, to join their Sierra Leonean counterpart in launching the Regional Synchronized National Immunization Days in Lungi, just outside the capital Freetown.

The historic occasion brought together President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Malian President Alpha Oumar Konaré, who is current chairman of ECOWAS, and Sierra Leone's President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. Also present to witness the launching ceremony was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji. The three Heads of State performed a symbolic immunization of more than ten children.

In his speech to mark the launching ceremony, President Konaré said in order to achieve social progress, there was need to immunize children against all diseases, particularly polio. He pointed out that it should be the responsibility of all organizations and governments to help eradicate polio. The Malian leader commended the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Rotary International and all those engaged in eradicating polio for their support in the fight against the disease. He noted that the war against polio could only be won in a peaceful atmosphere and appealed to the international community to help consolidate the peace process in Sierra Leone.

Speaking at the same occasion, President Obasanjo challenged the people of the subregion to join hands in the war against polio. He urged them to prove to the world that Africans are capable of eradicating polio, a disease that knows no borders.

The three leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to a new strategy, the "Lungi Declaration," which seeks to promote the welfare of the children through partnership. The declaration acknowledges that without cooperation, there would be no peace and prosperity in West Africa. They expressed optimism that polio would be eradicated by the envisaged period of 2005 in West Africa, and 2015 by the whole world.

The UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr. Rima Salah, stressed that with the new strategy, the end of polio was in sight. She said UNICEF would make the eradication of polio its top priority.

Other dignitaries who also attended the occasion included the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Governance and Stabilization, Alan Doss, UNAMSIL Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel I. Opande and his deputy, Maj. Gen. Martin L. Agwai, and the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. E. M. Samba.

DISARMAMENT FIGURES

Disarmament totals in Bombali District from 24 September through 22 October:
RUF - 1,589
CDF - 339
TOTAL - 1,928

Bo from 24 Sept. through 22 October:
RUF - 1
CDF - 2,029
TOTAL - 2,030

Disarmament from 1 January through 22 October 2001:
RUF - 8,311
Ex-SLA - 214
CDF - 14,816
AFRC - 262
Others - 16
Total disarmed ex-combatants in 2001: 24,127
Includes 3307 children

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, AMBASSADOR OLUYEMI ADENIJI, ON THE EVE OF THE UN DAY CELEBRATIONS, 23 OCTOBER 2001

Today, we commemorate this year's remarkable celebration of the UN Day, following the award of the Nobel Peace Prize jointly to the UN and to its Secretary-General Kofi Annan for promoting peace, defending human rights and fighting poverty.

The United Nations family which comprises, in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL and the agencies (UNDP, WFP, UNFPA, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and FAO), has the overall objective to assist the people of Sierra Leone in various ways through the current crisis that has brought untold suffering, and thus achieve sustainable peace, stability and justice in the country.

While UNAMSIL is engaged in efforts to re-establish peace and security in the country, the agencies address the suffering that has been brought about by the conflict. A synopsis of their activities in Sierra Leone is as follows:-

UNDP, in collaboration with the GoSL and Civil Society, is focusing on building capacity for development management and regenerating communities through programmes such as: Support to Resettlement and Reintegration Programme, Integrated Approach to Aid Co-ordination, Peace and Development Initiative, National Long Term Perspective Studies and Support to National Capacity Building.

World Food Programme continues to provide food aid assistance to displaced populations, refugees, returnees, malnourished children, farm families and other vulnerable groups in the country.

UNFPA remains committed to providing universal reproductive health care, while contributing to the prevention of HIV/AIDS in collaboration with other agencies, impacting on Women's Empowerment and affecting policy formulation towards population growth with the aim to improve quality of life of the people of Sierra Leone. It supports the conduct of the 2002 National Population and Housing Census among other activities.

OCHA has the responsibility of coordinating the work of UN humanitarian agencies in Sierra Leone and an overall objective to strengthen the capacity of GoSL, UN system organizations, agencies and NGOs, analyse and take timely decisions on emergency relief, recovery interventions and crisis management related to the allocation, distribution and delivery of emergency relief resources, through the Humanitarian Information Centre. It has established a strong link with UNAMSIL and GoSL as a way of facilitating humanitarian work in Sierra Leone.

UNHCR continues to facilitate repatriation and reintegration of Sierra Leonean refugees and internally displaced persons to their homeland, witnessing nearly 60,000 Sierra Leoneans returning from Guinea and Liberia during the past twelve months.

UNICEF is working closely with the GoSL, UN agencies, international and national NGOs to promote awareness of child rights and provide community-based services in primary health care, nutrition, basic education, safe water, sanitation and child protection especially child ex-combatants.

FAO is working to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security in the country.

WHO, in collaboration with the other stakeholders in the health sector, is committed to promotion of health, improved nutrition and alleviation of all forms of malnutrition in the country.

Finally, UNAMSIL engages in peace and security issues, principally moving the peace process constantly forward. It intervenes on disarmament of combatants, which, as you all know, has been going generally very well since it was resumed in May 2001. As of yesterday, over 22,900 combatants have been disarmed. Simultaneously, UNAMSIL promotes dialogue among the principal parties so as to build and increase confidence and facilitate national reconciliation. In the context of national reconciliation, the Mission promotes respect for human rights, including the rights of the vulnerable, especially women and children. The mission also engages in peace-building activities through its Quick Impact Projects that have the advantage of touching quickly the lives of people at the grassroots level. Not to be forgotten is the mission's outreach to all Sierra Leoneans through Radio UNAMSIL.

We therefore remain cautiously optimistic as we all put our efforts together to achieve our common objective in Sierra Leone.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: On the whole, what has the United Nations achieved in Sierra Leone and what is your message to the people of this country?

Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji: I think I have already summarized my impression on that when I said the disarmament programme has been going generally well since it was resumed. And when you consider the place of the disarmament programme in the overall re-establishment of peace and security in Sierra Leone, then I think one can infer that if that cardinal point in the process had been going on well, then the peace process as a whole has been going on well. Of course, there are still a number of other aspects of the peace process that have to be addressed. But the overriding consideration is that a credible disarmament would lay a secure foundation to address all those areas.

Q: Do we still have many Sierra Leoneans in Guinea and Liberia for repatriation?

UNHCR Representative: The figure of 60,000 mentioned is the total number of Sierra Leoneans who have returned home. But our census of Sierra Leoneans in the subregion amounts to approximately 200,000. They are in Guinea, Liberia and Ivory Coast. They are waiting to return to Sierra Leone.

Q: Is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) a UN process or a Sierra Leonean one?

Ambassador Adeniji: The TRC cannot be a UN process. It has to be a Sierra Leonean process, because those who are going to be reconciled are primarily Sierra Leoneans. And so the role of the UN is to assist Sierra Leone in the establishment of the TRC by way of providing assistance in logistics, funding and international commissioners. But I must say that the Sierra Leonean ownership of the TRC-- even in the composition of the Commissioner-- has been emphasized. Out of seven commissioners, four will be Sierra Leoneans, while the other three will be non-Sierra Leoneans. The essence of this is merely to ensure that Sierra Leone also benefits from the experience of other countries in dealing with the TRC.

Q: Do you think that the terrorist attacks on the United States will affect UN operations in Sierra Leone?

Ambassador Adeniji: First of all, what happened in the United States on the 11 September, I think was most unfortunate. It has touched practically every country because the number of nationalities that were in the building would be conservatively a third of the membership of the United Nations. There were Sierra Leoneans, Nigerians and people from all over the globe. These were all innocent workers who had no quarrels with whoever organized the hijacking and the destruction which followed it. So for that reason the whole world has shared America's grief. And with that in mind, the Americans cannot then say because of that they are going to turn their back on the world, particular the United Nations. And it has not said so. On the other hand, such experience has served to underscore the role that the United Nations should play in peace and security throughout the world. Moreover, the United Nations was the first port of call for the Americans in trying to rally universal condemnation of the terrorist attacks. Both the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations, which happens to be meeting at this time, have expressed the sentiments of the international community in their various resolutions which deal with that event. As far as Sierra Leone is concerned, either in its bilateral relations or its multilateral interventions, the United States has not done anything that will affect the Sierra Leone situation, after the terrorist attacks.

Q: Do you expect to meet the disarmament deadline of November 30?

Ambassador Adeniji: As far as the end to the disarmament is concerned, yes, there is a deadline of November 30 for the completion. We are doing all our best to meet that deadline. The National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration is working with us to at least put in place what is required to conclude the programme by 30 November.

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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