HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday, June 18, 2009
UNITED NATIONS AND PARTNERS JOINTLY CONDEMN LATEST SOMALI SUICIDE BOMBING
The United Nations, the African Union, the European
Union the InterGovernmental Agency on Development, the League of Arab States
and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia,
issued a joint statement today in which they all strongly condemned the
horrific suicide car bombing in Beledweyne, Somalia’s, which killed the
national security minister, Omar Hashi Aden, along with community leaders
and other innocent Somalis.
This deplorable attack, they said, once again
demonstrate that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate
attempt to seize power from the legitimate government of Somalia by force.
These extremists, both Somalis and foreigners, failed
in the recent attempted coup d’etat but are continuing their indiscriminate
violence.
The joint statement urges the government no to be deterred by the violent crimes of a small minority and to continue its efforts for peace and reconciliation through the Djibouti Process.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S THEMATIC DIALOGUE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION KICKS OFF
This morning, the Secretary-General
addressed the opening of the General Assembly’s Interactive thematic
dialogue on “Energy efficiency, energy conservation and new and renewable
sources of energy.”
In his remarks, he said that a lot could be achieved by
pursuing energy efficiency, such as cutting greenhouse gas emissions,
cutting energy costs for businesses and households, and providing employment
opportunities.
The Secretary-General noted that energy efficiency
improvements exist in all sectors. But he added there is a need for strong
government policies.
The Secretary-General said that the pursuit of energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable energy are not an indulgence for wealthy nations. They are tools for promoting clean development, he added. He stressed that they provide an opportunity to tackle many challenges at once: climate change, energy insecurity, poverty alleviation.
BAN KI-MOON REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HELP PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA
In his remarks to at the Foreign Policy Association
awards gala in New York yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
expressed deep concerns over the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka’s
refugee camps adding that he is deeply conscious of their concerns.
Stressing that his visit to Sri Lanka was in his best
efforts to convey the international community’s concerns for the well-being
of the displaced people, the Secretary-General reiterated that he has made
it clear to the Sri Lankan President that although the fighting is over,
there is much more to do.
Adding that the displaced people must be allowed to
return to their homes, the Secretary-General urged for reconciliation and
for the government of Sri Lanka to hold out their hands to the minority
population. He also warned that more violence may erupt, if this issue is
not addressed.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General also called for
accountability on those who may have committed human rights abuses.
Highlighted that this was agreed in the joint statement issued with the
Government of Sri Lanka, he said he has also written a letter to President
Rajapaksa to follow up on these matters.
The Secretary-General reiterated his commitment to
continue his work for the people of Sri Lanka – and for all people suffering
from breaches of humanitarian law and human rights.
Asked about the UN’s response to the disbanding of a Presidential Commission dealing with accountability in Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has repeatedly demanded accountability in that country, as he reiterated during his recent press conference.
OUTGOING HEAD OF U.N. MISSION IN IRAQ CALLS 2009 A DEFINING PERIOD
Staffan de Mistura, the outgoing head of the UN
Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI),
today briefed the
Security Council for his last time as the head of that Mission, which he
said has “contributed to Iraq assuming a new standing among the world
community as an increasingly stable and sovereign nation.”
He said that the UN Mission has helped to contribute to
national reconciliation, keeping the door of dialogue open between Iraq’s
Arabs and Kurds. He said that this year is a defining period as Iraq looks
to possible future electoral events, including national elections, with the
United Nations continuing to provide support for capacity building. De
Mistura told the Council, “The future looks moderately bright, and there is
growing hope.” He will speak to reporters at the stakeout after the meeting.
Asked about a replacement for de Mistura, the Spokeswoman said that the process was getting closer to the announcement of the next Special Representative.
UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES BOOST SUPPORT FOR MILLIONS OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN PAKISTAN
UN humanitarian agencies have
been increasing their support to the millions of internally displaced people
in northwestern
Pakistan, the vast majority of whom are still being accommodated by host
communities.
Martin Mogwanja, the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, said, “The people who have sheltered
their friends and family during this time of crisis have shown enormous
generosity and helped to save countless lives. However, the strain is
beginning to show and these communities need all the support that the
international community can provide.”
More than 47,000 metric
tonnes of food have been distributed since the beginning of May. Local and
international organizations have also distributed thousands of shelter and
non-food items in camps and helped alleviate crowding and discomfort amongst
host communities.
The coming monsoon season makes the needs of the displaced all the more urgent. Mass population displacement, combined with the extreme weather conditions, greatly heightens the risk of communicable diseases. Containment measures have been put in place to prevent an epidemic as a result of the hygiene and sanitation issues in the communities hosting displaced people.
UN ENVOY CALLS FOR POST-ELECTION PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called today for peace to be at the top of the
country’s post-election agenda. He said that the “quiet sound of dialogue”,
not the “brutal sound of weapons”, is ultimately the only way for peace to
be achieved.
“If we want to unite this country for peace, no part can be excluded from that process,” said Eide, who was addressing the National Peace Jirga of Afghanistan, a gathering of about 1,000 leaders from various sectors of Afghan society.
PEACEKEEPING CHIEF IS IN NIGERIA AS PART OF WEST AFRICA VISIT
The Under-Secretary-General for the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, is in Abuja, Nigeria, today as part
of his visit to West Africa.
He has met with officials from the foreign affairs and
defence ministries as well as Nigeria’s National Security Advisor. At the
moment he’s meeting the president of the Economic Community of West African
States, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.
Mr. Le Roy was in Mali yesterday, where he attended the closing ceremony of a regional seminar on peacekeeping. There, he encouraged West African Francophone countries to increase their cooperation with the UN, particularly their contributions to UN peacekeeping.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC IS AT CROSSROADS, REQUIRES GREATER SUPPORT
The Secretary-General’s
latest
report on the Central African Republic and the work of the UN
peacebuilding office there is out as a document today.
In it, he says that the peace process in
that country is at a crossroads, requiring more support than ever from the
international community.
He says the country’s most pressing
challenge remains the need to reduce the high levels of extreme poverty. On
the planned 2010 general elections, he says that it is vital that the
electoral calendar be respected.
The Secretary-General also stresses his
continued concern about impunity in the country. He also reiterates his
concern about security in the so-called “triangle of death” border area
between the CAR, Chad and Sudan. The CAR, he says, is perhaps the least
prepared to deal with challenges of cross-border security.
Meanwhile, the imminent opening a UN
integrated peacebuilding office should optimize UN assistance options for
the country.
He calls on the Security Council to approve his recommendations, which are included in the report, on how to structure that office in light of its mandate and the challenges on the ground.
U.N.-A.U. MISSION AIMS TO CARRY OUT MORE “QUICK IMPACT PROJECTS” IN DARFUR
The UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
says it hopes to carry out more “quick impact projects” across the region.
The Mission’s deputy Joint Special Representative, Henry Anyidoho, said the
projects will help local communities rehabilitate schools, improve hospitals
and strengthen vital infrastructure. They also offer the Mission
opportunities to engage directly with local communities in towns and
villages across the region.
Anyidoho was speaking yesterday during a visit to the
site of one such project in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur. That
project, the El Geneina Hospital, is being supported by the Mission with a
$46,000 grant to purchase advanced equipment for its ophthalmology section,
among other improvements.
Indiscriminate shootings by unknown armed men in camps
for internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to occur.
On the humanitarian front, IDPs also continue to raise concerns about lack of water, blankets, plastic sheeting, ration cards, jerry cans, inadequate food supply, health care and educational facilities.
UNITED NATIONS PROVIDES DISARMAMENT AND REINTEGRATION UPDATE ON SUDAN
The Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
is providing an update today of the disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration of both north and south Sudanese soldiers. More than 5,000
soldiers from the Sudanese Armed Forces, Sudanese People’s Liberation Army
and the onetime pro-government Popular Defense Forces militias have now been
disarmed and demobilized.
The disarmament programme is key component of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended the war between the north and the
south of the country. The Mission says it is potentially the largest and
most complex ever undertaken, with some 180,000 soldiers and women who
fought alongside them expected to be returned to civilian life. Child
soldiers will also be reunited with their families.
The disarmament drive began in February and is ongoing at four sites across Sudan. With all four sites running at full capacity, a thousand participants will be demobilized every week. Meanwhile, the Mission says cooperation between North and South Sudan on disarmament issues has been “very good” and that both sides have maintained strong partnerships with the United Nations. So far, it says, donors have been forthcoming with funds and other assistance to the initiative. However, more resources will be needed to deal with the first phase caseload and beyond.
CHARLES TAYLOR TRIAL TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH
The trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor
will begin on July 13th, the
Special Court for Sierra Leone has just announced. The Court says that
its Trial Chamber has ordered Taylor’s defense team to prepare to present
his argument on that date.
This is a change from the previously ordered 29 June
start date.
A preparatory hearing is planned for July 6 at the seat of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTS 15 RESOLUTIONS
In Geneva, the Human Rights Council just concluded its
eleventh
regular session today.
The Council adopted 15 resolutions on issues that
include the human rights of migrants in detention centres, the acceleration
of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, trafficking in
persons, the right to education and the Draft Guiding Principles on extreme
poverty and human rights.
The Human Rights Council also decided to create the
mandate of an independent expert on human rights in Sudan, for a period of
one year. This will replace the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human
rights in Sudan, which expires this month.
You can find out more on the Human Rights Council’s website..
U.N. SETS NEW INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE WEATHER MONITOR IN NETWORK IN AFRICA
A new
initiative is set to radically improve Africa’s weather monitoring
network in the face of the growing impact of climate change.
The initiative called “Weather Info for All” is a
collaboration between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO);
the Global Humanitarian Forum, Ericsson; the mobile telecommunications
company, Zain; and the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
It aims to respond to Africa’s severe gap in weather information by deploying up to 5,000 new automatic weather observation stations across Africa. The 5,000 automatic weather stations will be installed at new and existing mobile network sites throughout the continent over the coming years.
U.N. POLICE/INTERPOL MEETING TO TAKE PLACE TODAY
The UN Police Advisor, Commissioner Andrew Hughes, and
the Secretary-General of INTERPOL, Ronald K. Noble, will this afternoon
brief Permanent Representatives to the UN on plans for the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations and INTERPOL to formalize a partnership, which will
see INTERPOL’s global police network support UN peacekeeping operations.
Today’s briefing serves as a curtain-raiser for a
Ministerial Meeting to be held during INTERPOL’s 78th General Assembly in
Singapore later this year – and that meeting will explain the growing role
of police in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and seek the support of the
Ministers to provide the quantity and quality of officers needed, especially
female officers.
Commissioner Hughes said the initiative between the UN and INTERPOL – to strengthen peacekeeping operations by enhancing the important function of police in post-conflict environments – shows the organizations’ joint resolve to give police their essential role in building sustainable security and reinforcing the rule of law.
GLOBAL FOOD BODY TEAMS UP WITH FORMULA 1 RACING TO FIGHT WORLD HUNGER
The World Food Programme (WFP)
and Formula 1 racing have teamed up to fight world hunger.
To raise awareness among Formula 1’s millions of fans worldwide that 66 million primary school-aged children around the world go hungry, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock will drive cars sporting WFP’s “Fill the Cup” campaign logo for the 2009 racing season.
SECRETARY-GENERAL PLANS TO TRAVEL TO BIRMINGHAM, U.K.
The Secretary-General over the weekend is set to travel
to Birmingham, U.K. at the invitation of Rotary International, to receive an
award for his contribution and efforts on the eradication of polio.
During the one-day visit, the Secretary-General will
deliver a keynote address at the annual Rotary International convention, to
recognize the organization for its leadership role in polio eradication and
for its work in support of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals as well as
climate change and global health. His remarks will focus on the importance
of partnership between the United Nations and civil society, in dealing with
global challenges.
Also during the visit, the Secretary-General will meet with the Global Compact Foundation network in the U.K. as well as the Chancellor Dominique Cadbury of Birmingham University among other prominent figures. He will return to New York Monday morning.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
BAN KI-MOON TO ATTEND PULITZER-WINNING PLAY “RUINED” ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE: The Secretary-General will attend a performance of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning drama “Ruined” on Friday night, tomorrow, at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City. The event is co hosted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and Equality Now - the non-governmental organization concerned with women’s rights. The play “Ruined” is set in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where sexual violence is rampant. So much more needs to be done by the international community to stop the violence and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” according to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. Hundreds of girls and women have been raped and tortured during the long-running civil war in the DRC.
BAN KI-MOON WILL ATTEND SCREENING OF DOCUMENTARY ON SERGIO VIERA DE MELLO: The Secretary-General is also attending here tonight a screening of the HBO documentary Film, Sergio, based on the book by Samantha Power, “Chasing the Flame”. It tells the story of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Iraq, Sergio Viera de Mello, killed during the bombing of the Canal Hotel in 2003. A few minutes before, the Secretary-General will observe a moment of silence in front of the flag that was rescued from the Canal Hotel after the bombing, to remember the 22 people who died six year ago, and the many others, before and since, who have sacrificed their lives in the service of peace under the UN flag. T
UNITED NATIONS JOIN HANDS TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS: In Geneva today at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, The World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), called on governments to strengthen risk reduction in hospitals and schools by building infrastructure, by assessing the safety of schools and hospitals, by implementing programmes in preparedness and by training communities in disaster risk reduction. It is estimated that around 175,000 children will be affected by disasters annually.
SECRETARY-GENERAL IS COMMITTED TO WELFARE AND SECURITY OF ALL STAFF DURING RENOVATION: Asked about a recent motion of no confidence that was considered by the Staff Union in New York, the Spokeswoman noted that the quorum of staff members required for adoption of a resolution were not present in the recent General Meeting. She stressed that the Secretary-General is committed to the welfare and security of the staff. She said that representatives from all staff unions, associations and councils, except the New York Staff Union, were participating this week in Nairobi to the Staff Management Coordination Committee, and the same issues raised at the Staff Union meeting in New York were discussed there, she added.
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