HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY FARHAN HAQ
ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, July 24, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON CHINA TO BE A GLOBAL LEADER IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
The Secretary-General called today on China to be a
global leader in combating climate change, the main focus of his two-day
working visit to Beijing and Xi’an. The Secretary-General addressed the
challenges posed by climate change when he met with Chinese President Hu
Jintao, with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
In the morning, he participated in the
launch of the “Green Lights” programme, which promotes energy-saving
lighting that could cut China’s energy consumption by eight per cent. He
said that China’s approach to climate change can demonstrate to the world
that the country is ready to take up a global leadership role in the
twenty-first century. By investing in green economy and green growth, he
asserted, China has an opportunity to leapfrog over decades of traditional
development based on high polluting fuels.
“Without China, there can be no success this year on a
new global climate framework,” the Secretary-General added, referring to the
UN climate summit taking place this December in Copenhagen.
The Secretary-General also
spoke to the alumni of the UN-China Advanced Leadership Programme, an
initiative supported by the United Nations; he told them that China is
already establishing itself in the greater use of renewable energy, with its
renewable energy investments second only to Germany’s. He said that China is
well positioned to be a leader in what is shaping up as one of the main
global marketplaces of the future.
In his bilateral meeting with President Hu Jintao, the
Secretary-General discussed the Copenhagen Summit this December, as well as
the September Summit on climate change in New York. With Prime Minister Wen
Jiabao, he discussed the mitigation efforts to be undertaken by developing
countries and the role of China in helping African countries to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals.
During his extensive meeting with Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi, the Secretary-General discussed climate change, UN and Security
Council reform, the Millennium Development Goals, and China’s achievement in
lifting 300 million people out of poverty. They also spoke about the
financial crisis, disarmament, non-proliferation, counter-terrorism,
peace-building and peacekeeping questions. Some regional issues were also
discussed, including Myanmar, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will travel to Xi’an in China before going to Mongolia on Sunday.
BAN KI-MOON INVITES MAURITANIANS TO CONSOLIDATE DEMOCRATIZATION
The Secretary-General takes note of the
announcement by the Constitutional Council of the final results of the
presidential elections in Mauritania.
The Secretary-General would like to invite the Mauritanian people and their leaders to consolidate the democratization process and reconciliation including through the pursuit of the inclusive national dialogue as provided for in the Dakar agreement. He also wishes to give his assurance that the United Nations will continue supporting efforts in this area.
SUDANESE GOVERNMENT MUST SHOW ITS COMMITMENT TO DARFUR
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations
Alain Le Roy briefed the
Security Council in its open meeting this morning on the UN-African
Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
and he said that there have been several changes in the security situation
in Darfur in recent months. Large-scale violence and displacement of
civilians are no longer seen, although localized attacks continue.
Meanwhile, he said, there has been deterioration in the relations between
Sudan and Chad.
The evolution of the crisis, Le Roy said, does not in
any way diminish the tragedy of Darfur or lessen the suffering of the 2.7
million displaced people, but it does require that the United Nations adapt
its approach in order to be effective.
He warned that, in the five years since the Security
Council addressed the crisis, we are no closer to a solution than when the
issue was first taken up. He said that the Sudanese Government must make
serious concessions and illustrate its commitment to Darfur through active
investment in its people and infrastructure, while the rebels must
compromise among themselves and agree on a serious platform for discussions.
Asked what the death toll has been during the course of the conflict in Darfur, the Spokesperson noted that the United Nations has made several efforts to ascertain the facts behind the reports of atrocities, including the high-level panel headed by Judge Antonio Cassese. Now, he said, the question of killings and other possible crimes committed in Darfur was in the hands of the International Criminal Court, and it would be up to the Court to determine the facts.
NEW FORCE COMMANDER NAMED FOR DARFUR MISSION
The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council
of his joint agreement with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
to appoint Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba of Rwanda as Force Commander
of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID),
with effect from 1 September.
General Nyamvumba will lead the Mission’s military
component and assist in the continued implementation of UNAMID’s mandate at
this critical juncture. He succeeds General Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria,
who has served as Force Commander since the establishment of UNAMID. The
Secretary-General would like to take this opportunity to express his
gratitude to General Agwai for his exemplary service during his tenure with
UNAMID.
General Nyamvumba brings to UNAMID extensive leadership and operational experience.
SPOKESPERSON DENIES FALSE MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT U.N. RELIEF WORK IN GAZA
During the noon briefing, the Associate Spokesperson
read out the following response to recent incorrect media reports:
“I would like to categorically deny reports that Hamas
are in control of the aid effort in Gaza and that John Ging, the Director of
the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),
has left his duty station in response to death threats from Hamas. Those
reports are entirely false.
“At no stage has Mr. Ging ever fled Gaza, and his track
record in the face of previous threats and attacks is a matter of public
record. Any suggestion that Hamas has any control or influence over UNRWA
aid is similarly baseless.
“UNRWA emphasizes that it is guided by universal UN
principles and values and distributes its aid directly to the refugees on
the basis of need and irrespective of the challenges faced. The Hamas de
facto Government has no influence whatsoever on who receives assistance from
UNRWA, and it has respected the independence of UNRWA.
“I’d also like to reiterate that the Quartet in its
statements has called for unimpeded access for the supplies needed for the
recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.”
Asked about the continued closure of crossing points
into Gaza, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has expressed
his concern about such closure, and discussed the matter with the other
Quartet principals in Trieste, Italy, last month.
Asked about compensation for damages in Gaza, Haq said that the United Nations continues to pursue the matter with the Israeli authorities.
REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED BY RENEWED FIGHTING, DISPLACEMENT IN EASTERN CONGO
A government military campaign against illegal armed
groups has
uprooted some 35,000 people in the eastern Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC). That is according to estimates by the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which adds that most of the displaced
persons are seeking shelter with relatives and at public buildings including
churches and schools.
UNHCR says that the sweeping military campaign has
brought to more than a half a million the number of civilians fleeing the
violence since January. Overall, there are more than 1.8 million civilians
displaced by violence in the eastern DRC.
UNHCR is also concerned that continuing fighting will
cause delays in its repatriation of refugees from Tanzania. Many of the
Congolese refugees volunteering to return home are from South Kivu.
Meanwhile, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) says it has dispatched a fact-finding mission to the eastern DRC to strengthen preventive measures against sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. The fact-finding team will visit UN bases as well as camps for internally displaced persons in North Kivu. It is expected to report to Mission leadership later this month.
HEALTH AGENCY AIMS TO GET H1N1 VACCINES TO POOR COUNTRIES
The World Health Organization (WHO) today
said in Geneva that the spread of the H1N1 flu virus is continuing. The
death toll stands at around 800 now, with 160 countries and territories
reporting lab-confirmed cases.
WHO said it still does not know how the virus might
change over the next weeks. But it does expect its activity to increase
during the coming winter. The agency added that the highest percentage of
deaths is still being reported among adolescents and young adults.
Regarding vaccines, WHO said it expects the first doses
to be available for human use in the northern hemisphere’s early autumn. It
added that it has been promised 150 million doses from two manufacturers.
WHO’s priority is still to get as many vaccines as possible to the least
developed countries – especially healthcare workers there, since they are
the most exposed, and since, if they fall sick, the whole health system
breaks down.
In terms of airport checks and travel restrictions, WHO
said today that such practices are not the most efficient way to use public
health resources. After all, many people can spread the virus even if
they’re not showing symptoms.
Also, people who are coughing or have fever may not have H1N1. WHO maintained that it is better to concentrate public health resources on identifying and treating severe cases that need medical attention.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HIT BY CLIMATE CHANGE NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Yvo de Boer, the Executive Secretary of the UN
Framework Convention on
Climate Change, today spoke to UN Radio. He said that a number of
developing countries, which are already being directly affected by climate
change, need financial support in order to adapt.
In that regard, he said he didn’t think there would be
an agreement at the UN Climate Change
Conference this December in Copenhagen without significant financial
resources being allocated for both mitigation and adaptation.
De Boer added that, over time, until the year 2020, the world could need as much as $200 billion a year to limit the growth of emissions, and as much as $100 billion to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
U.N. AGENCY CALLS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES TO GO GREEN
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is
calling for the widespread adoption of ‘green agricultural practices’ to
benefit the world’s rapidly growing populations in multiple ways. Such
practices will help to combat climate change, eradicate poverty, boost food
production and provide sustainable sources of timber.
The call was made at the launch of the 2nd World
Congress of Agroforestry, which will be held in Nairobi from August 23rd to
the 28th this year.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner says that “addressing the range of current and future challenges requires an accelerated transition to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy for the 21st Century”.
SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT DOESN’T COME AT EXPENSE OF SOVEREIGNTY
Asked about comments made by General Assembly President
Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on whether the Responsibility to Protect can
interfere with sovereignty, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General
had made clear that it did not.
In his
speech earlier this week on that concept, the Secretary-General had
stressed that the protection of civilians could be done in a manner
consistent with national sovereignty, and his Special Adviser, Ed Luck,
similarly said sovereignty need not be weakened.
Asked about a reference to Srebrenica in the recent statements on the Responsibility to Protect, Haq noted that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in its verdicts against several key officials, had ruled that the killings there constituted genocide.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
NO IRAN TRIP SCHEDULED: Asked whether the Secretary-General would travel to Iran in response to concerns voiced by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi and other human rights activists, the Spokesperson said no trip has been scheduled. He added that the Secretary-General, on a number of occasions, has made his position clear on the situation in Iran, including in his last statement. The issue of several hundred detainees is being addressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Rapporteurs with a specific focus on the need for due process.
U.N. STILL HELPING DISPLACED PAKISTANIS: Asked about the situation of internally displaced persons in Pakistan, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations continues to assist displaced persons, including those who are now seeking to return to their homes.
U.N. EXPECTS SRI LANKA TO ABIDE BY COMMITMENTS: Asked about remarks from Sri Lankan officials on whether displaced persons would be able to move out of camps in that country, the Spokesperson reiterated that the United Nations expects the Government to abide by its commitments.
U.N. ENVOY HAD GONE TO NIGER: Asked about Niger, the Spokesperson noted that Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, had traveled there, along with officials from the African Union and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS). They had met with a range of actors to stress that differences over the constitutional process be dealt with peacefully through dialogue.
U.N. SUPPORTS EFFORTS ON HONDURAS: Asked about the situation in Honduras, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations continues to support efforts to resolve the dispute there through dialogue, as has happened most recently through the mediation efforts of President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
25 July – 31 July 2009
Saturday, 25 July
Today, the Secretary-General is in Xi’an, China.
Sunday, 26 July
Today, the Secretary-General is on an official visit to Mongolia, which lasts until Tuesday.
The UN’s Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs, Catherine Bragg, will visit the Central African Republic from 26 to 30 July.
Monday, 27 July
Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, travels to Brussels to attend a conference entitled ESDP@10: What lessons for the future? The conference is organized jointly by the Swedish Presidency of the EU, the EU Institute for Security Studies and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.
Today, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the Middle East.
Senior finance and central bank officials from 17 Asian-Pacific countries are scheduled to meet from 27 to 30 July in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to look at ways to deal with the global financial crisis. The high-level workshop is organized by the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Tuesday, 28 July
This morning the Security Council will hear a briefing on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).
There will be a background briefing by senior UN officials on the internal non-paper entitled A New Partnership Agenda: Charting a New Horizon for UN Peacekeeping at 10 a.m. in the 37th floor conference room.
Wednesday 29 July
The Security Council will hear a briefing on Somalia. It will then hold consultations on the Somalia Sanctions Committee.
The Secretary-General will hold his monthly press conference at 11 a.m. in Room-S226.
Thursday, 30 July
This morning, the Security Council is expected to adopt resolutions on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
The Cyprus leaders will meet today in Nicosia under UN auspices.
Friday, 31 July
Today is the last day of Uganda’s Presidency of the Security Council.
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