HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
During August, the Spokesperson's noon briefings will take place on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's.
Developments within the UN system will be posted on the website daily during this time.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RENEWED U.S. ENGAGEMENT WITH UNITED NATIONS
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the commitment to renewed U.S.
engagement with the United Nations as recently stressed by U.S. Ambassador
Susan Rice on behalf of the Obama Administration.
U.S. leadership
at the United Nations is essential, given the complex array of challenges
facing the international community, from climate change, to issues of peace
and security, to human rights. Providing the resources necessary to allow
the United Nations to undertake the jobs asked of it is also essential.
Therefore the Secretary-General particularly welcomes the recent U.S.
contributions to the United Nations provided by the Obama Administration and
the U.S. Congress.
The Secretary-General is committed to continuing the reform process and looks forward to working with the United States, and all the Member States of the United Nations, to ensure that the Organization can meet the demands asked of it by Member States in the most effective, efficient and accountable way possible.
SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES SERIOUS CONCERN OVER AUNG SAN SUU KYI VERDICT
The members of
the Security Council reaffirm their statements of 11 October 2007, 2 May
2008 and 22 May 2009 on Myanmar, and reiterate the importance of the release
of all political prisoners. In this context, the members of the Security
Council express serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and its political impact.
The members of
the Security Council note the decision of the Government of Myanmar to
reduce Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence and urge the Government of Myanmar to
take further measures to create the necessary conditions for a genuine
dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic
groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation.
The members of
the Security Council reiterate their support for the good offices role of
the Secretary-General.
The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar, and in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people.
SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS ASIA’S ROLE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today delivered the
keynote
speech at the Jeju Peace Forum, which was held on the Republic of
Korea’s Jeju Island.
In his remarks, he said there is no doubt that Asia is
vital in shaping our new world. But, he added, for Asia to fully realize
its tremendous economic and political potential, for Asia to take its
rightful place on the global stage, it must build strength from within.
Acknowledging such factors as unresolved territorial
disputes and disparities in economic development, the Secretary-General
nonetheless stressed that all Asians are part of a very special family -- a
community drawing strength from a common history, values and traditions.
This is a foundation to build on, and we must leverage this tremendous
strength for the global good, he said.
Also in his speech, the Secretary-General expressed
deep concern about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula. He added
that we must work together -- and work creatively-- to put the six-party
talks back on track. If successful, he said, the six-party process could
pave the way toward a broader multilateral security framework in North East
Asia.
Referring to Typhoon Morakot, which recently left as
many as nine million people homeless in China and Taiwan, he said that
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have the skills, technologies and
financial resources to help the region reduce disaster risk.
While on Jeju Island today, the Secretary-General also visited the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, which are included on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
UNICEF FORCED TO POSTPONE AID DELIVERY TO ACUTELY MALNOURISHED SOMALI CHILDREN
Due to increased hostility towards aid
organizations in Somalia, UNICEF has today postponed the dispatch of
hundreds of tons of life-saving nutritional supplies meant for the
prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition in over 85,000 Somali
children.
The delayed dispatch in certain areas in
the central and southern regions of Somalia also affected the distribution
of malaria prevention bed-nets to more than 100,000 women and children. In
areas where security assurances are provided, UNICEF continues to deliver
its humanitarian supplies and programmes.
“We need concrete assurances from local
authorities for the safe delivery and storage of supplies to ensure that we
can carry out programmes for the survival of Somali children and women,”
said Ms Rozanne Chorlton, UNICEF Representative to Somalia.
UNICEF’s compound in Jowhar (Central
Somalia) - the main hub for its programme operations in Central South
Somalia - was taken over on 17 May 2009 and large volumes of life-saving
humanitarian supplies and communications equipment were destroyed or looted.
The
UN refugee agency reports
that hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia have been forced to leave
their homes due to ongoing conflict, and the flight to safety often leaves
families separated.
Since May, the conflict in Somalia's capital between government forces and the Al Shabaab militia has forced nearly 227,000 people to flee their homes. UNHCR estimates that of those, 61,500 have fled to settlements in Afgooye. Many say they are determined to cross the border into Kenya or join the thousands who have paid human traffickers to take them across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen.
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