HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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.
Wednesday,
August 19, 2009
REMEMBERING VICTIMS OF BAGHDAD BOMBING,
UNITED NATIONS OBSERVES FIRST WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
Today is the
UN’s first observance of
World Humanitarian Day. The General Assembly established the Day last
December to highlight humanitarian work worldwide, including the dangers
that aid workers face while carrying out their missions in conflict zones.
The 19th of
August is the date in 2003 that the UN office in Iraq was bombed.
Twenty-two people lost their lives, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, who at
the time was the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Iraq.
This morning at
UN headquarters, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended a wreath-laying
ceremony and observed a moment of silence to commemorate the sixth
anniversary of the Baghdad bombing. He then launched the first observance of
World Humanitarian Day.
In his
remarks, the Secretary-General noted that, last year, more humanitarian
workers were kidnapped, seriously injured or killed during violent attacks
than ever before. This is unacceptable, he said.
In fact, he
added, just yesterday, he mourned the deaths of two Afghan UN staff members
along with more than half a dozen others killed in a suicide attack in
Kabul.
Today, we
remember their sacrifice, he said. And we also recognize the millions of
people who count on us for their very survival.
In light of
today’s anniversary of the Iraq bombing, the Secretary-General said he is
saddened that the violence in that country continues. [The Security Council
condemned today's the bombings in a
press statement read
out following the noon briefing.]
In that
context, he referred to what he called an “appalling” string of attacks
today in Baghdad, which took the lives of scores of innocent people.
As part of his observance of World Humanitarian Day, the Secretary-General viewed an exhibit featuring images of aid workers. He also signed a commemorative book, in which he wrote that he pledged to do more to protect all those vulnerable to disaster, as well as the brave and selfless aid workers who rush into danger so that others may be safe.
BAN KI-MOON URGES ALL AFGHANS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS THURSDAY
The
Secretary-General, in a statement issued today, encourages all Afghan women
and men eligible to vote to cast their ballot in the upcoming Presidential
and Provincial Council elections on 20 August 2009.
He
notes that, by participating in these elections, the Afghan people will help
Afghanistan strengthen its democratic institutions, bring fresh vigour to
the country’s political life, and ultimately reaffirm their commitment to
contribute to the peace and prosperity of their nation.
The
Secretary-General also calls on all candidates, their supporters, political
party agents, and domestic and international observers to continue to
cooperate with the Independent Election Commission, other relevant Afghan
institutions and international stakeholders supporting electoral
preparations, to ensure a smooth and successful electoral process.
Asked
to comment on the Election Day blackout on news of violent incidents decreed
by Afghanistan's leadership, the Spokeswoman said that the UN Mission in
that country has stressed the need for all voters to have unimpeded access
to information and has been pressing this point with the authorities.
Asked
if the UN had any monitoring mandate for the elections, Okabe said that the
Organization has been providing support to the Afghan Electoral Commission.
Kai
Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Afghanistan, has
detailed the tasks involved in that supporting role at an extensive
press conference yesterday in Kabul and the UN Mission there has also
published a related factsheet.
The
Spokeswoman, in response to a question about what the UN mission is doing to
respond to Taliban threats against voters, she said that the United Nations
does not have an election security mandate. Even so, the Secretary-General
and Special Representative Eide have repeatedly warned against retaliatory
violence and appealed to those who issued such threats to let the Afghan
people choose their next leader peacefully.
Okabe
also noted that these are the first Afghan-led elections since the 1970s.
"They are among the most complex elections attempted anywhere and present
unique challenges, not least insecurity," she said. "The campaign period has
been remarkable. Turnout in insecure areas may be low. The insurgency has
been doing everything it can to pressure people to stay at home. But every
effort has gone into making these elections as inclusive as possible."
She went on to explain that the elections have three principle goals: to deliver credible results; to help Afghanistan strengthen its own democratic institutions and traditions; and to bring fresh vigor to the country’s political life. "Fraud can not be allowed to steal the outcome," she said.
SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS MEETING ON THE MIDDLE EAST
This
morning the Security Council is held
a meeting on
the Middle East. It also held consultations on that same topic.
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Ferandez-Taranco
briefed Council members this morning. He noted that, during September, the
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates assistance efforts of individual
donors to the Palestinian people, and Quartet Principals are expected to
meet on the margins of the General Debate.
The
latter will also consult with the members of the League of Arab States
Follow-Up committee on the Arab Peace Initiative. He added that the
Secretary-General looks forward to these meetings as important benchmarks
for progress in the renewed effort by the international community this year
to achieve concrete movement forward on the political, security and economic
tracks.
Fernandez-Taranco said he welcomed Israeli actions and statements regarding
steps to ease movement and access in the West Bank.
This
is essential if change is to become truly transformative, he said. But he
added that continued Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the
West Bank is a matter of grave concern.
He
also noted that consultations are ongoing with the Israeli authorities
regarding the UN proposal to start early recovery construction activities
for schools, homes and health clinics in Gaza. We hope for and expect a
clear answer on the proposal from the Israeli government very soon, he said.
On
Lebanon, the Assistant Secretary-General said the overall situation in the
UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) area of operations has remained
generally quiet. But Israeli air violations continued on an almost daily
basis during the reporting period, he noted.
Fernandez-Taranco concluded by urging all parties to respond positively to efforts underway to create the conditions for the early resumption and early conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, as well as to efforts to promote progress towards comprehensive regional peace.
YEMEN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES
In
response to questions this week about Yemen, the Spokeswoman said the
Secretary-General is concerned about an escalation of hostilities in the
north of Yemen and the reports that civilians are trapped in the middle of
the conflict. The Secretary-General appeals to all sides to facilitate
delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected areas.
He
hopes that the situation in northern Yemen will soon be resolved by peaceful
means and that the fighting will cease.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has
sent enough medical supplies for 200 surgical interventions for persons
with trauma injuries in Yemen. It will send more supplies next week.
WHO has also sent additional medical staff from its regional office in Cairo
to support the emergency health operations in Yemen.
In addition, WHO and UNICEF are jointly coordinating a combined health and nutrition cluster response to the emergency.
U.N. ENVOY IN COTE D’IVOIRE TOURS THE INTERIOR TO ASSESS ELECTIONS PREPAREDNESS
In
Côte d’Ivoire, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Choi
Young-Jin, is visiting the interior of the country to assess the impact of
the UN Mission’s micro-projects initiative and to see the progress made so
far in data processing from the identification and voter registration
operation.
The
Special Representative was in Bouaké yesterday, where the
Mission has financed projects to help with the reintegration of
ex-combatants of the Forces Nouvelles, young people at risk and women
affected by the conflict.
He
said that the main objective of micro-projects -- which was to guarantee a
peaceful pre-electoral environment -- had on the whole been achieved.
The
Special Representative also visited a coordination centre in charge of the
data processing ahead of the elections.
Choi
will continue his assessment of coordination centres and cantonment sites
for ex-combatants in Séguéla where he is today, as well as in Daloa, Issia
and San Pedro.
According to the Mission, the visits aim to measure progress made in order to respect the 29 November election date and to examine and reinforce UNOCI’s support for the electoral and reunification process.
JORDANIAN POLICE OFFICERS JOIN U.N./AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR
The
UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has welcomed an advance party of
46 Jordanian police officers into its ranks, with the remaining 280 expected
later this month. The Jordanians will be deploying in El Fasher and
Kabkabiya, in North Darfur. The Mission says the advance party will set up
equipment and living facilities for the larger contingent due to arrive on
August 28.
Nine
police officers from the Philippines and another 8 from Namibia also joined
the Mission yesterday.
Mission police are tasked with protecting civilians, supporting aid agencies
and with various law enforcement assignments.
The
Mission also informs that it has held roundtable discussions with the
signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement and Declaration of Commitment.
Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada chaired the meeting yesterday in El Fasher, which was attended by the members of the international community and a government delegation headed by Minni Minawi, a special assistant to the president and a signatory to the peace deal.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATIONS STILL ONGOING FOR TRIP TO ARCTIC RIM: In response to a question about news reports of an alleged Norwegian diplomatic memo on the criticizing the Secretary-General's leadership, the Spokeswoman said that she was aware of the press reports but did not know the veracity of such reports. In response to further questions about the Secretary-General's travel plans, she said the Secretary-General has been considering a trip to the Arctic Rim as part of his outreach campaign to seal a climate change deal in December in Copenhagen and preparations are still ongoing.
BHUTTO COMMISSION WILL BE TRAVELING TO PAKISTAN DURING THE COMING WEEKS: In response to a question on the latest activities of the Bhutto Commission, the Spokesperson later added that the Commission staff will be in Pakistan during the coming weeks, and will be carrying out the inquiry, in keeping with its mandate. They will be holding meetings and collecting documents in order to determine the facts and circumstances of the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
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