HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Thursday, September 24, 2009
MIDDLE EAST: QUARTET TO MEET THIS AFTERNOON
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be hosting a meeting
of the
Middle East Quartet at three this afternoon in his conference room.
Participants will include: United States Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton; United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
George Mitchell; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; the High
Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European
Union, Javier Solana; and the European Union’s Commissioner for External
Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
In addition, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt will
represent the European Union Presidency. And Quartet Representative Tony
Blair will also be in attendance.
Immediately following the meeting, we will issue the Quartet’s communiqué.
BAN KI-MOON TRAVELS TO PITTSBURGH FOR G-20 MEETING
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon leaves this afternoon to
Pittsburgh for the meeting of G-20 leaders.
The Secretary-General has written to the G-20 leaders
gathering in Pittsburgh and asked for their commitment to protect poor
countries through the crisis, and accelerate action on climate change and
achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
More specifically, the Secretary-General, in that
letter, has asked G-20 leaders to: deliver the $1.1 trillion promised in
London last April, especially the $50 billion for poorest countries; honour
the Gleneagles pledges to increase Official development assistance (ODA).
The international community should reach $155 billion by next year – with
$65 billion for Africa; accelerate actions to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs); set the stage for significant progress on climate
change, by establishing a fair financing mechanism to reach the estimated
$250 billion a year needed by 2020.
In Pittsburgh, the Secretary-General will update the
G-20 on our new Global Impact and Vulnerability System (GIVAS) which will
deliver real-time data on the impacts of the economic crisis on poor people
around the world.
The Secretary-General is returning to headquarters
tomorrow afternoon.
Asked about the duration of the G20 meeting, the Spokeswoman said that it would extend into Friday, but that the Secretary-General would return to New York earlier that day so that he could conduct further bilateral meetings that evening.
BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES ADOPTION BY SECURITY COUNCIL OF RESOLUTION ON NON-PROLIFERATION
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed, in a
statement, the resolution which was adopted by consensus at the Security
Council Summit meeting on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament
earlier today.
He said that this summit was an historic event that has
opened a new chapter in the Council's efforts to address nuclear disarmament
and non-proliferation. He commended the vision and leadership of President
Barack Obama, who convened the meeting.
Global nuclear non-proliferation stands at a critical
juncture, he added. Despite some progress, much remains to be done to
achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. Against this backdrop, this summit
was especially timely. The Secretary-General said that he had proposed a
Security Council summit meeting on nuclear disarmament in his 5-point action
plan last year. He underscored the need to sustain this initiative in the
Council and beyond, at the highest possible level.
The Secretary-General hopes that the international
community seizes and builds on this momentum towards advancing nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament in general and achieving success at the
2010 NPT Review Conference in particular. He will spare no effort to promote
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and achieve success for the sake
of global peace and security.
The
Security Council resolution, among other things, calls upon the States
that are party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to comply fully with
all their obligations and fulfill their treaty commitments. It also calls
upon all States to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The Secretary-General also spoke at the opening of the meeting, welcoming the first Security Council Summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He said that the need for action on those two fronts is clear.
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES NEED FOR MOMENTUM IN NUCLEAR TEST BAN EFFORT
Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General spoke at
the start of the sixth conference to push for the entry into force of the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Secretary-General called
the CTBT “a fundamental building block for a world free of nuclear weapons”
and offered his hope that the sixth conference to facilitate its entry into
force would be the last one that is needed.
Today, he said, there is new momentum for a world free of nuclear weapons. There is a new drive for peace. Yet this momentum is rare. It must be seized, he argued.
SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH WORLD LEADERS ON PAKISTAN
The Secretary-General met at noon
today with a number of world leaders at the Waldorf Astoria for a meeting of
the Group of Friends of Democratic Pakistan.
He is to tell the Group of Friends that Pakistan bears the burden of one of the major challenges of our times, the spread of violent extremism, with regional implications. He will stress that the decision of the Government of Pakistan and the Group of Friends to confront it together is undoubtedly the right course, however demanding the struggle ahead may be.
AS U.N.R.W.A. MARKS 60TH
ANNIVERSARY,
BAN KI-MOON CALLS TO PLACE AGENCY ON FIRM FINANCIAL FOUNDATION
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) is currently observing its 60th anniversary.
The Secretary-General just marked the occasion with a
speech at UNRWA’s high-level commemoration event, which is taking place
right now in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. He said that, as we pay
tribute to UNRWA’s achievements, we must also acknowledge its severe funding
shortages. These persist even as its caseload grows bigger and more complex,
he said.
In that regard, the Secretary-General appealed to all
partners to ensure that UNRWA’s invaluable work is placed – once and for all
– on a firm financial foundation. The Agency’s work is too important for it
to suffer budget crisis after budget crisis, he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General participated in
a ministerial breakfast this morning, also to mark the Agency’s 60th
anniversary. During that ceremony, a large banner was unveiled in the
Delegates’ Lounge, bearing the words, “Peace Starts Here.” An identical
banner is currently displayed on the façade of the General Assembly
building.
In her
remarks, the Deputy Secretary-General said that, on this milestone, one
message should ring around the world – that the strife and conflict must
end. She added, “We are eager for the day when the Palestinian refugee issue
is finally settled. Then – and only then – can UNRWA’s staff complete their
mission.”
Among the breakfast’s participants this morning were Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Queen Rania of Jordan, and UNRWA chief Karen AbuZayd.
SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF 2010 ELECTIONS IN MYANMAR
The Secretary-General yesterday convened the second
meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar at the level of Foreign
Ministers. Thirteen officials at the foreign ministerial level attended the
meeting, demonstrating strong collective interest in Myanmar that reaffirms
the broad support for the Secretary-General’s good offices.
In a statement released following the meeting, the
Secretary-General
highlighted that 2010 will be a critical year for Myanmar as the first
planned election in 20 years must be held in an inclusive and credible
manner to advance prospects for stability, democracy and national
development.
While stating that the release of some political
prisoners last week is a step in the right direction, the Secretary-General
stressed that it falls short of the world’s expectations and called for all
political prisoners to be released -- including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Also, released today is the Secretary-General’s
report to the 64th Session of the General Assembly on the situation of
human rights in Myanmar.
In it, the Secretary-General reiterates that unless
three immediate concerns are addressed by the Government of Myanmar, the
credibility of its political process will remain in doubt.
The three points include the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the commencement of dialogue between the Government and opposition and ethnic stakeholders; and the creation of conditions conducive to credible and legitimate elections.
HONDURAS: U.N. TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS TECHNICAL ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE
In a
statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General decided to suspend
temporarily the technical assistance currently provided by the Organization
to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras. He does not believe
conditions are currently in place for the holding of credible elections that
would advance peace and stability.
The United Nations is concerned about the current
situation and allegations of human rights violations in Honduras. We urge
adherence to international human rights treaties and conventions ratified by
Honduras and respect for the inviolability of Brazil’s diplomatic mission in
Tegucigalpa.
The Secretary-General is convinced that an end to the
crisis in Honduras requires a consensual agreement and supports regional
mediation efforts to that end. He joins the Organization of American States
and regional leaders in calling for an agreement and urges all political
actors to redouble efforts to find common ground through peaceful dialogue.
The United Nations stands ready to assist in this process.
Asked whose decision it was to suspend technical
assistance to Honduras temporarily, the Spokeswoman said that the decision
was made by the Secretary-General on the advice of the Department for
Political Affairs.
Montas specified that the electoral assistance project
was set up pursuant to a request by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in
November 2007, for support in the lead up to the general elections planned
for November 2009. Implementation of the project began in September 2008.
Support was being provided to the Electoral Tribunal in four technical areas, she said: training of polling station staff; an internal quick-count project, which will enable the Tribunal to give vote projections for the presidential elections; gender; and support for a public information strategy. She added that 41 polling station staffers had been hired, trained and deployed and that electoral training materials had been finalized, before the decision was taken to suspend that electoral assistance programme.
HIV VACCINE TRIAL SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS
UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) say they
are
optimistic about the results of the largest ever HIV vaccine clinical
trial.
Those results, which were announced today, represent a
significant scientific advance. This is the first demonstration that a
vaccine can prevent HIV infection in a general adult population.
The two UN agencies congratulate the principal
investigators, sponsors and trial volunteers. But they also note that much
more work still has to be done to analyze the trial data and map next steps.
WHO and UNAIDS began providing technical guidance for this trial 18 years ago.
SOMALIA: CONCRETE AND MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT
“The whole world would pay a heavy price for failure in
Somalia”. That is warning given by the UN Under Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, during a meeting of the International
Contact Group on Somalia.
He said Somalia’s current transitional institutions
offer the best opportunity for achieving peace and stability in Somalia
since 1991. He added that it is now critical for the international community
to deploy concrete and meaningful assistance to the Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia, to enable it consolidate its position.
International assistance would also allow the
Government to establish institutions that would allow it to address the
needs of the people and begin to deliver concrete peace dividends.
Pascoe said that last week’s criminal attack against AMISOM Headquarters in Mogadishu, underscores the need for the international community to strengthen its determination to support the Transitional Federal Government.
A.U.-U.N. MISSION IN DARFUR CALLS FOR END OF FIGHTING IN NORTH DARFUR
The UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
says reports of civilian casualties in recent fighting in North Darfur are
“deeply disturbing”. It again called for an end to the clashes between the
Government of Sudan and rebel movements in and around the town of Korma. The
Mission says it is also concerned about the likely impact of the violence on
local civilians and humanitarian conditions.
The peacekeeping operation is echoing a
statement by the Secretary-General, which we issued late on Tuesday, and
in which he urged restraint on all sides. He also urged the parties to renew
their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and redouble
their efforts to reach a political settlement to the conflict in Darfur.
Another Secretary-General statement issued that day called for the release of two peacekeepers held by kidnappers in Darfur.
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON DONORS’ GENEROSITY FOR MEETING ON CHAD/C.A.R. MISSION
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appealing to donor
nations and institutions to be generous when they meet on 2 October in
Brussels to raise much-needed funds for the UN Mission in Chad and the
Central African Republic (MINURCAT).
The event is being organized by the Mission, the
Government of Chad and the European Commission. They are hoping to raise
some 17 million dollars for the Mission’s technical and logistical support
for a specialized Chadian police unit. That unit, the Détachement Intégré de
Sécurité, is tasked with protecting refugees and internally displaced people
in Chad’s northeastern border region with Sudan.
The Mission says it also needs another 4 million dollars for new projects to improve Chad’s justice and prison sectors.
ETHIOPIA: FUNDING SHORTFALL THREATEN FOOD DISTRIBUTION
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA),
reports that, in Ethiopia, critical resource shortfalls continue to affect
food distribution, with the threat that all food aid pipelines to groups of
needy people in the country could break in September.
A total amount of just over $37 million is needed to
cover planned relief food distributions from now until December.
Meanwhile, in response to outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea in a number of regions, a joint mission - made up of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and OCHA - is in Amhara Region to assess the situation. The team will ensure that adequate preparedness measures are in place to prevent infections at gathering places, such as schools and religious and traditional festivals.
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS URGES ALL STATES TO RATIFY NEW OPTIONAL PROTOCOL
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay spoke
earlier today at the signing ceremony for the Optional Protocol to the
International
Covenant Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. That optional protocol is
one of the main highlights of this year’s Treaty Event. It seeks to enable
the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to receive and
consider communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups who have
exhausted domestic remedies concerning alleged violations of their rights
under the Covenant.
In her remarks, High Commissioner Pillay said the
signing of the Optional Protocol is a historic moment in the evolution of
the protection of human rights. With this, the UN has come full circle on
setting up the legal framework envisaged by the Universal Declaration.
She urged all states to promptly sign and ratify this crucial new human rights instrument.
UNITED NATIONS RECEIVES MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN ASSESSMENTS
Assessed contributions were received yesterday from
Angola, Belgium, Netherlands, South Africa and the United States. All
contributions received were for peacekeeping operations.
Yesterday's payments bring the total received from the
United States over the last few weeks to an amount of $1.290 billion. These
payments cover the regular budget, the international tribunals and
peacekeeping operations.
The amounts received from the United States are divided
as follows: $85.1 million for the regular budget; $10.8 million for the
International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; $12.3 million for the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; and $1,182.7 million for
peacekeeping operations.
A comprehensive update on the United Nations financial
situation will be presented to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly
in mid-October.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SAUDI ARABIA PLEDGES $100 MILLION FOR PAKISTAN: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has pledged US$100 million to support the humanitarian efforts of the United Nations and their implementing partners to assist the people in need in Pakistan. It is the single largest contribution received for the vulnerable populations in the countries, adds OCHA. To date, almost 55 percent of the $680 million revised requirements for the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded by more than 20 countries and private individuals and organizations.
“NAME ISSUE” TALKS TO RESTART AFTER GREEK ELECTIONS: Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, reports today that he had a good discussion with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and that country’s main negotiator for the “name issue,”Ambassador Zoran Jolevski. Nimetz said that, once the elections in Greece are concluded and a new government is in place, he will restart the talks. He added that he hopes to develop some momentum, which he believes was already developing during the summer with a number of ideas on the table.
BOB DYLAN PARTNERS WITH W.F.P.: Royalties from Bob Dylan’s upcoming Christmas album will allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to give half a million school meals to hungry kids around the world. WFP announced today that the artist’s would donate the international royalties of his album of holiday songs, to be released 12 October. WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran, has welcomed Bob Dylan’s generosity, saying it could not have come at the better time when at a time, as a growing hunger crisis threatens the lives of 108 million people worldwide.
U.N.E.P. REPORT SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ARE APPROACHING FAST: According to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) science report, impacts of climate change are approaching faster and sooner. There are losses of mountain glaciers and arctic ice as well as the acidification of oceans. UNEP’s Executive Director Achim Steiner says this new report is underlining the urgency for Governments to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen.
THE WEEK AHEAD
AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Friday, 25 September
The Secretary-General will be in Pittsburgh to attend the G-20 meeting.
At 10.15 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference by Dimitris Christofias, President of Cyprus.
At 11 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference by Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
At 1.30 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference by Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau.
At 5 p.m. in Conference Room 4, there will be a press conference by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran.
At 6.15 p.m. in
Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Saturday, 26 September
At 8:30 a.m., the Secretary-General will attend the Ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Civilization Group of Friends, in the ECOSOC Chamber.
At 9:15 a.m., the Secretary-General will attend an event on the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
At 12 p.m., Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Foreign Minster of Switzerland, will brief the press at the Security Council stakeout, following an event commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions.
At 2:10 p.m., the Secretary-General will participate in a mini-Summit on CARICOM, in Conference Room 9.
At 4 p.m., the Secretary-General and US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton will co-host a side-event on “Partnering for Food Security” at the Waldorf Astoria.
At 5:15 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend the UN-ASEAN meeting, in Conference Room 7.
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