Thursday, 19 February 2004
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Annan Rules Out Iraqi Elections Before 30 June

There's consensus that elections in Iraq before the June 30th handover are not feasible. That's what UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters Thursday. Mr. Annan says he hopes to be able to work with the Iraqis and the coalition to find a mechanism for establishing a caretaker or an interim government until such time as elections are organised:

"We shared with them our sense of the emerging consensus or understanding that elections cannot be held before the end of June; that the June 30th date for hand over of sovereignty must be respected and that we need to find a mechanism to create the caretaker government and then help prepare the elections some time later in the future."

Mr. Annan made his comments after briefing several countries interested in the situation in Iraq.

Need to Engage Iraqi People Further So They Chart Their Own Destiny: Annan

The United Nations now has a better insight into and understanding of the needs, concerns and expectations of the Iraqi people. That according to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a briefing to the Group of Friends of Iraq. The Secretary-General particularly drew attention to the consensus that has emerged that direct national elections are the best way to establish a fully representative and legitimate parliament and government. United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard says the Secretary-General noted at the same time there's wide agreement that elections cannot be successfully achieved unless carefully prepared under optimal technical, security and political conditions:

"The Secretary-General emphasized that it is crucial that we do not give the impression that Iraq's fate could be decided over the heads of its peope, stressing the need to engage the Iraqi people further as they chart their own destiny."

The Secretary-General briefed the Group of Friends on Iraq on the work done by his fact-finding mission headed by special envoy Lakdar Brahimi.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot Leaders Begin Re-Unification Talks

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders met Thursday for a first round of talks on reunifying the island before entry into the European Union on May first.
UN Special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto said Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash agreed to meet every day in a bid to reach a settlement. Spokesman for the UN mission in Cyprus Brian Kelly tells UN Radio today's session ran for more than two hours:

"And afterwards, Mr. de Soto, the special adviser, described the meeting as very constructive and added that there had been ample goodwill and a business-like spirit shown by the two sides."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974.

Security Council Backs Efforts by CARICOM,OAS to Bring Peace to Haiti

The UN Security Council has thrown its support behind the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) aimed at peacefully resolving the political crisis in Haiti. A statement by the Council strongly condemns the violence in the country and calls for an end to such actions. Council President is Ambassador Wang Guangya of China:

"Members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over the increasing violence and political crisis in Haiti leading to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation including the loss of many lives."

Members of the Council also call on President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the opposition sectors to restore dialogue and overcome their differences peacefully.

Annan Urges World Leaders to Rebuild Momentum on Anti-Poverty Goals

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged world leaders to rebuild momentum on the anti-poverty issues identified in the Millennium Development Goals. In remarks to an international association of ambassadors to the UN, Mr. Annan said the most immediate and real issues for most of the world's people are those that directly affect what they hope to achieve for themselves and their families. He cited issues such as those that relate to building a decent life, with access to education and health care, enough food and clean drinking water, in a healthy environment.

UN Redeploying Peacekeepers to North-Eastern DRC

The United Nations is stepping up efforts to bring peace to northeastern Congo. The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo said it would redeploy 4-thousand of its forces to the volatile northeast where peacekeepers have come under fire from rival ethnic militias fighting for control of the area. The troops will join more than 5-thousand peacekeepers already in the region, most of whom are based in the Ituri province near the border with Uganda.