HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
UN HEADQUARTERS,
NEW YORK
Thursday,
5 January 2006
ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT ARIEL SHARON’S HEALTH
Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply
concerned about
the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
He is following developments closely and very much hopes
that the Prime Minister will make a speedy recovery. His thoughts are with Mr.
Sharon and his family, as well as with the Government and people of Israel.
Asked whether the health crisis had transformed how
Sharon is viewed, the Spokesman said that the focus for now is on Sharon’s
health. He noted that the situation on the ground is delicate and that two
elections are coming up in the region, for both the Israelis and the
Palestinians.
The Secretary-General, the Spokesman said, has been in
touch with Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman to receive information on Sharon.
The Secretary-General also called US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. Asked about that conversation, the Spokesman said it took
place on Wednesday, and that they had discussed developments in the Middle
East, including Sharon’s health.
NUMBER OF U.N.
STAFF IN WEST DARFUR REDUCED AMID SECURITY CONCERNS
The
UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has reduced the presence of UN staff and
restricted staff access in parts of
West Darfur following increased security concerns there.
The decision was taken due to the increasing instability
in the affected areas, including a build-up of forces on either side of the
Sudan-Chad border with increased potential for armed conflict. The Mission
says the move does not mean there will be an overall evacuation.
Essential life-saving humanitarian services delivered by
the UN will continue, and UNMIS will monitor the situation and carry out a
fresh security assessment of the affected area in the next two to three weeks.
Asked whether there is a UN presence in the Chad-Sudan
border area, the Spokesman noted that the Office of the High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) has
camps in place along the border.
He added that the situation along the border prompted
concern, which is one reason why the United Nations is taking appropriate
security measures. Dujarric added that, when the Foreign Minister of Chad
comes to New York next week, further discussions are expected.
ANNAN CONCERNED
ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENT IN SUDAN
The
Secretary-General, in his latest
report to the
Security Council on
Sudan, says that serious concerns remain about the implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement dealing with southern Sudan. He notes that
security has become a matter of growing concern in southern Sudan.
In Darfur, he says that security on the ground must
urgently improve and the search for a durable political peace, including a
permanent ceasefire, must be intensified. Those who continue impeding the
peaceful resolution of the conflict should know that they will be held
accountable.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative
for Sudan,
Jan Pronk, is on his way to Abuja today to attend the latest round of
talks there on Darfur; he is expected back in Khartoum on Saturday.
In a press briefing yesterday, Pronk said he was
concerned about the slow pace of negotiations at the talks, and was
disappointed that the objective of concluding the talks successfully by the
end of last year didn’t occur.
The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing,
followed by a private meeting, on Sudan next Friday, 13 January 2005.
ANNAN NOTES
IMPLICATIONS OF IRANIAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Asked about the
Secretary-General’s reaction to Iran’s
announcement on the resumption of its nuclear research program, the
Spokesman said that he felt it could have far-reaching implications.
The Spokesman said that the
dialogue between Iran and European countries and the Russia offer of
collaboration should be given a chance. He noted that the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including Director-General
Mohamed ElBaradei, is closely following developments.
DR CONGO
LEADERS HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO FULFILLING PEACE DEAL’S OBLIGATIONS
The
Secretary-General’s latest
report on the
UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
was issued today.
In it, the Secretary-General notes that despite some
encouraging advances – such as the recent constitutional referendum – the
Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC)
transitional government and its leaders still have to demonstrate in more
concrete terms their commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the
Global and All-Inclusive Agreement.
The Secretary-General also notes that the DRC’s
humanitarian crisis remains severe and there’s a significant shortfall in
resources to address it.
U.N. EXPERTS TO
HELP TURKEY WITH BIRD FLU INVESTIGATION
Regarding the reports which you might have seen about the
two bird flu-related deaths in Turkey,
David Nabarro, the UN System’s Influenza Coordinator, has told us that,
following a request from the Turkish Government, a team of experts from the
World Health Organisation (WHO), the
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and other groups, is traveling
today to Turkey. The team will work with the authorities there in their
investigation of the situation.
Turkish health authorities have informed WHO that a total
of nine additional patients have been hospitalized in the eastern part of the
country. A WHO centre in the United Kingdom is now analyzing samples from
those patients.
According to Nabarro, this report confirms the absolute
need for continued local, national and international vigilance, as well as
intensive efforts to detect and respond to suspected outbreaks of the
disease. Nabarro also says that there is no evidence at this stage to
suggest that the suspected cluster of cases in Turkey represents human to
human transmission.
U.N. MISSION IN
KOSOVO CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK ON BUS
A passenger bus in Kosovo was hit by explosives
yesterday, and the
UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has condemned that
reckless act of criminal violence and said it was clearly not in the interest
of the province.
In that regard, the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative, Søren Jessen-Petersen, has requested the police to enhance
security measures across Kosovo to ensure that a safe and secure environment
is maintained during the ongoing status process. Attempts by isolated
individuals or groups to disrupt Kosovo’s way forward must not be tolerated,
he has said.
In response, UNMIK’s police forces and the Kosovo Police
Service have launched ‘Operation Stringent Security,’ instituting vigorous
police patrols and vehicle checkpoints throughout Kosovo with a focus on
potentially vulnerable areas.
ANANN SADDENED
OVER DEATH OF U.A.E.’S PRIME MINISTER
The
Secretary-General is
saddened at the death of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and
Ruler of Dubai.
The statement said that Sheikh Maktoum will be remembered
for his many years of visionary leadership, which helped build stability and
prosperity in the United Arab Emirates in the midst of dramatic developments
in the Gulf region as a whole.
The UN flag is being flown at half-mast today in
observance of the official mourning for Sheikh Maktoum.
Asked how long the UN flag would be at half staff,
the Spokesman said it would be for one day.
UNITED NATIONS
TO ASSESS NEEDS OF LANDSLIDE SURVIVORS IN INDONESIA
The
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in
contact with authorities in Indonesia's Central Java province, following
torrential rains and landslides there. A joint assessment mission - involving
the Office of the Resident Coordinator, the
UN Development Programme and
UNICEF - is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
Meanwhile, UNICEF and the
World Food Programme are currently undertaking a needs assessment mission
in Indonesia’s East Java Province, following flash floods and landslides
there. OCHA will join that mission tomorrow.
U.N. HUMAN
RIGHTS CHIEF CALLS ON NEPALESE SIDES TO RESPECT INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS
The
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, today
called upon both sides of the conflict in Nepal to respect international
humanitarian laws.
The High Commissioner also said it would be a tragedy for
the people of Nepal if full-scale armed conflict resumes, following the
Communist Party’s decision to end its four-month unilateral ceasefire.
She said that both sides of the conflict have committed
serious violations of international law including extrajudicial executions,
abductions, and indiscriminate bombings. She said all such illegal actions
must be stopped and the perpetrators brought before a court of law.
U.N.
HELICOPTERS BACK IN ACTION IN PAKISTAN’S QUAKE ZONE
In Pakistan’s
quake zone, UN relief helicopter flights have resumed, with 16 helicopters
back in action. The helicopters were grounded on the first three days of the
New Year, because of harsh winter weather, resulting in the UN’s inability to
deliver a total of 900 tons of cargo.
Meanwhile, the
World Health Organisation in Pakistan, working alongside the Ministry of
Health, is assessing the ongoing health needs of quake survivors.
The United Nations in Pakistan says it remains focused on
three key priorities: providing heating and warm clothing; winterizing tents;
and distributing corrugated iron sheets to fortify emergency shelters.
2005 SAW MOST
CONTRIBUTIONS EVER TO U.N. POPULATION FUND
The
UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
says that in 2005 more countries contributed to it than in any year since
its establishment in 1969. The number of donor nations went up to 171,
compared to the 2004 record of 166.
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Executive Director of UNFPA,
says the show of support from UN Member States is the clearest demonstration
of their commitment to achieving universal access to reproductive health and
ending discrimination against women, as they resolved to do during the World
Summit.
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