HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON THURSDAY,
6
JANUARY 2011
Members
of the Secretary-General’s Panel tasked with
monitoring the upcoming referendum on
self-determination in
Sudan have arrived in Khartoum. The
three-member Panel will be traveling around the
country this month as they monitor the polling,
counting and aggregation of results phases of
the referendum on the future of Southern Sudan.
They
will also meet with key stakeholders, including
senior officials from the Government of Sudan,
the Government of Southern Sudan, the Southern
Sudan Referendum Commission, international and
domestic observer groups and the diplomatic
community. Alain Le
Roy, the Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations, briefed the
Security Council this morning on the
preparations for the referendum on Southern
Sudan that is to begin on 9 January. Some 3.9
million voters have been registered to take part
in the referendum. The polling is expected to
end on 15 January, and the Southern Sudan
Referendum Commission is expected to declare the
final results on or about 6 February. UN High
Commissioner for
Human Rights Navi Pillay has
called on the authorities in both northern
and southern Sudan to ensure that Sunday’s start
to the crucial vote on the future status of
South Sudan “is not marred by any abuses of
voters’ rights before, during or after the
referendum.” “This is
a critical moment in Sudan’s history,” Pillay
said. “It is essential that the vote is free and
fair, and that the national Government and the
Government of Southern Sudan take swift and
effective measures to halt any attempts to
intimidate any groups or individuals, or to
subvert the result.” The
Joint Special Representative of the African
Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
Ibrahim Gambari,
told mission staff in El Fasher, North
Darfur, that their key priorities for 2011 will
be to continue working towards a more secure and
stable environment, including the protection of
the civilian population. He urged
the staff to continue to support the Darfur
peace and political process and the search for a
comprehensive political and inclusive settlement
which addresses the root causes of the conflict
in Darfur. This
should include supporting the process of
voluntary return of internally displaced persons
and refugees to their homes, so that they can
start living a normal life, Mr. Gambari said. He
also emphasized that security remains a top
concern.
SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS TAKEN NOTE OF IVORIAN
PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Asked whether Alassane Ouattara had written the
Secretary-General to ask for a UN investigation
into human rights violations in Côte
d’Ivoire, the Spokesperson said that he could
not confirm that a letter had been received.
However, he noted that, in their
phone conversation on 1 January, the
Secretary-General took note of President
Ouattara’s call during their conversation for an
early International Criminal Court investigation
as a credible signal for accountability.
Asked about diplomatic efforts, the Spokesperson
said that the United Nations supports the
diplomatic process that the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) and African
Union have been pursuing. The Secretary-General
is in close contact with ECOWAS and the African
Union.
Asked about power-sharing, the Spokesperson made
clear that the Secretary-General has said that
the will of the people must be respected.
Power-sharing, he said, is not an option.
Nesirky noted that the UN Mission (UNOCI)
is doing all that it can to fulfil the mandate
it has been given by the Security Council.
SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT SEXUAL
VIOLENCE IN HAITI
Asked about a report concerning rapes in camps
for displaced people in Haiti, the Spokesperson
said that the Secretary-General remains
concerned about sexual violence in Haiti,
including in the camps for displaced Haitians.
The Deputy Secretary-General visited the camps
last year to underscore UN support for the
people in the camps, including women and girls.
Nesirky said that there have been stepped-up
patrols in the camps, with UN peacekeepers doing
their best, along with the Haitian National
Police, to be present there.
The Secretary-General this morning held a
videoconference with the UN Mission (MINUSTAH)
to receive an update on recent developments,
including on sexual violence, Nesirky said.
SECRETARY-GENERAL KEENLY AWARE OF RISING FOOD
PRICES:
Asked about the
rising cost of food worldwide, the Spokesperson
said that the Secretary-General is keenly aware of
rising food prices, which have been reported by the
Food and Agriculture Organization. Nesirky recalled
that the Secretary-General and the UN system acted
to deal with high food prices two years ago and
would be prepared to act again once the right course
of action has been decided.
SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS WITH EUROPEAN, ARAB DIPLOMATS:
Asked about the Middle East peace process and the
role of the Quartet, the Spokesperson said that the
Secretary-General spoke this morning with European
Union High Representative Catherine Ashton and
League of Arab States Secretary-General Amr Moussa
on those topics.
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
