الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة

Noon briefing of 21 April 2009

.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

BAN KI-MOON, HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WELCOME
ADOPTION OF OUTCOME DOCUMENT FOR ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE

  • Member States at the Durban Review Conference adopted an outcome document by consensus about two hours ago. Speaking to reporters in Geneva moments ago.

  • [In a statement issued after the noon briefing, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is heartened that today all Member States present in the Durban Review Conference adopted its outcome document by consensus.

  • In doing so the international community has reinvigorated its commitment to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) thereby giving hope to the millions of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance around the world. The fight against racism is a continuous process.

  • He therefore hopes that those Member States who did not participate will rejoin the international community soon in the fight against the scourges of racism and racial discrimination. ]

  • Earlier, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said today’s adoption is great news and represents the culmination of lengthy deliberations.

  • Pillay said the outcome document contains several valuable elements. For example: it reinvigorates political commitment to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; it highlights the increased suffering since 2001 of many different groups of racism victims; it identifies best practices in the fight against racism; it reaffirms the positive role of freedom of expression while also deploring derogatory stigmatization of people based on their religion; and it launches a process that will examine how incitement to hatred has been used in various parts of the world.

  • Pillay also noted that, contrary to some media reports, today’s document does not include any reference to the defamation of religions.

  • The High Commissioner stressed that Durban is a process, not an event, and not an end in itself. In that regard, she called upon the international community – including those who decided to stay away from the Review Conference – to continue the fight against racism.

U.N. AGENCIES GEARING UP TO HELP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FLEEING SRI LANKANS

  • The United Nations is gearing up efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the tens of thousands of people who had fled the fighting in the north of Sri Lanka. Humanitarian agencies are preparing to receive a growing number of displaced.

  • With regard to financing for their operations, of the $155 million asked for, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has only received $48 million, or only 30 per cent, of which some $10 million had been financed by the United Nations itself through its Central Emergency Response Fund.

  • Although food assistance is relatively well funded at 59 per cent, requirements are likely to increase.

  • In addition, other sectors are not well financed at all: shelter stands at 18 per cent; water and sanitation at 16 per cent; and health at just 15 per cent.

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) says that, given population movements, it is hard to be precise, but reportedly about 30,000 to 40,000 people have fled the no-fire zone and will be arriving in camps for the displaced in Vavuniya over the next few days.

  • The Government has requested that WFP extend food assistance for the incoming internally displaced persons, which would bring the total in the camps to between 90,000 to slightly over 100,000 persons.

  • At the moment, WFP has enough food to feed 100,000 people for the next two weeks and more food is being sent from Colombo.

  • Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) remains deeply concerned about the plight of the civilian population still trapped inside that conflict zone in that north-eastern coastal pocket, where the situation was reported to be dire.

  • Yesterday, the Government informed UNHCR that an estimated 35,000, 40,000, or possibly slightly more, people had already fled areas where the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were engaged in heavy fighting. Of the anticipated 40,000 most recently displaced, so far UNHCR has confirmed reports that some 5,500 people had reached sites in Vavuniya, while another 2,000 new arrivals were recorded in Jaffna yesterday. UNHCR is still ascertaining the total number of the newly displaced in the two districts.

  • UNHCR is providing emergency shelter support and non-food aid to the new arrivals and UNHCR staff are also present at the screening point or crossing point in Omanthai on a daily basis, but does not have direct access to the displaced.

  • Asked about the statement issued on Monday by the Secretary-General, the Spokeswoman said that the statement was clear and strong, adding that the highest priority for the United Nations now is to gain access to those in need in the conflict zone. The Secretary-General, she said, is doing what he can to obtain such access.

  • Asked whether Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar had returned to New York after visiting Sri Lanka, Okabe confirmed that he had.

  • Asked whether the Security Council would be briefed on Sri Lanka, she said that it was understood that the President of the Security Council was working on the details of such a briefing.

  • Asked about the number of people killed in the conflict zone, the Spokeswoman said that since the United Nations does not have access to the zone, it cannot verify the number of deaths. In general, casualty figures are collected by local authorities on the ground. UNHCR, she said, is trying to gain access to people leaving the zone and is attempting to ascertain the total number of new internally displaced persons.

SOMALIA: ADDITIONAL FUNDS COULD HELP ESTABLISH POLICE & NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES

  • Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to be in Brussels on Thursday to co-chair the International Conference in support of the Somalia Security Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

  • According to the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), if the Conference were to meet its goals of raising some $260 million, the Somali transitional government would have the means to fund the establishment of a national security force of 6,000 members and a 10,000-strong police force.

  • As to the African Union peacekeeping mission, which now has 4300 troops, it is hoped that new funds will allow it to improve its logistical means and infrastructure in addition to providing the necessary training and monitoring of the planned Somali security and police forces.

  • The Conference is being convened by the Secretary-General and hosted by the European Commission. The African Union, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic States will also attend.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES CLIMATE CHANGE, OCEANS & MIGRATION ISSUES WITH MALTESE LEADERS

  • The Secretary-General today traveled from Geneva to Malta, where he met today with the country’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, and President George Abela. They discussed Malta's contribution to a number of global issues affecting the small island nation, including climate change, ways to use the resources of oceans, and immigration, with Malta on the path of hundreds of refugees fleeing the Horn of Africa by boat. They also discussed the Middle East and the Alliance of Civilizations.

  • This evening, he is to speak at the unveiling of a Climate Change Monument at the International Maritime Law Institute, and he is to draw attention to Malta’s contributions on climate change.

  • Tomorrow, the Secretary-General is to address the country’s Parliament. He will also receive an honorary degree from the University of Malta in recognition of his contribution in raising awareness on climate change.

OVERALL SECURITY SITUATION IN DARFUR REMAINS WORRYING

  • The Secretary-General’s latest 60-day report to the Security Council on the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) is out as a document today. The report is scheduled to be discussed in the Security Council next Monday.

  • In the report, the Secretary-General describes as an extremely negative development the Sudanese Government decision to expel or dissolve 16 humanitarian and human rights non-governmental organizations, and cautioned that the removal of such a large amount of humanitarian capacity puts well over 1 million people at life-threatening risk.

  • He notes that the rainy season starting next month is likely to make the situation significantly worse, and urges the government to reconsider its decision.

  • The Secretary-General also expressed his extreme concern about the impact of this action on the work of UNAMID, complicating its ability to perform its protection mandate.

  • The overall security situation in Darfur remains a fundamental preoccupation, he says and cites continued armed clashes between the government and armed movements, recurrent tribal fighting and the build-up of forces along the Chad-Sudan border.

  • As a result of the insecurity, UNAMID has been unable to visit locations to assess the impact of the bombardments on the civilian population.

  • The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to Member States provide mission-critical capabilities, in particular military helicopter assets.

  • He also calls on all parties to work together with the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator, Djibril Bassolé and continue their engagement in the political process.

U.N. MISSION IN CHAD & CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. HAS LESS THAN HALF THE NUMBER OF TROOPS REQUESTED

  • The Secretary-General, in his latest report on the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), says that the recently-authorized UN peacekeeping force stands at 2000 troops. That number represents less than 50 percent of the UN Mission’s requested 5,200 troops. Even so, he expects that the force will reach strength by the end of this year.

  • Meanwhile, there remain serious difficulties in generating equipment for the force, with pledges received for only 6 out of the requested 18 military helicopters.

  • The Secretary-General also renews his appeal to Chad and Sudan to improve their relations. Such progress, he says, will go along ways in easing the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur and eastern Chad, which are closely interlinked.

POLITICAL DEPARTMENT PROVIDES MEDIATION SUPPORT TO MORE THAN 20 PEACE PROCESSES

  • B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, today informed the Security Council about the increased efforts by the United Nations to employ mediation as a central part of its peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding work. In particular, he said, his Department has established a Mediation Support Unit which has been further complemented by a standby team of mediation experts that can deploy around the world on short notice.

  • In the past year, Pascoe said, his Department has provided mediation support to more than twenty peace processes, with the Mediation Support Unit exerting a multiplier effect on those efforts. He noted that the contributions made by UN mediators in peace efforts from Somalia to Cyprus to Iraq. He added that most of the funding at present for the work of the mediators comes from the generosity of donors.

  • The Security Council’s open debate on mediation is expected to continue into the afternoon, with 41 speakers inscribed in all.

FIJI: “BRAZEN ACTIONS” WILL FURTHER POLARIZE SOCIETY

  • Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe briefed the Security Council yesterday in consultations on the developments that have occurred recently in Fiji, including the abrogation of the Constitution, the dismissal of the judiciary, the imposition of state of emergency measures, and moves against both the judiciary and the press. Pascoe called these measures.

  • In addition, he told the Council that as a result of the latest developments, preparations that had been previously underway for the United Nations and the Commonwealth to jointly mediate a process of political dialogue in Fiji faced suspension. He said those efforts cannot continue unless there is a change in the current state of affairs. He concluded by reiterating the willingness of the United Nations to assist the return to the rule of law and full respect for human rights in Fiji.

  • Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, the Security Council President, told the press after the consultations that the developments in Fiji were “a step backwards”.

  • He said that members of the Council expressed hope that Fiji will resume “steadfast” progress towards democracy and that fair elections will be held at the soonest possible time.

CYPRUS LEADERS MEET UNDER U.N. AUSPICES

  • Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met under UN auspices in Nicosia today.

  • Speaking to the press after that meeting, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, noted that the leaders started with a tête-à-tête, which lasted for a little over an hour. The rest of their discussion centered on the economic aspects of a solution to the Cyprus problem.

  • The leaders will meet again on 5 May.

GAZA: U.N. TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM RECENT CONFLICT

  • The Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, today visited the Gaza Strip. And he announced that his agency will deploy a team of experts to Gaza by the second week of May to assess the impact of the recent conflict on the environmental infrastructure of the region.

  • The forthcoming environmental assessment will include the work of experts in water and waste water management, asbestos and hazardous wastes monitoring, and coastal and marine issues.

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION AGAINST IMPUNITY EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS IN GUATEMALA

  • The Secretary-General has responded positively to a request by the Government of Guatemala to extend for an additional two years the presence of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). This decision was communicated to Guatemala’s Foreign Minister in writing last week, completing an exchange of letters. The additional two years would begin on 4 September, when the Commission’s current two-year term comes to a close.

  • The Commission was established under an agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Guatemala, with an aim to help Guatemala identify and dismantle clandestine criminal networks linked to organized crime and paralysis in the country’s justice system. The Commission is headed by Carlos Castresana of Spain.

  • In agreeing to extend this Commission, the Secretary-General stressed the importance of giving continuity to the efforts already underway by the Commission, in support of Guatemalan national efforts to fight impunity.

D.R. CONGO: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RELEASE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

  • The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, concluded her visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today.

  • In a press conference in Kinshasa, she said that the recent political developments in the country had opened new opportunities for the release of child soldiers. Since January 2009, about 1200 children have been released in the process of the accelerated integration of the CNDP (Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple) and other armed groups into the National Army in North Kivu. With a similar process about to begin in South Kivu, the Special Representative asked authorities to guarantee that the UN Organization Mission in the DRC, UNICEF and child protection partners were part of this.

  • Coomaraswamy stressed that the reintegration of these children into their families and communities remains a critical priority for the peace process in the country. She also said that sexual violence remained one of the most critical concerns in the DRC, devastating the lives of thousands of girls.

ASIA-PACIFIC’S POPULATION GROWTH AMONG THE LOWEST IN DEVELOPING REGIONS

  • Since the year 2000, the Asia-Pacific region’s annual population growth has fallen to 1.1 per cent - the lowest rate among the world's developing regions.

  • That’s according to the Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2008 released today by the United Nations in Bangkok which also states that with fewer children being born and people living longer, the population of the region is steadily growing older.

  • This year's report finds that death rates in Asia and the Pacific have continued to fall but birth rates have come down even more rapidly as families are having fewer children. Across the region, the number of children born per woman fell to 2.4 for the period 2000-2005, down from 2.9 per woman for the previous five years.

  • Fertility has fallen below replacement level in 16 countries, including China, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In some countries, such as Niue, Georgia, Armenia and the Russian Federation, the population is already falling.

  • A number of countries still have fertility rates above 3.0 children per woman are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tajikistan and Timor-Leste.

  • The wide-ranging Statistical Yearbook is the region's leading compilation of statistical data which provides a detailed picture of the major economic, social and environmental trends over the past two decades.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

HUMANITARIAN CHIEF VISITS CHINA: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes is in China, where he arrived yesterday for a three-day mission. He is to meet with the Chinese Red Cross and a number of Government officials, including the Foreign Minister, the Trade Minister, as well as the Minister charged with managing catastrophe relief. Holmes has said that China could play a pivotal role in helping countries of the region build their capacity to manage catastrophes, notably through the work of its state-of-the-art urban search and rescue training facility in Beijing. China has also become important as a donor country, having given $10 million in humanitarian aid in 2008.

CHIEF OF PEACEKEEPING VISITS WASHINGTON: Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy will be in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for a series of high-level meetings with officials from the US administration. His schedule thereon Thursday includes meetings with representatives from the State and Defense Departments, as well as the National Security Council, and key institutions from the non-governmental organization and policy studies sectors. Le Roy will be back at UN Headquarters on Friday.

GAZA INQUIRY REPORT NOT FINALIZED YET: Asked about the Board of Inquiry report on Gaza, the Spokeswoman noted, as Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe said to the Security Council on Monday, that the report has not yet been finalized. She said that the Secretary-General awaits the final report, adding that he had received an oral report from the Board earlier this month.

MIDDLE EAST ENVOY TO LOOK INTO EAST JERUSALEM EVICTIONS: Asked about reports concerning the expulsion of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the Spokeswoman later said that UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry would visit East Jerusalem on Wednesday to assess the situation firsthand.

REFUGEE AGENCY STARTS REGISTRATION OF DISPLACED PAKISTANIS: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun to register thousands of people who fled fighting in Pakistan's rugged north in recent months and sought shelter in Islamabad and other urban centres.

UNHCR began the exercise on Monday at the request of the Pakistani government, to establish the number of people who have moved to urban areas after fleeing fighting between the army and militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Swat district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The focus of the humanitarian response to the displacement crisis has been in NWFP, where most people have fled, but more attention is turning to those who have moved further a field, including towns and cities. It has been a challenge to identify the displaced among the existing ranks of the urban poor.

UNESCO LAUNCHES NEW WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY: UNESCO and 32 partner institutions will officially launch today the World Digital Library -- a Web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. It functions in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish – and includes content in more than forty languages. It also provides unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material. The World Digital Library was developed by a team at the Library of Congress, with technical assistance from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. According to UNESCO, the new Library offers an invaluable platform for the free flow of information and for the celebration of cultural diversity. The site will be accessible after 1 pm New York time at http://www.wdl.org/en/

U.N. TAKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE VERY SERIOUSLY: In response to questions about a staff member accused of possessing child pornography, the Spokeswoman confirmed that José Antonio Ortega is a staff member of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. He was on a personal trip and left on 9 April for Canada; he was expected to come back to the office on 13 April, but did not show up. His office could not get in touch with him and was still trying to find out about his status until 17 April, when the news of his court case was announced in the Canadian press. The matter is taken very seriously by the United Nations, Okabe said, adding that it has already been referred to UN Security and the Office of Human Resources Management for action.

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