HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Monday,
October 4, 2004
ANNAN
OUTLINES
FOUR WAYS TO ASSIST
AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR
Secretary-General Kofi
Annan has
written to the Alpha Oumar Konare, the Chair of the African Union (AU)
Commission, to propose four areas where the United Nations could provide
additional immediate assistance to expand the current AU observer mission in
Darfur,
Sudan.
These are: the establishment of a UN Assistance Cell at the AU headquarters in
Addis Ababa; the identification of pre-screened police from AU member states
for possible inclusion in the AU mission; the opening of offices in Darfur of
the UN Advance Mission in Sudan and assisting in preparing a pledging
conference for the expanded AU mission.
The first group of the UN assistance cell was expected in Addis
Ababa
today.
ANNAN:
IGAD-LED PROCESS IS CENTRAL TO COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN SUDAN
The
Secretary-General's
report on the UN Mission in Sudan established under
Resolution 1547 is out as a document.
It is a
progress report on the UN mission and also on the North-South peace process
led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The Secretary-General says that the IGAD-led peace process is central to
comprehensive peace in the
Sudan. “No other peace process has come so far or has addressed the
fundamental roots of the conflict in southern Sudan,” the report says.
While the process does not offer a comprehensive solution to the country’s
problems, the breadth of the agreements reached so far offer a basis for
answers to the wider issues of insecurity and conflict. He says that the
current crisis in Darfur is emblematic of that problem.
This report is not to be confused with the Secretary-General’s second 30-day
report on progress, or lack thereof, by the Government of Sudan towards
meeting the requirements to restore security in Darfur. Advance copies of this
report in English only are expected to go to members of the
Security Council
this afternoon.
Asked when
the commission of inquiry for Darfur would be announced, the Spokesman said he
expected to make an announcement very soon, possibly in the next 24 hours.
U.N. OFFICIAL
TO ATTEND REVIEW OF CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT FOR
DARFUR
At the invitation of the Chadian mediation, the Deputy Special Representative
for Political Affairs in Sudan, Taye Zerihoun, left today to N'Djamena, Chad
to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on the cease-fire agreement signed
between the government and the Darfur rebel groups to be held tomorrow.
The purpose of the meeting is to review the status of implementation of the
ceasefire agreement.
From N'Djamena, he will leave to Nairobi to attend the Kenya Talks scheduled
to resume on 7 October, with a meeting between first Sudanese Vice-President
Ali Osman Mohammed Taha and John Garang, Chairman of the rebel Sudanese
People's Liberation Movement. (SPLM).
SECURITY COUNCIL
DISCUSSED DRAFT RESOLUTION ON TERRORIST THREATS
The
Security Council this morning adopted the
programme of work for the month of October.
Then, Council members took up “Threats
to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.” A new draft
resolution was circulated and discussed.
At 12:30 p.m.,
Security Council President, U.K. Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry, briefed the
press on the month’s programme of work.
At 3:30 p.m., the Council will hold consultations
on
the Middle East,
and these will be followed by a formal meeting.
U.N. OFFICIAL DENIES U.N.
VEHICLE
USED TO TRANSPORT WEAPONS
In response
to media reports that an ambulance driver for the
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
was photographed by an Israeli Defense Forces drone loading a Kassam rocket
into his vehicle, UNRWA Director-General
Peter Hansen immediately launched an investigation.
After
reviewing the videotape and interviewing the ambulance driver, UNRWA
concluded that that the object visible on the tape is a folded stretcher. It
appeared to be the wrong length and much too light in weight to be a missile.
Hansen has
warned that such serious allegations can endanger the safety of UN
humanitarian workers in the region.
The
Secretary-General has no reason whatever to doubt Hansen’s
conclusions.
He intends to
call in Israel’s Ambassador
to the United Nations,
Dan Gillerman, to ask what evidence Israel has to support the allegations and
to let him know of his decision to launch an investigation to be conducted by
a UN team which will leave New York tomorrow.
Asked about
Hansen’s recent comments to the media on Hamas, the Spokesman said, “We don’t
hire terrorists.”
He noted
that, although the United Nations does not ask staff about their political
affiliations, it requires all staff to conduct themselves with appropriate
practices and principles.
If any UN
staff member were involved in any illegal activity, he affirmed, the United
Nations would respond quickly by taking disciplinary and legal action.
Asked about
the team leaving New York to investigate the allegations, the Spokesman said
that the team had already been scheduled to go to the region to review UN
operations there. The Secretary-General has asked the team to look into the
allegations and asked Israel to provide any evidence that it has.
The
Secretary-General is also expected to raise with the Ambassador UNRWA’s
problems of entry into and exit from Gaza.
Asked about
Hansen’s conclusions, the Spokesman noted that Hansen had looked at a
videotape provided by a media outlet. He assumed that a Government could have
the means to provide more specific information.
UN MISSION IN HAITI ASSISTS POLICE TO
MAINTAIN ORDER
ANNAN CALLED FOR HALT TO
VIOLENCE IN GAZA STRIP
On Sunday,
the
Secretary-General
called on the Government of Israel to halt its military incursions into
the Gaza Strip, which have led to the deaths of scores of Palestinians, among
them many civilians, including children.
The
Secretary-General likewise called on the Palestinian Authority to take action
to halt the firing of rockets against Israeli targets by Palestinian
militants. He reminded both sides to this conflict that they have a legal
obligation to protect all civilians.
Asked
about criticism from the Israelis and the Palestinians about recent UN
statements on the violence, the Spokesman said that the number of deaths on
both sides is unacceptable. The continuing attacks just add to tensions and
make a political solution more difficult.
There is
too little attention on both sides, he said, to the effects of attacks on
civilians, and too much acceptance of collateral damage. The United Nations is
reminding the sides of what international law calls for.
ANNAN CONDEMNED SATURDAY
TERRORIST ATTACKS IN INDIA
On Saturday,
the
Secretary-General learned with shock and dismay the news of bomb and
gunfire attacks that took place that day in crowded public places in Nagaland
and Assam states, India, which have claimed the lives of a large number of
people.
The
Secretary-General strongly condemned these terrorist attacks.
No cause or
grievance can justify such senseless and cruel acts that target innocent
civilians. He expressed his sincere condolences to the victims and their
families.
SECURITY COUNCIL
APPROVES MORE TROOPS FOR UN MISSION IN DR CONGO;
NEW CEILING FALLS WELL BELOW RECOMMENDED STRENGTH
On Friday
afternoon, the
Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the
UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until
March 31, 2005.
It also authorized an additional 5,900 military and police personnel for the
Mission.
Following the
vote, the
Secretary-General reminded the Council that while the additional personnel
would improve the Mission’s operational capacity, the newly approved ceiling
fell well below the figure of 23,900 troops and 507 civilian personnel he had
recommended.
He continued
to believe that the total strength recommended in his report was the minimum
required to meet the current challenges in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In view of
this reduction, the Secretary-General said that the Mission would have to
review the scope of support it could provide to the peace process.
He welcomed
the Council's intention to keep the strength and structure of the Mission
under regular review, and said he hoped that the Council would revisit the
Mission’s requirements favourably in the future.
SECURITY COUNCIL
URGES COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE FORCES TO PROTECT
UN MISSION IN IRAQ
The
Security Council agreed on Friday to send a letter to the
Secretary-General welcoming his proposals regarding security arrangements
for the United Nations Assistance Mission for
Iraq.
In the
letter, the Council also urged Members States to contribute to the effort.
In his
letter to the Council, the Secretary-General called for international
security staff, protection coordination officers, personal security details
and guard units. This would be in addition to protection provided by the
United States-led multinational force, which would be responsible for security
throughout the country.
Asked about
the
Secretary-General’s
meeting this morning with U.S. Senator Carl Levin, the Spokesman noted that
Senator Levin sees the Secretary-General periodically, and they were expected
to discuss Iraq.
ANNAN: PEACEKEEPERS
NEEDED ON CYPRUS,
BUT ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO U.N. PRESENCE
The
Secretary-General’s
report to the
Security Council containing his review of the
UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus has been released.
In the
aftermath of the rejection of the comprehensive settlement plan by the Greek
Cypriot side of the referendum on 24 April, the Secretary-General said he
would conduct a review of the mission’s operations taking into account
developments on the ground as well as the views of the parties.
While in the
absence of a comprehensive settlement, the presence of the UN peacekeepers on
the island remains necessary for the maintenance of a cease-fire, certain
adjustments to the mission’s can be made.
With the
security situation on the island having become increasingly benign, the
Secretary-General recommends that the number of peacekeepers be almost one
third. He proposes that a more mobile and efficient concept of operations.
As for the UN
police officers, who live within the community and perform a wide-range of
community service, the Secretary-General recommends that the present ceiling
be maintained.
He also
recommends an increase of the number of civilian affairs officers working in
the mission. He notes that their work has grown qualitatively and
quantitatively as they intercede on behalf of members of one community or the
other to ease specific situations
AFGHANS IN PAKISTAN
REGISTER TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
The UN
Mission in
Afghanistan says that some 315,000 Afghans registered to vote from
Pakistan over the weekend, on the first two days of registration activity
there.
The
out-of-country registration exercise comes just ahead of the Presidential
elections on 9 October.
The
Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Filippo
Grandi, told reporters yesterday that there continues to be, in many areas,
intimidation by anti-governmental forces, including the Taliban.
He said that
a report by the UN Mission and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
also notes instances where government and local officials have shown
partiality towards one candidate or another.
CONSULTATIONS
BEGIN ON COTE
D’IVOIRE PEACE PROCESS
The
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cote d’Ivoire,
Albert Tevoedjre, has begun a mission to consult with concerned Heads of
State and Government regarding the situation and to discuss proposals on the
way forward that would help ensure the full implementation of the Accra III
Agreement.
The
UN Operation in Cote D’Ivoire says that Tevoedjre will travel to Ghana,
Togo, Benin, Gabon, Niger and Mali.
UNITED
NATIONS AND INT'L
CRIMINAL COURT SIGN COOPERATION PACT
The
Secretary-General signed
an
agreement on the United Nations’ relationship with the International
Criminal Court (ICC), along with the Court’s President, Judge Philippe Kirsch.
The agreement
recognizes the status and mandate of both organizations. It provides that the
two institutions will cooperate closely on administrative and judicial matters
and will consult each other on issues of mutual interest.
Asked
whether the United States may withhold funds because of the agreement between
the ICC and the United Nations, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any
such threat.
DEPUTY-SECRETARY-GENERAL
PRESENTS
U.N.-CIVIL SOCIETY REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Deputy
Secretary-General,
Louise Fréchette, today presented to the
General Assembly the report of the panel of eminent persons on UN-civil
society relations, which, she noted, appeals for the United Nations to become
an even more outward-looking organization.
She said that
the
Secretary-General, in response to the panel’s report, had suggested, among
other things, that the contribution of non-governmental organizations in
intergovernmental bodies should be built into the General Assembly’s regular
business. Also, the Secretariat’s own dialogue with NGOs at Headquarters
should be improved.
She asserted,
“The time is right to take this partnership one step further for the benefit
of the Organization and the people it was created to serve.”
WFP FACES GROWING SHORTFALL IN ITS
FUNDS FOR REFUGEE-RELATED OPERATIONS
The
World Food Programme has a growing shortfall in its funds for
refugee-related operations.
The agency
is now some $220 million short of the $865 million needed this year to feed
nearly 11
million people in refugee-related operations.
James Morris, the Executive Director of the World Food
Programme, drew attention to the shortfall while addressing the 55th
annual session of the Executive Committee of the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.
At the opening of
the event,
Ruud Lubbers, the High Commissioner for Refugees,
said there is a “less friendly environment” for refugees – despite a sharp
fall in the number of refugees and asylum
seekers around the world.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD FOCUS
ON URBAN/
RURAL AREAS
While there
are differences between urban and rural development that require different
interventions, ultimately sustainable development cannot and should not focus
exclusively on one or the other.
That is part
of the
Secretary-General’s
message on
World Habitat Day, which is today.
The day’s
theme is “Cities – engines of rural development” – and it aims to underline
the importance of mutually beneficial linkages that are essential for the
development of both cities and rural areas.
World
Habitat Day has been
celebrated every year since 1985, and it is set aside by the United
Nations for the world to
reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate
shelter and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the
future of the human habitat.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW
PROGRAMME TACKLES DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MIGRANT WORKERS:
The
International Labour Office, with the support of the European Union, has
launched a new programme designed to tackle on the job discrimination
against
migrant workers. The new project will also seek ways of helping some 27.5
million migrant workers currently in Europe, integrate into the societies where
they work. According to the
project coordinator, the evidence indicates that newcomers rejuvenate
populations and stimulate growth without inflation. However, negative
perceptions of migrants in receiving countries arise out of a concern at their
presumed effects on unemployment, wage rates and social security.
FAO
CONFERENCE LOOKS TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOOD OF MOUNTAIN PEOPLE:
Representatives from
governments, civil society organizations and international organizations are at
the Rome headquarters of the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization today, for a two-day conference on
improving the livelihoods of mountain people.
Mountains are home to 12% of the
world's population, or 720 million people – of whom some 270 million are
vulnerable to food insecurity and, of these, 135 million suffer chronic hunger
and malnutrition. The conference will consider more effective and sustainable
agriculture and
rural development policies and practices for mountain regions – and put the
final touches to an
international project designed to support mountain people.
MORE THAN
80 MILLION CHILDREN TO BE IMMUNIZED
AGAINST POLIO ACROSS AFRICA:
More than 80 million
children will soon be immunized against
polio in 23 countries across west and central Africa, as part of the
single-largest, public health campaign in history. This massive-cross border
campaign was launched last Saturday, and the immunization process will begin on
8 October.
UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund,
says the campaign is vital for protecting African children from a looming
polio epidemic and getting Africa’s polio eradication programme back on track.
ANNAN CALLS FOR BETTER RESPONSE TO ARMED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA:
A new
report of the
Secretary-General has just been issued, on the causes of conflict and
promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in
Africa.
In it, the Secretary-General looks at how Africa and the international community
are better responding to armed conflicts in the continent, in particular through
the efforts of the African Union to mediate conflicts and strengthen its own
peacekeeping forces. He urges the international community to support these
initiatives more effectively.
U.N. TASK
FORCE ON FINANCIAL MECHANISMS LAUNCHED TODAY:
The UN Task Force on Financial Mechanisms, which was requested by the
World Summit on the Information Society last year, was launched today in New
York. Chaired by
UN Development Programme’s Administrator,
Mark Malloch Brown, the Task Force will review existing financial mechanisms
and examine ways of making the benefits of information technology available to
developing countries.
The task force’s
final report is to be presented to the
Secretary-General
at the end of
December. It will be taken up at the second preparatory meeting for the World
Summit, to be held in Geneva next February.
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