HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, 1 February, 2004
ANNAN NAMES BILL CLINTON TO POST OF SPECIAL ENVOY FOR TSUNAMI-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan has indeed offered to former U.S. President Bill Clinton the position of his Special Envoy for Tsunami-affected Countries and President Clinton has accepted.
The Secretary-General is confident that President Clinton will bring energy, dynamism and focus to the task of sustaining world interest in the vital recovery and reconstruction phase following the Tsunami disaster that hit south Asia on 26 December 2004. He believes that no one could possibly be better qualified for this task.
The Secretary-General and the President agreed that a formal announcement with a joint appearance by both should await President Clinton’s return from a visit to the region with former U.S. President George Bush later this month.
In response to questions at the Noon Briefing, the Spokesman said that the whole idea the Secretary-General had in naming a Special Envoy is to keep world attention focused on tsunami clean-up and recovery efforts, and also to explore the openings for Sri Lanka and Indonesia to make advances in peace efforts with rebel groups in those countries.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TRANSMITS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY REPORT ON DARFUR TO SECURITY COUNCIL
On Monday evening, the Secretary-General transmitted to the President of the Security Council the report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, and the text was made public.
The Commission has established that the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed are responsible for crimes under international law. It also found that attacks on villages, killing of civilians, rape, pillaging and forced displacement have continued even while it was conducting its inquiry. Its most important recommendation, to which the Secretary-General hopes the Security Council will give immediate and very serious attention, is that “action must be taken urgently to end these violations”.
The Commission concluded that the Government of Sudan “has not pursued a policy of genocide”, although “in some instances individuals, including Government officials, may commit acts with genocidal intent” and only a competent court can decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether this was the case in Darfur.
The Commission has given the Secretary-General a sealed file of the names of people it believes are responsible for serious violations, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.
It recommends that this file be handed over to a competent Prosecutor, and it strongly recommends that the Security Council immediately refer the situation of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a statement, the Secretary-General says that his own support for the ICC is well known, but he adds, “This is a decision for the Security Council, not for me.”
What is vital, he stresses, is that these people are indeed held accountable. Such grave crimes cannot be committed with impunity. That would be a terrible betrayal of the victims, and of potential future victims in Darfur and elsewhere.
Asked whether the Secretary-General can refer cases to the ICC, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General doesn’t have that option under the Rome Statute. Instead, he said, a State that is party to the Rome Statute can refer a case, and so can the Security Council.
Asked about the names that are in a sealed envelope, the Spokesman said that those names would be sent to a competent authority, once the Security Council decides where to refer it. For now, the names are in a sealed envelope in a safe in the Secretary-General’s office; the Secretary-General has not opened it.
In response to a question on why the list of names put together by Commission of Inquiry on Darfur was treated differently to names which appeared on a report on Cote d'Ivoire, the Spokesman said the Commission of Inquiry of Darfur report specifies how the names should be treated.
Asked why the Secretary-General hasn’t looked at it, the Spokesman said it was because it is not for him to take action, but for a competent authority. In response to another question, the Spokesman said that there is no timeline for action, but the information would be turned over to a prosecutor once the Security Council decides how to proceed.
In response to a question concerning comments by members of the US Congress that the Secretary-General should push for Council action on Darfur, or resign if that fails to happen, the Spokesman said that the most the Secretary-General can do under the Charter is to bring to the Council’s attention any threat to peace and international security, but it is ultimately for the Security Council to act.
Asked whether the Secretary-General is worried about a stalemate between the United States and the European Union concerning which authority would be referred the Darfur case, the Spokesman said it was too early to tell. The Secretary-General will continue to monitor the matter.
The Spokesman declined to comment on whether the Security Council had met its legal obligations in its response to Darfur, but noted that the Secretary-General has asked for a long time for decisive action to be taken, to beef up the international response to this tragedy.
AFRICAN UNION TEAMS SHOT AT IN DARFUR
The UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) has received reports from the African Union that two African Union teams were shot at on Monday, in different locations in South Darfur.
The first shooting incident occurred in an area south of Nyala, where African Union monitors were investigating an attack on a village, while the second incident was near Shangil Tobai, where another team was investigating reports that aerial bombing had taken place on January 26. No casualties have been confirmed in the shooting incidents.
SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES SUCCESS OF IRAQI ELECTIONS
In addition to receiving the Commission of Inquiry report, the members of the Security Council also received a briefing on recent developments in Sudan in closed consultations Monday afternoon. Haile Menkerios, a Director in the Department of Political Affairs, briefed the Council on recent reports of fighting in Darfur, as well as in eastern Sudan.
The Security Council also discussed the Sunday elections in Iraq, and Council members welcomed the balloting, calling it a "positive step in the political development of Iraq," Council President Cesar Mayoral of Argentina said in a press statement after consultations adjourned. "As the Secretary-General has said, the success of the elections augurs well for the transitional process," Ambassador Mayoral said.
Today, Ambassador Joel Adechi of Benin takes over from Ambassador Mayoral as President of the Security Council for the month of February. He is currently holding bilateral consultations with other Council members on the programme of work for the month.
Then, at 4:00 p.m., the Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting to vote on a resolution on sanctions for Cote d’Ivoire.
U.N. PEACEKEEPERS IN COTE D’IVOIRE PROVIDE SECURITY TO PILGRIMS
The UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire reports that its Force Commander, General Abdoulaye Fall, traveled to Bouaké, the stronghold of the Forces Nouvelles, to discuss security measures to be taken during the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
Also, UN peacekeepers provided security for 33 Muslim pilgrims traveling from Abidjan to Bouaké. The pilgrims arrived safely.
U.N. PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED IRAQIS
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) continues to work with Iraqi ministries and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance and support to the reconstruction process.
In Fallujah, the UN and the International Organization for Migration have distributed supplies to over 26,000 families displaced due to the current situation.
Working with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, UNICEF is also providing emergency health support to children and their families in conflict areas.
The UN Mission and other UN agencies are also closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in Mosul and a number of other locations in light of the escalation of violence.
Asked whether the United Nations has opened offices in Erbil and Basra, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General intends to open UN offices in those two cities, and logistics are being put in place to do that.
IRAQ: CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS WILL HELP, IF IRAQIS ASK
The Spokesman, in response to a question, confirmed that the UN has some constitutional experts within its ranks to assist the Iraqis. But if the request for such assistance came, it would come from the transitional assembly of Iraq, which is a sovereign elected body.
As stated in resolution 1546, the UN stands ready to assist, if asked. But the constitutional drafting process is an Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-led process. This is not a constitution that will be imposed from the outside.
As the UN has said a number of times, Iraq is a country with a wealth of intellectual resources. The UN role would be a supportive one, to bring assistance when and where it is needed.
The key to the success of this next phase of the transitional process is to ensure that all individuals, groups and parties who, for whatever reason, were unable or unwilling to take part in the election are now brought into the constitution-making process. Through its Special Representative, the UN will continue to work towards that goal.
NEPAL: ANNAN CONCERNED BY SUSPENSION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the actions taken by the constitutional monarchy in Nepal on Tuesday to dissolve the government, impose a state of emergency, and suspend civil liberties and freedom of expression.
The Secretary-General views these actions as a serious setback for the country. He does not believe that they will bring lasting peace and stability to Nepal. Steps should be taken immediately to restore democratic freedoms and institutions.
The Secretary-General is very mindful of the safety and well-being of the Nepalese people and their representatives, including political leaders, human rights workers and journalists. He urges calm and restraint by all parties in the country so as to avoid actions that could worsen the situation.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour also expressed her serious concern at the decision taken by King Gyanendra of Nepal to dismiss the Government and to assume direct power.
The High Commissioner said that, when she met the King during her visit to Nepal last week, he reaffirmed his unequivocal commitment to human rights, democracy and multiparty rule. Arbour said she expects the King to live up to his stated commitment and ensure that the democratic institutions of the State are reinstalled without delay.
SECRETARY-GENERAL RETURNS TO NEW YORK
The Secretary-General this morning returned to New York, ending a four-day trip during which he attended the African Union summit in Abuja, Nigeria, and met with the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, in Yaoundé.
The Secretary-General is not expected to come to UN Headquarters today. He will return to the office on Wednesday.
U.N. PREPARING FLASH APPEAL FOR GUYANA FLOODS
In Guyana, the UN Country Team is preparing an international flash appeal to cover flood recovery activities for the next six months.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), some 375,000 people still remain in shelters, where poor sanitation conditions are leading to skin rashes and vomiting; there are also fears of epidemics.
So far, WFP, with the assistance of Ecuador, has sent two planes, carrying around 27 tons of emergency food rations, to flood-hit areas.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO GO TO WASHINGTON: The Deputy-Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, will travel to Washington on Wednesday to deliver an address at the Women's Foreign Policy Group. The topic of the meeting is "New Challenges for the United Nations." Following her speech, the Deputy-Secretary-General will take part in a question and answer session with participants.
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME SENDS FOOD TO CYCLONE-HIT MADAGASCAR: The World Food Programme (WFP) has started sending supplies of emergency rice to south-western Madagascar today, to assist the thousands of people who were hit by last week’s Cyclone Ernest and the ensuing tropical storm. WFP plans to initially assist more than 5,000 of the hardest-hit people while damage assessments are being carried out.
BIRD FLU SITUATION MAY WORSEN: The Food and Agriculture Organization, together with the World Animal Health Organization, said today that Avian Influenza, or bird flu, remains a constant threat in Asia, and that affected countries need to do more to keep the epidemic under control. The agencies also said that the recent tsunami disaster may worsen the bird flu situation, due to the large-scale movement of poultry.
U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION IN NORTH AFRICA: The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is launching a one-year project to look into transit migration from sub-Saharan Africa into Europe, because it has become increasingly concerned that, in their efforts to combat illegal migration, both the EU and transit countries are tending to overlook the needs of asylum seekers who are often mixed in with illegal migrants. The project will focus on North Africa.
* The guest at today’s briefing was Carina Perelli, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division, who discussed the Sunday elections in Iraq.
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