HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
ASSOCIATE
SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, March 11, 2005
ANNAN ATTENDS
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF MADRID TERRORIST ATTACK
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on the last day of his visit to Madrid,
attended a silent memorial service with King Juan Carlos of Spain that honored
the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in the city a year ago
today.
This morning, during a press conference, the
Secretary-General
said to the people of Spain, “The world mourns with you.” He said there is
much that the world can do to deter terrorism without sacrificing human
rights.
In response to a question, he said he was concerned at
measures in some countries to undermine civil and human rights. “We need to
make sure that there is a balance,” he said.
Also today, the Secretary-General met with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he discussed terrorism, Cyprus and
Iraq. They also spoke briefly tete-a-tete.
LEBANON: U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY
TRAVELS TO BEIRUT
AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH JORDANIAN AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the
Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, met today in Amman
with Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulki. They discussed the full
implementation of
resolution 1559.
After the meeting, the Foreign
Minister and Roed-Larsen declared that they agreed on the relevant issues.
Roed-Larsen thanked the Foreign Minister for Jordan’s full support to his
mission and its positive and important role and efforts in safeguarding
stability in the region.
Roed-Larsen also spoke on the
phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and they were also in
agreement on all the issues. They will remain in close contact.
After his talks in Jordan,
Roed-Larsen will depart to Beirut, Lebanon.
In response to a question, the
Spokeswoman said she could not confirm a media report, citing an unidentified
UN official, that suggested that Roed-Larsen would tell President Bashar
al-Assad that Syria would face political and economic isolation if it does not
comply.
On the contrary, she said that,
after his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Jordan, Larsen said that he was
going to Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon to have a constructive dialogue
and that the United Nations was not operating with the use of threats.
U.N.
PEACEKEEPERS CARRY OUT OPERATION IN EASTERN DR CONGO
AIMED AT BRINGING STABILITY THERE
Peacekeepers from the
UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo carried out a cordon and
search operation today in the
Ituri district in the country’s north-east.
The peacekeepers were acting on information about the
possible presence of militia members in the area, and they carried out a
house-to-house search in the village.
Around 600 military personnel were involved in operation
around the village of Penyi, which is around 30 kilometres north-east of
Bunia, Ituri’s capital city.
The ground troops were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, South
Africa and Nepal; and the air transport was from Bangladesh, with gun-ships
from India.
There was no contact made with any militias, nor were any
arms or other military equipment found, and the troops have returned to base.
The operation was not a one-off event. It was a regular
operation that is part of an ongoing campaign to disarm local militias who
have been terrorizing local residents in Ituri, as well as fighting among
themselves for control of the wealth in the area – and more of these
operations are expected.
AFRICA COMMISSION REPORT WILL MAKE KEY
CONTRIBUTION
TO SOLVE CONTINENT'S PROBLEMS,
Chef de Cabinet
Mark Malloch Brown this morning is receiving a report from the Commission
on Africa, established by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that deals
with the challenges facing that continent.
In a
statement, the
Secretary-General says he is confident that the report will be an
important contribution to the continuing search for effective solutions to
Africa’s problems, and a useful input as he finalizes his own report on the
implementation of the Millennium Declaration.
The
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today also
welcomed the recommendations presented by the Commission for Africa,
including its call for substantial new investments in people.
SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP
ERITREA/ETHIOPIA
FOLLOWING BRIEFING ON COTE D’IVOIRE
The
Security Council this morning is holding consultations on Cote d’Ivoire,
with the Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations,
Jean Marie Guéhenno, briefing Council members on recent developments in
that country.
Then, at 3:00 p.m., the Security Council will return for
consultations on the
Eritrea/Ethiopia, to discuss the
Secretary-General’s latest report. The Council also met with troop
contributing countries to that UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, earlier
this morning.
SECURITY
COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF U.N. ADVANCE MISSION IN SUDAN
Thursday afternoon, the
Security Council unanimously adopted a
resolution 1585 extending the mandate of the
United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan until 17 March.
NO
SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES MADE IN SEARCH
FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION TO DARFUR CRISIS
The
Secretary-General’s latest monthly
report on
Darfur, Sudan, has been posted on the website.
He notes that there were no significant advances in the
search for a political solution to the crisis in Darfur over the past month.
Both sides, he said, failed to capitalize on the momentum that was generated
in January by the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The Government has not stopped militia from attacking
civilians. Such inaction and prevailing impunity continue to undermine the
confidence that statements by the Government are intended to inspire on the
other side of the negotiating table.
For their part, the rebel movements do not inspire much
confidence that they are prepared to seize political opportunities. Rebel
forces have refused to reveal their positions to the African Union Ceasefire
Commission, have continued to harass relief workers and have fired on African
Union and
World Food Programme helicopters.
The Secretary-General said concerted political pressure
must be brought to bear on all sides to create the conditions for serious
talks at the negotiating table.
A date for discussion of this report in the
Security Council has not yet been set.
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN WINDING
UP SESSION
Today is the last day of the
Commission on the Status of Women, and at this morning's session,
Commission members adopted three resolutions tabled by governments.
Two resolutions on women, girls
and HIV/AIDS and on integrating a gender perspective into post-disaster
recovery particularly in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster,
were adopted by consensus after oral amendments.
A resolution on Palestinian
women was adopted after a vote – with 38 in favour, one against and two
abstentions.
Consultations are still
continuing on three resolutions on reducing the demand for trafficking in
women, establishing a special rapporteur on discriminatory laws and gender
mainstreaming in national policies. These are being held over until later.
Other resolutions still to be
considered today include the economic advancement of women, indigenous women,
and women in Afghanistan.
U.N. COMPENSATION COMMISSION AWARDS MORE
THAN $265 MILLION
The Governing Council of the
UN Compensation Commission yesterday concluded its 55th session
in Geneva by approving awards worth more than $265 million.
Of that amount, $161.1 millions was awarded to the
families of 603 Kuwaitis who had been considered Iraqi detainees following the
1991 invasion of Kuwait, but who had in fact been executed by the Iraqi
regime.
Each of the families will receive at least $100,000.
ROLL BACK MALARIA CONCERT KICKS OFF IN
DAKAR THIS WEEKEND
Youssou N'Dour, Khaled, and Salif Keita are among the
artists to perform at a musical event this weekend
in the Senegalese capital of Dakar to support the fight against malaria.
Africa Live: The Roll Back
Malaria concert will take place on the evenings of March 12 and 13 at the Iba
Mar Diop Stadium in Dakar. Approximately 40,000 spectators will attend the
concert, and it is expected to reach an additional audience of one billion
worldwide.
The event is part of the
Roll Back Malaria Global Partnership, initiated by the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, the UN Development Programme and the World Bank. At
present, approximately 3,000 children die from malaria every day.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. MISSION IN BURUNDI HOLDING INQUIRY
INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE: The
UN Operation in Burundi is conducting an inquiry into allegations of sexual
abuse of minors by UN peacekeepers. Major Adama Diop, the Mission’s military
spokesperson, has been in contact with the Burundian police chief from the area
where the alleged crimes took place.
U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS BURUNDIANS FLEE TO RWANDA:
The
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
reports that more than 800 Burundians have fled
across the border into Rwanda over the past two weeks, citing what they say are
rising tensions in three northern provinces.
NEARLY 600,000 AZERBAIJANIS FACE FOOD
INSECURITY:
The
World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that up to 600,000 rural
Azerbaijanis face food insecurity, and that nearly 300,000 of the one million
Azerbaijanis displaced by the conflict with Armenia are likely to stay dependent
on food aid for the foreseeable future. WFP’s operations in Azerbaijan are
currently facing a shortfall of about $4 million. The agency had originally
appealed for $21 million for a three-year humanitarian operation there.
FOOD RATIONS INCREASED FOR
CONGOLESE REFUGEES IN TANZANIA: WFP has increased food rations to some
400,000 mainly Congolese refugees in northwestern Tanzania by 23%. But the
rations still do not provide the standard 2,100 calories per person required
daily. WFP, along with the
Office of the UNs High Commissioner for Refugees, are therefore
appealing for more funds from donors.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Monday, March 14
The Secretary-General will travel to Ramallah, where he is
to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister
Ahmed Qurei.
The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Burundi
and on sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also expects to
hold a formal meeting to vote on the mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and
Eritrea.
The guests at the noon briefing will be Jan Egeland, UN
Emergency Relief Coordinator, and a representative of the firm Price Waterhouse
Coopers (PWC) on PWC’s pro bono offer to enhance accountability and transparency
of funds entrusted to the UN under the Tsunami Flash Appeal.
The 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights begins
in Geneva.
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is holding a two-day
forum, beginning today, entitled "Integrating Economic and Social Policies to
achieve the UN Agenda," in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber.
Tuesday, March 15
The Secretary-General will visit Israel, where he and Nane
Annan are to attend the inauguration of the Holocaust History museum at Yad
Vashem.
The Security Council has scheduled consultations on
Somalia.
Wednesday, March 16
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will hold a two-day informal
meeting, starting today, to prepare for its high-level segment on achieving
internationally agreed development goals.
Thursday, March 17
The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the UN
Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Today is the last day of the present mandate of the UN
Mission in Sudan.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
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