HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, 22 April, 2005
ANNAN CALLS ON LEADERS TO WORK ENERGETICALLY TOWARDS U.N. REFORM
This morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan he addressed the opening of the Asian-African Summit, appealing to each of the leaders gathered there to come to New York in September, and asking them to instruct their representatives in New York to work energetically in the coming months to agree on language and decisions that will pave the way for a historic reform and renewal of the United Nations.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Secretary-General held ten back-to-back bilateral meetings.
He met with the King of Nepal, the Presidents of Algeria, Nigeria and Indonesia, followed by the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Korea and Thailand, the President of the Philippines, the Prime Minister of Japan, and the Presidents of Vietnam and Pakistan.
ACTING U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CHIEF MET DARFUR REFUGEES IN SUDAN
The Acting UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Wendy Chamberlin, is in N'Djamena, Chad today, on the final stop of her five-day mission to Sudan and Chad.
In the Chadian town of Iriba yesterday, she met refugees from Darfur and listened to their concerns about the difficulties they face when seeking water, food, firewood and education for their children.
There are some 200,000 refugees from Darfur in 11 camps in eastern Chad. A 12th camp is scheduled to open soon.
IMPROVED POLITICAL CLIMATE HASN’T ENDED STALEMATE IN WESTERN SAHARA
The Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in Western Sahara notes that the increase in high-level contacts is an encouraging development. However, he adds, the overall improved political climate has not ended the stalemate between the parties on the core issue of how the people of the territory can exercise their right of self-determination.
He also recommends a six-month extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.
U.N. AGENCIES EVALUATING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE IN COLOMBIA
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN agencies are today visiting the area around the village of Toribío, in the southwestern province of Cauca in Colombia, in order to evaluate the humanitarian needs of the displaced indigenous population there.
In the past week, fighting between the Colombian Army and guerrillas displaced around 3,500 indigenous Nasa people in the area, and it is believed that if fighting continues, that number could quickly reach as many as 5,000.
UNHCR adds that attacks against indigenous communities are reportedly on the increase this year, and there are even fears that, if the present trend continues, some of the smaller and more vulnerable groups and their cultures may actually disappear as they are driven from their ancestral lands and disperse.
61st SESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ENDED TODAY
Today was the last day of the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. In a closing statement, Louise Arbour, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she had found the forum to be a source of both encouragement and concern.
Pointing to several resolutions that had "helped advance our understanding of human rights", she added that the Commission’s ability to address human rights issues at the national level was demonstrably deficient.
DESPITE RECURRING DELAYS, PEACE PROCESS IN BURUNDI APPROACHES FINAL STAGES
Carolyn McAskie, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi, today delivered a message on the Secretary-General’s behalf to the summit meeting on the Regional Initiative on Burundi.
She said that thanks to the courageous efforts played by the Chairman and members of the Regional Initiative for Peace in Burundi, as well as by the Facilitation, the peace process in Burundi is approaching what we hope will be its final stages, despite recurring delays.
She called on Burundi’s leaders to take that last step towards meeting the aspirations of the Burundian people, who deserve nothing less than a democratically elected Government, committed to peace, stability and development.
McAskie added that he United Nations will continue to do everything possible to support the electoral process. She also noted that a number of key elements of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement have yet to be completed.
GOVERNMENT OF DJIBOUTI ASKS FOR AID FOR 30,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DROUGHT
The Government of Djibouti has requested international assistance for nearly 30,000 people affected by drought. In response, the UN Country Team is preparing an inter-agency flash appeal.
In the meantime, both the government and the World Food Programme are distributing one month’s worth of food rations, and the UN Children’s Fund has set aside money to buy fuel for borehole generators in the worst-hit areas. The UN Development Programme has also contributed funds.
SURVEY ON ASIA & PACIFIC REGION TO BE LAUNCHED ON MONDAY
On Monday, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will launch its 2005 survey on the region in Bangkok. This year’s survey predicts that Asia and the Pacific will continue to have the fastest-growing regional economy in the world.
At the same time, however, it notes that the region’s economic prospects have been undermined by high oil prices, the tsunami, bird flu, and HIV/AIDS. The survey also highlights social issues such as the dynamics of an ageing population.
U.N. MISSION TO NEPAL WAS UNDERTAKEN BY HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE
Yesterday we told you that the UN mission that went to Nepal – to plan for an expanded UN human rights presence in that country – had been headed by Walter Kalin, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, and Dennis McNamara, the Director of the UN’s Internal Displacement Division.
In fact, that mission was undertaken by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The mission headed by Mr. Kalin and Mr. McNamara looked at the human rights of internally displaced persons, as well as broader issues related to internal displacement in Nepal.
VERIFICATION TEAM TO LEAVE FOR LEBANON SOON
Asked to confirm whether a commission related to resolution 1559, on Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon, was due to arrive in Beirut on Sunday, the Spokesman clarified that that verification team, which was still being put together by the peacekeeping department, would be a technical team led by military experts. It would be going to Lebanon in a couple of days, but there was no exact date yet.
Asked when the Annan report on the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon would be released, the Spokesman said it would be given to Security Council members no later than 26 April.
Asked whether the 1559 verification team would be back before the Secretary-General issued his report, the Spokesman clarified that the report may contain official statements from Syria and Lebanon on the Syrian withdrawal. However, the UN’s verification of the withdrawal would be completed a technical team that report once it had completed its work.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s reaction to reports that the head of Lebanese security and the chief of Lebanon’s police had put themselves at the disposal of the Lebanese Prime Minister, the Spokesman said he had no comment on an internal Lebanese issue.
Responding to a question about whether the UN was planning to send electoral experts to Lebanon, the Spokesman said Lebanon had not requested that deployment.
In response to additional questions about Lebanon, the Spokesman said that, although the head of the team looking into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri had not been named yet, a small advance team, consisting of some six staffers, would be going to Lebanon shortly to look at administrative, logistics and communications issues and basically lay the groundwork for the upcoming investigation mission. They would work closely with the Lebanese authorities.
Asked to elaborate on the composition of that advance team, the Spokesman said it would include people from the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and administration.
When a journalist inquired about who the leader of the Hariri investigation team might be, the Spokesman said the selection process was ongoing.
INFORMATION ON STRONG’S U.N. EMPLOYMENT BEING PREPARED
Asked about the UN employment history of Maurice Strong, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General and Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Korean Peninsula, the Spokesman said he was preparing that information and would hopefully be able to share it by this afternoon.
Asked how long the Independent Inquiry Committee, headed by Paul Volcker, would be talking to Maurice Strong, the Spokesman advised the journalist to direct that question to Volcker’s team. Asked if the Secretary-General had spoken recently to Strong, the Spokesman replied “not that I’m aware of.”
Asked if UN officials could serve on the boards of various corporations while employed by the UN, the Spokesman said that depended on the status of those officials’ contracts.
Asked how Strong’s departure was affecting the work of the UN in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Spokesman said that work had not been shut down. In fact, Strong had been backed by a team from the Department of Political Affairs, which was still maintaining the file and keeping up contacts. That would cover the UN for the time being.
Asked if the UN was looking for someone to replace Strong, the Spokesman said he was not aware of that.
Asked whether Strong would return to the UN if the allegations against him were cleared, the Spokesman said Mr. Strong had decided to suspend his assignment until the question of his association with Korean businessman Tongsun Park is resolved. The Spokesman refused to comment further.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
AGRICULTURE COOPERATION BETWEEN TUNISIA AND TOGO: Tunisia is sending 20 farming experts and technicians to Togo to work with local experts, as part of an agreement signed today. The Tunisian experts will work in Togo for a period of three years, contributing their knowledge in areas such as water management and crop intensification. The agreement is part of the Food and Agriculture Organization's South-South Cooperation Programme, a global initiative that aims to strengthen cooperation among developing countries.
IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN IN THE AMERICAS: Starting tomorrow and running through 30 April, the "Vaccination Week in the Americas" is the largest immunization drive in the Americas held every year. Coordinated by the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Americas, this year's vaccination campaign aims to reach children who live in hard to reach rural regions, as well as vulnerable groups such as women of childbearing age. They will be immunized against diseases such as measles, polio and rubella.
NO ANNOUNCEMENT YET ON NEW HEAD OF UNDP: Fielding an inquiry about the next administrator of the UN Development Programme, the Spokesman said he was not ready to announce that appointment.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Monday, 25 April 2005
The Security Council has scheduled a public meeting, where it will be briefed by the 1267 Committee, the 1540 Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of leading U.S. companies, and the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will host a conference, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. , to advance public and private partnerships in response to global disasters. The UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, and President Bill Clinton will speak.
Tuesday, 26 April 2005
The Security Council will hold a meeting on Cote d'Ivoire, with the Vice-Foreign Minister of South Africa briefing that body on the Pretoria meeting held earlier this month.
Wednesday, 27 April 2005
The guest at the noon briefing will be Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). In her final press conference as head of UNICEF, she will reflect on her tenure at the agency.
Friday, 29 April 2005
The guests at the noon briefing will be Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Nobuyasu Abe and Ambassador Sergio de Queiroz Duarte, President-elect of the Review Conference of the States Parties to the Non-proliferation Treaty.
At 2:00 p.m., Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland will brief the press on the Helsinki Process
