HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON
BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, 3 May 2005
ANNAN WELCOMES MAYORS' VISION OF A GLOBAL BAN ON NUCLEAR
WEAPONS
Secretary-General Kofi Annan met today with the
"We must revitalize the long-term vision of a world free of nuclear
weapons because that is the only way to guarantee that these terrible
weapons will never be used again," he
The Secretary-General this morning
He told them that, four months before the September Summit, it is natural
to see Member States stake out their positions on UN reform. But, he added,
"We will not get very far if each advocates only its own interests. There
must be flexibility, and a willingness to respond to the needs of others."
COTE D’IVOIRE: U.N. MISSION ORGANIZES RECONCILIATION MEETING
AFTER ETHNIC FIGHTING CAUSES HUNDREDS TO FLEE
The
Humanitarian workers traveled to the town today to assess the situation
and verify the number of displaced persons.
The UN mission, which has reinforced its patrols in Duékoué, yesterday
organized an inter-ethnic reconciliation meeting, which was attended by
traditional leaders from the different ethnic groups, local administrators,
government authorities and representatives of militia groups.
The participants agreed, among other things, that joint patrols would be
increased, that the market would be reopened and public transport resumed.
The UN mission reported today that tensions had eased in the area, which
was slowly returning to normal.
Meanwhile, the UN mission transported a Force Nouvelles delegation to the
capital, Yamoussoukro, today to attend a seminar on the disarmament process.
At UN Headquarters, the
SUDAN: U.N.-HIRED TRUCKS LOOTED IN NORTH DARFUR
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Khartoum reports that the security situation
in Darfur continues to be fluid. In North Darfur, banditry has been
prominent with two incidents where commercially hired UN trucks were looted.
An international non-governmental organization staff member and vehicle were
detained and released two days later.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and its
non-governmental organization partners today
AIDS EPIDEMIC KEEPS EXPANDING, ANNAN SAYS
Despite encouraging signs that AIDS is beginning to be contained in a
small but growing number of countries, the overall epidemic continues to
expand, the Secretary-General says in a
The report adds that, while political commitment to responding to AIDS
has become significantly stronger since 2001, it remains inadequate in many
countries in which the epidemic is emerging as a major problem.
MALARIA REPORT LAUDS NEW MEDICINES & GREATER MOSQUITO NET
USE
BUT NOTES CONTINUING THREAT
Today
It notes that more countries are turning to the most modern malaria
medicines, and that more people are getting long-lasting insecticide-treated
mosquito nets through innovative new programmes.
At the same time, however, the report finds that the disease still kills
one million people every year, mostly in Africa.
And according to Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF, malaria
takesHEALTH AGENCY CALLS FOR FUNDS TO PREVENT POLIO OUTBREAKS
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the polio virus found
recently in Indonesia may be traced back to a recent West African outbreak,
which started when polio vaccination activity stopped in Nigeria.
WHO also says it needs to raise $50 million between now and the end of
July to conduct polio vaccination campaigns for children in the so-called
"polio virus reservoir countries," such as Nigeria and India. And an
additional $200 million are required for next year's activities.
SIERRA LEONE: FIVE CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT
The
The Court’s decision, taken last Friday, was announced today in Freetown.
The Court accuses one of the five individuals, Brima Samura, of revealing
one witness’s name to two other people, who in turn said they would attack
the witness’s house.
ETHIOPIA FLOODS DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA), the number of confirmed dead and missing in Ethiopia continues to
Thousands more remain homeless, and emergency relief teams are hampered
in their efforts to provide assistance, since many areas remain inaccessible
and communication has been difficult.
SECRETARY-GENERAL SALUTES JOURNALISTS’ COURAGE
ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Today is
Noting that, in 2004, nearly 60 journalists were killed in the line of
duty, he reminds governments that the right to "seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media" is enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
In a separate
U.N. RELEASES ANNUAL LIST OF 10 UNDER-REPORTED NEWS
STORIES
Today, for the second year in a row, on the occasion of World Press
Freedom Day, the Department of Public Information has
The list which was put out earlier today, include the crippling child
bearing disease fistula, the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda and the
new growth of infectious disease in places where man has degraded and
destroyed the environment, to cite just three.
The Department of Public Information hopes that this initiative can
encourage media outlets to consider giving these more space and airtime.
MAURICE STRONG DIDN’T CONCEAL RELATION TO U.N. STAFF MEMBER
Asked whether Special Adviser Maurice Strong had hired a relative, the
Spokesman noted that, in light of the recent disclosures involving Strong,
the United Nations began a routine examination of his administrative file.
It was discovered that his step-daughter, Kristina Mayo, who had been
working for him in his capacity as Special Adviser, had not disclosed her
relationship to Strong in her UN personnel form. That is a violation of UN
rules. Mayo resigned on April 21.
The Spokesman made clear, however, that Strong himself had not concealed
that she was his step-daughter and had indeed sought approval of the
appointment.
The United Nations is now examining why UN staffing policies and
procedures were not followed in this particular case.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON COTE D’IVOIRE: The
SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES NOTE OF SOMALIA ENVOY APPOINTMENT: Also, out as
documents today are the
REFUGEE AGENCY TRANSFERS CONGOLESE REFUGEES AWAY FROM RWANDA-CONGO BORDER:
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has started
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLEEING TOGO KEEPS RISING: The outflow of refugees
sparked by the ongoing political crisis in Togo is still
SPOKESMAN NOT AWARE OF SENATOR’S COMMENTS: In response to a question, the
Spokesman said he was not aware of comments by Senator Norm Coleman that there
may be tapes implicating the Secretary-General.
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