HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,  NEW YORK
Thursday, 7 July 2005
 
LONDON BOMBINGS AN ATTACK ON HUMANITY ITSELF, SAYS ANNAN 
The following is a statement by the Secretary-General.
“I was devastated by the atrocious bombings that struck London today. These vicious acts have cut us all to the core, for they are an attack on humanity itself. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones, all those who were hurt, all those who were traumatized by this tragedy. I grieve with all Londoners at the wounds that have been inflicted on this wonderful city -- this city that is home to people from so many countries and cultures -- and express my solidarity with the Government and people of the United Kingdom in this hour of trial.
Today, the world stands shoulder to shoulder with the British people, who with others around the world had mobilized so powerfully against poverty and climate change ahead of the Group of Eight summit, and who, I am sure, will confront this ordeal with the same spirit, courage and determination. I look to the Group of Eight, in their deliberations over the next few days, to show themselves equal to that resolve. Let us not allow the violence perpetrated by a few to deflect us from addressing the aspirations of billions of our fellow men and women who are demanding change.” 
Asked where the Secretary-General had been when the attacks took place, the Spokesman said he had just left London and was en route to Gleneagles, Scotland.
In response to further questions about what the Secretary-General would want to see achieved on terrorism, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General very much hoped that a definition of terrorism will be part of the outcome of the 2005 World Summit.
TERRORISTS WILL NOT SUCCEED, SAYS G8 SUMMIT ATTENDEES 
Earlier today, the Group of Eight industrialized nations, joined by the United Nations, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, India, China, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization came out with a statement condemning these barbaric attacks utterly, and saying that “those responsible have no respect for human life.”
The parties to the statement affirmed that they will not allow violence to change their societies or their values, or to disrupt the work of the G8 summit. “The terrorists will not succeed,” they said.
SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS LONDON TERRORIST ATTACKS
 In a formal meeting, the Security Council today unanimously adopted resolution 1611, by which it condemned today’s attacks in London and expressed sympathy with the victims. Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette attended the meeting.
Following the meeting, Security Council President, Adamantios Vassilakis of Greece, read out a press statement, in which he expressed the Council’s outrage at the attacks.
Prior to the meeting, the Council held consultations on the matter.
ZIMBABWE: FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, U.N. ENVOY SAYS
The Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Human Settlement Issues in Zimbabwe continued her mission today.
This morning Anna Tibaijuka stopped in the town of Hwange and inspected recent demolitions of homes. Later she was shown sites the government has set aside for new housing.
She will also travel to Victoria Falls for further inspections.
Tomorrow, Tibaijuka will be in Harare for a final round of meetings. She hopes to fly to Nairobi Saturday. She will report to the Secretary-General on her findings.
Tibaijuka yesterday emphasized, “In a democracy people cannot be forced to stay away from a city, nor can they be forced out of a city. The freedom of movement is a fundamental right. People come to the cities for economic opportunity.  If you try to ship them away it doesn’t work. They will come back anyway.”
U.N. PEACEKEEPERS LAUNCH ANTI-GANG OPERATION IN HAITI 
In Haiti yesterday, members of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti conducted a large operation in the Cité Soleil area of Port au Prince.
The target was a base of operations for gangs that operate in the capital.
The UN Mission reported that the gangs resisted and a firefight broke out. It also reported no casualties on its side but said that some gang members were killed or wounded.
D.R. CONGO: U.N. PEACEKEEPERS RAISE “IRON FIST” 
Today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, no fewer than 1,000 troops are participating in an operation, code-named Iron Fist.
This is the largest operation ever organized by the Pakistani Blue Helmets of the South Kivu Brigade, supported by Guatemalan Special Forces and Congolese troops.  They are deploying by road, in vehicles and on foot, with Indian contingent helicopters for close air support, into territories occupied by groups of Rwandan Hutu fighters to the north and south-east of Bukavu, in the territories of Walungu and Kabare.
This complements “Operation Falcon Sweep”, which started earlier this week, which aims to extend the UN’s security perimeter in the Walungu territory, to flush out armed groups from the area, and to enhance the confidence of the local population in the peacekeepers. 
ANNAN CONGRATULATES BURUNDI ON SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS
 In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General congratulated the Transitional Government of Burundi and the Burundian people for the successful and peaceful conduct of the recent legislative elections. 
He also called on all parties in Burundi to continue to work together in the final and most crucial phase of the transition, which will lead to the transfer of authority to an elected Government on 26 August 2005. 
DISARMAMENT PROCESS ENDS IN AFGHANISTAN 
Today, Afghanistan marked the end of the disarmament and demobilization phases of its peace process. The UN Assistance Mission in that country said that some 63,000 Afghan military forces had disarmed, while more than 34,000 light weapons and 9,000 heavy weapons had been collected.
The UN Mission also provides information on the fact-finding mission to Afghanistan by the special rapporteur dealing with violence against women, Yakin Erturk. She will visit the country from 9 to 15 July.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SAY THAT POPULATION ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED
 The Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, will be speaking this evening at the U.N. Population Award Ceremony, which begins at 5:00 in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
She is expected to say that population and reproductive health issues must be squarely addressed, as part of the global drive to promote development and human rights.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS 
COMPARISONS BETWEEN GAZA & CONCENTRATION CAMPS IRRESPONSIBLE: In response to a question about recent remarks by Jean Ziegler, an independent expert who reports to the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food, the Spokesman later said that Ziegler’s views were his own, not those of the United Nations. Dujarric added that the UN believes that any comparison between conditions in Gaza and those of Nazi concentration camps is irresponsible. Such a comparison does not reflect the views of the Secretary-General. 
U.N. RIGHTS CHIEF TO VISIT LIBERIA: This Saturday, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, is to visit Liberia for five days, and she is to talk to officials of the transitional government and the leadership of the UN Mission in that country, among others. 
U.N.’S IRAQ ENVOY MEETS KURD REPRESENTATIVE: Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, met yesterday with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s coordinator to the United Nations, Dindar Zebari. They discussed how to increase UN operations in Northern Iraq, and Qazi assured Zebari of the UN’s full support. 
EMERGENCY FUNDS SENT TO KYRGYZSTAN FOLLOWING FLOODS: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that it is providing an emergency grant of $20,000 to the Government of Kyrgyzstan, following floods and mudflows in three of the country’s southern provinces. Crops have been severely damaged, and more than 400 families have had to leave their homes. The Government says it needs blankets, bedding, tents, fuel, medicine and food. 
MILLIONS TO FACE HUNGER DUE TO POOR FARM PRODUCTION: The Food and Agricultural Organization says in a report out today that more than 10 million people in six African countries will need humanitarian assistance next year because of poor agricultural production. The production shortfalls were caused by erratic weather and difficulties in getting fertilizers and seeds, according to a joint report by the FAO and the World Food Programme.
**Today’s guest was Ibrahim Gambari, Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Political Affairs.