HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON
BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday, September 8, 2005
KOFI ANNAN SAYS ROLE OF CITIES CRITICAL IN WORLD'S
FUTURE
This morning, the
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, addressed the
United Cities and Local Government meeting at UN Headquarters.
In his remarks
to the mayors and other officials there, he said that over the next 30 years
virtually all of the world’s population
growth will occur in the urban areas of low- and middle-income countries.
He
added that cities and local authorities have a critical role to play in
this as should present trends continue, the decades ahead will see the
urbanization of poverty.
Later today, the Secretary-General will address the
Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. In his speech, he is
expected to tell the parliamentarians that they – as the embodiment of
democracy – have an important role to play in the implementation of the
outcome of next week’s
World Summit.
U.N. STAFF ASSISTING U.S. HURRICANE
KATRINA RELIEF EFFORTS
The
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs provided an update on
UN efforts working closely with Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
in support of the U.S. relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.
An initial UN presence has now been established in
Atlanta and is moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today, with a staff of eight.
The United Nations also has a presence in Denton, Texas, with a total of six
staff on the ground today. Both are working with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s Regional Coordination Centers. In addition, logistics
staff are also at the Little Rock Air Force Base, the staging area for
incoming international assistance. We are also liaising with the U.S. AID
Response Management Team in Washington, D.C. UN logisticians are helping in
tracking international assistance with the U.S. team.
The World Food Programme and
UNICEF have started talks with the American Red Cross about the
possibility of eventually channeling materials and supplies through them.
UNICEF is providing education supplies to the
non-governmental organization, Church World Service.
The World Health Organization is responding to requests for staff to
assist in Baton Rouge, Denton, and the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention.
U.N. REPORT FOCUSES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
PROBLEMS IN IRAQ
Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Iraq, today released a report on the human rights situation in that
country during July and August. The report voiced concern over the lack of
protection of basic human rights there.
The UN’s Human Rights Office receives regular allegations
reflecting the deficiencies in the administration of justice, in particular
the handling of detainees. It also notes the flagrant disregard for human life
demonstrated by armed opposition groups.
U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR LEBANON IS IN
MOSCOW FOR TALKS
Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy
for the Implementation of Security Council
Resolution 1559, was in Moscow today, where he met with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov.
They reviewed the latest developments concerning the
resolution’s implementation and related matters. The meeting took place as
part of a round of broad consultations with key partners on Resolution 1559
and related matters.
Roed-Larsen described the meeting as productive. He will
remain in close contact with his Russian counterparts.
Asked about the work of the head of the investigation
into Rafik Hariri’s assassination, the Spokesman said that Detlev Mehlis is in
New York today, where he is talking with UN officials about his investigation.
Mehlis will meet with the Secretary-General this afternoon. He is also ready
to talk to key ambassadors, as they request.
Asked whether Mehlis met with the Syrian Ambassador, the
Spokesman later said they met on Wednesday.
MORE AFGHAN EX-SOLDIERS JOIN
REINTEGRATION PROGRAM
The
UN Mission in Afghanistan reports a slight increase in the number of
former officers and soldiers who have joined the reintegration program.
So far, more than 60,000 people have either entered or
completed the process, representing about 98 percent of all demobilized
fighters.
ANNAN ASKS FOR EXTENSION OF U.N. MISSION
IN LIBERIA
The Secretary-General's report to the Security Council on
Liberia is out as a document today.
In the report, he asks for an extension of the
UN Mission in Liberia of its mandate for another year, until September of
next year.
He also complimented the UN mission and the Liberian
people on what he called steady progress in their preparations for the October
national elections.
FEWER CHILDREN, MORE WORKERS IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Fertility reductions that took place in developing
countries in the 1970s and 1980s have reduced the share of children in the
population and increased the proportion of working-age persons, a new report
by the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs says.
The report says those changes can boost the per capita
rate of economic growth and raise living standards, easing the path to
fulfilling the
Millennium Development Goals.
“HONOR ROLL” OF PAID UP COUNTRIES NOW AT
113
Vietnam sent its dues in today.
The arrival of that check brought the list of
fully-paid-up member states to 113.
UNITED NATIONS WILL FOLLOW UP ON
OIL-FOR-FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS
The Spokesman, in response to questions about the report
issued on Wednesday by Paul Volcker’s
Independent Inquiry Committee, said the 1,000-page
report was “quite exhaustive” and clearly stated findings against various
UN officials. He said that the United Nations would take follow-up action as
necessary, based on the findings of the report, which UN officials are now
studying.
The Spokesman repeatedly declined to answer questions
about the actions of some UN staff, including Wagaye Assebe and Lamine Sise,
involving the purchase of a car by the Secretary-General’s son. Dujarric said
that the Volcker report had exhaustively dealt with those issues.
Dujarric added that the Secretary-General had made clear
on Wednesday that he
accepts responsibility regarding the report’s findings. Action has already
been taken against a number of staff members over the past months, he added.
Among the actions being taken to follow up on the Volcker
report, the Spokesman said, the United Nations was establishing an Ethics
Office, creating rules to protect whistle-blowers and setting up a policy for
greater financial disclosures. The United Nations has also learned lessons on
how to improve its administration, he said.
He noted, in response to another question, that the
Oil-For-Food Programme would have been run better with clear lines of
responsibility between the Security Council and the UN Secretariat and with
stronger auditing capability.
The report, he said, was a strong message for UN reform,
with clear recommendations for a United Nations with modern administrative
powers and greater oversight.
Asked about responses to potential criminal activity, the
Spokesman said that the United Nations would cooperate, and was cooperating,
with national authorities prosecuting any criminal behavior.
Asked whether Deputy Secretary-General
Louise Fréchette would resign, the Spokesman noted that the
Secretary-General told reporters on Wednesday that he does not expect any
resignations. The Deputy Secretary-General continues to enjoy the
Secretary-General’s confidence, he added.
He added, in response to a question, that he was not
aware of any specific meeting between the Secretary-General and his Deputy on
the report.|
Asked about the Deputy Secretary-General’s role in the
coming days, the Spokesman said she would continue to work on issues of UN
reform and would participate fully in next week’s summit. He said there was no
pressure whatsoever from Member States for either the Secretary-General or
Fréchette to be scapegoats for the problems described in the report. The
Secretary-General, Dujarric said, would continue to work on UN reforms over
the rest of his term.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s mood, the Spokesman
said that he was focused on the weeks ahead and on efforts to get a solid
outcome document at the 2005 World Summit.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNITED NATIONS CONDEMNS ATTACK ON MINISTER IN COTE
D’IVOIRE: The
UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) has
condemned an attack on Territorial Administration Minister Issa Diakite by a
group of young people. The UN mission said Diakite was uninjured in the incident
but several cars were damaged, including those belonging to the UN. The mission
said the attack was “unacceptable and incomprehensible at a time when energies
should be devoted to peace and national reconciliation.”
NO DEADLINE SET FOR SUMMIT DRAFT: Asked if a
deadline had been set for a draft outcome document for next week’s Summit, the
Spokesman said he was not aware of one.
*** The guest at the noon briefing was Karen Koning
AbuZayd, Commissioner-General of the
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
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