BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
NEW YORK
Friday, 27 January 2006
SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘CONCERNED’ WITH VIOLENCE IN DARFUR
The Secretary-General is seriously concerned by the major
escalation of violence in the Jebel Marra region of
Darfur, particularly the heavy fighting in the Golo and Shearia areas that
has forced humanitarian agencies to evacuate. He
condemns the attack by Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) forces on Golo, and
calls on all parties to immediately stop all hostility.
He reiterates his call on the parties to the conflict in
the strongest terms to respect their agreements and the provisions of
international humanitarian law. A lasting solution to this conflict can only
be found through a negotiated settlement.
U.N. URGES
SUDAN TO END ‘CULTURE OF IMPUNITY’
The
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today
released a
report on Sudan. It says that efforts to improve the human rights
situation there have fallen short of commitments made following the signing of
the Comprehensive Peace Agreement a year ago.
The report points to
initiatives that have been superficially and inadequately implemented, and
says that in Darfur in particular, positive political measures have been
overshadowed by an ineffective judiciary, an ongoing conflict, and widespread
human rights abuses.
It calls on the Sudanese
Government to work on ending the culture of impunity throughout Sudan by,
among other things, adequately financing, reforming and staffing the
judiciary.
ANNAN SAYS
HOLOCAUST DENIAL IS ‘THE WORK OF BIGOTS’
Today is the International Day of Commemoration in Memory
of the Victims of the Holocaust. This morning there was a Holocaust memorial
ceremony and lecture in a full General Assembly hall.
The Secretary-General
addressed the large gathering with a video message. He told the gathering
that there can be no reversing the unique tragedy of the Holocaust. “It must
be remembered, with shame and horror, for as long as human memory continues,”
he said.
He went on to say that remembering
is a necessary rebuke to those who say the Holocaust never happened or has
been exaggerated. The Secretary-General said, “Holocaust denial is the work of
bigots.” “We must reject their false claims whenever, wherever and by whomever
they are made.”
Other Speakers included Under-Secretary-General
Shashi Tharoor, Holocaust survivor Gerda Klein, and Professor Yehuda Bauer
of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education,
Remembrance and Research.
Earlier in the day in Zurich, the Secretary-General and
Nane Annan marked the day by meeting with Auschwitz
survivors, ranging from the ages of 82 to 91, as well as a group of young
members affiliated with the International Auschwitz Committee.
In comments to the press
afterwards he said in the world we live in today we should be vigilant in
trying to ensure that what happened is never repeated and that the young
people should heed this message.
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONFERS WITH TURKISH
PRIME MINISTER
The Secretary-General was in
Davos earlier today where he met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to review a proposal and plan of action the Turkish Prime Minister put
forward. The Secretary-General has undertaken to study that plan.
The Secretary-General and the
Prime Minister also reviewed the outcome of the Palestinian elections. They
agreed that the will of the Palestinian people expressed in the January 25
elections must be respected and that the international community must help the
Israelis and Palestinians move forward.
Earlier today, before leaving
Davos, the Secretary-General met with Goodwill Ambassador Michael Douglas. He
also met with
UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt last night.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s response to the
Prime Minister’s plan, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General will
study the plan, consult other key players and contact the Prime Minister to
determine the next steps and how to proceed.
SECURITY
COUNCIL MEETS ON GREAT LAKES REGION
The
Security Council is currently holding a formal meeting on the Great Lakes
region, presided by Tanzanian Foreign Minister Asha-Rose Mtengeti-Migiro, and
featuring the participation of 13 other foreign ministers, as well as other
senior officials.
The Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for the Great Lakes Region,
Ibrahima Fall will brief the Council at today’s meeting on the
Secretary-General's report on the international conference for Great Lakes
region.
The Security Council may vote
on a resolution on the Great Lakes region at the end of today’s meeting.
Yesterday, the Council heard a
briefing on the unrest in Cote d’Ivoire from the head of the UN Mission in
that country,
Pierre Schori. Schori afterward told reports that UN activities are still
being carried out in the country, but called the situation on the ground
“outrageous” and “inadmissible”.
U.N. LEGAL
AFFAIRS CHIEF MEETS LEADERS IN LEBANON
In the course of his mission to
Lebanon, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs
Nicolas Michel paid a series of calls on the country’s political
leadership, including the President, Parliament Speaker, Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister.
He also had a substantive
working session chaired by the Minister of Justice, Charles Rizk, which
included the Prosecutor General and other senior members of the Lebanese
judiciary.
Michel expressed his great
appreciation for the positive and constructive atmosphere of all discussions.
He was encouraged by the broad commitment demonstrated to move ahead in the
coming days and weeks.
Asked how long Michel will be in Lebanon, the
Spokesman said he would be there for a few more days.
ANNAN CONFERS
WITH QUARTET PARTNERS ON PALESTINE
Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General talked with the
other members of the Quartet by phone on the Palestinian Legislative Council
elections.
In a statement issued afterward, the Quartet called on
all parties to respect the results of the election and the outcome of the
Palestinian constitutional process so that it may unfold in an atmosphere of
calm and security.
The Quartet reiterated its view that there is a
fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the
building of a democratic state. A two-state solution to the conflict requires
all participants in the democratic process to renounce violence and terror, to
accept Israel's right to exist, and to disarm, as outlined in the Roadmap. The
full Quartet statement is available upstairs.
The Secretary-General and the other principal members of
the Quartet will meet to discuss these matters further next Monday, in London.
Asked how the Quartet communicated to develop its
statement, the Spokesman said that there had been a conference call, in which
the statement was approved by the Quartet’s principal members.
Asked about comments from
former US President Jimmy Carter about how money presently going to the
Palestinian Authority could be spent on UN activities for the Palestinians,
the Spokesman said that one of the issues the Quartet will discuss is how to
find a way forward for the Israelis and the Palestinians following the
elections.
The refugees arrived in Uganda last week after fleeing
fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNHCR says that in total,
around 20,000 Congolese crossed the border into Uganda last week.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. WELCOMES FUNDING COMMITMENTS TO STOP TUBERCULOSIS:
The
World Health Organization (WHO) today
welcomes the two funding commitments by the United Kingdom and the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation to help tackle the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic.
The United Kingdom Government announced that it would give $74 million to help
fight TB in India and the Gates Foundation decided to triple its funding for TB
to more than $900 million by 2015.
U.N. EXPRESSES CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ON PAKISTAN’S QUAKE-HIT
AREAS: After a two-day field trip to Pakistan’s earthquake-affected areas,
the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, said today
glimmers of fresh hope and optimism were emerging among earthquake survivors and
relief officials. He observed that people there were starting to think about
post-relief recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. But Vandemoortele also
warned against over-optimism and complacency in the relief operations.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED
NATIONS
Monday, January 30
The Secretary-General will make a
short visit to The Hague, in the Netherlands, where he is set to meet the Dutch
Prime Minister and attend the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Global Management
Meeting. He then travels to London, where he plans to meet with the principals
of the Middle East Quartet.
The Deputy Secretary-General will
speak on Secretariat and management reform at informal consultations of the
General Assembly.
There will be Security Council consultations this morning on
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Tuesday, January 31
The Secretary-General is
scheduled to co-chair in London, along with Afghan President HamidKarzai and British
Prime Minister Tony Blair, the London Conference on Afghanistan.
In the Security Council this
morning there will be formal meetings on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) and the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). There will also be an
open briefing and consultations on the Middle East. Today is the last day of the
Tanzanian Presidency.
At 1:15, the Permanent Mission of Oman is sponsoring a
press conference on the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which
will be held in Muscat, Oman, in April 2007.
Wednesday, February 1
The United States assumes the rotating Presidency of
the Security Council.
The Deputy Secretary-General will address the Pace Law
School in White Plains on UN reform. The event will be moderated by James Traub,
contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine.
Assistant-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations, Hédi Annabi, will be the guest at the noon briefing. He will brief
on recent developments in Haiti.
At 12:45, the Permanent Mission of Slovenia will be
sponsoring a press conference, entitled “Tsunami Response: A Human Rights
Assessment”, with Miloon Kothari, the UN Commission on Human Rights Special
Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, representatives from the Indian communities
affected by the December 2004 tsunami, and Action Aid International.
Office
of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 100178
Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only
Fax. 212-963-7055
All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org
