HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
ANNAN: MANAGEMENT REFORM NEEDED TO IMPROVE U.N.’S SERVICES TO THE WORLD
Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning presented to the General Assembly his report on management reform, “Investing in the United Nations.”
He told the Assembly that the United Nations is more efficient and effective than it was a decade ago, but more changes are needed to deal with a Secretariat that is engaged directly in many parts of the world.
Today’s report, the Secretary-General says, proposes changes in the way staff are recruited and managed and in the structure of the top management of the Secretariat. It calls for a major investment in information and communication technology; identifies new ways to deliver services; proposes a drastic simplification of the budget and ways of making the management of the budget more accessible; and urges the creation of a small, dedicated office in the Secretariat to manage the process of change.
He asserted that the proposed reforms will help to give “better value” to the hundreds of millions of people around the world who need the UN’s services.
Asked why the Secretary-General did not refer to the General Assembly his proposal to give more powers to the Deputy Secretary-General, the Spokesman said that the proposal was an effort by the Secretary-General to delegate authority to a senior adviser. It did not, he said, remove the Secretary-General’s responsibility for the Organization.
Dujarric added that the membership has just received the report, and the United Nations looks forward to an active debate on it.
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO
The Security Council held consultations today on Kosovo. It received a briefing by Martti Ahtisaari, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Future Status of Kosovo, on his recent talks with the parties.
Ahtisaari later talked to reporters, saying that the decentralization talks are concentrating on the main issue of how the lives of minorities can be improved. He said he wants to see improvements there before moving on to other issues.
ENVOY CALLS FOR END TO AIR VIOLATIONS OF LEBANON’S BLUE LINE
Geir Pedersen, the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for Lebanon, today called once more on the Israeli authorities to cease its air violations of the Blue Line and Lebanese sovereignty.
He made that statement following four Israeli air violations yesterday, and one so far today, in Southern Lebanon. These air violations come at a delicate time during Lebanon's efforts to re-assert its sovereignty and independence, including, among other things, through the historic national dialogue currently underway.
Pedersen reminded all parties that one violation cannot justify another and calls on them to respect fully the Blue Line.
Asked whether the Secretary-General had any response to the interruption of Lebanon’s national dialogue, the Spokesman said that was an issue for the Lebanese leaders themselves to comment on, and added that the dialogue was a process that the Secretary-General has encouraged
U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF COMMENDS CONGOLESE REFERENDUM
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, arrived in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he is on a 10-day visit.
Speaking soon after his arrival, Guéhenno commended the Congolese for their participation in the constitutional referendum last year. He also noted that the organization of the upcoming elections would be a big challenge for the Congolese as well as the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Guéhenno plans to meet with political leaders, including President Kabila, and he also intends to visit the eastern part of the country.
INAUGURATION OF COTE D’IVOIRE COMMISSION WELCOMED
Antonio Monteiro, the UN’s High Representative for Elections in Côte d’Ivoire, today welcomed the inauguration of the Independent Electoral Commission in Abidjan.
Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny on Monday declared the commission operational and asked the members to produce an electoral roll for presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
Monteiro congratulated the board members and urged them - and the country - to build on political gains already made towards the holding of the elections.
MORE PLEDGES MADE TO CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it has received pledges from Iceland and India for the new Central Emergency Response Fund, (CERF), bringing the number of pledges to 23.
The fund, which is to be formally launched on Thursday, is designed to save lives by providing quick initial financing for rapid responses to emergencies.
The fund is an outcome of the Secretary-General’s reform process and the Millennium Summit.
The Secretary-General, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland, President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson and several international political leaders will officially launch the fund Thursday morning in the ECOSOC chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. Egeland will speak to the press on Thursday afternoon.
Asked about the need for a humanitarian appeal for the Horn of Africa, the Spokesman noted that WFP Executive Director James Morris and Special Envoy Kjell Magne Bondevik have been calling for donor support to deal with that situation. Dujarric said that the need to provide food to the Horn of Africa was an example of the sort of circumstance for which the CERF would be useful.
WHO CHIEF VISITS MAURITIUS FOR OUTBREAK INSPECTION
The latest figures indicated that there were more than 2,500 cases of chikungunya on the island.
WHO has deployed a team to the Indian Ocean region to evaluate the measures undertaken to fight the disease. Earlier in the week Dr. Lee was in Madagascar which also has reported fresh cases of the disease. Dr. Lee returns to Geneva Friday.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
POP STARS TO GIVE PROCEEDS FROM NEW SONG TO UNICEF: UN Children’s Fund Goodwill Ambassador for Japan, Agnes Chan, Monday evening launched her debut United States album, Forget Yourself, at a live performance hosted by UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman. Chan is dedicating the proceeds from the song ‘It’s a Wonder’, recorded with another UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and film superstar Jackie Chan, to UNICEF in honour of the 60th anniversary of UNICEF. She is also dedicating a portion of the album’s earnings toward UNICEF’s work for children.
NOBEL LAUREATE TO SPEAK AT LAUNCH OF UNDP ANTI-POVERTY REPORT: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) says that Nobel Laureate, Professor Amartya Sen, will deliver a keynote address at the Millennium Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, at the launch of a new report on infrastructure, which emphasizes that to target poverty, international actors must pursue small scale, community-led infrastructure projects. The report is a joint collaboration of UNDP and the Government of Japan.
ANNAN’S OPINION ON EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS WELL KNOWN: Asked about the Secretary-General’s response to comments by Israel’s Defence Minister threatening the lives of Hamas officials, including the Palestinian Prime Minister-de
