HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
ANNAN ALARMED BY RECENT VIOLENCE IN TONGA
Secretary-General Kofi Annan
is alarmed by the
recent violence in the Kingdom of Tonga. He urges the parties to persevere
with inclusive national consultations to support the democratic reform
process, and to overcome their disagreements through dialogue.
The Secretary-General stands ready to
support national and regional efforts aimed at facilitating a broad political
consensus.
ANNAN
CONGRATULATES NEW CONGOLESE PRESIDENT
The Secretary-General
welcomes the
announcement by the Supreme Court of Justice, on 27 November, of the formal
results of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He congratulates President Joseph
Kabila on his election and salutes the Congolese people,
whose determination enabled the first democratic
elections to be held in the country in more than 40 years.
The
Secretary-General also expresses appreciation to the international community
for the significant electoral and other support it provided for this process,
and calls on donors to generously assist the newly-elected authorities.
The
Secretary-General calls on all opposition leaders and their supporters to
peacefully accept the final results. Neither the people of the DRC nor the
international community, will tolerate the actions of those who may try to
undermine the process.
The
Secretary-General emphasizes the key role that a political opposition can and
must play in any democracy, and encourages the people and parties of the DRC
to pursue an inclusive political process in addressing the many reconstruction
and security challenges facing the country.
The
Secretary-General notes that the electoral process has not yet been completed,
and calls on the new Government to take all necessary action to ensure that
the Congolese people can elect their local representatives in as short a time
as possible.
In related news, the UN Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
has welcomed the announcement by the Supreme Court of Justice of the formal
results of the presidential vote and congratulated incumbent Joseph Kabila on
his election and defeated candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba for his role in the good
conduct of this historic transition to democratic rule.The Mission also
recalled the October 29th Declaration of Intent by the candidates, and calls
on them and their supporters to abide by that agreement inn which they clearly
to respect the electoral results and not resort to violence.
Asked about how the Vice President of
Congo would be determined, the Spokesman later said that the position was not
an elected one. It would be up to the incoming President to decide how to fill
that position.
Asked about fighting in the eastern
Congo, the Spokesman said that the latest information he had was that the
Congolese Armed Forces, with the help of the UN Mission, were now in control
of Sake.
He said that MONUC was working to
ensure that hostilities could cease as quickly as possible, and that the
United Nations was also trying to provide humanitarian aid in the country.
SECURITY
COUNCIL CONSIDERS CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT
The Security Council this morning
began an open
debate on the protection of children and armed conflict, chaired by the
Foreign Minister of Peru, José Antonio García Belaunde.
The Secretary-General
said that the
past decade has seen important gains in the elaboration of international legal
standards for the protection of children. And yet, he warned, we have only
begun to scratch the surface. He expressed his hope that the Security Council
will consolidate the gains that have been made, and will move forward to cover
all situations of concern and all grave violations.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict,
told the Council that there had been a number of successes on that front since
last year. She noted that the UN system in countries situations of concern has
increased the flow of timely accurate, objective and reliable information to
the Security Council.
The Council debate is continuing, with
42 speakers inscribed, and the Council also expects to adopt a Presidential
Statement on the protection of children at the end of today’s meeting.
SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON IRAQ
RESOLUTION
The Security
Council is scheduled to hold a meeting this
afternoon 3 p.m. to take action on a draft
resolution on Iraq.
HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLS FOR END TO VIOLATIONS IN DARFUR
The Human Rights Council, in Geneva,
adopted a decision on Darfur calling “on all parties to put an end to the
ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law”.
The decision gives special attention
to the vulnerable groups to the conflict, including women and children and
internally displaced persons, and calls on all parties to ensure unfettered
access by UN human rights monitors and unhindered delivery of humanitarian
assistance to those in need in Darfur.
Tomorrow, High Commissioner for Human
Rights Louise Arbour will address the opening of the Council’s third session,
updating the body on her recent activities, including her trip to Gaza. The
High Commissioner will also deliver a message on behalf of the
Secretary-General.
ANNAN
EXPECTING LETTER FROM SUDANESE PRESIDENT
TOMORROW ON WAY AHEAD IN DARFUR
Just before the briefing, the
Secretary-General this morning
spoke about
Darfur to the press. He said he is expecting tomorrow morning from the
Sudanese President a response on outstanding issues on the way ahead.
Meanwhile, the Under-Secretary-General
for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, is on his way to attend the
African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council Summit meeting on Darfur
tomorrow in Abuja, Nigeria, where he plans to deliver a statement on the
Secretary-General’s behalf. Among other items on the Summit agenda are the
conclusions of the
Addis Ababa High level Consultation on Darfur, held on 16 November, which
was co-chaired by the Secretary-General.
The officer-in-charge of the UN
Mission in Sudan, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, also is on his way to attend the AU
Summit.
In the context of the follow-up to the
Conclusions of the Addis Ababa meeting, specifically the one on the need to
re-energize the political process, Zerihoun met yesterday with Salim Ahmed
Salim, the Special Envoy of President Alpha Omar Konaré, Chairperson of the AU
Commission. The two officials discussed and agreed on steps to be taken to
prepare for a meeting with Darfur Peace Agreement signatories and
non-signatories.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s
comments on Sudan, the Spokesman noted that President Bashir, during his
lengthy press conference, had given some positive and some less positive
signals. The United Nations now awaited the Sudanese President’s letter, in
the hope that it would give a positive response.
LEBANON:
LANDMINE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
In response to questions yesterday
about Lebanon and landmines, the Spokesman said that the area where the recent
mine incidents took place in Deir Mimas has yet to be subjected to full scale
mine clearance. Once this is completed, the exact scope of the minefield will
be known.
During the operation to extract the
casualties from the minefield, one No 4 Anti-personnel mine, which is
manufactured in Israel, was located by the clearance team. From the condition
of the mine and the earth surrounding the mine, it is clear that the mine was
laid recently. Prior to the conflict, the area in question had been actively
used by local villagers.
Once the results of the clearance
activity are completed, as well as ongoing cooperative efforts with Israel to
confirm details regarding the mine, further information will be provided.
Asked whether Israel provided maps of
the landmines it had laid, the Spokesman said that there had been several
meetings with the Israelis on the matter since Israel’s almost-complete
withdrawal from Lebanon. Israel has provided some maps already, Dujarric
noted. Some further meetings between the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
and the Israeli Defence Force would take place today, he added.
He said that, although it was clear
that the mines in question had been manufactured in Israel, that does not
indicate clearly who may have laid the mines. There is no confirmation at
present of who did that, Dujarric said.
Asked about the assassination of
Pierre Gemayel, the Spokesman noted that the United Nations was providing
technical assistance to the Lebanese Government on the investigation of that
assassination, adding that it was up to the Lebanese authorities to comment on
the investigation.
ANNAN
SENDS SENIOR ELECTORAL OFFICIAL TO BANGLADESH
According to a
statement
issued Monday evening, the Secretary-General has been
following with concern developments in Bangladesh ahead of the January 2007
elections. He wishes to underscore the importance of a peaceful and
transparent environment so that these important elections can enjoy the full
confidence of the people of Bangladesh.
To offer continued UN support to the
process, a senior United Nations official, Craig Jeness, Director of the
Electoral Assistance Division, will be visiting Bangladesh between 29 November
and 1 December on behalf of the Secretary-General.
He will meet with the Head of the
Caretaker Government and other senior officials, election authorities,
representatives of the country's political parties and non-governmental
organizations.
Asked about the UN’s activity in
Bangladesh, the Spokesman said that Jeness was there to help the Bangladeshi
Government in any way that he can, and will see how best the United Nations
can help.
Asked whether Bangladesh had been
consulted, the Spokesman said that Jeness’s trip was being done with the
cooperation of the Bangladeshi Government and noted that the United Nations
does not provide electoral assistance without such cooperation.
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY MUST DECIDE ON FUNDING MECHANISM
FOR U.N. HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION
In the Secretary-General’s
report to
the General Assembly on the implementation of the Capital Master Plan, for the
renovation of the UN Headquarters building, he says it is now critical for the
General Assembly to decide on the funding mechanism for the renovation.
Noting that the plan is important for
the safety of all UN Headquarters occupants, he recommends that the General
Assembly approve the plan to be completed during the period 2006 to 2014 at a
budget not to exceed $1.876 billion. A decision by
the General Assembly on the financing of the plan is required to ensure
continuity of activities and completion of the project in 2014.
Meanwhile, also out is the
report on
the plan by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
(ACABQ), which recommends approval of the $1.876
billion budget.
The General Assembly’s Fifth Committee
is expected to take this item up on Thursday.
NEPAL:
U.N. ENVOY LAUDS AGREEMENT ON U.N. ARMS MONITORING
Ian Martin, the
Secretary-General's Personal Representative in Nepal for Support to the Peace
Process, reports that he is very pleased to see that the
negotiations between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist), with the assistance of his team, have reached an agreement on the
key details required for the UN to provide effective monitoring of arms and
armies.
The agreement is now being reviewed in
New York, and comes at a very important time, as the Security Council
considers the Secretary-General’s response to Nepal’s request. It sends a very
positive signal about the momentum of the peace process in Nepal. Martin adds.
BILL
CLINTON TO EMBARK ON FINAL VISIT TO TSUNAMI-HIT REGION
AS U.N. TSUNAMI ENVOY
This Friday and Saturday, former U.S.
President Bill Clinton will make his final visit to the
tsunami-hit region as the
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery. He will visit
locations in southern India, Thailand and Aceh, Indonesia.
During his tour, President Clinton
will review recovery progress over the last two years, visiting new permanent
homes and schools. He will also take stock of the programs that he has
personally pushed for and coordinated, including those to promote equity, to
empower communities to take charge of their own development, to restore
livelihoods, and to promote disaster resilience and risk reduction.
IRAQ’S
NEIGHBOURS HAVE POSITIVE ROLE TO PLAY IN BRINGING ABOUT STABILITY
Asked about the Secretary-General’s
comments on Monday that Iraq was close to civil war, the Spokesman said that
the Secretary-General based his comments on his analysis of recent
reports, including the one
put out last week by the human rights office of the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
The reports, he said, show strife that is costing the lives of thousands of
people each month.
Asked about the role played by Iran,
the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has made clear for some time
that the stability of Iraq is in the interest of all its neighbours, and Iran
and other neighbours have a positive role to play to help bring about that
stability.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNAN TO DELIVER SPEECH TODAY AT
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: At 4:30 this afternoon, the
Secretary-General will deliver an address at Princeton University’s Woodrow
Wilson School concerning the need for a common strategy to deal with the dangers
posed by nuclear weapons. He will also participate in a question and answer
session with the audience and receive an award conferred by Princeton
undergraduates.
ANTI-OPIUM EFFORTS MARRED BY
CORRUPTION IN AFGHANISTAN: The UN Office on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC) and the World Bank
released
a report today on Afghanistan, noting that efforts to combat opium production in
that country have achieved only limited success, have lacked sustainability and
have been marred by corruption. In fact, the drug trade is becoming more and
more controlled by fewer powerful players with strong political connections, the
report adds.
UNITED NATIONS
MUST HELP BRING DECOLONIZATION PROCESS TO AN END:
The Secretary-General has sent a
message to the
Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization, which is taking place today in Fiji.
In it, he says that, given that decolonization is incomplete, and 16
non-self-governing territories remain, it is the duty of the UN and the
international community to bring the process to a successful conclusion.
REFUGEE AGENCY RUSHES SUPPLIES TO
FLOOD SURVIVORS IN KENYA: Regarding the floods in
northeastern Kenya, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
reports that its
airlift of emergency supplies for thousands of refugees has stepped up pace,
with three flights from Nairobi since Friday and two more scheduled for today
and Wednesday. The flights are delivering plastic tarpaulins and medical
supplies. In addition, UNHCR and other agencies working in the area have started
developing a new site on higher ground that is safer for the refugees.
COMMON HUMANITY THE THEME OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EVENT: The UN’s
Global Alliance
for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development is
organizing an event called “Our Common Humanity in the Information Age:
Principles and Values for Development.” It will take place tomorrow at UN
Headquarters. Speakers will include former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari,
actress Julia Ormond, BBC News correspondent Katty Kay, UN Millennium Project
Director Jeffrey Sachs, and Google.org Executive Director Larry Brilliant.
NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON SOMALIS IN
LEBANON: Asked about a report saying that Somalis
had fought in Lebanon recently, the Spokesman recalled that the report was put
out by the Monitoring Group dealing with sanctions on Somalia. He noted that the
members of that group had been asked to speak to the press, but left New York
without doing so.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
