HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, December 8, 2006
ANNAN SLAMS
WORLD’S UNSTEADY COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS
This Sunday is Human Rights Day, and Secretary-General
Kofi Annan marked the occasion this morning by
addressing an
event at the Time Warner Center here in New York, in which he said that the
United Nations has often failed to live up to its responsibility to promote
human rights worldwide. Noting that he had tried to make human rights central
to all of the UN’s work, he said he wasn’t sure how far he had succeeded.
To fix the situation, the Secretary-General offered four
suggestions. First, he said, we must give real meaning to the principle of
“Responsibility to Protect”. Second, we must put an end to impunity. Third, we
need an anti-terrorism strategy that does not merely pay lip-service to the
defense of human rights, but is built on it. And fourth, we must move beyond
grand statements of principle and work to make human rights a reality in each
country.
The Secretary-General placed a particular focus on the
need for governments to do better in protecting the people of Darfur, asking,
“How can an international community which claims to uphold human rights allow
this horror to continue?”
The theme for Human Rights Day
this year is the fight against poverty as a matter of obligation not charity.
Recognizing that poverty is both a cause and a product of human rights
violations, this year's focus emphasises that today poverty represents
one of the gravest human rights challenges in the world.
ANNAN:
SUDAN MUST PROTECT ITS CITIZENS IN DARFUR
The Secretary-General, in response to a question about
the so-called hybrid force going to Darfur,
noted that the
Abuja summit of the Africa Union
Peace and Security Council had endorsed that approach. He went on to say that
the international community has been willing to go into Darfur and that it was
the Sudanese authorities who have refused to accept that help.
“We are continuing pressing them and we have asked others
with influence to work with them, both from the global arena, and also leaders
in the region,” he said.
He emphasized that the responsibility to protect its
citizens is the responsibility of the government in Khartoum. In time, he
said, they may have to answer collectively and individually for what is
happening in Darfur.
Meanwhile, the situation in eastern Chad remains
extremely volatile, with ongoing military movements as well as inter-communal
tensions, reports the
UN refugee agency. The agency, UNHCR, says it is working to ensure the
basic needs of refugees such as water, food and primary health services are
met while continuing the relocation of staff.
Asked whether Jan Pronk had
returned to Sudan, the Spokesman said he had been expected to do so today.
Asked about criticism from
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir about UN efforts, the Spokesman noted that
the Secretary-General, in his press comments, had made clear that the
responsibility to protect the people of Darfur lies in the Sudanese
Government’s hands.
He added that the United
Nations has also called for renewed dialogue among all parties and for a
Darfur-Darfur dialogue, as well as for the laying down of arms by all
factions. The only solution in Darfur, Dujarric said, is a political one.
SECURITY
COUNCIL DISCUSSES CYPRUS SITUATION
The Security Council
this morning held consultations on Cyprus. Michael Moller, the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative to that country, briefed Council
members on the situation in Cyprus and on the work of the
UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus,
UNFICYP.
Security Council members also met this morning with the
countries that contribute troops to UNFICYP.
Yesterday afternoon, the Security Council received a
briefing in closed consultations on Fiji, by Assistant Secretary-General for
Political Affairs Angela Kane.
In a
statement to
the press afterward, Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar, the
Council President, said the Council members “strongly hope” all sides will
exercise restraint in the wake of the coup. He added that the Council members
were gravely concerned at the turn of events in Fiji and urged a peaceful
solution in accordance with the country’s constitution.
ANNAN: PROSPECTS FOR CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ
ARE REAL
The Secretary-General’s latest
report to the
Security Council on Iraq is out as a document, and it mentions the
significant increase in sectarian violence, insurgent and terrorist attacks
and criminal activities in the past few months. Civilian casualties, the
report says, have reached an all-time high. The Secretary-General warns, “The
prospects of all-out civil war and even a regional conflict have become much
more real.”
He says that Iraq needs to develop a fully inclusive
political process that is focused on bringing all disenfranchised and
marginalized communities into the political mainstream. The Iraqi Government
must also establish a monopoly on the use of force. And there is a need to
cultivate a regional environment that is supportive of Iraq’s transition.
The Secretary-General says it may be worthwhile to
consider an arrangement that could bring Iraqi political partiers together,
possibly outside Iraq, with the United Nations playing a facilitating role. He
also expresses his pleasure at the UN’s lead role in the development of the
International Compact for Iraq.
The Security Council will hold an open debate on Iraq on
Monday, and Ashraf Qazi, the head of the UN
Mission in Iraq, will brief the Council on the report. He is expected to
speak to the press at the Security Council stakeout afterward.
Asked about the report’s
conclusion that the Iraq war may spread beyond its borders, the Spokesman said
that the Secretary-General believes that the problems in the Middle East have
to be dealt with comprehensively and not in isolation. There needs to be a
comprehensive, regional approach to the problems in Iraq, Lebanon and the
Israeli-Palestinian issue, he said.
In response to comments that
the problems in Iraq and Lebanon were not linked, the Spokesman said that each
area has its particular tensions, but to think that violence cannot spread is
foolish. Conflicts, he said, do not observe national boundaries.
ANNAN REPORTS GREATER STABILITY IN
SOUTHERN LEBANON
Next Monday afternoon, the Security Council will discuss
the implementation of
resolution 1701, concerning Lebanon; and today, a letter from the
Secretary-General to the Council providing an update of that resolution’s
implementation is out on the racks.
In the letter, the Secretary-General says that the
military and security situation in UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’s
area of operations has stabilised since September, although the UN force
reports air violations by Israel on an almost daily basis.
The letter also notes that, since September, there have
been 13 instances where UNIFIL came across unauthorized arms or related
material in its area of operations, and informed the Lebanese Armed Forces,
which took prompt action to confiscate or destroy the materials.
Asked about the Israeli
presence in the northern part of the village of Ghajar, the Spokesman said
that UNIFIL is working with the Israeli and Lebanese forces to secure Israel’s
withdrawal from that area and remains hopeful that they can obtain an
agreement by next week on Israel’s full withdrawal.
Asked about UN work on the
Shab’a Farms, the Spokesman said that the letter reported on the progress of
that work.
ANNAN: LATEST EXTENSION OF COTE D’IVOIRE
TRANSITION IS FINAL
The Secretary-General’s latest report on Côte d'Ivoire,
out on the racks today, describes a relatively calm security situation
following last month’s adoption of Security Council
Resolution 1721.
He says that resolution, which extended the transitional
government for a year, provides a sound framework for re-launching aspects of
the peace process that have been stalled since August.
The report notes that Côte d'Ivoire has experienced
sporadic clashes unrelated to the resolution. And the humanitarian situation
there remains a source of concern.
The Secretary-General appeals to President Laurent Gbagbo
and other political leaders to work with Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny in
disarmament, identification and the restoration of State authority. He also
calls for President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny to eschew confrontation
and maintain a constructive working leadership.
Pointing out that this current 12-month extension of the
transition process is final, he says the situation brooks no further delay.
PROPOSED SOMALIA PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL
BE REGIONAL
Asked about reported fighting
in Somalia, the Spokesman said he did not have any new update about events on
the ground.
However, in response to
questions about whether the Security Council’s recent resolution may have
prompted renewed fighting in Somalia, the Spokesman said that the
Secretary-General, in comments to the press on Thursday, had made clear that
he wanted the countries sending troops through the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD) to reach out to all the Somali parties. They need, he said, to make it
clear that they are not going to fight against any one faction in the country.
The Secretary-General, Dujarric said, had made the
point that the troops that go n should be there to foster peace.
Asked whether it would be
better not to send troops to Somalia, the Spokesman said that the Security
Council resolution calls for the dispatch of troops under the authority of
IGAD, not the United Nations. The United Nations has no authority over the
troops.
PEACEKEEPERS
SHOT AT D.R. CONGO REBELS IN SELF-DEFENSE
Asked about reports that seven
civilians were killed during fighting between the UN Mission in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and an armed faction in the eastern Congo, the Spokesman
said that there had been fighting recently after renegade Congolese forces
attacked the town of Sake.
Those forces were warned by the
UN Mission (MONUC) that they could face
fire if they fired upon civilians, but the Congolese faction proceeded to fire
on MONUC. In accordance with its mandate, the UN Mission, along with the
Congolese Armed Forces, fired on the renegade forces, and some casualties
resulted.
The Spokesman added, in
response to a reporter’s comment about what MONUC was “fixated” on doing, that
the Mission’s focus was on helping the Congolese people bring peace to their
country.
U.N. POLICE DETAIN 17 LOOTERS IN
TIMOR-LESTE
The UN
Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste reports
that UN Police, in cooperation with a unit of the New Zealand Defence Force,
have arrested 17 people on Tuesday this week in connection with an attack on a
police post in the town of Bidau.
The
suspects appeared in the Dili District Court yesterday and were remanded in
custody until their trial, whose date has yet to be set.
SUSPECT TELLS TRIBUNAL WILL RESUME EATING, ENDING STALEMATE
The
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
says that
Vojislav Šešelj, a suspect in the Tribunal’s custody who has refused to eat
since November 11th, will now resume taking foodstuffs and receive
medical attention.
The
Tribunal's doctor commenced an examination of Šešelj in order to determine his
condition and what immediate steps are required in order to safeguard his
health.
Šešelj
informed the Tribunal that his decision was made in view of the Appeals
Chamber's decision issued today, which granted his appeal against the Trial
Chamber's decision to impose stand-by counsel.
VIETNAM TO TEST U.N. CONSOLIDATION OF
IN-COUNTRY PROGRAMS
Kemal Derviş, the head of the UN Development Group and
UN Development Program Administrator, today
joined the Government of Vietnam in announcing that Vietnam will be the first
pilot country in the “One UN” program, which aims to streamline the UN’s work
at the national level in order to make it more efficient and responsive.
Dervis said the program will also ensure a unity of
purpose and coherence in management and operations while maintaining the
distinct identity, agenda, and goals of the various agencies.
The Vietnam segment will bring together six agencies —
UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNV and UNAIDS —and commitments are expected from
others to join or cooperate with the programme in the near future as the
program is expected to take place at least five other countries.
U.N CHILDREN’S FUND TURNS 60
The
UN Children’s Fund is celebrating its 60th
anniversary today. And in a message prepared for the occasion, the
Secretary-General
said that since UNICEF’s creation at the end of World War Two, the
agency’s advocacy on behalf of children has changed the international
discourse, putting a human face on development.
He noted that UNICEF’s
emergency responses have saved the lives of millions of children caught up in
wars and natural disasters. “If UNICEF didn’t exist, the world would have to
invent it,” he said
COUNTRIES ARE URGED TO JOIN CONVENTION
AGAINST CORRUPTION
Tomorrow is International Anti-Corruption Day. In a
message to mark the occasion,
Antonio Maria Costa,
head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, says that, since corruption affects
us all, we all have a role to play in stopping it.
He adds that momentum to prevent and fight corruption can
grow if more States sign on to and implement the UN Convention against
Corruption, which came into force one year ago.
ANNAN TO DELIVER MAJOR SPEECH AT TRUMAN
LIBRARY
On Monday the Secretary-General will travel to the
Truman Museum and Library at
Independence, Missouri, to pay homage to the memory of one of the United
Nations' founders and to deliver his last speech as Secretary-General to an
American audience.
He will spell out five lessons derived from his 10-year
experience at the helm of this organization and challenge American leaders of
today and tomorrow to live up to Truman's example of enlightened leadership in
a multilateral system.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
[For planning purposes only
and is subject to change.]
Saturday, December 9
Today is International Anti-Corruption Day.
Sunday, December 10
Today is Human Rights Day.
The
technical assessment mission to Nepal led by Ian Martin, the Secretary-General’s
representative in Nepal, will be in Kathmandu today. The mission, which will be
in Nepal until the 16th, will plan for a full-fledged UN mission to
support the peace process.
The
five-day High-level Conference to Review the First Year of the United Nations
Convention against Corruption begins today in Jordan.
Monday, December 11
Today is International Mountain Day.
This
morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on Iraq. In
the afternoon, the Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on the
1701 report.
Ross
Mountain, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, will be the guest at the noon briefing.
UNICEF will launch its annual flagship report, “State of the World’s Children”,
at 10:00 a.m. at UNICEF House.
The
Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Consideration of Content of the Non-legally Binding
Instrument on all Types of Forests begins its five-day meeting today. At 11:15,
Messrs. Hans Hoogeveen and Hamidon Ali, Chair and Vice-Chair of the UN Forum on
Forests will hold a press conference.
In
Kiev, Ukraine, the seven-member governments of the Carpathian Convention begin a
three-day ministerial conference on protecting the natural and cultural heritage
of the mountainous areas of Central and Eastern Europe.
The
General Assembly will take up the report of the Security Council and the issue
of Security Council reform.
Tuesday, December 12
This morning, the Security
Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on the Middle East. In the
afternoon, the Council is scheduled to hold a meeting of troop contributing
countries to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire, followed by
consultations on Côte d'Ivoire.
In Geneva, the Human Rights
Council will hold a special session on the human rights situation in Darfur.
The Peace Building Commission
will hold its second round of country specific meetings: Burundi will be
discussed on Tuesday and Sierra Leone on Wednesday.
Wednesday, December 13
This morning, the Security
Council is scheduled to hold a meeting of troop contributing countries to the
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, followed by consultations on United
Nations Disengagement Observer Force and the situation in Iraq and Kuwait. In
the afternoon the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on United
Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
Ambassador Ali Hachani of Tunisia, President of the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m.
to discuss ECOSOC reform.
At 1:00, Ambassador Don MacKay of New Zealand, chairman of
the General Assembly committee that negotiated the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, will hold a press conference on the General
Assembly’s adoption of the Convention.
Thursday, December 14
The General Assembly will hold a
plenary meeting at 10:00 a.m. to pay tribute to Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
and to administer the of oath of office to Secretary-General Designate Ban
Ki-moon. Mr. Ban will hold a press conference at noon in Conference Room 4.
This afternoon, the Security
Council is scheduled to have a briefing on the International Criminal Court.
Friday, December 15
This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to vote on
resolutions regarding United Nations Operation in Côte
d'Ivoire, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, followed
by an open debate on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
In the afternoon, the Security Council is scheduled to hold
consultations on Guinea-Bissau.
The General Assembly will resume the 10th
Special Emergency Session to discuss the establishment of the UN Register of
Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
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New York, NY 10017
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