HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday,
February 22, 2007
SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES IRAN
REPORT FROM ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY;
BAN KI-MOON URGES IRAN TO FULLY COMPLY WITH SECURITY COUNCIL
International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director
General Mohamed ElBaradei has circulated his latest report to the upcoming
meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on the Implementation of the NPT
Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council
Resolution 1737 (2006) in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report -
submitted in parallel to the UN Security Council - covers developments since
Dr. ElBaradei´s report of 14 November 2006.
The 35-member Board will
consider the report at its next meetings beginning in Vienna 5 March.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
told reporters in Vienna
that he is deeply concerned that the Iranian Government did not meet the
deadline set by the Security Council. The Iranian nuclear issue, he said, has
great implications for peace and stability, as well as for the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He urged that the Iranian
Government fully comply with the Security Council as soon as possible and
engage in continued negotiation with the international community to address
and peacefully resolve this issue.
Asked whether the IAEA report
had been made available to the public, the Spokeswoman noted that Mr.
ElBaradei has announced that the report had gone out to the IAEA Board of
Governors and to members of the Security Council. She added that the
report was not yet an official document.
She said that the Security
Council President had just met the IAEA New York representative, who handed
him the report, and later informed correspondents that Security Council
members had received copies of the report.
SECRETARY-GENERAL BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUSTRIA
The Secretary-General
arrived in Vienna from Berlin and began his official visit to Austria. He held
a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and then had a
joint press encounter.
He then had a working luncheon hosted by the Foreign
Minister and attended by foreign ministers in the region.
Also on his schedule today is a meeting with the meet
with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer
and Barbara Prammer, Speaker of Parliament.
In response a question, the Spokeswoman elaborated on the
working luncheon in Vienna with foreign ministers from the region bringing
together representatives of Hungary, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Czech
Republic and Poland during which the region's concerns were discussed,
including Kosovo, Iran and the Middle East Quartet.
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF
MISSION IN EAST TIMOR
The Security Council held a meeting this morning on
Timor-Leste, in which it
decided to
extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste by one year,
until 26 February 2008.
The Council then held consultations on Iraq. [Following
those consultations, the Security Council President, Ambassador Peter
Burian of Slovakia,
read a press
statement urging an end to the violence in the country and the redoubling
of efforts to allow fulfillment of the goals of relevant UN Security Council
resolution. Council members also reaffirmed the need to combat terrorism in
all its forms and manifestations and by all means, in accordance with
international law]
MIDDLE EAST
QUARTET HOPES FOR CONTINUED ISRAEL-PALESTINE DIALOGUE
In a
statement
issued after yesterday’s meeting in Berlin and read out by the
Secretary-General, the Middle East Quartet expressed the hope that the
dialogue initiated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will continue
in the framework of a renewed political process.
The Quartet reaffirmed its determination to promote such
a process, in cooperation with the parties and other regional partners. It
also urged the parties to refrain from measures that prejudge issues to be
resolved in negotiations.
DARFUR:
VIOLENCE FORCES DISPLACEMENT OF SOME 46,000 PEOPLE LAST MONTH
From Khartoum today, we have the latest Sudan
Humanitarian Overview produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in
collaboration with UN Agencies and partner Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Overview, which covers the month of January 2007,
indicates that new population displacements were registered weekly as attacks
on villages, sexual violence and intimidation continued to force large numbers
of people to move throughout Darfur. An estimated 46,000 people were newly
displaced throughout the region.
The Humanitarian Overview also indicates that generalized
violence, attacks on humanitarian assets and bureaucratic impediments
continued to affect humanitarian operations throughout Darfur.
Humanitarian access continued to be compromised. While
access was regained in some long cut-off areas, key locations, such as Gereida
in South Darfur remained out of bounds for most agencies.
I.C.C.
PROSECUTOR TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF CRIMES IN DARFUR
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court
announced earlier today that on Tuesday next week Prosecutor Luis
Moreno-Ocampo will submit evidence to the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber in
connection with individuals suspected of having committed war crimes and
crimes against humanity in Darfur.
That same day, February 27th, the Prosecutor will also
brief the press on this important development. And the ICC informs us that
interested correspondents can view a webcast of the prosecutor’s press
conference on the ICC’s website.
SUSPECTED SIERRA LEONE WAR CRIMINAL ON TRIAL DIES
The Special Court for
Sierra Leone today announced the death of Sam Hinga Norman, who was on
trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged leadership of
a murderous militia during Sierra Leone’s civil war. A verdict in the case was
to have been delivered shortly.
Court officials say Norman, a former Sierra Leone
Internal Affairs minister, died at a military hospital in Dakar, Senegal,
where he was transferred for routine medical procedures, which were performed
on February 8th without complication.
Earlier today, however, Norman collapsed and, despite
attempts to revive him, was pronounced dead about half an hour later.
Prosecutor to Present Evidence of Crimes in Darfur
RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY
REPORTED
IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
The United Nations has
warned that
rising unemployment and poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, coupled with
economic suffocation, are posing acute challenges to food security in the
occupied Palestinian territories. Many families have become totally reliant on
outside assistance, and vital sectors of the Palestinian economy are under
threat.
That warning comes in a report by the World Food
Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization, which is due to be
released this month.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR
ERADICATION OF COLONIALISM
Speaking
at the 2007 Session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the Deputy
Secretary-General today highlighted the responsibility of the international
community to bring about a speedy, successful and sustainable solution for the
total eradication of colonialism.
She also urged all administering Powers to adopt a
constructive attitude while taking a due account of the political aspirations
for the people in these territories, and assist them in the progressive
development of their free political institutions.
Today, there are 16 Non-Self-Governing territories
remaining; in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GUINEA REQUESTS
SPECIAL ENVOY TO CONAKRY: Asked to confirm press reports that the
Secretary-General would send a goodwill mission to Guinea, the Spokeswoman said
that the Government of Guinea has indeed requested the Secretary-General to send
an envoy to Conakry and that the Secretary-General had not yet made a decision
on the request or excluded any possibilities. "All options are on the table,"
Okabe said. "And at the same time, we would like to make sure that, if sent, our
mission will add value to ongoing regional efforts and work in synergy with
them."
SECRETARY-GENERAL RECEIVES LETTER FROM DPRK: Asked if the Secretary-General
had received and responded to a letter from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea on UNDP operations in that country, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the
Secretary-General has received a letter dated 13 February from the DPRK
Government requesting that the letter be circulated among member states.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
