HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE
MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N.
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, May
15,
2007
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE,
REQUESTS PULLOUT TIMETABLE FOR DR CONGO MISSION
The Security Council
has adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until the end of this year.
The members of the Security Council will also hold their
monthly luncheon with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
BAN KI-MOON IS
ALARMED BY REPORTS OF ILLEGAL ARMS
TRAFFICKING IN LEBANON
The Secretary-General’s latest
report to
the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 1559, which concerns
Lebanon, is out on the racks today. In it, he says that the enduring standoff
in Lebanon demonstrates that the country is in need of a comprehensive and
consensual political framework, as manifested in the Taif agreement.
The report notes that the Secretary-General has been
provided with detailed information related to an extensive number of illegal
crossing points between Syria and Lebanon, saying that it underlines the
necessity of a full delineation of the Syrian-Lebanese border and of
improvements in monitoring that border.
The Secretary-General voices great concern at the
allegations coming from various sides and parties about illegal arms
trafficking and the possible arming of a variety of Lebanese and non-Lebanese
groups, and he says that a return to Lebanon’s darkest days “must not happen.”
Yesterday, Security Council members also received copies
of a letter by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to the Secretary-General,
concerning the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Asked about the
Secretary-General’s reaction to a letter by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud,
the Spokeswoman said that the letter had yet to be formally received.
She added, in response to a
question, was concerned about the possibilities of further instability
in Lebanon.
Asked whether the
Secretary-General would travel to Lebanon, Montas said she had no information
on any plans to visit.
CONDITIONS WORSEN FOR REFUGEES AT SYRIAN
BORDER CAMP
The Iraq office of the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
is organizing a three-day conference this week in Amman, Jordan, that will
establish a vision for the water sector in Iraq.
The principal aim of the conference is to spotlight the
major challenges to the water sector in Iraq and propose a course of action
that includes identifying a long term strategy, as well as sound policies for
water resource management. We have a press release from UNDP with more
details.
Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) says
it is highly concerned about living conditions for hundreds of Palestinians
stuck at the Al Waleed refugee camp, close to Iraq’s border with Syria.
Asked about the
Secretary-General’s concerns regarding the Palestinian refugees, the
Spokeswoman said he viewed it as a great concern and had discussed it with the
leaders he met in the Middle East.
HUMANITARIAN CHIEF TOURS NORTHERN UGANDA
Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John
Holmes today arrived in Kitgum District in Northern Uganda, where he visited a
new settlement site for people who had been displaced by conflict.
Tonight, he is scheduled to visit a camp for internally
displaced persons, where he will meet with aid workers, ex-combatants, elders,
women and children who had previously been abducted, and community leaders.
In his meetings with local authorities earlier today,
Holmes noted that, while the security situation has improved, the problems are
not yet over. He stressed that the international community needs to continue
its support to the recovery process.
Before traveling to Kitgum, Holmes met with the Prime
Minister of Uganda, Professor Apollo Nsibambin, as well as the Minister of
Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Professor Tarsisi Kabwegyere.
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME WILL REPAIR ROADS
TO REACH CENTRAL AFRICANS DISPLACED BY CONFLICT
The World Food Programme today
urged the
international community to redouble its efforts in support of the agency’s
recently upscaled life-saving operation in the Central African Republic.
WFP’s country director says that the current
infrastructure cannot cope with the scale of its new operation so WFP is going
to have to do the job themselves. The job includes necessary repairs to roads
and bridges which are crumbling in decay.
RELIEF AGENCIES GAIN FULL ACCESS TO
MONITOR
SRI LANKA REPATRIATION DRIVE
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) reports that it is involved in the return of tens of thousands of
displaced civilians to an area in eastern Sri Lanka that until recently was
under rebel control.
UNHCR is monitoring the returns and will report directly
to the Government on any problems regarding the move’s voluntary nature. And
starting tomorrow, UN agencies will be given full access to the area, to
provide support to the returnees.
UNHCR is looking at possible reintegration packages and
is calling on the international community to help with assistance. It is also
asking the Sri Lankan Government to speed up its rehabilitation plan for the
areas of return. We have more on that upstairs.
MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR CYCLONE-HIT
MADAGASCAR
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
is doubling the appeal that it had launched for cyclone-hit Madagascar two
months ago.
According to OCHA, the food security situation in
Madagascar has deteriorated, especially in light of the drought that had
preceded the storms.
Nearly $20 million is urgently needed before the next
cyclone season, OCHA says.
A DIGNIFIED FAMILY LIFE CAN EMPOWER THE
DISABLED,
BAN KI-MOON SAYS ON FAMILY DAY
Today is the International Day of Families. The theme
this year is “Families and Persons with Disabilities”.
In a message to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General
says that society
has a responsibility to empower and enrich the lives of the persons with
disabilities in their households.
In his message, the Secretary-General says “Let us
dedicate ourselves to enabling the family, the most basic unit of society, to
fulfill its role in ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy full human
rights and dignity, and flourish as individuals.”
WOMEN AND PEOPLE IN AFRICA HAVE SPECIAL
HEALTH NEEDS
Addressing the World Health Assembly, which is gathering
in Geneva, the World Health Organization’s Executive Director, Doctor Margaret
Chan, today
called on global health leaders to build a “health legacy” for women and
the people of Africa.
She said that women need special attention because of
their role as care-givers and agents of change, who can lift households and
communities out of poverty. She added that Africa bore the overwhelming
burden of disease and must not be left behind by development.
STAFFING OF EXECUTIVE OFFICE IS
ON-GOING
In response to a question on the Secretary General's
Executive office, the Spokeswoman later added that the staffing of the
Secretary-General's Executive Office is on-going.
While most positions are no longer vacant, a number of
senior positions are still in the process of being filled. When he announced
the vacancies, Secretary-General said they were going to be filled through an
open and competitive process in effort to encourage mobility. While that
process may take more time it ensures that posts in the Secretary-General's
office are open to a wide pool of UN staff members.
Once the team is put together, the full list will be
released publicly. In res;ponse to another question, she denied that some
meetings of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General are conducted in
Korean.
The
Spokeswoman, in response to a question, denied that some policy meetings of the
Executive Office of the Secretary-General are conducted in Korean.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
ONLY MEMBER STATES PICK SEAT HOLDERS AT RIGHTS
COUNCIL: Asked whether the
Secretary-General believes that Belarus should have a seat on the Human Rights
Council, the Spokeswoman said that was a matter for the General Assembly to
decide.
UNITED NATIONS UPHOLDS “ONE CHINA” POLICY:
Asked whether Taiwan should become a member of the World Health Organization,
the Spokeswoman said that was a matter for WHO to consider, and noted the 1971
General Assembly resolution concerning the “one China” policy.
Office of the Spokesman for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
