Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 8 January 2008

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS ATTACK ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS

  • At 10:00 pm local time on Monday, 7 January 2008, a clearly marked African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) supplies convoy was attacked by elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces while on its way from Um Baru to Tine in West Darfur.

  • The convoy was carrying rations for UNAMID personnel in West Darfur.

  • A civilian Sudanese driver suffered seven gunshot wounds during the incident.

  • Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms and stresses that, for the joint African Union–United Nations peacekeeping operation to be able to perform its mandated functions, the Government of Sudan has to provide unequivocal guarantees that there will be no recurrence of such activities by its forces.

  • In this connection, the United Nations is lodging a protest with the Government of Sudan.

  • This incident underscores the importance of the Government reaffirming its commitment to the deployment of UNAMID and the implementation of Security Council resolution 1769.

  • Asked whom the Secretary-General would contact to lodge a protest, the Spokeswoman said the issue would be raised with Sudan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

  • Asked about a sole-source contract that went to the firm, PAE, regarding UN operations in Darfur, the Spokeswoman reiterated that the Member States of the General Assembly had been consulted throughout the process, in an open manner. She noted that the six-month contract had begun in mid-October.

BAN KI-MOON TO HEAD TO SPAIN NEXT WEEK
FOR ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS MEETING

  • The Secretary-General will attend the first Alliance of Civilizations Forum next week in Madrid.

  • The Forum will be opened by: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero; Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan; President Jorge Sampaio, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations; and the Secretary-General on 15 January.

  • The two-day meeting will be hosted by the Government of Spain and will convene political leaders, the media, corporate and film industry executives, and grassroots and civil society leaders.

LEBANON: U.N. MISSION LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION
INTO ATTACK ON PEACEKEEPERS

  • One vehicle belonging to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was damaged today in an explosion on the coastal highway at the northern entrance to Saida, in southern Lebanon.

  • Two military members of UNIFIL who were in the vehicle were lightly wounded and transported to a hospital in Saida.

  • UNIFIL has launched an official investigation and is working in close cooperation with the Lebanese authorities.

  • The UNIFIL Acting Force Commander, Brigadier General Jai Prakash Nehra, said what happened was “despicable” and expressed his hope that the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice.

  • Asked about a reported rocket attack from Lebanon into Israel today, the Spokeswoman said that UNIFIL is in the process of ascertaining the facts and has a team on the ground. In the meantime, she said, it cannot confirm or deny this report.

U.N.-BROKERED WESTERN SAHARA TALKS START TODAY

  • A third round of UN-brokered talks on Western Sahara got underway this morning in Manhasset, mediated by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Peter van Walsum.

  • Participating in the talks are representatives of the parties, Morocco and Polisario, as well as the neighboring states, Algeria and Mauritania.

  • In his opening remarks, Mr. Van Walsum reminded the parties of the call by the Security Council in resolution 1783 to show political will to assure the success of the negotiations, to negotiate in good faith and to work in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue.

  • He also emphasized that while the United Nations is there to facilitate the discussions in any way possible, it is the responsibility of the parties to forge a solution.

  • Today’s agenda includes plenary discussions on the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

  • The Personal Envoy was also conducting bilateral discussions with the parties and the neighboring states.

  • Before concluding on Wednesday, the talks are also expected to focus on defining the way forward in the negotiating process.

  • In statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General urged that the parties begin moving into a more intensive and substantive phase of discussions, while recognizing that it will take time and patience to resolve the longstanding dispute over Western Sahara.

U.N. CONTINUES TO HELP DISPLACED KENYANS
FOLLOWING POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that UN aid is continuing to reach vulnerable populations in Kenya’s Northern Rift Valley, who were displaced and victimized when post-electoral violence erupted.

  • The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today shifted 24 tons of blankets and soap from its warehouses at a refugee camp in northeastern Kenya to Nairobi, for onward delivery to displaced Kenyans. Meanwhile, staff at UNHCR's warehouse in Nairobi are preparing family kits – containing plastic sheeting, blankets, mats, mosquito nets and soap – that will be distributed this week. UNHCR has also made tents available to Kenyans who have fled into Uganda.

  • For its part, UN-HABITAT is working to establish the extent of the destruction and loss of housing, land and property. In addition to helping address the immediate shelter needs of the displaced, UN-HABITAT is working to establish long term mechanisms for sustainable resettlement.

  • Meanwhile, UNAIDS is warning of an increased risk of HIV transmission as a result of displacement and high mobility. UNAIDS is working with partners to ensure that the affected population has sufficient information on HIV prevention and counseling.

  • To date, the World Food Programme (WFP) has sent enough food to the western town of Eldoret to feed 38,000 people for two weeks. Food has also been stockpiled in Nairobi to feed the hungry in the slums. Additional food aid has been dispatched to the town of Kisumu to help some 3,000 displaced Kenyans.

KOSOVO: U.N. MISSION GETS NEW DEPUTY CHIEF

  • The Secretary-General has announced his intention to appoint Larry Rossin of the United States as his Principal Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Mr. Rossin assumes his responsibilities today.

  • From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Rossin served as Assistant Secretary-General and Principal Deputy Special Representative with both the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and with UNMIK.

  • Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Rossin was a career officer with the US Foreign Service, with assignments including Ambassador to Croatia, Senior Director for Strategic Planning and Southwest Asia on the National Security Council and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

SECURITY COUNCIL IS CONCERNED BY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN DARFUR & CHAD

  • Following the Security Council consultations yesterday on the preparations for the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, the Council President, Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi of Libya, read out a statement welcoming the progress made in the deployment of that Mission.

  • The members of the Security Council expressed their serious concern at the recent upsurge of activities of the illegal armed groups in western Darfur and in eastern Chad, and at the resulting tension between Sudan and Chad, the Council President said.

  • Council members called on Sudan and Chad to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue and cooperation, and called on all parties in Sudan and Chad to respect their commitments.

  • There are no meetings or consultations of the Council scheduled for today.

HAITI: U.N. PEACEKEEPERS TO PATROL SEAPORTS

  • The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Hedi Annabi, yesterday reviewed the past year at a press conference, and laid out activities planned for 2008 by the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

  • These activities will include continued UN cooperation with the Haitian police and assisting the Government in improving border security.

  • Annabi noted that UN peacekeepers are already deploying at the four main points of entry into Haiti and will soon patrol the seaports and, at a later stage, also deploy a maritime unit. Assistance to the Government will also continue in the improving of state administration and the reforming of the judicial sector.

  • Annabi said that partnership and cooperation among Haitians, and between Haitians and the international community, and partnership within the international community itself would be critically important in speeding up Haiti’s recovery.

  • Meanwhile, UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman has completed a working visit to Haiti, during which she met with UN and Haitian authorities to discuss conditions for children and possible areas of strengthened cooperation.

REFUGEE AGENCY APPEALS FOR MORE THAN $260 MILLION
TO HELP DISPLACED IRAQIS

  • The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is appealing for more than $260 million for its efforts to help displaced Iraqis during 2008. Some four million people have been uprooted by the conflict; half of them have sought refuge in other countries.

  • Besides providing direct assistance to the displaced, UNHCR is helping those governments to cope with the influx of refugees and to provide them with health and education services.

  • In addition, UNHCR also cares for more than 40,000 non-Iraqi refugees in Iraq. Among them are some 13,000 Palestinians, many of whom have been targeted by armed groups and who have been unable to find sanctuary in other countries.

LIBERIA: U.N. MISSION ASSISTING TRUTH & RECONCILIATION BODY

  • The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission today resumed its work with the opening of public hearings on the human rights violations that took place during the country’s civil war that ended in 2003.

  • The United Nations welcomes this development as the Organization was part of the working group that established the Contact Group on Liberia.

  • The Contact Group’s mandate includes providing the Commission with advice on budget and human resources administration and policy guidelines and developing a work plan.

  • The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has also assisted the Commission with technical and advocacy support in the establishment of the Commission. The Mission also continues to provide logistical support to the Commission officials in their working trips to remote parts of Liberia.

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES PEACEFUL NATURE OF GEORGIA ELECTIONS

  • Asked about the UN’s views on the legitimacy of the Georgian elections, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General takes note of the preliminary findings of the International Election Observation Mission on the 5 January Presidential elections, which was released on Monday. He welcomes the fact that Election Day was generally peaceful and hopes that environment prevails.

  • The United Nations, Montas said, is not in a position to comment further on the electoral process because it did not have observers of its own. The Secretariat will continue, however, to follow the situation and awaits the final conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission.

UNITED NATIONS TAKES STEPS TO IMPROVE FIRE SAFETY AT HEADQUARTERS

  • In answer to questions concerning building codes and fire violations, the Spokesperson announced that the United Nations is delivering this afternoon to the New York City Commissioner for the United Nations a letter and report that confirms the partnership and cooperation between the UN and New York City. With assistance from New York City, the UN has achieved the following:

  • The compartmentalization and separation project to enhance the safety and security of UN Headquarters has been contracted, and mobilization is underway by the contractor.

  • The UN Fire Safety Plan has been approved by the New York City Fire Department.

  • The UN Emergency Action Plan will be submitted today to the Commissioner and the Fire Department.

  • Most importantly, in terms of long term fire safety, the Capital Master Plan remains on track, and the construction activity on the Temporary North Lawn Conference Building will begin this spring.

U.N. TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY OF U.N. STAFF

  • Asked about how the UN handled the security of its staff in Algeria prior to last month’s attack, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General, in his comments to the press on Monday, made it clear that he will receive a report this Friday from Under-Secretary-General for Security and Safety David Veness concerning the Algiers attack.

  • On the basis of that report, he said, we are going to strengthen the measures for the safety and security of UN staff and premises, and she said further information would be provided once the report is received

**The guest at noon was Shamil Idriss, Acting Director of the Alliance of Civilizations, who briefed on the first Alliance of Civilizations Forum.