Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 23 January 2008

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BAN KI-MOON PAYS TRIBUTE TO FALLEN U.N. STAFF

  • In Geneva today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led all staff in paying tribute to colleagues who died in the 11 December attack in Algiers with a minute of silence, and he unveiled the tattered flag that had flown over the UN office in that city.

  • The Secretary-General said that, to honor the fallen UN staff, the United Nations must do even better in explaining, to the public and the media, “what we stand for and what we don’t, why we are there and who we are”.

  • He added that he is continuing consultations on the precise composition of the independent panel of experts to review the safety and security of UN personnel and premises around the world and its terms of reference, and that he hopes to finalize it very soon.

  • The Secretary-General, at a press conference today, said that after the panel reports back with its recommendations, “we will work with member states to ensure better safety and security of UN staff and premises all around the world”.

  • He also told the press in Geneva that he will pay particular attention this year to marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to pushing nations to implement the Millennium Development Goals, notably those on water.

  • Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General participated in the kick-off of the 2008 Consolidated Appeal, urging nations to provide equitable funding to deal with humanitarian crises, whether in Somalia, the occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Nicaragua.

  • He also addressed the Conference on Disarmament, renewing his call on the member states to adopt the balanced and carefully crafted Presidential Decision so that it can go back to its substantive work. He warned that the Conference has not lost its relevance, but is in danger of losing its way.

  • This evening, the Secretary-General is traveling to Davos, where he will address the World Economic Forum, to draw attention once more to the need for the world’s poorest to have access to clean water.

  • Asked about reports that Algerian officials intended to meet with UN officials to convey their opposition to the investigative panel, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had met earlier today with the Algerian Foreign Minister, and had mentioned the panel both in his remarks at the memorial ceremony and at the press conference.

  • At the memorial ceremony, she noted, he had said that, “after consulting with the countries concerned and receiving their understanding, I am setting up an independent panel of experts to review the safety and security of UN personnel and premises around the world.”

NEW SECURITY MEASURES HAMPER AID DELIVERY IN GAZA

  • The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today reports that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains very difficult.

  • According to UNRWA, the Israeli authorities have introduced new security measures – mainly for sugar and flour – which are hampering the delivery of aid. The agency did manage to get three truckloads of powdered milk in today, but it had been hoping for 9. In addition, an expected truckload of medicines never made it through.

  • On a positive note, however, UNRWA did receive materials today that will allow it to continue its food distributions.

  • Regarding fuel, UNRWA says only 200,000 liters went to the main power plant in Gaza today. An additional 750,000 liters went yesterday. This falls well short of the 2.2 million liters promised by the Israeli authorities. If the current fuel levels continue, the power plant may shut down by the end of the week, UNRWA adds.

  • Asked about reports that thousands of Gaza residents have traveled across the Rafah crossing today into Egypt, the Spokeswoman said that the incident underscores how serious and fragile the situation in Gaza remains at this moment.

  • She noted that on Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe had expressed his detailed concerns over the situation, including his call for regular and unimpeded delivery of fuel and other basic necessities.

  • She added that, at the press conference in Geneva today, the Secretary-General was asked about the situation in Gaza and the Rafah crossing. He said it was a very serious situation, and that he was deeply concerned.

  • Okabe added that the Secretary-General said that he had taken his own efforts to address the issue, to help ease the tensions as well as the humanitarian suffering of the people in Gaza. He said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert just before departing New York, and had urged him strongly to ease the restrictions on the crossing and to provide the necessary fuel.

  • The Spokeswoman added that the Secretary-General called on the parties to resolve outstanding issues peacefully through dialogue. He said he hoped Israel did not pursue the collective punishment of the general public, and also called for a halt to rocket fire against Israel.

HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
MUST BE ADDRESSED

  • Today in Geneva, the Human Rights Council began a special session on the occupied Palestinian territory. A draft resolution is being considered. The session is expected to continue into tomorrow.

  • Addressing the special session today, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said that, unless broader steps were taken, both by the parties to the conflict and by the international community, the situation for Palestinians and Israelis could only continue to deteriorate. All parties concerned should put an end to the vicious spiral of violence before it becomes unstoppable, she said.

  • Arbour stressed that the international community must intensify its efforts to ensure that the human rights dimension of the conflict is properly addressed, regardless of the development of a political settlement. She said it is imperative that Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas respect the long-standing international legal obligations to which they are bound. We have her full remarks upstairs.

SECURITY COUNCIL WILL MEET ON SITUATION IN GAZA
AFTER EXTENDING U.N. MISSION IN NEPAL

  • The Security Council this morning extended by six months the mandate of the UN Mission in Nepal.

  • Then, at 3:00 this afternoon, the Security Council resumed consultations on the Middle East, to continue discussions on a draft Presidential Statement concerning the situation in Gaza.

BAN KI-MOON ENCOURAGED BY CONGOLESE PEACE CONFERENCE

  • The Secretary-General congratulates the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as the organizers and participants in the Conference for Peace, Security, and Development in North and South Kivu on the successful conclusion of the Conference.

  • He is very encouraged by the commitment of the armed groups of North and South Kivu to end all hostilities, as outlined in the “Actes d’engagement,” signed by these groups and the Government of the DRC on 23 January.

  • The Secretary-General considers the “Actes d’engagement” an important step towards restoring lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, and a complement to the Joint Nairobi Communiqué of November 9, 2007.

  • He calls on all parties to act quickly and effectively to implement agreements reached within the framework of the “Actes d’engagement” and on the Government of the DRC to quickly act on the recommendations of the Conference.

  • He reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to support the Congolese parties in ending the suffering of the population in the Kivus.

  • The Secretary-General also calls on the international community, and particularly the DRC’s neighbours in the Great Lakes region, to fully support the implementation of these commitments.

  • In related news, the terms of a $390 million good governance project were approved by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the DRC. The agreement will be formally signed next week. It will allow for a UNDP-led effort to restore and improve government competencies in political governance, state administration, economic, judicial and security sector reform.

U.N. AGENCIES REACH OUT TO KENYANS DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE

  • The UN Country Team says that security conditions in Kenya are deteriorating rapidly, with 70 houses burned down and more than a dozen civilians killed in political violence in the past 24 hours.

  • Meanwhile, UN agencies have completed an assessment tour of internally displaced person (IDP) camps in the town of Molo, where they found an urgent need for shelter, blankets, water and sanitation. UN-HABITAT, for its part, sent teams out to several towns, including Nairobi and Eldoret, to assess damaged homes, and verify IDP figures and conditions in IDP camps.

  • UNICEF has continued its immunization campaign against measles and polio in all of these camps. Working with Kenyan authorities, the World Food Programme has completed distributions to some 67,000 IDPs in the Rift Valley.

  • More than 70,000 schoolchildren and nearly seven hundred teachers are now confirmed to have been displaced by the crisis.

BANDITRY THREATENS FOOD SUPPLIES IN DARFUR

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) says that a rash of banditry is threatening food supplies to more than two million people in Darfur, raising the possibility that rations will have to be cut.

  • WFP is urging Sudanese authorities to ensure the safety of main routes in Darfur.

  • So far this year, bandits have stolen 22 WFP-contracted trucks and abducted their drivers -- 18 drivers are still missing.

  • Meanwhile, the High-Level Committee of Government and UN officials established by the Joint Communique on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur extended the moratorium on restrictions on humanitarian operations until January of 2009.

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that this is an important and welcome development, as it will enable humanitarian agencies, and particularly non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to carry out vital humanitarian assistance without interruption in Darfur. NGOs remain the main implementers of UN projects in Darfur.

  • Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno continues his visit to Sudan.

  • Guehenno was today in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, where he met with staff from the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and also conferred with representatives of South Darfur’s Civil Society, and with the Deputy Governor of South Darfur state.

  • He was in El Fasher yesterday and visited the Zam Zam camp housing internally displaced persons and paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Governor of North Darfur state, who pledged the support of his Government to UNAMID.

TIMOR-LESTE STILL FACES ENORMOUS CHALLENGES

  • The Secretary-General, in his latest report to the Security Council on the work of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), says that, despite an improvement in the overall security situation throughout the country, Timor-Leste continues to face enormous challenges.

  • He says that intensified efforts to promote dialogue to defuse existing tensions and foster greater political consensus, as well as the strengthening of inclusive democratic processes, will be essential for achieving sustainable stability and prosperity in the country.

  • The Secretary-General says that the national police service is one of the most critical institutions warranting sustained assistance, adding that daily public disturbances highlight the need for a continued UN police presence.

  • He recommends a 12-month extension of UNMIT at its present composition and strength.

RECORD AMOUNT OF FOOD BOUGHT FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) says it purchased a record amount of food from developing countries last year. WFP bought more than two million metric tons, valued at some $760 million dollars from 69 such countries. Uganda was the largest supplier.

  • WFP’s Executive Director Josette Sheeran called local purchases a “win-win solution to hunger”. With food prices soaring, buying food in developing countries results in lower costs. Also, the food has a shorter distance to travel to reach the areas where it is being distributed.

  • In order to best support local markets, WFP’s policy is to buy locally when there is an abundance but to avoid such markets at times of scarcity, so as not to drive up prices.

  • WFP is expanding its procurement activities to purchase directly from low income farmers and groups.

  • Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization is highlighting the launch of projects in five African countries aimed at reviving agricultural output and creating new marketing opportunities. These initiatives are taking place in Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

DAVID BECKHAM VISITS SIERRA LEONE FOR UNICEF

  • Football star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham recently completed a visit to Sierra Leone, where he travelled with UNICEF representatives to draw attention to the issue of child survival.

  • The trip took place in connection with the release of UNICEF's yearly flagship report – “The State of the World's Children 2008.” This year’s report cites Sierra Leone as having the highest rate of infant mortality in the world.

NEW EMPLOYMENT REPORT TO BE ISSUED

  • The International Labour Organization will soon release its 2008 Global Employment Trends report.

  • The study looks at a broad range of statistics on the effect of turbulence in the credit market and rising oil prices on the global employment picture.

**The guest at noon was Ian Martin, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Political Mission in Nepal.