HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY
MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN HEADQUARTERS,
NEW YORK
Friday,
February 29, 2008
BAN KI-MOON
HEADS TO TEXAS
Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon is traveling today to Texas, where, this afternoon, he will address
the William Waldo Cameron Forum on Public Affairs at the George Bush
Presidential Library, named after the first President Bush.
He will speak about the strong U.S.-U.N. relationship,
saying that working together is in the best interest of the United States, of
the United Nations and of the world. And he will highlight key concerns for
the United Nations, including the situation in Darfur and climate change.
The Secretary-General will visit Geneva early next week,
where he will address the new session of the Human Rights Council on Monday.
ERITREAN SOLDIERS OBSTRUCT U.N.
PEACEKEEPER RELOCATION
The regrouping of UN peacekeepers ahead of a temporary
relocation out of Eritrea was again obstructed by Eritrean soldiers today in
Senafe.
The latest obstruction has left 102 peacekeepers stranded
inside the Temporary Security Zone and 21 vehicles sent to collect them unable
to do so. Another 13 peacekeepers and eight UN vehicles were earlier today
also stopped by Eritrean soldiers at the same checkpoint in Senafe.
Azouz Ennifar, the Deputy Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Ethiopia and Eritrea, was assured in a telephone
conversation with Eritrean officials today, that there were no explicit
instructions from the Eritrean Government to prevent UN peacekeepers from
relocating.
Despite the obstructions, the UN Mission in Ethiopia and
Eritrea (UNMEE)
says that only two UN camps remain to be vacated, with UN military
headquarters near the town of Barentu now expected to be vacated by this
Sunday.
Meanwhile, all military observers have now been accounted
for, with 104 relocated to Asmara and another 11 awaiting further instructions
in the port town of Assab.
THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM WEST DARFUR
CROSS INTO CHAD
The Deputy Special Representative for
Sudan, Ameerah Haq, traveled to West Darfur for the second time this week
as part of an inter-agency mission to assess the humanitarian situation on the
ground as the result of the recent hostilities, including bombings, attacks on
civilians and ongoing displacement.
The mission visited Sileah yesterday and found the town
empty, despite having a population of up to 20,000 people. Only around 300
people remained, mostly elderly citizens who could not flee. The town was
attacked on 8 February. The scene at the local clinic was one of disarray
where there had obviously been a thorough ransacking of the clinic and its
equipment.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), meanwhile,
says an additional 3,000 refugees from West Darfur have arrived in eastern
Chad over the past week, bringing to more than 13,000 the number of Sudanese
believed to have fled to the remote area since fighting erupted on February
8th.
A UNHCR team which reached the Birak area this week
reported that the new arrivals fled the Jebel Moun region of West Darfur
following repeated aerial and ground attacks by militia.
Another UNHCR mission that was scheduled to go to the
Birak area today was cancelled due to inter-ethnic clashes.
Asked about a Human Rights
Watch report criticizing the Security Council for what it called its silence
on Darfur, the Spokeswoman said that was an issue for the Council members. She
noted that the Secretary-General has spoken extensively about the violence in
Darfur.
IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACKS
AGAINST MEDIA
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, today strongly
condemned attacks targeting media representatives in that country, which he
said could hurt press freedom and freedom of expression.
He extended his condolences following the death of
journalist Shihab al-Tamimi, who was the victim of an assassination attempt
last Saturday.
De Mistura expressed his solidarity with all Iraqi
journalists. Given the courage consistently shown by so many of them, he is
confident that this tragic event will not intimidate them from carrying out
their work that is essential for the future of their country.
U.N. MISSION IN TIMOR LESTE WELCOMES
ARREST OF FUGITIVES
In Timor-Leste, five individuals wanted in connection
with the activities of the late rebel commander Alfredo Reinado were handed
over yesterday by the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) to United Nations
police officers.
The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)
welcomed the arrest and detention of the five, who stood trial before the Dili
District Court. The Court ordered that they be remanded in UN Police custody
overnight and reappear again before the Court this morning.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative in
Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, stated that this process demonstrates again the
national authorities’ commitment to the rule of law. He also communicated to
Interim President de Araujo and to Prime Minister Gusmão his appreciation for
the efforts of the PNTL, and all others involved in making this peaceful
submission to justice possible.
LEBANON MARITIME FORCE CHANGES COMMAND
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
marked a historic occasion today, when Germany handed over the command of
UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force to the European Maritime Force, which is
currently led by Italy.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, UNIFIL Force Commander
Major-General Claudio Graziano
said,
“Thanks to the vigilant posture of the Maritime Task Force, the maritime front
has been as calm as the sea today.” He congratulated the Force’s personnel for
their commendable work over the past 14 months.
Asked about the deployment of
U.S. aircraft carriers off the coast of Lebanon, the Spokeswoman said that
UNIFIL has no specific information about this matter. UNIFIL was not informed
about this deployment and it was not coordinated with UNIFIL in any way.
Montas added that UNIFIL Maritime Task Force operations are continuing
uninterrupted in close coordination with the Lebanese navy.
GAZA STILL PLAGUED BY POWER CUTS
The Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process (UNSCO) reports that
one crossing was opened for fuel today, allowing 400,000 liters to enter into
Gaza from Israel.
With today’s opening, the electricity situation has
returned to where it was last week, which still means power cuts of up to
twelve hours a day in Gaza City and Central Gaza.
The three crossings that allow humanitarian and
commercial goods into Gaza all stayed closed today.
U.N. PROVIDES WATER TO SOMALIS AS
DROUGHT WORSENS
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
warns that the drought in the central part of Somalia is worsening.
Severe water shortages and limited grazing for livestock are forcing many
pastoralist families into destitution.
UNICEF and partners are helping out in the Galgaduud
region, by providing water, constructing shallow wells and installing water
pipes. They’re also supporting health centres serving more than 20,000
children under five in the area.
OCHA notes that the humanitarian situation in the area is
already overstressed by an influx of displaced persons from Mogadishu. And,
following last week’s arrival of Ethiopian troops, two thirds of the residents
of the town of Dhuusamarreeb have fled, fearing a possible confrontation with
anti-government forces.
F.A.O. PROVIDES ANIMAL FEED TO AFGHAN
FARMERS
DURING HARSHEST WINTER IN 30 YEARS
Afghanistan’s harshest winter in nearly 30 years has
devastated the country’s livestock sector, killing over 300,000 animals
since late December and seriously hurting many Afghans’ livelihoods, according
to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
For its part, FAO has distributed 20 tons of feed in
Herat, one of the hardest-hit provinces, and is providing 60 tons of feed
concentrate to the worst-hit farmers in Bamyan Province.
The UN agency is also seeking over $2 million to provide
an additional 1,500 tons of feed, as well as vaccines, multi-vitamins and
anti-parasitic treatment for the livestock of 50,000 vulnerable farming
families.
RUSSIA TO ASSUME SECURITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENCY FOR MARCH
Today is the last day of the Panamanian Presidency of the
Security Council.
Starting tomorrow, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia
will assume the Council’s rotating Presidency for the month of March.
Council members yesterday afternoon held consultations on
non-proliferation and discussed a draft resolution on Iran.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. ENVOY
EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO MYANMAR NEXT WEEK:
Asked whether the Secretary-General had been invited to visit
Myanmar, the Spokeswoman could not confirm that invitation. She said,
however, that Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari was returning to New York, and
would brief the Secretary-General on Myanmar on Saturday. Gambari, Montas said,
is expected to travel to Myanmar next week.
SERBIA LETTER
RECEIVED: Asked about a letter from Serbia
to the Secretary-General that protests the international steering group on
Kosovo, the Spokeswoman said that the
Secretary-General had just received the letter. The steering group, she added,
is not a UN body.
NO BURUNDI LETTER
RECEIVED: Asked about a letter from
opposition lawmakers in Burundi to the Secretary-General, the Spokeswoman said
that the letter has not been received yet. She noted that, according to a
report, the letter had gone to a UN representative in Bujumbura.
DELEGATES AT
CONFERENCE UNDERWAY ACCREDITED THROUGH ECOSOC:
Asked about the accreditations for delegates attending the Commission on the
Status of Women (CSW), the
Spokeswoman said that the non-governmental representatives attending the meeting
are accredited through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
THE WEEK
AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Saturday, March 1
Today is the first day of the Russian Federation’s Security
Council presidency.
Sunday, March 2
From today through Friday at the Speke Resort in Kampala,
Uganda, the Global Health Workforce Alliance, with support from the World Health
Organization, convenes the First Global Forum on Human Resources for Health.
Monday, March 3
The Secretary-General begins a two-day trip to Geneva.
Today, he addresses the opening of the Human Rights Council’s seventh session
(which runs through 28 March), as well as the UN Conference for Trade and
Development.
At 10 a.m. in Conference Room 3, the General Assembly’s
Fifth Committee begins the first part of its resumed session.
At 11 a.m. in Room S-226,
Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky of the International Narcotics Control Board presents
the main findings of the Board’s survey on the latest global drug control
situation. [Please note: both the survey and the press conference are embargoed
until 4 March, 8 p.m. NYT.]
From today through Friday, the International Atomic Energy
Agency’s Board of Governors meets in Vienna.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres
begins an eight-day mission to Uganda and Tanzania to review implementation of
UNHCR’s programmes in those countries.
From today through 20 March, the UN Human Rights Council’s
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir, visits India
at the invitation of the Government.
Tuesday, March 4
At 10 a.m., the General Assembly plenary meets to consider
a draft resolution on the modalities, format and organization of next
September’s high-level meeting on Africa’s development needs.
At 10.30 a.m. in Room S-226,
Joanne Sandler, Executive Director of UNIFEM; Reese Witherspoon, Actress and
Avon Global Ambassador; and Andrea Jung, Chief Executive Officer of Avon
Products Inc., announce a private-public partnership with Avon Inc. on ending
violence against women and promoting women’s economic empowerment.
At 11.30 a.m. in Room S-226, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of
the Russian Federation briefs, in his capacity as Security Council President for
March, on the Council’s programme of work for the month.
From today through Friday in Addis Ababa, the Economic
Commission for Africa organizes “Science with Africa”, a conference aimed at
increasing the participation of African scientists in international research
projects.
Wednesday, March 5
From 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in
Conference Room 7, the UN Global Compact Office hosts the inaugural working
conference of the signatories to the CEO Water Mandate.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in
Conference Room 6, a seminar on “Catalytic action for peacebuilding: Examples of
the UN Peacebuilding Fund” takes place.
The guest at the noon briefing,
Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, briefs on a new
“Standby-Team” of mediation experts, coordinated by the Department of Political
Affairs (DPA), who will be available to deploy quickly to peace talks and assist
envoys in negotiations. Some team members and DPA mediation support unit staff
are also expected to be on hand at the briefing.
Thursday, March 6
The
Global Preparatory Meeting for the first Development Cooperation Forum and the
second Annual Ministerial Review takes place, beginning at 10 a.m. in the
Economic and Social Council Chamber.
From 10.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. in Conference Room 2, an observance of
International Women’s day (8 March) takes place. The Secretary-General is
scheduled to address the high-level opening session, which will be followed by a
panel discussion.
At
11 a.m. in Room S-226, Michael Adlerstein, Executive Director of the
Capital Master Plan (CMP), provides updates on the CMP.
The
guest at noon is Ms. Rachel Mayanja, the Special Adviser to the
Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, who will be joined
by speakers from this morning’s International Women’s Day panel.
From 1.15 to 2.45 p.m. in Conference Room 7, a UN University-UN midday forum
discusses “Religion in multilateralism: Dodging the pitfalls of extremism”.
Today and tomorrow in the General Assembly Hall, the UN International School
holds its 32nd Annual Conference on “The Pursuit of Energy: A Catalyst for
Conflict”.
In
Geneva, the International Labour Organization launches its report on global
employment trends for women in 2008.
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
