HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, June
24, 2008
U.N.
SECURITY CHIEF RESIGNS IN WAKE OF ALGERIA BOMBING REPORT
The following
statement is
attributable directly to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
At a meeting with me yesterday, the
Under-Secretary-General for Security and Safety, Sir David Veness informed me
that, as the Head of the Department of Safety and Security of the United
Nations, he was willing to shoulder full responsibility for any security lapse
that may have occurred in the context of the heinous terrorist
attack on the United Nations in Algiers of December 11, 2007.
In the light of this responsibility, as the Head of the
Department of Safety and Security, Sir David has voluntarily offered me his
resignation.
I am grateful to Sir David Veness for his high sense of
devotion to duty and strong professional motivation.
As the first head of the Department, he has provided it
strong leadership at a critical period in building a safety and security
structure for the United Nations that has significantly improved its security
management system in a whole range of areas. This fact is recognized by the
Independent Panel itself. The Organization is deeply indebted to him.
While accepting his decision to resign, in the interest
of continuity, I have asked him to stay on until such time as a stable
succession can be assured. I am aware that this will require some time.
GROUP SET UP ON INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
FROM ALGIERS ATTACK
The
Report of the Panel on Safety and Security was issued today.
Its contents are being disseminating with minimal
redactions -- primarily because of our concern not to divulge details of our
functioning that may pose further hazards or threats to our personnel or
premises in their normal functioning.
While the Panel has not identified individual
accountabilities, it found “ample evidence that several staff members up and
down the hierarchy may have failed to respond adequately to the Algiers
attack, both before and after the tragedy.”
For this reason it suggested an independent
accountability procedure to review the responsibilities of the key individuals
and offices concerned. The Panel felt such a procedure would help restore
confidence and morale among the staff.
In a letter to the Staff published on the UN’s internal
website today, the Secretary-General announced the creation of a group to
follow up on individual accountability. That group will be headed by former
Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Ralph Zacklin, and it will
urgently examine the question of individual accountabilities connected with
the attack on the UN premises in Algiers.
Mr. Zacklin will be assisted by Mr. Jean Jacques Graisse,
Mr. Sinha Basanayake, Ms. Zelda Holtzman and Ms. Marisela Padron. They will
work from Headquarters, and the Secretary-General expects them to report their
findings to him within a period of six weeks.
The Secretary-General reiterated his firm commitment to
ensuring full accountability on the part of his senior managers as well as all
those at other levels of responsible decision-making.
But, combating security threats from terrorists and other
detractors of the United Nations and ensuring the safety and well-being of
staff and dependents, national or international, makes it incumbent that host
governments and Member States also realize their responsibilities more
strongly, he says, so that fuller and more concrete cooperation on security
matters can be elicited from them. This factor cannot remain under-emphasized.
Asked whether Lakhdar Brahimi
will brief the press, the Spokeswoman said that he was currently traveling but
would brief the press at UN Headquarters next Monday at 12:30 p.m.
Asked about the finding that
there had been negligence by UN staff, the Spokeswoman said that the
accountability group that had been formed would look into that question, and
would use as information the findings by Brahimi’s panel.
DARFUR: NO PROGRESS UNLESS SUDANESE SHOW
POLITICAL WILL
The Special Envoys for Darfur for the United Nations and
the African Union, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim,
briefed
the Security Council today on the political process and the search for peace
in Darfur.
In his briefing, Jan Eliasson says there is now reason to
seriously question whether the parties are ready to sit down at the
negotiation table and make the compromises necessary for peace, despite the
envoys’ best efforts to assist them.
He also says that the outside world, as much as the
parties, has a responsibility to bring an end to this tragedy. It risks
tearing apart a great nation. A new generation in Sudan may be doomed to a
life in conflict, despair and poverty. The international community should have
learned enough lessons from other conflicts where populations are left to
stagnate and radicalize in camps.
He spoke of the urgent need to mobilize all available
political energy inside and outside Sudan to, first of all, stop escalation
and reach a cessation of hostilities and, secondly, to lay a foundation for
serious peace talks in Darfur.
But at the end of the day, he concludes, progress will
not be made unless the Sudanese themselves show seriousness, political will
and a focused commitment to peace.
At 3:30 p.m., the Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, is scheduled to brief the Security Council on the
situation between Djibouti and Eritrea.
VIOLENCE HAS HINDERED DEPLOYMENT OF
DARFUR MISSION
The Secretary-General’s monthly
report on
the deployment of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
is available today.
The Secretary-General notes that the ongoing violence has
hindered the deployment of UNAMID, which struggles to carry out its mandate by
continuing patrols, escorts and the protection of humanitarian convoys despite
limited resources.
The Secretary-General also reiterates his call for all
parties to lay down their weapons and begin substantive negotiations.
TOO MUCH VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION IN
ZIMBABWE
The Security Council wrapped up its consideration of
Zimbabwe yesterday evening by adopting a
Presidential
Statement condemning the campaign of violence against the political
opposition ahead of the second round of the Presidential elections there.
The Council called upon the Government of Zimbabwe to
stop the violence, to cease political intimidation, to end the restrictions on
the right of assembly and to release the political leaders who have been
detained.
The Security Council, in its statement, regretted that
the campaign of violence and the restrictions on the political opposition have
made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place on 27 June.
The Council issued that statement after hearing a
briefing, in a private meeting, from Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe on the alarming deterioration of the situation in
Zimbabwe, in which he said that the United Nations strongly discouraged the
authorities from going ahead with the run-off election under these
circumstances.
The Secretary-General,
speaking after meeting
the Council members at lunch yesterday, warned of the situation on the ground,
“There has been too much violence, too much intimidation. A vote held in these
conditions would lack all legitimacy.” Under the circumstances, he said, going
ahead with the run-off on Friday would only deepen divisions within the
country and produce a result that cannot be credible.
BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES SECURITY PACT
FOR AFRICA’S GREAT LAKES REGION
The Secretary-General
welcomes the
entry into force of the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the
Great Lakes Region on 21 June 2008, following its ratification by eight of the
11 core countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
(ICGLR).
Under the terms of the Pact, the Governments of the
region have committed themselves to address the underlying causes of the
conflicts in the heart of Africa, and to tackle the key security, governance,
development, humanitarian and social issues from a regional perspective.
By prioritizing and realizing results on the ground, the
Conference will send a strong signal to the international community of its
determination to turn the ideas of the Pact into concrete achievements.
The United Nations, which helped facilitate the
Conference process for many years, remains committed to support the
implementation of the Pact. The Secretary-General renews his appreciation to
the Executive Secretary of the Conference, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, and
to the Conference Secretariat.
Asked what the United Nations
is doing to support the Great Lakes peace initiative, the Spokeswoman said
that UN had fully supported the process with a Special Representative and an
office in Nairobi, until two years ago when the 11 core countries took full
ownership of the process by adopting the Pact. After the Pact was signed in
Dec 2006, the Security Council ended the UN mandate in March 2007 and the
office was closed. The UN is now supporting the fledgling structures of the
Conference, through the UN Country Teams, Missions and Offices in the
countries of the region.
BAN KI-MOON
LAUDS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PEACE AGREEMENT
The Secretary-General
welcomes the
peace agreement signed in Libreville on 21 June between the Government of the
Central African Republic and the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy
(APRD) and Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) political-military
groups, with the facilitation of the President of Gabon, Mr. El Hadj Omar
Bongo Ondimba.
The Secretary-General commends the parties to the
agreement for their resolve to restore stability in the Central African
Republic.
He hopes that the agreement will enable the Central
African authorities to convene, without further delay, the inclusive political
dialogue needed to allow the country to embark on a path to sustainable peace,
stability and development.
The Secretary-General urges all signatories of the
agreement to scrupulously respect its provisions and calls on all other
political-military groups in the country to join it.
The Secretary-General reaffirms the United Nations’
support to the stabilization efforts of the Central African Republic. He
calls on the international community to continue to provide assistance to the
country to sustain its recovery.
MIDDLE EAST QUARTET CALLS FOR MORE
VISIBLE PROGRESS ON GROUND
The Secretary-General today participated, via
videoconference and teleconference, in a meeting of the
Middle East Quartet, which took place today in Berlin, Germany.
A press conference was held in Berlin, where Javier
Solana, the European Union’s High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy, read out the Quartet’s latest
statement.
In that statement, the Quartet underscored the urgent
need for more visible progress on the ground in order to build confidence and
support progress in the negotiations launched at Annapolis. It said Israel’s
removal of some significant West Bank checkpoints and the opening of a number
of Palestinian police stations in Area B represent good steps. But greater
efforts are required now to project a new reality, including through further
urgent steps to improve access and movement.
Likewise, the Quartet added, Palestinian security
performance has improved, including recent efforts in Jenin. Continued
Palestinian efforts to fight terrorism and to implement a more comprehensive
security strategy are necessary for sustainable long-term improvement.
The Quartet also reiterated its deep concern at
continuing settlement activity and called on Israel to freeze all settlement
activity including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since
March 2001.
The Quartet voiced its support for the
outcomes of the “Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security
and the Rule of Law." With its focus on the Palestinian police and justice
sector the conference provided a timely forum to re-focus and direct
international support efforts towards two key sectors of Palestinian
state-building.
The Quartet called for speedy implementation of projects
agreed and robust donor support in order to build the capacity of the
Palestinian police and justice sector. The Quartet urged Israeli-Palestinian
cooperation in that respect, and emphasized the importance of unobstructed
delivery of security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
Noting the dire budget situation facing the Palestinian
Authority, the Quartet urged all donors who have not fulfilled their pledges,
especially the key regional partners, to fulfill their pledges from the
December 2007 Paris donors’ conference and to urgently provide budgetary
support to meet the requirements of the Palestinian Authority government. It
looked to the next AHLC meeting on September 22 to take stock of progress.
Recalling the centrality of economic development and
institutional reform to the success of a future Palestinian state, the Quartet
reaffirmed its support for Quartet Representative Tony Blair’s efforts, and
congratulated the Palestinian Authority on the success of the May 21-23
Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem.
Commending the close cooperation between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority on this initiative, the Quartet encouraged similar
cooperation to break ground on short and medium term projects and to make
progress in private sector activities that will create jobs for Palestinians
and help change the conditions of life. The Quartet underscored the importance
of uninterrupted transfers of Palestinian tax and customs revenues to the
Palestinian Authority.
The Quartet noted that a lasting solution to the
situation in Gaza can only be achieved through peaceful means. The Quartet
expressed its continuing support for Egyptian efforts to restore calm to Gaza
and southern Israel and welcomed the period of calm that began on June 19.
The Quartet urged that the calm be respected in full and
expressed the hope that it would endure, and lead to improved security for
Palestinians and Israelis alike, and a return to normal civilian life in
Gaza. In this respect, the Quartet looked forward to increased humanitarian
and commercial flows through the Gaza crossings under the management of the
Palestinian Authority, consistent with the November 2005 Agreement on Movement
and Access, and welcomed the European Union’s offer to resume its monitoring
mission at the Rafah crossing point.
The Quartet expressed its strong support for the steady
and sufficient supplies of fuel to Gaza and for the immediate resumption of
stalled UN and other donor projects there. It further tasked the Quartet
Representative to develop and promote implementation of measures, in
coordination with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, to improve conditions
in Gaza, as a matter of urgency.
The Quartet welcomed the May 21 announcement by Syria,
Israel and Turkey that indirect talks have been launched, with Turkey’s
facilitation, aimed at achieving peace in accordance with the Madrid terms of
reference, and hopes that progress is made in this direction.
The Quartet principals looked forward to meeting again in
September at the United Nations General Assembly. On that occasion the
Quartet will consider, after further consultations with the parties, the
timing and agenda of an international meeting in Moscow to lend support to the
process launched in Annapolis.
Quartet Principals will also continue their dialogue with
members of the Arab League Follow-Up Committee.
REFUGEE AGENCY PRESSES FOR RELEASE OF
ABDUCTED STAFFER
On Somalia, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) is continuing to press for the immediate and unconditional
release of the
head of its office in Mogadishu.
Hassan Mohamed Ali, also known as Keynaan, was abducted
from his home on Saturday. He spoke with a relative by phone on Sunday and
said he was in good condition. But no other information has been received
about his abductors, their motives or his whereabouts.
As a result of his abduction, humanitarian activities in
the Somali capital will be affected, with delays in the delivery of aid to
people who are already desperate, UNHCR says.
HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF TO VISIT PAKISTAN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will pay
her first official
visit to
Pakistan this week. This will be her last official mission overseas before
finishing her four-year mandate on 30 June.
She leaves for Pakistan tomorrow and will spend three
days in the country, discussing a wide range of human rights issues with top
Government officials, members of civil society and other interlocutors.
Pakistan will be the 55th country to receive
an official visit by Arbour during her four years in office.
BAN KI-MOON STRESSES NEED TO BUILD ON
FOOD CONFERENCE MOMENTUM
The Secretary-General chaired today the third meeting of
the High Level Task Force
on the Global Food Security Crisis. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Director-General Jacques Diouf briefed on the High-Level Conference on Food
Security that was held in Rome earlier this month.
The Secretary-General stressed the need to build on the
momentum generated by the High-Level Conference and to focus on the way
forward in addressing the food crisis.
He indicated that key upcoming events, including the G8
Summit, a possible General Assembly meeting in July, and the Assembly’s
High-Level Segment, are all critical occasions to build upon the foundation
provided by the Rome outcome to confront global challenges effectively and in
a coherent way.
Task Force Coordinator John Holmes provided an update on
the Comprehensive Framework for Action being prepared by the Task Force, which
includes a set of actions to address both immediate and longer-term needs,
including the structural factors underlying the current food price hikes.
COUNTRIES HONORED FOR RATIFYING
INSTRUMENT
ON SAFETY OF U.N. PERSONNEL
Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., there will be a ceremony in
Conference Room D to honor the 14 countries that ratified the 2005 Optional
Protocol to the Convention
on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.
UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel and UN Staff Council
President Stephen Kisambira will present those Member States with a
certificate and draw attention to the fact that eight ratifications are still
required for the instrument to come into force.
The Optional Protocol extends legal protection to UN and
associated personnel in peacebuilding missions.
The Spokesperson noted, in
response to a question, that the Optional Protocol on the Safety and Security
of UN Personnel had not entered into force because it had not yet received
enough ratifications.
U.N. ENVOY FOR ANGOLA REMEMBERED
Thursday, the 26th of June 2008, marks the 10th
anniversary of the passing of
Alioune Blondin Beye in a plane crash near Abidjan.
Maitre Beye was serving as Special Representative of the
UN Secretary-General for the Angolan peace process, and was making one of his
frequent missions in the region to build support for the end to the civil war
that plagued Angola for decades and cost a half million lives.
A former Foreign Minister of Mali and Secretary General
of the African Development Bank, Maitre Beye and eight other people perished
in this tragedy, all committed persons of peace.
Maitre Beye touched the lives of all those who knew him,
and was beloved by millions of Malians, Angolans, and other peoples of Africa
and beyond for his selfless dedication to peace, justice, human rights, and
national reconciliation. His life was the ultimate symbol of selflessness and
dedication to the common humanity of all people.
A commemoration of his life will be held in the Dag
Hammarskjold Auditorium from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on 26 June 2008. The media
are welcome to attend.
WOMEN’S AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS ANTI-VIOLENCE
CAMPAIGN
Yesterday in Vienna, the United Nations Development Fund
for Women (UNIFEM)
welcomed prime ministers and foreign ministers representing 10 countries,
the European Commission, and others, as leading participants in its Say NO to
Violence against Women campaign.
UNIFEM seeks to gather one million names through the
campaign’s website before 25 November, when the signatures will be handed over
to the Secretary-General on the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW U.N. ENVOY ARRIVES IN KOSOVO: The
Secretary-General’s new Special Representative in
Kosovo, Lamberto Zannier, has arrived
in Pristina to take up his duties. In his latest press encounter, he said he
sees his role as one focused on helping to maintain peace, security and
stability in the region – as a key condition for economic and social
development.
BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES IRAQ’S ROLE IN REMAINING KUWAIT
CASES: The latest
report from
the Secretary-General on missing Kuwaiti and third-country persons and property
in Iraq is out as a document today. In it, the Secretary-General details the
work of his new High-level Coordinator, Gennady Tarasov, in returning Kuwaiti or
third-country nationals or their remains from Iraq. He adds that he is pleased
that Iraq has shown sensitivity and understanding, as well as a sincere
intention to assist in resolving the outstanding cases.
RESULTS OF NORTH KOREA INVESTIGATION
PRESENTED IN GENEVA: Today in Geneva at the annual meeting of the UN
Development Programme’s Executive Board, Miklos Nemeth, along with Maryann
Wirsch, Mohan Vasudev, presented the report of the independent investigative
review panel into UNDP activities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Many of the 36 members of the Executive Board spoke during the more than three
hours of discussion in an open meeting.
**The guests at noon were Jan Eliasson and Ahmed Salim,
the UN and African Union Special Envoys for Darfur, who briefed on the Darfur
peace process.
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
