HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE
MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, October 31, 2008
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO: BAN KI-MOON IS ENGAGED IN EFFORTS TO BRING PARTIES INTO TALKS
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
told reporters that he has been very heavily engaged in discussions with
leaders in Africa, the European Union and the United States as part of his
efforts to stabilize the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC).
With each of the parties he has spoken with over the
past 48 hours, he stressed the importance of doing everything possible to
stop the fighting and bring the parties into talks.
During the last two days, he said he spoke twice with
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda with President Joseph Kabila of the DRC and
with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, who is also the President of the
African Union, as well as with Chairman Jean Ping of the African Commission,
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Secretary David Miliband of
Britain and all other relevant major key players.
Referring to the ceasefire declared by Laurent Nkunda
of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), the
Secretary-General said that it should be kept and the international
community, African leaders, particularly those in the region, should take
very concrete measures so that it can be maintained as it is now. There
should be a disengagement of the forces from there, he added.
Now with the ceasefire in place, he said, he had
mobilized all necessary humanitarian agencies to provide assistance.
“Now there should be an ongoing political process, as I
have been doing with key world leaders to keep this ceasefire as well as the
disengagement in place," he told the press conference in New Delhi.
He described his efforts, including the dispatching of
envoys -- Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios
to Rwanda to meet with President Kagame and Assistant Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet to the DRC to meet with President
Kabila.
The Secretary-General said he sincerely hopes that we
will be able to first of all contain this situation and look more closely at
how we can ensure that the Nairobi Communique and the Goma Process be
implemented.
He also said that the UN Organization Mission in the
DRC (MONUC) has been playing a very important role, a crucial role, in
trying to manage the situation through disengagement proposals and through
direct engagement with General Nkunda and other leaders in the region, DRC
and Rwanda.
The Secretary-General stressed that he will continue to
engage himself until such time that we see the situation stabilize.
U.N. PEACEKEEPER PATROLS PREVENT LOOTING
AND VIOLENCE IN D.R. CONGO
Alan Doss, the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), traveled to
Goma today to assess the situation on the ground and hold meetings with the
local authorities and the humanitarian community.
He was part of a high-level delegation that included
Jendayi Frazer, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Ali
Bongo, African Union Representative to the DRC.
The UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC)
reports today that the situation in Goma remains calm, and that no new
fighting had been reported in the last 24 hours. The ceasefire seems to be
holding so far.
Congolese Government forces have returned to the
airport and taken the security responsibility.
Last night MONUC patrols heavily dominated the streets
of Goma to reassure the population and give them a sense of security. As a
consequence, no new cases of lootings or violence were reported.
The toll of the shootings in Goma two days ago stands
today at 21 deaths, including 8 governmental soldiers shot while engaging in
looting and people injured.
MONUC’s Human Rights Section is actively investigating
reports of some rape cases.
Asked about reports that
Indian peacekeepers had to deploy in parts of Goma because Uruguayan troops
were not present, the Spokeswoman asserted that Uruguayan troops remain
deployed among the peacekeepers protecting Goma.
Asked whether UN efforts to
deal with the Lord’s Resistance Army would continue even with some UN troops
redeployed around Goma, Montas said that effort would continue. The current
movement, she said, was a temporary redeployment because of the crisis
situation in the Kivus.
HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES MANAGE TO GET
RELIEF AID TO DISPLACED CONGOLESE
Although movement within and outside Goma is still
limited due to the fragile security situation, humanitarian agencies
successfully delivered some relief supplies on Friday.
The World Food Programme, in a joint mission with
UNICEF and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
moved vitally-needed high-energy biscuits for malnourished children to a
medical centre for the displaced north of Goma.
UNHCR, meanwhile,
reports that it has received disturbing reports that several camps for
internally displaced people near the North Kivu town of Rutshuru, about 90
kilometers north of Goma, have been forcibly emptied, looted and burned.
UNHCR says it is in the process of trying to verify these reports.
The area around Rutshuru has been the scene of fighting
in recent weeks and is now under rebel control. UNHCR is trying to verify
these reports, but says insecurity continues to hamper efforts.
From Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, a UN
team reached Kibati, about 10 kilometers north of the city, to check on
reports that some of the 45,000 displaced people who fled two camps there
were now beginning to return. The team reported that displaced people were
once again jamming the sites, which appeared more crowded than ever. The UN
is distributing emergency aid.
Many Congolese fleeing the fighting north of Goma have
headed towards Uganda looking for safety. Since the latest round of fighting
started in August more than 8,500 refugees crossed the border into Uganda.
Some 600 refugees arrived so far this morning. Many said they had walked for
more than 20 hours. Meanwhile, some 1,200 refugees fled to Rwanda.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Italy will be sending 10 tons of medical supplies to help the tens of
thousands of people affected by the ongoing insecurity in the eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo.WHO has also helped re-establish activities of
the blood bank at Goma's main hospital, where staffing shortages and
insecurity had hampered its operations. Staffing and financial support have
been provided by WHO to ensure the bank's operations.
There are 16 UNHCR-assisted sites in North Kivu
sheltering some 100,000 people, plus more than 40 makeshift encampments
housing tens of thousands of civilians. Altogether, there are more than 1
million internally displaced people in North Kivu.
HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONCERNED BY KILLINGS
IN D.R. CONGO
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay,
expressed deep concern today over the increasing number of killings and
other human rights violations recorded over the past few days in North Kivu
and called on all parties to respect human rights and international
humanitarian law.
“During previous outbreaks of fighting in this region,
we have seen horrendous large-scale summary and arbitrary executions, rapes,
disappearances, torture, harassment, unlawful arrest and arbitrary
detention, not to mention wave after wave of mass displacement,” Pillay
said. “Over the past days, a number of fresh violations have been recorded
by UN human rights staff in the region.”
In the provincial capital Goma, the main perpetrators
of looting, killings and rapes appear to have been renegade soldiers
belonging to the national army, many of whom have fled the fighting. Other
serious abuses, including targeted killings, have been reported from areas
held by the CNDP commanded Nkunda.
BAN KI-MOON IMPRESSED BY INDIA’S
DEMOCRATIC TRADITION & GROWING ECONOMIC POWER
The Secretary-General today wrapped up his visit to
India, with meetings with President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, as well as with the UN Country
Team.
Speaking to reporters before his departure to Nepal, the
Secretary-General said it had pleased him to have arrived in India on the
63rd anniversary of the country’s admission into the United Nations. He
added that it is truly impressive how much India has achieved since then, as
a leading voice in the developing world, as a long-established democracy and
as a growing economic power.
The Secretary-General added that, although he is
impressed by India’s progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals,
he is concerned that the recent global food price hike has slowed this
progress and the Goals will be adversely affected.
This is why, he said, he has been calling on the
industrialized countries to make sure that the financial crisis does not
affect their commitment to supporting developing nations as we all try to
make sure that the Millennium Development Goals can be implemented on
schedule.
He also told reporters that he is planning to go to
Myanmar only when the political atmosphere is right, including by the
acceleration of the democratization process there.
Asked whether it would be
more useful for the Secretary-General to directly engage the Myanmar
authorities, the Spokeswoman said that he is engaging them, including
through the work of his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari.
The Secretary-General has now arrived in Katmandu,
Nepal, on a trip to meet with senior Nepalese officials and to reaffirm the
UN's firm commitment to continue to support the consolidation of peace and
reform. Over the weekend, he will also pay an official visit to Bangladesh.
COSTA RICA TO ASSUME ROTATING SECURITY
COUNCIL PRESIDENCY
Today is the last day of the Chinese Presidency of the
Security Council. Starting tomorrow, Costa Rica will assume the Council’s
rotating Presidency for the month of November.
Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, next month’s
Council President, will brief the press next Tuesday on the Council’s
programme of work for the month.
PAKISTAN: RELIEF SUPPLIES REACH QUAKE
SURVIVORS
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
reports that UN agencies are working to help survivors of Pakistan’s
recent earthquake and aftershocks. What are most urgently needed are
winter-ready tents, blankets, warm clothing, food, health services and water
supply systems, OCHA says.
For its part, the UN Population Fund has dispatched
3,000 hygiene kits. And the World Food Programme is currently distributing a
emergency rations to 20,000 survivors. Those rations include biscuits,
pulses, beans and wheat flour.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sent
two trucks containing enough medicines to treat 50,000 people for the next
three months, as well as two kits with materials to treat up to 400 people
suffering from extreme trauma injuries. WHO is also opening a mental health
office in the quake-hit region to help provide psychosocial support to
survivors.
In addition, UNICEF is providing immediate life-saving
aid to children and women and is working to ensure the availability of clean
water.
MYANMAR: POST-CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS ON
TRACK BUT SUPPORT STILL NEEDED
Six months after Cyclone Nargis, UNICEF
reports that relief efforts in Myanmar are on track, but support is
still needed.
So far, UNICEF has cleaned ponds and wells that provide
drinking water for 135,000 people. It has also provided learning kits and
other supplies to nearly 400,000 children. In addition, UNICEF is working
with the Government, the Red Cross and others to reunite families separated
by the cyclone and to care for unaccompanied children.
Next month, UNICEF plans to begin construction of seven
model schools that would offer resistance to cyclones and earthquakes and
which could be used as shelter in emergencies.
INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
CAN HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
reports that its World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly drew to a close yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa. ITU
members agreed on a number of wide-ranging decisions that will impact the
future direction of the information and communication technology industry.
Among other things, ITU members agreed to work towards
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of information
and communication technologies. They also agreed that such technologies can
actually help mitigate the effects of climate change by limiting and
reducing emissions across all industry sectors.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP RUN TO START AT
THE UNITED NATIONS.
Nearly 20,000 athletes representing over 100 countries,
all dressed in their nation’s colors, will participate in the annual
Continental Airlines International Friendship Run on Saturday at 9 a.m.,
beginning at United Nations Headquarters and concluding at 53rd
Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan.
**The guest at noon was Karen AbuZayd,
Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA).
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Saturday,
November 1
The Secretary-General wraps up
his visit to Nepal, where he is scheduled to meet with the President, the Prime
Minister, the Foreign Minister, and members of the Constituent Assembly, as well
as visit Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha, before continuing on to Bangladesh.
Today is the first day of
Costa Rica’s Security Council presidency.
Sunday, November 2
In Bangladesh, the
Secretary-General is scheduled to meet the President and Chief Adviser, as well
as visit a disaster management project.
Monday, November 3
From 3 to 6 p.m. in Conference
Room 4, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities holds the second meeting of its first session, during
which it is expected to elect the 12 members of the Committee on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.
Today and tomorrow, the Deputy
Secretary-General is in Santiago, Chile, where she will address the regional
coordination meeting for the Latin America and Caribbean region, as well as meet
the Chilean President and the U.N. country team.
From today through 21 November
in Geneva, the Committee Against Torture and the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights each hold their 41st sessions.
From today through Thursday in
Nanjing, China, the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum meets to discuss
“Harmonious Urbanization: The Challenge of Balanced Territorial Development”.
Tuesday, November 4
At 12.30 p.m. in Room S-226, Jorge Urbina, Permanent
Representative of Costa Rica and President of the Security Council for November,
briefs on the Council’s programme of work for the month.
At 3 p.m. in Room S-226,
Githu Muigai, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms
of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, briefs the
press.
Wednesday, November 5
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. in
Conference Room 9, there is a special event on “Enhancing Pacific connectivity”.
Thursday, November 6
At 11.15 p.m. in Room S-226,
Irakli Alasania, Permanent Representative of Georgia, briefs on the situation in
that country.
Today is the International Day
for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflicts.
Friday, November 7
In Beijing, China, there will
be a high-level conference on “Climate Change: Technology Development and
Technology Transfer” today and tomorrow. Also in Beijing, the World Health
Organization organizes a Congress on Traditional Medicine from today through
Sunday.
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