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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL INVITES PRESIDENT CLINTON TO JOIN HIM ON HAITI VISIT
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently
invited President Clinton to participate in a visit to Haiti. This
decision is based on the attention devoted by President Clinton to Haiti
while in the White House, his service as the United Nations Special Envoy
for Tsunami Recovery after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, and most
recently on his Call to Action on Haiti at the Clinton Global Initiative
(CGI) in September 2008.
The visit builds on Secretary-General Ban’s continuing
work with President René Préval to identify an action plan to achieve
economic security for the people of Haiti. The plan focuses on the
generation of employment opportunities, food security, reforestation and the
provision of basic services, including health care.
The presence of the Secretary-General and President
Clinton will bring a strong message of hope that Haiti is still “winnable”.
The trip will help to focus attention on the importance for new partnerships
and new efforts to assist the people and government of Haiti as they
continue to “build back better” from recent storm damage and create a more
stable and prosperous future for the children of Haiti, according to a
statement attributable to the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General.
Meanwhile, President Clinton said: “The losses have
been so great in Haiti, but the commitment of the people of Haiti to a
better future is even greater, and we have a unique moment to assist them as
they rebuild their country. I believe Haiti is poised to make more progress
in less time than it has in the more than two decades that I have been
working on these issues.”
SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS KILLINGS OF
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF GUINEA-BISSAU
The
Security Council met this morning to adopt its programme of work for the
month of March.
Under other matters, Council members heard a briefing
on the killings of the President and Chief of General Staff in Guinea-Bissau
by Sam Ibok, Deputy Director of the Africa II division of the Department for
Political Affairs.
The Council, in a formal meeting,
condemned the
two assassinations in the strongest terms, and called for restraint, the
maintenance of stability and the constitutional order and respect for the
rule of law and the democratic process.
The Council President is also
expected to issue a press statement today welcoming the commencement of the
functioning of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
U.N. CONDEMNS ATTACK ON SRI LANKA’S
CRICKET TEAM IN PAKISTAN
Asked about the UN reaction to the attack in Pakistan
on Sri Lanka’s cricket team, the Spokeswoman said, “We strongly condemn this
attack and offer our sympathies to the victims and their families.”
She said that any attack targeting civilians -- in this
case, athletes -- is inhumane and unjustifiable, and she urged the
authorities in Pakistan to do all in their power to find the culprits and
bring them to justice.
GAZA: AID AGENCIES STILL FACE
RESTRICTIONS AND DELAYS IN DELIVERY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
reports that, while international donors gathered yesterday in Sharm
el-Sheikh, Egypt, to raise funds for the reconstruction of Gaza, aid
agencies continued to experience restrictions and delays in delivering aid
supplies to the Strip.
OCHA notes that more than 80 percent of all goods
currently allowed into Gaza by Israel are basic foods. But other essential
goods, including supplies and equipment needed for rebuilding, and even
early childhood development kits and toys from UNICEF, are being kept out.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP)
is working with the Palestinian Authority on a project aimed at compensating
farmers in Gaza for their losses during the recent military operations.
UNICEF remains concerned that the nutritional status and general health
of children in Gaza is likely to deteriorate given the dependency of Gazan
families on food aid and cash assistance, as well as their lack of access to
clean tap water.
UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION REPORTS SHOTS
FIRED FROM ISRAEL INTO LEBANON
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
was informed this morning that 15 hours rifle shots were fired from the
Israeli side of the Line Withdrawal in the area of El Adeisse.
A UNIFIL investigation team visited the location to
ascertain the circumstances of the incident and investigations are still
ongoing.
Preliminary findings on the ground show that at least
two shots impacted on a wall approximately 50 meters from the Line of
Withdrawal into Lebanese territory. There were no reported injuries.
This is a serious incident and a violation of Security
Council resolution
1701. UNIFIL has protested to the Israel Defense Force.
The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Claudio
Graziano, has been in contact with the Senior Commanders of the Lebanese
Armed Forces and the IDF in this regard, and UNIFIL patrols are on the
location.
SECURITY SITUATION IN DARFUR IS REPORTED
TO BE RELATIVELY CALM
The security situation in Darfur has been reported to
be relatively calm. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in
Darfur (UNAMID)
forces are conducting their normal activities, including robust patrolling,
and they are closely monitoring the situation throughout the region.
Ninety three members of the Egyptian infantry battalion
arrived in El Fasher today, as was planned and reported yesterday.
Further to yesterday’s report about a shooting incident
at the Manawashi Market in El Fasher, North Darfur, UNAMID was advised that
a group of militiamen were firing in the market and had attempted to loot
shops, allegedly due to their discontent with not having received salaries.
One person was killed and six wounded in the incident.
Upon his return from Khartoum to El Fasher later in the
day, the Wali of North Darfur visited the wounded in the local hospital. An
outraged crowd demonstrating against the looting reportedly began throwing
stones at his vehicle, prompting the Wali’s close protection team to begin
shooting in the air. No injuries were reported.
ACHIM STEINER
IS APPOINTED HEAD OF U.N. OFFICE IN NAIROBI
The Secretary-General has appointed Achim Steiner as
Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON),
effective 1 March. Steiner has been the Executive Director of the
Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
since June 2006 - a position he will continue to retain.
Steiner is succeeding Anna Tibaijuka as
Director-General of the Nairobi office. The Secretary-General made this
decision in view of his policy of rotation among his senior managers.
Tibaijuka will continue to serve as the Executive Director of the Human
Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat),
a position she has held since 2002.
The Secretary-General is grateful to Mrs. Tibaijuka for
the valuable support and direction that she has provided UNON during her
tenure as Director General since 2006. He is counting on her continued
leadership as Executive Director of UN-Habitat.
Asked about protests by some staff in Nairobi about the
change in the leadership of that office, the Spokeswoman emphasized that the
Secretary-General has valued rotation and mobility highly and has pushed for
it throughout the UN system. At the same time, she underscored his
continuing respect for Anna Tibaijuka’s work.
HIV INFECTIONS IN OLDER GENERATIONS COULD
BE INCREASING WORLDWIDE
The number of people who are above the age of fifty and
have HIV may be increasing worldwide. But doctors seldom consider screening
them for HIV, thus delaying diagnosis, according to an
article published today in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization
(WHO).
The article adds that older individuals are less likely
to practice safe sex. And they experience faster progression rates from HIV
infection to AIDS.
IMO AND UNDP LAUNCH AN ALLIANCE TO
COMBAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT OF “BIO-INVASIONS”
The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
have
launched a new alliance with the Global Environment Facility and four
major private shipping corporations. The goal is to tackle the devastating
environmental threat of so-called “bio-invasions”.
The UNDP and the IMO note that when ships discharge
water into the sea, potentially harmful species of plants and animals from
one geographical area are released into a new one. Once these species are
established, they are extremely difficult to eradicate.
The alliance will help to develop cost effective water
treatment technologies and new ship design options.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION IN BANGLADESH
MUTINY BEING STUDIED: Asked about the recent mutiny in Bangladesh, the
Spokeswoman later confirmed that the United Nations has received a request,
conveyed to the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, for assistance regarding
investigations into the mutiny. That request is being studied.
UNICEF CHIEF VISITS MIDDLE EAST: UNICEF Executive
Director Ann Veneman
concluded a two-day visit to Jordan which focused on the country’s
innovative approaches to child protection and education. The visit to Jordan
comes as the first stop of a mission which will also take her to Israel and the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, to take stock of the situation
of children in the region.
UNDP ADMINISTRATOR SHORTLIST WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC:
Asked about the selection of a new UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Administrator, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was striving for
maximum transparency in that process. To that end, he had consulted widely with
Member States and placed an advertisement for the post in The Economist.
However, it was decided to respect the privacy of candidates by not making any
shortlist public.
INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT ON ART HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE:
Asked about a report that gifts of art made to the United Nations may have gone
missing, the Spokeswoman reiterated that the accuracy of that news article is
being checked. Okabe added that the article concerned an internal report by the
Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which has been made available to
the public by a Member State. She also asid that the recommendations made by
OIOS in the report were being followed up by the appropriate departments.
UNITED NATIONS AND CAMBODIA CONTINUE TALKS ON ECCC:
Asked about allegations on corruptions in Cambodia, the Spokeswoman later said
that the United Nations continued high-level discussions with the Cambodian
Government on 23 February on all issues related to the Extraordinary Chambers in
the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC); Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs
Peter Taksoe-Jensen represented the United Nations. The discussions also focused
on the work of the Joint Sessions, which are working to establish a mechanism to
address the allegations of corruption.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO BRIEF PRESS SHORTLY AFTER HIS
RETURN: In response to questions, the Spokeswoman recalled that the
Secretary-General was expected to hold his monthly press conference shortly
after returning to New York, although she noted that was not going to take place
tomorrow.
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