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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
BAN KI-MOON CALLS ON SUDAN TO CONTINUE TO
COOPERATE FULLY WITH ALL U.N. ENTITIES
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has today issued
a warrant for the arrest of President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, President of
the Republic of Sudan, for his alleged responsibility for crimes committed
in Darfur.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognizes the authority
of the International Criminal Court as an independent judicial institution.
The Secretary-General trusts that the Government of
Sudan will address the issues of peace and justice in a manner consistent
with Security Council resolution 1593 (2005).
The United Nations will continue to conduct its vital
peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights and development operations and
activities in Sudan.
The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Sudan
to continue to cooperate fully with all UN entities and their implementing
partners, while fulfilling its obligation to ensure the safety and security
of the civilian population, UN personnel and property, and that of its
implementing partners.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to work in
good faith toward a political solution to end the conflict in Darfur. He
also calls on the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to recommit
themselves to the full and timely implementation of the Agreement, which
remains the basis for the long term peace and security in Sudan.
Asked about how today’s
arrest warrant would affect the Secretary-General’s contacts with President
Al-Bashir, the Spokesperson said that the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), the
African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), and the AU-UN Joint
Chief Mediator will continue to deal with all parties in pursuit of their
mandates. President Al-Bashir is the Head of State of Sudan, she noted, and
United Nations officials will continue to deal with President Al-Bashir when
they need to do so.
Asked if UN forces might be
asked to help execute the arrest warrant, the Spokesperson said that the UN
peacekeeping missions in Sudan, UNMIS and UNAMID, do not have a mandate to
execute ICC arrest warrants. Responsibility lies with the Government of
Sudan, consistent with Security Council resolution 1593 (2005), and with
States parties to the Rome Statute.
Asked whether the ICC arrest
warrant would harm efforts to advance the peace process in Darfur, Montas
said that reaching a political solution of the crisis in Darfur will remain
one of the fundamental goals of the United Nations in Sudan, regardless of
the outcome of the ICC process. The AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator will continue
to work with the parties to this end.
Asked about whether ICC
decisions are binding, the Spokesperson said they were binding for States
parties to the Rome Statute, and she noted that Sudan is not a State party.
A representative from the UN’s Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) supplemented
the Spokesperson’s answer by reading out operative paragraph 2 of Security
Council resolution 1593 (2005), which says, "The Security Council . .
.Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations . . .Decides
that the Government of Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in
Darfur, shall cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to
the Court and the Prosecutor pursuant to this resolution and, while
recognizing that States not party to the Rome Statute have no obligation
under the Statute, urges all States and concerned regional and other
international organizations to cooperate fully.” The OLA representative
added that his Office was still studying the ICC’s judgment, which it had
only received two hours ago.
Asked if the
Secretary-General would call on Sudan to surrender President Al-Bashir, she
said she had nothing to add to the Secretary-General’s statement on this
matter.
Asked if the
Secretary-General has contacted the Sudanese authorities or vice versa in
light of today’s warrant, she said no.
Asked about reports that one
rebel group had announced that it would not negotiate with President
Al-Bashir now because of the warrant, the Spokesperson said she was not
aware of those reports.
In response to a further
question, the Spokesperson said that the announcement by the ICC does not
affect the existing commitment and obligation of the UN to support peace in
Sudan. The UN will continue to work with the Sudanese authorities to further
the full implementation of UNAMID and UNMIS mandates. In particular, the UN
will continue to work with all parties to ensure that assistance is provided
to 4.7 million civilians requiring life-saving assistance, including more
than 2.7 million internally displaced persons.
ICC ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT
OF SUDAN
According to the
ICC, the Sudanese President is suspected of being criminally
responsible, as an indirect (co-)perpetrator, for intentionally directing
attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur,
Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring
large numbers of civilians, and pillaging their property. This is the first
warrant of arrest ever issued for a sitting Head of State by the ICC.
According to the Judges, the above-mentioned crimes
were allegedly committed during a five year counter-insurgency campaign by
the Government of Sudan against the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A),
the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and other armed groups opposing the
Government of Sudan in Darfur.
According to the ICC, a core component of that campaign
was the unlawful attack on that part of the civilian population of Darfur –
belonging largely to the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups – perceived to be
close to the organized armed groups opposing the Government of Sudan in
Darfur.
The Court says that his status as a sitting head of
state does not grant him immunity against prosecution. If arrested, he will
be tried on five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war
crimes. He has not been indicted on charges of genocide, the Pre-Trial
Chamber said.
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said at the press
conference in The Hague a few hours ago that he has "strong evidence" to
prove that President Bashir, has committed war crimes and crimes against
humanity.
BAN KI-MOON
VOICES CONCERN AS NGOs SEE THEIR REGISTRATION REVOKED IN SUDAN
The security situation in Darfur today was reported as
relatively calm.
The Government of Sudan this morning conducted a ground
and aerial show of force in El Fasher, North Darfur and Nyala, South
Darfur.
Peaceful demonstrations took place in El Fasher, Nyala
and El Geneina, West Darfur, following the ICC announcement that it has
issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President. More demonstrations
have been scheduled tomorrow.
The African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
reports that UNAMID police and peacekeepers continue to carry out their
normal patrolling activities and are closely monitoring developments
throughout the region, particularly in and around the IDP camps.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
reports that of 12 NGOs summoned by the Sudan Government Humanitarian Aid
Commission (HAC), six have already confirmed that their legal registrations
have been revoked, a list of assets must be produced for seizure, and that
they must leave North Sudan with immediate effect.
In response to a question at the noon briefing about
the reported expulsion of NGOs by Sudan, the Spokeswoman later said the
Secretary-General is concerned to hear that between six and ten humanitarian
NGOs have had their registrations revoked, and some of their assets seized.
He notes that this represents a serious setback to lifesaving operations in
Darfur, and urges the Government of Sudan to act urgently to restore these
NGOs to their full operational status.
NGOs affected include Oxfam, Solidarités, and Mercy
Corps. They were informed today by the Sudan Government Humanitarian Aid
Commission (HAC) that their legal registrations have been revoked, a list of
assets must be produced for seizure, and that they must leave North Sudan
with immediate effect. The United Nations was notified that officials from
the Sudan Government HAC have insisted on accompanying some INGO staff
members into their offices and taking lists of assets and staff.
Affected NGOs are the main providers of life-saving
humanitarian services, such as water, food, health and sanitation. Their
departure will have an immediate and serious IMPACT on the humanitarian and
security situation in North Sudan, especially in Darfur.
NEW STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION
PLAN PUT IN PLACE FOR EASTERN CONGO
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Alan Doss, has welcomed a new
stabilization and reconstruction plan for the eastern DRC, which was agreed
upon by local and international stakeholders under the auspices of the
Congolese Prime Minister. Doss specifically pledged to support the plan in
the areas of security and the restoration of State authority.
Meanwhile, the UN Mission in the DRC, known as
MONUC, reports that a total of 880 children, including 41 girls, were
rescued from the ranks of armed groups in North Kivu in February. The vast
majority of these children were Congolese but there were also smaller groups
of Rwandans, Burundians and Ugandans. All of them were registered by MONUC’s
child protection unit are now in the care of humanitarian agencies. They
will soon be reunited with their families, MONUC says.
In related news, in the DRC’s Katanga province, in the
area of Ankoro, a joint mission led by
UNICEF arrived today to address the issue of malnutrition.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) reports that between September 2008 and now, there have been nearly
1,200 cases of children suffering from acute malnutrition in Ankoro. That
malnutrition is being compounded by population increases as well as malaria,
OCHA adds.
Also in Katanga, the World Health Organization (WHO)
is supporting local efforts to treat a cholera epidemic.
AFGHANISTAN: U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
WELCOMES 20 AUGUST ELECTION DATE
Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special
Representative for Afghanistan, today
welcomed the statement by the Independent Election Commission
reaffirming that the presidential and provincial council elections will be
held on 20 August. That date, he said, would provide the time for the
necessary preparations, campaigning and the provision of security.
Eide emphasized the need for broad consensus so that
the election process can move forward in a way that ensures the political
stability of the country and the legitimacy of its institutions. He said
that the United Nations will do its utmost to contribute to the effort to
ensure that the elections are transparent and credible.
MYANMAR: MANDATE OF POST-CYCLONE
RECOVERY EFFORTS IS EXTENDED
After 10 months of a successful joint humanitarian
response, the mandate of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) for post-Cyclone
Nargis recovery efforts in Myanmar has been
extended for another year.
With the extension, the TCG - comprising high-level
representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN,
the United Nations, and the Government of the Myanmar - will continue its
joint work until July 2010.
Foreign Ministers participating in their 14th ASEAN
meeting agreed to extend the mandate of the group, highlighting its
confidence that the TCG’s mechanism is efficiently facilitating distribution
and utilization of assistance from the international community, to support
Myanmar’s relief and recovery efforts.
Members of the TCG reiterated its pledge to continue
supporting Myanmar in its recovery and put in place coordination and funding
mechanisms for the Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan and work,
together with the international community.
The medium-term recovery needs identified in the plan
amounts to $691 million over the next three years.
Challenges remain and the affected population will need
continued support as outlined in the three-year recovery plan. With the
extension of the TCG, the UN in Myanmar appeals to the international donor
community to continue supporting the affected people
UNITED NATIONS HAS UP-TO-DATE INVENTORY
OF GIFTED ART WORK AT HEADQUARTERS
In response to questions about the accuracy of a news
story on reported missing art works at the United Nations, the Spokeswoman
said the United Nations has an up-to-date inventory of the art work gifted
by Member States to the Organization in New York.
The electronic records were first established in the
early 90s from paper records. They are now being digitalized to create a
central digital record of the art at the UNHQ premises.
At any given moment, the art on the walls of the United
Nations are a mix of member states gifts to the organization, gifts to
individuals and loans by friends of the Organization and museums. About 240
works of art are normally on display.
The Organization’s records regarding the two pieces of
artwork mentioned in the Financial Times article indicate that neither item
was an official gift to the Organization from a Member State.
The only information available on the Rivera sculpture
relates to a press release dated October 1961. On the oil painting “Evening”
only a note exists dating back to March 1991 on its relocation from
storage. The search for these two pieces of art, the whereabouts of which
have been unknown since early 1990s, has not yielded results.
The items from China that were mentioned in the FT
article were not official gifts, and therefore never included in the
official record of gifts from member states to the Organization. The UN is
not aware of any missing gift from Mexico.
Two books have been printed that document the art in
the United Nations. Neither book was an official UN publication, and
therefore the UN does not consider these art books a reliable source for
establishing ownership. They only establish that certain art was on the
walls that year.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NEXT PRESS
CONFERENCE IS LIKELY TO BE NEXT THURSDAY: Asked when the Secretary-General
would hold his next monthly press conference, the Spokesperson said it would
probably be next Thursday, a week from tomorrow, after his trip to Haiti.
SRI LANKA: UNITED NATIONS
INSISTS THAT CIVILIANS BE PROTECTED: Asked about what the UN was doing about
reports by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) that displaced persons in Sri Lanka
were unable to leave their camps, the Spokesperson said the UN had been
insisting that civilians be protected and had called for as much protection as
possible to be present at the camps.
LETTER ABOUT JOURNALIST
DETAINED IN IRAN HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED: Asked about a letter supposedly sent
by a U.S. Senator to the Secretary-General about Roxana Saberi, a journalist
reportedly detained in Iran, the Spokesperson said the letter had not been
received, but that the Secretary-General was aware of the story.
EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH BUSINESS: Tomorrow, the UN
Global
Compact and
UNIFEM will convene a joint event at Headquarters to commemorate
International Women's Day, observed on 8 March. Called “Advancing Women in the
Global Marketplace,” the event will bring together representatives of business,
civil society, academia, labor, Governments and the UN to identify what business
can and is doing to empower and advance women around the world and how these
efforts relate to corporate responsibility. Participants will also
discuss whether a set of Women's Principles, a new business code of conduct
designed to promote gender equality, might be useful to stimulate further
progress.
UNESCO AND L’OREAL SALUTE WOMEN IN SCIENCE: The
UNESCO-L’OREAL International Fellowships for Women in Science will be
presented today, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The two-year fellowships –
worth up to $40,000 each – support 15 young post-doctoral students helping them
to pursue research outside their country of origin tomorrow, the l’OREAL-UNESCO
Awards for Women in Science will
recognize five laureates – one from each of the five continents. The 100,000
US dollar awards are presented each year since 1998 to five outstanding women
researchers for their work in physical science.
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