Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 3 April 2009

.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, April 3, 2009

SRI LANKA: BAN KI-MOON SAYS CIVILIANS MUST BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE CONFLICT AREA

  • Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply distressed by continuing reports from the Vanni region of Sri Lanka that civilians are at extreme risk, with heavy casualties, and that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are keeping civilians in a very small area of active conflict against their will. While some have been able to leave or escape, reliable reports indicate that the LTTE have prevented others from leaving, including by firing at them.

  • The Secretary-General calls upon the LTTE leadership to allow civilians to leave the conflict area of their own free will. The severe restrictions of the LTTE on their freedom of movement violate international law. The Secretary-General also deplores the forced recruitment of civilians, particularly children.

  • At the same time, the Secretary-General again reminds the Government of Sri Lanka of its responsibility to protect civilians, and to avoid the use of heavy weapons in areas where there are civilians, as promised. The Government should receive and treat displaced persons in accordance with international law, and work closely with the United Nations in meeting the protection and physical needs of displaced persons.

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), meanwhile, says that it continues to receive reports of shelling, mortar fire and aerial attacks in the “no fire” zone in Sri Lanka.

  • Up to the end of March, OCHA says that 58,378 persons crossed from conflict areas, and are accommodated in camps for internally displaced persons in Vavuniya. Another 8,204 IDPs (including the injured and those who accompanied these patients) have gone to Trincomalee. OCHA estimates that some 150,000 people remain trapped in the conflict area.

  • In Vavuniya, site cleaning and ground leveling is ongoing and various agencies have started the construction of communal halls, latrines, bathing spaces and kitchens. More than 3,700 emergency shelters have been constructed so far and are occupied by IDPs. Agencies assisting the displaced persons report that stocks of hospital kits are running low and that there are still significant gaps in providing clothing.

  • Asked about the Secretary-General’s earlier call for a suspension of hostilities in Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that call stands, adding that the focus now is on protecting civilians, including those trying to leave the conflict zone.

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES SUDAN’S INTENTION TO HOLD VOTE IN 2010

  • The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) on 2 April that elections will take place in February 2010. The holding of nationwide elections is an important benchmark in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

  • The Secretary-General urges the Sudanese authorities to proceed with the necessary preparations in accordance with the timeframe proposed by the NEC, and hopes that the National Assembly will pass all relevant legislation as a matter of urgency. He further encourages all political parties to participate in this historic vote, which will further contribute to the consolidation of the ideals set out in the Interim National Constitution.

  • The United Nations stands ready to assist the parties in the conduct of free and fair elections.

BAN KI-MOON IS “ENCOURAGED” BY RUSSIAN-U.S. LEADERSHIP IN NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION

  • The Secretary-General welcomes the Joint Statement by President Medvedev and President Obama. The Secretary-General believes that their leadership is vital to the process leading to the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

  • Their agreed commitment to this goal, to fulfilling their disarmament obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as agreeing to rapidly pursue new and verifiable reductions in their strategic offensive arsenals through the replacement of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with a new, legally-binding treaty, are significant undertakings.

  • The Secretary-General is encouraged by their efforts to overcome differences related to the deployment of missile defenses and welcomes their commitment to the further strengthening of the NPT and the international regime for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

  • He welcomes their declaration of support for UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) on preventing non-state actors from obtaining WMD-related materials and technologies. The promotion of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, heightened efforts to make nuclear weapons and materials secure and to combat nuclear terrorism will contribute to addressing important nuclear challenges.

  • As depository of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT), the Secretary-General is particularly pleased at the confirmation by President Obama to work for U.S. ratification of the Treaty.

  • He has repeatedly appealed to the members of the Conference on Disarmament to overcome their deadlock and to move to negotiations, including on a treaty banning the production of fissile material. The Presidents’ support for such international negotiations on a verifiable treaty is therefore most welcome.

SUDAN: U.N. TEAM BEGINS HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENT IN WAKE OF AID GROUPS’ EXPULSION

  • A humanitarian assessment mission to the so-called Three Areas of Sudan has been sent to assess the impact of the decision by the Government of Sudan in March to revoke the permits of 13 international nongovernmental organizations and ban three national NGOs.
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  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the assessment started in Blue Nile State yesterday. Assessment teams will review data and information on programmes run by the expelled NGOs and assess gaps.

  • Some of the expelled NGOs had humanitarian activities in addition to significant recovery and development operations benefiting populations in the Three Areas of Abyei, Southern Kordofan State, and Southern Blue Nile State. UN agencies and the remaining NGOs are, meanwhile, still grappling with the impact of the expulsions.

  • The mission consists of representatives from the Sudanese Government of National Unity, the Three Areas Committee and the United Nations.

  • Meanwhile in Darfur, in a bid to fill gaps created by the expulsion and ban of NGOs, UNICEF has in the past week provided six primary health centre kits containing essential drugs and equipment for outpatient treatment programmes in El Fasher as part of its short-term support to the State Ministry of Health in North Darfur.

  • UNICEF has also stepped in to fill gaps in water, sanitation and hygiene sector in Zam Zam camp, where new displaced people have continued to arrive.

  • In West Darfur, sanitation, hygiene promotion and solid waste management have not resumed in any of the camps, according to UNICEF.

  • Meanwhile, the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur arrived in El Fasher, North Darfur, today to meet with the leadership of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and senior Government officials in the region.

  • The Panel is led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki who said the purpose of the visit is to interact with the Sudanese people with a view to determining what more can be done to achieve peace, justice and reconciliation. The AU panel also met with the Civil Society Organizations in North Darfur and discussed ways of resolving the Darfur conflict and last month’s expulsion of the NGOs.

BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN PARIS FOR U.N. LEADERSHIP’S GATHERING

  • The Secretary-General is in Paris today, where he will chair a gathering of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) today and tomorrow.
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  • The Secretary-General met with Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Cypriot leader, this afternoon. Mr. Talat expressed his optimism regarding the achievement of a mutually agreed solution to the Cyprus problem and reiterated his commitment to working towards such a solution. He also provided a briefing to the Secretary-General on the negotiation process and the progress made thus far. The Secretary-General commended both Mr. Talat and Mr. Dimitris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, for their commitment and determined leadership, and confirmed his strong and unwavering support for their efforts, as well as the ongoing support of his Good Offices.

  • After that, the Secretary-General met with former French President Jacques Chirac, with whom he discussed water scarcity, AIDS in Africa, Lebanon and Syria, and Haiti.

  • He then went to the offices of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to meet with staff there.

  • He is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister of France, François Fillon.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL NAMES TEAM LEADER IN GAZA HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION

  • The Human Rights Council today announced the appointment of Judge Richard Goldstone, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, to lead an independent fact-finding mission to investigate international human rights and humanitarian law violations related to the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip.

  • The mission will also include the following experts: Professor Christine Chinkin of the London School of Economics and University of London; Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; and retired Colonel Desmond Travers, member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI). The team will be supported by staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

  • Judge Goldstone, upon his appointment, said that it is in the interest of all Palestinians and Israelis that the allegations of war crimes and serious human rights violations related to the recent conflict on all sides be investigated. Members of the fact-finding mission will hold a range of discussions in Geneva within the next few weeks before departing for the region.

  • Asked about the difference between this investigation and the Board of Inquiry, the Spokesperson said that the investigation headed by Judge Goldstone was requested by the Human Rights Council, in its special session in January, to look into allegations concerning violations of human rights and international humanitarian law during the recent fighting in Gaza.

  • Asked about the Board of Inquiry report, Haq said it would be presented to the Secretary-General upon his return from his current travels, around 7 April.

  • Asked whether the Secretary-General had spoken recently to new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Spokesperson said that he had not, adding that the Secretary-General conveyed his views on the new Israeli Government in a recent statement.

KENYA FORCIBLY RETURNS HOME SOMALI ASYLUM SEEKERS

  • The UN Refugee Agency said it is concerned about the emerging practice of Kenyan authorities to forcibly return Somali asylum seekers to their country. Most recently, Kenyan law enforcement officials intercepted a bus carrying 31 Somali asylum seekers, including women and children, and forced them back to Somalia.

  • Another 61 Somalis were deported two weeks ago.

  • UNHCR says that it has registered a formal complaint by the Kenyan immigration authorities, but so far it has seen no improvement in this situation.

  • Meanwhile, UNHCR says it has begun relocating Somali refugees from the Somali-Ethiopia border region to a new camp some 90 kilometers inside Ethiopia. The new facility would accommodate some 20,000 people. And the refugees include 5,000 people recently granted official status by the Ethiopian Government. Another 5,000 will soon be considered for relocation. Some 40,000 Somali refugees live in the border region with Ethiopia.

UNITED NATIONS RENEW APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO MYANMAR

  • On Myanmar, the United Nations highlighted urgent needs for the cyclone affected communities in the delta, in addition to calling for increased support to people in need in other parts of country.

  • The appeal was made in a donor meeting organized by the United Nations in Yangon today that was attended by some 70 participants, including Heads of Diplomatic missions, UN Agencies and National and International Non-Governmental Organizations.

  • According to the top UN official in the country, there is an imminent need for sustainable shelter and agricultural support ahead of the monsoon season. Whilst steadily recovering from cyclone Nargis affected areas remains high on the agenda, the UN also addresses needs for funding to other parts of the country, where immense humanitarian and development challenges exists.

  • The UN appeal covers urgent pre-monsoon needs in the delta as well as a three-year recovery plan with an estimated cost of $691 million.

UNITED NATIONS UNVEILS STRATEGY FOR ASSISTANCE TO TIMOR LESTE DEVELOPMENT

  • In a speech yesterday to Timor-Leste’s development partners, Atul Khare, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Timor-Leste, presented the UN medium-term strategy for that country.

  • The proposed plan fully incorporates the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as four other key objectives. Those include an improvement of security sector institutions; an effective justice and penal system that fully uphold the rule of law; democratic governance and economic and social development.

  • Atul Khare noted that achieving these objectives will require sustained long-term attention well beyond The UN Mission (UNMIT)’s lifespan.

AUSTRALIA SIGNS ON TO U.N. DECLARATION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

  • The Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, along with the UN rapporteurs dealing with the rights of indigenous peoples, welcomed the news that Australia has today joined the ranks of States endorsing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

  • Australia was one of only four States that voted against the Declaration when it was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007, and the three UN experts, in a joint statement, said that its endorsement today strengthens the international consensus on the rights of indigenous peoples.

UNITED NATIONS TO MARK MINE AWARENESS DAY TOMORROW

  • Tomorrow will be the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

  • In a message to mark this day, the Secretary-General recalled his visits to many countries that face the scourge of landmines saying that he had seen the devastation caused by these indiscriminate weapons. His fervent hope is that the world will one day be free from the threats caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war.

  • Also marking the day, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) called for a concerted push to achieve the goal of a mine-free buffer zone in Cyprus by 2011.

  • UNICEF meanwhile is highlighting the enormous threat that landmines continue to pose to children—who account for 30% of all victims.

  • Finally tonight, a photography exhibition will be opened here at Headquarters entitled “Living with Mines.” Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, will launch the event along with Dmitry Titov, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions.

ACTION MOVIE STAR JET LI NAMED W.H.O GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed international film star Jet Li as WHO Goodwill Ambassador.

  • In his first official function as Goodwill Ambassador, he will attend the launch of the World Health Day in Beijing on 7th of April and help spread the World Health Day message of making hospitals safe during emergencies.

  • Jet Li is expected to use his world wide celebrity to raise attention on key health issues including public health responses to emergencies and mental health.

**The guest at the noon briefing was John Ging, Director of Operations in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to brief on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS[1]

Saturday, 4 April

Today is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

Monday, 6 April

The Secretary-General is in Istanbul, Turkey, where he will attend the Second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, today and tomorrow.

This morning, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

In Geneva, the second session of the Intersessional open-ended intergovernmental working group to continue and finalize the process of negotiations on and drafting of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference starts today and runs through 9 April.

At 1.30 p.m. in Room-S226, Jessica Neuwirth and Craig Mokhiber from the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights brief on the latest developments in the preparatory process for the Durban Review Conference which will take place in Geneva from 20-24 April 2009.

Today, the General Assembly will hold an Interactive thematic dialogue on the global food crisis and the right to food, with two panel discussions, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.

At 3 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference by General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann and Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food on the General Assembly’s Interactive thematic dialogue on the global food crisis and the right to food.

Tuesday, 7 April

Today is World Health Day.

This morning, the Security Council will hear a briefing and then hold consultations on the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS).

In observance of the 15th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide, DPI in conjunction with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Rwanda to the UN, will organize a commemorative event in the Trusteeship Council, from 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, 8 April

The guest at the noon briefing, Georg Kell, Executive Director of UN Global Compact, presents and discusses the findings of the Compact’s latest annual review, a corporate responsibility survey conducted with more than 700 businesses in over 90 countries.

Thursday, 9 April

This morning, the Security Council will hear a briefing and hold consultations on the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).

Friday, 10 April

Today is an official holiday at UN Headquarters in NYC.

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