HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
BAN KI-MOON
EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR U.N. FACT-FINDING MISSION ON GAZA
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon left Geneva this morning
and is now on his way back to New York. We expect him back at Headquarters
later this afternoon. While in Geneva today, the Secretary-General met with
representatives of UNAIDS and UN Plus, the group which brings together UN
staff who are living with HIV.
The Secretary-General also met with Justice Richard
Goldstone, who was appointed last month by the Human Rights Council to lead
an independent fact-finding mission to investigate international human
rights and humanitarian law violations related to the recent conflict in
Gaza. Also present in that meeting were members of Justice Goldstone’s team
and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
The Secretary-General was briefed about the mission's
work plan and reiterated his support to the work of the mission. He said he
hoped the mission's work would proceed smoothly with cooperation by the
concerned parties and send a positive message to the international community
about accountability.
JUSTICE GOLDSTONE “DISAPPOINTED” BY NO
POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT
Justice Goldstone also spoke to the press today in
Geneva. He said the Gaza fact-finding mission was still in the planning
stage. He also said he was “disappointed” that he had not received any
positive response from the Israeli Government. His wish, he said, was to
visit southern Israel, go into Gaza “through the front door,” and also go to
the West Bank, which is to be included in his mission.
Goldstone noted that he would be holding a number of
public hearings – hopefully in the region, but if that was not possible,
then in Geneva. He also said field work had to be completed by the end of
June and that the 4th of August is the date on which the team’s report will
be handed over.
U.N. OFFICIAL IN MYANMAR ATTENDS TRIAL OF
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
At the invitation of the Myanmar Government, the UN
Resident Coordinator in Myanmar Bishow Parajuli, along with the Diplomatic
Corps in Yangon, attended Wednesday’s session of the trial of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi.
He attended the session on behalf of the UN System.
Following the session, three members of the Diplomatic Corps were invited by
the Myanmar Government to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi: Singapore, as dean of
the diplomatic corps; Thailand, as ASEAN chair; and Russia, as president of
the Security Council.
The UN Resident Coordinator was subsequently briefed by
the three Ambassadors on the meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
PAKISTAN: HUMANITARIAN APPEAL TO
ASSIST DISPLACED CIVILIANS TO BE LAUNCHED FRIDAY
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
says thousands of people displaced by fighting in Pakistan’s North West
Frontier Province continue to arrive in camps and registration centres in
the province. On average, about 100,000 people are being registered daily
in 89 registration centres established across the province.
UNHCR reports that 15 new camps established this month,
to take care of an influx of displaced civilians, are already full. So
there is an urgent need to identify new sites for camps.
The agency is planning to set up more registration
centres to ensure speedy access to assistance for thousands of newly
expected displaced persons.
UNHCR is already assisting the authorities to carry out
a fast track registration process of all the displaced persons.
The total number of newly displaced people fleeing
Swat, Lower Dir and Buner registered this month is almost 1.5 million
(1,454,377). Of these, some 131,000 people are staying in camps, with more
than 1.3 million (1,323,427) staying in private accommodation, with host
families or friends. Others are being accommodated in schools. They join
another half a million people (553,916) registered in North West Frontier
Province who had fled other parts of the north-west, including the tribal
areas, over several months since August 2008.
In the meantime, a humanitarian appeal is scheduled to
be launched on Friday, in Islamabad, by the United Nations and its partners
in Pakistan.
SRI LANKA: RESTRICTIONS ARE
HINDERING ACCESS AND ABILITY TO DELIVER AID TO NEEDY CIVILIANS
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has
expressed concern over conditions in the camps set up for persons
displaced by the recent fighting in Sri Lanka. It is now estimated that up
to 80,000 people have left the fighting zone in the last three days alone.
This brings the total number of people who have fled the fighting in the
last several months to 280,000.
UNHCR is highlighting problems of overcrowding and
limited services in the camps, especially in terms of hygiene, health and
shelter. The agency continues to support the government to address these
problems by building 10,000 additional shelters.
But UNHCR is expressing concern that restrictions
imposed by the authorities are hindering the agency’s access and ability to
deliver humanitarian assistance to needy civilians, especially in the
district Vavuniya.
Asked if the Secretary-General would go to the conflict
zone during his upcoming visit to Sri Lanka, the Deputy Spokesperson said
that he did expect to do so.
Asked about reports of doctors who had worked in the
conflict zone being detained, the Deputy Spokesperson said she had heard
reports that three of those doctors were in police custody. But the UN could
not independently verify those reports, she added.
SECURITY COUNCIL DELEGATION CONCLUDES
AFRICA TRIP WITH VISIT TO LIBERIA
The
Security Council delegation visiting Africa has been holding
consultations today in the Liberia capital, Monrovia, with President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf and key members of her government. The discussions focused
on peace, security, economic recovery and development. The subject of the
drawdown of the UN Mission in Liberia,
UNMIL was also on the agenda.
Earlier today, the Council members visited the Liberia
National Police Academy, where the UN has been assisting the government to
recruit, train and deploy new professional police officers. Before that,
the team attended a community-empowerment programme, where they observed a
graduation ceremony for female ex-combatants who have completed training in
dressmaking and related skills.
The delegation also held discussions with some key
business leaders in Liberia, including representatives of the world steel
giant company, Arcelor Mittal and Buchanan Renewable Energy - two companies
that are important sources of revenue and jobs in Liberia.
On arrival in Liberia on Tuesday, the Council members
held consultations with top UN officials and key diplomats who make up the
International Contact Group on Liberia. Also at this meeting were the
Ambassadors of China and Libya as well as the Representatives of the World
Bank and the IMF in Liberia.
The Security Council team leaves Liberia later today to
return to UN Headquarters.
BAN KI-MOON NOTES CONTRIBUTION OF UN’S
GEORGIA MISSION TO STABILITY AND SECURITY OF CIVILIANS
Out on the racks today is the Secretary-General’s
report pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1808 (2008), 1839 (2008)
and 1866 (2009). It provides an update on the activities of the UN Observer
Mission in Georgia and contains recommendations on future activities of the
Mission.
The report notes that the Mission has continued its
activities on both sides of the ceasefire line, contributing to the general
stability and security of the local population, in particular in the Gali
district. But given the continued erosion of the security regime, an
agreement on a revised security regime is essential for a long-term
stabilization and a viable UN role in the region.
Included in this recommended new regime would be a
strict adherence to the ceasefire on land, at sea and in the air, and to the
principle of the non-use of force.
ENVOY IN DARFUR CALLS FOR END TO
CHAD-SUDAN BORDER FIGHTING
The African Union-United Nations Joint Special
Representative (JSR) in Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, called today for an end to
recent fighting near the Chadian-Sudanese border.
He urged the Governments of Chad and Sudan to refrain
from any act that may lead to a further escalation of tensions, which could
exacerbate the suffering of Darfur’s civilians, particularly the many
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the region.
The poor state of relations between Chad and Sudan
constitutes one of the biggest threats to efforts to secure lasting peace
for the people of Darfur, he said.
DR CONGO: CIVILIANS ARE INCREASINGLY
BEEN VICTIMS OF LOOTINGS, EXTORTIONS, KILLINGS AND RAPE
In the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it is concerned over the protection of
civilians in South Kivu. Since April, civilian populations have increasingly
been victims of lootings, extortions, killings and rape. According to
OCHA, this harassment by armed men has followed the announcement of
military operations by the Forces Armées Congolaises (FARDC) against the
Forces Démocratiques pour la Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) in South Kivu.
OCHA particularly stresses a surge in sexual violence
in South Kivu, since the beginning of this year. It says that 463 rape cases
have already been registered during the first quarter of 2009--which
represents more than half of the total cases registered last year. It adds
that most of the sexual violence is committed by soldiers and members of the
various armed groups active in the area.
OCHA says it is strengthening advocacy for the
protection of civilians in South Kivu. OCHA officials have met the
Vice-Governor and the Chief of Staff of the Governor of the province to
convey the concerns of the humanitarian community regarding the protection
of civilians and humanitarian access. During that meeting, they agreed to
reconstitute a coordination mechanism between humanitarian organizations and
the South Kivu authorities.
NUMBER OF DISPLACED PERSONS RISES IN
SOMALI CAPITAL
On Somalia, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is deeply
concerned about the rise in the number of displaced people in the Somali
capital of Mogadishu, despite a recent lull in fighting. It says the number
of displaced has rapidly risen to 45,000.
The Agency adds that many of them are fleeing to the
Afgooye corridor, southwest of Mogadishu. These sprawling make-shift camps
which have sprung up over the past two years are already hosting an
estimated 400,000 people.
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According to UNHCR, the deteriorating security
situation has sharply decreased humanitarian access. However, UNHCR is
leading other agencies to respond to the most urgent needs-- shelter and
other basic supplies.
UNHCR is reporting that the number of Somali refugees
fleeing to the neighboring countries of Kenya and Yemen is rising daily.
The north-eastern Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya is hosting a record
272,000 refugees, the overwhelming majority of who are Somalis. This is
three times the number for which Dadaab was originally designed.
The Agency also reports that they are appealing to
Kenyan authorities for additional land allocation to de-congest the camp.
They are also appealing to donors for additional funding in order to assist
the growing number of the refugees.
PROGRESS
REPORTED IN CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS AS KEY DOCUMENT IS COMPLETED
With only 200 days before Copenhagen, time gets tighter
but the world is not standing still on climate change. That’s according to
the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC),
Yvo de Boer.
De Boer pointed today to the “encouraging developments”
in the area of climate change negotiations over the past 100 days as the
central
text to be negotiated ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, in
December, was posted on the UNFCCC website.
The UNFCCC Executive Secretary said that this document
marked an important point on the road to Copenhagen—adding that the text can
serve as a basis for governments to start drafting an agreed outcome.
The 53-page text covers the issues of a shared vision
for long-term cooperative action, along with enhanced action on adaptation,
mitigation and finance, technology and capacity-building. There is more on
this upstairs.
BAN KI-MOON ENCOURAGED BY
OBAMA-NETANYAHU MEETING AND STRESSES NEED FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION
In response to a question asked about the
Secretary-General’s position on the recent meeting between President Barack
Obama of the United States and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
and the idea of a two-State solution, the Spokeswoman said the
Secretary-General actually answered this question himself at his
press conference in Geneva yesterday.
He said he was encouraged by the Obama-Netanyahu
meeting and noted that President Obama will hold a meeting with President
Abbas of the Palestinian Authority as well. The Secretary-General said he
hoped that this series of meetings will serve as a good foundation for
continuing negotiations.
He highlighted the international community’s wish for a
two-State solution and reiterated that there should be two countries living
side by side in peace and security.
UN FORCE IN LEBANON LOOKS INTO REPORTS
OF LEBANESE CITIZENS CROSSING BLUE LINE INTO ISRAEL
In response to a question yesterday, the UN Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
says it has been informed by the Lebanese authorities that a number of
Lebanese citizens crossed the Blue Line into Israel. UNIFIL is in the
process of ascertaining all the facts concerning this issue. Any illegal
crossing would constitute a violation of the Blue Line and a violation of
Security Council resolution 1701, UNIFIL adds.
The Spokesperson’s Office was also asked about reports
of arrests of Israeli spies in Lebanon. UNIFIL says that the Lebanese
authorities are in contact with them regarding this matter. Specifically,
the Lebanese Army has sent UNIFIL a letter containing relevant information.
UNIFIL notes that the Lebanese authorities are carrying
out further investigations and that some cases have already been referred to
the military court. UNIFIL says it awaits completion of the judicial
process.
BAN KI-MOON LAUNCHES FUND FOR MEMORIAL
TO HONOR VICTIMS OF SLAVERY
Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public
Information Kiyo Akasaka delivered a
message today on behalf of the Secretary-General, to announce a trust
fund for the Permanent Memorial at the United Nations to honour the victims
of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Referring to the major part in world history played by
the 400-year trade, the Secretary-General emphasized the importance of
continued study of its causes, as well as the UN’s commitment to mobilize
educational institutions and civil society to discuss the threat of
intolerance.
He went on to congratulate the Caribbean Community and
the African Union for their leading roles in this effort, and expressed his
delight that renowned musician, impresario and activist had agreed to serve
as a Goodwill Ambassador for the memorial. The full message is available
upstairs.
SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY DEATH OF
WOMEN’S RIGHTS CHAMPION
The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of
the passing of Ms. Helvi Sipilä on 15 May 2009 at the age of 94. A lifelong
champion of the rights of women, she served as Secretary-General of the
first World Conference on Women in 1975 in Mexico City. Ms. Sipilä was the
first woman to hold the rank of Assistant Secretary-General at the United
Nations and she served the United Nations diligently in different capacities
for many years, including as the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status
of Women.
A Finnish national, Ms. Sipilä served her country with
distinction, including as a barrister in an age when few women had careers
in this domain. Ms. Sipilä remained active after retiring from the United
Nations and was the first woman to run for president in Finland in 1982.
Throughout her life she held a number of key positions in civil society,
both nationally and globally. Ms. Sipilä powerfully demonstrated the
effectiveness of women’s leadership. She has left a legacy which serves as
a reminder that no effort should be spared to ensure the equal participation
of women in decision-making in all areas of life.
REFUGEE AGENCY SEEKS MEETING TO DISCUSS
MIGRATION ACROSS MEDITERRANEAN
The High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has
asked the European Commission to consider convening a meeting between
Italy, Malta, Libya, UNHCR and other relevant partners to work on a joint
strategy for a more satisfactory response to irregular migration across the
Mediterranean. This follows Italy’s recent ‘push-backs’ of irregular
migrants to Libya.
While recognizing the pressure that irregular migration
places on Italy and other European Union Member States, Guterres said --in a
letter to the European Commission – that fundamental principles were at
stake. He stresses the right to seek asylum from persecution and added that
the customary international law principle of non-refoulement precludes
return to situations where a person’s life or freedom would be in jeopardy.
UNHCR says it is increasing its presence in Libya to
better serve the needs of those seeking international protection.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH AFRICAN LEADERS REGULARLY: Asked if the
Secretary-General would attend a forthcoming African Union summit in Libya, the
Deputy Spokesperson said she had nothing to announce. She did reiterate,
however, that the Secretary-General remained very engaged in Africa and
regularly met African leaders whenever and wherever he could.
UN
TELECOMMUNICATION BODY ESTABLISHES GUIDELINES TO PROTECT CHILDREN ON THE WEB:
The International Telecommunication Union has come up with a new
draft policy on child online protection. The set of four guidelines are
aimed at establishing a safe and secure cyber-world for future generations by
building awareness for policy makers, industry, educators, parents and children,
as well as gathering further high-level international support.
UNCTAD WARNS OF CONTINUING DECLINE IN FOREGN DIRECT
INVESTMENT IN 2009 FOR TRANSITION ECONOMIES: Developing and transition
economies will be increasingly affected in 2009 by the continuing decline of
international investment, according to a study by the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD).
The study, which is available online, indicates that Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) flows will slowly recover, beginning in late 2010 or 2011, though this
will depend on numerous factors, including the efficiency of public policy in
addressing the causes of the economic crisis.
**The guest at today’s Noon Briefing was Alain Le
Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, who briefed on the
latest developments and challenges in peacekeeping.
Office of the
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