HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS CONFERENCE
BY SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good
morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to see you again. I came
back from my six day long trip to China and Mongolia. I came back yesterday
evening.
Summer is
here. I hope you are finding some time to enjoy it your summer holidays. I am
going to take a few days off next month.
Come
September, we will be entering a crucial stage on climate change. I would like
to briefly address that before taking your questions.
Let me
start at home.
Here at
headquarters, the Capital Master Plan begins a new phase. The first teams of UN
personnel are moving out of this building into so-called “swing space” around
the city.
In many
ways, the renovation is an outward symbol of our inward renewal.
The
redesigned UN building will incorporate some of the most innovative design
features to achieve greater efficiency and energy savings:
A new
high efficiency double glazed façade. Improved heating, ventilation and
lighting. We will no longer be living in what some have described as a large
terrarium.
Total
energy consumption of the UN headquarters will be reduced by more than 50
percent. Greenhouse gas emissions will fall by more than 45 percent when we
move back to a renovated building.
This is one example of the practical steps organizations,
businesses and individuals can take to build a greener and more prosperous
world.
And that is one of my main themes coming out of my visit to
China and Mongolia.
Climate change was the major focus of my trip to Asia.
First, I wanted to highlight the special responsibility of
countries like China to lead the global fight against climate change, as well as
highlight all that China is doing.
In particular, I helped to launch an ambitious programme to
promote energy saving lighting which could reduce China’s energy consumption by
8 percent. This is a major step into the 21st century economy.
I was pleased that President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen
Jiabao assured me that China wants to seal a deal in Copenhagen in December and
that China will play an active and constructive role in the negotiations to
achieve this end.
We also agreed on the importance of global leaders showing
the way and discussed in detail the Climate Summit in New York on September 22nd.
Second, I stressed the need to help the poorest and most
vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.
In Mongolia, climate change is a clear and present danger.
Three-quarters of its grasslands are threatened by desertification. Its culture
and economy are in danger of being swallowed by sand. Extreme weather events
are becoming all too common.
A herder community that I met with on Mongolia’s open
steppe reminded me that climate change is not an abstract concept. It is a
harsh reality that is changing the way we live. The community I met is actively
engaged in seeking solutions. They are changing their land management
practices. They are even using solar power. They are adapting, but they need
help.
A robust agreement on adaptation in Copenhagen is vital to
Mongolia and so many vulnerable nations and peoples affected by climate change.
Third and finally, I continued to press for achieving a
fair, effective and scientifically ambitious deal in Copenhagen that can benefit
all nations.
That’s why I am convening the September climate change
summit.
We expect more than 100 heads of state and government — the
largest gathering of leaders on climate change ever.
Two years
ago, only a few leaders could speak to these issues. Today, leaders are walking
the road to Copenhagen together.
But, we
have less than five months to seal a deal.
To keep up the momentum, I will travel to the arctic polar
ice rim later next month to get a first-hand look at conditions there—in
particular the melting sea ice.
I will
then go on to the World Climate Conference in Geneva organized by the World
Meteorological Organization.
In the
largest sense, climate change testifies to the interconnected nature of today’s
global challenges.
They
require us to come together in a spirit of renewed multilateralism … a
multilateralism that delivers results, not more promises and declarations of
good intention.
Let me
add a few more observations on my visit to Mongolia that show how a renewed
multilateralism can work.
Mongolia’s democracy is thriving and its management of the economy based on the
Millennium Development Goals is exemplary, making Mongolia truly a model for
other countries.
The
Mongolian Government decided on the occasion of my visit to contribute a
battalion of peacekeepers to MINURCAT [UN Mission] in the Central African
Republic and Chad. I had an opportunity to visit the Tavan Tolgoi Peacekeeping
Operations Training Center. I am grateful to the Mongolian Government, and
other troop contributors, for their strong commitment to the United Nations and
to peace and security.
I also
attended the opening ceremony of an international think-tank for Land-Locked
Developing Countries. As one of the LLDCs, Mongolia has taken an important
initiative to address the challenge of all the LLDCs. The United Nations stands
ready to help LLDCs in their common efforts to overcome special socio-economic
barriers.
If all
governments demonstrate a commitment to the UN that Mongolia is showing, and
make concrete contributions in a range of areas as well, then a renewed
multilateralism will become a reality.
Now is
the time to act.
I thank
you very much.
With that, I will take your questions.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, recognizing all the difficulties
that you have had in the first half of your tenure, of your mandate, do you
think that now is the time to redefine or to redesign your priorities, and what
can you tell us about that? Would you state that still Sudan is on the top of
your priority list or you would go with something else perhaps, as you mentioned
just today? And bearing in mind that the last role indeed belongs to the Member
States, how do you see your leadership role on the top of Organization for the
next half of your tenure? Thank you.
SG: I will continue to be based on the mandates
tasked by the Member States as the Secretary-General. And I have placed several
[items] on top of my priorities. On global issues, I have placed my highest
priority in addressing climate change. I will continue to do that beyond the
many years coming. And the utmost priority at this time is to make the
Copenhagen meeting a success where we can agree on a global deal which will be a
comprehensive, ambitious and equitable one to address climate change, with
developed and developing countries all getting on board.
Second, I will continue to make this Organization a
trustful one, a more efficient and effective one. The reform of the Secretariat
and this Organization will be my continuing priority as a Secretary-General.
And again, I will need the strong support and cooperation of Member States and
Secretariat staff.
And third, there are many regional conflict issues where
they need our help through the intervention of peacekeeping operations, through
political mediation and through humanitarian assistance. We have seen so many
conflicts around the world. And that’s quite troubling that we have not been
able to resolve all these issues. First and foremost, we need to strengthen the
political will of the Member States, to participate and contribute the resources
and political will. And that will be very important.
Sudan is one of the top priorities. We have not seen the
resolution of this issue. There are three aspects on Sudan, as you know.
Insofar as the deployment of UNAMID [UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur]
peacekeepers is concerned, we may be able to achieve the [level of] mandated
soldiers of 26,000 by the end of this year. But still we’ll be lacking some
critical assets like helicopters and heavy transport. This will be again
crucially important for the Member States to contribute. There are political
processes; the recent judgment by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the
status of Abyei was quite an encouraging one. With all these encouraging
developments of the situation, I hope we will be able to see a smooth
implementation and progress in the political issues between south and north
Sudan. And my Special Envoy, working together with the African Union, Mr. [Djibril]
Bassolé, will continue to work on that, and we will continue to provide
humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people.
But as far as displaced persons, we have seen so many
humanitarian crises now. In Pakistan we have more than 2.4 million displaced
persons; in Somalia we have 1.2 million people, in Sudan, in Darfur we have more
than 1 million people, we have so many displaced persons again in Sudan and Chad
area. We’ve been trying to mobilize all resources [inaudible]. That is what
Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General of OCHA [Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs] has appealed last week in Geneva, that we’re still lacking
significant funding - more than $5 billion - that we need political and
resources support from Member States. On the basis of this political and
financial support from Member States, I am sure that I will be able to carry out
my duty successfully as Secretary-General, and I count on your support too, from
the media too. Thank you.
Q: Sir, with the rise of insurgency in Afghanistan,
and rising western casualties, there is now again talk about a dialogue with the
Taliban. And there are also reports in the British press that there are
contacts, secret contacts going on with a man like Beitullah Mehsud. Sir, in
this process as the British are pushing for a dialogue, and Pakistan seems
willing and the United States has also expressed interest in dialogue, what
role, if any, is the United Nations playing in this context?
SG: On all these matters, United Nations concerns and role
have been focused on, first of all, assisting the Pakistani Government in
addressing the very serious humanitarian crisis. I have, as you know, recently
appointed a humanitarian coordinator. I am going to strengthen the role of the
humanitarian coordinator. I am closely coordinating with all Member States,
particularly donor countries. And I have recently constituted the commission to
look into the assassination of former Prime Minister [Benazir] Bhutto. That is
also an important part where the United Nations can help in this political
process. The Pakistan Government under the leadership of President [Asif Ali]
Zardari, they have been very closely coordinating with the US Government and
other European Governments on how to address, first of all, this fight against
terrorism. I think they have been making some [progress]. I hope they will be
able to continue to gain some successes. But first and foremost, they should
have some good political reconciliation with all the parties concerned. That is
what the United Nations will continue to facilitate.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, why has it taken now five years
and going, still, to resolve the Darfur crisis? Why is the United Nations
incapable of stopping what many people call the genocide of our time?
SG: If you ask why it has taken five years to resolve this
issue, again, I would like to repeat what I have just said: We need the
political will on the part of the Member States, on the part of the parties
directly concerned [by the] situation in Darfur, as well as on the part of the
general Member States who need to provide the necessary support so that the
United Nations -- whether it be peacekeeping operations, whether it be political
facilitation -- can smoothly conduct this process.
As you may remember, since day one as Secretary-General, I
made this Darfur crisis number one. We’ve made certain progress in terms of
deploying this UNAMID forces, but it has been quite long delayed, over-delayed.
But still it is going on. It is moving, I think, smoothly at this time with the
help of the Sudanese Government. Now, on humanitarian assistance, even though
we have averted a humanitarian crisis as such, but still there is a huge gap in
addressing the humanitarian situation; that we all need. Look at the case of
critical assets like helicopters. Twenty-four helicopters were needed, and we
have secured only six helicopters. Now, we need 18 helicopters more. I have
been discussing this issue with almost all the leaders of the countries who, I
thought, would be able to provide, or would have some capacity to provide,
helicopters, but I have not been able to get this support. We really need some
political will. My experience as a Secretary-General leads me to believe that
the most important thing would be political will. Even though we’re
experiencing an economic crisis, we have, I think, some capacity to address
financially, and in terms of resources, many cases.
On climate change, we have the capacity, we have the
technology, we have the financing, but simply because of a lack of political
will, where leaders are not simply able to look beyond their national borders --
that’s why we have not been able to agree on climate change. That’s why we have
not been able to resolve these tough cases.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, you have always been a very
strong supporter of the six-party talks to try and rein in North Korea’s nuclear
programme. But the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] is saying right
now that they will not go back to six-party talks and have strongly indicated
that they want one-on-one talks with the United States. What is your assessment
of the situation, and do you believe that the six-party format remains the most
viable? And as a small corollary to the North Korea issue, is the United
Nations playing any role at all in trying to win the release of the two American
reporters imprisoned in the North?
SG: I am still deeply concerned about the recent
developments in the Korean peninsula, where we have not been able to see any
progress on dialogue, and the DPRK’s defiant positions against the Security
Council resolution. I think the strong and unified response by the Security
Council through Resolution 1874 sent a very strong and clear message to
Pyongyang that the international community will not accept nuclear weapons in
the DPRK. That message has been clearly sent. And I am also concerned that all
the doors for dialogue have been shut by the DPRK authorities. At this time,
however, while I believe that six-party talks still can provide a good way for
the solution through dialogue, if necessary, then there should be some other
forms of dialogue. And I am encouraged by the willingness of DPRK authorities
to engage in direct dialogue with the United States; that I would like to
support and welcome. Whatever the format of dialogue may be, you cannot find
any alternative in addressing the DPRK, North Korean, issues than dialogue, than
resolving this in a peaceful manner.
On these two American journalists detained in DPRK, I have
taken my own initiative, even though I am not able to disclose it. On two
occasions I have conveyed my strong wish and appeal, even, to the DPRK
authorities that they should look at this issue and release them; even on
humanitarian grounds. That’s what I have been doing now. Sorry that I am not
able to disclose any more details.
Q: I am very interested in understanding your position
clearly sir, towards Israel’s demand to get an Arab recognition first and
before resuming the peace talks, which is on hold for a long, long time right
now, to get Arab recognition of its State as a land for the Jewish people only.
And it implies the Palestinians to get deprived of their right to return,
millions of Palestinians, and also to drive out millions of Palestinians out of
Israel right now. So what is your position towards this, and how far do you
think this will affect the rights of the Arabs and the Palestinians in the
occupied territory?
And also, sir if you don’t mind, yesterday in the Security
Council, it was so weird, because your envoy to Chad and Central African
Republic, he admitted clearly the failure to handle the security situation in
the region there. So my question, what are you going to do in order to increase
the capability of the UN to stabilize the region?
SG: On the situation in the Middle East, particularly when
it comes to the Israeli and Palestinian relationship, the whole international
community holds the view that there should be two States -- Israel and a
Palestinian [State] -- who can live side by side in peace and security. This is
a two-State vision. And for that [to be] possible, Israel’s right to exist
should be recognized by Palestinians and all Arab countries, while I would also
support an independent State for Palestinians. All the countries in the region
should be able to live without any fear. They should be able to live in peace
and security. That’s the basic vision and goal for which the United Nations and
the key players have been working very hard. Currently, the United States
Special Envoy, Senator George Mitchell, and other leaders have been actively
engaging with Israelis and other Arab countries. And the United Nations, I
myself, have been actively engaging through my participation in the Quartet,
through my bilateral [meetings] with Israeli leaders and Arab leaders, including
the Palestinian President and the Prime Minister. This will continue. It has
been six decades long, and we must put an end to this conflict. This
relationship between Palestinians and Israelis, if they can resolve this issue,
this will provide a very good impetus to the overall peace and security in the
Middle East. The Arab peace initiative has also been recognized as a
cornerstone of this Middle East peace.
Q: How about Chad…?
SG: I will not [go into] detail because it will take a long
time. On this, my Special Envoy’s report to the Security Council yesterday, I
think he reflected the current situation there. We have not been able to see
again tension reductions there. I sincerely hope again that as they have
agreed so many times in the past, through official declarations, that Sudan and
Chad would improve their relationship. They have agreed to normalize their
diplomatic relationship and quite often these promises, political promises, have
been broken by the parties concerned. That’s what and why Mr. [Victor] Angelo
has reported to the Security Council.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on Myanmar, a verdict on the
charges against Madame Aung San Suu Kyi is expected on Friday. In a meeting
with the Senior General Than Shwe, you had requested that all charges against
her be dropped. How disappointed are you that the military junta has ignored
your request, and also has not responded to any of your other proposals in a
concrete manner?
SG: Again, I have been closely following the development in
the situation in Myanmar since my return. I hope they will keep their pledges
which were conveyed to the Security Council a few days ago, officially -- that
at the request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, they would be
taking necessary procedures to grant amnesty to political prisoners. Detailed
information has not been given, and I am concerned that they are continuing this
judicial process on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. When I was there, I made it quite
clear repeatedly that all the charges should be dropped and she should be
freed. We will continue to press on this issue. That’s what I can tell you at
this time.
Q: Can you comment on your employee, Ms. Lubna
[al-]Hussein, in Sudan who faces 40 lashes for wearing pants? Have you made a
plea on her behalf? She’s also said that she will resign from the UN and take
the punishment to try to change the law.
SG: The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has informed me about
this case. I am, of course, deeply concerned. The United Nations will make
every effort to ensure that the rights of its staff members are protected. The
flogging is against the international human rights standards. I call on all
parties to live up to their obligations under all relevant international
instruments.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, regarding the recent situation
in South Lebanon - we heard from the tripartite meeting in Naqoura recently that
the Israelis made a threat to attack civilian areas once any aggression happens
in the south of Lebanon. What’s your reaction to that?
SG: I’m not aware of any imminent Israeli plans. But
whatever the situation may be, again, it was a source of great concern that
there were serious violations of Security Council Resolution 1701. My Special
Coordinator, Mr. Michael Williams and General [Claudio] Graziano [Force
Commander] of UNIFIL - they are all in the process of consulting on this matter
with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Lebanese Government, as well as the
Israeli Government officials, to, first of all, prevent any further violation of
1701 – that effort will continue. I would, again, strongly urge that, while we
have seen encouraging developments of the situation politically, and in terms of
security and stabilization in Lebanon, all the parties concerned should fully
cooperate, so that this fragile peace and political stability should be able to
maintain its own course. That’s the best way now to see the resolution of this
issue, as well as the implementation of [Security] Council Resolution 1701. I
also hope that the Israeli Government would look at all the pending issues to be
resolved.
Q: Nice to see you dressing down. I wanted you to comment
on the recent amnesty that the Nigerian Federal Government has granted to the
militants in the Niger Delta. What is your reaction to the fact that they’re
asking all the militants who have caused so much harm to go free within a
limited period of time?
SG: When I was attending the G-8 Summit meeting in Italy,
I had in-depth discussions, a bilateral meeting with the President of Nigeria.
And, yes, I am concerned about the reports coming from Nigeria about the
deteriorating security situation, the sectarian violence in parts of northern
Nigeria, particularly last weekend. I condemned the unnecessary loss of human
lives and destruction of property, as a result of militant attacks. I hope that
those behind the attacks will be identified and brought to justice in accordance
with the law. I call upon the leadership of the Government of Nigeria, law
enforcement and security agencies, as well as religious and community leaders,
to work together to address the underlying causes of the frequent religious
clashes in Nigeria, so that a resolution could be found through dialogue,
tolerance and also understanding.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, are you willing to go to
Pyongyang to pave the way for a direct dialogue between the US and North Korea?
You’re used to going to different places, to difficult places.
SG: Yes, I know. The situation in Korean peninsula is
very serious, and whatever I can do as the Secretary-General, I am willing to
do, including my own visit to Pyongyang. However, I need to find out when it
would be an appropriate time for me to visit. I am not able to give you any
answer at this time.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General. Mrs
Rebiya Kadeer – she is the exiled leader of the Uighur Muslim community
in western China – she said today in Tokyo, just today, that more than 10,000
Muslim Uighurs have disappeared from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province,
and she’s asking for the establishment of an international fact-finding
commission or committee to go and look into the disappearance of these 10,000
people or more, which nobody has been able to find. In your talks with the
Chinese, have you raised this matter? Are you willing to look into this issue
of setting up a commission?
And, just for the record, I don’t think personally that you
have answered Tarek’s question on the call of Israel for the Arabs to recognize
Israel as a Jewish State, which runs contrary to [Resolution] 194, the Right of
Return, and which will threaten the deportation or repatriation of 8 million
Arab Israelis who live in Israel. I don’t think you really answered it.
President [Bill] Clinton sitting beside you here – he thought that was
unrealistic and unacceptable last time.
SG: On this situation in China, in Xinjiang. First of
all, I’m not aware of any detailed information on the exact situation about this
number of people – you said 10,000, but, first of all, I will have to look at
the case, for exact information. I do not have any such information on what she
said. Basically, I was deeply saddened by the loss of life and violence that
took place recently in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. I stand by the
universal principle that, wherever the causes of differences of opinion may be,
this should be resolved peacefully, without resorting to violence. In that
regard, I condemn all this violence - those people who resorted to violence. And
for any specific matters, I have to look at this issue.
On the return of refugees, that is one of the very
important, fundamental questions in addressing this issue. I told you that I
would not go into anything further.
Q: But Resolution 194 calls for the return of refugees.
That’s a United Nations resolution.
SG: There have been many important resolutions that have
been adopted by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly, and
these resolutions should pave the basis for consultations [with the parties].
Q: Mr. Secretary-General. You have so many problems in
front of you, and it’s very difficult to solve all of them. On Cyprus, do you
have any idea – this has been going on for 30 years, as you know – do you have
any suggestions, any ideas for the future?
SG: During the last 30-year-long conflict period, I think
we have seen in last several months the most encouraging developments of the
situation through very frequent bilateral talks between the two leaders of the
two communities. The United Nations, through our Special Envoy, Mr. [Alexander]
Downer, and at my level also, have been strongly supporting these negotiations
between the two leaders of the two communities. And they have made significant
progress, which we have not been able to see during the last three decades.
That’s quite commendable. They have been meeting around 30 times now. They
have completed the first round of their meetings on many important subjects,
including security and property issues. I hope that they will be able to finish
their consultations, negotiations as soon as possible. But they have taken many
important, encouraging issues which have been very much appreciated by the
international community. We will continue to support their efforts. And I
have met on many occasions with Mr. [Mehmet Ali] Talat and Mr. [Dimitris]
Christofias.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General. A number of Nobel Prize winners
have called on you to appoint a Special Envoy to Iran to investigate the human
rights abuses. What was your response? And could you tell us, in general, your
engagement with Iran in recent weeks?
SG: I have received such a request directly from an
Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate, as well as some Iranian communities, and
humanitarian communities, on that. I am aware of their concern and their wish.
At this time, I have been very closely monitoring the situations which have been
taking place in Iran. I’m still in the process of reviewing all the situations
there.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, during your previous press
conference, you said that you were trying to be the voice of the voiceless. My
question is a follow-up about China’s operation of Uighurs in east Turkestan.
What exactly has the UN done to tell the Chinese to stop the human rights
violations, instead of going after the Uighurs, saying, “Stop them coming up”?
[Spokesperson: I think the question was just answered by
the Secretary-General.]
SG: You may remember that I have also issued a statement
previously on this issue.
Q: On Myanmar, if Aung San Suu Kyi is going to be found
guilty, with a sentence of up to five years, what would be you reaction to that?
SG: My reaction will come when we really see what will
happen there. Let me answer your questions later, but whatever the case may be,
they will have missed a very important opportunity, first of all, to engage with
the international community, and they will be betraying the expectations and
wishes of all the international community who really want to see Myanmar fully
integrated as a member of the international community, who really want to see
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi freed, and enjoy freedom and liberty, as anybody else in
the world.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, there’s a report out this
morning that your Human Rights chief, Navi Pillay, had refused to receive and
meet with the Dalai Lama in Geneva when he goes there this week. Does this, in
your mind, send the right message with regards to human rights?
SG: I will have to check on this issue. I have not read
that.
Q: What follow-up have you made on the commitments of the
joint statement that you received from [Sri Lankan President Mahinda] Rajapaksa?
SG: In the margins of the Non-Aligned Meeting in Sharm
el-Sheikh, I had a bilateral meeting with President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.
There again, we reviewed what we had discussed during my visit [to Sri Lanka],
and I strongly urged him to take the necessary measures, first of all, to
improve the conditions of IDP [internally displaced persons] camps, so that
they can have freer movement. And, as far as the freedom of movement of the
humanitarian workers, I think we have ensured that freedom. And there needs to
be more freedom for those people living in camps – their living conditions
should be improved. And I also strongly urged him to reach out to minority
groups, like the Tamils, and to take the necessary measures to look for this
accountability process. Those are three points on which I have strongly urged
him, and he committed to me that he will abide by all pledges that he made
during my visit. And I had an opportunity of discussing this matter with some
key players, like China and India, during my visit to China. And during the
time of the G-8 Summit Meeting, I had a talk with the Indian Prime Minister, so
that they could do all that they can. I have also discussed with the Japanese
Prime Minister and many other world leaders on these issues. I am going to
continue.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES SUPPORT FOR SOMALIA:
The
Security Council this morning received an open briefing on Somalia from the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative there, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah. He told
the Council that the country is at a turning point, with the population and its
traditional leaders rejecting violence. He urged support for the Government and
for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). He added, “The time has come
for the United Nations to show it is serious about moving to Somalia. Our
temporary presence in Nairobi has lasted far too long.” Council members also
received a briefing by Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, who chairs the
Sanctions Committee on Somalia.
SECRETARY-GENERAL CITES REMAINING STEPS FOR 2010 ELECTIONS IN SUDAN:
In a new
report on elections in Sudan, the Secretary-General says he is concerned
that a number of basic steps remain to be taken, although much has been achieved
in the overall plan to hold the vote in April 2010. He cites a lack of clear
guarantees for some fundamental rights, including freedom of assembly, freedom
of speech and the press, as among the causes for the prevailing lack of
confidence in the process. The Secretary-General urges the National Elections
Commission to take the steps to ensure an inclusive process by addressing the
constraints relating to registering internally displaced civilians, refugees and
those without the necessary papers. And he proposes a two-phase approach to the
provision of further UN operational support – first by extending UN assistance
to 25 regional electoral commissions, up from the current 10, and then by
providing transportation assistance for electoral materials.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MAKES
$430 MILLION AVAILABLE TO KUWAIT: The
United Nations Compensation
Commission today made available a total of $430 million to the Government of
the State of Kuwait for distribution to 10 successful claimants.
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