Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 8 September 2009

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FARHAN HAQ

ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

BAN KI-MOON REGRETS DECISION TO EXPEL UNICEF SPOKESMAN IN SRI LANKA

  • Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly regrets the decision of the Sri Lankan Government to expel Mr. James Elder, Spokesman for UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

  • The Secretary-General expresses his full confidence in the work of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, which includes making public statements when necessary in an effort to save lives and prevent grave humanitarian problems. The United Nations is working impartially to assist the people of Sri Lanka, and the Government should be supporting and cooperating with its efforts.

  • The Secretary-General will take up this issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the earliest opportunity and will continue to urge him to implement all the commitments made in their joint-statement after the Secretary-General’s visit to Sri Lanka in May.

BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN MEXICO FOR TWO-DAY VISIT

  • The Secretary-General this morning traveled to Mexico City, where he will meet this afternoon with President Felipe Calderón to discuss issues of mutual interest ahead of the upcoming General Assembly. Those issues will include climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, and human rights.

  • The Secretary-General will also hold additional meetings this evening with the Ministers of Health, Social Development, Environment and Education.

  • Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will speak at the opening of the 62nd Annual Department of Public Information-Non-Governmental Organizations Conference. The theme of this year’s Conference is “For Peace and Development: Disarm Now!”

BAN KI-MOON VOICES DEEP CONCERN OVER STRING OF ATTACKS IN SOUTH SUDAN

  • A statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on South Sudan was issued over the weekend.

  • In it, the Secretary-General says he is deeply concerned over the string of attacks and counterattacks in South Sudan and the killing and displacement of innocent civilians.

  • The Secretary-General calls on all groups to find peaceful means of settling their differences. He also calls on the Government of South Sudan to re-double its efforts to ensure the protection of civilians and to work with UNMIS and the United Nations Country Team in strengthening security mechanisms, resolving the root causes of the tensions and addressing the humanitarian situation. Abatement of violence and intertribal reconciliation in the south are vital to the forthcoming elections in 2010 and the subsequent referendum in 2011.

  • Asked about the sentence made by a Sudanese court against former UN Mission in Sudan staffer Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, the Spokesperson noted that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today said that the arrest and conviction of Ms. Hussein was a violation of Articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan was a state party, and Article 29 of Sudan’s own Interim National Constitution.

  • Asked about the departure of former Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur Rodolphe Adada, the Spokesperson recalled that Adada’s secondment by the Government of the Republic of the Congo had ended.

AFGHANISTAN: U.N. ENVOY CALLS FOR FULL RIGOR IN INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION’S WORK

  • Kai Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, today called on the country’s Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaints Commission to redouble their efforts to ensure full rigor in their work at every stage, in light of the concerns that have arisen over irregularities over the elections. This includes excluding from the preliminary count results from ballot boxes where there is evidence of irregularities.

  • Eide said that the integrity of the elections is of the utmost importance to Afghanistan and to its international partners.

  • He trusts that the respective Commissions will carry out their mandated work to high standards and will ensure that the final outcome faithfully reflects the will of Afghanistan’s voters.

  • Asked when it could be determined whether a run-off election is needed in Afghanistan, the Spokesperson said that would happen only after the electoral results were finalized, which in turn would take place after the respective electoral commissions had completed their work, including a review of all complaints.

  • Asked about reported civilian casualties during a NATO air strike last week, Haq said that the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan had sent a team to the area to review the situation. He noted that the United Nations has repeatedly raised its concern about civilian casualties with the relevant military authorities.

LEBANON: SPECIAL COORDINATOR CALLS FOR CONTINUED WORK TOWARD A UNITY GOVERNMENT

  • The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams, today met with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, and expressed his concern that no agreement had been reached on the formation of a government, more than ten weeks after the designation of Saad Hariri as Prime Minister-designate.

  • Williams called on all Lebanese to continue to work towards the goal of a unity government. “Democracy needs compromise,” he said. “Lebanon must not return to the old days of polarization and crisis.”

U.N. AGENCIES REPORT CONTINUING HEAVY FIGHTING IN NORTHERN YEMEN

  • UN humanitarian agencies report that heavy fighting is continuing between Al Houti forces and Government troops in and around Sa’ada city in northern Yemen, with utter disregard for the safety and well being of the civilian population.

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cites estimates that some 150,000 persons are displaced in the Governorates of Sa’ada, Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah. This number includes persons displaced by previous rounds of fighting, many of whom have been forced into their second or third displacement.

  • The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that most of the displaced are stranded and dangerously exposed to the fighting as they are unable to reach safer areas. Mines and unexploded ordnance on the roads increase the risks for those trying to flee the area. There is also a severe fuel shortage, with some reports that there is no electricity in Sa’ada city.

  • UNHCR is again appealing for a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors which would allow the civilian population to escape the fighting and enable aid workers to resume deliveries of humanitarian assistance.

  • According to the World Health Organization’s surveillance system, there has been no outbreak of communicable diseases occurring amongst the IDPs and the host community in Amran and Hajjah. WHO epidemiologists are making plans to establish disease early warning systems in the Hajjaf and Amran Governorates.


HEAD OF I.A.E.A WARNS OF STALEMATE REGARDING IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

  • Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), yesterday briefed the Agency’s Board of Governors on its work, and he warned that there is stalemate regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities or its work on heavy water related projects as required by the Security Council, nor has Iran implemented the Additional Protocol, he said.

  • At the same time, ElBaradei stressed that all of the information made available to the Agency, relevant to Iran’s nuclear programme, has been brought to the attention of the Board of Governors. He said that he was dismayed by the allegations of some Member States, which have been fed to the media, that information has been withheld from the Board. These allegations are politically motivated and totally baseless, he said.

  • ElBaradei also urged Syria to cooperate with the Agency in its verification activities related to the nature of the Dair Alzour site.

DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HAITI CONCLUDES FIRST TRIP TO THE COUNTRY

  • In Haiti, Paul Farmer concluded today his first visit to the country as UN Deputy Special Envoy.

  • According to the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Haiti, Farmer’s five day visit served as a follow up to President Clinton’s July mission. The main objective was to assess how to best support the Government of Haiti in the implementation of its national recovery plan.

  • During his trip, the Deputy Special Envoy met with President Préval and Prime Minister Pierre-Louis as well as with representatives of the United Nations, NGO leaders, international donors, and members of the private sector. Farmer said he would support President Clinton and the people of Haiti in the joint effort of creating new jobs, improving the delivery of basic services, strengthening disaster recovery and preparedness, attracting private sector investment and garnering greater international support.

  • Tomorrow afternoon, the Security Council will hold an open debate on Haiti.

BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR ON COLOMBIAN PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES AGAINST CHILD SOLDIERS

  • The latest report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Colombia is out on the racks.

  • In it, the Secretary-General calls on the parties in Colombia to comply without delay with international law and the provisions of the Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict. He also calls for the implementation of action plans against child recruitment as well as against sexual abuse perpetrated against children by the illegal armed groups.

  • The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Colombia to implement, as a matter of priority, measures to eliminate extrajudicial executions of children.

WFP RESPONDS TO WEST AFRICA FLOODS WITH VITAL FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS

  • One hundred and fifty-nine people have been killed and some 600,000 others have been badly affected by heavy rains across West Africa, since June. This is according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA), which lists the most affected countries as, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger.

  • Damages, from Mauritania to Nigeria, also include the destruction of properties and social infrastructure, including hospitals and roads.

  • In response to the flooding, the World Food Programme, (WFP), has started distributing vital food rations to victims across West Africa. WFP is launching emergency operations in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania for thousands of people in the worst affected areas.

  • “People’s lives have been turned upside-down overnight and WFP is moving as swiftly as possible to provide life saving food assistance,” said Josette Sheeran, WFP Executive Director.

  • In the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, WFP began food distribution last Friday, and has already provided rations to 50,000 flood-affected people.

  • In Niger, food assistance is being given to 41,000 people, who were left hungry and homeless after a dyke near the northern town of Agadez burst its banks.

  • WFP is planning to reach more flood victims across the West African region.

HEAD OF U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY VISITS NORTH AFRICA

  • The High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres arrives in Algiers today for a 5-day visit to Algeria and Morocco, including visits to Western Sahara, and to Saharawi camps in Tindouf, western Algeria.

  • He will review first-hand the situation in the refugee sites and assess the overall conditions of the refugees, including measures being taken to address the effects of prolonged separation between the refugees and their families in Western Sahara.

  • This is the first visit by a High Commissioner for refugees to the regions since 1976.

  • Guterres will hold meetings with top government officials in both countries and discuss the issue of refugee protection in North Africa. Efforts being made by the concerned governments in building their respective national asylum systems will also be discussed.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF ISRAELI RESTRICTIVE MEASURES ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

  • The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) today released a 2009 Report on UNCTAD Assistance to the Palestinian People.

  • The report highlights the impact of Israeli restrictive measures and the recent devastation in Gaza.

  • It reflects on the renewed debate over the future of Palestinian-Israeli economic relations and looks at the Palestinian policy framework that would be most conducive to building a sovereign Palestinian State.

  • Asked about the announcement of new settlement activity by Israel’s Government, the Spokesperson reiterated that the Secretary-General has called for a freeze in settlement activity, and he also noted the Quartet’s statements expressing its concerns about settlements. He added that there were efforts to have the principal members of the Quartet meet over the coming month.

NUMBER OF BHUTAN REFUGEES RESETTLED FROM NEPAL PASS THE 20,000 MARK

  • Under one of the largest resettlement programmes by the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) more than 20,000 refugees from Bhutan have now left Nepal to begin new lives in third countries.

  • The 20,000th refugee from Bhutan to be resettled was 8-year-old Sita Budhathoki who left Nepal Monday with her parents and siblings for Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. The U.S. has received the highest number of refugees from Bhutan, with 17,612 resettled there to date.

  • Other countries offering new homes to these Bhutanese refugees who had come to Nepal since the early 1990's to fee ethnic tensions include Australia, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark and The Netherlands.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS LITERACY IS TOOL FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REALIZE THEIR RIGHTS

  • Today is International Literacy Day. Some 776 million adults – most of them women – have no secure command of the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy, and 75 million children are not in school, notes the Secretary-General in a message to mark this Day. Yet it wouldn’t take much to change the appalling status quo, he adds.

  • The Secretary-General stresses that literacy gives people tools with which to improve their livelihoods, participate in community decision-making, gain access to information about health care, and above all, enables individuals to realize their rights as citizens and human beings.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HOLDS RETREAT WITH U.N. SENIOR OFFICIALS

  • Yesterday, the Secretary-General held a one-day retreat with the senior officials in the UN system, which took place in two simultaneous locations, using a video link between New York and Geneva.

  • In its third year, this retreat is an essential exercise for taking stock, sharing ideas and proposing recommendations for how the United Nations can continue to fulfill our mandate and meet the needs of the people we serve.

  • A very productive and engaging discussion considered three main topics: strengthening accountability; improving communications; and becoming more effective and efficient.

  • Participants expressed, on occasion with passion and conviction, their desire to take forward the recommendations found in the detailed background papers and in this statement. They committed themselves to ensuring that we make concrete progress on these issues, progress on which we can build further. In so doing, collectively, we can and will continue to build a stronger and more effective Organization.

  • What you can expect as an outcome of this gathering? More briefings by more senior officials to explain better the work the United Nations is doing. The first of these is expected in the form of a briefing shortly on what you can expect during the week of the High-level General Assembly debate.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOOK SHOWS RICHNESS OF INDIGENOUS FOOD RESOURCES: A recent book published by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) finds that there are more healthful, nutritious foods in remote tribes in dense tropical forests or frozen polar wastes, than in developed countries. The book shows the wealth of knowledge in indigenous communities, in diverse ecosystems, and the richness of their food resources. FAO warns that wild habitats are receding under economic pressures and globalization, and that these healthful diets are diminishing along with it.

TEN STORIES THE WORLD SHOULD HEAR MORE ABOUT: The Department of Public Information (DPI) has released the latest edition of its annual list of stories that it feels the world's public should hear out more about. This is part of a continuing effort to highlight important issues and developments that sometimes do not receive sufficient attention. The stories are not listed in any order of priority.


UNITED NATIONS HAS NO INFORMATION ON ALLEGED LEAK LEADING TO ABDUCTION: Asked about remarks by former UN Special Envoy for Niger Robert Fowler that speculated about whether a leak had led to his abduction last year, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations had no information about any such leak. He added, in response to further questions, that Fowler has debriefed UN officials about the work he had done as Special Envoy.

*** The guest today at the Noon Briefing was Janos Pasztor, Director of the Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team, who briefed on the preparations for the upcoming High-level Event on Climate scheduled for the 22nd September, as well as on other climate change-related developments.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055

Transcript

The Secretary-General strongly regrets the decision of the Sri Lankan Government to expel Mr. James Elder, Spokesman for UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

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