HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Tuesday,
September 22, 2009
BAN KI-MOON'S SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
DRAWS NEARLY 100 WORLD LEADERS
“Now is your moment to act,” Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
told the nearly 100 world leaders gathered today for the High-Level
Summit on Climate Change that he has convened. With only 15 negotiating
days left until the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, the Summit aims
to mobilize political will and strengthen momentum for a fair, effective and
ambitious climate deal.
“Your negotiators need your direct political support
and guidance to resolve core issues, to accelerate the pace of negotiations
and to strengthen the ambition of what is on offer,” the Secretary-General
told the delegations. He added that a successful deal in Copenhagen will
mean more prosperity, more security, and more equity.
He called on the leaders of the industrialized
countries to take the first steps forward and called on leaders from
developing countries to accelerate their efforts. “All countries must do
more – now,” he said.
The Secretary-General warned that failure to reach
broad agreement in Copenhagen would be morally inexcusable, economically
short-sighted and politically unwise.
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
also addressed the Summit, followed by leaders of eight countries and a
representative of civil society. The opening session ended with the voice of
the next generation, when Yugratna Srivastava, a 13 year-old environmental
activist from India, addressed the world leaders.
After the plenary, the Secretary-General attended a
luncheon of the UN Leadership
Forum on Climate Change, organized by the UN Global Compact.
BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES TRANSFER OF SUSPECT
TO RWANDA GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL
The Secretary-General
welcomes the transfer, on 20 September 2009, of Grégoire Ndahimana, by
the Congolese Government to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR).
Ndahimana, a Rwandan national and high-level figure in
the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), was arrested in
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Congolese Army on 10 August
2009.
Ndahimana was among 13 of the remaining fugitives
indicted before the ICTR for serious violations of international
humanitarian law committed in Rwanda in 1994. Ndahimana’s arrest and
transfer to the ICTR was facilitated by MONUC, at the request of Congolese
authorities.
COMMITTEE
COORDINATING AID TO PALESTINIANS GATHERS IN NEW YORK
The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates and
promotes donor assistance to the Palestinian people, is meeting today, here
at Headquarters.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn
Pascoe today delivered a
message from the Secretary-General to that meeting. In that message, the
Secretary-General noted that the Palestinian Authority’s achievements in
security, the economy, financing, reform and planning over the past two
years are unprecedented. The Secretary-General also expressed strong support
for the Palestinian Authority’s plan to complete the building of the state
apparatus for Palestine in two years. He pledged the UN’s full assistance in
that regard.
Asked about the meeting today
that brings together the Presidents of the United States, Israel and the
Palestinian Authority, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General was
following that meeting with interest. Montas said that the Quartet would
meet later this week and would be expected to discuss, among other matters,
today’s meeting.
YEMEN’S FAILING
CEASEFIRE IGNITES FEARS OF FURTHER VIOLENCE
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
says that the situation in Yemen's northern Sa'ada province remains
volatile, despite an announced two-week suspension of military operations on
the occasion of the Eid holiday. This is the second failed ceasefire in less
than a month.
Relative calm was reported in the city
of Sa'ada at the end of last week, UNHCR says, but renewed clashes erupted
over the weekend in several neighbourhoods. During the brief lull in
fighting some 1,600 people in the city of Sa'ada received assistance through
UNHCR's local NGO partner. The Agency’s stocks in Sa'ada are diminishing and
establishment of humanitarian corridors for delivery of aid to this area
remains a top priority.
AFGHANISTAN
ENVOY WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ELECTORAL DISPUTES
Speaking yesterday in Kabul, the Secretary-General’s
Special Representative for
Afghanistan, Kai Eide, welcomed the joint announcement by the country’s
Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaints Commission on their
agreement on resolving issues before electoral results can be certified.
Eide said that such cooperation is essential, adding
that the Afghan people need to know the outcome of the election, including
whether a run-off vote is required, without undue delay.
He called on the two commissions to ensure a timely
conclusion to the process while respecting international standards and the
need for transparency. “The final result of this election must reflect the
will of the Afghan people,” Eide said.
HUMAN RIGHTS
ENVOY TO BEGIN SRI LANKA VISIT TOMORROW
Following last week’s visit to Sri Lanka by the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, the
Secretary-General’s Representative on the Human Rights for Internally
Displaced Persons, Walter Kaelin is set to make a 5-day visit to the country
starting tomorrow.
Kaelin's visit is an important next step from Pascoe's
latest trip to Colombo, which will provide an opportunity to flesh out the
specifics on the Government's renewed commitment to moving all internally
displaced persons (IDPs) out of the camps and home by January and in fully
implementing their 180 day plan.
Asked about
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe’s efforts to
obtain the release of two UN staff detained in Sri Lanka, the Spokeswoman
said that Pascoe met last week in Sri Lanka with President Mahinda Rajapaksa
and raised the issue of the two detained staff with him. The United Nations,
she added, is providing the staff members with legal support.
SOMALIA: FALLEN
PEACEKEEPERS LAID TO REST
The Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative
for Somalia, Charles Petrie, has called on the international community to do
more now, in order to plant seeds of durable peace in Somalia.
Petrie was speaking on behalf of the United Nations at
a funeral service held on Sunday in Bujumbura, for the Burundian officers
and soldiers killed in last week’s suicide bomb attacks on the Mogadishu
Headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia,
AMISOM. He paid tribute to the valiant peacekeepers who gave their
lives for peace in Somalia.
A full investigation into the circumstances of the
attacks is being undertaken.
Asked whether there had been
UN personnel in the AMISOM camp when it was attacked, the Spokeswoman said
she was unaware of any UN presence. She added, in response to further
questions, that the United Nations has provided support to AMISOM.
CHAD TO
RELOCATE REFUGEES FROM UNSAFE BORDER CAMP
The UN Refugee Agency has welcomed a decision by Chad
to relocate some 28,000 Sudanese refugees from the Oure Cassoni camp, in the
troubled northeastern border region with Sudan.
UNHCR had been pressing Chad to remove refugee from that camp for a
number of years, partly because of its location just 7 kilometers from the
border, which was deemed too unsafe and often inaccessible. UNHCR also
suspected that Sudanese armed groups were recruiting children and weapons
circulated all too freely inside the camp.
UN and Chadian teams are now evaluating a replacement
site near the town of Bahai.
HIV/AIDS A
THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE & SECURITY
The AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative, which is
supported by UNAIDS, today
released a new report that shows how HIV threatens international peace
and security. The new report suggests that the transition from war to peace
can increase risks of HIV transmission as refugees go home, soldiers leave
the army, and relief agencies wind down their work.
It adds that, in many countries, laws and law
enforcement drive the AIDS epidemic underground by criminalizing injecting
drug use, sex work or homosexuality—thereby ruling out proven HIV prevention
methods such as needle exchanges and the promotion of condom use.
According to Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of
UNAIDS, the report’s findings underscore the importance of aligning efforts
to prevent both sexual violence and HIV.
PRINCESS MÁXIMA
TAKES ON ROLE OF SPECIAL ADVOCATE ON INCLUSIVE FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT
The Secretary-General has designated Princess Máxima of
the Netherlands as his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for
Development.
In her new role, Princess Máxima will work to highlight
and promote inclusive finance for development to Governments and
international institutions.
She will also contribute to raising awareness -- among
intergovernmental organizations, Governments, parliaments, civil society,
the private sector and the media -- on the importance of developing
inclusive finance to reduce poverty, equalize opportunity and achieve
development goals, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.
CITY OF
ROTTERDAM TO HOST SIGNING EVENT FOR NEW U.N. TREATY
Tomorrow the city of Rotterdam will be hosting a
signing ceremony for the new UN
Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly
or Partly by Sea. The event is being jointly organized by the Dutch
government, the city of Rotterdam, the UN Office of Legal Affairs and the UN
Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
The Convention, also known as the “Rotterdam Rules”,
was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2008. It creates a legal
regime for container transport on itineraries including an international sea
leg but not limited to port-to-port carriage of goods.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUPERMODEL
GISELE BÜNDCHEN TO SERVE AS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen has been
designated a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In
her new position, Gisele will help to inspire action to protect the environment.
She will also work to draw attention to some of the biggest threats facing the
planet, including climate change and environmental degradation.
BILLION TREE CAMPAIGN HITS TARGET: The United
Nations’
Billion Tree Campaign has hit its seven billion goal target, reports the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP). Today's milestone was reached with the news that
the Government of China has planted 2.6 billion trees as part of this unique
campaign, bringing the total to 7.3 billion trees planted in 167 countries
worldwide.
BHUTTO COMMISSION WORK MOVING
APACE, QUIETLY: Asked about the work of the
independent commission that is looking into the assassination of former
Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the Spokeswoman said that the
Secretary-General, in a meeting yesterday, discussed the commission’s progress
with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. The commission is working steadily
but has avoided commenting about the details of its work, she added.
**The guest at the briefing today was Janos Pasztor,
the Director of the Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team.
THE WEEK
AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Wednesday, 23 September
The Secretary-General will attend and address the opening
session of the General Debate of the General Assembly, which starts at 9 a.m.
today.
At 10
a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press briefing by
Kazuo Kodama, Press
Secretary for the Prime Minster of Japan.
At 12 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain.
At 3 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend the Innovative
International Financing for Health event, hosted by the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
At 4 p.m., the Secretary-General will join the meeting on
Global Health organized by Mrs. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
At 4:30 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, the
Secretary-General will attend a UN-REDD (United Nations Collaborative Programme
on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing
Countries) event, hosted by the Government of Norway.
At 4:30 p.m., the launch of the African Leaders Malaria
Alliance, ALMA, will occur in the Staff Cafe on the 4th floor. The launch is
being convened by President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, working in concert with
the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers. Heads of State
from approximately 10 African countries are expected, including: Comoros,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
At 5 p.m., the Secretary-General will take part in the
High-level meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, in Conference Room 6.
At 5 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference by
Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of Colombia.
At 6 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference on
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing
Countries.
Thursday, 24 September
The Secretary-General will
attend the opening session of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into
Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at 8 a.m., in Conference Room
3. At 8:45 a.m., he will hold a press stakeout. The CTBT will resume at 11 a.m.
and continue tomorrow, Friday.
From 8:15 to 8:55 a.m., UNRWA
Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd and Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro
will unveil a banner in the Delegates' Lounge commemorating UNRWA's 60 years.
At 9 a.m., the
Secretary-General will attend the High-level Summit of the Security Council on
non-proliferation in the Security Council Chamber.
At 10
a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press briefing by
Kazuo Kodama, Press
Secretary for the Prime Minister of Japan.
At 11:05, the
Secretary-General will attend the ministerial segment of UNRWA’s 60th
anniversary commemoration, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The session will
open at 9 a.m. and will end with a Chair's summary from 12:50-13:00. After the
meeting, UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd, President Abbas of the
Palestinian Authority and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will brief
the press at the Security Council stakeout.
At 12 p.m., the
Secretary-General will attend the High level meeting of the Group of Friends of
Democratic Pakistan, in the ECOSOC Chamber.
At 3 p.m., the
Secretary-General will participate in a Middle East Quartet meeting.
At 5.15 p.m. in Room-S226,
there will be a press briefing by Yasuhisa Kawamura, Press Secretary for the
Foreign Minister of Japan.
Friday, 25 September
The Secretary-General will be in Pittsburgh to attend the
G-20 meeting.
At 9 a.m. in Room-S226, there
will be a press briefing by Yasuhisa Kawamura, Press Secretary for the Foreign
Minister of Japan.
At 10.15 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press
conference by Dimitris Christofias, President of Cyprus.
At 11 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by
Amre
Moussa, Secretary-General of the
League of Arab States.
At 1.30 p.m. in
Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau.
At 5 p.m.
in Conference Room 4, there will be a press conference by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
President of Iran.
At 6.15 p.m. in
Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Saturday, 26 September
At 8:30 a.m., the Secretary-General will attend the
Ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Civilization Group of Friends, in the
ECOSOC Chamber.
At 9:15 a.m., the Secretary-General will attend an event on
the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, in the Trusteeship Council
Chamber.
At 12 p.m., Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Foreign Minster of
Switzerland, will brief the press at the Security Council stakeout, following an
event commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions.
At 2:10 p.m., the Secretary-General will participate in a
mini-Summit on CARICOM, in Conference Room 9.
At 4 p.m., the Secretary-General and U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton will co-host a side-event on “Partnering for Food
Security.”
At 5:15 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend the
UN-ASEAN meeting, in Conference Room 7.
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