HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY THE OFFICE OF THE
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Wednesday,
September 23, 2009
There was no
noon briefing on Wednesday because of the busy press briefing schedule. The noon
briefing will resume on Thursday. Highlights of events in the UN system follow:
SECRETARY-GENERAL OPENS U.N. GENERAL DEBATE WITH CALL FOR UNITED ACTION
The Secretary-General this morning
opened the General Debate of the 64th session of the General Assembly,
saying that amid many crises – including those
concerning food, energy, the recession and pandemic flu – the world looks to
the United Nations for answers. “If ever there were a time to act in
a spirit of renewed multilateralism -- a moment to create a United Nations
of genuine collective action -- it is now,” he said.
Saying that “now is our time,” the Secretary-General
urged Member States to rise to the challenge of climate change; to put
disarmament back on the global agenda; to focus on those left behind in the
fight against poverty; and to make a final push to implement the Millennium
Development Goals.
He also pointed to the work the UN system has been
doing to deal with problems in Darfur and South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Gaza and Afghanistan.
The Secretary-General emphasized, “We of the United
Nations are the voice of the voiceless, the defenders of the defenseless.”
So much is possible, he said, if we act together.
AFTER CLIMATE
CHANGE SUMMIT, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS MOMENTUM HAS SHIFTED IN FAVOR OF A DEAL IN
COPENHAGEN
“Today marked the moment when the political momentum
has shifted in favor of sealing a fair, effective and ambitious global
climate deal in Copenhagen,” the Secretary-General
told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, at the end of the day-long
summit on Climate Change which he had convened.
Calling the event an “historic summit – the
largest-ever gathering of world leaders on climate change,” he added that
the summit had harnessed much-needed political momentum and focused the
attention of world leaders at the highest level on the urgent need for
action.
During the closing session of the Summit, the
Secretary-General also
summarized the day’s discussions. He highlighted areas of convergence
among leaders on five key issues in the climate negotiations: a package on
adaptation; ambitious mid-term mitigation targets by industrialized
countries; actions by developing countries to slow the growth of their
emissions; scaled-up financing and technology support to unlock investment
and catalyze green growth; and equitable governance that address the needs
of developing countries.
“There is still a long way to go,” warned the
Secretary-General, adding that the momentum must be maintained in the weeks
leading up to Copenhagen.
On Tuesday night, the Secretary-General
hosted a dinner for 23 leaders, from the world’s largest economies and
from the most affected and vulnerable countries. The aim was to discuss how
to translate the political momentum from the Summit into concrete progress
that will lead to success in Copenhagen.
SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES HIS CONCERNS AT FIGHTING IN DARFUR AND SOUTHERN
SUDAN
The Secretary-General is
deeply concerned by reports of recent clashes between the Government of
Sudan and rebel forces and the resultant loss of civilian lives and
properties in the area of Korma, North Darfur.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to use
restraint, renew their commitment to an immediate and unconditional
ceasefire, and redouble their efforts to reach a political settlement of the
conflict in Darfur. He also reiterates the importance of ensuring a safe and
free passage for United Nations and humanitarian personnel to assess the
situation on the ground and provide life-saving assistance to those in need.
The Secretary-General also strongly
condemned, in a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the 20 September
attack on residents of Duk Padiet village in Jonglei State, in southern
Sudan. Initial reports indicate upwards of one hundred persons were killed
in the attacks. The
United Nations Mission in Sudan continues to determine the full extent
of this terrible event.
The Secretary-General urges the Government of Southern
Sudan to further strengthen their efforts to identify and bring to justice
the perpetrators of these crimes.
Also, in an earlier
statement, the Secretary-General expressed his grave concerns at the
abduction of two international staff members at the African Union-United
Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
taken from their homes on 28 August 2009. UNAMID officials are working
closely with authorities from the Government of Sudan to ensure their safe
release.
W.F.P. SUSPENDS
WORK IN PART OF SOUTH DARFUR
The World Food Programme (WFP)
has suspended operations in the region around Adilla, in South Darfur,
following a carjacking incident in which enough
food to feed 10,000 children was stolen.
The agency says that
Government of Sudan officials were able to negotiate the release of the
drivers of the two vehicles, but the carjackers refused to give up the
vehicles, which remain in their possession at this time. The United
Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
says it is following the matter closely.
HONDURAS: U.N.
URGENTLY CALLS ON ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO ESTABLISH CONSTRUCTIVE, TRANSPARENT
DIALOGUE
The
UN System in Honduras issued a statement on Tuesday night, given the
violent events in Tegucigalpa. It stressed that it is the responsibility of
the Honduran State to guarantee the life, freedom and security of all of its
citizens in conformity with the international human rights treaties ratified
by Honduras, the Constitution of the Republic and national legislation.
It added that the use of force, in any form, by agents
of the authorities, applied without regard to the criteria of need and
proportionality, violates the right to life and integrity. In that regard,
the State is obligated to investigate such occurrences, as well as to
prosecute and punish those responsible.
The UN System in Honduras noted that the Honduran State
must guarantee the legitimate exercise of the right of assembly, which is
recognized in international human rights treaties and in the Constitution of
the Republic.
It added that this right must be exercised in a
peaceful manner, and in that regard, the UN System in Honduras called on
those who participate in public protests to refrain from actions that may
endanger people’s lives or integrity or that may cause material damage.
It also said that involvement of the Armed Forces, in
tasks related to maintaining public order, must be on a strictly exceptional
basis.
The UN System in Honduras also urgently called on all
sectors of Honduran society to establish a constructive and transparent
dialogue to overcome the current crisis. It stresses that development and
security can only be achieved in a climate of peace and full respect for
human rights. It reiterated, in this regard, its commitment to the
achievement of peace, reconciliation and the country’s human development.
D.R CONGO MISSION HELPS TRANSFER AMNESTIED FORMER
REBELS
The Mission in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
on Tuesday began transferring detained former rebels to Bukavu, from the
capital Kinshasa, to join the Government army under a recent amnesty
programme. The 122 amnestied detainees are onetime members of the National
Congress for the Defense of the People, known under its French acronym, CNDP.
The Mission’s role in this
operation flows from its mandate and is part of the implementation of the
Goma Agreements of March 2008. Welcoming this development, Alan Doss, the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the DRC, said it is an
important step that should help build confidence between the Government and
the CNDP.
UGANDA: SECRETARY-GENERAL’S REPORT CALLS FOR LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY TO
RELEASE CHILDREN
The latest
report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Uganda
has been released as a document today. The Secretary-General notes that the
Ugandan rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, (LRA), remains very active
in the sub-region, outside of Uganda.
The Secretary-General
strongly urges the LRA to engage with United Nations country teams in the
region for the immediate release of all children associated with its forces.
The report also urges the Government of Uganda to prioritise the protection
of children in its military actions against LRA elements, either on Ugandan
territory or in joint operations in neighbouring countries.
U.N. ENVOY IN
LEBANON POINTS TO NEED FOR FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT BEFORE SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT
Michael Williams, the
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, met today with General Michel Aoun,
the leader of the Reform and Change bloc in Parliament. Williams said
afterward that they had a good discussion, which focused on concerns about
the delays in forming a government following the elections in June.
Williams noted that Lebanon
is expected to take over one of the rotating seats at the UN Security
Council for the period 2010 to 2012. “This is a very important role for
Lebanon, which requires a fully functioning government that can follow up on
many important international issues,” he said.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTHERN YEMEN CONTINUES TO
WORSEN
The situation in the northern
Yemeni Governorate of Sa’ada and neighbouring governorates continues to
worsen as a result of ongoing fighting between security forces and armed Al-Houthi
groups, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA).
Given the very limited access
to people affected by the conflict and the geographical spread of internally
displaced people (IDPs) in all four affected governorates, it has been very
difficult to assess the full scope of displacement up to now and to provide
sufficient relief to those in need.
Food rations have been
pre-positioned at strategic points throughout northern Yemen and are
sufficient to provide 60,000 beneficiaries with a monthly ration, OCHA says.
In the hot weather conditions, the current lack of potable water is
particularly a serious concern.
The Office warns that the
Yemen Flash Appeal that was launched on 2 September, seeking $23.7 million,
has still not received any funding, although some pledges have been
recorded.
WEST AFRICA FLOODS: UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES HELPS COUNTRIES TO ASSIST
VICTIMS
A U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
team has a completed a mission to Burkina Faso, one several West African
countries affected by recent severe flooding. The 10-member team helped
humanitarian agencies and local authorities to establish a mechanism for an
effective response to the flooding.
Across the West African sub-region, more than 159 people have been killed
and some 600,000 others have been badly affected by heavy rains, since June.
The floods have caused damage to infrastructure
and social amenities such as schools and hospitals. Large swathes of
farmland have been damaged and crops destroyed.
Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and
Niger are the worst affected countries. UNICEF and the World Food Programme
(WFP), as well as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), are all working in
the region to assist the victims of flooding.
BAN KI-MOON:
MOTHER-TO-CHILD H.I.V. TRANSMISSION CAN BE ELIMINATED
The Secretary-General will deliver remarks this
afternoon at a meeting entitled “A Call to Action: Protecting Mothers and
Children against AIDS.”
Participants will include President Blaise Compaoré of
Burkina Faso, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands,
and First Lady of France Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
The Secretary-General is expected to stress that there
is no reason any mother should die from AIDS. Nor is there cause for any
child to be born with HIV. If we work hard enough, he will say, we can
virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission.
UNESCO
DESIGNATES FIRST WOMAN DIRECTOR-GENERAL
The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has
designated Irina Gueorguieva Bokova of Bulgaria as candidate to the post
of Director-General. Her nomination will be submitted to the approval of the
Organization’s General Conference, on 15 October. Once confirmed, she will
be UNESCO’s first woman Director-General, says the agency.
Bokova, the Ambassador of Bulgaria to France and
Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, was designated at the end of five rounds of
voting by the Executive Board, from among nine candidates.
W.F.P. ADOPTS
NEW APPROACH TO FIGHT UNDER-NUTRITION
The World Food Programme (WFP)
has adopted a new strategy that reformulates its entire approach to
nutrition. According to a statement by its Executive Director, Josette
Sheeran, WFP will prioritize children under two and pregnant and lactating
mothers. Sheeran said, “This is a revolution in the way we do business.” She
added that the effects of under-nutrition are irreversible for a child under
two years of age.
Among measures to be undertaken, WFP’s Executive
Director stressed the implementation of programmes to fight under-nutrition;
investments in nutrition technology and delivery mechanisms in poor
countries; and partnering with the private sector and NGOs.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS ON DOWNWARD TREND:
Foreign direct investments continued their decline in the first half of 2009, a
survey by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
has revealed, and prospects are “bleak” for the short term. And while foreign
direct investments (FDI) from the Group of Twenty (G20) countries accounted for
about two-thirds of both outflows and inflows between 2007 and 2009, the trend
remains downward. The outward FDI flows of these countries were down 10 percent,
while inflows slumped by 13 percent, as compared to 2007.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS[1]
23 - 26 September 2009
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 REDD (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 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 Minster 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 4 p.m. in Conference Room
4, there will be a press conference by Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela.
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 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.
The Secretary-General and US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton will co-host a side-event on “Partnering for Food Security” at 4:00
p.m., at the Waldorf Astoria.
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 5:15 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend the
UN-ASEAN meeting, in Conference Room 7.
[1]This
document is for planning purposes only and is current as of DATE \@ "HH:mm"
11:36 DATE \@ "dddd, dd MMMM, yyyy" Wednesday, 23 September, 2009.
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
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