HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Wednesday, November
4, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES ON MIGRATION
In Athens, the Secretary-General today
addressed the Third Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and
Development, and he called for policies on migration to be founded on
evidence, not fuelled by prejudice.
He warned that the conditions in which many migrants
move and live continue to be treacherous. He spelled out three major
challenges facing migrants worldwide. First, on the economic front, the
global recession has highlighted the vulnerability of migrants, particularly
recent migrants. Second, on climate change, he said that the effects of
global warming will be far-reaching and could prompt further migration. And
third, he said that we must devote special attention to the most vulnerable
migrants of all: victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls.
Human trafficking injures, traumatizes and kills, the Secretary-General
said.
He also made
remarks to the press after his speech at the Forum, where he stressed
the need to deepen our common values of inclusion,
social acceptance and understanding.
The Secretary-General met
later with George Papandreou, who is the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
of Greece. He
told reporters afterward that they discussed, among other things,
climate change, migration and development, Cyprus, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, UN peacekeeping operations and reform, piracy and the
Millennium Development Goals.
On Cyprus, the
Secretary-General said he told the Prime Minister that he appreciates his
commitment to help Cypriots achieve a settlement. He added, “I believe the
talks are making reasonably good progress, and this momentum must be kept
up.”
The Secretary-General also attended a luncheon hosted
by Greek President Karolos Papoulias. On Thursday, he is scheduled to
address the Greek Parliament on the United Nations and renewed
multilateralism in the 21st century.
GREECE/F.Y.R.O.M.: U.N. ENVOY IN TOUCH WITH PARTIES
TO SET UP MEETING ON NAME DISPUTE
During the Secretary-General’s
press encounter today with the Greek Prime Minister, he noted that his
Personal Envoy for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Matthew Nimetz, is set to restart discussions on the name
issue, as soon as both parties are ready.
The Secretary-General said he was encouraged that the
Greek Prime Minister had told him that Greece is ready and will fully
support Nimetz’s ongoing facilitation role.
In that regard, Nimetz reports that he is in touch with
the parties and has proposed to them the holding of meetings, either joint
or separate, in New York at a time to be determined.
SECRETARY-GENERAL DISMAYED AT CONTINUED ISRAELI ACTIONS IN OCCUPIED EAST
JERUSALEM
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Secretary-General
said he was
dismayed at continued Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem,
including the demolition of Palestinian homes, the eviction of Palestinian
families and the insertion of settlers into Palestinian neighbourhoods. The
eviction of a Palestinian family in East Jerusalem is just the most recent
incident, said the Secretary-General.
These actions stoke tensions, cause suffering and
further undermine trust. He calls on Israel to cease such provocative
actions. He further reiterates his call on Israel to implement its Road Map
commitments by freezing all settlement activity, including natural growth;
dismantling outposts; and reopening Palestinian institutions in East
Jerusalem.
AFGHANISTAN:
U.N. REVIEWING SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Asked about security arrangements for UN staff in
Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman noted that this was a concern that was raised
by the Secretary-General when he met on Monday in Kabul with Afghan
President Hamid Karzai.
The
UN Mission in Afghanistan has been reviewing the security arrangements,
notably in Kabul but not limited to it, with a view to enhancing immediately
the security of all UN premises and guest houses, she said.
Montas said that meetings with the Afghan authorities
have been held, including by the Secretary-General, and we have requested
more security forces to protect the UN. All 93 guest houses in Kabul have
been surveyed after the attack of 28 October in order to consolidate the
number of guest houses and reduce the risks. Some staff have been already
relocated to other safer guest houses, she said. The number of guest houses
being used will be significantly decreased.
She added that UN staff has not been evacuated from
Afghanistan, but staff who specifically came to support the elections are
leaving or have left.
Asked about budget expenses for additional security
costs, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations is analyzing risk
factors in a number of duty stations, not simply those in Afghanistan, and
is making requests about the budget accordingly.
Asked about recent remarks made by the
Secretary-General regarding the elections in Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman
noted that he called on the President to form an
inclusive Government and to deal with corruption.
SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS IN DISARMAMENT DRIVE IN SOUTH SUDAN
Significant progress is being made in the UN-backed
disarmament drive in south Sudan but much remains to be done still. That
assessment was made by the Special Representative of the Secretary General,
Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, in remarks to members of the Roundtable Partnership on
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.
Qazi said that several assembly sites for former
combatants have been set up and many more are planned. He added that other
areas of southern Sudan are being considered for an expansion of the
disarmament effort.
Qazi, however, noted that an enduring funding shortfall
at
UNICEF was threatening to upset recent gains in the demobilization of
child soldiers. The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
says that 15,000 former combatants have been now disarmed and demobilized.
Overall, the programme is aiming to demobilize and reintegrate into civilian
life some 180,000 members of the Sudanese forces and the South Sudan
People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
The Roundtable Partnership on Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration brings together UN and Sudanese officials,
as well as members of the international community.
W.F.P. DELIVERS
FOOD ASSISTANCE BY AIR TO SOUTH SUDAN
The World Food Programme (WFP)
is continuing air drops of food assistance into Southern Sudan in a fresh
effort to feed thousands of people cut off by current rains in areas hit by
conflict, high food prices and poor harvests because of drought.
The airdrops, which began last Thursday, will benefit
155,600 people in three of Southern Sudan’s 10 states and will continue for
two and a half months.
Many roads are in bad condition and cannot be used
during the April to December rainy season. Increased tribal fighting has
also blocked road and river access to some areas.
These are the first air drops by WFP into Southern
Sudan since 2007. Specially trained teams will be ready to collect the food
from the drop zone and organize distributions.
PHILIPPINES:
U.N. AIMS TO REACH 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY STORMS
In the
Philippines, the United Nations continues its efforts to assist recovery
in the aftermath of Typhoon Mirinae and a series of storms that battered the
archipelago, which was still in recovery mode following the effects of
Typhoons Ketsana and Parma.
The World Food Programme (WFP)
has revised its estimates of emergency and early recovery needs, and is
asking for an additional 44,000 metric tonnes of food to assist survivors of
the typhoons through March 2010.
WFP plans to reach 1.5 million affected people,
including assistance to 100,000 of the poorest farmers and their families,
who lost their entire rice harvest.
To reach the most vulnerable children between 23 months
and 6 years, WFP is preparing to establish a supplementary feeding programme
in coordination with the National Nutrition Council.
As of 2 November, the Philippines Flash Appeal 2009 is
funded at 35 percent, or $25 million, of the requested $74 million. A Flash
Appeal revision is ongoing.
U.N. ASSESSES
HUMANITARIAN NEED IN VIET NAM AFTER HEAVY RAINS
Tropical Storm Mirinae also affected parts of
Viet Nam, bringing on heavy rains, particularly Binh Dinh province.
There was also a risk of floods, flashfloods and landslides in Quang Nam,
Ninh Thuan and Gia Lai provinces.
Initial reports from the UN Country Team suggest that
87 people have been killed, 74 people have been injured and 23 people gone
missing after Tropical Storm Mirinae. These are just preliminary figures,
which will be updated.
The United Nations Country Team remains in close
contact with the Government of Viet Nam concerning the humanitarian
situation and response.
DEPUTY
SECRETARY-GENERAL ENDS VISIT TO LEBANON, HEADS TO ETHIOPIA
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is in Addis
Ababa, where she arrived earlier today from Beirut. While in Lebanon on
Tuesday, she met with President Michel Sleiman and with regional
coordinators of UN programmes. She also addressed the meeting of the
Regional Coordination Mechanism.
In her remarks, she noted that the UN is setting up the
Global Impact Vulnerability Alert System (GIVAS) to provide real-time data
and analysis on how regional crises are affecting the poorest and most
vulnerable. She invited regional governments to work with the UN toward an
effective and efficient early warning system.
She also appealed to local and UN officials to remain
engaged in the Middle East efforts to meet the
Millennium Development Goals, which can be compromised by poor responses
to crises.
MEETING HELD IN
GALI ON INCIDENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE
The United Nations on Tuesday chaired the eighth
meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM). The
purpose of this mechanism is to bring together the Georgians, Abkhaz, and
Russians, as well as representatives from the UN and European Union, on a
periodic basis, to discuss security matters.
The Tuesday meeting took place in the town of Gali.
Among other things, the movement of the local population between the Gali
and Zugdidi districts, including by public transport, was discussed.
Participants exchanged views and information on crossing procedures and
requirements. They agreed that civilians needing medical assistance should
be given unhindered passage for treatment.
The next meeting, also to be held in Gali, will take
place on 17 November.
U.N. LAUNCHES
NEW POST-CONFLICT EMPLOYMENT POLICY
A new policy for sustainable employment in
post-conflict situations is being
launched today in Geneva.
The United Nations Policy for Post-Conflict Employment
Creation, Income Generation and Reintegration aims to contribute to lasting
peace in volatile post-conflict settings, through gainful employment and
steady incomes.
It follows a three-year consultation and drafting
process, led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The policy will be implemented in five initial countries emerging from
conflict: Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste.
HEAD OF U.N.D.P.
DISCUSSES MDGs, CLIMATE CHANGE DURING VISIT TO CHILE
UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Administrator Helen Clark today addressed the UN’s Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean, in Santiago, Chile.
She said that persistent gender inequality worldwide is
hampering efforts to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals. She also stressed the need to address
development and climate issues together.
Clark
met Tuesday with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Santiago, where
the two discussed the upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen in December. They
also spoke about the progress that Chile and other Latin American countries
are making towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS:
Asked about the involvement of people of faith in UN work, the Spokeswoman said
that the Secretary-General spoke at Windsor Castle on Tuesday because he
believes that it is important to be in touch with faith-based organizations on
crucial issues like climate change. He will continue to reach out to them, as
well as to other non-governmental organizations.
POLITICAL COMMITMENT NEEDED IN COPENHAGEN:
Asked whether the Secretary-General no longer expects
an agreement on climate change in Copenhagen, the Spokeswoman said that the
United Nations remains hopeful about progress on some key issues at the
Copenhagen meeting and will continue to press for that. “A lot can be achieved
in Copenhagen,” she said. She added that, if a legally-binding agreement cannot
be obtained in time for that meeting, it is important to reach a strong
political commitment in Copenhagen.
SCREENING OF DOCUMENTARY “HOME”: On Thursday at 6:00
pm, in Conference room 4, there will be a special screening of HOME, a
documentary film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the filmmaker known for his "Earth
From Above" books. HOME, which shows spectacular aerial views from more than 50
countries, highlights the diversity of life on Earth and how humans are
threatening the ecological balance of the planet.
NO NOON BRIEFING ON 20
NOVEMBER: The Spokeswoman, in response to
a question, said that her staff would move offices, in accordance with the
Capital Master Plan, on 20 November, and would not hold a press briefing that
day.
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