HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Thursday, December 3, 2009
BAN KI-MOON
CONDEMNS SUICIDE ATTACK IN MOGADISHU
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns today’s suicide
attack at a graduation ceremony of medical students in Mogadishu.
Reports indicate that at least 15 Somalis have lost
their lives, among them three Cabinet ministers of the Transitional Federal
Government, graduating students and journalists reporting on what should
have been an event filled with hope for Somalia. Another government
minister has been severely wounded in this attack. The Secretary-General
sends his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims as well as to
the government and the people of Somalia.
This attack could only strengthen the determination of
the Somali government and people and their partners to persist in their
efforts to fight terrorism. It underlines how urgent it has become for the
international community to accelerate its delivery of pledged support to
Somali security institutions as well as to the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM).
Meanwhile, the United Nations, the African Union
Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, the European Union, the
InterGovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States,
Norway and the United States also issued a joint statement in Nairobi today.
They condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly suicide bombing carried
out which killed Transitional Federal Government officials, students,
journalists and other civilians in Mogadishu.
At UN headquarters. the
Security Council has scheduled consultations at 3:00 this afternoon, to
discuss the latest developments in Somalia.
U.N. AND
HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES SEEK $689 MILLIONS FOR SOMALIA
A Humanitarian Appeal for Somalia was
launched today in Nairobi by the United Nations Humanitarian and
Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden.
The 2010 appeal seeks an estimated $689 million for 174
projects from 14 UN agencies and 57 international and national
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to he most urgent
humanitarian needs in Somalia.
The appeal focuses on four strategic priorities:
providing life-saving humanitarian services; protecting and increasing the
social economic and environmental assets; providing vulnerable populations
with a minimum package of basic services; and strengthening the protective
environment for vulnerable populations particularly women and the youth.
Mr. Bowden reiterated that, "early funding will be
absolutely crucial to provide humanitarian assistance in time" and added
that "without strong donor commitment from the first week of 2010
humanitarian assistance for nearly 3.6 million Somalis will be delayed and
lives will be at greater risk."
SECURITY
COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SOMALIA, HEARS UPDATES ON U.N. TRIBUNALS
The
Security Council has scheduled consultations at 3:00 this afternoon, to
discuss the latest developments in Somalia.
The Security Council this morning met to hear the
latest update from the Presidents and the prosecutors of the two
international tribunals on their efforts to wrap up those bodies’ work.
Serge Brammertz, the Prosecutor for the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, noted the
progress of the trial of Radovan Karadzic, and added that the arrest of
Ratko Mladic remains a priority for his office. And Hassan Jallow, the
Prosecutor for the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, said that he anticipates
that by the end of 2010, the trial of all the current detainees, except for
two recently arrested suspects, will have concluded.
COMING WEEKS
AND MONTHS WILL BE DECISIVE FOR CYPRUS
The
report of the Secretary-General on his mission of good offices in Cyprus
is out on the racks.
In it, the Secretary-General says that the parties are
making solid progress, and that he is “cautiously optimistic” that a
solution can be achieved. He adds that, on the basis of what has been
accomplished so far, the international community expects the talks to
continue to make substantial progress in a timely fashion.
The Secretary-General urges the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot leaders to maintain their good personal and working
relationship, which is vital for the success of the talks. He says the
coming weeks and months will be decisive, as important decisions will have
to be made. This is a unique opportunity that must be seized by both sides,
he adds.
Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias
and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met today under UN auspices in
Nicosia.
In his
remarks to the press after the meeting, the Secretary-General’s Special
Adviser non Cyprus, Alexander Downer, said that the leaders discussed the
question of citizenship, aliens, immigration and asylum. They are expected
to meet again next Wednesday, 9 December.
BURUNDI: GAINS
MUST BE CONSOLIDATED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER 2010 ELECTIONS
The Secretary-General’s latest
report on the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) is out
today.
In it, the Secretary-General says that much has been
achieved in Burundi in a short time but that the situation remains fragile.
He adds that the coming year will be crucial for Burundi, as the country
must be assisted to ensure that the gains achieved so far are consolidated
before, during and after the 2010 elections.
In light of this, the Secretary-General recommends that
the mandate of the Office in the country be renewed for an additional year
when it expires on 31 December 2009.
IRAQ: U.N.
ENVOY SAYS 27 FEBRUARY FEASIBLE OPTION FOR ELECTIONS
Ad Melkert, the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, responded positively in
a statement yesterday to multiple suggestions to assist in finding solutions
for the few outstanding questions concerning Iraq’s Election Law. He has
been using his good offices during his various consultations with all
political leaders in order to assist in reaching an agreement.
The UN Assistance Mission for
Iraq (UNAMI)
strongly supports the efforts undertaken to clarify voting for Iraqis
abroad, as well as the inclusion in the law of the distribution of seats
among the governorates. UNAMI says that 27 February 2010 is a feasible
option for the election date, for practical and constitutional reasons.
MEASLES DEATHS
WORLDWIDE DROP BY 78%
Measles deaths worldwide have fallen by 78% between
2000 and 2008—but a resurgence is likely if vaccination efforts are not
sustained.
That’s according to the Measles initiative, a
partnership launched in 2001 that includes
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director-General said that measles
was a highly contagious disease that can quickly take advantage of any lapse
in effort. Immunization experts fear that the combined effect of decreased
political and financial commitment could result in an estimated 1.7 million
measles-related deaths between 2010-13.
DOUBLING
INVESTMENTS IN FAMILY PLANNING CAN CUT MATERNAL DEATHS BY HALF
A new report by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA)
says that maternal deaths in developing countries could be slashed by
70% and newborn deaths cut nearly in half if the world doubled investment in
family planning and pregnancy-related care.
Currently, more than half a million maternal deaths and
3.5 million newborn deaths, many of them easily preventable, occur each year
in developing countries.
SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS DISABLED SHOULD BE AT HEART OF DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
Today is the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities. The theme this year is “making the Millennium Development
Goals disability-inclusive.”
In a
message, the Secretary-General says that persons with disabilities are
often among the poorest and most excluded members of society. He stresses
that putting persons with disabilities and their communities at the heart of
development efforts is a proven way to advance the agenda.
The Secretary-General also says that the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in
2008, is one of the most important tools to advance this cause. We must
continue to work for its implementation and its universality, he adds.
STEVIE WONDER
INDUCTED AS U.N. MESSENGER OF PEACE
This morning, the Secretary-General
introduced the singer Stevie Wonder as the newly-designated UN Messenger
of Peace.
He acknowledged Stevie Wonder’s role as a music star
but also as a great humanitarian and activist and said the UN looked forward
to working with him to advance the rights and well-being of persons with
disabilities.
And on another note, the Secretary-General also asked
Stevie Wonder to consider a special performance of his song “Signed, sealed,
delivered” to inspire the negotiators of the Copenhagen Climate Change
Conference.
Asked about a fire alarm
that went off in the conference room where Wonder and the Secretary-General
were speaking, the Spokeswoman said that the alarm was triggered by smoke
generated by construction work on the second basement level. There was no
damage reported, and no fire, she added. The meeting was wrapped up, and the
participants went on to a press briefing in a different room.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MARK 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
CONVENTION FOR WOMEN
The Secretary-General, at 3:00 this afternoon will
celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women, known as the
CEDAW Convention.
He is to say that the Convention will underpin the work
of the new United Nations gender equality entity that the General Assembly
has decided to establish. The Secretary-General urges Member States to get
this new entity up and running quickly.
He also will urge the entire UN system to support the
full implementation of the Convention and will call on those few countries
that have not ratified the Convention to do so.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNITED NATIONS
IS ENGAGED IN RESOLVING CASE OF SAHARAWI ACTIVIST:
Asked about a request by the Spanish Government for the Secretary-General to
deal with the case of Saharawi activist Aminatou Haidar, the Spokeswoman
recalled that the Secretary-General has already stated his concerns about the
detention of Aminatou Haidar. The United Nations, she said, is engaged in
finding a solution and is working with Morocco and other parties to promote a
speedy resolution.
BAN KI-MOON IS
WILL PUSH TO SEAL A DEAL AT COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE:
Asked about attendance at the Copenhagen conference on climate change, the
Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General on Tuesday pointed out that
attendance by heads of government was already in excess of 90. The
Secretary-General, she said, plans to attend the conference and push for the
sealing of a deal on climate change.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CONTINUE GOOD OFFICES FOR MYANMAR:
Asked about the replacement of Ibrahim Gambari as the Special Adviser dealing
with Myanmar, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General would continue his
good offices role on Myanmar and would seek a replacement for Gambari if he is
confirmed to take up duties as the Joint AU-UN Special Representative for
Darfur.
SECRETARY-GENERAL’S PRESS CONFERENCE SET FOR 14 DECEMBER:
Asked about the Secretary-General’s next press conference, the Spokeswoman said
it was scheduled for 14 December at 11:00 a.m.
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