SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSED
NEED FOR LEADERS TO LISTEN TO VOICES OF THE
PEOPLE

• In
  response to questions on recent protests in
  Iran and Bahrain, the Spokesperson noted
  that the Secretary-General had repeatedly
  said that leaders in the region, and
  elsewhere in the world, must listen
  attentively to the voices of the people. He
  added that freedom of expression, freedom of
  assembly and of association as well as
  freedom of speech were rights that needed to
  be guaranteed. Nesirky also said that
  protests, when they take place, should be
  peaceful and violence should be avoided.
  

SECRETARY-GENERAL SPOKE
OUT VERY STRONGLY ON NEED FOR PRESS FREEDOM

• 
  Asked about the Secretary-General’s
  commitment to freedom of the press, the
  Spokesperson said that Secretary-General had
  consistently spoken out about the importance
  of press freedom, both in public settings
  and behind the scenes. He noted that it was
  very often the behind the scenes work that
  had helped to secure the release of
  journalists.

• 
  Nesirky added that the Secretary-General had
  spoken out very strongly on the need for
  press freedom, including recently concerning
  the incidents in Egypt.

• He
  noted that the United Nations, and
  particularly
  
  UNESCO which has a mandate to look at
  the freedom of the media, liaised closely
  with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
  

• The
  Spokesperson also said that freedom of
  information and access to information were
  fundamental rights and that freedom of the
  media was an essential part of any
  democracy.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY
HELPING MANAGE TUNISIANS INFLUX IN ITALY

• The
  UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and its partners
  are in Lampedusa and several locations in
  southern Italy
  
  working with local authorities to manage
  the recent influx of Tunisians.

• 
  UNHCR says that according to the Italian
  Government more than 5,200 people have
  arrived since mid-January, with the vast
  majority –more than 4,000-- having arrived
  during the past few days.

• The
  agency adds that the large number of people
  arriving over such a short period has put
  significant pressure on the small island of
  Lampedusa. A reception centre designed for
  800 people is currently holding more than
  2,000.  And following a number of flights to
  relieve congestion in Lampedusa, other
  reception centres in Italy are also reaching
  capacity.

• 
  
  UNHCR says that from its discussions
  with new arrivals, it is clear that while
  most are coming in search of employment,
  others are citing fear of violence and a
  breakdown of law and order in their home
  regions. The agency welcomes the Italian
  Government’s commitment to providing access
  to asylum procedures for those who are
  seeking international protection and urges
  solidarity with Italy as it faces this new
  chapter of mixed migration.

U.N. ASSISTS DISPLACED IN
WESTERN COTE D’IVOIRE AND IVORIAN REFUGEES IN
LIBERIA

• In
  western Côte d’Ivoire, the UNHCR started
  today on clearing ground for a new camp for
  displaced people. So far, the agency has
  registered 38,600 uprooted individuals. 
  

• 
  UNHCR is also looking for additional sites
  to accommodate more internally displaced
  persons – as many of the displaced had been
  surviving so far on the generosity of local
  families and charities.

• The
  agency also says that the continued tensions
  are driving some families to move closer to
  the border with Liberia while others were
  crossing the border to seek asylum. 
  
  UNHCR has already registered more than
  36,000 arrivals there. 

• The
  agency says is preparing for up to 100,000
  refugees in Liberia.

• 
  
  UNICEF adds that the vast majority – 85%
  -- of the refugees in Liberia are children
  and women. The Children’s Fund is concerned
  about severe food shortages, inadequate
  shelter and the threat of disease outbreaks.
  

• In
  response to a measles outbreak that had
  killed five Liberian children in Nimba
  County, where 97% of the refugees were
  hosted, UNICEF is supporting a health
  campaign for children between the ages of
  six months and 16 years old. UNICEF has also
  distributed nutrition, health and HIV/AIDS
  medication to public health centers and
  partners.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WRAPS UP
VISIT TO PERU

• The
  Secretary-General met with President Alan
  Garcia of Peru in Lima today.

• 
  Speaking at a joint press
  
  conference with the President afterward,
  the Secretary-General said that Peru has
  seen considerable progress during the past
  decade in consolidating democracy and
  attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

• The
  challenge now, he said, is to spread these
  gains equally to all of the country's most
  vulnerable people, particularly in rural
  areas, where the majority of indigenous
  peoples live.

• This
  afternoon, the Secretary-General will speak
  at the National University of San Marcos. He
  will be talking about building a world that
  is more sustainable and equitable.

• The
  Secretary-General will be back in New York
  tomorrow morning.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED BY O.S.C.E. CHAIRMAN:
The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
Audronius Azubalis, who is also the Foreign
Minister of Lithuania, briefed the

Security Council this morning.

GAZA
FLOTILLA INQUIRY PANEL AWARE OF NEED TO COMPLETE
WORK SOON AND IN BEST POSSIBLE WAY:
Asked about the deadline for the final report by
the Panel of Inquiry into the Gaza flotilla
incident, the Spokesperson noted the importance
of receiving the reports of both Turkey and
Israel. He noted that a subsequent report was
submitted by Turkey just last week and that the
Panel members would have to take this into
account. He said that the Panel members were
fully aware of the need to complete their work
as soon as possible but also of the need to do
their work in the best possible way.