Noon briefing of 20 April 2011

AT CHERNOBYL VISIT, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM NUCLEAR TRAGEDIES

• The Secretary-General travelled to Chernobyl, along with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanokovych, and saw firsthand the situation there, 25 years after the nuclear crisis, becoming the first Secretary-General to visit Chernobyl. He told reporters that it was an extremely moving experience.
  

• He said that the recent Fukushima Dai-ichi power accident, together with the Chernobyl disaster, have provided a strong message and we have to learn lessons from these tragedies. We have to strengthen nuclear safety standards, both at national and international levels.
  

• The Secretary-General once more called for a top-to-bottom review of nuclear safety standards; efforts to strengthen the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear safety; a sharper focus on the relationship between natural disasters and nuclear energy; a review of the costs and benefits of nuclear energy; and a serious review of how we can strengthen nuclear safety and prevent nuclear terrorism.
  

• The Secretary-General, upon returning from Chernobyl, had a working luncheon with President Yanukovych, and later addressed an international scientific conference on nuclear safety. The Secretary-General recalled the 6,000 children whose health was seriously undermined by thyroid cancer and the six million people who continue to live in affected communities of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. On Thursday, he will travel to Russia.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON CHALLENGES AHEAD IN SUDAN

• Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Atul Khare briefed the Security Council this morning on the work of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
  

• He told the Council that the successful completion of the self-determination referendum was a momentous achievement which demonstrated how the UN’s peace and security work can be effective when supported by a unified and coordinated international community. But he warned that several challenges lie ahead, including rising tensions in the South following the referendum.
  

• Mr. Khare said that the situation in Abyei has remained volatile throughout the reporting period. The UN Mission in Sudan has responded through political facilitation and increased military presence, but has faced denial of access to its patrols in several conflict areas.
  

• Mr. Khare is also expected to brief the Security Council on the work of the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in an open meeting, followed by consultations, this afternoon. Also, starting at 3 p.m., the Security Council expects to hold a meeting to consider a draft resolution of the Sanctions Committee dealing with Resolution 1540, concerning non-proliferation.
  

• Asked about reports of violence in Southern Kordofan, the Spokesperson said that UNMIS had gone to the area and was trying to obtain more information.

LIBYA: U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF SAYS ATTACKS IN POPULATED AREAS COULD AMOUNT TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMES

• Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the reported use of cluster munitions and heavy weaponry by Libyan Government forces in their attempt to regain control of Misrata. In a statement today, she said that such attacks on densely populated urban areas, resulting in substantial civilian casualties, could amount to international crimes.
  

• She said that it is clear that the numbers of people who have died in Misrata are now substantial, and that the dead include women and children. And she added that there are also repeated reports of snipers deliberately targeting civilians in Misrata, as well as in other Libyan towns where street fighting has taken place.
  

• Ms. Pillay urged the Libyan authorities to halt the siege of Misrata and allow aid and medical care to reach the victims of the conflict. She also urged NATO forces to exercise the utmost caution and vigilance, so as not to kill civilians by mistake.
  

• Asked about reports that different groups would arm Libyan rebels and how that affects the sanctions on Libya, the Spokesperson said that was a matter for the Security Council Sanctions Committee on Libya to determine.
  

• Asked about offers to provide military support to humanitarian aid operations, Haq said that any military escorts for humanitarian convoys would need to be requested by the United Nations.

HEAD OF U.N. CHILDREN FUND CONCERNED OVER FATE OF CHILDREN CAUGHT IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA CONFLICTS

• Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of UNICEF, expressed his concern today about the effects of violence on children caught in escalating conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. He condemned the targeting of civilians by armed groups, and called on all parties to provide humanitarian aid workers with immediate access to all areas and children in need.
  

• Among other things, he noted that at least 20 children have been killed and countless others injured in the Libyan city of Misrata, while at least 26 children have been killed and more than 800 injured in Yemen since early February. In Syria, reports indicate that nine children were killed and many injured over the last few weeks.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON YEMEN: Asked about UN action on Yemen, the Spokesperson noted that the Security Council received briefings on the situation there in its Tuesday consultations from Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe and from Jamal Benomar, a senior UN official who had travelled to Yemen earlier this month.

SRI LANKA REPORT EXPECTED OUT THIS WEEK: In response to questions, the Spokesperson said that the report of the Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka would be released this week, once the Secretary-General’s senior advisers have completed their review of the report. It was hoped that a response by Sri Lanka’s Government would also be ready by that time.

SUMMARY OF GAZA REPORT WAS ISSUED IN 2009: Asked about discussions concerning the 2009 Board of Inquiry report on Gaza, the Spokesperson said that normal diplomatic consultations had taken place and that the cover letter and summary of that report had been issued as a document.