Noon briefing of 2 May 2011

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS BIN LADEN’S DEATH IS WATERSHED MOMENT IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

• The Secretary-General, in remarks to reporters this morning, said that the death of Osama bin Laden is a watershed moment in our common global fight against terrorism. He said that the crimes of Al Qaeda touched most continents, bringing tragedy and loss of life to thousands of men, women and children.
  

• The Secretary-General said that the United Nations condemns in the strongest possible terms terrorism in all its forms, regardless of its purpose and wherever it is committed. This is a day to remember the victims and families of victims, here in the United States and everywhere in the world, he added.
  

• He noted that the General Assembly has adopted a global counter-terrorism strategy, and on the basis of that, we will continue to work together with Member States of the United Nations to completely eradicate global terrorism.
  

• Asked how Osama bin Laden’s death affects the peace process in Afghanistan, the Spokesperson said that the UN position has consistently been that there must be a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. Armed conflict will not ultimately resolve the political differences in the country.
  

• Nesirky said that the Taliban and other anti-Government elements have an opportunity to move toward dialogue. This opportunity should not be lost - the cost in lives lost and suffering of the Afghan people is too high already.
  

• As mandated by the Security Council, the United Nations will continue to support the Afghan-led peace efforts.
  

• He noted, in response to further questions, that the Secretary-General had commended the work and the determined and principled commitment of many people in the world who have been struggling to eradicate international terrorism.

LIBYA: U.N. OPERATIONS CONTINUE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL STAFF

• The 12 UN international staff in Tripoli have temporarily left the Libyan capital due to unrest in parts of the city.
  

• Humanitarian operations are continuing, with the redeployed staff from Tripoli supporting operations in western Libya from Tunisia.
  

• The UN is exploring ways to re-enter the Libyan capital as soon as possible.
  

• As of Sunday, more than 12,000 people had been evacuated from Misrata. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) remains concerned about the deaths and injuries that continue to be reported from the fighting there.
  

• It also says that more than 665,000 people have now fled Libya.
  

• Asked what happened to the UN compound in Tripoli, the Spokesperson said it was ransacked and some vehicles were taken. No staff were hurt.
  

• Asked about Abdul Ilah al-Khatib, the Spokesperson said that Mr. Khatib is in New York and will brief the Security Council this week.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO TRAVEL TO BULGARIA, TURKEY AND SWITZERLAND

• On Wednesday, the Secretary-General will travel to Bulgaria for an official visit. While in Sofia, he will meet with the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, as well as with the Speaker and members of Parliament.
  

• The Secretary-General will address the “Sofia Platform,” a conference that will bring together politicians, non-governmental organizations, journalists and practitioners from Europe, the Middle East and the United States to look at the experience of Central and Eastern Europe since 1989 and the current changes in North Africa and the Middle East.
  

• The Secretary-General will also give an address to students and representatives of non-governmental organizations at the University of Sofia.
  

• The Secretary-General will then go to Istanbul, Turkey, to open the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs). He will also meet with the President and Prime Minister of Turkey as well as with several Heads of States and Government attending the conference.
  

• The world's 48 most economically vulnerable nations are making a bid for economic self sufficiency and big gains against poverty at the first major development conference of the new decade. The conference takes place at a critical juncture.
  

• While in Istanbul, the Secretary-General will also receive the 2011 Global Women's Leadership Award.
  

• Before coming back to New York, the Secretary-General will stop in Geneva, where he will open the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and launch the 2011 Global Assessment Report. The Secretary-General will deliver a keynote address at the Global Platform, whose theme this year is “Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow - Increase Investment in Local Action”. The Secretary-General has called for a round table discussion on strengthening preparedness for nuclear accidents on the opening day.
  

• In Geneva, he will also attend the opening session of the 2nd International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development.

U.N. SUDAN ENVOY SAYS SOUTHERN KORDOFAN ELECTIONS SHOULD LEAD TO INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT

• Haile Menkerios, the head of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said on Sunday that the elections in Southern Kordofan should not be a “make-or-break” process, but should lead to an inclusive government. Mr. Menkerios spoke to the press after meeting with two candidates for the governor’s position, saying that both candidates had pledged their commitment to this.
  

• Mr. Menkerios also met with the state security committee that is responsible for ensuring security for the election. He said that the army should play no role whatsoever in securing the elections.
  

• Asked about armed incidents in southern Sudan, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations was informed on Sunday by the Abyei authorities that a clash between unidentified armed men and the Abyei police took place in the vicinity of Todach (Abyei Area) between 16.00-17.00 hours.
  

• In reaction, UNMIS dispatched a patrol in the same evening to verify the information; however, it was stopped by a hostile crowd at Diffra Market.
  

• Today, Nesirky said, UNMIS dispatched a second patrol to the scene of the fighting and found 14 dead bodies (11 in Joint Integrated Unit uniform, and three in civilian clothes). Another Joint Military Team (JMT) was dispatched for further investigation.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL ATTENDS WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

• The Deputy Secretary-General is currently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to attend the second and final meeting of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health, chaired by President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada.
  

• The main deliverable of the Commission will be an accountability framework and recommendations, including a plan of action for taking forward the agreed recommendations.
  

• The Deputy Secretary-General will arrive back in New York on Wednesday.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHT CHIEF URGES AUTHORITIES TO HALT EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE IN UGANDA

• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Sunday urged the Ugandan authorities to halt the use of disproportionate force against protesters and the repeated ill-treatment of opposition politicians, which, she said, has clearly contributed to the rising unrest, as well as eight deaths and more than 250 people being hospitalized over the past three weeks."
  

• The High Commissioner said she was “appalled by the treatment of Dr. Kizza Besigye,” the leading opposition politician, who has been arrested four times in three weeks, was shot in the hand on 14 April, and reportedly still has not fully recovered his sight after being sprayed at point blank range with pepper spray on Thursday.
  

• According to information collected by Pillay’s office, since the “Walk to Work” protests began on 11 April 2011, the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defense Force have indiscriminately used teargas, pepper spray, and both rubber and live bullets against protesters, and even against individuals who were not involved in the protests.
  

• Pillay urged the Government to conduct thorough, prompt and impartial investigations into the human rights violations committed by the security forces.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS PROGRAMME OF WORK ON TUESDAY: France has assumed the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. The Security Council expects to discuss its programme of work on Tuesday, after which Ambassador Gerard Arraud will talk to reporters at 5:00 pm, to discuss the Council’s work over the coming month.

U.N. REITERATES SRI LANKA’S RIGHT OF RESPONSE TO REPORT: Asked about 1 May demonstrations in Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said it was everyone’s right to demonstrate peacefully. He recalled that the United Nations had offered Sri Lanka the right to respond to the Panel of Experts report, and to have its response published; that offer still stands.

U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT LACK OF ACCESS INTO AND OUT OF GAZA: Asked about Egypt’s announcement that it may open its borders to Gaza, the Spokesperson noted the UN’s concern about the lack of access into and out of Gaza for people and goods.