ARCHIVES
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON
FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2011
MIDDLE EAST QUARTET
FULLY SUPPORTS U.S. PRESIDENT’S VISION FOR ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE
- The following statement was issued by
the Middle
East Quartet (the United Nations, the Russian Federation, the United
States, and the European Union):
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- The Members of the Quartet are in full
agreement about the urgent need to resolve the conflict between Israel
and the Palestinians. To that effect, the Quartet expressed its strong
support for the vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace outlined by U.S.
President Barack Obama
on May 19, 2011. The Quartet agrees
that moving forward on the basis of territory and security provides a
foundation for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a final resolution of the
conflict through serious and substantive negotiations and mutual agreement
on all core issues.
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- The Quartet reiterates its strong appeal
to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct
bilateral negotiations without delay or preconditions. The Quartet further recommits itself to
its previous statements and principles.
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON LEADERS OF MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH
AFRICA TO CHOOSE REFORM AND DIALOGUE
- In a statement issued
on Thursday night, the Secretary-General welcomed President Barack Obama's important
speech on the historic developments taking place in the Middle East and North Africa.
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- The
Secretary-General has consistently expressed his support for the legitimate
aspirations of the people in the region for greater freedom, dignity and a
better life.
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- The
Secretary-General continues to call on the leaders throughout the region
to reject the use of force, violence and repression, and to choose the
path of comprehensive reform and inclusive dialogue. He believes it is the
people of the region who will lead the way, and he pledges the full assistance
of the United Nations.
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- On
the Middle East Peace Process, the Secretary-General believes that
President Obama has offered important ideas
which could help the peace talks move forward, consistent with
international positions and responding to the legitimate core concerns of
both parties.
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- He
encourages Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas
to respond as statesmen and peacemakers to this important speech. He hopes
all sides will demonstrate a renewed determination to achieve a peace
agreement that provides for two States living side-by-side in dignity,
security and peace.
SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUNCHES STUDY ON IMPLICATIONS OF FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR ACCIDENT
- This
morning, the Secretary-General convened a
video-conference to formally launch a UN system-wide study on the
implications of the Fukushima
accident. The report will be
prepared for the High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Safety and Security, to be
held on 22 September during the Sixty Sixth Session of the UN General Assembly.
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- In
producing this study, it is the Secretary-General’s intention to highlight
the need to strengthen the capacity of the relevant international
organizations, particularly the International Atomic
Energy Agency, recognizing its central role.
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- The
Secretary-General has made clear that the time has come for a global
rethink on nuclear energy and safety issues. While acknowledging that each
State has the right to define its national energy policy, our common
objective is to deepen our understanding of the entire range of issues
relating to development of nuclear energy and its safety transcending
national borders. Going forward,
the effects of a nuclear plant disaster – from prevention to clean-up –
should be more fully reflected in the assessment of how to ensure the
peaceful uses of nuclear energy and maximum safety.
SUDAN: U.N. MISSION CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST ITS CONVOY IN
ABYEI
- The UN Mission in Sudan
(UNMIS) strongly condemns an attack
which took place against a UN convoy Thursday evening in Abyei. The incident took place in Dokura,
an area controlled by the Southern Sudan Police Services (SSPS),
approximately 10 kilometers north of the town of
Abyei.
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- At the time of the
attack, the convoy was transporting 200 troops of the Joint Integrated
Units of the Sudan Armed Forces to their designated post, as part of the
deployment plan of the Kadugli Agreements, which
had been agreed to by all parties.
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- This act constitutes a
serious breach of previous agreements made between the two parties. It is
also a criminal attack against the United Nations. The UN Mission in Sudan
calls on the parties to immediately investigate the incident and take
appropriate action against the perpetrators of this deliberate attack. It
also reminds the parties of their responsibility to protect civilians in
the area.
SPECIAL ADVISER ON MYANMAR
BRIEFED SECURITY COUNCIL ON RECENT VISIT
- Asked about the
Special Adviser to Myanmar’s
trip to that country, the Spokesperson said that Vijay Nambiar
conveyed to the Security Council on
Thursday the gist of his conversations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, Myanmar's
other political opposition groups, ethnic nationality groups and
representatives of civil society in Myanmar.
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- In this context,
Mr. Nambiar referred to the significance of, and
challenges posed by, the institutional changes underway in Myanmar as
outlined in the reform policy agenda presented by President Thein Sein at the end of
March as well as the reactions of the country’s key stakeholders in this
regard.
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- The Spokesperson
noted the issue of prisoners, and said that, while the initial sentence
reductions and resulting release of some political prisoners is a small
step in the right direction, it has been short of expectation and is
insufficient. During the visit, the United Nations reiterated its call for
the urgent release of all political prisoners.
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- Mr. Nambiar said the real test would be whether – or how
quickly – the new climate can translate in a change in content. It would
be important to see how the authorities concretely held up to their own
commitments and responded to the UN’s various suggestions over the next
months.
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- Asked
about a full-time UN envoy for Myanmar, the Spokesperson said
that the Secretary-General has previously taken note of that proposal and will look at it
in due course.
U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY HELPING SYRIANS FLEEING TO LEBANON
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is taking part in
efforts to help thousands of Syrians who have fled violence in their
country and escaped to the border areas of Wadi Khaled and Tall Bire in
northern Lebanon.
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- Local leaders say some 1,400 people
have crossed into these two regions over the past week from Tall Kalakh in Syria, in addition to those
that have crossed since late April. Local authorities estimate that around
4,000 Syrians have crossed to Lebanon recently. The exact
numbers are difficult to confirm.
U.N. LAUNCHES FIRST
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
- The first global UN
inter-agency initiative to promote and protect the rights of indigenous
peoples was launched today on the occasion of the 10th Session of the
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
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- The United Nations-Indigenous
Peoples’ Partnership (UNIPP) is a commitment to the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and calls for its full realization through
the mobilization of financial cooperation and technical assistance.
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- UNIPP brings together the
experience and expertise of the International Labour
Organization (ILO),
the UN Development Programme (UNDP),
the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
NEW U.N.-TRAINED
GRADUATES JOINT HAITIAN NATIONAL POLICE
- A graduation ceremony was held
this morning at the Police Academy in Port-au-Prince,
Haiti,
for 877 new Haitian police officers -- 817 men and 60 women -- who received
their degrees following a 7-month training programme by the United
Nations Police (UNPOL). These officers will soon be deployed to various
units of the Haitian National Police throughout the country as
administrative officers, prison guards, coast guards and narcotics
enforcement officers.
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- At the request of the Haitian National
Police, these new police officers will receive mentoring from UN police
for a further 12 months on the ground.
UNITED NATIONS ISSUES TRAVEL DOCUMENTS TO OFFICIALS OF SPECIALIZED
AGENCIES
- Asked
about the selection of the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
the Spokesperson said that process involves the member States of the IMF and
does not involve the United Nations.
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- Asked
about the laissez-passer (UNLP) issued to Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the
Spokesperson said that the UNLP is a travel document which identifies the
bearer as an official of the United Nations. The United Nations also
issues Laissez-Passers to officials of the Specialized Agencies, such as
the IMF, and certain other Organizations pursuant to agreements concluded
with those Organizations.
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- These
Laissez-Passers are modified to refer to the appropriate agreements relating
to the status of the relevant Organization and its officials, Nesirky added.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL
ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE ON KOSOVO: Asked about dialogue concerning Kosovo, the
Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General encourages dialogue between the
concerned parties. The UN Mission in
Kosovo has been following that process.
UNITED NATIONS HAS
CALLED FOR CEASE-FIRE AND POLITICAL PROCESS IN LIBYA:
Asked about necessary steps in Libya,
the Spokesperson said that there needs to be an immediate and verifiable
cease-fire in Libya,
access for humanitarian groups and a political process.
GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA IS WELCOME TO RESPOND TO REPORT:
Asked about the report
of the Panel of Experts concerning Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said
that the Secretary-General stands by the report. The Government of Sri Lanka is
welcome to provide its official response to the report. He noted that a key
recommendation of the report was for Sri Lanka to pursue accountability
in a verifiable way. Any subsequent UN inquiry would require Sri Lanka’s consent or a mandate
from an intergovernmental body.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
21 - 27 MAY 2011
Saturday, 21 May
Today is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue
and Development.
Today, the Secretary-General will
be in Côte d’Ivoire,
where he will attend Alassane Ouattara’s
inauguration and meet with him in Yamoussoukro.
Sunday, 22 May
Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity.
Today, the Secretary-General will
travel to Abidjan,
where he will meet with the peacekeepers and staff of the UN Mission there. He
will also visit a camp for internally displaced people.
Monday, 23 May
Today, the Secretary-General is in Nigeria, where he will visit a hospital and a primary health care
centre to see major improvements underway. He will meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Cabinet of Nigeria.
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At 1:15 p.m., in Conference Room 1 of the North Lawn
Building (NLB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will host a
conference with the theme, “Human Development and Indigenous Peoples:
indicators to measure multi-dimensional poverty and experiences from Latin America.”
At 1:15 p.m., in Conference Room B (NLB), UNDP will host a conference on “Land
Rights and Food Security, UNDP Equator Initiative.”
Tuesday, 24 May
Today, the Global Runway Safety Symposium begins in Montreal, Canada.
It is organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and
ends 26 May.
At 12:00 p.m., in the Dag
Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will be the guest at the
Noon Briefing.
Wednesday, 25 May
Today, the Secretary-General is in
Ethiopia,
where he will visit a rural health extension programme, which trains young
women to serve their communities’ health needs, seen as a model for the
continent. In addition, he will meet with women and children in their homes and
at a health post and hospital, to witness the accomplishments and understand
the challenges to achieving the Every Woman, Every Child goals.
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Today is the start of the Week of Solidarity with the
Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories. It ends on 31 May.
Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Navi Pillay, will wrap up
her first official visit to Australia.
Today, the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to
the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the
Carpathians (COP3) begins in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Thursday, 26 May
Today, the Security Council mission will return to New York from a three-country visit to Ethiopia, Sudan
and Kenya.
Today, the Secretary-General will
attend the Group of 8 (G8) Summit in Deauville, France, where he will meet with
leaders of the G8 and continue to push for a sustained focus on women’s and
children’s health as a cornerstone of the development agenda.
Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migiro will open the
multimedia exhibit "Law. Order.Peace." in
the Visitors’ Lobby at 17:45.
Friday, 27 May
Today, the United Nations Headquarters is observing the International
Day of UN Peacekeepers.
At 9:15 am, the Deputy Secretary-General will hold a wreath-laying
ceremony in the Visitors Lobby in front of the Chagall window to honour peacekeepers
who lost their lives in the service of peace.
At 10:00 a.m., the Deputy Secretary-General will attend the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Ceremony will be held in the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber (NLB). The ceremony will be
attended by the Deputy Secretary-General.
At 12:00 p.m., Under-Secretaries-General Alain Le Roy and Susanna Malcorra will be the guests at the noon briefing.
At 2pm,
there will be a medal parade to honour the military and police officers serving
in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). It will take place outside the Visitors’
Entrance near the UN flagpole or, if inclement weather, at the Chinese
Lounge.
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY
10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
