Noon briefing of 8 June 2011

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING

BY MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE 2011

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONVENES MEETING OF GROUP OF FRIENDS ON MYANMAR; ASSERTS COMMITMENT TO LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT

• This morning, the Secretary-General convened the first meeting of his Group of Friends on Myanmar since the establishment of a new Government in Naypyitaw. The Group heard from his Special Adviser, following his recent visit to that country.
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• Given Myanmar’s decades-long conflict and political deadlock, this meeting took place against a backdrop of significant recent developments that could affect the country’s future direction and standing regionally and globally.
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• It is clear that Myanmar today continues to face the same challenges it has faced for too long: the country’s human rights, political, social, economic and humanitarian problems are serious, deep-seated and long-standing.
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• Equally clear, however, is the desire of the United Nations to see Myanmar succeed in addressing those challenges. President Thein Sein’s stated recognition of the need to do so in a way that strengthens national unity, including through wide-ranging reforms, is welcome.
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• Whether the new Government has the political will, capacity and support to live up to its commitments and promises is yet to be seen. In order for Myanmar to move forward, all citizens should be allowed to participate in building their country’s future.
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• Releasing all political prisoners and reaching out as broadly as possible through dialogue to all those who have a contribution to make – including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political forces inside and outside Parliament – will be key to ensuring that any reforms enjoy broad support. There is no time to waste.
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• Collectively too, the international community has a shared responsibility towards the people of Myanmar. Enabling the current process to result in a successful transition requires us to follow events closely but also to recognize efforts and maximize opportunities for meaningful change. That is why, with the cooperation of the new Government and the continued support of Member States, the Secretary-General is personally committed to the United Nations’ long-term engagement with Myanmar in the political, humanitarian and development areas, all of which are important to advance durable peace and democracy.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS WE HAVE A CHANCE TO END AIDS EPIDEMIC ONCE AND FOR ALL

• The Secretary-General addressed the General Assembly’s meeting on HIV/AIDS this morning. He said that, while thirty years ago, AIDS was terrifying, deadly and spreading fast, we have a chance today to end this epidemic once and for all.
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• The Secretary-General emphasized that, from its birth, the campaign against AIDS was much more than a battle against disease. It was a cry for human rights. It was a call for gender equality. It was a fight to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. And it was a demand for the equal treatment of all people.
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• He said that, if we are to relegate AIDS to the history books, we must be bold. That means facing sensitive issues, including men who have sex with men, drug users and the sex trade.
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• He also pointed to the need for greater global solidarity, for lower costs and better programmes, for accountability, for the promotion of the health, human rights, security and dignity of women and girls, and for the start of a “prevention revolution”.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT COLOMBIA, ARGENTINA, URUGUAY AND BRAZIL

• The Secretary-General will depart New York on Friday morning, 10 June, for a four-country trip that will take him to Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
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• In Colombia, he will meet with President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, as well as with Ms. Maria Emma Mejia, the Secretary-General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and representatives of civil society.
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• He will visit the municipality of Soacha and UN-supported projects in Cartagena. He will also witness the signing into law of the landmark Victims' Rights and Land Restitution Bill and take part in an event on achievements and challenges in Colombia as jointly identified by the Government and the UN System.
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• The Secretary-General is also scheduled to take a helicopter flight over flooded areas and meet with those affected.
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• He will then travel to Argentina, where he will meet with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Foreign Minister Héctor Marcos Timerman and civil society representatives.
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• The Secretary-General will visit the International Center for the Promotion of Human Rights, as well as the Joint Training Center for Peacekeeping Operations. He will also give a public address at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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• In Uruguay, the Secretary-General will visit the National School for Peacekeeping Operations, where he will meet troops who have participated in peacekeeping missions, and the National Center for Social Rehabilitation, a UN system joint programme which is part of the “Delivering as One” pilot initiative in the field of development.
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• While in Uruguay, the Secretary-General will also meet with President José Mujica, Vice President Danilo Astori, and Foreign Minister Luis Almagro and address the country’s Parliament.
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• The last stop on his trip is Brazil, where he will hold talks with President Dilma Rousseff, Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as other senior officials.
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• He will also meet with Minister of Social Development Teresa Campelo and Minister of Environment Izabella Teixeira as well as representatives of civil society institutions.
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• He will return to New York on 18 June.

LIBYA: U.N. SPECIAL ENVOYS CONTINUES CONTACTS FOR WAY FORWARD ON POLITICAL SOLUTION

• The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya, Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib, is continuing his contacts with the principal Libyan actors on the way forward in the search for a political solution.
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• On Tuesday, he met with the authorities in Tripoli, including the Prime Minister and the Chair of the People's Congress, among others. He urged them to share their views with the United Nations regarding a transitional period that will allow for a political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people.
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• Today, in Benghazi, Mr. Al Khatib discussed those same issues with the Transitional National Council Chairman, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. The objective is to determine how best to help the Libyan Parties agree on a transition linked to a political process that would end the current fighting in the country.
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• The Special Envoy will attend the 9 June meeting of the International Contact Group for Libya in Abu Dhabi, along with the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe.
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• The Special Envoy is expected in New York next week for consultations.
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• Asked about UN efforts in Libya, the Spokesperson added that Mr. al-Khatib has been mediating with the parties and will go on to the Contact Group meeting.

UNITED NATIONS REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE IN YEMEN

• Asked about the health of the President of Yemen, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations has no independent information about that. He noted that President Saleh’s absence from Yemen does change the situation there, and added that the United Nations is closely monitoring developments.
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• Asked about concerns in Yemen, the Spokesperson noted concerns about the violence, since the cease-fire did not hold.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

• Asked about a reported French initiative on the Middle East, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General and the French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppé, met on Tuesday and agreed that the peace process was in urgent need of revitalization. They exchanged views about recent discussions regarding next steps in the peace process and recognized the important role of the Quartet.
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• Nesirky added that the Quartet remains an important mechanism for key parties dealing with the Middle East to exchange views and coordinate efforts.
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• He noted that the Secretary-General met last week in Rome with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and also with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON DARFUR BY I.C.C. PROSECUTOR

• Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, briefed the Security Council this morning on his investigations into the situation in Darfur. Council members followed the open meeting with Mr Moreno Ocampo with a private meeting on the same subject.
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• This afternoon, the Security Council will hold consultations on the Middle East. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco will brief Council members on recent developments in Syria.

SUDAN: U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT IMPACT OF DETERIORATING SITUATION ON CIVILIANS IN SOUTH KORDOFAN

• The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Georg Charpentier, has expressed concern about the impact of the deteriorating security situation on the civilian populations of Southern Kordofan.
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• The outbreak of heavy fighting in Kadugli and in some rural villages in Southern Kordofan State has led to the displacement of the civilian population. An estimated 7,000 people have sought refuge near the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) base in Kadugli.
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• The Humanitarian Coordinator has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Southern Kordofan and reiterates the responsibility of national authorities to protect civilian populations. Mr. Charpentier urges all parties to allow humanitarian organizations to assess the situation and provide necessary emergency relief.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GOVERNMENTS TO PROTECT MARINE ENVIRONMENT ON WORLD OCEANS DAY

• The Secretary-General, in a message, noted that World Oceans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of oceans to humankind’s sustainable development. It is also a time to recognize the many severe challenges related to oceans. These range from depleted fishery resources, the impacts of climate change and the deterioration of the marine environment to maritime safety and security, among others.
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• He urged governments and all sectors of society to embrace our individual and collective responsibility to protect the marine environment and manage its resources in a sustainable manner for present and future generations.

*** The guest at the noon briefing today was Professor David Freestone, Lobingier Visiting Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at George Washington University. He briefed on the occasion of World Oceans Day.