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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING

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

THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 2011

PROGRESS MADE IN BOLSTERING SECURITY IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, U.N. ENVOY SAYS

 

• Roger Meece, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), briefed the Security Council this morning on the latest developments in that country.
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• He said that there has been significant progress in recent years regarding the security in the east of the country, although there is still much to be done, including dealing with the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army in the northeast. He also noted the security challenges in the Kivus area, including the incomplete integration of combatants into the Congolese Army.
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• Mr. Meece emphasized the critical importance of the forthcoming elections, and he called on all parties to take the necessary steps to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful, democratic and successful manner.

 

LIBYA: U.N. ENVOY TO UPDATE SECURITY COUNCIL ON LATEST MEETINGS

 

• The Special Envoy for Libya, Abdul Ilah al-Khatib, attended the meeting of the International Contact Group for Libya in Abu Dhabi today, along with the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe.
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• Mr. al-Khatib is expected to brief the Security Council on his recent meetings, including in Tripoli and Benghazi, on Thursday afternoon via videoconference.

 

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS VIOLENT CRACKDOWN IN SYRIA

 

• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has condemned the Syrian authorities’ unrelenting violent crackdown on peaceful protestors across the country. In a statement today, she called on the Government to respond to her repeated requests to allow a fact-finding mission to visit Syria, as required by the Human Rights Council.
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• She expressed particular concern about reports of civilians fleeing the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour in the wake of recent threatening statements by Government officials. She said, “It is utterly deplorable for any government to attempt to bludgeon its population into submission, using tanks, artillery and snipers.”
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• Ms. Pillay noted reports that the number of people killed since the protests began in March has exceeded 1,100, with up to 10,000 or more detained. Regarding the proposed visit by a fact-finding team, she added that so far, her office has not received any official reply from Syria – either positive or negative. The High Commissioner added that this would not prevent her team from issuing a preliminary report on the situation in Syria to the Human Rights Council on 15 June.
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• The Secretary-General shares Ms. Pillay’s concern about developments in Syria.
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U.N. ENVOY SATISFIED BY SOMALI POLITICAL ACCORD

 

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, has expressed his satisfaction over the agreement signed by the President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and the Speaker of Parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.
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• Under the agreement, known as the Kampala Accord, the terms of both the Presidency and the Parliament have been extended for one year, while a new Prime Minister should be appointed within the next 30 days.
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• The Special Representative said it was a breakthrough in resolving the five-month-long political impasse in Mogadishu.
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• The Secretary-General spoke by telephone Wednesday afternoon with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to encourage his efforts to have the Somali leaders reach agreement on the Kampala Accord.

 

SITUATION IN SOUTHERN SUDAN TENSE, U.N. MISSION REPORTS

 

• Following several clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudanese Armed Forces in Southern Kordofan State, the situation remains extremely tense, according to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). While shooting and looting is still going on in Kadugli, the population has left the town in large numbers.
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• To date there is no confirmed number of people who have been displaced by the violence, but up to 3,000 people are now gathered near the Mission compound outside of Kadugli town.  The Mission had pre-positioned safe areas for nearly 1,500 people, and a humanitarian assessment will take place today to evaluate the needs of the displaced people.
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• UN peacekeepers are patrolling in Kadugli and the Mission has also reinforced its military presence with a Bangladeshi troop company from Juba.
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• Asked about Djibril Bassolé, the Spokesperson said that he had continued to serve as a mediator for Darfur, in a split role in recent weeks. That role is changing.

 

FIRST GLOBAL DISABILITY ESTIMATES IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES LAUNCHED

 

• The first World Report on Disability, produced jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank will be launched on Thursday.
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• The report reviews evidence about the situation of disabled people and includes the first global disability prevalence estimates since the 1970s. It also provides the best available scientific evidence to support policies and programmes that can improve the lives of people with disabilities. It will also support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS MET WITH ALL MEMBER STATES AS DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE ON TERM

 

• Asked about the Secretary-General’s meetings with regional groups of UN Member States, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General had met with groups representing all 192 Member States and had listened to their views. He reiterated that it is up to Member States to decide whether Ban Ki-moon should serve another term as Secretary-General, and added that the Secretary-General found his discussions to be rewarding.
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• Asked when a vote could be held, the Spokesperson noted that it remains up to the Member States, both of the Security Council and of the General Assembly.

 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

TENSIONS MUST BE AVOIDED IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: Asked about Israeli settlements, the Spokesperson noted the UN’s concerns and emphasized the need to avoid raising tensions in the peace process.

 

PROPOSED CUTS TO U.N. BUDGET EXCEED THREE PER CENT: Asked about the proposed cuts for the budget, the Spokesperson said that the proposed cuts exceed 3 per cent. He noted that some UN offices are smaller, and it would not be feasible to cut them to the same extent as larger offices.

 

 

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