ARCHIVES
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING
BY FARHAN HAQ, ACTING DEPUTY
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
THURSDAY, 30 JUNE 2011
LEBANON TRIBUNAL DELIVERS INDICTMENT, ARRESTS
WARRANTS TO PROSECUTOR; SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES SUPPORT
- The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has
confirmed that an indictment, accompanied by arrest warrants, was delivered
this morning to the Prosecutor General to the Supreme Court in Lebanon,
Mr Saeed Mirza. While the delivery of the indictment and warrants has been
publicized, their contents have not been shared with the United Nations.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an independent court of law established at
the request of the Government of Lebanon, with a clear mandate from the
United Nations Security Council pursuant to its resolution 1757
(2007). Under resolution 1757, the
Lebanese authorities are required to locate, arrest, detain and transfer
the accused persons to the Tribunal.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Secretary-General reiterates
his strong support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and for its efforts
to uncover the truth and send a message that impunity will not be
tolerated. He calls on all states
to support the independent judicial process, in particular by cooperating
with the Special Tribunal in the execution of the indictment and arrest
warrants. The Secretary-General expects the new Government of Lebanon to
uphold all of Lebanon's
international obligations and to cooperate with the Special Tribunal.
SECRETARY-GENERAL: GUARANTEE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO CIVILIANS IN SUDAN’S
SOUTH. KORDOFAN AND BLUE
NILE STATES
- The
Secretary-General welcomes
the signing on Wednesday in Addis Ababa of
the agreement between the Governments of Sudan and Southern
Sudan on border security and the joint political and security
mechanism.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Secretary-General commends both parties for this positive outcome and
urges them to conclude and implement, as a matter of priority, a cessation
of hostilities agreement.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Secretary-General is mindful that, unless the parties decide otherwise, UNMIS, the United Nations Mission in Sudan,
will be required to cease operations in these areas as of 9 July.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Secretary-General stresses the importance of protecting and guaranteeing
humanitarian access to vulnerable communities.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- He
remains extremely concerned over the humanitarian situation and the plight
of vulnerable civilians in Southern Kordofan.
He calls on the Government of Sudan to ensure that humanitarian assistance
reaches those in need and that it takes steps to create a conducive
environment for humanitarian operations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States with the cessation of the UNMIS
mandate on 9 July 2011.
AID AGENCIES GRANTED LIMITED ACCESS TO KADUGLI; U.N. OFFICES LOOTED
- The
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the Government of
Sudan has granted access to limited areas in Kadugli town where partners
have their offices.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- All
UN agency offices had been looted of their stocks and office equipment,
with the exception of UNICEF and the International Organization for
Migration (IOM). Most offices and guesthouses were damaged or destroyed.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- Moreover,
unhindered access to the affected population continues to be denied. UN
agencies continue to discuss the pressing need to have access to other
areas with the Government of Sudan.
U.N. WILL STUDY NEW REPORT ON HAITI CHOLERA OUTBREAK
- Asked
about a new report by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in the United
States concerning the cholera outbreak in Haiti, the
Spokesperson said the United Nations is aware of the report and, as with
other prior reports, will study its findings diligently.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- He
reiterated the UN’s concern at the outbreak of cholera in Haiti,
which was why the Secretary-General established an Independent Panel of
Experts at the beginning of this year. The Panel’s
report has been made public.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- As
the Secretary-General said at the time
that he received this report, he has convened a Task Force within the UN
system to ensure prompt and appropriate follow-up. That Task Force has met recently, Haq
said.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
United Nations continues to assist the Government and people of Haiti
in the ongoing fight against the cholera epidemic. The Spokesperson
expressed the UN’s continued interest in receiving as much information on
this as possible.
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF EXAMINING CREATION OF ROYAL COMMISSION IN BAHRAIN TO
PROBE VIOLATIONS
- Navi
Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said
today that the collective actions of the people of North Africa and the Middle East have reaffirmed the importance and
universality of human rights in a way we could not have dreamed of at the
start of this year.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- She
discussed recent developments, including in Egypt,
Tunisia, Libya and Syria. And she also welcomed Wednesday’s
announcements by the King of Bahrain that he is setting up a Royal
Commission, composed of experienced international jurists to look into
allegations of human rights violations during the events of February and
March and “subsequent consequences.” Her staff is
currently examining the details of these major developments in Bahrain.
MISSING WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME STAFF ARE NOW SAFE IN ETHIOPIA
- The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed today the safe recovery of
two of its Ethiopian staff members, who had been missing after an incident
in Ethiopia’s
Somali Region on 13 May 2011.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The World Food Programme confirms
that the staff members have been brought to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where
they are receiving medical treatment and stress counseling and being
reunited with their families.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- WFP and the UN system more
broadly worked closely with national and regional authorities for the safe
return of the two men. This incident underscores the need to ensure the
safety and security of UN staff.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
FOR KOSOVO ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE
- The Secretary-General’s
Special Representative for Kosovo, Lamberto Zannier, announced today that
he will be taking up the post of Secretary-General of the Organization for
Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) and he will leave Kosovo.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- Mr.
Zannier, in announcing his departure from the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said that
he is pleased to leave to his successor an operation that is reconfigured
and well-suited to the current challenges.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- The
Special Representative once again encouraged Pristina and Belgrade to fully
engage in dialogue to resolve open issues.
GREEK CYPRIOT AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS DISCUSS FORTHCOMING MEETING
WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL
- The
leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities met this
morning in Nicosia.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- They
discussed police issues and their forthcoming meeting with the
Secretary-General to be held in Geneva
on 7 July.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
- Representatives
are expected to continue discussions on Saturday.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. TO SEEK
REPLACEMENT FOR OUTGOING PEACEKEEPING CHIEF: Asked about a
replacement for Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations
Alain Le Roy, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations had made clear that it
will seek a replacement for Alain Le Roy once his term ends. All interested
Member States can be expected to provide nominations for positions as they fall
vacant. The Secretary-General would welcome their suggestions and give serious
consideration to them.
MYANMAR GOVERNMENT
MUST REACH OUT TO ALL POLITICAL ACTORS: Asked about reports
that the Government of Myanmar is objecting to Aung San Suu Kyi’s political
activities, the Spokesperson noted that, when the Secretary-General met with
the Group of Friends of Myanmar earlier this month, he pointed to the need
for the Government to reach 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. He reiterated the
Secretary-General’s call for the release of political prisoners.
MEMBER STATES SHOULD
ABIDE BY SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS: Asked about reports
that France is providing
arms for Libyan rebels, the Spokesperson said that matters involving sanctions
on Libya fall under the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee dealing
with Libya, which is chaired
by Portugal.
He said that the Secretary-General expects all Member States to abide by all
Security Council resolutions.
SECURITY COUNCIL
EXTENDS U.N.D.O.F. MANDATE: The Security
Council this morning extended the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer
Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF) by six
months. Today is the last day of Gabon’s Security Council
Presidency. Germany
will take over the Presidency of the Council for the month of July.
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY
10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
