ARCHIVES

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

 

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

 

MONDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2011

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL RE-AFFIRMS U.N. SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN

 

• The Secretary-General is in Bonn, Germany, where he addressed the conference on Afghanistan.

 

• He told participants that the international community re-affirms its commitment to support the country in its efforts for a better, peaceful and prosperous life for all its people – women and men alike.

 

• The Secretary-General acknowledged that the challenges ahead are large, but stressed that we will not be deterred.

 

• He said that the United Nations will be there for Afghanistan. It was there well before 2001 and will be there far beyond 2014.

 

• The Secretary-General, who arrived in Bonn on Sunday, has held a wide range of bilateral meetings, including with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

 

• The Secretary-General will travel from Germany to South Africa to attend the climate change talks in Durban.

 

• Asked about Pakistan’s decision not to attend the Bonn conference, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General had expressed his regret that the country was not participating in the meeting. The Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General had also said that Pakistan was committed to working with the international community on Afghanistan.

 

D.R. CONGO: SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES RESTRAINT

 

• Asked about the elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General continues to follow electoral events in the country closely.

 

• Echoing the Security Council, he encouraged political leaders and the people of the DRC to maintain a calm and peaceful environment, exercise restraint, and await the results that will be declared in accordance with national constitutional procedures.

 

U.N. WORKING TO FULLY IMPLEMENT MANDATES OF PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS IN SUDAN

 

• Asked about the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Sudan, the Spokesperson said the ICC is an independent judicial institution and has a mandate distinct and separate from that of the United Nations.

 

• Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein is Defence Minister in Sudan where the Security Council has established peacekeeping missions to carry out tasks that are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security and for the protection and welfare of the general population.
  <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
  <![endif]>

• Accordingly, the UN will continue to work towards the full implementation of the joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) mandates.

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR LIBERIA

 

• The Secretary-General has appointed Louis Aucoin of the United States of America as his Deputy Special Representative for the Rule of Law for Liberia.

 

• He will replace Henrietta Joy Abena Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu of Ghana, who completed her assignment on 31 October 2011. 

 

U.N. ENVOY URGES GREECE, FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA TO CONSIDER MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP

 

• Monday’s decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pertaining to Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia deserves careful study by the two Governments, according to Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on the talks between the countries.

 

• He said that he has urged both Governments to view this event as an opportunity and to think constructively about their mutual relationship.

 

• Mr. Nimetz said that at this juncture, a forward-looking attitude that emphasizes solutions rather than differences would help make a lasting solution possible.

 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES ERITREA SANCTIONS: The Security Council is discussing sanctions on Eritrea today. Their meeting will resume on Monday afternoon, at which point it is anticipated that they will pass a resolution.

 

GREEK CYPRIOT, TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS CONTINUE TALKS: The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities continued their discussions on external relations and property. They will hold talks again next Monday, 12 December.

 

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2012 U.N. POPULATION AWARD: The committee for the 2012 United Nations Population Award is seeking nominations. The awards were first given out in 1983 and recognize outstanding contributions to increasing the awareness about population questions and efforts to solve them. Nominations for the 2012 award will be accepted until 31 December.

 

 

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, SA-1B15

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162