Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 21 March 2012

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY EDUARDO DEL BUEY, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 2012
SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY COUNCIL’S “UNIFIED MESSAGE” ON SYRIA
  • The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the adoption today by the Security Council of a Presidential Statement in full support of the Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan.
  • The Secretary-General is encouraged by the clear and unified message of the Council, backing Mr. Annan’s efforts to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a comprehensive political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition.
  • He adds his voice to the Council’s in calling upon the Syrian government and opposition to work in good faith with the Joint Special Envoy towards a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis, and to implement fully and immediately his initial six-point proposal submitted to the Syrian authorities.
  • As the situation continues to deteriorate on the ground, it is more urgent than ever to find a solution that will end the tragic suffering of the Syrian people. The Secretary-General hopes that this united action by the Council on Syria can mark a turning point in the international community’s response to this crisis.
SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES FULL SUPPORT FOR JOINT SYRIA ENVOY’S EFFORTS
  • On Wednesday morning the Security Council expressed its gravest concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria which has resulted in a serious human rights crisis and deplorable humanitarian situation.
  • The Council welcomed the appointment of the UN-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy, and expressed its full support for the efforts of the Envoy to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system.
  • The Security Council called upon the Syrian government and opposition to work in good faith with the Envoy toward a peaceful settlement and to implement fully and immediately his six-point proposal.
  • In addition, the President of the Security Council issued a press statement in which the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that occurred in Damascus, Syria, on 17 and 19 March and in Aleppo, Syria, on 18 March, causing scores of deaths and injuries. They expressed their deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims of these heinous acts and to their families.
  • On Wednesday morning, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737, H.E. Ambassador Nestor Osorio of Colombia, presented the committee’s ninety-day report to the Council.
  • On Wednesday afternoon Council members were due to discuss 1701 report in close consultations.
SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN MALAYSIA
  • The Secretary-General arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Indonesia on Wednesday and met the Malaysian Foreign Minister.
  • Earlier on Wednesday, before leaving Indonesia, the Secretary-General gave the keynote address at the opening of the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue event.
  • He said the past year had been remarkable for the international community, with peaceful transformations in some Arab countries and terrible violence in others, above all in Syria. He said the year had also been remarkable for the sheer scope and dimension of the demands placed on the international community and the United Nations.
  • The Secretary-General met Australia's Secretary of Defense, Duncan Lewis, earlier in the day in Jakarta to discuss global developments including Myanmar and Timor-Leste as well as Somalia, Afghanistan and Syria.
  • On Thursday, the Secretary-General will meet tuberculosis patients, give a lecture at Malaysia's Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations and visit the country's Peacekeeping Training Centre. He is also expected to meet the Malaysian Prime Minister.
  • Later on Thursday, the Secretary-General will fly on to Singapore.
U.N. ENVOYS TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETING AIMED AT DEVELOPING REGIONAL STRATEGY AGAINST L.R.A.
  • The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa, Mr. Abou Moussa, and the Special Envoy of the African Union for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Francisco Madeira, will take part on Thursday and Friday in the technical meeting of United Nations and African Union experts responsible for finalizing the regional strategy to fight against the LRA. This meeting will take place in Entebbe, Uganda.
  • The two officials will also attend the launching ceremony of the Regional Cooperation Initiative against the LRA in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on 24 March.
  • On 25 March, they will undertake a joint visit to some of the areas affected by the LRA. They are scheduled to travel to Yambio and Nzara, in South Sudan.
BAN KI-MOON SAYS PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME HAVE BEEN LEFT ON “MARGINS OF SOCIETY”
  • In his message on the first-ever commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day, the Secretary-General says that for too long, people with Down Syndrome, including children, have been left on the margins of society.
  • They continue to face stigma and discrimination as well as legal, attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their participation in their communities.
  • At a conference on Wednesday morning, the Deputy Secretary-General pointed out that the United Nations has worked for decades to ensure the well-being and human rights of all people.
  • She urged the world to reaffirm that persons with Down Syndrome are entitled to the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS PEACEFUL ELECTIONS IN GUINEA-BISSAU: Asked about the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the Deputy Spokesperson noted the statement issued early this week in which the Secretary-General had commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the presidential election and called on them to refrain from any action that could hamper the electoral process and to respect the official results when announced by the Supreme Court. He added in that statement, the Secretary-General had condemned the killing of the former Head of military intelligence, Colonel Samba Djalo.
U.N. CALLS FOR CESSATION OF VIOLENCE IN SOUTHERN KORDOFAN, SUDAN: Asked about the situation in Southern Kordofan, Sudan, the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General had consistently called for a cessation of the violence there and for the parties to resolve their differences. He however noted that the United Nations did not have a peacekeeping mandate or presence in the area.
***The guest at the Noon Briefing was United Nations Police Adviser Ann-Marie Orler. She gave an update on the Police Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY 10017

Transcript

This morning the Security Council welcomed the appointment of the United Nations-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy, and expressed its full support for the efforts of the Envoy to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system.

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