HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
 
BY EDUARDO DEL BUEY, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
 
MONDAY, 23 APRIL 2012
 
 
SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS THAT ACHIEVING PEACE FOR ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS AN UNDIMINISHED PRIORITY
 

• On Monday morning, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe, told the Security Council that achieving a full and sustained cessation of violence and seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria is at the centre of efforts in the Middle East.
• He also said that achieving peace for Israelis and Palestinians is an undiminished priority.
• At its recent meeting in Washington, the Quartet recognized the urgent need for tangible signs of progress on the ground. 
• The Secretary-General follows closely the situation of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centres. Some 320 remain under administrative detention.
• He went on to note that the Quartet, while reaffirming its previous positions, stated that the situation in and around Gaza will remain unsustainable so long as it is not reunited with the West Bank under the legitimate Palestinian Authority adhering to the PLO commitments.
• The Secretary-General has welcomed the recent meeting and joint public commitment of Israelis and Palestinians. What is important now is to transform this fragile opening into an opportunity to incrementally promote dialogue while ensuring continued international support for the Palestinian Authority’s institution-building efforts.
• Asked if the Secretary-General had raised the question of Palestinian prisoners, the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General, when he was last in the region, had engaged extensively with the leaders. He added that the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, was in daily contact with regional authorities. Del Buey also said that the United Nations was, working very closely, through the Quartet, to reinvigorate the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. He said that a comprehensive solution was necessary and noted that this required political will from both sides.

 
UNMISS DEPLORES CONTINUED AERIAL BOMBARDMENTS IN BENTIU
 

• The UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, has deplored the continued aerial bombardments in Bentiu town, which is heavily populated by civilians.
• The head of the Mission, Hilde F. Johnson, called for the bombings to stop and reminded the parties of their obligation to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law, to take all measures not to harm civilians, and to guarantee the safety of international aid organizations and United Nations personnel and assets.

 
UN UNDERLINES IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVERS IN SYRIA
 

• In response to questions on Syria, the Deputy Spokesperson underlined the importance of having observers in the country. He said that the United Nations was taking steps to implement expeditiously the provisions of the Security Council, adopted over the weekend.
• Del Buey added that the first 30 observers should be on the ground by the end of the month of April and that the UN was working to get the other 270 there as soon as possible.
• The Deputy Spokesperson also noted the importance of having reliable sources who were reporting from Syria. He said that the presence of these observers would help the Secretary-General and the UN assess the situation in the country and then recommend the appropriate course of action.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT INDIA
 

• The Secretary-General will depart on Wednesday for a visit to India.
• His first stop will be Delhi, where he will have meetings with the senior political leadership to discuss current regional and international issues and matters of global concern.
• The Secretary-General will also receive an honorary doctorate degree from Jamia Islamia University.
• He will then visit Mumbai, where he will meet with Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, and meet with a small group of key business leaders committed to utilizing their expertise to promote the health of women and children. 
• He will also visit health facilities where he will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the progress being made in communities through his discussions with women, children and health workers.
• The visit will conclude with an event hosted by Millennium Development Goal Advocates Mukesh Ambani and Ray Chambers, which will include the participation of representatives from government, the private sector, civil society, the creative community and the United Nations.
   

UN SAYS CRIME, VIOLENCE AND CORRUPTION MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO ACHIEVEMENT OF MDG'S

• In his remarks at the opening of the 21st session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna on Monday, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said that there is a growing recognition that transnational threats, violence and corruption are major impediments to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 
• These crimes impact every economy, in every country, but they are particularly devastating in weak and vulnerable countries, Mr. Fedotov said.
• He said that it is estimated that up to US$40 billion is lost through corruption in developing countries. Trafficking and smuggling increase in conditions where there is conflict, lack of security or a weak rule of law.

 
 
***The guests at the Noon Briefing were Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Special Representative to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership; Mr. Thomas Teuscher, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership; Mr. Ray Chambers, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria and an MDG Advocate; and Jeffrey Sachs, Special Adviser on the MDGs and MDG Advocate.
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