Untitled Document
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
ANNAN MARKS RWANDA GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY
WITH ACTION PLAN AND CALL FOR ACTION IN DARFUR, SUDAN
- Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said that
we must never forget our collective failure to protect at least 800,000
defenseless men, women and children who perished in Rwanda 10
years ago.
- Speaking after two minutes of silence in memory of the Rwandans killed
in the genocide that began on April 7, 1994, the Secretary-General told
the Commission on Human Rights that we must acknowledge our responsibility
for not having done more to prevent or stop genocide. He added, “The risk
of genocide remains frighteningly real.”
- The Secretary-General called for swift and decisive action when there
is abundant warning. In that connection, he cited the situation in Darfur,
Sudan , where deliberate actions had been observed with the specific
objective of the forcible and long-term displacement of targeted communities.
- He warned, “Such reports leave me with a deep sense of foreboding. Whatever
terms it uses to describe the situation, the international community cannot
stand idle.”
- In a humanitarian update on Darfur, the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs said that, in the past week, almost 20,000 internally
displaced persons have arrived in towns in South Darfur.
- The Secretary-General, in his speech, launched an Action Plan to Prevent
Genocide, involving the whole UN system. The plan consists of preventing
armed conflict; protecting civilians in armed conflict; ending impunity,
including through UN tribunals; early and clear warning – including the
creation of a UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide; and swift
and decisive action.
- By “action” he made it clear that he means a continuum of steps, which
may include military action. But military action, he added, should always
be seen as an extreme measure, to be used only in extreme cases.
UN OFFICIALS AROUND WORLD OBSERVE RWANDA REMEMBRANCE
- From Kigali to Dili to New York, UN officials joined the world in marking
the 10 th anniversary of
the Rwandan genocide.
- In Kigali, Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari attended memorial events on
the Secretary-General's behalf. He is scheduled to delivered a message from
the Secretary-General, underscoring the sense of regret and sorrow that
the international community failed Rwanda. Today, the Secretary-General
adds, the United Nations is doing what it can to help Rwandans, especially
the young, to build a new society together.
- In New York, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette addressed
the General Assembly meeting this
morning in commemoration of the genocide. She said we cannot undo the past,
or repair the failure of Rwanda. But, she added, the world can be serious
about preventing genocide.
- The Security Council President, German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, delivered
remarks on behalf of the Security Council at the session.
- Today's General Assembly meeting also heard from genocide survivor Jacqueline
Murekatete, who said that the survivors from the genocide today are women
who are dying from HIV/AIDS, and orphans that are left on the streets.
We should keep their suffering in mind, she said.
- Hassan Jallow, Prosecutor for the Rwanda
Tribunal , said in Arusha, Tanzania, today that all Member States
should hand over to the Tribunal all indicted suspects. Speaking in The
Hague, Philippe Kirsch, President of the International
Criminal Court , said that as we remember those who died in Rwanda,
we look forward to a future where these types of crimes might be prevented.
- Among the events still to be held at UN headquarters today on Rwanda
is a panel discussion ,
from 1:00 to 3:00 this afternoon titled “A Decade After Rwanda: The United
Nations and the Responsibility to Protect.” The Deputy Secretary-General
will chair that panel and make some opening remarks.
SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES GUINEA-BISSAU ELECTIONS
- There are no meetings or consultations of the Security
Council as a whole today.
- In a press
statement on Guinea Bissau issued Tuesday afternoon, the Council
welcomed the holding of the legislative elections, commended the people
of Guinea-Bissau for their sense of public-spiritedness during the poll
and encouraged them to stay the course. Council members also expressed
concern at the persistence of the serious economic difficulties in Guinea-Bissau
and called on lenders and donors to consider the situation in the West
African country as an emergency.
- Out today is an addendum to the Secretary-General's report
on Burundi , in which he says the financial implications of the UN
peacekeeping operation is projected at some $418 million for a 12-month
period.
ANNAN SADDENED BY DROWNING OF PEACEKEEPERS IN DR CONGO
- The Secretary-General is deeply
saddened by the tragic drowning of six UN Mission in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo ( MONUC )
contingent members in Lake Kivu Tuesday after their armoured personnel
carrier was involved in a serious accident. He extends his most sincere
condolences to the Government and people of South Africa, and to the
families of the bereaved.
- MONUC is carrying out a full investigation into the incident. MONUC yesterday
was able to retrieve the bodies of the drowned soldiers.
UN TEAM LED BY BRAHIMI HOLDS FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN IRAQ
- The team led by Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi is continuing with its
schedule of meetings with a broad range of Iraqis ,
to hear their views about the transfer of power and their other key concerns.
- Brahimi today held further meetings with members of the Iraqi Governing
Council, as well as with trade unionists, members of civil society and
women's groups. The team also continued consultations, on an ad hoc basis,
with the Coalition Provisional Authority.
ACTION URGED TO LOWER DEATH AND INJURY TOLL ON WORLD'S ROADS
UN AGENCIES, OTHERS RUSHING IN VACCINES FOR GEORGIA MEASLES
- More than 2,500 children in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia are being immunized
against measles this week, following an outbreak of the killer disease. UNICEF ,
the UN Children's Fund, USAID and the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees , are rushing in vaccines and a mobile
team to immunize the children – who include both Georgians and Chechen
refugee children – by April 9.
- The Gorge, 150 kilometers northeast of the capital Tbilisi, has had a
reputation for lawlessness – including kidnapping and gun-running – which
has undermined routine immunization.
- As well as providing 3,000 doses of measles vaccine, UNICEF is also helping
to supply auto-destructive syringes to ensure the safety of every single
vaccination shot, and leaflets in both Georgian and Russian on the importance
of immunization.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only
Fax. 212-963-7055
All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail
to: inquiries@un.org
Back to the Spokesman's
Page
