Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 5 January 2006


HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, 5 January 2006

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT ARIEL SHARON’S HEALTH

  • Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply concerned about the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

  • He is following developments closely and very much hopes that the Prime Minister will make a speedy recovery. His thoughts are with Mr. Sharon and his family, as well as with the Government and people of Israel.

  • Asked whether the health crisis had transformed how Sharon is viewed, the Spokesman said that the focus for now is on Sharon’s health. He noted that the situation on the ground is delicate and that two elections are coming up in the region, for both the Israelis and the Palestinians.

  • The Secretary-General, the Spokesman said, has been in touch with Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman to receive information on Sharon.

  • The Secretary-General also called US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Asked about that conversation, the Spokesman said it took place on Wednesday, and that they had discussed developments in the Middle East, including Sharon’s health.

NUMBER OF U.N. STAFF IN WEST DARFUR REDUCED AMID SECURITY CONCERNS

  • The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has reduced the presence of UN staff and restricted staff access in parts of West Darfur following increased security concerns there.

  • The decision was taken due to the increasing instability in the affected areas, including a build-up of forces on either side of the Sudan-Chad border with increased potential for armed conflict. The Mission says the move does not mean there will be an overall evacuation.

  • Essential life-saving humanitarian services delivered by the UN will continue, and UNMIS will monitor the situation and carry out a fresh security assessment of the affected area in the next two to three weeks.

  • Asked whether there is a UN presence in the Chad-Sudan border area, the Spokesman noted that the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has camps in place along the border.

  • He added that the situation along the border prompted concern, which is one reason why the United Nations is taking appropriate security measures. Dujarric added that, when the Foreign Minister of Chad comes to New York next week, further discussions are expected.

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENT IN SUDAN

  • The Secretary-General, in his latest report to the Security Council on Sudan, says that serious concerns remain about the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement dealing with southern Sudan. He notes that security has become a matter of growing concern in southern Sudan.

  • In Darfur, he says that security on the ground must urgently improve and the search for a durable political peace, including a permanent ceasefire, must be intensified. Those who continue impeding the peaceful resolution of the conflict should know that they will be held accountable.

  • Meanwhile, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, is on his way to Abuja today to attend the latest round of talks there on Darfur; he is expected back in Khartoum on Saturday.

  • In a press briefing yesterday, Pronk said he was concerned about the slow pace of negotiations at the talks, and was disappointed that the objective of concluding the talks successfully by the end of last year didn’t occur.

  • The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing, followed by a private meeting, on Sudan next Friday, 13 January 2005.

ANNAN NOTES IMPLICATIONS OF IRANIAN ANNOUNCEMENT

  • Asked about the Secretary-General’s reaction to Iran’s announcement on the resumption of its nuclear research program, the Spokesman said that he felt it could have far-reaching implications.

  • The Spokesman said that the dialogue between Iran and European countries and the Russia offer of collaboration should be given a chance. He noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei, is closely following developments.

DR CONGO LEADERS HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO FULFILLING PEACE DEAL’S OBLIGATIONS

  • The Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) was issued today.

  • In it, the Secretary-General notes that despite some encouraging advances – such as the recent constitutional referendum – the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) transitional government and its leaders still have to demonstrate in more concrete terms their commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement.

  • The Secretary-General also notes that the DRC’s humanitarian crisis remains severe and there’s a significant shortfall in resources to address it.

U.N. EXPERTS TO HELP TURKEY WITH BIRD FLU INVESTIGATION

  • Regarding the reports which you might have seen about the two bird flu-related deaths in Turkey, David Nabarro, the UN System’s Influenza Coordinator, has told us that, following a request from the Turkish Government, a team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and other groups, is traveling today to Turkey. The team will work with the authorities there in their investigation of the situation.

  • Turkish health authorities have informed WHO that a total of nine additional patients have been hospitalized in the eastern part of the country. A WHO centre in the United Kingdom is now analyzing samples from those patients.

  • According to Nabarro, this report confirms the absolute need for continued local, national and international vigilance, as well as intensive efforts to detect and respond to suspected outbreaks of the disease. Nabarro also says that there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that the suspected cluster of cases in Turkey represents human to human transmission.

U.N. MISSION IN KOSOVO CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK ON BUS

  • A passenger bus in Kosovo was hit by explosives yesterday, and the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has condemned that reckless act of criminal violence and said it was clearly not in the interest of the province.

  • In that regard, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Søren Jessen-Petersen, has requested the police to enhance security measures across Kosovo to ensure that a safe and secure environment is maintained during the ongoing status process. Attempts by isolated individuals or groups to disrupt Kosovo’s way forward must not be tolerated, he has said.

  • In response, UNMIK’s police forces and the Kosovo Police Service have launched ‘Operation Stringent Security,’ instituting vigorous police patrols and vehicle checkpoints throughout Kosovo with a focus on potentially vulnerable areas.

ANANN SADDENED OVER DEATH OF U.A.E.’S PRIME MINISTER

  • The Secretary-General is saddened at the death of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

  • The statement said that Sheikh Maktoum will be remembered for his many years of visionary leadership, which helped build stability and prosperity in the United Arab Emirates in the midst of dramatic developments in the Gulf region as a whole.

  • The UN flag is being flown at half-mast today in observance of the official mourning for Sheikh Maktoum. Asked how long the UN flag would be at half staff, the Spokesman said it would be for one day.

UNITED NATIONS TO ASSESS NEEDS OF LANDSLIDE SURVIVORS IN INDONESIA

  • The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in contact with authorities in Indonesia's Central Java province, following torrential rains and landslides there. A joint assessment mission - involving the Office of the Resident Coordinator, the UN Development Programme and UNICEF - is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

  • Meanwhile, UNICEF and the World Food Programme are currently undertaking a needs assessment mission in Indonesia’s East Java Province, following flash floods and landslides there. OCHA will join that mission tomorrow.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CALLS ON NEPALESE SIDES TO RESPECT INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS

  • The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, today called upon both sides of the conflict in Nepal to respect international humanitarian laws.

  • The High Commissioner also said it would be a tragedy for the people of Nepal if full-scale armed conflict resumes, following the Communist Party’s decision to end its four-month unilateral ceasefire.

  • She said that both sides of the conflict have committed serious violations of international law including extrajudicial executions, abductions, and indiscriminate bombings. She said all such illegal actions must be stopped and the perpetrators brought before a court of law.

U.N. HELICOPTERS BACK IN ACTION IN PAKISTAN’S QUAKE ZONE

  • In Pakistan’s quake zone, UN relief helicopter flights have resumed, with 16 helicopters back in action. The helicopters were grounded on the first three days of the New Year, because of harsh winter weather, resulting in the UN’s inability to deliver a total of 900 tons of cargo.

  • Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation in Pakistan, working alongside the Ministry of Health, is assessing the ongoing health needs of quake survivors.

  • The United Nations in Pakistan says it remains focused on three key priorities: providing heating and warm clothing; winterizing tents; and distributing corrugated iron sheets to fortify emergency shelters.

2005 SAW MOST CONTRIBUTIONS EVER TO U.N. POPULATION FUND

  • The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says that in 2005 more countries contributed to it than in any year since its establishment in 1969. The number of donor nations went up to 171, compared to the 2004 record of 166.

  • Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Executive Director of UNFPA, says the show of support from UN Member States is the clearest demonstration of their commitment to achieving universal access to reproductive health and ending discrimination against women, as they resolved to do during the World Summit.