HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday, 26 January 2006
ANNAN SAYS ARMS AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS A ‘CONTRADICTION’
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, speaking to a journalist today about the developments in the Palestinian legislative elections, said that “any group that wishes to participate in the democratic process should ultimately disarm.”
He said that there is a “fundamental contradiction” between carrying weapons and participating in a democratic process and sitting in parliament. Referring to Hamas, he added, “I'm sure they are thinking about that, too.”
Earlier today, the Secretary-General telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him and the Palestinian people on the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, which he viewed as an important step towards the achievement of a Palestinian state.
He looks forward to the publication of the results of the elections over the coming days. The Secretary-General will discuss the elections with his Quartet partners next week in London.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s comments on Hamas, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had made it clear that any group that wishes to participate in the democratic process should ultimately disarm and adhere to the democratic process. He added that the Secretary-General would speak to his Quartet partners in a conference call tonight. Noting that call and the Quartet meeting next Monday, Dujarric said that he hoped that the Quartet would come to a unified position on the election outcome.
Asked how the Hamas victory would affect the peace process, the Spokesman said the United Nations would first wait for the formation of a new government, and see what that government’s policies are.
Asked whether Hamas would have to recognize Israel, which its charter currently does not do, the Spokesman said that the recognition of Israel is “without question”. He said that the United Nations would want to see any government that is chosen by the Palestinian people to recognize Israel, so as to negotiate properly with it.
The Spokesman added that the election had been won by a group which has armed militias, and which has been responsible for terrorist acts that the United Nations has denounced.
Asked whether the Secretary-General regards Hamas to be a terrorist group, the Spokesman, while noting that there is no UN definition of a terrorist organization, said that the Secretary-General has clearly denounced terrorist acts committed by various parties, including those done by Hamas.
Asked whether President Abbas should stay on, the Spokesman said that Abbas had been elected by the Palestinian people and the decision is up to them.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s conversation with Abbas, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had congratulated the President on the peaceful balloting and campaigning.
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ‘NEW MINDSET’ FOR U.N.
The Secretary-General addressed the plenary discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on the subject, “A New Mindset for the United Nations.”
The Secretary-General said, during his years in office, he has tried to change the mindset that sees international relations as nothing more than relations between States, and the United Nations as little more than a trade union for governments.
“My objective,” he said, “has been to persuade both the Member States and my colleagues in the Secretariat that the United Nations needs to engage not only with Governments but with people.”
The Secretary-General spoke to a panel of leaders, who were to then discuss the subject. As his speech notes, that panel includes some potential candidates for the Secretary-General’s job.
Earlier today, he took part in a workshop on “Taking Action to End Hunger” and held a number of bilateral meetings. Among them were those with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Asked whether the Secretary-General has any successor in mind, the Spokesman said that, thankfully, it is not his decision to name his successor.
SECURITY COUNCIL FOCUSES ON GEORGE, COTE D’IVOIRE
The Security Council held consultations on Georgia, to discuss the Secretary-General’s recent report on the UN Mission in that country. He has recommended a six-month extension of that Mission.
Those consultations were preceded by a private meeting on Georgia, at which the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Heidi Tagliavini, briefed.
Then, at 3:00 this afternoon, the Council will hold consultations on Cote d’Ivoire, and will receive a briefing from the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for that country, Pierre Schori. Schori has indicated that he will talk to you about the situation in Cote d’Ivoire at the Council stakeout after those consultations adjourn.
DEPUTY-SECRETARY-GENERAL TO OPEN MEETING ON U.N. REFORM
The Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, is opening a conference later this evening at the University of Quebec in Montreal on UN reform and the relevance of the UN. She is expected to highlight the special responsibilities towards the UN’s future, which are carried by the world’s big powers, given their unique capacities to act and transform reality.
U.N. EVACUATES SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS IN SUDAN
The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) says that yesterday it evacuated seven UN staff members based in Sharia, in South Darfur, to Nyala following fighting there between the rebel group Sudan Liberation Army and government forces.
UNMIS says the fighting is ongoing, and there have also been clashes in different parts of Jabal Marra in central Darfur.
Meanwhile, regarding yesterday’s helicopter crash, UNMIS says the one missing person has been confirmed as dead, and none of the injured passengers needed to be taken to Khartoum for medical treatment.
U.N. ENVOY TO KOSOVO ATTENDS PRESIDENTIAL FUNERAL
Soren Jessen-Petersen, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, attended today’s funeral for Ibrahim Rugova, and paid tribute to the late president’s peaceful effort to build “a Kosovo that is democratic, multiethnic and free.” President Rugova, he said, has left a void behind him – but he has also left a vision to guide Kosovo forward.
Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari also attended the funeral.
U.N. LAUNCHES FOOD APPEAL FOR CHECHNYA AND INGUSHETIA
The World Food Programme (WFP) today appealed for urgently needed funds to resume food rations for thousands of people in Chechnya and Ingushetia who are suffering from bitterly cold winter weather. Two months ago, a lack of funding forced WFP to stop assisting 150,000 people in the region.
WFP’s current one-year operation, which needs $22 million to deliver food to 250,000 people, remains only 12 percent funded. The agency normally provides food for one third of the population of Chechnya.
NEW BRANDING PRODUCT TO HELP GLOBAL FUND FIGHT AIDS
Irish musician Bono is joining hands with the world’s leading companies in creating a new commercial branding relationship to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in its fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The branding product, called Product RED, which was launched in Davos today, calls for a portion of profits from each RED-branded product sold to go directly to the Global Fund’s programmes for African women and children.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. NUCLEAR AGENCY TO HANDLE IRAN DISCUSSIONS: Asked why the Secretary-General, in recent comments, thought that a referral of Iran’s case to the Security Council was unlikely, the Spokesman said that he had nothing to add, and that the matter is presently being handled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
MOVIE CREW FILMING IN U.N. H.Q.: Asked whether a movie was being filmed at the United Nations, the Spokesman said some filming took place last weekend for a movie about Che Guevara, concerning some scenes about his 1964 address to the General Assembly
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