HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
NEW YORK
Friday, February 3, 2006
SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY LIVES LOST IN FERRY DISASTER
Secretary-General Kofi Annan was deeply saddened to learn
of the sinking of the Egyptian ferry, Al Salam Boccaccio 98, in the Red Sea
last night. The ship, which was en route from Dubah, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga,
Egypt, was reportedly carrying approximately 1,400 people.
The Secretary-General sincerely
regrets the loss of life due to this tragedy and extends his condolences
to the victims and their families. He urges all who are able, to extend their
assistance to the Egyptian Government in the search for survivors.
U.N. REPORTS
EXCHANGE OF FIRE ON LEBANON BORDER
The UN
Interim Force in Lebanon reports that there was an exchange of fire along
the Blue Line this afternoon, in the Shebaa Farms area, which it says started
from the Lebanese side. The exchange of fire lasted for about an hour and a
half.
The UN peacekeepers were in close contact with both
parties, and succeeded in brokering a halt to the firing, which is currently
holding. UNIFIL troops are patrolling the area.
This incident took place on a day in which the UN Interim
Force completed its investigation into the shooting death of a young Lebanese
national by the Israeli Defence Force on Wednesday.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for
Lebanon,
Geir Pedersen, met today with Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri,
calling the killing “a serious violation of the Blue Line by Israel.”
He said that the United Nations calls on all parties to
exercise full restraint and to fully respect the Blue Line. The UN reminds all
concerned that one violation cannot justify another.
SECURITY
COUNCIL FOCUSES ON SUDAN, COTE D’IVOIRE
The
Security Council met this morning in consultations on the work program for
February, Sudan and Cote d’Ivoire.
On the program of work, Chef of Staff,
Mark Malloch Brown, took part in consultations about the Secretariat Daily
Briefings requested by the Security Council President.
Following the consultations, the Security Council
President, Ambassador John Bolton of the United States, read a presidential
statement requesting the Secretary-General to initiate contingency
planning without delay, jointly with the African Union, on a range of options
for a possible transition from the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS) to a
UN operation in Darfur.
At 4:00 p.m., Security Council consultations have been
scheduled on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CONFER WITH BUSH, RICE
The Secretary-General will be traveling to Washington on
February 13.
While in the US capital, he will be meeting with US
President George W. Bush to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.
He will also have a separate working lunch with Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Secretary-General will return back to New York the
same day.
Asked whether the Secretary-General had asked for the
meeting, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General regularly meets with
senior US officials and felt that this was a good time for a meeting, and the
United States agreed. He noted that the Secretary-General frequently meets
with Heads of State, including those of the permanent membership of the
Security Council.
Asked about the agenda for the meetings, the Spokesman
said that issues of mutual interest would be discussed.
ANNAN TO
RECEIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD IN DUBAI
The Secretary-General will leave for Dubai this weekend
where he will attend a ceremony to receive the 2005 Zayed International Prize
for Global Leadership for the Environment.
The Zayed Prize International Jury announced the prize in
December last year. Previous Global Leadership winners have been Jimmy Carter,
the former President of the United States, and the British Broadcasting
Corporation for their global media commitment to environment and sustainable
development issues.
While in Dubai, the Secretary-General is also expected to
hold a bilateral meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum before returning to New York early next week.
ANNAN APPOINTS
NEW HORN OF AFRICA ENVOY
The Secretary-General has appointed Kjell Magne Bondevik,
former Prime Minister of Norway, as his new Special Humanitarian Envoy for the
Horn of Africa in response to recurrent drought and food insecurity
devastating the region.
Bondevik will work with the United Nations system, the
Governments of the affected countries, the donor community, NGO partners and
other civil society organizations to ensure effective humanitarian action. He
will help the affected Governments strengthen comprehensive Country Food
Security Programmes, with a focus on tackling the root causes of chronic food
insecurity.
Bondevik succeeds
Martti Ahtisaari, the former President of Finland, who is now the
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Future Status Process for Kosovo.
SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES CARTOON APOLOGY WILL BE ACCEPTED
The Secretary-General
spoke to the press briefly today to introduce his new Humanitarian Envoy
for the Horn of Africa, former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik,
and was asked about a cartoon that had appeared in a Danish newspaper and
various other media.
He said he shared the distress of Muslims who feel that
the cartoon offends their religion, while adding that he also respects the
right of freedom of speech. What is important, he said, is that the newspaper
that initially published the cartoons has apologized, adding, “I would urge my
Muslim friends to accept the apology, to accept it in the name of Allah the
merciful, and let’s move on.”
He appealed to all concerned not to take any measures
that will enflame an already difficult situation.
DEPUTY-SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENTS ON GOVERNANCE ISSUES
The Deputy Secretary-General
Louise Fréchette today delivered opening remarks at a UNDP high-level
event titled, “Crisis of Governance: The International Stake in Sustaining
Democracy in Latin America.”
She said, “Our challenge is to consolidate the best of
what is happening in Latin America, and sustain the vigor with which change is
being pursued, while at the same time addressing the backlog of need.”
COTE D’IVOIRE
TO REINFORCE PEACEKEEPERS IN COTE D’IVOIRE
A
letter from the Secretary-General to the Security Council was issued
today, asking for permission to temporarily redeploy up to one mechanized
infantry battalion and a police unit from the UN
Mission in Liberia to the UN
Operation in Côte
