HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday, 20 April 2006
UNITED NATIONS CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN NEPAL
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal reports that demonstrations have taken place in multiple locations in that country, with tens of thousands challenging the curfew.
The office also confirms that three deaths have occurred as a result of use of deadly force by police. The use of such force against unarmed civilians, the Human Rights Office says, is without justification and is inexcusable.
The Human Rights Office also reports that, since last night, there have been severe restrictions on the movement of UN human rights monitors – a clear violation of the agreement between the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Nepal.
The monitors were obstructed by authorities from fulfilling their work in monitoring and playing a restraining role, in terms of the behaviour of demonstrators and security forces.
However, about two hours ago, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in Nepal met with the Army’s Chief of Staff to deliver a letter from High Commissioner Louise Arbour. The Chief of Staff promised that UN staff would be given curfew passes for tomorrow.
Asked whether any human rights violations by Nepalese soldiers would affect Nepal’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, the Spokesman said that, at this juncture, the United Nations is focusing on individuals, and how they behave.
The UN Human Rights Office in Nepal is collecting information on the actions taken by Nepalese soldiers. If soldiers deemed to be responsible for human rights violations are found to be participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Dujarric said, the United Nations would ask that they be removed.
He noted that the United Nations as a general rule would ask a country to take appropriate actions if there were problems with peacekeepers from its nation. In general, the United Nations acts on the basis of information from Member States, but in this case, it would also use the information from its Human Rights Office in Nepal.
The Spokesman noted that Nepal contributes the fifth-largest number of peacekeeping troops and civilian police to the United Nations, comprising about 3,500 personnel in 12 operations worldwide.
SECURITY COUNCIL FOCUSES ON HUMANITARIAN ISSUES IN AFRICA
Today in the Security Council there will be consultations at three in the afternoon on humanitarian issues in Africa and other matters.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland will brief Council members. Following consultations, he’ll head to the stakeout to take your questions.
ANNAN APPOINTS GLOBAL COMPACT BOARD
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed a group of 20 business, labour and civil society leaders from around the world to serve on the Board of the UN Global Compact.
The Board will provide strategic advice on the initiative as a whole and make recommendations to the UN Global Compact Office, participants and other stakeholders.
The twenty-member body is comprised of ten business representatives, business associations and labour groups, and representatives of civil society organizations.
Asked how the individuals on the board had been selected, the Spokesman said that they were chosen following consultations among the members of the Global Compact, after the UN’s Global Compact Office sent out nominations to the participating companies and parties.
LIBERIAN DISPLACED PERSONS PROGRAM REACHES SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION
The Government of Liberia and the UN mission there today celebrated the successful conclusion of a programme to aid the internally displaced victims of the civil war.
Ceremonies in a former IDP camp 200 kilometres northeast of the capital included a symbolic destruction of an IDP camp hut.
Under the programme more than 300,000 persons received return assistance packages and transportation allowances.
UNMIL reports that the returnees continue to be assisted through the UN Refugee Agency’s community-based recovery programmes which provide aid to schools, clinics and agricultural projects.
UNITED NATIONS SENDS AID CASH TO HELP COLOMBIA FLOOD VICTIMS
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today reports that it has given an emergency cash grant of $100,000 to the Colombian Red Cross to help it cope with increased flooding in that country.
More than 57,000 people have been affected by the floods which started in January and are continuing. At least 81 deaths have been reported.
UZBEK NUCLEAR FUEL SHIPPED TO RUSSIA
The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that a secret operation to return a large quantity of spent nuclear fuel to Russia from Uzbekistan was completed safely yesterday.
It is the first time that fuel used in a nuclear research reactor -- referred to as ‘spent’ -- has been repatriated to Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Under tight security, 63 kilograms of spent highly enriched uranium, enough to make 2.5 nuclear bombs, was transported to Mayak in Russia, in four separate shipments. IAEA safeguards inspectors monitored and verified the packing of the fuel for transport over the course of 16 days.
The fuel is now to be reprocessed in Russia so that it cannot be used to make nuclear bombs.
Asked about Uzbekistan’s recent closure of its UNHCR offices, the Spokesman noted that the United Nations had expressed its regret about that closure. At the same time, he noted, Uzbekistan had said it would allow the UN Development Programme to provide the support needed for the mostly Afghan refugees who remain in the country.
PLANNING FOR U.N. FORCE IN DARFUR CONTINUES
Asked about the denial of visas for UN personnel to enter Darfur, the Spokesman said that “visas are a piece of paper,” and added that the United Nations’ planning work concerning the eventual transfer to a UN force in Darfur continues.
He noted that the Sudanese Government had made it clear to visiting Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi this week that they wanted to wait for a peace accord to be reached in Abuja, Nigeria, before proceeding with UN planning in Darfur. Yet UN planning would continue, Dujarric said, and the Secretary-General would present options for a Darfur force to the Security Council next week.
Asked why the United Nations had not denounced Sudan’s recent blocking of UN officials, the Spokesman noted some contacts continued to take place, including a meeting between Annabi and President Omar al-Bashir this week.
In addition, he said, Under-Secretary-General for Security and Safety David Veness just visited Sudan to examine the security of UN staff.
He said, “It’s a bumpy road, but we’ve moving ahead” with contingency planning for an eventual transfer to a UN force.
DOCUMENTARIES FROM U.N. FIELD OFFICES TO BE SCREENED
The second annual UN Documentary Film Festival takes place this weekend. The Festival, called “stories from the field” will have some forty entries from U N. agencies and field offices from all over the world.
The theme this year centers on the Millennium Development Goals. The documentaries will be screened at the New School for Social Research.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. SAYS ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BORDER REMAINS TENSE: The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea says that the military situation in the Temporary Security Zone and Adjacent Areas remains tense. Routine troop movements have been noticed on both the Ethiopian and Eritrean sides of the border. The ban imposed by the Eritrean Government on the Mission’s helicopters is still in place, and restrictions are continuing on the movement of UN patrols inside parts of the Security Zone.
SPECIAL COURT CONTINUES TO PREPARE TRIAL FOR TAYLOR: Asked whether a country had been found to provide long-term accommodation to former Liberian President Charles Taylor, the Spokesman said that the matter was not resolved, but the Special Court for Sierra Leone was proceeding with its trial of Taylor, while the Security Council was considering a resolution on moving that trial. He said, in response to a further question, that he had no information to give about the Secretary-General’s role in finding a country to accommodate Taylor.
FIFTH COMMITTEE WORKING ON U.N. REFORM: The Spokesman declined to comment on a resolution put forward by the Group of 77 bloc concerning UN reform, noting that discussions on that subject are continuing in the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly.
U.N. REPORT ON LEBANON SPEAKS FOR ITSELF: Asked about a reference to Iran in the Secretary-General’s recent report on the implementation of resolution 1559, the Spokesman said that the report speaks for itself, and he had nothing to add.
U.N. ENVOY CONFERRING WITH IRAQI LEADERS: Asked about reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari might step down, the Spokesman had no comment. He noted that the United Nations is watching the situation closely, and that Special Representative Ashraf Qazi was conferring with a range of political, community and religious actors in Iraq.
U.N. STAFFING IN BASRA AND ERBIL: Asked about UN staff levels in Basra and Erbil, the Spokesman later said that 12 UN staff were in Basra and four in Erbil.
U.N. QUARTET ENVOY’S MANDATE EXPIRES 30 APRIL: Asked about the mandate of Quartet envoy James Wolfensohn, the Spokesman said that his mandate expires at the end of this month.
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