HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday,
February 14, 2007
BAN KI-MOON
CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN IRAN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
condemns the
terrorist attack on a bus in the southeastern city of Zahedan carrying Iranian
security officers, which killed at least 18 people and wounded many more.
He reiterates that no cause can justify the use of
terrorist violence.
He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the
victims and to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
BAN KI-MOON OBSERVES SECOND ANNIVERSARY
OF HARIRI ASSASSINATION
On the second anniversary of the terrorist attack which
took the lives of Rafic Hariri and twenty two others, the United Nations
reaffirms its
commitment to assisting Lebanon in its efforts to uncover the truth and bring
to justice the perpetrators of this despicable act. On this sad occasion the
Secretary-General reiterates his sympathies to the families of all the victims
and to the people and Government of Lebanon.
At this critical point for Lebanon, and as homage for
other lives lost, it is important that all sides return to dialogue and seek
the reconciliation, national unity and stability for which Rafic Hariri worked
during his lifetime.
SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS LEBANON BUS
ATTACKS
Yesterday afternoon, following the conclusion of the
open debate on
the Middle East, the Security Council held consultations on Lebanon.
Afterwards, in a
statement
to the press, the Security Council President, Ambassador Peter Burian of
Slovakia, said that Council members condemned in the strongest terms the
targeted attacks that took place earlier that day on two public buses. Council
members welcomed the determination of the Lebanese Government to bring the
perpetrators and sponsors to justice.
Asked
about a phone conversation held yesterday between the Secretary-General and
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, the Spokeswoman said that they had
discussed the incident that took place on Tuesday. Siniora, she said, had
written to the Secretary-General, requesting technical assistance from the
International Independent Investigation Commission in the effort to
investigate the bombing near the town of Bikfaya. The Secretary-General has
forwarded that letter to the Security Council.
BAN KI-MOON TO VISIT GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
NEXT WEEK
The Secretary-General will travel to Berlin and Vienna
next week.
In Berlin, he plans to attend the
Middle East Quartet meeting and will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel
and other German officials.
Following an invitation by the Government of Austria, the
Secretary General will also visit Vienna from the 22 to 24 February. He will
meet with Federal President Heinz Fischer, Federal Chancellor Alfred
Gusenbauer, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and Parliament President Barbara
Prammer. The Secretary-General will also visit the Vienna International
Centre, to meet with the Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, Antonio
Maria Costa, with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, and with UN staff.
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MISSION IS UNABLE
TO VISIT DARFUR
The Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission to
Darfur, in a
press release issued in Addis Ababa, announced that “it decided that it
can no longer allow the continued uncertainty regarding visas from Sudan to
impede the continuance of the mission, having completed its very important and
productive Darfur consultations and briefings in Addis Ababa.”
Mission Leader Jody Williams said that the mission will
proceed and collect all relevant information from locations outside the
country. The mission’s report to the Human Rights Council, she said, will be
presented as mandated.
The mission will continue its work in Addis and other
locations and return to Geneva, as scheduled, on 21 February, after which it
will prepare its report to present to the Council at its fourth regular
session in March.
Asked
about the Secretary-General’s discussions with President Omar al-Bashir about
the human rights team, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is
disappointed that the mission is not proceeding to Sudan. She noted that he
had pressed President Bashir in his meeting at the African Union Summit in
Addis Ababa to allow the team to proceed, and had hoped the mission would be
allowed to go in as soon as possible.
She added that the
Secretary-General was disappointed as well that humanitarian access has been
impeded.
Asked
whether Bashir had promised that the team would be allowed access, the
Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is expecting a letter from Bashir,
notably on peacekeeping issues, and would press for answers on those
questions.
INSECURITY CONTINUES IN DARFUR
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan
Eliasson, and African Union Special Envoy Salim Ahmed Salim left today for Al
Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. They will be holding in Darfur, today and
tomorrow, meetings with local authorities, representatives and field
commanders of the non-signatory rebel groups of the Darfur Peace Agreement.
The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS),
meanwhile, continues to reports security incidents in Darfur.
Today’s bulletin
includes reports on blockages of UN humanitarian convoys in North Darfur, the
hijacking of an ambulance in South Darfur and an attack on a compound housing
an international non-governmental organization.
KOSOVO: POLICE COMMISSIONER RESIGNS IN
WAKE OF PROTESTORS’ DEATHS
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Kosovo, Joachim Rucker, today
asked UN Police Commissioner Stephen Curtis to resign from his post, in
the wake of two deaths that resulted from last weekend’s violent protest in
Pristina.
Expressing his regret over the tragic deaths, Rucker
stressed that the Commissioner’s resignation did not prejudge the
investigation into the incident. That investigation will proceed in a
transparent and independent manner, he added.
Asked
about the reasons that Rucker had asked for the resignation of the police
chief, the Spokeswoman said that the fact that two deaths occurred and were
caused by rubber bullets, along with the initial results of the investigation,
raises some serious questions about possible cases of misconduct.
Rucker
wanted to ensure accountability and to restore public confidence in the
police, she said. She added that the investigation into this matter is
continuing.
Asked
with whom Rucker consulted before making his decision, Montas said he had
consulted with the Department for Peacekeeping Operations and with the
Secretary-General’s office.
UNITED NATIONS TO OPEN HUMAN RIGHTS
OFFICE IN BOLIVIA
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise
Arbour and the Government of Bolivia have signed in La Paz an agreement to
establish an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the
country. The Government was represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
David Choquehuanca.
The new office, to be based in La Paz and be
active throughout the country, aims to contribute to the reinforcement of
national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights, in
particular by assisting the Bolivian authorities in the elaboration and
implementation of strategies and programmes.
U.N. AGENCIES HELP BOLIVIAN FLOOD
SURVIVORS
As the number of people affected by severe flooding in
Bolivia has risen by 25,000 in recent days, UN agencies and their humanitarian
partners are
working to support the Government of Bolivia in its response. Overall,
according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, some
200,000 people have been affected by the flooding.
In response, the World Food Programme (WFP) has
distributed food to more than 60,000 people, and is planning to assess needs
in Beni province, where five rivers have overflowed their banks,
UNICEF has made $30,000 available for water analysis and
treatment activities, and for the construction of emergency latrines. Also,
the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization have
provided medicines and medical supplies used to treat those injured in the
flooding and help prevent the spread of disease.
GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ SIDES MUST COOPERATE
TO REDUCE TENSION
Yesterday, the Secretary-General’s Group of Friends for
Georgia – Germany, France, the Russian
Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States – wrapped up a two-day
meeting in Geneva. Also participating were the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Georgia, Jean Arnault, and representatives of the Georgian
and Abkhaz sides.
Encouraging the sides to resume dialogue, the Friends
stressed the need for immediate engagement on security issues, both in the
upper Kodori valley and the zone of conflict. They highlighted the need to
refrain from any action that could impede progress or undermine confidence,
and urged the sides to take into account one another’s sensitivities and to
cooperate to deescalate tensions.
The Friends also reaffirmed the right of return of
internally displaced persons and refugees to Abkhazia, Georgia; and encouraged
the sides to focus on practical steps to improve conditions for returns.
The Georgian and Abkhaz sides assured the Friends of
their willingness to move forward on these issues.
RICH COUNTRIES CAN DO MORE TO IMPROVE
CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING
The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre today
released the Report
Card 7, which is the first comprehensive assessment on the welfare of children
and young people in the world’s advanced economies.
The report - dubbed ‘Child Poverty in Perspective’ -
states that in rich countries, children’s basic needs have been generally met
but there is scope for further progress in child well-being.
The report shows that among all of the 21 countries of
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), there are
improvements to be made and that no single OECD country leads in all six of
the areas that measure children’s well being, including material well-being,
health and safety, education, and peer and family relationships.
BAN KI-MOON LAUDS LATIN AMERICAN
NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-FREE ZONE
On the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of
Tlatelolco, the Secretary-General, in a message, today says that the
commemoration of nations forging agreements to ban nuclear weapons can help
energize efforts to halt, and reverse the spread of weapons of mass
destruction throughout the world.
His message is being delivered by
Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Nobuaki Tanaka in Mexico City today.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL WANTS
ANTI-GENOCIDE POST STRENGTHENED:
Asked about the post of Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, the
Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General never intended to downgrade that
post, and in fact wanted it reinforced, and made into more than a part-time
position. She noted that Special Adviser Juan Mendez intended to leave the post,
and would be replaced.
BAN KI-MOON CONTINUES
RESTRUCTURING TALKS:
Asked about UN restructuring, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General
and his team were holding three meetings today with groups of Member States on
restructuring. She added, in response to a further question, that it was a
priority for the Secretary-General to fill the posts of Special Representatives
presently vacant.
NATIONAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD
ENSURE JUSTICE:
Asked about a request from the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Relations
Committee for Benon Sevan to be tried, the Spokesperson said that the United
Nations believes that justice should take place, and it is up to national
authorities to act.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
