HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE
MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, July
22, 2008
BAN KI-MOON
COMMENDS KARADZIC ARREST AS DECISIVE STEP TOWARD ENDING IMPUNITY
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was
heartened yesterday by the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, former President
of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The
Secretary-General commends the Serbian authorities for this decisive step
toward ending impunity for those indicted for serious violations of
international humanitarian law during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
This is a historic moment for the victims, who have
waited thirteen years for Mr. Karadzic to be brought to justice.
This important and timely arrest will enable the
International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to move closer to
completing its mandate, and bring justice to the perpetrators and the
victims of the serious international crimes committed.
Ending impunity is an essential element for achieving
sustainable peace and justice in the region. While this is an important
milestone, the work of the International Tribunal will not be complete until
all fugitives have been arrested and tried.
Also in a
statement yesterday, Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the International
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia also welcomed the arrest. Karadzic is
charged by the Tribunal with genocide, complicity in genocide,
extermination, murder, willful killing, persecutions, deportation, inhumane
acts, and other crimes committed against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and
other non-Serb civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 war.
The first indictment against him was confirmed in July 1995.
The Tribunal welcomed the arrest, which it called a
milestone in discharging its mandate, and said it looks forward to
Karadzic's prompt transfer to The Hague to stand trial.
Asked whether the
Secretary-General would call Serbian President Boris Tadic following the
arrest, the Spokeswoman noted that the matter is no longer one for his
intervention; rather, she said, Karadzic’s status, including his possible
extradition, are to be dealt with between the Tribunal and the Government of
Serbia. The Tribunal, she added, is an independent body.
UNITED NATIONS
IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT MEDIATION EFFORTS FOR ZIMBABWE
The Secretary-General
welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the
parties in Zimbabwe, which provides a framework for formal talks to end the
political crisis in the country. The Secretary-General commends the efforts
of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and his mediation team in
facilitating the signing of this agreement.
The United Nations is committed to support these
mediation efforts through its participation in the recently-formed Reference
Group.
The Secretary-General encourages all sides to engage,
in good faith, in serious talks that would lead to a lasting solution to the
political crisis and address the urgent economic and humanitarian needs of
the Zimbabwean people. The Secretary-General also urges the enabling of
humanitarian operations in order to allow the provision of assistance to
those in dire need.
BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR RESTRAINT BY
CAMBODIA AND THAILAND ON BORDER ISSUE
The Secretary-General is closely
following the situation on the Cambodia-Thailand border near the Preah
Vihear Temple. He is concerned about the current escalation of tensions
between the two countries, including the buildup of troops.
The Secretary-General calls for restraint on both sides
and hopes that this matter can be resolved peacefully and by diplomatic
means in the context of the excellent relations that traditionally exist
between the two countries.
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES FIRST
PRESIDENT OF NEPAL
The Secretary-General warmly
congratulates Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on his election as the first President
of the Republic of Nepal.
He calls on all parties to cooperate in forming a new
government which will carry forward Nepal’s peace process.
SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS PERIODIC MEETING
ON THE MIDDLE EAST
The Security Council is holding its
periodic
meeting on the Middle East today.
Briefing Council members this morning,
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe highlighted
positive developments, including continuing indirect talks between Israel
and Syria and the decline in violence in Gaza.
But he also expressed concern that Israeli forces have
stepped up their military operations throughout the West Bank. Israeli raids
could affect the efforts of Palestinian security forces to operate
effectively in areas under their control, he warned.
Pascoe noted that the number of truckloads entering
Gaza from Israel, through the Sufa and Karni crossings, increased following
the ceasefire, when compared to the previous month.
But the continued lack of many raw materials and the
ban on exports rule out any significant economic recovery. In addition, the
amount of fuel in Gaza has remained substantially lower than actual needs.
On Lebanon, he said he was particularly heartened by
the announcement of a national unity Government. At the same time, however,
he expressed concern about security incidents in and around the northern
city of Tripoli and their implications for Lebanon’s stability and security.
He also urged Israel to cease its continued air violations, which have been
recorded by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
U.N. SECURITY
OFFICER ASSAULTED BY SUDANESE MILITARY PERSONNEL
UNAMID (African Union-United Nations operation in
Darfur) reported that yesterday afternoon in El Fasher, a UN security
officer was assaulted by military personnel of the Government of Sudan, and
forced into a military vehicle and taken to the military intelligence
office. He has been released and is undergoing treatment at a UNAMID
hospital. The security officer had gone to the market to investigate a road
accident.
UNAMID also reports that mission police conducted their
first helicopter patrols over five camps housing displaced persons in
Darfur.
The three-hour test flight on Sunday was part of a
UNAMID police initiative to use helicopters as an additional means of
transport to reach selected IDP camps as an alternative to long distance
road patrols which have proved to be very risky to the unarmed Police
Advisors.
Meanwhile, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative,
Rodolphe Adada met today with the Governor (Wali) of North Darfur (Mohammed
Osman Yousif Kibir) during which the latter reiterated the commitment of his
Government to provide security and protection to UNAMID and affirmed his
government’s full support and cooperation in the facilitation of the full
deployment of UNAMID.
The Governor also informed the Special Representative
about the visit to Darfur tomorrow by the Sudanese President.
Also tomorrow, 250 Egyptian engineers are expected to
arrive in El Fasher, according to UNAMID.
Asked about the
Secretary-General’s response to a request from the African Union to call
upon the International Criminal Court to suspend its proceedings against
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the Spokeswoman reiterated that the
Secretary-General does not make that decision. Any such request, she
recalled, would need to come from the Security Council.
UNITED STATES
UNDER AUGUST DEADLINE TO REPORT ON MEXICAN-NATIONALS ON DEATH ROW
Earlier today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
said that the United States has until 29 August to file its written
observations on the request for interpretation submitted to the Court by
Mexico regarding the 5 Mexican nationals held on death row in U.S. prisons.
Mexico brought the case against the US charging that
its 5 nationals were not allowed Mexican consular services, in violation of
international agreements signed by both parties.
The Court had earlier ruled that the US was in breach
of its international obligations but some US authorities ignored the ICJ
ruling on technical grounds, prompting Mexico to file a request for
interpretation.
GABON, EQUATORIAL GUINEA MAKES PROGRESS
ON TERRITORIAL DISPUTE
After a meeting organized by the United Nations, Gabon
and Equatorial Guinea this morning said in a joint statement that they have
made substantial progress toward a referral of their territorial dispute to
the International Court of Justice.
Representatives from the two countries came together
yesterday and today at the UN Office in Geneva to work on key documents for
the planned joint submission to the ICJ. The parties have agreed to meet
again on the margins of the General Assembly Debate in New York this
September to finalize the documents.
SECRETARY-GENERAL: MYANMAR PROCESS SHOULD BE CREDIBLE AND INCLUSIVE
In response to
questions, the Secretary-General takes note of the
concerns enumerated in a letter dated 21 July 2008. The Secretary-General
has clearly stated that Myanmar’s process should be a credible and inclusive
one. His Special Envoy has also repeatedly stressed this point, including
when he met with the representative of the National League for Democracy and
others. His Special Envoy intends to further discuss these concerns in his
next visit in August, during which he expects to meet with all stakeholders
in Myanmar's political process.
Also on Myanmar, the Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, arrived
in Myanmar today for a 3-day visit to assess progress in relief and recovery
operations since his visit in late May.
Holmes visited several affected communities in the
Ayeyarwady delta this morning and was able to see how agricultural and other
activities were picking up during an extensive helicopter tour. He noted the
significant progress has been made since his last visit. The focus now, he
said, needs to be on reaching the most vulnerable communities in remote
areas.
Tomorrow, Holmes will meet the humanitarian community
and donors in Yangon. He is set to travel to the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, for
consultations with the Government on Thursday.
Asked why fewer aid flights
are going into Myanmar, the Spokeswoman stressed that aid deliveries were
still continuing, although, now that the emergency phase is over, other
options besides air are being used to transport that aid. She noted that
maritime operations, among other means, were being used more.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY RESUMES RETURN OF
DISPLACED PERSONS OF DR CONGO: Seven months after suspending its work for
security reasons, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has resumed the assisted return
of displaced persons to their homes in the northern Democratic Republic of the
Congo. Some 2,500 displaced Congolese will be ferried across Lake Albert back to
their homes in the town of Gobu, in the Ituri province. Another UNHCR operation
will see in the coming weeks the return of some 7,000 people to the towns of
Komanda and Bunia.
WORLD POSTAL
UNION TO KICK OFF 24TH UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS IN GENEVA TOMORROW:
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) says that email and the Internet, far from
rendering postal services obsolete, have actually complemented them.Speaking to
the press today in Switzerland, UPU Director General Edouard Dayan said that, in
an era of online commerce, postal services have never played a more key role in
commercial trade. Nevertheless, gaps remain between industrialized and
developing countries, he noted. Three per cent of the world’s population still
does not have access to basic postal services; that number rises as high as 12%
in Africa. These and other topics will be taken up tomorrow, when the UPU begins
its 24th Universal Postal Congress in Geneva. The Congress, which takes place
once every four years, runs through 12 August.
AFGHAN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES A CONCERN:
Asked about the recent deaths of civilians in U.S.
air strikes in Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General has
repeatedly expressed his concern about civilian casualties in that country.
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