HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARTIN
NESIRKY
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Thursday, January 7, 2010
BAN KI-MOON
ENCOURAGES CYPRIOTS LEADERS TO SHOW COMMITMENT, FLEXIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP
The Secretary-General discussed the upcoming two
intensive rounds of substantive negotiations that the
Cypriot leaders will have this month, in
separate phone calls with the Cypriot leaders today.
He encouraged both leaders to
remain committed and to show flexibility and leadership. He is convinced
that win-win solutions in many different areas are available and he is
confident that together both leaders have the political courage and vision
required to make progress.
The Secretary-General assured
both leaders of the United Nations and his personal support.
DISCUSSIONS AT “ADVANCED STAGE” BETWEEN UNITED
NATIONS AND ISRAEL ON PAYMENTS REGARDING GAZA CLAIMS
In response to a question
that Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had discussed payment to the United
Nations for damages in Gaza with the Secretary-General, the Spokesperson
said that, in July 2009, the United Nations submitted to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Israel a claim for reimbursement for the losses that the
United Nations had sustained in a number of incidents that occurred during
the Gaza conflict (from 27 December 2008 to 19 January 2009).
Since that time, Nesirky said, discussions have
taken place between the United Nations and Israel. Those discussions have
taken place in a very positive atmosphere and are now at a very advanced
stage.
Agreement has been reached in principle on the
terms of an arrangement under which Israel would make a payment to the
United Nations, he said.
The United Nations is now waiting for a green
light from the Government of Israel. Nesirky said that the United Nations
anticipates receiving that green light imminently. When that green light is
given, an agreement will be formalized between the United Nations and Israel
and a payment will be made.
Since the agreement is not yet finalized, he
added, it would not be appropriate to discuss its details. These will be
disclosed when the agreement has been concluded and the payment made.
He added that there are certain inaccuracies in
current press reports on this matter.
Asked further about a recent
phone call between the Secretary-General and Defense Minister Barak, the
Spokesperson said that the arrangements had been one of the topics they
discussed.
SECRETARY-GENERAL INFORMED SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT
THAT HE MAY APPOINT COMMISSION OF EXPERTS
Asked about allegations of human rights
violations that have been made against the Sri Lankan Government, the
Spokesperson said that the United Nations is in regular contact with the Sri
Lankan Government regarding the implementation of the joint statement issued
in May at the conclusion of the Secretary-General’s visit to Sri Lanka.
In that statement, he had underlined the
importance of a comprehensive accountability process for addressing
violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and where the
Government of Sri Lanka undertook to take measures to address grievances of
the victims of the conflict.
The Secretary-General has informed the Government
of Sri Lanka that he is considering the appointment of a Commission of
Experts to advise him further and to assist the Government in taking
measures to address possible violations of international human rights and
humanitarian law. Nesirky said that the establishment of such a commission
is currently receiving detailed consideration by the Secretariat.
Asked about comments made by the Special
Rapporteur dealing with Sri Lanka, Philip Alston, the Spokesperson said that
the Technical Note presented by the Special Rapporteur highlights the need
for a credible, independent and impartial investigation of the allegations
of violations of human rights and international law by all sides in the
conflict in Sri Lanka. The United Nations, and particularly the Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stands ready to assist the
Government in this respect, he added.
Nesirky emphasized that the Secretary-General
would note that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has
repeatedly called for a full, broad, and impartial investigation into
allegations of violations of human rights and international law by all sides
that occurred during the civil war in Sri Lanka.
A full and impartial
investigation into allegations of human rights violations is critical, he
said, if we are to confront impunity and bring perpetrators of such
violations to justice. The United Nations stands ready to assist the
Government in this respect.
BAN KI-MOON TO
HOST RETREAT BETWEEN U.N. AND REGIONAL BODIES TO ENHANCE PEACE AND SECURITY
AROUND THE WORLD
The Secretary-General will host a two-day retreat
starting next Monday, 11 January, outside New York City, which will include
the heads of 14 regional and other organizations. The Secretary-General
intends to host high-level discussions on how the United Nations and these
organizations can enhance their cooperation on peace and security issues.
The
Security Council also intends to hold a thematic debate on UN
cooperation with regional organizations, which is to take place at UN
headquarters next Wednesday, 13 January. The Secretary-General will address
the Council debate, as will some of the participants at the Retreat.
Asked about arrangements for
press coverage, the Spokesperson said that his office would work to make the
participants at the retreat available to the media once they are in UN
Headquarters to attend the Security Council debate.
TOP U.N. OFFICIAL TESTIFIES AT I.C.C. TRIAL OF D.R. CONGO MILITIA LEADER
The Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy,
testified today before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the
case of the indicted militia leader from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo.
Lubanga, the founder and leader of the
Union of Congolese Patriots in the Ituri region, is being tried before the
ICC for the conscription and enlistment of children under the age of 15 and
the use of children for active participation in hostilities.
As requested by the judges,
Coomaraswamy provided observations on the definition of "conscripting or
enlisting" children, bearing in mind a child's potential vulnerability. She
also provided information on the role of girls in armed forces, with a
further explanation of how children could be used to “participate actively
in the hostilities". She was then questioned by representatives of the
Prosecution, the victims and the Defence counsels.
She said the Lubanga trial represented
a crucial precedent in the fight against impunity and will have a decisive
deterrent effect against perpetrators of such crimes.
FLOODS AFFECT
THOUSANDS IN KENYA
The UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
reports that heavy rainfall in Kenya over the
past ten days has caused massive flooding in Northern, Central and Western
Kenya, with an estimated 23,411 people affected. Roads, bridges and other
infrastructure (including school buildings and business premises) have been
damaged.
Thousands more people are feared to be at risk if the heavy rains persist.
Reports indicate that thousands of livestock have been washed away by
floodwater and crops have also been damaged.
General food distribution is required for those affected. UNICEF is
dispatching an inter-agency health kit, enough to assist 30,000 affected
people for one month. Additionally, UNICEF is providing chemicals and
assistance for water purification and sanitation purposes.
NEPAL: YOUNG FORMER FIGHTERS DISCHARGED FROM MAOIST
CANTONMENT
In Nepal, the first group of young Nepali men and women
disqualified from the Maoist army as children or late recruits were formally
discharged today. This marks the first step in the return to civilian life
for thousands who have been living in cantonments since 2006.
At the discharge ceremony in the main Maoist army
cantonment in Sindhuli, central Nepal, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian
Coordinator, Robert Piper, stressed that this is an important milestone in
the ongoing peace process and will speed up other steps laid out in the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
These young people are among 4,008 individuals -
including some 500 below 18 years old - due to be released over the next 40
days. The discharge, scheduled to be completed in 7 cantonments across the
country by mid-February, is part of an Action Plan signed in December 2009
by the Government of Nepal, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist (UCPN-M)
and the United Nations.
Meanwhile, The United Nations
Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) welcomed the formation of the High Level Political
Mechanism (HLPM), a forum dedicated to multiparty dialogue on peace
process-related issues. UNMIN is hopeful that this forum will bring fresh
momentum to the peace process, and remains ready to assist the parties in
achieving their objective.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. NOT NOTIFIED OF REPORTED
PLANNED KOSOVO VISIT BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT:
Asked about reported plans by Serbian President Boris Tadic to visit Kosovo, the
Spokesperson said that the United Nations has not received any notification of
the President’s travel plans.
*** The guests at today’s briefing were Angela Kane,
Under-Secretary-General for Management, and Jayantilal Karia, Deputy Controller,
who briefed on the budget.
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
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