Noon briefing of 29 April 2011

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES NEPALESE PARTIES TO REACH CONSENSUS BEFORE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE

• With Nepal's constitutional deadline less than one month away, the Secretary-General urges all parties in Nepal to exert the utmost effort in reaching consensus on outstanding issues, including the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel and fundamental issues regarding the new constitution.
  

• Nepal's peace process has already delivered significant achievements. However, the process remains overdue and incomplete due to continuing differences among the parties.
  

• At this decisive point in the process, the Secretary-General calls on all parties to exercise maximum flexibility in seeking a common political ground to enable them to fulfil their commitments, including the adoption of a new constitution by the Constituent Assembly.
  

• The United Nations will continue to support the parties in their efforts.

MOROCCO: SECRETARY-GENERAL, SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMN MARRAKECH BOMBING

• In a statement issued late Thursday, the Secretary-General said he was appalled by the bombing in Marrakech, which killed and injured Moroccans and foreign nationals. He reiterated his firm rejection of the use of indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians. The Secretary-General maintains that no political objective justifies or is served by such heinous acts.
  

• In their own statement to the press, the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Marrakech. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

YEMEN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE, EMPHASIZES NEED FOR DIALOGUE

• The Secretary-General on Thursday expressed his concern about the violent clashes earlier this week in Yemen and welcomed the efforts being made to promote a peaceful transition that will be acceptable to all.
  

• He appeals to all concerned in Yemen to exercise utmost restraint and desist from provocative acts. The Secretary-General emphasizes that broadly inclusive political dialogue and mutual understanding are critically important for overcoming the current crisis and preserving the country's unity and integrity.
  

• The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Yemeni authorities to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and abide by international human rights obligations.

LIBYA SPECIAL ENVOY TO MEET OPPOSITION; CLASHES ESCALATE AT TUNISIAN BORDER

• The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib, travelled to Benghazi today to meet with representatives of the Libyan opposition.
  

• On Thursday, the Special Envoy met in Ankara with the Turkish Foreign Minister and in Rome with the Italian Foreign Minister to discuss the ongoing crisis in Libya in the framework of the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.
  

• Next week, the Special Envoy will brief the Security Council about his activities in support of a peaceful solution for the Libyan conflict.
  

• The Spokesperson added that Mr. Khatib did not visit Tripoli in recent days.
  

• Asked about Ian Martin’s role, Nesirky said that he would be working on the planning for the post-transition period in Libya.
  

• Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is very concerned that people fleeing Libya could be caught in the crossfire, as Government and opposition forces battle for control in the border area with Tunisia.
  

• Escalating clashes at the Dehiba border crossing between Libya and Tunisia has stopped the outflow of refugees from Libya’s Western Mountains, the Agency reports.
  

• Before the fighting intensified on Thursday, there were long lines of vehicles packed with families lining up to cross into southern Tunisia.
  

• There was a renewed exodus of Libyans crossing from the impoverished Western Mountains region in recent days. More than 3,000 people crossed the border on Wednesday alone.
  

• The World Health Organization (WHO) says that its partner organizations in Libya are reporting a critical shortage of nurses, doctors and surgeons. Patients are being sent home before they have fully recovered.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME LAUNCHES EMERGENCY OPERATION IN D.P.R.K.

• The World Food Programme (WFP) is launching an emergency operation to respond to the urgent hunger needs of the 3.5 million vulnerable people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
  

• WFP says it is commencing its operation because Government rations were currently providing only half of people’s daily food needs.
  

• UNICEF has launched a $20 million appeal to prevent chronic malnutrition in the country from developing into acute malnutrition.
  

• UNICEF says that its assistance will focus on the five most food insecure provinces with the highest rates of malnutrition.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

FRANCE TO ASSUME MAY PRESIDENCY OF SECURITY COUNCIL: Over the weekend, France will assume the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. The French Permanent Representative, Ambassador Gerard Araud, is expected to brief the press on the Council’s programme of work on 3 May, at 12:30.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS DEPUTY CHIEF OF UNICEF: The Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Geeta Rao Gupta, a United States national born in India, as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Ms. Geeta Rao Gupta will succeed Mr. Saad Houry. Before becoming a Senior Fellow, Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms. Rao Gupta served for over a decade as the President of the International Center for Research on Women.

NO FORMAL RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM SRI LANKA ON REPORT: Asked about a response to the Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations has not seen an official response from the Government of Sri Lanka. The United Nations would wait for a formal response from the Government, as it made clear in earlier statements. The Secretary-General, Nesirky noted, had said that Member States can see the report and is sure that all Member States will take it seriously and act accordingly.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

30 APRIL – 6 MAY 2011

Saturday, 30 April

There are no major events scheduled for today.

Sunday, 1 May

Today, France will assume the monthly rotating presidency of the Security Council.

Today, Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Progarmme (UNDP), will begin a week-long visit to Zambia and Angola. In both countries, she will meet with senior officials, women’s groups, civil society and other partners, as well as visit UNDP projects.

Monday, 2 May

At 11:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference with Sha Zhukang, Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, on the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Today, the 19^th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development begins in Conference Room 4 of the North Lawn Building (NLB). It will run until 13 May.

Today, Najat Maalla M’jid, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, will begin a visit to Mauritius. The visit will end on 11 May.

Tuesday, 3 May

Today is World Press Freedom Day.

At 11:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference with Hania Zlotnik, Director of the Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, on the “World Population Prospects: 2010 Revision.”

Today, the 186^th meeting of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) begins in Paris. It runs until 19 May.

Wednesday, 4 May

At 10:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference to launch the Watchlist report entitled, “An Uncertain Future? Children and Armed Conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR).” The press conference is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Canada.

At 1:00 p.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference with Jânis Kârklins, Assistant Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on World Press Freedom Day.

At 1:45 p.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference with Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Today, there will be a press briefing on the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Brussels. Paola Albrito of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) will be among the participants.

Thursday, 5 May

At 11:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a press conference to launch the flagship report of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), entitled “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2011.” Participants will include Jomo Sundaram, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Friday, 6 May

At 10:00 a.m., in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Conference Room of the NLB, the IV Ministerial Forum for Development, organized by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, will be held.