LIBYAN AUTHORITIES MUST STOP ATTACKING CIVILIANS, SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES

 

• The Secretary-General is on his way back from Geneva, where he gave a press conference at the Palais des Nations earlier today.
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• He told reporters that he had spoken by phone on Tuesday evening with Libyan Prime Minister Al Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi and had told him that the Libyan authorities must stop attacking civilians.
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• The Secretary-General said there must be an immediate, verifiable ceasefire, negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers. The Prime Minister agreed to receive the Special Envoy for Libya, Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib, who is to travel to Tripoli as soon as possible.
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• The Secretary-General urged President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to heed the calls of the people for reform and freedom, and to desist from excessive force and mass arrest of peaceful demonstrators.
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• He said that he was disappointed that the UN humanitarian assessment team has not yet been given the access it needs -- and was promised by -- the Syrian authorities. And he again urged Syria to cooperate with the Human Rights Council-mandated mission and grant access to human rights monitors.
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• The Secretary-General added that he was disturbed by the recent violence between Muslims and Copts in Egypt. After the prolonged display of national unity that led to the peaceful transition of power, it is critical that the Egyptian people maintain that unity of purpose to achieve their democratic aspirations.

 

U.N. ENVOY TO SOMALIA BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL

 

• The Security Council received a briefing today on the latest developments in Somalia from the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Augustine Mahiga.
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• Mr. Mahiga told Council members that there is an urgent need to develop a consensus on when and how to hold elections while seeking to defuse the stalemate between the legislative and executive branches of government. He said that the process of political outreach for inclusive dialogue and reconciliation by the Transitional Federal Institutions has stalled since the signing of the Djibouti Agreement.
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• Mr. Mahiga said that he has undertaken another round of initiatives to encourage Somalia’s President, Prime Minister and Speaker to overcome the deadlock between the executive and legislative branches.
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• The Security Council followed its open briefing with closed consultations, also on Somalia.

 

DECADE OF

ACTION FOR ROAD

SAFETY OFFICIAL LAUNCHED

 

• Today is the official launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The Secretary-General, in a message, says that the Decade can help all countries drive along the path to a more secure future.
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• He says that road crashes kill nearly 1.3 million people every year, and leave millions more injured or permanently disabled. Impaired driving, unsafe roads and other dangers shatter lives in a matter of seconds. The Secretary-General calls on Member States, international agencies, civil society organizations, businesses and community leaders and people everywhere to ensure that the Decade leads to real improvements.
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• To mark the launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the Secretary-General and the New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will hold a press conference at Madison Square Park on Thursday.

 

‘SILENT EMERGENCY’ POSED BY POOR NUTRITION IS PREVENTABLE, SAYS U.N. CHILDREN’S FUND

 

• Poor nutrition in the world’s least developed countries constitutes a silent emergency requiring a coordinated global response, according to the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
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• The Fund’s Executive Director, Anthony Lake, said at an event at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Development Countries that 195 million children under the age of five suffer from stunting, caused when a child is deprived of critical nutrition between the period of pregnancy and the first two years of life.
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• But comparatively simple and cost-effective actions by governments can prevent this condition. “It is time for the global community to recognize that nutrition is – and must be – more than a footnote in the food security debate,” said Mr. Lake.

 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS RAISED ISSUE OF PALESTINIAN TAXES HELD BY ISRAEL: The Spokesperson, in response to questions, noted that the Secretary-General, in a recent phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had urged Israel not to stop transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority.

 

RAPPORTEURS HAVE ASKED FOR DETAILS ABOUT BIN LADEN’S DEATH: Asked about the death of Osama bin Laden, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has not formally received any letter from the bin Laden family. He noted that several human rights rapporteurs have asked for more details concerning his death.

 

UNITED NATIONS AWAITS RESPONSE FROM SRI LANKA: Asked about the Government of Sri Lanka’s response to the Panel of Experts report on accountability issues, the Spokesperson said that the Government has said it will provide carefully considered views, which the United Nations would look at.