ARCHIVES
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON
FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
THURSDAY, 26 MAY 2011
SECRETARY-GENERAL
WELCOMES ARREST OF RATKO MLADIC, FORMER REPUBLIKA SRPSKA COMMANDER
- The Secretary-General welcomes today’s
arrest of Ratko Mladić,
former Commander of the army of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He commends President Boris Tadic and the Serbian authorities for this significant
step toward ending impunity for those indicted for serious violations of
international humanitarian law during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
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- The Secretary-General’s thoughts today are
first and foremost with the victims and their families, who have waited
almost sixteen years for Mr. Mladić to be
brought to justice for crimes including those committed at Srebrenica.
This is a historic day for international justice and for the world’s
collective fight against impunity.
It sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have
committed crimes against humanity may try to evade justice but they will,
in the end, be held accountable.
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- This important arrest will enable the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to move closer to completing its
mandate. Ending impunity is essential for reconciliation, sustainable peace
and justice in the region.
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- For its part, the Tribunal’s Prosecutor,
Serge Brammertz, welcomed the arrest of Mr. Mladić, who was a fugitive from justice for
nearly 16 years. He is charged with
genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of
war.
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- The Prosecutor said the Tribunal awaits
arrangements for the transfer of Mr. Mladić
to The Hague
to stand trial. Mr. Mladić’s arrest is significant for all people in
the former Yugoslavia,
the Prosecutor said, adding that it can have a positive impact on
reconciliation in the region.
NEXT ROUND OF INFORMAL WESTERN SAHARA TALKS TO BE HELD NEXT MONTH
- As agreed during the sixth round of
informal talks on Western Sahara in March, delegations of the parties to
that conflict – Morocco and the Frente Polisario – and the neighbouring
states – Algeria and Mauritania – will gather for a seventh round of
informal talks from 5 to 7 June 2011 in Greentree,
Long Island.
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- This meeting will take place at the
invitation of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Christopher Ross, within the
mandate provided by the UN Security Council for UN-led negotiations.
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- During the upcoming talks, the first to be
held since issuance of the Secretary-General's latest report on Western
Sahara and the approval of Security Council Resolution 1979 renewing the
mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO),
the parties will, as previously agreed, further deepen their discussion of
their respective proposals on a settlement and will also examine possible
measures of conciliation and the avoidance of acts of provocation.
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- They will also have the opportunity to
review the status of confidence building measures, engage in a preliminary
examination of the specific topic of demining,
and identify additional innovative approaches and specific topics for
future discussion.
SECRETARY-GENERAL IN FRANCE TO ATTEND G-8 SUMMIT
- The Secretary-General is on en
route to Deauville, France, where he will take
part in the G-8 Summit. The Secretary-General will participate in sessions
of the G-8 Outreach Programme and is expected to meet with a number of
leaders attending the Summit.
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- He has already met with the
President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, on his way to Deauville.
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- This morning, in Paris, the
Secretary-General addressed
the launch of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s
Global Partnership
for Girl's and Women's Education and its High Level Panel, together with
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UNESCO Director-General
Irina Bokova.
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- The Secretary-General said that investing
in education for women and girls enriches them while creating a more
productive workforce. Education provides the fuel to ignite global
progress, he added.
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- Asked about the UN’s role at the G-8
summit, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General is in attendance
to ensure that the voices of those countries who are not members of the G-8
are heard. Although he does not sit at the table when the G-8 leaders
meet, he will speak at several outreach sessions.
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- Nesirky added that the
Secretary-General has played a similar role during G-20 summits, such as
those in Toronto and Seoul, and will continue to do so.
SUDAN: SITUATION IN AND AROUND ABYEI STILL VOLATILE, U.N.
REPORTS
- The Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) report that the
situation in and around Abyei remains volatile
and tense.
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- The Sudan Armed Forces maintain their
presence in the town, and a large number of Misseriya
militia has also been reported. The
Sudan Armed Forces is in control of the area up to the River Kiir and sporadic fighting south of Abyei is still reported. However, looting and burning
of property continues.
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- The UN has repeatedly made it clear to
commanders from all levels from the Sudan Armed Forces, including the
Officer in Charge on the ground, that by virtue of being in control of the
area, the Sudan Armed Forces is responsible for stopping the looting and
arson and bringing those responsible to justice.
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- Unfortunately, so far the UN has not seen
sufficient steps taken by the Sudan Armed Forces to stop it or hold those
responsible accountable for it.
Yesterday, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and UN agencies conducted
road and air assessments, which indeed confirmed the heavy presence of
armed men.
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- Tens of thousands of displaced people from
the Abyei area have arrived in various locations
in southern Sudan,
and assessments of displaced communities are underway. Initial findings indicate that the most
urgent needs are food and water, while the recent heavy rains have already
increased the risk of water borne diseases.
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- However, identifying the precise locations
and numbers of people that have moved south of Agok
remains very challenging, with many groups still on the move or
hiding. Assessments are hampered by
limited access to the area and the heavy rains.
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- The Special Representative of the
Secretary-General, Haile Menkerios,
has been in touch with the leadership on both sides, as was President Thabo Mbeki of the African Union’s High-Level Implementation
Panel on Sudan,
to contain the situation, and bring the parties back to the table. The National Congress Party (NCP) has agreed
to withdraw forces from the area, but only after new security arrangements
for the Abyei area are agreed to by both sides.
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- No timetable for this agreement has so far
been agreed between the parties.
The Panel will introduce a proposal for new security arrangements
allowing for a withdrawal of Sudan Armed Forces during the post-referendum
negotiations on security arrangements scheduled to restart this Saturday
in Addis Ababa.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
U.N. PEACEKEEPERS SET TO BE MARKED TOMORROW
- The International Day
of United Nations Peacekeepers will be commemorated tomorrow.
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- Events at UN Headquarters include a
wreath-laying ceremony in honour of fallen
peacekeepers overseen by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose
Migiro.
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- Ms. Migiro
will also preside over a ceremony during which Dag Hammarskjöld Medals
will be awarded posthumously to the military, police and civilian
personnel who lost their lives in 2010 while serving in peacekeeping operations.
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- Assistant Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operatoins Dmitry
Titov, DPKO Police Adviser Ann-Marie Orler and Chief of DPKO’s
Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Service Robert Pulver
will brief reporters.
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- Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy will award medals to military and
police officers.
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- A multi-media exhibit will also
be unveiled, highlighting efforts to enhance rule of law in peacekeeping
operations.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. TEAM TO PROVIDE ELECTORAL SUPPORT TO LIBYA IF ASKED: Asked about Libya, the Spokesperson said that
there is a team within the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) which will provide electoral
support for the country if asked to do so.
Asked about the UN’s
contact with the opposition, Nesirky noted that the
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Abdel-Elah al-Khatib, met with representatives of the Transitional
National Council in Doha
recently.
U.N. AGENCY URGES VIGILANCE FOR DEADLY PIG
DISEASE: The Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns of an
imminent upsurge of the deadly African pig disease in the Caucasus region and Russia,
urging concerted international efforts to prevent its spread. FAO says that
countries need to be on alert and to strengthen their preparedness and
contingency plans.
Office of the
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY
10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
