Noon briefing of 15 July 2011
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING
BY MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
FRIDAY, 15 JULY 2011
POLITICAL SOLUTION NEEDED TO END LIBYAN CRISIS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, represented the
Secretary-General in Istanbul today at a meeting
of the International Contact Group on Libya.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The meeting also
received briefings by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya,
Abdul-Ilah Al-Khatib, and his Special Adviser for Post-Conflict Planning, Ian
Martin.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>In his message to the
meeting, the Secretary-General appealed to the international community to
support the efforts of Special Envoy Al-Khatib and send a unified message to
both parties, urging them to engage in direct negotiations through the
Secretary-General’s “good offices” to break the current impasse.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>As we have stressed in
the past, the Secretary-General said, there is no military solution to the
crisis. There must be a political
solution.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>The Secretary General also expressed serious concern about severe shortages in food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as lack of access to water services in Libya. He said he hoped that the international community will step in and provide urgent humanitarian aid. He also said he urges the Libyan parties to allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
TOP U.N. POLITICAL OFFICIAL TO TRAVEL TO EGYPT, TUNISIA
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Under-Secretary-General
for Political Affairs
B. Lynn Pascoe will travel from 16-18 July to Egypt to hear from Government and
non-governmental groups, including youth, about the state of the democratic
transition and to discuss how the UN can support further progress in that
transition.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Mr. Pascoe will then travel to Tunisia from 18-19 July for discussions on the democratic transition in that country and UN assistance, including on elections.
IN FINLAND, BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTION
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The Secretary-General is in Finland today, where he met with
President Tarja Halonen and spoke at a forum on sustainable development.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>He said that ecosystems are under strain, and
the global thermostat is running high. Climate change is a growing threat to
people and economies worldwide. Our old model of growth is not only obsolete,
the Secretary-General said, it is also dangerous.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>He called for a
revolution in favour of sustainable development, in which we could have a green
economy, driven by business, supported by governments, and embraced by
citizens.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>The Secretary-General said there is no time to waste, which is why climate change has been a top priority.
U.N. RELIEF CHIEF BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON SOUTH KORDOFAN
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>This morning, the
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs, Valerie Amos, briefed the Security Council in consultations and
expressed concern about the situation of people in South
Kordofan.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The Council also discussed the UN Regional
Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>In response to a
question on Sudan, the
Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General had stressed the need for
partnership and continued dialogue between Sudan
and South Sudan. The Secretary-General had
also said that the spirit that lead to the independence of South
Sudan should continue, added Nesirky.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Asked about a United Nations report on violence in South Kordofan, the Spokesperson said that the report was not yet finalized or public. The Spokesperson added that this was a report from the Human Rights division of the former UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and covered the period between 4 June and the end of that month.
HEAD OF U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY WELCOMES KENYAN DECISION TO OPEN NEW CAMP
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The High Commissioner
for Refugees, António Guterres, has welcomed Kenya’s decision to open the Ifo Two refugee
camp near its border with Somalia.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
says this move will ease congestion at the Dadaab Refugee Complex, where some
1,300 Somalis fleeing drought and conflict have been arriving each day.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>As of Wednesday, the
total refugee population in and around Dadaab was 380,000 people.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Meanwhile, 100 tonnes of tents from the UNHCR stockpiles in Kuwait are expected to be flown into Nairobi on Sunday. And then over the next two weeks an additional 600 tonnes of tents will arrive in Kenya.
U.N. ENVOY CONGRATULATES SOMALI POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ON COMMITMENT TO PEACE PACT
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, has
congratulated Somalia’s political leadership, and, in particular, the
President, the Speaker as well as the Parliament, for demonstrating their
commitment to peace through the Kampala Accord and the quick parliamentary
ratification of that Accord.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Mahiga said he looked
forward to the nomination and endorsement of a representative, efficient and
widely accepted Cabinet in the near future.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>The Special Representative also highlighted the importance of the upcoming Consultative Meeting on Ending the Transition, which meeting should be held in Somalia before the end of the current Transitional Period on 20 August and should put forward a Roadmap for the next year.
U.N. MARKS NELSON MANDELA DAY
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Monday, 18 July, is Nelson Mandela’s 93rd
birthday. On this occasion, UN officials and staff will gather in New York’s Central Park
to perform public service to mark Nelson Mandela International Day 2011.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>The ‘Take Action! Inspire Change’ campaign asks
people everywhere to devote 67 minutes of their time to a community-based
activity. This is in recognition of Mr.
Mandela’s 67 years of service to humanity.
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]>
<![endif]>
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>An interactive exhibit called ‘Take Action! Inspire Change’ will also be on display in the Visitors Entrance at UN Headquarters.
*** Ivan Šimonovi3;, Assistant Secretary-General of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York, was the guest at the Noon Briefing.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
16 - 22 JULY 2011
Saturday, 16 July
Today, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Chaloka Beyani, will begin a visit to the Maldives.
Sunday, 17 July
Today is the World Day for International Justice.
Monday, 18 July
Today is Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.
At 11 a.m., the Security Council will be briefed and hold consultations on the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).
Today, in Geneva, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark will speak at the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Today, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Seminar on International Trade Law and Policy will begin in New York. It will end on 22 July.
Today, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, will begin an official mission to Madagascar.
Tuesday, 19 July
Today, the Secretary-General will attend the WTO’s Global Review of Aid for Trade in Geneva.
This morning, the Security Council will receive a briefing and hold consultations on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
Today, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark will begin a week-long visit to Guinea and Niger where she will highlight the lessons learned from those countries in transitioning from crisis to recovery.
Wednesday, 20 July
This morning, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the impact of climate change.
Thursday, 21 July
This morning, the Security Council will hold consultations on the 1701 report and the 751/1907 Committee concerning Somalia and Eritrea.
Friday, 22 July
This morning, the Security Council will receive a briefing and hold consultations on African Union-United Nations operation in Darfur (UNAMID).