Noon briefing of 11 August 2011

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING

BY VANNINA MAESTRACCI, ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

THURSDAY, 11 AUGUST 2011

SECRETARY-GENERAL: YOUTH ARE SHOWING GROWING RESOLVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD

• The Secretary-General attended the opening of the Global Model United Nations conference in the city of Incheon, in the Republic of Korea, today.
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• He told hundreds of students from more than 60 countries that they should never underestimate the power of the individual to make a difference. He said the young generation was showing a growing resolve to change the world – and a capacity to make things happen, through peaceful means.
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• The Secretary-General also spoke to the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul and later to an audience of school and university students in Incheon. He told the Korean students to look beyond their own borders and to become global citizens.
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• At the Chamber of Commerce, he urged major Korean business leaders to help support the work of the United Nations, and urged the Government to boost its overseas development assistance to be more in line with the country's economic importance.

LIBYA: SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS PRIME MINISTER HE IS TROUBLED BY LACK OF POLITICAL PROGRESS

• The Secretary-General spoke by telephone on Wednesday with the Prime Minister of Libya.
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• The Secretary-General expressed his concern about the loss of innocent civilian lives as a result of the fighting and the lack of medical supplies and fuel, which added greater urgency to the need to address the humanitarian needs of the Libyan people.
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• The Secretary-General told the Prime Minister he was very troubled that there had been an absolute lack of progress in the efforts to find a politically negotiated solution to the crisis in Libya, despite the efforts of his Special Envoy. He said all sides must commit to a political process. He urged the Prime Minister to respond constructively to the Special Envoy’s ideas on this topic.

U.N. ENVOY ALARMED OVER ISRAELI ANNOUNCEMENT TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN EAST JERUSALEM

• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, expressed alarm at the announcement by the Government of Israel that it would develop new housing units in East Jerusalem.
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• If confirmed, this provocative action undermines ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the parties back to negotiations and shape a positive agenda for September.
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• Mr. Serry noted that this announcement comes only one week after a separate decision by the Government of Israel regarding the construction of additional housing units in another settlement in East Jerusalem, which was widely criticized by the international community. The Special Coordinator will engage with Quartet partners on this issue.

U.N.: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE FRAGILE

• The UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) says that the human rights situation in the country is still fragile despite an improvement of the security conditions.
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• In the last month, the Mission’s Human Rights Division has recorded more than 100 violations of human rights, including 26 extrajudicial or summary executions. Eight mass graves were also found in the Yopougon district of Abidjan.
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• The Human Rights Division of the Mission is also concerned about the violent clashes between the Forces Republicaines de Côte d’Ivoire and some young people, in villages around Abidjan and elsewhere.
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• The Mission also led assessment missions concerning the detention of Laurent Gbagbo. It says it had some concerns concerning the conditions under which Gbagbo and his wife were detained. Recommendations in this regard will be transmitted to the Ivorian authorities.

U.N. ENVOY CONCERNED OVER ATTACKS ON PEACEKEEPERS IN SUDAN

• Over the last two days, the Joint Special Representative for the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Ibrahim Gambari, has met with officials of the Government of Sudan, in Khartoum.
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• Mr. Gambari said he had told the officials, which included the Foreign Minister, that the Mission would fully respect the sovereignty and integrity of the country while working with all parties to implement the Mission’s mandate.
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• The Joint Special Representative also noted with concern the increased number of peacekeepers being attacked and killed in the course of their duties, and he called on the Government of Sudan to do its utmost to bring the perpetrators to justice.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF BEGINS KENYA VISIT ON FRIDAY: The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, will arrive in Kenya on Friday for a three-day visit. During her mission, she will meet with humanitarian organizations covering Kenya and Somalia, to understand the challenges in responding to the crisis, and she is also scheduled to visit Dadaab camp.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONTINUES TO MONITOR SITUATION IN SYRIA: Asked about the format of the Security Council’s Wednesday discussion on Syria, the Spokesperson said that Council members had agreed to hold closed consultations on that topic. She added that the Secretary-General was continuing to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.