Secrétaire général

Noon briefing of 16 November 2007

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

Friday, November 16, 2007

UNITED NATIONS RUSHES FOOD TO BANGLADESH IN WAKE OF CYCLONE

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that, within hours after Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh, it was able to begin distributing high-energy biscuits to devastated villages and shelters in the southern coastal regions.
  • The nearly 100 metric tons of biscuits will feed 400,000 people over the next three days.
  • As part of WFP’s ongoing operations in Bangladesh to assist some five million people affected by chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, it has extensive operations in all the potentially affected areas, ensuring a quick response to disasters and humanitarian crises.

GEORGIA: BAN KI-MOON EMPHASIZES NEED
FOR RESTORATION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

  • Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the lifting of the state of emergency in Georgia. He emphasizes the importance of the full restoration of freedom of expression and association to allow for a credible electoral process leading to the 5 January 2008 elections.
  • In particular, the Secretary-General looks forward for all media to fully resume normal operations in order to offer all relevant actors equal access in the electoral campaign

DURING VISIT TO LEBANON, SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES
CONTINUED U.N. COMMITMENT

  • The Secretary-General wrapped up his visit to Lebanon today.
  • This morning he met with the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Claudio Graziano. The two discussed recent press stories regarding the continuing presence of UNIFIL in Lebanon. For his part, the Secretary-General stated clearly that UNIFIL will stay in Lebanon as long as necessary and that the international community stands fully behind the Mission and its mandate.
  • The Secretary-General also met with Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir at the Patriarch’s residence. They discussed current challenges facing Lebanon, with the Secretary-General commending the Patriarch's efforts to seek a solution and reiterating that the present opportunity should not be missed.
  • The Secretary-General held additional meetings with other Lebanese leaders, including representatives of the 14 March coalition, Walid Jumblatt, former President Amine Gemayel, Suleiman Franjieh, Samir Geagesa and Mohammad Fneish. In all these meetings, the Secretary-General stated his position very clearly: that he was in Lebanon to help facilitate the political process.
  • Before leaving Lebanon for Spain, the Secretary-General spoke to reporters. He said the whole world was watching Lebanon, as this was a critical time for the country’s future. He added that it was imperative that Lebanon’s Parliament be convened to elect a new President. The election has to take place on time, he said -- in accordance with constitutional rules and without foreign interference and respecting relevant Security Council resolutions.
  • He concluded that this was the time for all Lebanese leaders to put national interest above personal and sectarian interests.
  • Asked if the Secretary-General had met with outgoing President Emile Lahoud, the Spokeswoman said that he had not, noting that the President had met with Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters during a recent visit to New York. She added that, during this short visit, the Secretary-General has met with as many representatives from across the Lebanese political spectrum as he could.

BAN KI-MOON WILL TAKE PART IN LAUNCH OF CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT

  • Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will be in Valencia, Spain, to take part in the launch of the fourth report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
  • This final IPCC report will be a synthesis of the preceding reports. It’s expected to constitute the core source of factual information about climate change for policymakers in the years to come.
  • The launch is taking place at 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. in New York). It will be webcast live on the IPCC’s website, and also archived for later viewing.

SECRETARY-GENERAL IS “ENCOURAGED” BY CAMEROON AND NIGERIA’S
RESPONSE TO BAKASSI PENINSULA ATTACK

  • The Secretary-General is encouraged by the prompt and statesmanlike efforts of the Governments of Cameroon and Nigeria to respond to the attack against a Cameroonian military installation in the Bakassi Peninsula on 12 November.
  • The Secretary-General expresses sincere condolences to the Government and people of Cameroon and in particular to the families of those killed and wounded during the tragic incident.
  • He reaffirms United Nations readiness to continue to support the constructive efforts made by the two countries, notably within the framework of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, to strengthen border cooperation and bilateral relations overall.
  • Meanwhile, the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA) this morning chaired another of the regular periodic meetings of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission to discuss the state of affairs in the transfer of authority on the Bakassi Peninsula.
  • The next meeting of the Commission is expected to take place in early December here at UN Headquarters.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS RAPPORTEUR SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS
MYANMAR GOVERNMENT FOR DETAILS ON DETAINEES

  • The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has ended his visit to Myanmar.
  • Speaking to reporters in Bangkok, he drew attention to the fact that his mission cannot be considered a full fledged fact-finding mission. The conditions for an independent and confidential investigation mission would require a different framework, he said.
  • But he noted the importance of the access he has had to some of the detainees as well as to interview the law enforcement authorities.
  • He has requested a number of crucial details from the authorities regarding, among others, detentions, conditions of detention, numbers of released people, whereabouts of those detained and causes of death. The Government has provided the Special Rapporteur with a number of detailed records that responded partially to his requests. He said he will work on the information provided and continue liaising with the Government on the matter.
  • The Special Rapporteur will elaborate on all the information collected and will prepare a report to the Human Rights Council (HRC).

HOPE FOR RELEASE OF MORE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN PAKISTAN

  • The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, has been released from house arrest in Pakistan.
  • We hope that other human rights defenders who have also been detained during Pakistan’s state of emergency, as well as those who have been imprisoned for peacefully expressing their beliefs, will also be released.

OPIUM REVENUES EQUIVALENT TO HALF OF AFGHANISTAN’S
LEGAL GDP, ACCORDING TO U.N. SURVEY

  • In its latest Afghan Opium Survey, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says the total value of opiates produced in and trafficked from Afghanistan this year has risen to $4 billion. That’s equivalent to more than half the country’s legal GDP.
  • About one quarter of this money is earned by opium farmers; the rest goes in taxes to local officials, and to insurgents, warlords and traffickers, according to the survey.
  • Launching the report in Brussels, UNODC head Antonio Maria Costa called for stronger measures to promote security, development and clean government in Afghanistan. He also urged NATO to take a more active role in counter-narcotics.

U.N. RWANDAN TRIBUNAL SENTENCES FORMER KIGALI MAYOR
TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON

  • The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has sentenced Juvenal Rugambarara, a former mayor of Kigali, to 11 years in prison after his guilty plea on one count of extermination as a crime against humanity.
  • ICTR judges ruled that he will receive credit for time served since he was taken into custody in August 2003. They also said that due consideration was given to the seriousness of the crime and to the remorse expressed by Rugambarara in reaching this verdict.

DR CONGO: DISPLACED PEOPLE RETURNING TO U.N.-RUN CAMPS

  • The UN Refugee Agency says that thousands of internally displaced Congolese who had fled their camps in a panic caused by gun violence earlier this week have been flowing back to the UN-run facilities near Goma, in the North Kivu province.
  • As of yesterday, some 20,000 people had returned to the camps, the Agency says, adding that this amounts to some 80 percent of those who had fled.
  • UNICEF and Save the Children, in collaboration with the U.N. Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) have secured the release of 232 children from Mayi Mayi forces. The children had been held by the forces in North and South Kivu.
  • Asked if there would be a follow-up, including a possible war crime prosecution, in the case of these child soldiers, Montas noted that the main priority right now was to ensure the children a smooth reinsertion into society, while further investigations are pursued on the circumstances of their abductions.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME HEAD URGES GREATER EFFORTS TO HELP WEST AFRICA’S POOR: Josette Sheeran, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), has urged the international community to take firmer action to help West Africa’s rural poor -- who are struggling against climate change, rising food prices and population growth. Sheeran was speaking at a press conference in Dakar at the end of a four-day visit to Senegal and Mali.

UNITED NATIONS. OFTEN INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER PIRATE-HELD SHIPS OFF SOMALIA: Asked to confirm news reports that UN "forces" were involved in securing the recent release of pirate-held ships off the coast of Somalia, Montas later said that no UN "forces" were involved. She noted, however, that because cargo ships sailing along the Somali coast often carry UN humanitarian goods, UN officials were often involved in negotiations to secure the crews' release as well as the release of their cargo, whenever they were detained by pirates.

**The guest at noon was Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, who briefed on the recent cyclone in Bangladesh.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS<![if !supportFootnotes]>[1]<![endif]>

Saturday, November 17

In Valencia, Spain, the Secretary-General takes part in the launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s "Synthesis Report", the fourth and final installment of the Fourth Assessment Report titled "Climate Change 2007".

The Deputy Secretary-General is in Jerusalem, Israel, to attend an international conference on “Women’s Leadership for Sustainable Development”. On Monday, she travels to the occupied Palestinian territory, before continuing on to Geneva, where she will address the 16th Session of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Wednesday.

Through 21 November, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guéhenno will be in China for high level discussions with Chinese officials and to attend a China-ASEAN Seminar.

Through 21 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour visits Afghanistan.

Sunday, November 18

Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Monday, November 19

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on Somalia.

This morning, the General Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary meeting on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations.

At 12.30 p.m. in Room S-226, there will be a press conference by Cihan Sultanoglu, the UN Development Programme’s Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, on the activities of UN agencies in the Chernobyl-affected areas.

Through 15 December, an online discussion on Women in Leadership Roles takes place at www.un.org/womenwatch/forums/leadership.

Tuesday, November 20

This morning, Under-Secretary-General John Holmes is scheduled to brief the Security Council during an open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Mr. Holmes will also speak at the press stakeout afterwards.

All day today and tomorrow in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, the 2007 Parliamentary Hearing on “Reinforcing the rule of law in international relations: The key role of Parliaments” takes place.

At 11 a.m., at UNICEF’s Danny Kaye Visitors Centre, UNICEF will formally announce the appointment of Ishmael Beah, former child soldier, youth activist and author of international bestseller A Long Way Gone, as UNICEF Advocate for Children Affected by War.

From 12 noon to 1.30 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, the launch of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings takes place.

At 12:30 p.m. at the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, the U.N. Staff and Recreation Council Aux Antilles Club is screening The Price of Sugar, a documentary directed by Bill Haney and narrated by Paul Newman about the working conditions of Haitian sugar cane workers in the bateys.

From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in UNICEF’s Labouisse Hall, there will be a roundtable discussion on “Protecting the World’s Children: Impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Diverse Legal Systems”

From 4.30 to 6 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, the U.N. Population Fund presents the Eleventh Rafael M. Salas Memorial Lecture on “Investing in maternal health to achieve the Millennium Development Goals: Lessons from Africa for the world”.

Through 23 November in Geneva, the World Health Organization holds an intergovernmental meeting on pandemic influenza preparedness to discuss the sharing of influenza viruses and the benefits of such cooperation, which include access to vaccines.

Today is Africa Industrialization Day, as well as Universal Children’s Day.

Wednesday, November 21

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to adopt a resolution on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At 11 a.m. in Room 6 of the Delegates Dining Room, the International Year of Sanitation will be launched by the Secretary-General, along with Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang; His Royal Highness Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange; UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman; and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and singer Angelique Kidjo.

The guest at noon will be Fatou Bensouda, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who will provide updates on the court’s current trials and investigations.

From today through 7 December in the North East Gallery, there will be an exhibit on “Palestine: A Continuing Legacy", featuring traditional Palestinian costumes and embroidery.

Today is World Television Day.

Thursday, November 22

U.N. Headquarters is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Friday, November 23

At UNESCO headquarters in Paris, there will be an information meeting on the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.