联合国秘书长

Noon briefing of 26 October 2007

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

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

Friday, October 26, 2007

BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVES BOARD
FOR COORDINATION OF U.N. SYSTEM

  • Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is participating in a two day meeting of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) for coordination of the United Nations System. This is part of his continuing process of harmonizing and rationalizing practices within the system.

  • The Secretary General will lead the CEB discussions on management as well as on Programme issues.

  • The Secretary-General will continue to push for a greater harmonization and realignment of business practices, including in the area of procurement, human resources, audits, accounting and transaction costs.

  • The aim is to make the UN system more effective and coherent in its business practices and to save money. This includes the issue of internal audits.

  • Most of the members of the CEB have their own governing bodies – made up of Member States – who ultimately take the decision, so the aim of this meeting is to decide on the best path to follow to try to harmonize practices within the UN system when it comes to the handling of internal audits and deciding what gets released.

  • This is only the start of a process. The same goes for issues relating to the Ethics office, one of the themes to be discussed at the Board meeting.

  • In this second regular session for 2007, the Board will also discuss programme issues:

  • On the subject of climate change, the board will discuss how the UN system as a whole can best support the broad strategy of combating climate change as the UN system needs to coordinate its efforts in this regard. On climate change, they will also discuss how to make the UN's own practices more climate friendly. For instance, the Secretary-General will push others to follow the secretariat's efforts to make the UN building climate neutral through the implementation of the Capital Master Plan. Agencies, Funds and Programmes should be as carbon neutral as possible.

  • The Deputy Secretary General will brief the CEB on the steering group on Africa recently created by the Secretary General. The goal is to get the entire system to contribute and support this initiative.

BAN KI-MOON IS CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

  • The Secretary-General is concerned about recent political developments that could hinder the functioning of central institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus undermining the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and affecting stability in the region.

  • The Secretary-General reiterates his support to efforts undertaken by the High Representative to improve the efficiency of the central institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and believes that the High Representative acts in the interest of all entities and constituent nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Secretary-General looks forward to receiving a comprehensive report by the High Representative in early November.

  • The Secretary-General encourages political leaders and officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina to exercise maximum restraint, continue to engage in the inter-ethnic dialogue and constructively cooperate with the High Representative.

BAN KI-MOON URGES GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

  • The Secretary-General welcomes the holding in Brussels Friday of the Donors' Round Table on the Central African Republic, to mobilize financial resources for implementation of the country's development programmes. He thanks the European Commission for hosting this important event.

  • The Secretary-General commends the Government of the Central African Republic and its partners for the progress made so far in reforming and revitalizing its economy in order to promote sustainable development.

  • He calls upon the international community to provide generous support to help the country restore lasting peace through inclusive political dialogue, socio-economic development and strengthened national institutions.

  • He reaffirms the readiness of the United Nations to continue to support efforts to stabilize the Central African Republic.

BAN KI-MOON DISCUSSES U.N. ROLE TO MEET GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

  • The Secretary-General yesterday attended a meeting on global health with international leaders and top-level experts from academia, philanthropy, civil society, the private sector and UN entities.

  • The discussion was centered on existing global health challenges and what role the United Nations can and should play in advancing the global health agenda, particularly the health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in light of the growing number of actors and resources invested in this area.

  • In remarks delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General called global health “one of the greatest challenges of our time, but with an enormous scope for solutions”. Despite the unprecedented involvement of health agencies and partnerships, the global health sphere is increasingly complex and fragmented, with no systemic approach, she said.

  • She urged countries to work together better on diseases that cross borders; to find ways to help nations, especially the poorest, improve the life expectancy of women and promote optimal health and longer life expectancy for all; to anticipate future health problems, and to effectively use aid commitments, as well as the expertise of the private sector and civil society.

U.N. ENVOY FOR MYANMAR WRAPS UP JAPAN VISIT

  • The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, today held meetings in Tokyo with Japan’s Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, Vice-Foreign Minister Osamu Uno, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka.

  • Gambari delivered a personal message from the Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, thanking Japan for its continuing support to the U.N. good offices in Myanmar. Gambari and his counterparts discussed the need for the Myanmar Government to seize the current window of opportunity generated by the recent crisis to start dialogue with the opposition without delay and pursue an inclusive process of national reconciliation.

  • They also discussed Japan’s readiness to contribute to international efforts to assist Myanmar in meeting the humanitarian and socio-economic needs of its people as Myanmar takes concrete steps to accelerate its transition to democracy, and to coordinate with other key interested countries in this regard in support of the UN good offices.

  • At UN headquarters, the Secretary-General’s latest report to the General Assembly on the situation of human rights in Myanmar is out as a document.

  • In his observations, the Secretary-General said the tragic events of recent weeks in Myanmar clearly constituted a serious setback for the country, as the Government’s repressive response to the demonstrations comes at a time when Myanmar is striving to move forward towards national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy.

  • The Secretary-General believes that the Myanmar Government should seize the opportunity to take bold actions towards democratization and respect for human rights.

  • He also urged the Myanmar Government to be more responsive to the extremely fragile humanitarian and socio-economic context within which the recent demonstrations and crisis broke out.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON WESTERN SAHARA

  • The Security Council this morning held a meeting with the troop-contributing countries to the UN Mission in Western Sahara. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Western Sahara. Julian Harston, participated in that meeting.

  • The Security Council then held consultations on Western Sahara. Both Harston and the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Peter van Walsum, are briefing on the Secretary-General’s latest report on Western Sahara

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IS WORSENING IN NORTHWEST COLOMBIA

  • The U.N. Refugee Agency is expressing concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Chocó region of northwest Colombia. A UNHCR team just returned from investigating last week’s killing, by an irregular armed group, of six displaced men who were working at a gold mine.

  • UNHCR says this is the latest in a series of abuses against the local population by such groups. UNHCR is concerned that there may be more forced displacements.

  • The area, which is a rainforest rich in mineral and other resources, is also home to both Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities. UNHCR stresses the obligation of the state, under international law, to protect ethnic minorities with a special relation to the land from displacement.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN OFFICE LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOR
REGIONAL NETWORK IN LATIN AMERICA

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today launched a regional network for humanitarian actors and organizations working in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project includes a new Spanish-language website, with up-to-date situation reports, maps, and contact information for use during natural disasters and complex emergencies.

  • The project came about after the realization that whenever there was a humanitarian disaster in Latin America, information was often available only in English. The website is at www.redhum.org.

NEARLY $6 MILLION NEEDED FOR FLOOD VICTIMS IN BURKINA FASO

  • The United Nations has launched a flash appeal for nearly $6 million to help 93,000 people in Burkina Faso.

  • This past summer, the West African nation experienced some of its worst flooding in decades.

  • Immediate relief efforts addressed the most pressing needs, but additional aid is necessary to help people regain their livelihoods and to improve living conditions.

  • The funds will support food security through agricultural programmes, as well as provide health care and safe drinking water and sanitation.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNICEF SAYS TRANSFER ATTEMPT OF CHADIAN CHILDREN "TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE": Regarding the case of the Chadian children that had been stopped from being sent to France to get adopted, UNICEF, along with the UN refugee agency, is helping to ensure that the children's needs are being met. So far UNICEF has distributed high-protein biscuits and toys to the children, and investigations are currently underway to find the children's family members. UNICEF says that what happened in this case was both “illegal and totally irresponsible.” When children are separated from their parents and their communities through natural catastrophes or armed conflicts, it should not be assumed that they no longer have a close relative living, UNICEF adds.

U.N.D.P. SIGNS ACCORD TO REBUILD ELECTRICITY IN NORTHERN IRAQ: The U.N Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a landmark agreement to support the Ministry of Electricity of the Kurdistan Regional Government in its efforts to rebuild electricity networks in Northern Iraq. With its program support facility, UNDP will help distribute $150 million in loans from JBIC to Iraq. UNDP also says it hopes to sign similar agreements with JBIC to support other projects around the world.

AFRICAN COUNTRIES COMMIT TO STRENGTHEN STATE CAPACITIES FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE: Following three days of round-the-clock deliberations, delegates at the Seventh Africa Governance Forum, meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, have agreed on a series of recommendations to boost the efficiency and responsiveness of African governments to deliver essential social services to their people. The “Commitment of Ouagadougou” lays out 11 steps to strengthen the capacities of the state in Africa, including by consolidating the rule of law through ensuring the efficiency, integrity and independence of the judiciary; investing in education; and boosting women’s participation in state-building. The proposals will be presented at the next African Union Summit. The Africa Governance Forum is an initiative of the U.N. Development Programme and was convened by the agency’s Regional Bureau for Africa.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

This document is for planning purposes only and is subject to change

Saturday, October 27

In Sirte, Libya, peace talks on Darfur are scheduled to get underway. The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, will deliver a message, on behalf of the Secretary-General, at the opening of the talks.

From 7 to 10 p.m. at the American Museum of Natural History, the U.N. Environment Programme will present its Sasakawa Prize to Ms. Jeunesse Park of South Africa and the Bangladeshi non-governmental organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha.

Monday, October 29

This morning, the General Assembly plenary will consider the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hold a private meeting with Troop Contributing Countries to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), as well as consultations on UNMIS. It is also expected to adopt a resolution on Côte d'Ivoire sanctions.

Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is scheduled to introduce the Secretary-General’s report on implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction during a meeting of the General Assembly’s Second Committee.

This morning, the General Assembly’s Third Committee is scheduled to hear statements by Mr. Manfred Nowak, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Mr. Walter Kälin, the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons; and Mr. Martin Scheinin, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism. In the afternoon, the Committee is scheduled to hear from Ms. Sima Samar, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, and Mr. Arjun Sengupta, the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the right to development.

From 10 to 11.30 a.m. in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will be a presentation of “The Death Penalty Worldwide – Hands off Cain Report 2007”.

At 11 a.m. in Room S-226, there will be a press conference by Manfred Novak, Special Rapporteur on Torture.

The guest at noon will be B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, who will brief on the Secretary-General’s plans for strengthening the Department of Political Affairs.

At 2 p.m. in Room S-226, there will be a press conference by Martin Scheinin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

At 6 p.m. in the Visitors Gallery, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime; Howard Buffet, President of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation; and Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General, will open a photography exhibit entitled "Human Trafficking: Images of Vulnerability".

Through Wednesday at the U.N. Office at Nairobi, Kenya, the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee will meet with international, regional and subregional organizations to discuss preventing terrorist movement and more effective border security.

Today and tomorrow in Kigali, Rwanda, the Connect Africa Summit will look at ways to expand the continent’s information and communication technology infrastructure, especially Internet broadband.

The 3rd session of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters meets all this week in Geneva.

Tuesday, October 30

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on the Secretary-General’s 1559 Report.

This morning, the General Assembly plenary will consider a draft resolution on the "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba." In the afternoon, it is scheduled to take up the report of the Economic and Social Council.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, there will be an informal, open meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Sierra Leone configuration.

Wednesday, October 31

This morning, the General Assembly plenary is scheduled to take up "Sport for peace and development." In the afternoon it will take up a draft resolution on "Peace, security and reunification on the Korean peninsula."

This morning, the Security Council is scheduled to adopt resolutions on the U.N. Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Greece/FYROM talks, Matthew Nimetz, will meet with representatives of the two parties in New York.

Thursday, November 1

This morning, the General Assembly plenary is scheduled to consider the reports of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

At noon in Room 226, the Secretary-General, the U.N. Development Programme, Google, and Cisco will launch a new online resource to monitor progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

At 3 p.m. in Conference Room 2, there will be a panel discussion on the UN Global Compact and the progress of the U.N.’s voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.

Friday, November 2

At 10 a.m. in Conference Room 2, there will be a panel discussion on Eradicating Poverty through Enterprise, which will address the role that enterprise can play in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Following the noon briefing, Ambassador Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia will brief the press, in his capacity as the President of the Security Council for November, on the Council’s programme of work for the month.