HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY HUA JIANG
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, November 29, 2002
SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY MOMBASA ATTACKS
- A statement issued today said that Secretary-General Kofi was appalled by the suicide bomb attack on Thursday on a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, in which at least 13 people were killed and many injured, and by the apparent attempt, also Thursday in Mombasa, to shoot down an Israeli civilian aircraft.
- The Secretary-General was relieved that a greater catastrophe was avoided. He condemned these terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Governments of Kenya and Israel.
- The Secretary-General is utterly opposed to all acts of terrorism, from whatever quarter. He is strongly convinced that the attacks in Kenya once again underscore the need for a broad and sustained strategy to fight the scourge of terrorism.
- The Director of the UN Office in Nairobi, Klaus Toepfer, condemned Thursday’s attack in Mombasa and reaffirmed that the United Nations will work closely with the Kenyan authorities to ensure security for all, including UN staff.
- Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, wrote to Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi to express her heartfelt sympathy to the Kenyan people for “the human and material losses caused by the vicious and cowardly terrorist bombings.”
ANNAN CONDEMNS THURSDAY ATTACK IN NORTHERN ISRAEL
- A statement issued today said that the Secretary-General is dismayed by the attack Thursday in the Israeli town of Beit She’an, in which Palestinian gunmen killed six Israelis and wounded many others. He reiterated his utter condemnation of such terrorist acts against civilians, which are extremely harmful to the Palestinian cause.
- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Terje Roed-Larsen also condemned in the strongest possible terms the attack in Beit She'an. He sent his profound condolences to the families of the murdered and injured victims and reiterated his urgent call to Palestinians to renounce all forms of violence, which continue not only to harm the prospects of a political solution to the conflict, but also legitimate Palestinian national ambitions.
ANNAN REPORTS DETERIORATION OF PEACE, TRUST IN MIDDLE EAST
- The Secretary-General’s report to the General Assembly and Security Council on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, issued today, notes that, over the past year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deteriorated further, eroding many of the achievements of the peace process.
- The report says that, since the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000, more than 1,800 Palestinians and more than 600 Israelis have been killed, with some 25,000 Palestinians and 4,000 Israelis injured.
- The Secretary-General writes, “It is a matter of particular regret to me that so little remains of the mutual trust that had been so painstakingly built by the parties,” and he called for regular and consistent third-party involvement to help the parties break out of the vicious cycle of destruction. He says, “Illegitimate or illegal means cannot be justified by reference to legitimate objectives – whether they be an end to occupation and statehood for Palestinians or security for Israelis.”
- That report will be presented to the General Assembly this afternoon.
- This morning in the Trusteeship Council Chambers, UN chef de cabinet Iqbal Riza read out a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, noting that the human and material losses suffered by the Palestinians over the past two years have been “nothing short of catastrophic.”
- However, the Secretary-General’s message goes on, despite the descent into a seemingly endless cycle of killing and destruction, a parallel process of diplomatic and political progress has taken place. The Secretary-General emphasizes that sustainable progress can only be achieved if simultaneous steps are taken on the security, economic, humanitarian and political aspects of the conflict.
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Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162 – press/media only
Fax. 212-963-7055
Document Type: Note
Document Sources: Secretariat, Secretary-General
Subject: Casualties, Middle East situation, Palestine question
Publication Date: 29/11/2002
Document Sources: Secretariat, Secretary-General
Subject: Casualties, Middle East situation, Palestine question
Publication Date: 29/11/2002