HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday,
September 17, 2004
U.N.
HUMAN RIGHTS
MISSION TO LEAVE FOR SUDAN TOMORROW
The mission to Sudan
by the
Louise Arbour,
and the ٲ-ұԱ’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide,
, which was
announced
by Secretary-General Kofi
Annan in his on the urgent need for action,
is heading
from Geneva to tomorrow.
The High Commissioner’s Office
today the
aim of the mission would be to look at what more could be done to prevent
further violations so that the people of Darfur no longer had to fear
massacres, rape, forced displacement, and other abuses.
The
mission would last for about a week and was expected to be back in
Geneva by Sunday,
26 September.
After spending a day in Khartoum,
they would go to Darfur, probably to Al Fashir first, on Monday, September
20. The following day,
they would travel to Nyala in south Darfur.
On September
23, they would be going to
Al Geneina, before returning on September
24
to Khartoum where they would have
further debriefings.
dzܰ’s
return to Geneva
from mission would coincide with
the informal one-day meeting of the Commission of Human Rights which would be
held on September 28.
This meeting is meant to
prepare delegations for the debate on human rights in the
of the
, which deals with human rights and humanitarian issues,
later in the year.
The mission
would report to the
,
and the findings would be transmitted through the Secretary-General to the
and would be made public, the High Commissioner’s
spokesman said.
ANNAN URGED SECURITY
COUNCIL TO ACT OF SUDAN DRAFT RESOLUTION
In his
yesterday, the
urged the urged the
to act on the draft resolution for
without delay, and to be as united as possible in the face of this
crisis.
He said,
“This is the first time in the Council’s history that it has ever been seized
under Article
8 of the
, and it seems to me inconceivable that it should fail
to respond.”
The
Secretary-General also said that the draft resolution may require him to
appoint an international commission to decide whether acts of genocide have
been committed.He said he would so with all speed if the resolution is
adopted and that preliminary preparations were being made.
NO SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE
SCHEDULED YET SUDAN DRAFT RESOLUTION
The
met in closed consultations yesterday afternoon during
which they discussed the latest draft resolution on
.
As of midday, Security
Council members were awaiting a revised text of the resolution.
A vote has yet to be scheduled.
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS
MANDATES FOR OPERATIONS
IN SIERRA LEONE, LIBERIA, AFGHANISTAN
The
held there back-to-back meetings this morning during
which they unanimously adopted three resolutions, which extended the mandates
of the UN missions in
and
and the
.
SUFFERING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS
HIGHLIGHTED TO SECURITY COUNCIL
In his
periodic briefing to the
on the situation in the
le East, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast.
said it had been a bad month in the area,
as reflected in the rise
in casualties on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, the resumption of
suicide bombings, the announcement of renewed settlement activity, as well as
stalled Palestinian reform process.
In his
review of the past month, Prendergast highlighted the dire humanitarian
situation and the continued suffering of Palestinian civilians in the West
Bank and Gaza. The current
closures imposed by the Israelis bring Palestinian life to a virtual
standstill and undermine efforts to revive the local economy, he said.
He also
noted the double suicide bombing, claimed by Hamas, in Bersheva which killed
dozens and injured more than hundred. The
has unreservedly condemned such acts of terror,
Prendergast said.
Though it
has been repeated a number of times, and remains true, Prendergast told
Council members, a negotiated settlement remains the only way Palestinians and
Israelis can ultimately put an end to the conflict.
Despite the
fact that both parties continue to fail to meet their minimum obligations, the
Secretary-General remains convinced that the implementation of the
, which was endorsed by the Security Council, remains the only way
forward.
Prendergast
expressed concern at the recent remarks made by Prime
Minister Sharon that Israel
is not following the Road Map, and that Israel might stay in the West Bank
long after any withdrawal from Gaza.
In the
continued void of an active peace process, Prendergast told the Council, the
Israeli withdrawal initiative, if applied in the right way – which includes a
full and total withdrawal of Israeli forces and is fully coordinated with the
Palestinian Authority and the Quartet – could lead Israelis and Palestinians
back to the negotiating table.
Security
Council members continued
their discussion in closed consultations.
UNITED NATIONS COMMITTED TO HELPING
IRAQ HOLD ELECTIONS IN JANUARY
Asked
about the
comments on whether Iraqi elections could be held by the end of January, the
Spokesman said that the ٲ-ұԱ’s comment to BBC was that, if there
is no improvement in security, it would be very difficult, if not impossible,
to hold credible elections in January. He stands by that, Eckhard added.
The
Spokesman said that the United Nations hopes the security situation will
improve, the political situation will become more inclusive and will herald a
return to normalcy.
Asked about
UN assessments of the security situation, the Spokesman said that the UN
presence in Iraq was too limited to assess security nationwide, and it had to
rely on assessments by other parties on the ground. He noted media reports
that indicate the situation is not good.
Nevertheless, he said, the United Nations has been working with the Iraqis,
including on the electoral framework, and would continue to do what it could,
whether inside or outside Iraq.
Asked
whether there was any alternative to the current election plan, the Spokesman
said he was not aware of any. The current plan, he said, was drawn up with UN
input and would provide for fair elections, if security permits.
Asked about
the UN presence in Iraq, he said that Special Representative
had a political office, and there are a number of electoral
workers, humanitarian workers and security staff.
DESERT LOCUST CRISIS IN
WEST AFRICA EXPECTED TO WORSEN
The
(FAO)
that the
crisis in
, Senegal, Mali and Niger is expected to worsen over the next
few weeks, and there’s a serious risk that
will re-invade northwest Africa from October onwards.
FAO says the extent
of the new invasion depends on the success of ongoing control operations in
West Africa, and on the level of rainfall in the coming months.
The financial
situation of the crisis is also far from promising at this stage: FAO
estimates that $100 million is needed to control the outbreaks.
So far, donor
countries have approved a total of $24 million – of which FAO has actually
received only $4 million – it has provided $5 million from its own resources.
FOUR WESTERN COUNTIES IN
LIBERIA DECLARED SAFE
The
(UNHCR)
that the
Government of Liberia has declared four western counties safe for return, two
weeks before the start of one of the largest voluntary repatriation operations
in West Africa.
UNHCR says
the declaration will pave the way home for Liberian refugees in neighbouring
Sierra Leone.
Although
thousands started returning on their own after August 2003, when the departure
of former Liberian president Charles Taylor paved the way for peace, many of
them could not go back to their home areas, which were still unsafe for
return.
These spontaneous returnees are
currently living in internally displaced persons camps near Monrovia.
The
(WFP) says that it was in urgent need of $6.6 million
to buy food to cover needs in Liberia from October to December. WFP warned
that operations would have to be reduced starting October if no funds were
forthcoming.
ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY OF DAMAGE CAUSED
BY HURRICANE
IVAN IN JAMAICA
In Jamaica,
teams from the UN system and the Jamaican Government plus a Venezuelan Rescue
Team conducted a rapid assessment mission to the parishes of Manchester,
Elizabeth and the Blue Mountains, in the wake of
.
The mission
found limited access to clean water, as well as damaged and destroyed houses.
In the Blue Mountains area, landslides have cut off some communities,
preventing access and raising concerns about food supply.
Rapid
assessments are also currently underway in the parishes of Clarendon, Saint
Anne and Westmoreland.
The
warehouse at Kingston airport has experienced major damage and has been found
to not have the capacity to continue receiving relief supplies.
Regarding
the effects of Hurricane Ivan on Cuba, a UN team started a field assessment in
the western area of Pinar del Rio on Wednesday. The results of this assessment
are expected soon.
“PEACE THROUGH SPORTS” DISCUSSED ON
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
To mark the
International Day of AV today,
the Department of Public Information organized a discussion around the theme
of “AV through Sports.”
Nane Annan
opened the proceedings by saying this theme is important because sports
affirms life. Sports, she said, allows children to use their energy to their
fullest and teaches them solve conflicts peacefully through agreed rules. This
is true of all children, she underscored, but especially for those living in
the shadow of war and poverty.
Student
athletes Afghanistan, Kosovo and Sierra Leone engaged in a televised
discussion with American student athletes gathered in an auditorium at UN
Headquarters.
Also
addressing the gathering were Anna Cataldi, UN Messenger of AV, and speed
skater Johan Olav Koss, a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
PLANS FOR
AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REMAIN UNCHANGED:
Asked whether election
plans in
had changed following the attack on President Hamid Karzai, the
Spokesman said that the plans remain unchanged. He added, in response to a
question, that the
had
not commented on that attack.
APPEAL FOR COTE D’IVOIRE REMAINS
SEVERELY
UNDER-FUNDED:
The
(OCHA) reports that
this year’s Consolidated Appeal for Cote d’Ivoire remains under-funded by 83% –
with the
and the
having received no funds to date.On
the other hand, the
(WFP) regional operations are now 78% funded, with a
shortfall of $9.5 million.
MOZAMBIQUE
REQUIRES FOOD AID: In
Mozambique, WFP is planning an assessment mission to parts of the northern
province of Nampula, where people are facing food shortages.
The findings
will build upon a crop and food supply assessment mission earlier this year,
which found that some 187,000 Mozambicans would require food aid until March
next year.
UN REFUGEE
AGENCY RESUMES REPATRIATION OF IRAQI REFUGEES FROM IRAN:
The
(UNHCR)
it has resumed its voluntary repatriation
programme for
refugees in
Iran.The first
convoy in over a month arrived in Basra earlier this week. UNHCR does not
encourage Iraqis abroad to repatriate now, because Iraq is not yet ready to
absorb large numbers of returnees. But its does provide assistance to refugees
in neighbouring countries who insist on returning despite the difficult
conditions in Iraq.
U.N.
COMPENSATION COMMISSION TO MEET NEXT WEEK:
The
of the
will hold its
53rd
session from September
21-23
in Geneva, under the Presidency of
Ambassador Michael Steiner of Germany. During the session, the Council will
consider a number of reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners
mainly concerning claims filed by individuals, and discuss issues relating to
the processing and payment of claims.
URBAN
MIGRATION SEES MORE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO NATURAL HAZARDS:
Growing urban concentrations, the
effects of climate change and environmental degradation are greatly increasing
the vulnerability of the world’s population to natural disasters. According to
the
Secretariat of the
, people are becoming
increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards, and this is because growing numbers
of urban migrants who come looking for better economic opportunities, settle in
exposed stretches of land either on seismic faults, flooding plains or on
landslide prone slopes. More than
254 million people were affected by natural hazards in 2003, an increase of 180%
compared to 1990.
ANNAN SAYS
PROGRESS MADE IN AFRICAN COOPERATION:
The
, in his second report to the
on the
(NEPAD), says that African
countries have made much progress towards implementing that plan, which
emphasizes sustainable development, peace, good governance and regional
integration.
High Commissioner for Human
Rights Louise Arbour and the ٲ-ұԱ’s Special Adviser on the
Prevention of Genocide, Juan Mendez, are to begin a visit to Sudan, to examine
how to protect civilians in Darfur.
At 11:00 a.m.
in the ECOSOC Chamber, the World Commission will launch the Social Dimensions of
Globalization Report, prepared by the International Labour Organization. World
leaders from the North and South will meet to discuss how to create a fair
globalization, and the Secretary-General will speak at the event.
At noon, the
Secretary-General and the President of the Swiss Confederation are to speak at a
ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated GA-200, near the General Assembly
Hall.
At 2:30 p.m.,
a meeting on “Innovative Sources of Finance to Alleviate Hunger and Poverty,”
organized by President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil will begin, with the
Secretary-General attending. Then, at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 4, there will
be a press conference featuring President Lula, and expected also to include the
Presidents of France and Chile and the Prime Minister of Spain, to discuss the
event.
At 4:00 p.m.,
the Secretary-General is to chair a meeting of the Contact Group on Kosovo.
From
3:00-4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 7, there will be a meeting of the Coordination
Mechanism bringing together the National Transitional Government of Liberia, the
United Nations and ECOWAS.
In Geneva,
the first Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention will be held
through Friday.
Tuesday,
September 21
At 8:30 a.m.,
to mark the International Day of AV, the Secretary-General will ring the
AV Bell and deliver comments. Three UN Messengers of AV – Muhammad Ali,
Anna Cataldi and Jane Goodall – will join in the ceremony.
At 10:00
a.m., the General Debate of the 59th General Assembly will begin. The
Secretary-General will speak at the start of the Debate. Then, at 1:15 p.m., the
luncheon of Heads of State and Government attending the Debate will begin, and
the Secretary-General will deliver a toast.
A four-day
treaty event, “Focus 2004,” will begin, in which Member States are to focus on
signing, ratifying or acceding to treaties concerning the protection of
civilians.
The press
conferences for the day will include:
At 11:00
a.m., Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain
At 3:00 p.m.,
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka
At 6:45 p.m.,
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela
At 7:30 p.m.,
Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden
Wednesday,
September 22
At 10:00
a.m., the Security Council will hold a formal meeting at the Ministerial level
on “Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management and AV-Building.” The
Secretary-General will speak at that meeting.
At 1:15 p.m.,
the Secretary-General will host a working luncheon in the Delegates Dining Room
of the Regional Support Group for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From
3:00-5:30 p.m., there will be a meeting of the principals of the Quartet,
including the Secretary-General.
The press
conferences for the day will include:
At 12:45
p.m., Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada
At 2:00 p.m.,
the launch of the World Investment Report
At 4:30 p.m.,
President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador
Thursday,
September 23
At 10:00 a.m., there will be a high-level meeting of the
UN Development Programme’s Executive Board with the Commission on Africa.
From 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Conference Room 5, there will
be a Ministerial Meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The
Secretary-General is to host a luncheon for the Foreign Ministers of the five
permanent members of the Security Council. He is also expected to speak at a
dinner of La Francophonie in the evening, which is being organized by the French
Mission.
The press
conferences for the day will include:
At 10:45
a.m., President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic
At 11:30
a.m., the Friends of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
At 3:00 p.m.,
President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria
At 3:45 p.m.,
President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan
At 6:00 p.m.,
Don McKinnon, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
Friday,
September 24
The
High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change will meet in Tarrytown, New
York. The meeting is one of the periodic ones of the panel members, and is
closed.
The press
conferences for the day will include:
At 11:15 a.m.,
Ambassador Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania, Chairman of the Security Council
Committee on Resolution 1540
At 12:45 p.m.,
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
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