United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-07-14

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

UN ENVOY FOR IRAQ HOLDS FIRST TALKS AT UNITED NATIONS

Secretary-General Kofi Annans Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, is expected at UN Headquarters today for preliminary discussions.

Qazi will be shuttling between New York and Washington, D.C. for the next couple of weeks.

He is being briefed by UN staff while he makes a transition from his current post as Pakistans Ambassador to the United States.

The Spokeswoman added, in response to questions, that the Secretary-General intended to deploy Qazi to Iraq as quickly as possible, circumstances permitting. It is expected that he should be able to deploy with a small team by late July or early August. She said that the exact timetable for his deployment will depend on the overall security environment in Iraq as well as on the necessary arrangements for appropriate facilities and security arrangements with the multinational force, which still need to be finalized.

Once the team is on the ground, she said, one of its major steps would be supporting the Iraqis in their political process, and one of the first issues on which it would focus, would be assisting in the holding of a National Conference of Iraqis.

The Spokeswoman described todays meetings as the first in a number of consultations, adding that Qazi would also meet with the Secretary-General once the latter returns from his three-week trip to Asia, Africa and Europe. Today, Qazi will meet with Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fr�chette.

She added, in response to a question about security in Iraq, that the United Nations would assess the security situation on the ground before deciding on sending UN staff.

Asked about reports that the Secretary-General did not think elections could take place in Iraq by next January, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-Generals position had not changed. He believes that a stable, secure environment is needed to hold elections. She said that some press reports, citing a Thai Government spokesperson, did not accurately reflect the Secretary-Generals views on elections.

ANNAN EXPRESSES FULL SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE EAST ENVOY

The Secretary-General, in a statement, expressed his full support for and confidence in Terje Roed-Larsen. As his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Roed-Larsen speaks on his behalf.

In his briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, Roed-Larsens intention was to convey concerns within the Quartet and more widely in the international community regarding a lack of implementation by both parties of their Road Map obligations. There is a consensus within the Quartet that the Palestinian Authority must carry out its reform process, including the full empowerment of the Palestinian Prime Minister; the Government of Israel must dismantle settlement outposts and freeze settlement activity; and both sides must return to the negotiating table.

The Secretary-General believes that the parties need to focus on the tasks at hand in order to work towards the just, lasting and comprehensive settlement that is so urgently needed.

Asked about media reports that Roed-Larsen had been declared persona non grata by the Palestinian Authority, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations has seen the reports that he is no longer welcome. The United Nations is seeking further clarification from the Palestinian Authority on this issue.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES SOMALIA, COTE DIVOIRE, DR CONGO: COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN AT 3 P.M.

The Security Council met in closed consultations this morning. The Secretary-Generals Representative for Somalia, Winston Tubman, presented the Secretary-Generals latest report on the situation in that country.

A draft Presidential statement on Somalia was circulated and was adopted afterward. In that statement, the Council called on Somali parties to fully implement the cease-fire, and condemned those who obstruct the peace process. The Council urged countries to abide scrupulously by the arms embargo on Somalia.

Council members also received briefings by Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Gu�henno on the situations in Cote dIvoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Consultations are expected to resume at 3:00 p.m. today on Afghanistan and other matters.

U.N. RELIEF VEHICLES COME UNDER FIRE IN GAZA STRIP

A convoy of five vehicles from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) came under fire today as it was delivering food aid to the residents of Beit Hanoun, in the Gaza Strip.

The Agency says the firing appeared to come from an Israeli armored personnel carrier near a citrus orchard that the convoy was surveying. The gunfire forced Commissioner-General Peter Hansen and other UNRWA personnel to take cover in a nearby home.

After further coordination with the Israeli military liaison office, the convoy was able to leave the area a half-hour later.

ANNAN DISPATCHES ENVOYS TO MEET WITH SUDANESE OFFICIALS ON DARFUR

At the request of the Secretary-General, Special Representative for Sudan Jan Pronk will visit Khartoum on Thursday to participate in the first meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism, to be established pursuant to the Joint Communiqu� signed by the Secretary-General and the Sudanese Foreign Minister on July 3.

Mohamed Sahnoun, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, will participate in the first meeting of the political dialogue for the resolution of the Darfur conflict, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also on Thursday.

SECURITY REMAINS TENUOUS IN SOUTH DARFUR, SUDAN

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that security remains tenuous in the South Darfur region of Sudan. There are reports of increased Arab militia presence, as well as tribal clashes and fighting between Government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army.

Also in South Darfur, there has been a steady increase in the number of people admitted at the therapeutic feeding center in Kalma.

Agencies are concerned over increasing reports of forced relocations of internally displaced persons by the Sudanese authorities, and of recent attacks targeting humanitarian agencies.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund reports that it has trained thirty doctors, in locations in South and North Darfur, in safe motherhood, treatment of sexual abuse and family planning methods.

The UN Childrens Fund, UNICEF, reports that while almost half of the one million displaced persons in the Darfur region have access to safe water, poor sanitation conditions still pose great risk to tens of thousands of children. The agency said that with the onset of the rainy season, the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases increases exponentially.

MONITORING BOARD FOR IRAQ MEETS IN WASHINGTON

The International Advisory and Monitoring Board for Iraq opened its eighth meeting today in Washington at the Headquarters of the International Monetary Fund.

The members of the Board expect to receive a finalized audit of the Development Fund for Iraq from the accounting firm of KPMG covering the period from its inception to December 31, 2003.

The meeting will last until Thursday, at which point the IAMB is expected to release that audit.

AIDS CUTS LIFE EXPECTANCE BELOW 40 IN MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES

The AIDS crisis has cut life expectancy in many African countries to less than 40 years, making it the single biggest factor in the dramatic decline in Africas human development, according to the UN Development Programme.

UNDP will tomorrow launch its 2004 Human Development Report, which shows that thirteen sub-Saharan African countries have suffered dramatic reversals in human development since 1990, largely because of AIDS.

Also today, three UN agencies put out a joint report saying that action against AIDS is doomed to failure if it does not confront gender inequality.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN ARRIVES IN AUSTRIA: The Secretary-General is today in Vienna, after having departed from Thailand. Over the next few days, while in Vienna, he will meet with his High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, which is going about its task of analyzing future threats and ways to respond collectively to them. He is also expected to meet Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero Waldner.

UN AGENCIES ASK FOR $1 MILLION FOR NICARAGUA FLOODS: UN agencies are asking for just under $1 million, to meet the needs of almost 6,000 people affected by the recent floods and mudslides in Nicaragua. The appeal covers a period of three months, and aims to raise funds for areas such as health care, food aid, and education.

UNDP HELPS WITH RELIEF FROM NEPAL FLOODS: The United Nations Development Programme is helping the Nepalese Government airlift relief materials to remote areas that have been affected by floods and landslides, which have killed over 40 people and affected close to 14,000 families.

FRECHETTE DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP: Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fr�chette delivered an address to the Goldman Sachs Global Leadership Institutes 2004 luncheon, and talked about what it takes to be a leader without borders. She said that Sergio Vieira de Mello had the ability to connect with people all over the world, from East Timor to Kosovo to Iraq one of the qualities good international leaders need.

NO APPOINTMENT TO ANNOUNCE ON UNCTAD: The Spokeswoman, asked about reports that Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram could be made head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said the United Nations had no announcement to make on UNCTAD. She noted that the term of incumbent Rubens Ricupero was to expire.