United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-07-28

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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

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

WITH

AHMAD FAWZI, DIRECTOR OF THE NEWS AND MEDIA DIVISION

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, July 28, 2006

ANNAN TO GATHER POTENTIAL TROOP CONTRIBUTORS FOR LEBANON FORCE

Earlier this week, we announced that Secretary-General Kofi Annan had asked the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to hold a technical-level meeting for potential troop contributors to a possible stabilization force in Lebanon.

That meeting is scheduled to take place next Monday, at 3:30 in the afternoon.

UNARMED MILITARY OBSERVERS TEMPORARILY RELOCATED

IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that it was decided to relocate temporarily all unarmed UNTSO military observers of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) from the patrol bases in the area of Marwahin and Markaba to UNIFIL positions.

On Wednesday, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute had reported to the Security Council that the United Nations may need to prepare for Observer Group Lebanons consolidation to minimize further risk to its personnel.

There were two direct impacts on UNIFIL positions from the Israeli side in the past 24 hours and five other incidents of firing close to UN positions from the Israeli side. It was also reported that Hezbollah fired from the vicinity of five UN positions.

All UNIFIL positions in the area of operation remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. The number of troops in some Ghanaian battalion positions is somewhat reduced, because of the increased safety risk for the troops due to frequent incidents of Hezbollah firing from the vicinity of the positions, and shelling and bombardment close to the positions from the Israeli side.

Asked how many military observers are being relocated, Middle East Spokesman Fawzi said that UNIFIL had said eight people were being relocated, four from each position. He added that there were roughly 50 military observers in all.

Asked why the observers were relocated now rather than earlier, the spokesperson said that the United Nations needed to get people out of the line of fire, given the death of the four observers three days ago.

Asked whether Israel had provided a satisfactory explanation for the firing incident that killed the four military observers at Khiam, Fawzi noted that Israel had said that it would conduct an investigation, and the United Nations looks forward to receiving the results.

The Secretary-General, he added, has called for a joint UN-Israeli investigation, and the United Nations would also, in line with procedure, establish an inquiry of its own. Meanwhile, the United Nations would cooperate and provide whatever information Israel requires for its investigation.

Asked why the observers had not been relocated earlier, the spokesperson said that the United Nations was given assurances that UN personnel were not being targeted.

Asked about an e-mail attributed to one of the observers who died on Tuesday, the spokesperson noted that the e-mail was a private communication.

Asked why the United Nations is convinced that the Canadian observer has died, the spokesperson said that the bunker at Khiam had been flattened, and the remains of the other observers were in poor condition. At the same time, he said, the United Nations is continuing to try and find the remains of the fourth observer, and he expressed his sympathies with the widow.

Asked whether the United Nations has protested continued shelling of its positions, the spokesperson said that UNIFIL is communicating with Israel to determine what was happening; it was unclear why the shelling had taken place. He noted that UNIFIL had been trying to find the remains of the fourth observer, but had to halt its activities because of the shelling.

Asked whether the United Nations has protested to Hezbollah about the firing near its positions, Fawzi said that UNIFIL has been in contact with all parties. He noted that the Secretary-Generals Personal Representative for Lebanon, Geir Pedersen, continues his contacts with all parties when he deems it necessary to do so. He noted that Hezbollah is also represented in the Lebanese Government.

Asked about Hezbollah tactics near UN positions, the spokesperson said that Hezbollah sometimes uses UN positions as a shield. Fawzi added that, as Holl Lute told the Security Council earlier this week, Hezbollah was not in the vicinity of Khiam when that post was demolished.

Asked why human beings were present at the observer posts, the spokesperson said that is the method used for decades. The UN observer posts are all normally staffed.

Asked about previous UNIFIL casualties, the spokesperson said that it had previously experienced casualties, including an attack 10 years on the Fijian barracks at Qana, where scores of Palestinian civilians were located.

Asked what UNIFILs purpose is at this time, the spokesperson said that UNIFIL has been doing very important tasks, including its reporting on the violations of the Blue Line, as it is mandated to do by the Security Council. It also has provided humanitarian assistance to people in southern Lebanon.

Under the changing circumstances, Fawzi said, UNIFILs role is evolving, and the shape of a new stabilization force remains to be determined. But, he added, In the meantime, dont underestimate the work that the 2,000 men and women are doing for UNIFIL now.

TWO HUMANITARIAN CONVOYS SENT TO SOUTHERN LEBANON

The United Nations, in cooperation with M�decins Sans Fronti�res, today sent two humanitarian convoys to Sidon and Jezzine, in southern Lebanon.

The Jezzine convoy consisted of eight trucks, carrying wheat flour, canned meat, blankets and shelter materials. The 10-truck Sidon convoy also carried urgently needed supplies, including six truckloads of food from the UN Relief and Works Agency &#61472;for Palestinian refugees in camps. More convoys are planned for the following days, but the availability and rising prices of fuel are issues of growing concern.

In addition to the convoys, the World Food Programme (WFP) has started a humanitarian cargo airlift, which will take temporary warehouses and generators to the region. For its part, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that it is still waiting at the Syrian border with 500 tons of emergency relief supplies for more than 20,000 people. It expects to get access to Lebanon early next week.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, regarding its $149 million flash appeal for Lebanon, $15 million has been received in pledges and a further $5 million will be made available through the Central Emergency Response Fund.

Asked about a WFP airlift for Lebanon, a spokesman later said that the aircraft will land in the Syrian town of Latakkia. From there, supplies will be transported overland to Al-Arida, a Syrian border post that is WFP's loading hub for all UN humanitarian supplies, to be transported by road into Lebanon on UN-escorted convoys.

Asked about UNHCR access from Israel to go into Lebanon, UNHCR later said that it had received access.

Asked whether the United Nations is going to bring fuel into Lebanon, the spokesperson said the United Nations is trying its best to resolve the fuel crisis, in which fuel prices have increased by 60%. He underlined the importance, in that context, of a cessation of hostilities so that fuel and other humanitarian supplies could be provided and infrastructure could be repaired while discussions go forward toward a more formal ceasefire.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON MIDDLE EAST

The Security Council began its work this morning by hearing a briefing in closed consultations about the Secretary-Generals recent reports concerning the activities of the Lords Resistance Army in Uganda and the surrounding region.

That briefing was given by Welile Nhlapo, Director of the Africa I division of the UN Department for Political Affairs.

The Council also heard from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland about his recent visit to Lebanon, Israel and Gaza, to see firsthand the humanitarian needs of the region since the outbreak of the current crisis.

The Secretary-General attended that briefing and spoke to reporters afterwards.

The Security Council also expects to discuss a draft resolution on non-proliferation in todays consultations.

Yesterday afternoon, the Council adopted a

Presidential Statement in which it expressed its shock and distress at the Israeli firing on the UN observer post in southern Lebanon, which caused the death of four UN military observers. The Council called on the Israeli Government to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into this incident, taking into account any relevant material from UN authorities.

Council members also received a draft resolution, submitted by France, concerning a one-month extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would put all of his moral authority to bear in getting the Security Council to come up with a ceasefire resolution for Lebanon, Fawzi said that the Secretary-General was putting all his energy and moral authority towards getting agreement on a cessation of hostilities.

ALL CONGOLESE URGED TO VOTE IN D.R. CONGO ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY

Sunday is Election Day in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in that country, Ross Mountain, has renewed the UNs call to all Congolese to go to the polls.

Speaking earlier today at a press briefing at the headquarters of the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in Kinshasa, Mountain said that all safeguards are in place to ensure that the elections are free and fair. More than 100,000 national and international observers, as well as political parties and candidates witnesses, will be monitoring the process. Some 400 foreign journalists have been accredited by MONUCs media unit to cover the event.

Mountain also said that all security conditions are met to hold the elections. More than 73,000 National Police officers have been mobilized, and Congolese, European Union and UN troops will be on stand by to provide assistance if needed.

He expressed confidence that the vote will be peaceful in the eastern Ituri province, especially after an agreement was signed between one of the regions largest rebel coalitions and the Congolese Government to that effect. A toll free number has also been publicized for the population to report harassment by security forces during the polls.

Asked about an article today that said that UN investigators looking into an alleged massacre at Kazana had not contacted reporters who had videos of what happened, the Spokeswoman said that MONUC had issued a statement, saying, There are media reports alleging that a number of civilian casualties may have resulted from a military operation conducted by the Congolese armed Forces (FARDC) with the support of MONUC troops on 22 April 2006, in the village of Kazana, Ituri District, in North East DRC. These allegations have been thoroughly investigated and found untrue.

She said that, according to MONUC, its forces do not open fire indiscriminately and investigations are conducted in case of alleged infringement of their rules of engagement.

In spite of challenges and often facing greater number of hostile elements, she noted that MONUC said that its peacekeepers try to put an end to the impunity of the armed groups they are battling and help re-establish the authority of the state in Ituri, in order to allow the coming elections to take place.

U.N. OFFICIAL CONDEMNS KILLING OF SOMALI MINISTER

In a statement issued a few hours ago, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, condemned the assassination of Abdallah Deerow Isaaq, the Somali Minister for Constitutional and Federal Affairs, who was shot outside a mosque in Baidoa earlier today by unidentified gunmen.

U.N. AGENCIES TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF SOMALIS FLEEING INTO ETHIOPIA

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will

lead a joint inter-agency assessment mission this Sunday to remote areas of eastern Ethiopia after recent reports of Somalis crossing the border.

The reports say the Somalis have been fleeing the country following the Islamic Courts taking control of Mogadishu.

There are no figures available as the reports have been sketchy, but the mission will determine how many people have crossed and their immediate needs. It will also put together a plan for the adequate reception arrangements for any future new arrivals.

UNHCR is concerned that any fighting in Somalia could provoke new influxes.

UNITED NATIONS AND AFRICAN UNION

CONCERNED ABOUT FIGHTING IN WEST DARFUR

In a joint statement, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) says the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in the Sudan, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, expressed their deep concern about the fighting that erupted today in Jebel Moon, in West Darfur.

According to reports reaching the African Mission in Sudan, the fighting involves a combined operation by the Janjaweed militia and the Government Armed Forces against forces believed to be of the non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

Pronk and Amb. Kingibe recall that any attack on any party to the Darfur conflict is either a breach of the DPA or a violation of previous agreements concluded on the basis of the NDjamena Ceasefire Agreement.

UNMIS says the pair is particularly concerned about the fate of the civilian population in the area. They call on the parties involved in the fighting to abide by what has been agreed and to guarantee the safety of the civilians.

U.N. TEAM IN NEPAL MET SENIOR MAOIST LEADERS;

WELCOMES CEASEFIRE EXTENSION

The UN team which is currently in Nepal to explore possible UN support to that countrys peace process met in Kathmandu today with the senior most leaders of the Maoist Communist Party.

Mission leader Staffan de Mistura welcomed the Maoists announcement that they would extend their cease-fire for an additional three months.

The mission also met today with Nepal's Home Minister and the government team that is conducting talks with the Maoists, as well as with the Secretary of Defense and the Chief of Army Staff.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CLOSES SUBSTANTIVE SESSION

The UN Economic and Social Council is expected to close its 2006 Substantive Session in Geneva today. In the course of its session, the Economic and Social Council held a number of special segments, including a high-level segment on employment, a humanitarian affairs segment, and a segment on coordination of UN agencies, which this year focused on the reforms undertaken by the Secretary-General.

Also in Geneva, the Human Rights Committee today

concluded its 87th Session, during which it studied reports on the Central African Republic, the United States and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. The Chairperson of the Committee, Christine Chanet, has held a press conference earlier on the committees work.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

JAPAN DONATES $17 MILLION TO WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: The UN World Food Programme today

welcomed an announcement by Japan to donate $17.3 million to assist the people of four African countries that are currently ravaged by conflict or drought. The contribution will support refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable people in Chad, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Cereals and blended foods will be purchased and delivered to those at serious risk of malnutrition.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, July 31

At 3:30, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, at the request of the Secretary-General, will hold a technical-level meeting for potential troop contributors to a possible stabilization force in Lebanon.

Today is the last day of the French Presidency of the Security Council.

In Geneva, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will start their sessions.

Tuesday, August 1

Ghana assumes the rotating Presidency of the Security Council.

Wednesday, August 2

The Security Council will be holding consultations on the programme of work, after which Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng of Ghana, President of the Council, will brief the press.

At 11:00, the World Federation of UN Associations will be holding a press conference on the commemoration of the Federations 60th anniversary.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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