United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-07-17

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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 SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, July 17, 2008

BAN KI-MOON PRAISES INTL CRIMINAL COURT ON TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the

International Criminal Court for its accomplishments on the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Courts Rome Statute, saying that its creation is unquestionably one of the major achievements of international law during the past century. But this young Court remains a work in progress, he says, calling it a fragile part of a crucial and ongoing effort to entrench international law and justice.

He said that, in strengthening the Court, we must seek to strike the correct balance between the duty of justice and the pursuit of peace. Impunity for crimes can never be tolerated; amnesties for international crimes are unacceptable. When confronted with these dilemmas, we must never sacrifice justice; crucially, the search for a balance between justice and peace should never be influenced by the threats and postures of those seeking to escape justice.

Furthermore, he said, the Court must continue to demonstrate a purely judicial character, as well as total independence, and he stressed the need to further improve cooperation between the Court and the United Nations in ways that take into account the legitimate interests of both partners.

PROTECTING CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT A MORAL TEST FOR MEMBER STATES

The Secretary-General earlier today

addressed the

Security Councils open debate on the protection of children in armed conflict, saying that subject is a litmus test for the United Nations and the Organizations Member States. It is a moral call, and deserves to be placed above politics, he said.

While lauding progress made in protecting children during armed conflict, the Secretary-General stressed that we have only begun to scratch the surface. He said he hoped that the Security Council will consolidate the gains that have been made, and move forward to cover all grave violations and all situations of concern.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, also briefed the Council and said that her recent visits to Iraq and Afghanistan have convinced her that the nature of warfare is changing, that there are different and more difficult challenges ahead to protect children, and the Council must play its part. And Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet detailed the child protection efforts by UN peacekeeping operations.

Also today, the Secretary-General will meet with the members of the Security Council for their monthly luncheon.

NEWLY-ARRIVED CHINESE PEACEKEEPERS DEPLOY IN SOUTH DARFUR

The African Union-UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

reports today that the Chinese Engineering Company have arrived in Nyala in South Darfur as scheduled. This deployment of 172 engineers brings the number of the Chinese contingent in Darfur to 315 and the total number of military personnel on the ground to 8,000.

The Chinese contingent will primarily work towards the completion of the camp in Nyala and expand other camps, which will allow more troops to come in. They will also assist in the implementation of Quick Impact Projects such as well-drilling. Joint Special Representative Adada and the Force Commander travelled to Nyala to welcome the troops today.)

UNAMID also reports that in the past 24 hours, peacekeepers conducted 21 security and confidence-building patrols in the region and humanitarian activities are ongoing as well.

Regarding the shooting death of a UNAMID peacekeeper, which we reported yesterday, the mission today says the incident involved unknown gunmen in five vehicles. During the time of the shooting, the peacekeeper was leading a patrol in his area of operation. No other injuries were sustained, and investigations are still ongoing.

From Khartoum, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reports that the withdrawal of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) forces from Abyei continues under the terms of the Abyei Roadmap, with UNMIS monitoring. Both parties agreed at yesterdays Area Joint Military Committee to complete withdrawal by 30 July.

UNMIS also reports that 1,500 people took part in demonstrations today in Khartoum. The demonstrations were peaceful, and the demonstrators dispersed after going to the UNDP there.

In response to a question about whether one Special Representative headed all UN operations in Sudan, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations had two Special Representatives posted in Sudan heading two missions mandated by the Security Council. Ashraf Qazi is the Special Representative who heads the UN Mission in Sudan and deals with the peace agreement between North and South Sudan, and he is based in Khartoum. Rodolphe Adada, she said, is the Joint UN-AU Special Representative for the joint peacekeeping operation in Darfur, and he is based in El Fasher.

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS PREMEDITATED, DELIBERATE ATTACK ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS

Yesterday afternoon, the Security Council

condemned in the strongest possible terms the 8 July attack on UNAMID, the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, expressing its concern that the largest ever attack on the force so far was premeditated, deliberate and intended to inflict casualties.

At the outset of the meeting, the Council, through its President, paid tribute to the outgoing Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Gu�henno, who plans to give his farewell press briefing on 29 July.

KOSOVO: UNITED NATIONS TO KEEP SUPPORTING CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

The Secretary-Generals latest periodic

report on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is available today.

In it, the Secretary-General says that the ability of UNMIK to operate as before and perform its functions as an interim administration has been fundamentally challenged because of actions taken by both the authorities in Pristina and the Kosovo Serbs. Nonetheless, UNMIK will continue to support Kosovo in its effort to consolidate democratic governance institutions, advance economic growth and move towards a future in Europe as part of the western Balkans, he says.

Noting that the building of a society in which all communities can coexist in peace remains a difficult and long-term challenge in Kosovo; he calls upon the authorities in Pristina and Belgrade and representatives of all of Kosovos communities to continue to work together with UNMIK. He also calls upon the members of the Security Council and the broader international community to support Kosovo in this effort.

The Secretary-General also highlights the importance of dialogue with Belgrade on issues of mutual concern.

C�TE D'IVOIRE, SIERRA LEONE RECEIVE NEW PEACEBUILDING FUNDS

The Secretary-General has approved an additional allocation of $5 million from the Peacebuilding Fund for reintegration projects in C�te d'Ivoire. The funds will also be used to support facilitation efforts under the Ouagadougou Political Agreement.

Most of the money will support reintegration activities, such as counseling, income-generation, micro-projects for former combatants, and centers for skills training.

Meanwhile, the

Peacebuilding Funds Steering Committee for Sierra Leone has approved seven new projects, valued at nearly $17 million. The projects will support the implementation of the Reparations Program in Sierra Leone, women and childrens empowerment, reforms, rehabilitation and improvements to the corrections system, as well as capacity building for corruption-fighting efforts and for energy and power.

PEACEKEEPERS HELP IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURES IN EASTERN DR CONGO

Local infrastructures in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have

greatly improved, thanks to the work of five military engineering units from the UNs peacekeeping force there. Thats the assessment from the Mission, which notes that the infrastructure rehabilitation work also boosts economic activity and helps stabilize the country.

Among the recently completed projects are new airports, bridges and roads in Ituri province as well as three new military bases in South Kivu. Upcoming projects include 14 additional roads and several new bridges in South Kivu and a plan to ensure the maintenance of the Bunia airport. These are expected to be completed in the next 6 months.

MYANMAR: MORE THAN $33 MILLION SOUGHT IN AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

With Myanmar urgently needing agricultural support ahead of the main planting season, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is

appealing for $33.5 million to help cyclone-affected households restore their livelihoods and resume food production during this crucial period.

FAO says that, with a reduced rice harvest unlikely to meet the needs of the affected population, food security will depend on providing support to farming households in alternative crop strategies and rapidly restoring livestock-, fisheries-, aquaculture- and forestry-based livelihoods.

Overall needs for relief and recovery activities in farming, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry over the next 12 months total $51 million under the revised appeal for Cyclone Nargis response for Myanmar launched last week, which called for a total of $303 million for all sectors including agriculture.

As additional resources are urgently required to expand its assistance, FAO has revised its funding requirements from $10 million, of which nearly three-quarters have been met by donor funding, to $33.5 million.

The revised appeal will help boost food production of small-scale farmers through the rapid distribution of paddy rice seed, summer crop seeds, fertilizers, draught animals, water pumps, and equipment to accelerate land preparation and planting.

MORE THAN 2.5 BILLION PEOPLE LACK ACCESS TO IMPROVED SANITATION

The World Health Organization/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation released its latest report today. The survey

notes that more than 2.5 billion people suffer from a lack of access to improved sanitation. Roughly half of them still practice open defecation, the riskiest sanitary practice of all.

UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman notes that, if current trends hold, the world will fall short of the Millennium sanitation target by more than 700 million people.

Meanwhile, the number of people lacking access to improved drinking water sources has fallen below one billion for the first time since data compilation began in 1990. 87 percent of the world population now has access to such sources; and current trends suggest that more than 90 percent of people will have it by 2015.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

GREENTREE ACCORD BETWEEN CAMEROON AND NIGERIA STANDS: Asked whether Nigeria is expected to follow through on the Greentree Accord, which it agreed to with Cameroon, the Spokeswoman said that the accord stands. She noted that the previous Secretary-General had been personally involved in the signing of the accord, while the current Secretary-General has a Special Representative involved in the follow-up.

CRUCIAL HELP FROM U.N. DRUG OFFICE HAS AFGHANS SEIZE HEROIN-PRODUCING CHEMICALS: In Afghanistan, a

recent operation supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) resulted in the seizure of more than three tons of chemicals used to produce heroin. Other recent successes of UNODCs broader regional effort to counter Afghan opium trafficking include the seizure of chemicals in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, and in Karachi, Pakistan.

MISSION IN IRAQ CALLS FOR PROBE OF KURDISH POLITICIANS MURDER: The UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) today expressed its concern at the killing of Abbas Kadhim, a member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Shabak Assembly, on 12 July. UNAMI urges the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to initiate a prompt and thorough investigation, adding that it will closely follow the course and result of this investigation.

ENVIRONMENT WATCHDOG LAUNCHES PAINTING COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN: The U.N. Environment Programme has launched its 18th International Childrens Painting Competition. This years theme is climate change. Children between the ages of five and 13 are eligible to compete for the top prize of two thousand dollars cash; six regional winners will receive one thousand dollars each.

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