United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-04-24

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY

FRED

ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, April 24, 2002

FACT-FINDING MISSION MEETS IN GENEVA FOR FIRST TIME

The UN fact-finding mission to the Middle East met in Geneva today for the first time. Team members and a number of additional experts met for an internal organizational meeting. Two additional members were present: Tyge Lehmann, a legal adviser for the Danish Government, and Helena Ranta, a forensic expert at the University of Helsinki.

As other members of the team gather in Geneva over the next few days, the fact-finding team will continue to prepare its mission. It is expected to be in the Middle East by this Saturday.

Asked about additional members of the team, the Spokesman said that any additional expertise could be brought on board as needed. Gen. William Nash, the US military adviser on the team, had suggested additional military expertise on the team, he noted, and the Secretary-General had accepted the suggestion. If team leader Martti Ahtisaari believes that recommendations for additional experts are helpful, they will be brought on board.

The Spokesman added, in response to questions about adding a US member to the team, that Ahtisaari had already stated there would be no divisive lines among members of his full team.

Asked about any Israeli objections to existing team members, the Spokesman said he had only seen comments in the media. He noted that the Secretary-General had received an indication from Israel in advance that it would cooperate with any team that he named. These are his people, Eckhard said.

Asked whether the Secretary-General or Ahtisaari would decide on additional members of the team, the Spokesman said that, now that Ahtisaari has been designated as the head of the team, he should make the final decision.

UN, ISRAELI DELEGATIONS TO MEET ON FACT-FINDING TEAM

On Tuesday afternoon, Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry came to see Secretary-General Kofi Annan to convey the position of the Israeli Cabinet concerning the UN fact-finding mission to the Middle East. The Ambassador sought clarification on the teams composition and scope of action, as well as other issues.

The Secretary-General said clearly that the mandate of the team was Security Council Resolution 1405 of April 19. While he would not discuss his choice of team members, he did not rule out adding additional experts as might be deemed necessary.

The Ambassador said that his Government wished to send representatives from Israel to brief the Secretariat staff to make sure that the Governments point of view was understood. That team could arrive in New York on Thursday.

The Israeli Mission has notified the United Nations of the names of three individuals on their side who will participate, one each from the defence ministry, the foreign ministry and the Israeli Defence Forces.

The United Nations intends to set up a meeting at mid-day that would be chaired by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast, with representatives from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of Legal Affairs.

The Secretary-General agreed to postpone the departure of the fact-finding team to allow this consultation to take place, but still expects the team to be in the Middle East by this Saturday.

In response to questions about what the results of the meeting could be, the Spokesman said the United Nations was confident that the team would go to the Middle East, and that any differences would be resolved. He hoped that both the Israelis and Palestinians would agree that this is going to be a fair and impartial study.

Asked whether the talks would go on beyond Thursday, he said he didnt think so.

Asked whether a counter-terrorism expert would be added, he noted that Lancry had mentioned that idea, but added, Lets see what happens.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would attend the meeting, the Spokesman said he would not. He added that no Secretariat personnel would talk about the mission until it was over.

Asked about criticism of UN Special Coordinator Terje Roed Larsen, the Spokesman declined to comment but suggested that some of the recent media reports on him should be taken with a grain of salt.

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR COOPERATION WITH TEAM

The Security Council Tuesday afternoon held consultations on the Middle East, and afterward, Council President Sergey Lavrov of Russia said that Council members fully supported the Secretary-Generals efforts to implement Resolution 1405 and expect the full cooperation of Israel with the Secretary-General and the fact-finding team.

Council members also expressed serious concern for the safety of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, and emphasized that there must be no harm to him or others in his compound, and that the siege must be lifted.

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ISSUED ON PALESTINIAN SITUATION

Today in Geneva, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson presented to the Commission for Human Rights a report on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, which, since her visiting mission was not given clearance to visit the area, is based on reports from all concerned organizations that are present there.

It is indisputable, the report says, that there has been extensive loss of life on the Palestinian as well as the Israeli side. In addition, the report notes, citing estimates by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), there has been extensive destruction of property and infrastructure, with some 4,000 to 5,000 people left homeless in the Jenin refugee camp.

It also mentions reports from Israeli human rights groups of the difficult conditions in detention centers for Palestinians and the violent treatment of some detainees, and cites numerous reports that the Israel Defence Forces used Palestinians as human shields. The report also notes accusations from various sources of a denial of humanitarian access and lack of access to medical assistance.

The High Commissioner, in the report, appeals for everyone in a position to do so to help the two sides to return to negotiations for a peaceful outcome, and stresses, The military operation must be brought to an end. Equally, all attacks against Israeli civilians must end.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON PROGRESS IN KOSOVO

Following consultations on Kosovo this morning, the Security Council opened a public meeting on Kosovo, in which the Secretary-Generals Special Representative there, Michael Steiner, briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals latest report.

Steiner told the Council that the Kosovo where my predecessors arrived looked very different from Kosovo today. He noted that the multi-ethnic Government of Kosovo and its Presidency are now in place, and the area has a functioning police and justice system in which crime has decreased steadily. The social infrastructure has been rebuilt from scratch, with more than 1,100 schools operating, and 360 functioning health care facilities throughout Kosovo.

Now, Steiner said, we need to transfer authority within Kosovo to the Provisional Government, and also need to convince the people there to look beyond Kosovo to Belgrade and to the region.

He described to the Council a series of benchmarks that will need to be achieved before a discussion on Kosovos status can be held.

The Secretary-Generals report also welcomed the formation of the new Government and says it must lead by example in creating conditions conducive to inclusion and reconciliation.

After the open debate ended, the Council adopted a Presidential Statement on Kosovo.

UN MISSION REPORTS EARTHQUAKE IN KOSOVO TOWN

Also on Kosovo, at 1 p.m. today there was an earthquake that damaged the region around Gnjilane, one of Kosovos larger towns, in which one person was killed and 63 others injured. Quite a bit of damage has been reported by the UN Mission at the city center, and extra UN police are patrolling the streets now. Moderate to light damage to homes was widespread, the Mission says.

The United Nations is still collecting information on damage to smaller towns. No KFOR injuries have been reported to personnel of the UN Mission or the Kosovo Force (KFOR).

ANNAN TO DELIVER ADDRESS AT HARVARD ON AFRICA

The Secretary-General traveled to Boston this afternoon, and he will spend the rest of the day at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

After a roundtable meeting with Harvard faculty, the Secretary-General is scheduled to deliver the 2002 Godkin Lecture at 6 p.m. The theme of the address is Globalization and Governance in Africa. That lecture will be broadcast live on the Harvard University website. (http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/events/)

The Secretary-General will be speaking about Africas challenges today and how Africans themselves are tackling them in areas such as conflicts, HIV/AIDS and economic development. He is expected to encourage the new spirit of democratic empowerment throughout Africa, where the people are seeking political and economic empowerment though good governance and sustainable development.

The audience, which will range from 700-800, is expected to include Harvard College students, Kennedy School graduate students, Harvard faculty and staff, as well as members of the community.

The Secretary-General is scheduled to attend a dinner in his honor hosted by the President of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers, before returning to New York later tonight.

EAST TIMOR MISSION ATTENDS TRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS

Police officials from East Timor, Australia and Indonesia held their first-ever trilateral talks in Dili today to discuss a wide range of regional security issues. These include cooperation among the three police forces, especially in the fight against cross-border crimes such as drug smuggling, money laundering and people smuggling.

Representatives of the East Timor Police Service, including UN Police officials, said todays meetings were constructive and resulted in an agreement by which Australia and Indonesia will place full-time police liaisons in Dili in order to further trilateral cooperation.

The talks stemmed from a high-level meeting held in Denpasar, Indonesia, in February, which was attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and representatives from Australia and Indonesia.

WFP SENDS FOOD AID FOLLOWING FLASH FLOOD IN AFGHANISTAN

The World Food Programme (WFP) says it is sending nine tons of food aid to about 2,000 people who have been affected by a flashflood in a town in Bagdhis province in northwest Afghanistan. Distribution should start by midday Thursday. About 180 shops have been destroyed or washed off by the torrential rain.

The river that passes through the city is reported to be about seven meters deep. Most affected people are spending the night with relatives and friends. Bagdhis is one of the most drought-affected provinces in Afghanistan.

This was the second major flash flood to hit northwest Afghanistan in the past couple of weeks.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that total refugee returns to Afghanistan have topped 350,000 in less than eight weeks.

Also on Afghanistan, Angela King, Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Gender Issues, and Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) are organizing a briefing on Women and the Rebuilding of Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. in Conference Room One. Featured speakers are Dr. Sima Samar, Minister for Womens Affairs of Afghanistan and Mahboba Hoquqmal, Vice-Chair of the Commission on the Loya Jirga.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The United Nations currently has a total of 15 peacekeeping operations, fielding some 46,000 personnel from 87 countries. The approved peacekeeping budget, from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, is about $2.77 billion, while peacekeeping arrears, at the end of last month, were about $1.42 billion.

This morning, Guinea-Bissau signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

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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