United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-04-26

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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

Friday, April 26, 2002

UN, ISRAEL TO CONTINUE TALKS ON MIDDLE EAST TEAM

A visiting Israeli delegation met Thursday for two and a half hours with a UN team headed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast. The talks were professional and constructive, the United Nations believes, and provided an opportunity to clarify a number of points.

The Israelis then asked to resume this morning at 9:00 a.m. while they sought instructions from their capital overnight. This morning, they called to say that the Israeli Cabinet was still meeting and therefore they didn't have their instructions. The talks resumed at noon, before the groups broke up for lunch. Prendergast told reporters todays session was constructive.

The Israeli delegation will consult with its government before resuming talks later today.

Asked by the Associated Press and the Times of London as he left the Security Council this morning if he were concerned about press reports out of Israel that the office of the Prime Minister had issued a statement requesting that the UN fact-finding team be held back until points of dispute are settled, Secretary-General Kofi Annan answered, "No. I think our talks are going reasonably well."

He added, "We are giving them the appropriate clarifications and I do expect the team to leave tomorrow. I don't think there's any reason for further delay."

In the April 23 press statement by the President of the Security Council for April, Russian Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said that the Council expects the expeditious implementation of Resolution 1405 and full cooperation of Israel with the Secretary-General and with the fact-finding team.

In Geneva, the fact-finding team today is continuing its organizational meetings and identifying its requirements.

Asked about where the team would travel, the Spokesman said that team leader Martti Ahtisaari had not announced its program, but its mandate is to investigate events at the camp in Jenin. He understood that the team is preparing to leave for the Middle East on Saturday.

Asked about whether a counter-terrorism expert had been added to the team, the Spokesman said he was unaware one had. However, he noted, the teams police adviser, Peter Fitzgerald, could be expected to ask for additional help, as military adviser Gen. (ret.) William Nash had done. [He said later that two Irish police officers would be added to the team.]

The Spokesman declined to answer questions on specific details of the talks until they conclude.

Asked about precedents for how the Secretary-General could report back on the teams findings, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General would have to make a decision later on whether or not to make those findings public, but his inclination in past instances has been to go public.

Asked about the Israeli officials with whom the Secretary-General discussed the team, the Spokesman noted his recent discussions with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST THIS AFTERNOON

The Security Council has scheduled further consultations on the Middle East at 3:30 p.m., following a short briefing they received late Thursday afternoon from Kieran Prendergast on the progress of the talks with the Israeli delegation.

After that briefing, Security Council President Lavrov said that Council members noted various political efforts underway to achieve the goals set out in the Councils resolutions. They expressed the hope that all these efforts would bring about positive changes on the ground, including a non-violent resolution of the situation around Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafats headquarters in Ramallah and the arrival of the fact-finding team by the end of the week.

He added that, during this afternoons consultations, the Council would receive an update from the Secretariat and would have another round of discussions, with the participation of the Departments of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping Operations, on the Secretary-Generals initiative for a multinational force for the Palestinian territories.

ANNAN, PRESIDENT-ELECT ADDRESS COUNCIL ON EAST TIMOR

This morning the Security Council held a formal meeting on East Timor, which the Secretary-General opened by paying tribute to the East Timorese who have risen to every challenge that has confronted them, and have unfailingly demonstrated their commitment to democracy.

While describing a sense of normality that has returned to East Timor, the Secretary-General underscored that the Government of East Timor faced enormous tasks, before and, above all, after independence on May 20.

He stressed that the international community would still have a crucial role to play. Thats why I very much hope the Council will approve the detailed proposals for a follow-on peacekeeping presence, he said.

The proposals suggest the creation of a UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) that will provide support in three areas: public administration, law and order, and external security.

Assistant Secretary-General for Peace-keeping Operations Hédi Annabi then gave more details of the Secretary-Generals proposals.

President-elect of East Timor Xanana Gusmão welcomed the proposals and said that East Timor and the United Nations would work together to make sure the objectives would be successfully implemented. Mari Alkatiri, Chief Minister of East Timor, also took the floor.

UN ENVOY HOPEFUL OF PROGRESS FOLLOWING MYANMAR VISIT

Razali Ismail, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Myanmar, left Yangon Friday after concluding his four-day mission aimed at helping facilitate the national reconciliation process in Myanmar.

During his stay in Myanmar, Razali met with the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Senior General Than Shwe, Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the SPDC, and other Government officials. He also had separate discussions with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as representatives of several ethnic nationalities political parties.

Razali was pleased to have been assured by the Government that the national reconciliation process was on track, in spite of the coup attempt uncovered in Yangon in early March. He was also encouraged to see that all parties remain committed to the process. He is hopeful that certain significant progress could take place shortly.

Asked what kind of progress was expected, the Spokesman said an announcement from the Government was expected shortly.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS FIRST UN OMBUDSMAN

The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Ambassador Patricia Durrant of Jamaica as UN Ombudsman, an appointment that is made at the Assistant Secretary-General level.

Ambassador Durrant has served most recently as Jamaicas Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a post she has filled since 1995. She has been working as a diplomat since 1971, and, prior to assuming her current post, she was Director-General in her countrys Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade from 1992 to 1995.

Asked to explain several recent appointments of ambassadors serving at the United Nations as senior UN officials, the Spokesman said it is advantageous for appointees to come in with knowledge of the system. The Secretary-General is happy with the performance of his appointees, and believes he has a rich pool to tap among the ambassadors serving at the United Nations.

ANNAN MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

Today, April 26, marks the 16th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

In a statement issued through his Spokesman, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern at the plight of some hundreds of thousands of people who continue to be directly affected by the consequences of this disaster. In order to revitalize international efforts to assist these people, the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the authorities of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, has initiated a shift in emphasis of the UNs approach away from emergency assistance towards a long-term developmental approach.

The Secretary-General hopes that donors, who have been very effective in dealing with the technical response to the accident, will not forget the human dimension of Chernobyl.

MARY ROBINSON ADDRESSES CLOSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, in her speech to the closing session of the Commission on Human Rights today in Geneva, said that two shadows the worsening situation in the Middle East and the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks loomed over the recent session. She noted that many statements during this session affirmed the importance of upholding fully human rights and humanitarian law standards in combating terrorism.

She added she was worried about a possible trend during this session that would seek to weaken the Commissions protection role, which she said could be seen in some votes that showed a preference for an approach excluding action if consensus was not possible.

UNHCR NOTES NEW REFUGEE FLOWS FROM COLOMBIA, SOMALIA

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees today highlights two new refugee flows from Colombia and Somalia.

Up to 6,000 Somalis have fled into the northeastern Kenya border town of Mandera to escape inter-clan fighting, which erupted nearly two weeks ago. The majority are women and children.

In Colombia, UNHCR reports that increased fighting between leftist guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitaries in Colombia's border regions is causing thousands of people, mostly women and children, to flee their homes. Most remain internally displaced, but some are forced to look for safety in neighboring countries. In the past three months, the number of civilians escaping insecurity in Colombia and crossing the border into Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama has been steadily growing.

On another matter, UNHCR welcomed Thursday's adoption of a European Union directive on reception conditions for asylum seekers, which should ensure that most asylum seekers will receive a uniform package of benefits in both today's Europe and the Europe of the future.

NEPAD LEADERS TO MEET DURING WORLD FOOD SUMMIT

African Heads of State and Government of the Implementation Committee of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) will use the opportunity of their presence in Rome at the World Food Summit from June 10-13 to prepare for this years Group of Eight (G8) summit meeting in Kananaskis, Canada from June 26 to 28. The summit is expected to focus on the partnership between the G8 and Africa.

The NEPAD Implementation Committee comprises 15 countries and is chaired by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.

UN RELIEF COORDINATOR CONCERNED BY REPUBLIC OF CONGO

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima voiced his concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Republic of Congo, which has been exacerbated by the continued denial of access to the Pool region for humanitarian workers.

The Emergency Relief Coordinator underscores the urgent need for safe and unimpeded access to be granted by authorities, in line with international humanitarian law, to safeguard the lives of vulnerable populations.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked about the international arrest warrant being sought for a former UN police officer from Austria who had served in Kosovo, the Spokesman said that the United Nations assumed the officer was in Austria and was seeking his extradition.

In response to recent allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by assistance workers and UN peacekeeping forces in Sierra Leone, key actors from UN agencies, NGOs and the Government of Sierra Leone, have jointly established a committee to look into these very serious accusations. The Committee has drafted a document entitled Standards of Accountability for Humanitarian and Development Workers.

The UN Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan issued a press release Thursday afternoon announcing its decision to add to its list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban six more names.

The Secretary-General met at noon with a delegation of leading employers from developing and developed countries, led by the President of the International Organization of Employers, Francois Perigot, to discuss outreach strategies for the Global Compact. A Joint Statement by the Secretary-General and the Organization concerning the promotion of the Global Compact was issued after todays meeting.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Saturday, April 27

The Security Council mission headed by Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France will leave for the Great Lakes region.

Sunday, April 28

The Secretary-General will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, hosted by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP.

Monday, April 29

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Georgia.

Tuesday, April 30 The Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting to adopt a resolution on Western Sahara, on the last day of the current mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

At 12:30 p.m., Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund; James Morris, Executive Director of the World Food Programme; and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima will brief the press on the humanitarian crisis facing North Korea.

Wednesday, May 1 The Secretary-General will meet with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, in talks that are to last through Friday. Also present at the talks will be Hans Blix, chair of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, and Mohammed El-Baradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Security Council Presidency for the month of May will be held by Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore, who is expected to hold bilateral consultations with Council members on its program of work for the month.

At 10:00 a.m., Lt. Gen. Manfred Eisele, team leader of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration mission that recently visited Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, will talk to reporters.

Thursday, May 2 The Security Council is expected to hold consultations on its program of work for May.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will deliver a message to observe World Press Freedom Day.

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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