United Nations Daily Highlights, 02-05-23

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Thursday, May 23, 2002

ANNAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON "ALARMING RISE" IN INDIA-PAKISTAN TENSIONS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is increasingly concerned by the alarming rise in tension between India and Pakistan, according to a statement released today.

He is in close contact with the leaders of both sides, to encourage them to resolve their differences, including over Kashmir, by peaceful means.

The Secretary-General considers it essential that the logic and language of war be replaced by the logic and language of peace.

At the same time, he wishes to reiterate his unconditional condemnation of all acts of terrorism.

There can be no tolerance for such acts, especially across the line of control in Kashmir. The Secretary-General accordingly urges President Musharraf to take vigorous action to ensure full implementation of the policy set out in his speech of 12 January.

Asked if the letter from Pakistan to the Secretary-General asking for help from the United Nations to resolve the crisis had been received, the Spokesman said that it had and was being studied. He added an identical letter had also been sent to the President of the Security Council.

Asked if the Secretary-General was ready to mediate between India and Pakistan, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General remains ready to extend his Good Offices but so far only one party has welcomed his offer.

Pressed further on the issue, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General was doing what he could from New York, but he is not in a position to engage in more active mediation in the region without agreement on both sides.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN FOR SIX MONTHS

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution, which extends for six months the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF).

The vote came at the end of a Security Council public meeting on the situation in Afghanistan.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast briefed members of the Council, focusing on security issues.

He reminded the Council that the security situation in Afghanistan, and in particular outside Kabul, remains a major concern.

He went on to say that "in view of the absence of an expansion of ISAF beyond Kabul, the United Nations and the Interim Administration continue to believe that the international community should address these legitimate security issues as quickly as possible."

He added that, it could not be expected that a sustained reconstruction process could be launched in Afghanistan without real improvements in security outside Kabul and its environs.

Prendergast also reported on the Loya Jirga process underway and noted that the first phase has so far not been perfect, nevertheless in many ways it has been better than expected. He noted that many of the obstacles in Phase I of the Loya Jirga were caused by the uncertain security situation.

Also today, the Secretary-General had his monthly working luncheon with members of the Security Council.

SECURITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS EAST TIMOR BE ADMITTED TO UN

In a formal meeting immediately following the vote on the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution recommending to the General Assembly that the Democratic Republic of East Timor be admitted as a member of the United Nations.

SECURITY COUNCIL AFRICA DEBATE PROVIDES "STEPPING STONE" FOR ACTION

Wednesday night after 9:30 p.m., the Security Council concluded a day-long interactive debate on issues related to Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.

Professor S. Jayakumar, Foreign Minister of Singapore, which holds this months Council presidency, said in his concluding remarks, The debate provides a stepping stone for the Council to continue focusing actively on challenges in Africa. Members will refer in the future the rich debate we had today.

Following that meeting, the Security Council in a presidential statement welcomed the elections held in Sierra Leone on 14 May and congratulated the people of that country on the peaceful and orderly way in which the elections were held.

GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED IN KISANGANI

This morning in Kinshasa, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a preliminary report on the events which took place in Kisangani from May 14-21, starting with the take over of a local radio station by armed men.

The radio station was then used to broadcast calls to the local population to take up arms against ethnic Rwandans in Kisangani.

Once, security troops loyal to the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) had regained control of the station, RCD officials in public broadcasts warned people to stay at home and clearly threatened any one who would not follow those instructions.

Information gathered by the UN mission in Kisangani shows that some 50 were killed during the disturbances which followed. The victims included men, women and children, some of the bodies found by UN personnel had been mutilated.

The UN mission says it is clear that grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were committed by the RCD authorities, who exercise de facto control in Kisangani.

KOSOVO: UN ENVOY SAYS ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON BORDER 'NULL AND VOID'

In Pristina, Michael Steiner the Secretary-General Special Representative in Kosovo, declared null and void a resolution which had just been adopted by the Kosovo Assembly. The resolution sought to challenge the border agreement signed in February of last year between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia.

In comments made to the press afterwards, Steiner said the action taken by the Assembly was a clear violation of the provinces Constitutional Framework. The Assembly, Steiner explained, can not take up issues relating to foreign relations and this include the issue of borders. Those types of issues, Steiner said, are within the competency of the Special Representative only.

The Security Council President, Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, in a press statement, said that Council members rejected the resolution adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on the border agreement, and expressed their full support for Steiner's decision to declare the decision null and void.

The Council will be discussing this matter Friday morning, Mahbubani said.

ANNAN APPOINTS NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GEORGIA

Today the Secretary-General informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Ileidi Tagliavini as his Special Representative for Georgia. She will succeed Dieter Boden, who has served as the Special Representative for two and half years.

The Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for the Bodens untiring efforts to advance the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process and for his dynamic leadership of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia.

Tagliavani has extensive diplomatic experience and first-hand knowledge of the mission and the region. During 1998 and 1999, she served as Deputy Head of the UN mission in Georgia and, later, as Personal Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Chairperson-in-Office for the Caucasus.

At present, she is Switzerlands Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

LARSEN APPALLED BY LATEST ATTACK ON ISRAELI CIVILIANS

In a statement issued last night the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, said that he was appalled by the latest suicide bombing against Israeli civilians which took place in Rishon lezion.

He said, such attacks cannot be endured, and must stop.

Larsen reiterated his longstanding condemnation of terrorist attacks and stressed that the Secretary-General had clearly and repeatedly stated that such attacks against civilians were morally repugnant and a clear violation of international law.

Terrorist attacks from any quarter were unacceptable and could not be tolerated by the international community, the envoy said.

In Washington D.C. today, the Deputy Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Karen Koning Abu Zayd, met with U.S. Congressional staff and other officials.

SPECIAL ENVOY ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER TO VISIT GUATEMALA

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, will be going to Guatemala from 27 may to 1 June at the invitation of the Government. Ms Jilani will assess the situation of human rights defenders and look at the legal framework and alleged incidents relating to the defence of human rights. |

While there, she will meet with government, army and police officials as well as Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals engaged in human rights work.

NANE ANNAN ADDRESSES NORWEGIAN UNICEF COMMITTEE

In Oslo today, Nane Annan spoke at the lunch of a leadership Forum for Children, initiated by the Norwegian Committee for the UN Childrens Fund.

The Forum brings together high-profile Norwegian professionals and business people, and provides them with an opportunity to become creatively and actively engaged in efforts to protect and care for the world's children.

I have been privileged to meet, she said, and be inspired by people all over the world who are doing something about what they believe needs to be done.

Speaking on the recent Childrens Summit, Nane Annan, said it had proved a leadership forum in itself for the worlds children. She went on to add that the most urgent areas identified for action are: health, education, child protection and HIV/AIDS.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked, in light of a meeting organized today by the staff union, for when the Secretary-General would recognize that racial discrimination within the Organization was a systemic and institutional problem, the Spokesman said he not did think that systematic discrimination existed within the Secretariat. However, he added that whatever came out of todays meeting would be studied.

Asked if the Secretary-General was considering traveling to Baghdad to break the stalemate on weapons inspectors returning to Iraq, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General was very satisfied at the level of the delegations sent by Iraq for talks with the United Nations and therefore did not see the need to travel to that country.

Asked if the Secretary-General considered the next round of talks with Iraq to be his last, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General has been consistently pressing Iraq to make a decision on the weapons inspectors and to make it quickly. However, the Spokesman added that although the Secretary-General would hope for a decision to come of this next round, it should not be considered a last chance meeting.

The first World Ecotourism Summit ended last night in Quebec City with the adoption of a declaration that will be tabled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August. The Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism lays out guidelines, principles and standards and is the first step on the road to sustainable tourism.

The World Health Organization will give its highest tobacco control award will be given to the Federation Internationals de Football Association (FIFA) in recognition of its tobacco control work. FIFA declared the 2002 World Cup to be tobacco free and there will be no tobacco advertising or promotion at World Cup venues and tobacco and tobacco products will not be sold at the games in Korea and Japan .

The UN Information Center in Beirut announced that the official of the second phase of Operation Emirates Solidarity, the $50 million de-mining project in south Lebanon funded by the United Arab Emirates, will take place next Tuesday.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General United Nations, S-378 New York, NY 10017 Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article