United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-03-17

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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

Monday, March 17, 2003

IRAQ: ANNAN INFORMS SECURITY COUNCIL OF UN STAFF WITHDRAWAL

The Security Council held closed consultations on Iraq. The session took place in the formal chamber as the consultations room is being refurbished this week.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the consultations and briefed members on security of UN staff in Iraq.

[Following the briefing, the Secretary-General told reporters that based on information received from the United States authorities, he had informed the Security Council that he had authorized the withdrawal of international staff from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and UN humanitarian workers, as well as the UN Iraq Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) troops on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border who are also not able to operate. "The implication of these withdrawals will mean that the mandates will be suspended because it will be inoperable," he said.

"This does not mean that, should war come to Iraq, the UN will sit back and not do anything to help the Iraqi population," the Secretary-General also said. "We will find a way of resuming our humanitarian activities to help the Iraqi people who have suffered for so long and do whatever we can to give them assistance and support. And as you know we have undertaken major contingency planning to be able to move forward as soon as we can."]

Prior to the consultations, the United Kingdom, United States and Spain said they will not pursue a vote on their draft resolution.

A joint declaration issued over the weekend by France, Germany and Russia is out as a Security Council document. The declaration, among other things, proposes a ministerial level meeting to approve key disarmament tasks and establish an implementation timetable.

[Iraq is next on the Security Council agenda for Wednesday morning when an open meeting is scheduled on the UNMOVIC programme of work.]

In response to a question on the future of the United Nations, the Spokesman said that with or without the Councils approval for military action against Iraq, the United Nations would have a huge amount of work to do. Given experience from Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia, he added, the United Nations has done a lot of contingency planning about the roles the United Nations might be asked to play by the Security Council. The humanitarian agencies have mandates of their own to assist victims of war and catastrophes.

In response to questions on the renovations to the Consultation Room, the Spokesman said they consisted of refurbishment of the seats in the room and had been planned for some time as a gift from the government of Germany. He added that the Council had previously agreed to hold consultations in Conference Room 7 while the renovations were taking place, but due to the large number of members of delegations on the members of the Council, the room was too crowded and it was decided to hold the consultations in the formal meeting room.

ANNAN DEPLORES CONTINUING RAIDS IN GAZA

In a statement issued through his Spokesman, the Secretary-General strongly deplored Israels continuing raids in the Gaza Strip. These have already killed at least twelve people in the course of yesterday and today, including a four-year-old girl shot in the chest and a young American peace activist run over by a bulldozer. He sent his deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims.

The Secretary-General is especially troubled that Israel appears to be flouting a central tenet of international humanitarian law, which requires it to take all possible measures to protect the civilian population during military operations.

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT COUP IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

In another statement attributable to his Spokesman, the Secretary-General said he has been following with deep concern the recent developments in the Central African Republic. He forcefully condemned the military coup detat that took place over the weekend and the violence and pillaging that accompanied it. He said he deeply regretted that such an act comes at a time when the Central African people and Government were embarking on an inclusive national dialogue.

The Secretary-General called for the speedy restoration of the constitutional order and for the respect and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the civilian population.

ANNAN WARNS OF DANGEROUS RISE IN RWANDA-UGANDA TENSIONS

The Secretary-General is very concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ituri, in particular the dangerous rise in the tensions between Rwanda and Uganda, his Spokesman said in a statement. Everything must be done to ensure that further military confrontations do not erupt in this region, as they would undermine the recent hard-won gains in the peace process.

The Secretary-General has called on all concerned to establish immediately the Ituri Pacification Commission and to work within that framework towards a peaceful solution to the situation in Ituri. It is essential, he said, that all parties, including neighbouring States, cooperate in this process.

The Secretary-General also called on all foreign forces to withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with their previous commitments, in order to pave the way for a lasting peace in the region. He is committed to working closely with all parties to ensure their concerns are met through peaceful means.

UN AND CAMBODIA REACH DRAFT AGREEMENT ON COURT

The delegations from the United Nations and Cambodia have reached a draft agreement concerning the prosecution under Cambodian law of crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea.

In a statement to the press, Hans Corell, the head of the UN delegation, spelled out the main features of the text with respect to the courts, potential indictees, and the court procedure.

In explaining in the difference in the situation between now and February last year, when the Secretary-General withdrew from the process, Corell said that the General Assembly has taken responsibility for the process and it would now be for the Assembly to examine the result of our negotiations and decide whether it is acceptable. The matter must also go through the parliament of Cambodia f or approval.

The Secretary-General is expected to send a brief first report to the General Assembly as requested by its Resolution 57/228.

SECRETARY-GENERALS ENVOY TO VISIT NORTH KOREA

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Maurice Strong, will again visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on March 18-22, 2003.

The Personal Envoy will discuss with the DPRK Government progress on the emergency appeal by the Secretary-General to meet the immediate humanitarian needs in North Korea. Strong will also share with the Government the results of his intensive meetings and consultations on other issues of mutual interest and concern.

On March 14 , the Republic of Korea (RoK) wrote to the Secretary-General in response to his personal appeal for the DPRK. In the letter, the RoK announced contributions of 100,000 metric tons of food to the World Food Programme; $700,000 to the World Health Organization for the prevention of malaria outbreak; and $500,000 to UNICEF to assist children and other vulnerable groups. The Secretary-General has written to President Roh Moo-hyun to thank him for his generous contribution, which will allow UN agencies to continue to provide life-saving assistance to North Koreans.

HUMAN RIGHTS MISSION TO CENTRAL ASIA ENDS, ANOTHER PLANNED FOR MYANMAR

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, will visit that country at the invitation of the Government from March 19 to 26, 2003. He will seek to update himself on the issues that he has looked at during his previous missions, and he will also discuss with Myanmar authorities his proposal for an independent assessment of allegations of human rights violations in ethic minority areas, including in Shan State, under the auspices of his mandate.

The Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan visited Turkmenistan from 13 to 15 March 2003, concluding an official trip to countries in Central Asia.

WHO ISSUES WARNING ON SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME

The World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is coordinating an international effort to identify the cause of the outbreak Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. Eleven laboratories in 10 countries are participating in the effort, which will improve the precision with which diagnoses can be made. WHO is also working with national health authorities in many countries to identify an effective treatment for SARS. On Saturday, the World Health Organization issued a travel warning after receiving reports of more than 150 new suspected cases in the past week.

WHO issued emergency guidance for travellers and airlines that does not restrict travel to any destination but advises anyone who has symptoms of the illness not to travel until they have recovered. Symptoms include high fever, coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.

NANE ANNAN ADDRESSES WORLD WATER FORUM

At the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto today, Nane Annan, wife of the Secretary-General, addressed a session on "Sanitation, Water Supply and Water Pollution: for better health and sustainable environment." Emphasizing the need for hygiene education as well as affordable, healthy water and sanitation systems, she said without hygiene, water and sanitation can only go so far. Almost 6,000 children die from diarrhoeal diseases every day and this to a large extent is preventable through hygiene education, Mrs. Annan said.

Tomorrow in Kyoto, Nane Annan will help launch a joint UNICEF/WSSCC Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools campaign to ensure safe water and clean, separate sanitation facilities for boys and girls in primary schools, as well as hygiene education.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIGHTING IN LIBERIA CAUSES 15,000 TO FLEE: Fighting between Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) Rebels and Liberian government forces in Liberias Bong County has caused an estimated 15,000 persons to flee toward a town already hosting 60,000 displaced persons. The UN humanitarian community in Liberia has dispatched a team to the area.

GUATEMALA RATIFIES MIGRANT CONVENTION: On Friday, Guatemala became the 20th country to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. This ratification fulfilled the condition for entry into force of the Convention, which will now take place on July 1, 2003.

UN INFORMATION CENTERS: In response to a question on whether the UN Information Center in Washington, D.C. was still operating, the Spokesman said the Director is Catherine ONeal, a U.S. national and the Center is involved in monitoring the U.S. Congress and legislative initiatives and reports to the Secretary-General and to the Department of Public Information. He added that the Center was one of about 60 to 70 around the world.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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