United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-03-19

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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, March 19, 2003

ANNAN FOCUSES SECURITY COUNCIL ATTENTION ON PLIGHT OF IRAQI PEOPLE

The Security Council held an open meeting on Iraq today.

Members heard reports from Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and a representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on their programme of work. Blix noted that on the day that UNMOVICs programme of work was given to Council members Monday UNMOVIC and other UN agencies received the order to withdraw from Iraq.

I naturally feel sadness that three and a half months of work carried out in Iraq have not brought the assurances needed about the absence of weapons of mass destruction or other proscribed items in Iraq, Blix said, and that no more time is available for our inspections and that armed action now seems imminent.

Concerning a number of unresolved issues, Blix told Council members that Iraq had recently provided further information. These efforts by Iraq should be acknowledged, Blix added, but [] the value of the information thus provided must be soberly judged. UNMOVIC experts, Blix went on to say, have found so far that in substance only limited new information has been provided that will help to resolve remaining questions.

Five of the 15 Council members are represented by foreign ministers Germany, France, Russia, Syria and Guinea.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered a statement after all the Council members and Iraq had spoken. "It is the plight of the Iraqi people which is now my most immediate concern, and I have been glad to hear that sentiment shared by all the speakers in this debate," he said. "In the past twenty years, Iraqis have been through two major wars, internal uprisings and conflict, and more than a decade of debilitating sanctions."

He cautioned that "the conflict that is now clearly about to start can only make things worse perhaps much worse."

"Under international law, the responsibility for protecting civilians in conflict falls on the belligerents; in any area under military occupation, responsibility for the welfare of the population falls on the occupying power," he said, but added,"Without in any way assuming or diminishing that ultimate responsibility, we in the United Nations will do whatever we can to help."

He concluded by saying, "L10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; et me express the hope that the effort to relieve the sufferings of the Iraqi people, and to rehabilitate their society after so much destruction, may yet prove to be the task around which the unity of this Council can be rebuilt."

In consultations on Iraq yesterday evening, Security Council members agreed that a two-point note by the Council President be issued. In it, Council members take note of the decision by the Secretary-General to suspend for security reasons the work of the UN humanitarian personnel in Iraq. They also said they stand ready to consider as soon as possible proposals being prepared by the Secretary-General on how to meet humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq, taking into account the urgency of the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

UNICEF WARNS IRAQI CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK

The United Nations Children's Fund, today issued a stark warning that the most vulnerable of Iraqs children may not have the strength to survive the impact of war. UNICEF has delivered therapeutic food to more than 400,000 malnourished children and immunized almost all children under five years of age against measles, but it was not possible in the short time available to immunize 6-to- 12 year-olds who missed measles immunization when they were younger.

Executive Director Carol Bellamy said the days and weeks ahead would be difficult for the children who make up half of the Iraqi population. Malnourished children, immunized children, children who are displaced from their homes, she said, all these children are at very high risk.

IRAQ: UNITED NATIONS COMPLETES WITHDRAWAL OF INTERNATIONAL STAFF

The operation to withdraw all UN international staff from Iraq is now complete.

The last five international staff -- all from the Saybolt company, who were monitoring Iraqi oil exports -- were evacuated from an oil platform at the Iraqi port of Mina al Bakr with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities. According to preliminary information, arrangements were made for their transfer to an Iraqi tugboat, which took them to another platform. The five were eventually taken toand transferred to a U.S. ship in international waters. They are on that ship sailing to a port in the Gulf. Their nationalities are Danish, Portuguese, Filipino, Estonian and Russian.

UN HUMANITARIAN BRIEFINGS BEGIN IN AMMAN TOMORROW

As of Thursday in Amman, Jordan, the UN humanitarian agencies will begin briefing journalists on a daily basis at 4:15 p.m. local time.

The UN Humanitarian hub in Cyprus is now staffed and working under the leadership of Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the UNs Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.

There are over 100 UN humanitarian staff in Cyprus.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET ON MIDDLE EAST

At 3:30 p.m., the Security Council has scheduled an openbriefing by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Terje Roed Larsen, who will call for the opening a peace front in a region that stands on the brink of war.

Security Council members will move into closed consultations to continue the discussions following the briefing

UNICEF URGES MORE INVESTMENT IN GIRLS EDUCATION IN AFGHANISTAN

UNICEF today urged further investments in girls education and womens health in Afghanistan.

Preparing for millions of children to return to school next week in the countrys second to School campaign, UNICEF said that though one-third of the 3 million students who showed up for school in last years campaign were girls, the enrolment of girls remains unacceptably low, particularly in primary schools.

In this years campaign, UNICEF is focusing on renewing efforts to increase the rate of girls enrolment and to reduce the risk of girls dropping or being pulled out of school.

UNICEF says that while all priorities to improve the learning environment are common to both boys and girls, other obstacles present particular difficulties for girls, such as the need for separate and decent sanitation facilities within schools. Less than 40 percent of Afghanistans 7,000 schools have adequate sanitation facilities.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER WELCOMES RELEASE OF EGYPTIAN DISSIDENTS

In a statement issued today, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello welcomed yesterdays decision by an Egyptian court to release Dr. Saad El Din Ibrahim, Director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo, and his co-defendants.

The Courts judgment declaring the defendants innocent of all charges brought against them by the Supreme State Security Court, in two earlier trials, is an important and significant verdict demonstrating its commitment to justice.

The High Commissioner also underlined that emergency and security measures must be applied in a manner consistent with fundamental human rights norms and the principles of proportionality and justice.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS FOR SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF SIERRA LEONE MISSION

In his most recent most report on the UN mission in Sierra Leone, the Secretary-General calls for the extension of the mandate for a further six months until September 2003.

The Secretary-General flags the deteriorating situation in Liberia and warns that the security and stability of Sierra Leone cannot be fully ensured while the conflict in Liberia persists.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL URGES END TO SMALL ARMS AND MERCENARIES IN WEST AFRICA: At the end of Tuesday's open debate on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Phenomenon of Mercenaries: Threats to Peace and Security in West Africa, the Security Council adopted a resolution containing a declaration urging strengthened cooperation among states in the sub-region to halt trafficking in small arms and light weapons and support to mercenary activities.

WORLD WATER FORUM URGED TO PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO WATER: Addressing the World Water Forum in Kyoto Japan, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, said water is an essential but limited resource, crucial to the pursuit of a dignified life and to the realization of many human rights. The High Commissioner emphasized the need to promote the right to water in the work of the Forum, and encouraged delegates to include an explicit reference to water as a human right in the Ministerial Declaration to be adopted during the Conference.

NEW STUDY TRACES WATER ACCORDS GOING BACK TO 2,500 B.C.: The United Nations Environment Programme today launched its Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements.The Atlas, compiled in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization, is a study of more than 3,600 water agreements and treaties going back to 2,500 BC.The study highlights the need for vigilance in ensuring cooperation is maintained and extended to the 158 river basins not yet covered in any agreements.

POPULATION FUNDS REPORTS ON POPULATION AND WATER:The United Nations Population Fund cites population growth as a driving factor in the worlds growing water crisis. UNFPA released its Global Population and Water report today in Kyoto, Japan, at the World Water Forum, saying that under the current trends two thirds of the worlds population will face moderate to high water shortages by 2025.The report says slowing the population growth rate can reduce water insecurity.

MILOSEVIC TRIAL RESCHEDULED: The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has informed us that the trial of Slobodan Milosevic will continue on Tuesday 25 March 2003 at 9.00a.m, local time in The Hague.

UN BUDGET: Yemen today became the 62nd Member State to pay its 2003 regular budget contribution in full with a payment of more than $81,000.

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