United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-09-11

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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

Thursday, September 11, 2003

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS

In a statement today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, On the second anniversary of the massive terrorist attack on the United States, I extend my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The trauma, wounds and losses of that awful day are still keenly felt by all of us. And since then, many other innocent people throughout the world -- including, last month in Baghdad, dedicated staff of the United Nations -- have been killed by this global scourge.

All nations must work together in the fight against terrorism, which is an affront to the spirit and purposes of the United Nations, and has become a leading threat to international peace and security. I hope nations will also bring similar determination to bear in confronting the other ills that plague our world.

For today, however, let us remember those who died, and honor the sacrifice made by those heroic public servants who risked, and in too many cases lost, their lives in the effort to save others.

At an interfaith ceremony earlier this morning at St. Bartholomews Church in New York, which marked commitment to the work of the United Nations, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations Gillian Sorensen read out a message on the Secretary-Generals behalf, noting the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks and adding that this year, the UN family also has been jolted by a terrorist attack: last months bombing in Baghdad.

But, the Secretary-General says in the message, if our hearts are filled with sorrow, if our minds are unsettled by images of violence, our spirits can still draw strength from occasions such as this, when people of different faiths and cultures come together in friendship and in prayer. We need that strength.

ANNAN MOURNS PASSING OF SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER ANNA LINDH

The Secretary-General, in a statement delivered in Geneva, said, I was shocked and deeply saddened this morning to learn of the death of Anna Lindh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

Sweden has lost a successful and great Foreign Minister, a great Swede and a great European. I have also lost a close friend and so has the United Nations.

In these painful times, I send my heartfelt condolences to her family, her husband and their two children, as well as to the people and government of Sweden.

I share in their grief and pain at this tragic loss.

The Secretary-General today spoke to reporters in Geneva about Anna Lindh, calling her a strong ally of the United Nations, someone who really believed in the Charter, believed in what the United Nations stood for, and generally believed that countries have to work across borders and cooperate to get things done.

He said that she was dynamic and without pretensions, and added that he had seen her as a mother, as a defender of Swedish positions in international circles and as a prominent politician in Europe. Combining her efforts in those three areas, he said, shows you what a woman she was. I dont think many of us men could do that.

ANNAN MEETS IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER IN GENEVA

The Secretary-General met this afternoon in Geneva with Adnan Pachachi, a member of the Governing Council of Iraq. They discussed the current situation in Iraq and the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council with the Secretary-General. That meeting will take place in Geneva on Saturday.

Asked whether the Secretary-General saw cause for optimism in the recent draft texts being circulated on Iraq, the Spokesman cautioned that discussions among States are still preliminary. The Secretary-General has asked States to discuss their concerns on Iraq behind closed doors and will not comment on their talks.

Asked about the status of UN investigations into the August 19 explosion in Baghdad, the Spokesman said that an internal investigation, involving the Office of Internal Oversight Services, has been completed. The Secretary-General also intends to launch a separate, independent investigation into the attack, he added.

MORE THAN 2,500 UN TROOPS DEPLOYED IN BUNIA, DR CONGO

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports that, to date, over 2,500 troops from Bangladesh, Uruguay, Indonesia and India have been deployed in Bunia. On the ground, there are also 280 Pakistanis troops. Another 800 are expected to arrive next week.

The UN Mission is proceeding with its patrols in Bunia. The opening of schools and the return of people to the market places indicated that people are restoring their confidence in the Mission.

In a weapons-search operations aimed at making the town weapon-free, searches are being carried out in houses where the presence of weapons and ammunition are suspected. There are also people who spontaneously come to surrender their weapons and seek protection from the Mission.

Meanwhile, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations reports that seven Uruguayan soldiers are under investigation by the United Nations for stealing from a church in Bunia. Sacred objects, including a chalice, were found in their camp following the allegation of theft from the church earlier this week.

The seven men will be transferred to Kinshasa and they could be repatriated to Uruguay for disciplinary action by their national military authorities if the allegations against them are found to be true.

The reports by the Board of Inquiry and the Military Police will be concluded in the coming days.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET ON LIBYA, ETHIOPIA/ERITREA, KOSOVO

There are no Security Council meetings or consultations today.

At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, the Security Council has scheduled a vote on lifting UN sanctions on Libya. That is expected to be followed by an open meeting on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and a public briefing on the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

TWENTY INDIVIDUALS ADDED TO AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS LIST

Twenty individuals have been added to the UN list of individuals and entities belonging to or associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaida organization.

That list is maintained by the Security Council Committee established to oversee the implementation by States of the sanctions imposed by the Security Council on individuals and entities belonging or related to the Taliban, Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaida organization.

Asked how many individuals were on the Al Qaida list at present, the Spokesman said that 123 individuals and 98 entities were listed.

ANNAN HAILS ENTRY INTO FORCE OF CARTAGENA PROTOCOL

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force today, 90 days after it had received its 50th ratification.

In a message to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General called the Protocols entry into force a landmark for sustainable development, and another milestone in the global effort to reconcile environmental conservation and development. He said that the treaty will enable us to derive maximum benefits from biotechnology while at the same time protecting biodiversity and human health from potential risks posed by living modified organisms.

This protocol establishes rules to ensure an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.

ANNAN NOTES INCREASED PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN SUDAN

The Secretary-General, in a report to the General Assembly on humanitarian assistance to Sudan, outlines humanitarian developments from July 15, 2001, to May 22, 2003, and notes increased prospects for peace in that country.

The report also says that the international community has signaled its intent to assist Sudans post-conflict recovery and development.

The Secretary-General notes that more than two decades of turmoil have taken their toll. Sudan, he says, has the unenviable distinction of being the country with the worlds largest population of displaced persons, estimated at more than 3.5 million.

UN ENVOY NOTES SERIOUS SETBACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR

A report by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly, noted that there had been some positive steps in the area of confidence-building with the international community. However, on substantial human rights issues, instead of progress, there has been a serious setback.

He said that by keeping Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, the Myanmar authorities have completely paralyzed the oppositions movement. This has led to the freezing of diverse possibilities for cooperation with concerned States and international institutions.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRANSFER OF THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED LIBERIANS BEGINS: The transfer of some 30,000 internally displaced persons who had been living in 116 temporary shelters and buildings in and around Monrovia, Liberia, began today.

UNHCR DEPLORES MURDER OF AFGHAN WORKERS: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers deplored the "cold-blooded murder" of four Afghans working for a Danish aid agency on a UNHCR-funded water project in central Afghanistan. The UN Mission in Afghanistan also expressed its strong condemnation of the murders. The Mission said that such acts confirm once again the absolute priority that must be accorded by all concerned to the establishment of security in the country.

ANNAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR HELTON: The Secretary-General, in a message delivered Thursday by Communications Director Edward Mortimer, paid tribute to Arthur Helton of the Council on Foreign Relations, who died in the explosion at the UN headquarters in Baghdad on August 19. In the message, the Secretary-General said that refugees and internally displaced persons knew Helton as "their tireless advocate, someone who could cut through red tape and rouse people from inertia and indifference."

FAO CALLS FOR TRADE BARRIERS TO BE DISMANTLED: The Food and Agriculture Organization today called on trade ministers at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cancún, Mexico, to dismantle tariff barriers to fair international trade and to cut subsidies in order to improve food security in developing countries.