United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-02-05

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, February 5, 2004

SECRETARY-GENERAL INVITES CYPRIOT LEADERS TO RESUME TALKS

Secretary General Kofi Annan wrote Wednesday to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders inviting them to come to New York on February 10, 2004 to resume negotiations on the basis of his plan.

According to a statement issued late Wednesday, the objective of the negotiations would be to put a completed text to referenda in April 2004, in time for a reunited Cyprus to accede to the European Union on May 1, 2004.

The Secretary-General has also written to the Prime Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom asking them to have representatives on hand in New York on that occasion.

The Secretary-General was moved to take this initiative by his recent, encouraging contacts on the Cyprus question during his trip to Europe and afterwards.

In his letters, the Secretary-General has appealed to the leaders to summon the political will needed to bring about this result in the short time available. He has also set out what needs to be done for this to happen.

When asked if the Secretary-General had recently contacted the Turkish Cypriot leader, His Excellency Rauf Denktash, the Spokesman said that there had not been any spoken contact between the pair in the past 24 hours, but has written to him.

Asked how long the meetings were expected to go on, the Spokesman said he did not want to speculate, adding that the Secretary-Generals aim is to get the process in motion again.

Asked to comment on the regard in which the United Nations considers the issue of Cyprus, the Spokesman added that the Secretary-General has put a lot of effort in trying to resolve the issue of

Cyprus and this latest meeting is one more push forward on his part to try to get this issue resolved.

LIBERIAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE BEGINS IN

NEW YORK

The Liberian Reconstruction Conference opened today at UN Headquarters, with the United Nations and the World Bank saying that the country needs $488 million to rebuild after 14 years of war.

Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme, said Liberia has set up a fragile peace, with urgent action needed now to help ensure that the gains that have been made towards the countrys recovery are not reversed. He added that it is clear that, sadly, this kind of post-conflict intervention is going to be a major part of our work in the coming years.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Assistance, Carolyn McAskie, added that the United Nations has made great strides in Liberia since last summer, but there are still many Liberians who have not yet seen the benefits of peace.

The Secretary-General and U.S.

Secretary of State Colin Powell will kick off the second day of the conference Friday, at 9 a.m.

U.N. TEAM TO PROBE MASSACRE ALLEGATIONS IN DR CONGO

Today, a team sent by the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo succeeded in reaching the town of Gabu, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to investigate allegations of a massacre.

The team reached the site by air and land, after being forced to turn back during an attempt yesterday to reach the site by water. The team had come under intense fire from militias during the attempt. It did not sustain any casualties.

Wednesday, the UN Mission also mediated between a military commander and the Governor of Bukavu, following gunfire there on Tuesday. Calm has returned to Bukavu.

ANNAN LAUNCHES INTERACADEMY COUNCILS FIRST REPORT

The Secretary-General today presided at the launch of the first report of the InterAcademy Council, held at UN Headquarters today.

The Council is a new organization created by 90 of the worlds science academies to provide expert knowledge to international bodies, such as the United Nations and the World Bank

The Councils report calls on all nations to develop a science and technology strategy, in order to help address the challenges faced in the modern world.

Speaking at the reports launch, the Secretary-General said the United Nations and its partners hope to mobilize the best scientific minds of our time, and put their expert knowledge and advice at the service of the worlds peoples, as they work to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

EXPERTS RECOMMEND BIRD FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

Experts gathered for emergency talks at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization have recommended a vaccination campaign for poultry at risk of avian influenza also known as bird flu in heavily affected countries.

Along with culling and other priority measures to contain the spread of the virus, it is expected that vaccination will help prevent damage to the livelihoods of rural households, as well as national economies.

The experts also emphasized the importance of protecting people directly in contact with infected or suspected birds. So far, 14 people have died from bird flu, and thousands of birds have been culled.

UN GRATEFUL FOR PROPOSED U.S. REFURBISHMENT LOAN

When asked about reports of a proposed U.S. Government loan for refurbishment of UN Headquarters, the Spokesman said it was briefly discussed during the visit to Washington, D.C. this week. However, the Spokesman said, there has been no formal offer from the U.S. Government yet as the U.S. Congress has yet to vote on the proposed budget.

The Spokesman noted that the United Nations is very grateful for what has been offered as it is a substantial amount of money, adding that the United Nations will have to consult with member states on what implications the proposed loan would have for the overall refurbishment project.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD PUBLIC

MEETING

ON

KOSOVO: There are no Security Council meetings or consultations today. Friday, the Security Council will hold a public meeting on Kosovo, with the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, Harri Holkeri, briefing Council members on recent developments.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL IN PANEL DISCUSSION: The Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Frechette, was at the Woodrow

Wilson

International Center

for Scholars in Washington today, where she took part in a panel discussion on the theme of "The Future of the United Nations." The discussion was hosted by Lee Hamilton, and moderated by David Birenbaum, Senior Scholar in residence at the Center.

REFORM OF

AFGHANISTANS JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO BEGIN IN APRIL: In April, a project will begin to reform Afghanistans judicial system by refurbishing judicial facilities and training judicial officers on gender sensitivity, prosecution and case handling. The UN Development Programme will implement the projects, which are to begin in four cities of Herat, Balkh, Bamyan and Nangarhar and then expand throughout the country.

INTERNET GOVERNANCE TO BE DISCUSSED NEXT MONTH: A Global Forum on Internet Governance will be held on 25-26 March 2004 at UN Headquarters in New York, to bring together leading actors and all relevant stakeholders, including Member States, civil society and the private sector, interested in Internet governance issues. For future announcements, please visit: http://www.unicttaskforce.org/sixthmeeting/,

http://www.wsis-online.net/.

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