United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-02-25

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

BY

FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

UN ENVOY FOR IRAQ ARRIVES IN BAGHDAD

Earlier today, the Secretary-Generals acting Special Representative for Iraq, Ross Mountain, arrived in Baghdad.

During his stay in Iraq, Mountain will assess reconstruction and humanitarian issues. He is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council. Mountain will also meet with UN national staff.

This visit comes a few days ahead of the Abu Dhabi conference, which is set to launch the International Reconstruction Facility for Iraq. The conference was endorsed at the Madrid meeting in December to allow Governments to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq's economy and infrastructure through projects administered by UN agencies and the World Bank. Mountain will be present in Abu Dhabi.

Asked about UN involvement in Iraq, the Spokesman said that the United Nations was awaiting the Governing Councils response to the report issued by the UN fact-finding team that visited Iraq earlier this month, and is ready to work with Iraq on the next steps. Should Iraq ask for technical help, the United Nations is prepared to assist.

SECURITY COUNCIL VOICES CONCERNS ON VIOLENCE IN HAITI

The Security Council received a briefing today on Haiti, under other matters, from Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast.

Security Council President Wang Guangya of China afterward said in a statement to the press that Council members expressed their dismay that Haitis opposition had rejected an international plan to resolve the dispute, and called on the Government and opposition of Haiti to accept the plan, and to cease the use of violence to advance political goals.

He said that the Council might hold a formal meeting Thursday afternoon on Haiti, in response to a request from Jamaica.

Asked about UN worries concerning violence in Haiti, the Spokesman said the United Nations is concerned that, should fighting spread to Port-au-Prince, there could be significant loss of life and injury.

He added that the United Nations is supporting the political efforts of the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States, but has no political mandate in Haiti at present. It intends to keep the Security Council briefed on UN concerns.

In response to further questions, the Spokesman said the United Nations would get its guidance on any future role in Haiti from the Security Council

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES REPORT ON SOMALIA

The Security Council today is holding consultations on Somalia, with the Secretary-Generals Representative, Winston Tubman, briefing Council members on the Secretary-Generals latest report.

In that report, Secretary-General Kofi Annan underscored that progress in the political arena must be accompanied by serious efforts to realize tangible improvements in the security situation on the ground.

The Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on Somalia following the end of todays consultations, in which it welcomed the signing of the January 29 declaration in Kenya as an important step towards lasting peace and reconciliation and condemned those who obstruct the Somali peace process.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER

The General Assembly today approved by acclamation the Secretary-Generals appointment of Judge Louise Arbour of Canada as the next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

With her approval by the Assembly, Justice Arbour is expected to retire from the Supreme Court of Canada in late June 2004 to take up her new assignment in Geneva.

At the start of todays proceedings, General Assembly President Julian Hunte offered his condolences to the Government and people of Morocco, following the Tuesday earthquake.

UN ASSESSMENT TEAM ARRIVES IN MOROCCO AFTER QUAKE

A United Nations Disaster and Coordination Assessment team arrived in Morocco today to assist in the relief effort following the Tuesday earthquake. Among other tasks, the team will coordinate on-site search and rescue activities and will assess the immediate needs of the affected population.

The UNs humanitarian office is also organising a shipment of relief goods, including cold climate blankets and water and sanitation supplies, from the World Food Programme warehouse in Brindisi, Italy.

UN MISSION INVESTIGATES MASSACRE REPORTS IN DR CONGO

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is investigating reports of massacres in the eastern province of Katanaga. A UN team has traveled to the area and has established that at least 30 people were killed by rival Mai Mai factions in several villages in northern Katanga in the past month; there are indications that the death toll could be much higher.

According to the investigation, the groups involved have carried out widespread torture, rape and mutilation, and gone as far as drinking their victims blood. The perpetrators of the killings are reported to be led by a commander named Shinja Shinja (The Ripper).

UN HUMANITARIAN ADVISER ARRIVES IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the Special Humanitarian Adviser for the UNs humanitarian office, arrived in the Central African Republic for a three-week humanitarian assessment mission in the country's war-affected areas.

While in the capital in Bangui, Lopes da Silva is due to meet with senior Central African Republic authorities and humanitarian actors.

He is also due to visit some of the areas that were badly affected by a six-month rebellion that ended on 15 March 2003 when Francois Bozizé seized power. Lopes da Silvas visit is the first of a high-level UN humanitarian mission since that date.

The most recent UN Consolidated Appeal asked for $17 million to respond to urgent humanitarian needs So far only $700,000 has been collected.

Asked about Lopes da Silvas status, following his placement on special leave as the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, the Spokesman noted that Lopes da Silva, as well as Security Coordinator Tun Myat, had asked voluntarily to be placed on special leave until January 15, pending the outcome of a report by a panel studying UN accountability over the August 19 bombing in Baghdad.

That action was taken without prejudice to the outcome of the panels work.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs decided after January 15 to put Lopes da Silva to work in the Central African Republic. Tun Myat, Eckhard added, has not taken up any further duties.

Asked further about the accountability panel, the Spokesman said that the chair of the panel expects to present its report to the Secretary-General next Monday.

FAO STRESSES NEED FOR BIRD FLU CAMPAIGNS IN ASIA

The Food and Agriculture Organization says outbreaks of avian influenza are still occurring in some Asian countries, and its stressing the need for continued control campaigns.

Countries so far affected by the virus are Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam. The FAO says the situation in some countries is still unclear and further epidemiological investigations are required to get the virus under control.

22 people have died from bird flu, and it is estimated that about 100 million birds have died or have been culled to battle the disease. FAO experts are currently in several Asian countries to assess the local situation and assist countries in their battle against the disease.

WHO INVESTIGATING POLIO CASE IN COTE DIVOIRE

The World Health Organization is investigating a case of polio in Cote dIvoire. WHO is trying to find out if the case is linked to viruses that have spread to west and central Africa from northern Nigeria, following the suspension of immunization campaigns in the Nigerian state of Kano in August 2003.

Cote dIvoire hadnt reported polio cases since July 2000. If the case is confirmed, then Cote dIvoire would become the eighth previously polio-free country in the region to be re-infected.

Meanwhile, the UN Childrens Fund is calling on the state of Kano, as well as other states in northern Nigeria, to take part in the vaccination campaign. WHO asserts that concerns that the vaccine may be unsafe are without foundation.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

BUGGING ALLEGATIONS CONCERN MEMBER STATES: The Spokesman declined to comment on allegations that the US and UK Governments bugged the Missions of other Security Council members last year, noting that the allegations did not concern events that happened on UN premises but on those of Member States. The issue, he said, was between those States and the United States as host country. To his knowledge, the Secretary-General had not been notified on this issue.

SECRETARY-GENERAL RETURNS FROM JAPAN: The Spokesman confirmed that the Secretary-General is at his home in New York today, having returned earlier in the day from Japan.

TRIBUNAL SENTENCES BOSNIAN SERB TO 15 YEARS: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today sentenced a Bosnian Serb accused of involvement in the killings of Muslims at the Drina River, Mitar Vasiljevic, to 15 years in prison, finding him guilty of aiding and abetting persecution and murder.

RWANDA TRIBUNAL SENTENCES FORMER ARMY COMMANDER: In Arusha, Tanzania, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda sentenced the former military commander of the Rwandan armed forces, Samuel Imanishimwe, to 27 years in prison after convicting him on six counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions. It also acquitted two other former Rwandan officials of similar charges.

WFP WILL RESUME SOME FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA: The World Food Programme is taking extraordinary measures to partially resume food supplies to the countrys hungriest people. But it warns that 1.5 million vulnerable people will still go hungry over the next six weeks and that without additional donations soon, millions of people will be deprived of food in the second half of the year.

ACTION NEEDED FOR INDIGENOUS CHILDREN, UNICEF SAYS: Indigenous children are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the world and global action is urgently needed to protect their survival and their rights, according to a new report from UNICEF. The report says improving the lives of indigenous children is crucial, not only for their own health and well-being, but for the future of indigenous peoples and their unique place in the world.

UNCTAD REPORT TO BE ISSUED THURSDAY:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; The UN Conference on Trade and Development report on economic development in Africa is being released Friday. 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; The report finds that the majority of African countries are boxed into a trading structure, which leaves them dependent on the production of commodities. The report calls for a response to ease the problem of commodity dependence. Proposals include more balanced trading arrangements and strengthened domestic institutions.

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All other inquiries to be addressed to (212)

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