United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-04-07

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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

Wednesday, April 7, 2004

ANNAN MARKS RWANDA GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

WITH ACTION PLAN AND CALL FOR ACTION IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said that we must never forget our collective failure to protect at least 800,000 defenseless men, women and children who perished in Rwanda 10 years ago.

Speaking after two minutes of silence in memory of the Rwandans killed in the genocide that began on April 7, 1994, the Secretary-General told the Commission on Human Rights that we must acknowledge our responsibility for not having done more to prevent or stop genocide. He added, The risk of genocide remains frighteningly real.

The Secretary-General called for swift and decisive action when there is abundant warning. In that connection, he cited the situation in Darfur, Sudan, where deliberate actions had been observed with the specific objective of the forcible and long-term displacement of targeted communities.

He warned, Such reports leave me with a deep sense of foreboding. Whatever terms it uses to describe the situation, the international community cannot stand idle.

In a humanitarian update on Darfur, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that, in the past week, almost 20,000 internally displaced persons have arrived in towns in South Darfur.

The Secretary-General, in his speech, launched an Action Plan to Prevent Genocide, involving the whole UN system. The plan consists of preventing armed conflict; protecting civilians in armed conflict; ending impunity, including through UN tribunals; early and clear warning including the creation of a UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide; and swift and decisive action.

By action he made it clear that he means a continuum of steps, which may include military action. But military action, he added, should always be seen as an extreme measure, to be used only in extreme cases.

UN OFFICIALS AROUND WORLD OBSERVE RWANDA REMEMBRANCE

From Kigali to Dili to New York, UN officials joined the world in marking the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.

In Kigali, Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari attended memorial events on the Secretary-Generals behalf. He is scheduled to delivered a message from the Secretary-General, underscoring the sense of regret and sorrow that the international community failed Rwanda. Today, the Secretary-General adds, the United Nations is doing what it can to help Rwandans, especially the young, to build a new society together.

In New York, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette addressed the General Assembly meeting this morning in commemoration of the genocide. She said we cannot undo the past, or repair the failure of Rwanda. But, she added, the world can be serious about preventing genocide.

The Security Council President, German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, delivered remarks on behalf of the Security Council at the session.

Todays General Assembly meeting also heard from genocide survivor Jacqueline Murekatete, who said that the survivors from the genocide today are women who are dying from HIV/AIDS, and orphans that are left on the streets. We should keep their suffering in mind, she said.

Hassan Jallow, Prosecutor for the Rwanda Tribunal, said in Arusha, Tanzania, today that all Member States should hand over to the Tribunal all indicted suspects. Speaking in The Hague, Philippe Kirsch, President of the International Criminal Court, said that as we remember those who died in Rwanda, we look forward to a future where these types of crimes might be prevented.

Among the events still to be held at UN headquarters today on Rwanda is a panel discussion, from 1:00 to 3:00 this afternoon titled A Decade After Rwanda: The United Nations and the Responsibility to Protect. The Deputy Secretary-General will chair that panel and make some opening remarks.

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES GUINEA-BISSAU ELECTIONS

There are no meetings or consultations of the Security Council as a whole today.

In a press statement on Guinea Bissau issued Tuesday afternoon, the Council welcomed the holding of the legislative elections, commended the people of Guinea-Bissau for their sense of public-spiritedness during the poll and encouraged them to stay the course. Council members also expressed concern at the persistence of the serious economic difficulties in Guinea-Bissau and called on lenders and donors to consider the situation in the West African country as an emergency.

Out today is an addendum to the Secretary-Generals report on Burundi, in which he says the financial implications of the UN peacekeeping operation is projected at some $418 million for a 12-month period.

ANNAN SADDENED BY DROWNING OF PEACEKEEPERS IN DR CONGO

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic drowning of six UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) contingent members in Lake Kivu Tuesday after their armoured personnel carrier was involved in a serious accident. He extends his most sincere condolences to the Government and people of South Africa, and to the families of the bereaved.

MONUC is carrying out a full investigation into the incident. MONUC yesterday was able to retrieve the bodies of the drowned soldiers.

UN TEAM LED BY BRAHIMI HOLDS FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN IRAQ

The team led by Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi is continuing with its schedule of meetings with a broad range of Iraqis, to hear their views about the transfer of power and their other key concerns.

Brahimi today held further meetings with members of the Iraqi Governing Council, as well as with trade unionists, members of civil society and womens groups. The team also continued consultations, on an ad hoc basis, with the Coalition Provisional Authority.

ACTION URGED TO LOWER DEATH AND INJURY TOLL ON WORLD'S ROADS

Today is World Health Day and the theme is Road safety is no accident! Road crashes are one of the leading causes of death globally, killing 1.2 million people and injuring as many as 50 million more.

In a joint report with the World Bank, the World Health Organization estimates that road traffic deaths will rise by 80 percent in low- and middle-income countries by 2020. The World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention provides recommendations on what can be done to reduce the death and injury toll.

UN AGENCIES, OTHERS RUSHING IN VACCINES FOR GEORGIA MEASLES

More than 2,500 children in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia are being immunized against measles this week, following an outbreak of the killer disease. UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, USAID and the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, are rushing in vaccines and a mobile team to immunize the children who include both Georgians and Chechen refugee children by April 9.

The Gorge, 150 kilometers northeast of the capital Tbilisi, has had a reputation for lawlessness including kidnapping and gun-running which has undermined routine immunization.

As well as providing 3,000 doses of measles vaccine, UNICEF is also helping to supply auto-destructive syringes to ensure the safety of every single vaccination shot, and leaflets in both Georgian and Russian on the importance of immunization.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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New York, NY 10017

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Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212)

963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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