United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-06-17

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, June 17, 2004

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT INSTABILITY IN D.R. CONGO

According to a statement issued today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan is deeply concerned by the serious tension and persistent instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which puts the peace process at risk. He calls on all parties concerned to abide by the terms of the Global All-Inclusive Agreement, and to uphold the transitional process. The Secretary-General urges all components in the Transitional Government to address the crisis in Bukavu and all other issues in a consensual manner and reaffirms the United Nations availability to assist in this regard.

The Secretary-General is also concerned about the continuing reports of movements of refugees from the DRC to Burundi, and urges all sides to respect international humanitarian law.

Also today, the World Food Programme says it is feeding thousands of refugees who have crossed into Burundi and Rwanda from the DRC, to escape violence that temporarily paralyzed WFP's aid operations in much of the eastern part of the country.

ANNAN URGES SUDANESE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL MILITIA

The Government of the Sudan must take steps to control the Janjaweed militia, and must also allow humanitarian workers to be given free access to the Darfur region, the Secretary-General told reporters upon entering the building this morning.

Asked about the situation in Darfur, he said the United Nations was rushing to get as much supplies to Darfur before the rains come, and he noted the massive violations of international humanitarian law that were taking place there. The Secretary-General added that he met a Sudanese delegation, headed by the Finance Minister, in Brazil two days ago, which told him that they are going to do the best they can to bring the situation under control.

Asked about the security situation in Iraq, he said that he was extremely worried, and urged that all efforts must be made to secure the environment.

Asked whether the Security Council should pass a resolution extending the exemption some nations would receive from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, the Secretary-General said that such a blanket exemption would be wrong. He added, I think it would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq, and warned that such a move would discredit the Security Council.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS WORK OF PANEL ON LIBERIA SANCTIONS

The Security Council this morning unanimously passed a resolution that re-establishes its Panel of Experts dealing with the question of sanctions on Liberia, for a further period lasting until December 21 of this year.

It requests the Secretary-General to appoint, by the end of this month, no more than five experts who will conduct a follow-up assessment mission to Liberia and neighboring countries to report on the implementation of Security Council sanctions and any violations of them.

Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom is expected to brief the press on Friday at 12:45 p.m. on the Security Councils visit to West Africa, which will be taking place from June 20-29.The Mission is expected to include visits to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote dIvoire, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.

UN POLICE HAVE ARRESTED 270 IN KOSOVO OVER MARCH RIOTS

Concerning the investigations into the March riots in Kosovo, UN police have arrested around 270 people, and international Prosecutors are handling 52 of the most serious cases. These include all 19 cases involving deaths, cases against the organizers or leaders of the riots, and cases involving significant violence against police.

Of these 52 cases, 15 cases are already in various stages of the court process. In 11 of them, international prosecutors have filed formal decisions with the court to initiate an investigation; in four, the cases indictments have been filed, and the remaining cases assigned are under police investigation.

ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, FRECHETTE SAYS

Earlier today, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette received an honorary degree from Waterloo University in Canada and delivered the convocation address for graduating students from the Faculty of Arts.

She encouraged the graduates not to underestimate the power of a single person to make a difference. The Millennium Development Goals, she told graduates, might have been adopted by Governments, but the likelihood of achieving them will depend to no small extent on the efforts of community activists, private entrepreneurs and concerned young citizens.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

RWANDA MAYOR SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON: The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today sentenced Sylvestre Gacumbitsi, a former Rwandan mayor, to thirty years in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide. The Tribunal ruled that Gacumbitsi had organized the killings of some twenty thousand people.

NEARLY FOUR MILLION REGISTERED TO VOTE IN AFGHANISTAN: The UN Mission for Afghanistan reported today that, as of yesterday, the number of people registered to vote in the country was just under four million more than 2.5 million men and more than 1.4 million women. In recent days, close to ninety thousand Afghans are registering to vote each day.

WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION OBSERVED: The World Day the Combat Desertification was observed today, drawing attention to a problem that affects one fifth of the world's population. Since 1990, it is estimated that some six million hectares of productive land have been lost each year due to land degradation.

SUBSTANCE FOUND AT UN HEADQUARTERS NOT HARMFUL: The Spokesman, in response to questions, said that the white powder found at UN Headquarters on Monday had been examined and determined not to be harmful.