United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-08-10

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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 FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

ANNAN URGES VENEZUELANS TO USE CONSULTATIONS AND DIALOGUE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is keeping abreast of developments in Venezuela and notes that preparations for the referendum have proceeded in accordance with the constitutional process. In a statement, he welcomed the role played by international observers, particularly the Organization of American States and the Carter Center.

The Secretary-General reminded the Government of Venezuela and all political sectors that, when his Special Adviser, Diego Cordovez, visited Caracas from July 20 to 24, all sides committed themselves to resolving issues relating to, and deriving from, the referendum of August 15 through consultations and dialogue.

The Secretary-General remains convinced that only thus will Venezuelans ensure a successful outcome of the referendum and prevent further polarization of their society.

The Secretary-General reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Venezuelans in their search for a constitutional, democratic solution to their political differences.

SUDAN PLAN OF ACTION TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, and the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mustafa Ismail, met today in Khartoum to co-sign a transmittal letter to the Secretary-General and to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, officially presenting to them the Darfur Plan of Action.

The Plan of Action was signed on August 5 by Pronk and the Foreign Minister, and subsequently approved by the Sudanese Cabinet last Sunday. Both the cover letter and the Plan of Action were sent today to both recipients.

Pronk also discussed with the Sudanese Foreign Minister the preparations for the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism, which will take place this Thursday evening. This meeting will focus on the status on the implementation of the July 3 Joint Communiqué and the Darfur Plan of Action.

The UN Refugee Agency expressed concern that in West Darfur, the local authorities and the Government of Sudan are continuing to put pressure on displaced people to return to villages that are not safe and do not offer any possibility of a decent life, since most of the crops and homes have been destroyed by rampaging militias. In South Darfur, the government has said it intends to move tens of thousands of displaced people now living in Kalma camp and Kas town, both near Nyala.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ REPORT

There are no Security Council meetings or consultations scheduled for today.

On Wednesday, the Council will hold an open briefing, followed by consultations, on the Middle East. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast will brief Council members on the latest developments concerning Israel and the Palestinians.

Then, in the afternoon, the Council has scheduled consultations to discuss the Secretary-Generals report on the UN Mission in Iraq, which Council members received late last week.

UN ENVOY CALLS ON ISRAEL TO HALT AIR VIOLATIONS OF BLUE LINE

The Secretary-Generals Personal Representative for Southern Lebanon, Staffan di Mistura, today called on the Israeli authorities to bring an end to ongoing breaches of the Blue Line.

De Mistura expressed his dismay at numerous Israeli air violations that have taken place over the last 36 hours. He said that there were four air violations of the Blue Line yesterday, and a further six recorded today.

The Personal Representative said that these air violations disturb the relative calm that had returned to the Blue Line since the events of July 20. He reminds all parties that one violation cannot justify another.

DECREE ON PRIME MINISTER SIGNED IN COTE DIVOIRE, UN MISSION SAYS

The UN Mission in Cote dIvoire reports that Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo on Monday signed a decree providing specific new details concerning the powers conferred on the Prime Minister, Seydou Diarra.

The language of that decree was worked out with the Secretary-Generals help at the recent summit in Accra, Ghana. Its signing is a welcome development in line with the Accra III Agreement signed at the end of that summit.

UN APPEAL FOR $97 MILLION FOR KENYA LAUNCHED

The United Nations today launched a flash appeal for almost $97 million for food and basic supplies for Kenyas drought-affected population. The appeal, launched with the Kenyan Government and other partners, covers the six months from now until next February.

Currently, an estimated 2.3 million Kenyans need emergency relief assistance, and the total food needed for the next six months is about 166,000 metric tons.

WFP SAYS ANGOLA SHORTFALL IS HAMPERING RESETTLEMENT

The World Food Programme says an acute funding shortage is seriously hampering international efforts to resettle tens of thousands of people who fled their homes in Angola during the long civil war.

WFP has received only $45 million, or just 18 percent of its appeal for $253 million to feed 1.4 million returning refugees and displaced people until the end of next year.

This has forced it to slash cereal rations by half. Unless there are immediate new donations, no cereals at all will be distributed in September, which is when the lean season starts.

WEST AFRICA LOCUST PROBLEM HAS SPREAD TO CHAD

The locust problem plaguing parts of West Africa has already caused serious crop damage in Mauritania, Mali and Niger, and has now spread for the first time to Chad.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the locusts have entered Chad because of winds and aid workers are concerned that these winds will eventually take them into Darfur.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization says that aid pledged by donors at a recent locust-control meeting in Algiers is starting to trickle in. At the same meeting, government officials from various West African countries appealed to the international community for at least $58 million to help step up locust control activities.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WHO TO BATTLE AFGHANISTAN LEISHMANIASIS: The World Health Organization is taking part in an emergency initiative that should dramatically reduce the incidence of leishmaniasis in Kabul, Afghanistan, in less than two years. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disabling disease transmitted by the bite of a sand fly, which leads to disfigurement, usually on the face and hands, and social stigma, particularly for women and children. WHO says that without immediate action, the current epidemic threatens to escalate into an uncontrollable situation.

UNCTAD SEES CHANGE IN INVESTMENT FLOWS: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says we may be seeing the possible emergence of a new geography of international investment flows. It says that foreign direct investment from developing countries to other developing countries seems to be growing faster than that from developing countries to developed countries. In addition, UNCTAD predicts that the share of developing countries which engage in foreign direct investment in other countries can be expected to rise.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

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press/media only

Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212)

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