United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-08-23

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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

Monday, August 23, 2004

UN ENVOY DISCUSSES NAJAF WITH IRAQI PRIME MINISTER

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, early this afternoon, in Baghdad, met with Iraqs Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi. The two discussed recent developments related to the standoff in Najaf.

The UN Envoy reiterated the UN Secretary-Generals concern regarding the deterioration of the situation and the risks of additional loss of human life. Iraqs Minister of State, Dr. Kassim Daoud, also participated in the meeting.

Allawi and Qazi discussed the UN role in the reconstruction of Iraq. The Prime Minister reiterated his appreciation of the United Nations assistance and facilitating role during the recent National Conference.

On Sunday, Qazi met with Abdulaziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and discussed the situation in the country, the UN role in the political transitional phase and, in particular, in the electoral process. Hakim was accompanied by SCIRI senior members, including Finance Minister Adel Abdelmahdi and Deputy Foreign Minister Hamed al-Bayati.

Earlier, he met ambassadors of the permanent members of the Security Council. He also met an array of civil society leaders.

Asked about Secretary-General Kofi Annans offer of good offices regarding Najaf, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-Generals position remains that he is ready to play a facilitating role if it can help, and if all sides agree to it.

Asked about the steps the United Nations will take in Iraq prior to elections, the Spokesman said they would include helping the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission in organizing the elections, working on the development front and providing whatever additional political assistance is requited.

Asked whether Carina Perelli, Chief of the Electoral Affairs Division, would return to Iraq, he said that she would not.

UN ENVOY TO SUDAN CONCLUDES THREE-DAY VISIT TO DARFUR

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, concluded his three-day visit to South and West Darfur on Sunday.

In South Darfur he travelled to camps for internally displaced persons (or IDPs) at Kalma and Kass and, in West Darfur, he went to the Netriti camp. In all three locations, he met with humanitarian workers and with representatives of the IDPs. In addition, Pronk held two meetings with the Governor of South Darfur, during which the Governor provided details of the actions being undertaken by the Sudanese Government to meet its commitments in the selected areas that are to be made safe and secure.

Asked when Pronk would brief the Security Council on Sudan, the Spokesman said he was expected to brief the Council early next month; Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh will provide a briefing to the Council this Tuesday.

Pronks report, the Spokesman added, will be available to the Council by August 30.

UN AGENCIES REPORT DEPLOYMENT OF SUDANESE POLICE IN DARFUR

Regarding the humanitarian situation, in North Darfur, UN agencies report that some 100 national police have been deployed to check points around El Fasher town. In addition, 200 police officers have been deployed in Malha town and an unconfirmed number of officers have been deployed in the Abu Shouk and Zam Zam camps.

Despite this increased presence, internally displaced persons continue to express concerns about protection and security. In North Darfur, humanitarian agencies have started to prepare for interventions in areas under the control of the Sudan Liberation Army, where an estimated 50,000 IDPs are living.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization are preparing for mass vaccination campaigns in the SLA areas and other agencies, such as the World Food Programme, hope that their access will follow.

In South Darfur, the situation in Kalma and Kass camps appears to have stabilized as agencies have resumed their operations. The humanitarian agencies report an increase in police presence, with the establishment of two additional police stations.

In West Darfur, humanitarian agencies reported that local authorities have indicated to IDPs the selected areas to which police forces will be deployed to ensure their protection. The agencies confirm that police officers are being flown into Geneina airport.

Agencies are also investigating further reports of IDP movements along the Chadian border following indications that they have returned to certain locations in West Darfur. Intensive water and sanitation interventions are underway to avert the further spread of the outbreak of jaundice and Hepatitis E.

The World Food Programme reports that two-month rations have been successfully delivered by air and, starting on Tuesday, airdrops will be conducted at four sites in Geneina. The delivery of food by truck has experienced major limitations, due to capacity and heavy rains.

SOMALI PARLIAMENT SWORN IN AT UN OFFICE IN NAIROBI

Somalias first parliament in 13 years was inaugurated Sunday in a ceremony at the UN Office in Nairobi. Two hundred and six members were sworn in, and they are expected to choose a president who in turn will nominate a prime minister to form a federal Government.

The Parliaments formation comes after two years of negotiations facilitated by the United Nations and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

In a message read to the gathering, the Secretary-General welcomed the inauguration and congratulated all Somalis for this achievement.

But he stressed that this is the beginning of long-awaited reconciliation and he hoped the new parliament would meet its first challenge with the necessary resolve that is required for the election of a President for Somalia.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY BOMBING IN BANGLADESH

According to a statement, the Secretary-General was appalled to learn that the bombing at a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Saturday had caused the death reportedly of more than a dozen people and injured a large number of others who had gathered there. He strongly condemned the use of violence against the civilian population and reiterated his call for the perpetrators of these acts to be brought to justice.

He urged all concerned to exercise restraint and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this attack.

TIMOR-LESTE MOVING TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY, ANNAN SAYS

Timor-Lestes Government has taken important steps towards self-sufficiency in the past three months, the Secretary-General says in a new report to the Security Council. The preparations for the countrys first elections since independence are making significant progress, he says.

Meanwhile, as the UN Mission reduces its personnel, Timorese forces have taken over full responsibility for security. Since Timor-Lestes formal assumption of that responsibility on May 20, the Secretary-General says, the overall security situation has remained calm and peaceful, although smuggling, illegal trading and border crossing continue to cause concern.

The Secretary-General also notes the recent overturning of four convictions handed down by the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal of Indonesia in cases connected with the 1999 violence. He writes, Those responsible for the serious crimes committed in 1999 must be held to account, and it is essential that justice is seen to be done in those cases.

The Security Council will hold a public meeting on Timor-Leste on Tuesday.

AFGHANISTAN SHOULD RELEASE DETAINEES, SAYS UN EXPERT

The Afghan Government should immediately release an estimated 725 prisoners detained at Shibergan prison, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Afghanistan said over the weekend. The expert, Cherif Bassiouni, said at the end of his latest visit to Afghanistan that he was unable to visit some 300 to 400 detainees held by coalition forces, and expressed his serious concerns about the legality of their detentions.

The independent expert also voiced his concern that some Afghan women are charged with what are mostly social and alleged moral violations, and are confined to custody in what he called close to a condition of modern slavery.

DAY FOR REMEMBRANCE OF SLAVE TRADE OBSERVED

In Paris today, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is taking place at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said the Day gives an opportunity to reflect on a tragedy that was concealed for many years and is yet to be fully recognized. He noted that, although slavery has been abolished, it is still practiced today in new forms that affect millions of people around the world.

UN ENVOY IN KOSOVO SIGNS HUMAN RIGHTS AGREEMENTS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, today signed two agreements affecting human rights in Kosovo.

The agreements provide for arrangements to monitor the implementation in Kosovo of important human rights principles established by the Council of Europe. The agreements are considered a significant milestone for human rights there.

UN EXPECTS POOR CROP HARVEST IN ETHIOPIA

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that a field mission to Ethiopias south-central Oromiya Region has found that, as a result of erratic and delayed rains there, a poor harvest of the main food crops is expected.

More seeds are urgently needed, and there is now deep concern over increasing malnutrition and disease outbreaks. Also, unless the delayed rains extend up to end of September, serious water shortages are expected.

In addition, OCHA reports that the food pipeline for the World Food Programmes refugee operation in Ethiopia is expected to break in October unless donors urgently make contributions.

AIDS IS THREATENING AGRICULTURE IN MOZAMBIQUE, FAO SAYS

HIV/AIDS is threatening subsistence agriculture in Mozambique with long-term decline, a trend that has ominous implications for the country's food supply.

That warning comes from a major new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The study shows disease is impoverishing agricultural households, with 45 percent of respondents from HIV/AIDS-affected households saying they had reduced the area under cultivation, and 60 percent saying they had reduced the number of crops grown.

The study says it is important not to lose traditional crop varieties, because they act as an insurance policy against hunger since they are adapted to local conditions and will produce a minimal harvest even during Africa's recurrent droughts.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

BURUNDI INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING: Asked about the UN investigation into last week's killings in Burundi, the Spokesman said that the investigation is ongoing.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET WITH DRC TROOP CONTRIBUTORS: There are no Security Council meetings or consultations this morning. At 3:00 this afternoon, Council members will hold a private meeting with troop contributing countries for the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UNODC SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH PAKISTAN: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and Pakistans Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control have signed an agreement to enhance the intelligence capacity of key law enforcement agencies in Pakistan. The two-year project is designed to better equip Pakistani law enforcement agencies to conduct intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking and organized crime. The agencies will be offered advisory services, training and relevant equipment.

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