United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-09-10

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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

Friday, September 10, 2004

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES DRAFT RESOLUTION ON SUDAN

The Security Council met for three hours in closed consultations on Thursday afternoon to discuss the US-introduced draft resolution on Sudan.

Security Council members agreed to continue discussions on the resolution at the experts level at 10 a.m. today.

No date for a vote has yet been scheduled.

Asked whether the United Nations needs a formal request to act following the US invocation of Article Eight of the Genocide Convention, the Spokesman said that the United States had taken the initiative to act, with the administration declaring a finding of genocide and saying it would present a draft resolution to the Security Council.

That matter, he added, was now in the hands of the Security Council.

The Spokesman said the United States also had the option of bringing the matter to other competent UN bodies, including the Secretary-General and the International Court of Justice. He noted that the U.S. draft resolution included a request for the Secretary-General to open an inquiry into the Darfur issue.

In response to another question, he said that if a resolution were adopted asking the Secretary-General to conduct an inquiry, he certainly would do so.

The Spokesman added that a party acting on Article Eight of the Genocide Convention also has the option to take national actions.

Asked whether the invocation of Article Eight by one State confers any general obligations to the international community, the Spokesman later said it did not, beyond those incumbent on all States under the UN Charter.

U.N. ENVOY DRAWS ATTENTION TO SUDAN IN VISIT TO GULF REGION

Mohamed Sahnoun, the Secretary-Generals Special Advisor on Africa, visited Kuwait this week as part of mission in the Gulf region to underline the gravity of the current situation in Sudan, to draw attention to the humanitarian challenges facing the international community in Darfur and Southern Sudan, and to encourage increased support for Sudan.

UN agencies have appealed to the donor community to meet humanitarian needs in Darfur, reintegration assistance in South Sudan and other urgent priorities through the end of 2004.

Out of a total requirement of $722 million, only $288 million has been contributed, leaving a gap of $434 million in unmet requirements, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES INSECURITY IN PARTS OF HAITI

The Security Council began consultations on Haiti this morning. Council members received a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi on the Secretary-Generals recent report on the deployment of the UN Mission in Haiti, as well as on the recent deterioration in security in parts of the country.

The UN Mission assumed operational responsibilities from the multinational force at the end of June, and at present has more than 2,700 troops on the ground. But Annabi said the transitional government and the UN Mission have faced a more challenging security environment in recent days, as members of the former Haitian armed forces have taken over police stations in several areas.

Following consultations, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on Haiti, in which it condemned attempts by some illegal armed groups to perform unauthorized law enforcement functions in some Haitian cities. It stressed the urgency of disbanding and disarming all illegal armed groups.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY SEEKS PERMISSION

FOR PRESENCE AT BURUNDI-DRC BORDER

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that currently, there are almost 19,000 Congolese refugees at the three transit sites near the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Large numbers of them are reported to have returned to DRC in recent weeks.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has asked for permission to establish a presence at a border crossing, but has thus far been denied by the Burundian military, which says the area remains insecure.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today also noted that more than 15,000 civilians have fled their homes in the past two weeks in the eastern DRCs North-Kivu Province, fearing armed confrontation.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME BEGINS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN

NORTHERN UGANDA AND TO BESLAN VICTIMS

The World Food Programme has The World Food Programme (WFP) says it has started providing food to help resettle more than 260,000 people driven from their homes in north-eastern Uganda by fighting and attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

WFP also begun distributing food to the hundreds of children and adults caught up in the Beslan hostage-taking tragedy. In response to requests from doctors in Beslan, WFP began on Monday an initial one-week distribution of food to three hospitals there and in the regional capital of Vladikavkaz, where many of the victims were taken. UNICEF has sent two trucks of medical supplies to hospitals in Beslan and Vladikavkaz to help the injured.

UN TEAM IN JAMAICA IN ADVANCE OF HURRICANE IVAN

A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team is currently in Jamaica, which is expected to be hit by Hurricane Ivan later today. The team is working with the national authorities and the International Federation of Red Crescent and Red Cross Committees to coordinate response to the storm. The UN Childrens Fund has also pre-positioned health kits in Jamaica.

An aerial survey of the country will be conducted immediately after the passage of the hurricane.

Although Haiti is no longer on the hurricanes direct path, UN agencies present in the country, including the peacekeeping mission, have mobilized to deal with the heavy rains and winds expected in the south.

UN peacekeepers will transport supplies and medical staff to the town of Les Cayes and any other affected areas.

SIX BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS TO BE GIVEN TO UNITED NATIONS

The Spokesman introduced three bomb-sniffing dogs to the UN press corps, noting that, over the past couple of years, the bomb-sniffing dogs used at the United Nations were contracted out from a private company at considerable expense. In fact, they became know as Assistant Secretary-General dogs, in light of their high salaries.

Now, thanks to the efforts of the US Mission and the generosity of the New York State Police, the UN Safety and Security Service will eventually have six of its own bomb-sniffing dogs.

The State Police donated the dogs and hosted the UN security officers at their canine training facilities in Cooperstown, in upstate New York.

In terms of cost, for much less than half of the $360,000 paid yearly to a private contractor to provide two dogs and handlers, the United Nations will now be able to operate up to eight canine teams.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL AT HEADQUARTERS ON MONDAY: Asked whether the Secretary-General would be back at UN Headquarters on Monday, the Spokesman said he would.

ANNAN PRAISES WORLD CULTURE OPEN: The Secretary-General praised a festival in New York today of artists, musicians, intellectuals and other people from some 50 countries, designed to encourage the sharing of cultural heritage, customs and traditions. In a message to the World Culture Open, delivered by Special Adviser Maurice Strong, the Secretary-General notes that joint events will take place in the Korean Peninsula as part of this festival. He says that those events add a new dimension to international efforts to achieve durable peace and prosperity there.

UNDP LAUNCHES NEW BOOK ON LATIN AMERICA: The United Nations Development Programme announced the launch of the book Contributions to the Debate a companion volume to the report Democracy in Latin America: Towards a Citizen Democracy. The book features new essays by 20 leading experts on Latin America on topics such as globalization, politics and the economy.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, September 13

The Security Council has scheduled a public meeting on the work of the 1267 Sanctions Committee, which deals with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It has also scheduled consultations on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The World Urban Forum, which is partly organized by UN-Habitat, will begin in Barcelona, Spain, and a message will be delivered on the Secretary-Generals behalf.

At 11:00 a.m., Julian Hunte, the outgoing General Assembly President, will give his farewell news conference.

Tuesday, September 14

The 59th session of the General Assembly will formally convene, under the Assemblys new President, Gabonese Foreign Minister Jean Ping.

The Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting to vote on a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It has also scheduled an open briefing, followed by consultations, on Iraq.

At 11:00 a.m., Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland will give a press briefing to discuss this years Focus 2004 treaty event, which deals with treaties concerning the protection of civilians.

Speakers from the UN Development Fund for Women will be the guests at the noon briefing.

The photography exhibit Guatemala: Images of Peace, from the photo collection of the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala, will have its opening ceremony at 5:15 p.m. at the Visitors Lobby of UN Headquarters.

Wednesday, September 15

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the UN Mission in Liberia, as well as meetings with troop contributors to that Mission and to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone. The Council also expects to hold its monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will launch its annual State of the World Population report, The Cairo Consensus at Ten, which reviews progress on population issues in the decade since the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo.

Safiye Cagar of UNFPAs Division of Information and External Relations, will be the guest at the noon briefing and will discuss the State of the World Population report, along with Jill Sheffield, President of Family Care International.

Thursday, September 16

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the UN Mission in Sierra Leone.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Stephen Lewis, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for AIDS in Africa.

Friday, September 17

The Security Council expects to hold formal meetings to vote on resolutions concerning the mandates of the UN Missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone. It also has scheduled an open briefing, followed by consultations, on the Middle East.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162 -

press/media only

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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