United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-04-07

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON

BRIEFING

BY

MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, April 7, 2005

REVAMPING HUMAN RIGHTS MACHINERY IS CRUCIAL

FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN UNITED NATIONS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today

told the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva that, unless we remake our human rights machinery, we may be unable to renew public confidence in the United Nations itself.

The Secretary-General told the Commission that the gap between what we seem to promise on human rights, and what we actually deliver, has grown. The answer is not to draw back from an ambitious human rights agenda, but to make the improvements that will enable our machinery to live up to the worlds expectations.

He warned, Our constituents will not understand or accept any excuse if we fail to act. He reviewed his proposals for an overhaul of the UNs entire human rights sector.

In his speech, he referred to the appalling suffering in Darfur,

Sudan, saying that for all of us, as individuals and as an institution, this situation is a test, and adding that for thousands of men, women and children, our response is already too late.

The Secretary-General began his program Thursday morning, with a meeting with the UN

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, which was followed be a session with her senior staff. The entire headquarters staff of Arbours office then gathered for an informal exchange with the Secretary-General, during which he made remarks and took about a half-dozen questions.

In the afternoon, he went to the Headquarters of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, where he met privately with

Acting High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin and Assistant High Commissioner Kamel Morjane. He then addressed UNHCR staff and took questions from them.

ANNAN APPLAUDS LAUNCH OF LANDMARK INDIA-PAKISTAN BUS ROUTE

The Secretary-General

applauds the inauguration today of the bus service between Muzzafarabad and Srinagar across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite the security challenges it faces, the bus service is a powerful gesture of peace and an opportunity to reunite families divided for nearly sixty years.

The Secretary-General reiterates his hope that this important step will lead to further progress towards improving conditions for the divided population and the resolution of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan.

ANNAN: UNITED NATIONS BEGINNING TO TURN A CORNER

At a

press encounter in Geneva, the Secretary-General was asked about staff morale, and he replied, When your Organization is being criticized and being knocked, it does affect morale. But I think we are beginning to turn a corner.

Another journalist asked him about his recommendation that his reform proposals be considered as a package, and whether lack of agreement on Security Council reform could hold up everything. The Secretary-General replied that he did not intend to convey a message of take it or leave it, but simply that the package should be looked at comprehensively.

In response to another question, the Secretary-General said that the human rights office was working very well in Geneva, downplaying the possibility that it would move under any change in the human rights system.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND POPES FUNERAL TOMORROW

The Secretary-General will be in Rome tomorrow, where he will attend the funeral of Pope John Paul the Second in Vatican City.

In his

speech at the Human Rights Commission today, the Secretary-General said of the Pope, His was an irreplaceable voice speaking out for peace, for religious freedom, and for mutual respect and understanding between people of different faiths.

SECURITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHES COMMISSION

TO INVESTIGATE KILLING OF LEBANESE EX-PRIME MINISTER

At 10:00 a.m., the Security Council held consultations on the Secretary-Generals

report on the UN Observer Mission in Bougainville. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Danilo Turk was the briefer.

Then Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Hedi Annabi briefed on recent developments concerning the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in particular the announcement in late March by leaders of armed Rwandan groups in the DRC, that they plan to stop their armed struggle and enter a repatriation programme. A draft presidential statement on the DRC was introduced.

[Following consultations and shortly after the noon briefing, the Security Council held a meeting on the situation in the

Middle East, at which a resolution was adopted on an international investigation into the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.]

NEW FLASH APPEAL TO FIGHT ANGOLAS DEADLY MARBURG VIRUS

The United Nations has today presented a three-month flash appeal to donors in

Angola, to fight the recent outbreak there of the rare and deadly

Marburg virus, which has claimed close to 160 lives so far.

The World Health Organization, the UN Childrens Fund and the World Food Programme are all participating in the appeal, which amounts to more than 3.5 million dollars.

The

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the most urgent needs are protective clothing for health care workers, disinfectants, body bags, emergency kits and essential drugs.

ERITREA: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION WORSENS

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the humanitarian situation in

Eritrea is deteriorating, mainly because of recurrent drought and the political stalemate with Ethiopia.

Rains have failed for the fifth consecutive year, making pastures in the countrys three most fertile regions the driest theyve been since 1998.

OCHA also says that, in four out of the six administrative regions, up to 15 percent of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, and that two-thirds of Eritreans will need food aid in 2005.

AFGHANISTAN: MORE THAN 46,000 FIGHTERS DISARMED

The

UN Mission in Afghanistan

reports that the number of former soldiers being disarmed in that country continues to climb, with more than 46,700 fighters disarmed as of today. Of that number, more than 41,000 have entered or graduated from a reintegration program.

Meanwhile, one month after the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resumed its voluntary repatriation program in Pakistan, nearly 7,000 Afghans have returned to their home country and received UNHCR assistance.

HALF A MILLION WOMEN DIE DURING PREGNANCY EACH YEAR,

ACCORDING TO NEW WORLD HEALTH REPORT

Today is

World Health Day, and this years theme is healthy mothers and children.

In a message to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General calls on the international community to develop sustainable programmes for the survival and well-being of mothers and children, since they form the bedrock of healthy and prosperous communities and nations.

Today also marks the launch of the

World Health Report 2005. In it, the World Health Organization

notes that half a million women die during pregnancy and childbirth each year, and nearly 11 million children die before celebrating their fifth birthday.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS EXPECTS ALL MEMBER STATES TO PAY DUES: In response to a question at the noon briefing yesterday in which a correspondent asked for reaction about U.S. Senate developments on peacekeeping funding, the Spokeswoman said, that while the United Nations wont have an official reaction on an ongoing legislative process, the United Nations expects all Member States to pay dues that they have agreed to pay.

IRAQ-KUWAIT COMPENSATION COMMISSION PAYS CLAIMANTS: The Geneva-based UN Compensation Commission has

announced the payment of over $195 million to six Governments for distribution to over 8,000 claimants.

UNITED NATIONS ISSUES FACT SHEET ON CAPITAL MASTER PLAN: A fact sheet on the Capital Master Plan for refurbishing UN headquarters has been issued as a Note to Correspondents.

ANNAN REMEMBERS FRENCH PHILOSOPHER-PRIEST: The Secretary-General has issued a

message to the participants of a seminar at the UN marking the 50th anniversary of the death of French philosopher-priest Teillard de Chardin.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MEETS WITH U.N. REFORM ENVOYS: General Assembly President Jean Ping has met with two of the Secretary-Generals Special Envoys on UN Reform, who

briefed correspondents yesterday. The President noted that the Envoys and the General Assembly Facilitators will have distinct roles in the consultation process on UN reform. While the Envoys will be sensitizing leaders in capitals on the reform proposals, the Facilitators will be assisting the Assembly President in carrying out consultations with Member States here in New York.

GOOD WORLD CEREAL CROP PREDICTED: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

forecasts a good world cereal crop for the year 2005. in the April issue of its

Food Outlook. At the same time, however, FAO also

reports that in Somalia, food shortages are continuing, with some areas reporting malnutrition levels of more than 20 percent.