United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-09-29

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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 STEPHANE

DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, September 29, 2005

KOFI ANNAN APPOINTS U.N. AVIAN/HUMAN FLU COORDINATOR

Secretary General Kofi Annan has

appointed Dr. David Nabarro as Senior UN system Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza.

Dr. Nabarro is one of the most senior public health experts in the

World Health Organization (WHO), and the Secretary-General is grateful to the Director-General,

Dr. Lee Jong-wook for seconding him to the United Nations.

He will be responsible for ensuring that the UN system makes an effective and coordinated contribution to the global effort to control the epidemic of avian influenza (or bird flu), which at present is particularly affecting countries in Asia.

He will also ensure that the UN system supports effective local, national, regional and global preparations for a potential human influenza pandemic - so as to reduce the human toll, as well as the economic and social disruption, that this pandemic could cause.

The UN systems efforts on influenza will reflect the technical guidance provided through the UN's specialized agencies responsible for animal and human health (the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization).

It will respond to the needs and interests of national governments and their peoples, and be undertaken in conjunction with the World Bank, other development banks, development agencies, non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements, major private entities, the research and development community and all others with a stake in influenza-related issues.

DARFUR: U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON CAMP FOR DISPLACED

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed grave concern today over an unprecedented attack on a camp for thousands of internally displaced persons in Sudans West Darfur region, which reportedly left 29 people dead and another 10 seriously wounded.

Initial reports received by UNHCR indicate that a group of 250-300 armed Arab men on horses and camels attacked Aro Sharow camp, in the northern part of West Darfur, on Wednesday afternoon, sending thousands of camp residents fleeing into the insecure countryside.

The UN Mission in Sudan reports that the security situation has deteriorated in West Darfur following the attack, and indications that the camp has been burnt to the ground. The African Union is to investigate the attack.

Jan Pronk, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, expressed his deep concern about the upsurge of violence in Darfur, at a time when every effort is being exerted to speed up a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region in the framework of talks in Abuja, Nigeria. Pronk is to meet today with the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Sudan, Baba Gana Kingibe, to discuss the incident.

U.N. MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN CONDEMNS SUICIDE ATTACK

The

UN Mission in Afghanistan today condemned in the strongest terms yesterdays suicide attack against members of the Afghan National Army in Kabul. It expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and its best wishes for the recovery of the wounded.

The UN Mission also paid tribute to all the soldiers and officers of the Afghan National Army that have laid down their lives in the accomplishment of their mission. The Mission said that yesterdays attack is yet another reason for the Afghan people to reject violence and rally in support of the national army.

U.N. LEBANON ENVOY CONFERS WITH EGYPTIAN, LEBANESE LEADERS

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy dealing with the implementation of resolution 1559, had a prolonged tête-à-tête meeting today with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

They reviewed all issues related to the implementation of resolution 1559 and the broader political context. President Mubarak also updated the Special Envoy on his latest contacts with regional leaders. They agreed to remain in close contact.

After his meeting, Roed-Larsen spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and exchanged views on the latest developments.

Asked about the contents of the phone call with the Lebanese Prime Minister, the Spokesman said it concerned the implementation of resolution 1559.

Asked whether any members of the Investigation Commission headed by Detlev Mehlis would remain in Lebanon after he issues his report, the Spokesman said that, for that to take place, there would need to be a request from the Lebanese Government, which the United Nations would then study.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Security Council today is holding consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is receiving a briefing from

William Swing, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for that country, who will discuss recent developments and the Secretary-Generals latest report.

In that

report, the Secretary-General asks for a one-year extension of the UN Mission in the Congo, until the beginning of October 2006, and also hopes that the Council will give due consideration to his recommendation for an increase of 2,580 in the force strength of that Mission.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR ACTION ON COTE DIVOIRE

In the latest

report to the Security Council on the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire, the Secretary-General says that the scheduled October 30 elections will not happen on time and that urgent attention must be given to the post October 30th period. He calls upon all parties to agree on a realistic timeframe for the electoral process.

He also asks the Security Council to consider, as a matter of urgency, the report on serious violations of human rights that he submitted to the council last year.

Asked what a realistic timetable for elections would constitute, the Spokesman said that we need to make sure that everything is done that is needed for elections, in terms of disarmament and the creation of an environment that is conducive for elections.

UNITED NATIONS HELPS FORM A MISSING PERSONS CENTRE FOR IRAQ

Iraqi human rights officials and the families of missing persons have been meeting this week under the auspices of the UN Mission in

Iraq to finalize preparations for a National Centre for Missing and Disappeared Persons in Iraq.

The purpose of the Centre is to support the survivors of all Iraqis who have involuntarily disappeared. Its main activity will be to identify missing and disappeared persons, and to assist survivors in resuming normal lives.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. COMPENSATION COMMISSION CONTINUES PAYMENTS TO IRAQIS: The Governing Council of the

UN Compensation Commission today concluded its 57th session, and continued with its payment of awards to successful claimants. The Governing Council anticipates that its next scheduled payment, to be made on 27 October, will be about $600 million.

U.N. FOOD PROGRAM IN NIGER SAYS DELIVERIES ON TRACK: The

UN World Food Programme (WFP) today

reports that it has completed the first round of food distributions to some 1.7 million people in Niger. The agency said it has already begun its second round of distributions and that the most vulnerable people in that country are being helped.

U.N. ENVOY IN KOSOVO CONDEMNS ATTACK ON POLICE COMMANDER: The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in

Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, yesterday

condemned the attempt on the life of a Kosovo Police Service Regional Commander in the south-eastern municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane. He also said that such acts of violence had no place in Kosovo or indeed in any society. Whoever perpetrated this cowardly attempt was an enemy of progress in Kosovo, he added.

NO DATE SET FOR ZIMBABWE VISIT: Asked when Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland would visit Zimbabwe, the Spokesman said no date has been set.

U.N. CHEF DE CABINET ASKED ABOUT OIL-FOR-FOOD: Asked about comments from Chef de Cabinet

Mark Malloch Brown on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. that the United Nations could take on further programs such as oil-for-food, the Spokesman said that, whatever program is given to the United Nations to perform should come with clear expectations and clear lines of authority.

SPOKESMAN IS NOT A FILM CRITIC: Asked about the documentary film Broken Promises, the Spokesman said that, although he had been interviewed for it, he has not seen the film.