United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-23

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, June 23, 2006

ANNAN OPENS FIRST SESSION OF PEACE-BUILDING COMMISSION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning opened the first session of the Peacebuilding Commission, and expressed his pleasure that the new Commission will aim to provide more sustained, more coordinated and more focused support to countries emerging from conflict.

He noted the weaknesses in current international responses to post-conflict situations, including a shortage of funds, the lack of international coordination, and the tendency for international actors to leave too hurriedly. The Secretary-General warned that, as we have just seen in Timor-Leste, undue haste to disengage from a transitional situation can result in reversals and a need to redeploy, at great cost to all, particularly the helpless civilian victims.

The Secretary-General said that the Commission is a symbol of hope for the many millions of people throughout the world who are striving to keep their societies on the fragile road to peace; and a symbol of perseverance, as well, because it has overcome considerable difficulties to get up and running.

ANNAN HOPES TO DISCUSS DARFUR WITH SUDANESE PRESIDENT

The Secretary-General, speaking to reporters after the launch of the Peacebuilding Commission, was asked about the possibility of a missile test by the

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and said a test at this time was not a wise thing to do.

On

Sudan, he said he hopes to discuss the possible transition to a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur with President Omar al-Bashir when they attend the African Union summit next week in Banjul, the Gambia. The Secretary-General said that, although the President had publicly expressed his rejection of a UN peacekeeping force, the Sudanese had agreed to continue the dialogue on that matter.

ANNAN URGES PARTIES IN SOMALIA TO MAINTAIN DIALOGUE

In a statement issued Thursday, the Secretary-General welcomed the agreement reached between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and representatives of the Union of Islamic Courts in Khartoum on 22 June as a positive development.

The Secretary-General urges the two parties to remain engaged in dialogue to promote peace and national reconciliation.

The Secretary-General commends the League of Arab States for facilitating the talks.

POVERTY REMAINS WORLDS MOST SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, today

addressed the Human Rights Council. In her statement, she said that poverty continued to be the worlds most serious and widespread human rights violation.

Stressing that human rights must be at the forefront of efforts to counter terrorism, she expressed grave concern about the reported existence of secret detention centers where suspects were held incommunicado. She said such practices had a corrosive effect on the rule of law and human rights, and created an environment ripe for abusive conduct.

Drawing attention to specific situations throughout the world, Arbour said: that she regretted that her Office had been unable to adequately assess what had happened in May 2005 in Andijan, Uzbekistan; that her Offices lack of access to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea was a matter of concern; and that the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Myanmar was worrying.

In conclusion, Arbour said that the worlds bleak human rights situation could be countered through targeted but comprehensive interventions and early responses to unfolding crises.

LATEST REPORT SURVEYS ELECTION PREPARATIONS IN D.R. CONGO

The Secretary-Generals latest report on the implementation of the mandate of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) was issued today.

In the report, the Secretary-General surveys MONUCs role in the preparations for the landmark 30 July elections, including security plans for Election Day, the United Nation's continued humanitarian work in the country and MONUCs efforts in assisting Congolese authorities in disarming local militias.

The Secretary-General also gives an update on MONUCs strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse and other types of misconduct.

UNITED NATIONS APPEALS FOR NATIONAL UNITY IN TIMOR LESTE

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, today called upon all Timorese to reject attempts to divide the nation.

In a message broadcast on national radio, Hasegawa urged Timorese to, remain resilient to any efforts to divide your people along regional or ethnic lines. He added that maintaining national unity is paramount.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Timor-Leste, Ian Martin and his team that the Security Council asked to examine the needs in Timor Leste will be leading will leave for Timor-Leste tonight.

On the humanitarian front, the World Food Programme says it is expanding its food distribution to 30,000 displaced persons in districts outside of Dili. With its partners, itll also provide supplementary food to 15,000 children under five years of age and pregnant and lactating women in Dili.

Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

says that a second wave of relief supplies bound for Timor-Leste is due to get underway early next week. On Monday, a chartered aircraft carrying 63 tonnes of shelter supplies lightweight tents, plastic sheeting and blankets is scheduled to leave Jordan bound for UNHCRs staging point in Darwin, Australia, before being transferred to a container ship heading for Dili.

Asked about reports that the Timorese Prime Minister may step down, the Spokeswoman said she could not confirm those reports. She added that the Secretary-General had spoken by phone both with President Gusmão and with Prime Minister Alkatiri, and had urged that their actions help to strengthen national unity. Meanwhile, she added, Ian Martin and his team would begin their own assessment work.

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE IN INDONESIA WORSE THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT

Four weeks after the devastating earthquake in Java, Indonesia, it is has become apparent that the damage sustained, particularly to housing, is worse than initially thought.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least one million people have lost their homes, more than 300,000 people need emergency shelter, and reconstruction is expected to take a minimum of two years.

Despite the urgent needs, the UNs Emergency Response Plan remains less than 23 % funded.

ANNAN MOURNS LOSS OF LOUIS SOHN, A WRITER OF THE U.N. CHARTER

The Secretary-General was sad to learn of the death of Professor Louis B. Sohn, an important figure in the history of the United Nations and of international law.

Louis Sohn, who served as Professor of Law at Harvard and the University of Georgia, was a member of the US delegation at the San Francisco conference in 1945, at which the United Nations Charter was drawn up, and also, from 1974 to 1982, at the conference which drafted the International Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Throughout his life he won wide respect as a voice of reason and source of wisdom, and was a firm believer in the importance of the United Nations and of the rule of law in settling international disputes.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to Professor Sohns family, and to the Government and people of the United States.

ANNAN HOPES MEMBER STATES WILL LIFT SPENDING CAP ON BUDGET

Asked about recent comments by UN Controller Warren Sach to the General Assemblys Fifth Committee on how the United Nations work would be undermined if no action was taken on the budget situation by July and whether they contradicted what the Secretary-General has said on the subject, the Spokeswoman said the Secretary-General has been expressing his hopes that Member States will lift the spending cap.

She went on to say that Sach was pointing out the urgency of lifting the spending cap by mid-July, by which time the current amount of funds will run out. "It was the same appeal," she said.

.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

W.F.P. BRINGING FOOD AID TO 225,000 NEPALESE: The World Food Programme reports that it has started transporting emergency food aid to 225,000 drought-stricken people in the western part of Nepal. The aid will be given to families through a food-for-work programme. The families will receive two-month rations of rice and flour as they participate in quick-impact community projects. According to government records, Nepal just had its driest winter since 1960.

WORLD URBAN FORUM WRAPS UP IN VANCOUVER: The UN Human Settlements Programmes World Urban Forum is ending in Vancouver, Canada, today. Approximately 8,000 participants, including experts, slum dwellers, city planners, government officials and others have spent the past week discussing the problems of urbanization under the theme Our Future: Sustainable Cities Turning Ideas Into Action.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, June 26

Today is the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

The UN Small Arms Review Conference starts today.

Ian Martin, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy to Timor-Leste, will begin a multi-disciplinary needs assessment mission to the country to prepare recommendations on future UN assistance.

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will launch the 2006 World Drug Report at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Gay McDougall, the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, will visit Hungary from 26 June to 3 July. She will focus on the situation of Roma women.

The Second Ministerial Conference on drug trafficking routes from Afghanistan, organized by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will be held 26-28 June in Moscow.

At 11:00, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland is sponsoring a press conference to launch the Small Arms Survey 2006.

The guest at the noon briefing will be the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, who will brief on her recent visit to Uganda and the Secretary-Generals report on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tuesday, June 27

In the Security Council this morning, there will be consultations on the UN Operation in Burundi and the Central African Republic. The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi, Nureldin Satti, will brief the press afterwards.

In the afternoon the Security Council will hold a public meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Wednesday, June 28

The General Assembly will meet to take action on admitting Montenegro as the UNs 192nd Member State.

The Security Council will hold an open debate this morning on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.

Thursday, June 29

In the morning the Security Council will hold meetings to consider draft resolutions on the UN Operation in Burundi and the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also this morning the Security Council will hold a public meeting on Sudan.

Friday, June 30

The guest at the noon briefing will be Patricia Lewis, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), who will present a new UNIDIR report on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.

At 1:00, there will be a briefing by officials from the UN Department of Safety and Security on the new badges and turnstile system at Headquarters.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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