United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-06-28

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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

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

MONTENEGRO BECOMES U.N.S NEWEST MEMBER STATE

The General Assembly decided to admit Montenegro as the 192nd Member State of the United Nations.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in

remarks at a flag-raising ceremony for the new country, welcomed Montenegro and said that, by achieving independence democratically and without violence, Montenegro had demonstrated its political maturity and shown that even the most difficult problems could be resolved peacefully. That was an especially important message given the violent past in the Balkans, he added.

The Secretary-General also said that, despite Montenegros small size and population, it had a significant role to play in maintaining stability and promoting cooperation in its region. Stating that the United Nations stood ready to support Montenegro, he added that he looked forward to the contributions that Montenegrins would make to the UNs work.

ANNAN CALLS ON TIMORESE TO REMAIN CALM AND UNITED

The Secretary-General

calls on the Timorese people to remain calm and to unite during this time of challenge and change.

In particular, he urges all political leaders to ensure that any demonstrations by their supporters are peaceful, and are conducted in full compliance with the laws of Timor-Leste and in cooperation with the international forces. The United Nations will continue to stand with the Timorese people during this difficult period.

In cooperation with Secretary-General's Special Representative, Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy Ian Martin and his team are currently in Dili, consulting broadly with all stakeholders. The team will return to New York with recommendations on the future role of the United Nations in Timor-Leste.

Meanwhile, the

UN Office in Timor-Leste says that after a period of relative calm, violence has broken out again in Dili, and it threatens to hamper food distribution to the displaced persons camps. At least 20 houses were burned overnight and this morning, and threats have been made to residents in camps for internally displaced people.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Finn Reske-Nielsen, says the conditions in the Dili camps which are already grim could rapidly worsen if the violence continues. A camp near Dili airport was cut off from all supplies for several hours today.

ANNAN TO MEET WITH SUDANESE PRESIDENT AT AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

Following his participation in the Security Council consultations yesterday afternoon on the recently concluded UN-African Union assessment mission to Sudan, the Secretary-General

told reporters that he planned to meet with the Sudanese President at the African Union summit this weekend.

He said African leaders at the summit in Banjul would also be engaging the Sudanese President on deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, adding, I hope the collective pressure will make a difference.

He also appealed to the Security Council members to bring their collective and individual pressure to bear, not just on the Sudanese Government to cooperate and support the deployment, but also on the rebels that are outside the agreement to sign the Darfur peace agreement, and pressure both parties to implement in good faith what they have agreed to do in Abuja.

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, who had briefed the Council on his mission, also spoke to reporters. For the immediate strengthening of the African Union mission, an 18 July international pledging conference will be crucial, he said.

ANNAN URGES RESTRAINT FROM ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS

Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to the Israeli incursion in Gaza, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has been following the situation closely and has urged restraint on all sides.

The Secretary-General, in

comments to the press on Tuesday, said he had spoken by phone with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; he is to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this afternoon, and may have more to say about the situation after that conversation.

The Secretary-General, Dujarric said, is very concerned about the humanitarian impact of any operations, and has also called for the release of the abducted Israeli soldier.

Asked about the UNs humanitarian work in Gaza, the Spokesman said that UN humanitarian agencies are already present in Gaza and are doing their utmost to alleviate the situation there.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO BE BRIEFED ON

PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT

At 3:00 this afternoon, the

Security Council will hear from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland, in an open briefing on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Security Council members will then continue to discuss that subject in an open debate.

Earlier today, the Council had been scheduled to hold consultations to consider a draft resolution concerning the murder of four Russian diplomats in Iraq, but those consultations have been postponed.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF TO HEAD TO CYPRUS, GREECE & TURKEY

The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, will be traveling to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey at the beginning of July to assess the political situation in and around Cyprus and to evaluate the prospects for a resumption of political talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement. Gambaris mission will be undertaken within the framework of the Secretary-Generals good offices.

He plans to hold meetings with officials in Ankara and Athens from 3 to 5 July and then be on the island of Cyprus from 6 to 9 July. While in Cyprus, Gambari plans to meet with both H.E. Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos and H.E. Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat. He will then return to New York to brief the Secretary-General on the results of his mission.

Asked whom Gambari would meet in Greece and in Turkey, the Spokesman said he would meet with the foreign ministers of those two countries.

BURUNDI: IMPROVED PROSPECTS FOR ENDING ARMED CONFLICT

Available today is the latest

report of the Secretary-General on the UN Operation in Burundi.

In it, the Secretary-General says that prospects for ending the armed conflict through a negotiated settlement have gained significant momentum. He notes that progress is being made with regard to the security situation and disarmament and reintegration of former combatants and militia members.

The reports also includes a recommendation to the Security Council that the planned withdrawal of the UN Operation in Burundi be followed by the establishment, in January 2007, of an integrated UN office with a mandate in humanitarian and development assistance.

U.N. MISSION TROUBLED BY POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN BANGLADESH

A mission from the

Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Department for Political Affairs yesterday wrapped up a ten-day visit to Bangladesh, to assess the pre-election environment in that country.

It recommended that several key steps be taken in the days ahead, including creating a level playing field for all candidates and ensuring that the voter list is accurate and inclusive. The mission was deeply troubled by the high level of political violence in Bangladesh, and called for constructive dialogue among the key political parties.

U.N. TRIBUNAL ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR FORMER BOSNIAN LEADER

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) yesterday issued an arrest warrant against Branko Djeric, a former Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb-dominated entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ICTY judges have directed Bosnian authorities to detain and transfer him to in The Hague to face charges of contempt of court for failure to respond to a Court summons.

Also from the ICTY, a judgment will be delivered this Friday in the case against Naser Oric, a former Bosnian Muslim commander in Srebrenica.

U.N. MISSION DOING WHAT IT CAN TO ARREST UGANDAN REBEL LEADER

Asked why the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was unable to arrest Lords Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony, who had given an interview inside that country, the Spokesman said that the UN Missions resources are extremely stretched and it must carry out a wide number of activities under its mandate. The Mission, he added, was committed to doing what it can to deal with the situation concerning Kony.

Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to comments from Kony that he is not guilty of any crimes, the Spokesman said that the humanitarian crisis in Uganda is well-known and there are a number of people under indictment by the International Criminal Court. The Secretary-General, he said, has repeatedly made clear that impunity must not stand.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ASIA DEVELOPMENT REPORT TO BE LAUNCHED TOMORROW: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will launch its first Asia-Pacific Human Development Report tomorrow in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The report puts forward an eight-point agenda to help Governments make trade more beneficial for the poor. Its recommendations include renewed focus on agriculture and rural development and strategies for combating jobless growth.

GLOBAL COMPACT MEETING TO ISSUE PRESS RELEASE: Asked why todays meeting of the

Global Compact Board was closed, the Spokesman said that it was the Boards first organizational meeting, and the members wanted to discuss matters among themselves but would issue a press release afterward, in their effort to ensure transparency.

FUNDS SHOULD BE MONITORED TO AVOID MISUSE: Asked about allegations that a UN Development Fund project in eastern Uganda misused funds, the Spokesman said he was unaware of the specifics of that matter, but added that it is expected that UN agencies would monitor funds to ensure that they are not being misused.

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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