United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-07-05

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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

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES NORTH KOREAS MISSILE TESTS

The Security Council this morning discussed in its closed consultations the letters it received yesterday from the Permanent Missions of Japan and the United States, which requested a meeting following the launch of missiles by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

The Council heard a briefing earlier this morning concerning the latest report by Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-Generals High Level Representative dealing with the return of Kuwaiti property from Iraq.

The Security Council, in its first consultations under the Presidency of France, also this morning approved its programme of work for the month of July.

Ambassador Jean Marc de la Sablière, the Council President, then briefed reporters on the Councils work over the coming month.

ANNAN CONVENES MINI-SUMMIT ON COTE DIVOIRE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Yamassoukro, Cote dIvoire, today, where he is convening a mini-summit to discuss the implementation of the road map for that country. He met earlier today with South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is attending that mini-summit, and after that met with Cote dIvoires president, Laurent Gbagbo.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General became the first non-Liberian to address a joint session of the Liberian legislature in Monrovia. In his remarks, the Secretary-General congratulated the Liberian people on their successful implementation of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He urged the Government to consolidate its authority throughout the country, and work to meet conditions that will allow sanctions to be lifted.

Early that afternoon, the Secretary-General, accompanied by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, inaugurated the new headquarters of the UN Mission in Liberia. He told the assembled crowd that the building was a powerful symbol of Liberias rebirth.

In a press encounter he held yesterday in Liberia, the Secretary-General was asked about Security Council sanctions on that country, and he noted that the sanctions on timber have been lifted by the Council. He said, I have no doubt that, in due course, in a reasonable period, the sanctions would be lifted because we and the Security Council would want to see Liberia move on, exploit its resources for its own development and for the benefit of the people.

TIMOR-LESTE : U.N. TOP ENVOYS MEET POLITICAL LEADERS

The two top UN officials in Timor-Leste today met the leaders of all registered political parties there as part of their efforts to help resolve the current crisis.

The meeting, which took place in the headquarters of the UN Office in Timor-Leste was hosted by the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy, Ian Martin, and attended by the UN Special Representative there, Sukehiro Hasegawa, as well as the leaders of the ruling Fretilin party at the ministerial level and the heads of all the opposition parties.

On Tuesday, Martin and Hasegawa met with a large group of civic groups, non-governmental organizations, international agencies and local journalists; and both have kept in close contact with the government leadership, taking part in almost daily meetings with top ministers.

On the humanitarian front, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the Flash Appeal for Timor-Leste has received contributions or pledges of $15.3 million or 78% of the call for $19.6 million.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION ON PALESTINE

The Human Rights Council is holding a special session in Geneva today on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, at the request of 21 Council members. The request was presented last Friday by Tunisia, which currently heads the Arab Group.

The Council is expected to take action tomorrow on a draft resolution.

AFGHANISTAN: TOP U.N. OFFICIAL CONDEMNS EXPLOSIONS

Tom Koenigs, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, said today that he was appalled by the explosions that took place in Kabul today and yesterday.

It is an outrage, he said, that anyone should attempt to inflict new pain and loss upon the Afghan people when their wounds are still not healed.

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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