United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-07-20

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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

Thursday, July 20, 2006

MIDDLE EAST: ANNAN SAYS CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES URGENTLY NEEDED

The Secretary-General just now briefed the Security Council in an open meeting on the Middle East, telling the Council that almost every day brings a new escalation to the bloody conflict that has engulfed Lebanon and northern Israel.

He said that already, over 300 Lebanese have been killed and over 600 wounded, and the casualties are mainly among the civilian population, about one third of them children. Meanwhile, the Israeli people, who had hoped that Israels withdrawal from Lebanon would bring security along their northern border, find themselves under constant Hezbollah rocket attacks, which every day reach further into Israeli territory. To date, 28 Israelis have been killed and over 200 wounded.

The

Secretary-General said that is most urgently needed is an immediate cessation of hostilities, to prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering; to allow full humanitarian access to those in need; and to give diplomacy a chance to work out a practical package of actions that would provide a lasting solution to the current crisis. He added that, while Hezbollahs actions are deplorable, and Israel has a right to defend itself, the excessive use of force is to be condemned.

He told the Council that the mission he sent to the region, headed by his Special Adviser, Vijay Nambiar, has suggested elements which, in his opinion, must form the political basis of any lasting ceasefire, and on which they have conducted consultations with the leaders of Lebanon and Israel.

The elements include the following elements, among others:

The captured Israeli soldiers would be transferred to the legitimate Lebanese authorities, under the auspices of the ICRC, with a view to their repatriation to Israel and a ceasefire.

On the Lebanese side of the Blue Line an expanded peacekeeping force would help stabilize the situation, working with the Lebanese government to help strengthen its army and deploy it fully throughout the area. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government would fully implement

Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1680, to establish Lebanese sovereignty and control.

The Prime Minister of Lebanon would unequivocally confirm to the Secretary-General and the Security Council that the Government of Lebanon will respect the Blue Line in its entirety, until agreement on Lebanons final international boundaries is reached.

The Secretary-General added that we also need a peace track for Gaza despite the different issues involved as much as we do for Lebanon. He noted that Palestinians in Gaza are suffering deeply, with well over 100, many of them civilians, killed in the last month alone.

The open meeting was followed by consultations, also on the Middle East.

HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED ALONG BLUE LINE BETWEEN ISRAEL, LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon reports that heavy exchanges of fire have continued unabated along the length of the Blue Line. There were 31 incidents of firing close to UN positions during the past 24 hours, with three positions suffered direct hits from the Israeli side.

UNIFIL Headquarters compound in Naqoura, causing extensive damage to the UNIFIL hospital where doctors were operating at the time.

The UN Mission says that some re-supply convoys to its positions are planned for today, but the ability to move will depend on the situation on the ground. All UN positions close to the Blue Line are facing shortages of basic supplies, and the need to re-supply them is vital.

NEPAL: ANNAN SENDS TEAM TO ASSESS U.N. HELP TO PEACE PROCESS

Recent developments have provided an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a negotiated political solution to Nepals 10-year armed conflict. With that in mind, the Secretary-General has decided to send a team to Nepal to discuss the proposed U.N. assistance in the peace process.

Through consultations with all concerned, the mission will seek a common understanding of the nature and scope of responsibilities the United Nations could undertake in the peace process. The assessment team will be led by Mr. Staffan De Mistura and is scheduled to be in Nepal between 26 July and 3 August.

GUINEA-BISSAUS STABILITY IS THREATENED

The Security Council began its work this morning with consultations on Guinea-Bissau, with a briefing by the Secretary-Generals Representative, Joćo Honwana. Honwana discussed the Secretary-Generals recent

report on that country, which says that the political climate there remains fragile as deep antagonisms between political actors continue to hamper a frank and open national dialogue.

The Council also heard a briefing on sanctions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the chairman of the

Councils Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Oswaldo de Rivero of Peru.

DR CONGO: EXPERTS RECOMMEND TIGHTENING SANCTIONS REGIME

Available today is the latest report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In it, the experts document repeated violations of the Security Councils arms embargo on the DRC by both Congolese and foreign actors.

Internal trafficking in arms and ammunition, the experts say, remains a genuine threat to the peace process. Equally threatening is the financing of violations of the arms embargo through the diversion of Congolese natural resources, including cross-border smuggling of diamond and radioactive material such as uranium and radium.

The Group of Experts also reports that despite repeated declarations by its leaders, Rwandan rebel groups based in eastern DRC continue to resist a UN-backed disarmament program.

The experts recommend a natural resources control system for the DRC, as well as financial and travel sanctions on armed groups resisting the disarmament program. The illicit transportation of arms by air should also be punished, the experts say.

SOMALIA: U.N. OFFICIAL URGES RESTRAINT

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, today

urged leaders of the Transitional Federal Government and the Supreme Council of the Islamic Courts to restrain their forces.

He urged both sides to respect the ceasefire and other provisions of the Khartoum agreement of 22 June, including their commitment to refrain from any provocations that could lead to an escalation of the situation.

A continuation of the Khartoum process, he said, would give both parties an opportunity to flesh out their expectations and move towards a peaceful solution.

COTE DIVOIRE : ANNANS LATEST REPORT URGES PARTIES TO PEACE

The Secretary-Generals latest progress report on Cote dIvoire was issued today.

In it, the Secretary-General says that while the steps taken so far to implement the peace process provide the ingredients for further progress, sustained and focused efforts to expedite country-wide identification and disarmament are needed to take the country out of crisis.

He adds that the international community needs to stay united in putting pressure on all the Ivorian parties to deliver on their commitments.

INDONESIA: EMERGENCY SUPPLIES SENT TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Turning now to the tsunami that hit Java, Indonesia, on Monday, we issued a statement yesterday afternoon, expressing the Secretary-Generals sadness over the loss of life. For his part, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, Eric Schwartz, traveled to Java this week, where he called for accelerated progress on national disaster prevention efforts.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the World Food Programme has sent twenty tons of food to the hardest-hit areas, and UNICEF is sending emergency supplies, including tents, jerry cans and hygiene kits. For its part, the World Health Organization is assessing health needs and planning a measles vaccination campaign.

U.N. FOOD AGENCY COMMENDS NEW FOOD AID REPORT

The World Food Programme (WFP) today drew attention to a new report, which notes that, in the same year it stopped receiving food aid from WFP, China emerged as the worlds third largest food aid donor.

The report also says that donations of food aid, not just those handled by WFP, grew by 10 percent to 8.2 million tons in 2005. WFP aid accounted for over half of that figure and reached 97 million people last year.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATES SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

The General Assembly is holding a debate in plenary all day today on the reform of the Security Council. No action is expected to be taken during this debate on any of the existing resolutions on Security Council expansion or reform of its working methods. Several delegations are suggesting various ways of moving forward on this important issue, in a constructive spirit.

Consultations are continuing in the Assembly on the review of mandates, as well as work behind the scenes on a counter-terrorism strategy, ECOSOC reform, and other issues that are still to be acted upon during the 60th session.

Meanwhile, the first provisional list of speakers has been issued for the General Debate of the 61st session of the Assembly, starting on Tuesday, 19 September.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

GEORGIAS WINEMAKING INDUSTRY AT RISK: The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that Georgias winemaking industry is at risk, threatened by counterfeiting and the sectors failure to diversity its markets. FAO is helping to protect the wine market by setting up a public-private regulatory body and training government officials to improve traceability of bulk wine. Wine is the countrys third biggest export and generated more than $80 million last year.

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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