United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-09-15

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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

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, September 15, 2006

HUMANITARIAN CHIEF SPEAKS OUT AGAINST IMPUNITY

IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND NORTHERN UGANDA

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, briefed the Security Council this morning on the humanitarian situation in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both of which he visited last week.

Speaking on the DRC, he said we have not been able to make enough of an impact on impunity. Sexual abuse has become a cancer in Congolese society that seems to be out of control, and military and civilian authorities are still virtually unaccountable for crimes against civilians. Also, although the humanitarian situation has improved, the humanitarian effort still lacks the resources it needs to meet the overwhelming needs, he said. Furthermore, the national disarmament and reintegration programme is not working effectively, he added.

On northern Uganda, Egeland said the picture is more promising than it has been in years. Since negotiations between the Ugandan Government and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) began in Juba earlier this year, security has increased dramatically, allowing us to do much more on the humanitarian front.

Egeland also pointed out that International Criminal Court indictments were the number one subject of discussion with the internally displaced persons in Uganda and the parties and civil society in Juba. All expressed a strong concern that if the indictments were not lifted, they could threaten the progress in these most promising talks ever for northern Uganda. He said the indictments had been a factor in pushing the LRA into negotiations, that the indictments should not disrupt the talks, and that there could be no impunity for mass murder and crimes against humanity.

The Security Council then held consultations on Sudan and other matters.

ANNAN ATTENDS NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT SUMMIT IN CUBA;

HOLDS MEETING WITH CASTRO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has arrived in Havana, Cuba, where last night he had a tete-a-tete meeting in the Palacio Nacional with President Fidel Castro.

He addressed the Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, saying that the Movements larger voice brings with it greater responsibility, both internationally and at home.

That includes a responsibility to work decisively and constructively to build a multilateral system and a United Nations capable of responding to todays challenges, he will say. He will also note the challenge of transforming global governance and the empowerment of women.

Later today, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with many of the leaders attending the summit.

Asked what the Secretary-General discussed with President Castro, the Spokeswoman said that, during their 45-minute meeting, they discussed the issues that would come up at the Non-Aligned Movement Conference, and the Secretary-General also briefed Castro on his visit to the Middle East.

ANNAN CONCERNED ABOUT INFLAMMATORY

RHETORIC FUELLING TENSION IN COTE DIVOIRE

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the increase in inflammatory rhetoric in Cote d'Ivoire, which is fuelling serious tension as the country approaches the end of the transition period in the end of October. Already, the tragic consequences of the recent dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan, a few weeks ago, has created serious problems and resulted in a number of violent incidents.

In this context, the Secretary-General regrets the reported statement made by President Laurent Gbagbo yesterday, rejecting the peace process, which was developed by the Ivorian leaders themselves, together with their international partners, over the past three years. The Secretary-General is concerned that these and other similar statements could further aggravate the situation in the country, with unpredictable consequences. The Ivorian leaders should be aware of their responsibilities towards their people and the international community for maintaining peace in the country.

The Secretary-General strongly urges all the Ivorians to exercise restraint at this critical stage and hopes that President Laurent Gbagbo will respond positively to his invitation to join the regional leaders, including the Chairmen of the African Union and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny and other Ivorian political leaders, at the high-level meeting that will take place in New York on 20 September to discuss the way forward in Côte dIvoire.

ANNAN TO MEET WITH SUDANESE PRESIDENT ON SIDELINES OF NAM SUMMIT

Asked how the United Nations would maintain pressure on the Darfur issue, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General, on his initiative, had raised the issue this week with the Security Council. The Secretary-General, she said, hopes that momentum is increasing for greater pressure on this issue, so that a transition to a UN force can be realised.

In terms of the Secretary-Generals own efforts, Okabe noted that the Secretary-General is scheduled to meet in Cuba today with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. He also asked the Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, to meet with the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The Secretary-General, she said, does as much as he can do when he knows that it can make a difference. She noted that he told the Security Council that his voice alone will not make a difference.

Asked whether the Secretary-General believes that sanctions should be imposed on Khartoum, the Spokeswoman said that was a matter for the Security Council to decide, adding that the Secretary-General had made his views on Sudan clear.

Asked about the comparison between the Secretary-General's efforts on Darfur and those on Lebanon, the Spokeswoman said that, even while he was on his visit to the Middle East, the Secretary-General had requested a Security Council meeting on Sudan."

FURTHER ISRAELI TROOP WITHDRAWALS REPORTED IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported further withdrawals yesterday by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from parts of southern Lebanon, including the areas around Naqoura and Ayta ash Shab, in the western sector of UNIFILs operations.

By this morning, the UN Missions Ghanaian battalion confirmed that there were no Israeli forces present in those areas, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are planning to deploy there tomorrow.

Also yesterday, an additional 200 French troops joined UNIFIL. Today, the first group of some 500 Spanish troops arrived in South Lebanon, bringing the total number of UNIFIL personnel up to around 4,600.

Meanwhile, Lebanon will soon be food secure again and its commercial sector is bouncing back quicker than expected, paving the way for the withdrawal of the World Food Programme (WFP) from the country by the end of October, according to a WFP food assessment and nutrition report issued today.

FOOD SECURITY IN GAZA REMAINS ISSUE OF CONCERN

The World Food Programme (WFP) says that Gaza's food security remains an issue of serious concern. Naval restrictions continue to block all boats from fishing off-shore, crippling the fishing industry. Furthermore, Gaza's agricultural markets continue to suffer from access restrictions.

WFP is distributing food to 220,000 of the most vulnerable people among Gazas non-refugee population.

Meanwhile, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) delivered five water tankers to municipalities in Gaza with damaged water networks. UNICEF also stepped up support for vaccination services in the northern West Bank.

KINSHASA IS CALM FOLLOWING MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL RIVALS

The UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) says that two days after the meeting between President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba the first time they met since the clashes in Kinshasa last month the situation in the capital remains calm.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative, William Swing, says both sides are moving in the right direction, and called for the electoral process to be kept on track.

MONUC says that the Supreme Court of Justice today upheld the force majeure appeal from the Independent Electoral Commission on the timing of the second round of the presidential elections which means that the second round should be set to go ahead as planned on the 29th of October.

Concerning preparations for the elections, 60% of the electoral materials are already in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, and from tomorrow the ballot papers for the provincial elections will start arriving.

FUNDING NEEDED FOR SOUTH SUDAN REPATRIATION OPERATION

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

says it urgently needs more donor support if it is going to avoid drastically curtailing operations in southern

Sudan.

Of $65.9 million sought for the operation for this year, UNHCR has received nearly $30 million and had spent some $22 million of that by the end of July.

UNHCR says the funding shortfall could mean suspending, postponing, reducing or cancelling some South Sudan programmes by as soon as the end of this month.

The call comes as the repatriation of tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees from neighbouring countries begins to gain momentum.

Meanwhile, in Cote dIvoire, UNHCR

organized the first repatriation convoy for Liberian refugees from areas under the control of the Forces Nouvelles. The repatriation operation for Liberian refugees has been underway since October 2004, but until now all return movements of Liberians from Côte d'Ivoire came from government-controlled areas.

INDOOR USE OF D.D.T. DECLARED SAFE FOR CONTROLLING MALARIA

Nearly 30 years after phasing out the widespread use of indoor spraying with DDT and other insecticides to control malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) today

announced that DDT will once again play a major role in its efforts to fight the disease.

WHO is now recommending the use of indoor residual spraying not only in epidemic areas but also in areas with constant and high malaria transmission, including throughout Africa.

WHO actively promoted indoor residual spraying for malaria control until the early 1980s when increased health and environmental concerns surrounding DDT caused the organization to stop promoting its use and to focus instead on other means of prevention.

Extensive research and testing has since demonstrated that well-managed indoor residual spraying programmes using DDT pose no harm to wildlife or to humans.

BELGIUM TO HOST GLOBAL FORUM ON MIGRATION NEXT YEAR

The Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly (GA) said that the GAs High-level Dialogue on Migration Development continues today. Yesterday the Assembly heard some 59 speakers, and it was expected to hear from the final 84 today.

Parallel discussions will also continue in closed, informal round tables today. The Chairs of the round tables will present to the Assembly summaries of their discussions at the wrap-up of the high-level dialogue at the end of the day.

One of the highlights of yesterdays meeting was the offer by Belgium to host what would be the first meeting next year of the Global Forum on Migration and Development proposed by the Secretary-General.

It would be informal, voluntary, consultative. Above all, it would not make binding decisions, Annan told the two-day High-Level Dialogue yesterday. The Forum would be a standing body in which countries would be able to discuss and exchange the best ideas and practices on this issue. The Secretary-General has welcomed the offer from Belgium.

On Monday and for one hour Tuesday morning, the General Assembly will review the ten-year action plan for the least developed countries (LDCs) adopted in Brussels in 2001. The plan of action consists of an agreement for donor countries to boost support to LDCs via aid, trade and debt relief and for LDCs to implement better governance and economic reforms.

There has been progress. For example the overall the percentage of LDC exports has indeed increased from 70% in 2001 to nearly 80% in 2004; development assistance has increased marginally, debt relief has reduced debt burdens although they still remain at a level considered difficult and there has been overall improvement in health and education indicators.

However, though the LDCs as a group are growing at better than 6% a year since 2001, the Secretary-Generals report prepared for Mondays meeting notes that poverty rates in these countries have not improved substantially. In particular the Secretary-General suggests that improved results will depend on the availability of additional resources, and the sustained provision of education and health services.

There are also concerns that because of the slow progress on poverty these countries are among the least likely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015. The meeting on Monday will review progress made and the difficulties being experienced by these nations. A draft declaration is expected to be adopted at the meeting.

The office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Anwarul Chowdhury, will hold a press conference on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at UN Headquarters

The General Aseemblys general debate will take place 19-29 September. The theme of the debate will be global partnership for development.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS IS DISSATISFIED WITH LACK OF PROGRESS IN RESTORING HOMES IN ZIMBABWE: Asked about the Secretary-Generals response to reports that former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa was not going to mediate between the parties in

Zimbabwe, the Spokeswoman said that those were press reports. She said that the Secretary-General had repeatedly voiced his desire to help the people of Zimbabwe in improving the countrys situation. The United Nations, she said, remains dissatisfied with the lack of progress in restoring homes to those who lost them during last years operation.

ANNAN RESPONDED TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE QUESTION: Asked whether the Secretary-General had filled out a financial disclosure, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had responded to a question about that during his Wednesday press conference, and added that she had nothing further to say.