United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-09-29

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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

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, September 29, 2006

BOARD OF INQUIRY SUBMITS REPORT ON DEATHS OF U.N. OBSERVERS IN LEBANON

The Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate the incident at Khiam, Lebanon in which four UN Military Observers were killed has now submitted its report to the Secretary-General. UN Patrol Base at Khiam was struck by a 500 kilogram precision-guided aerial bomb and destroyed at 1925 hours on 25 July 2006.

The Board of Inquiry notes that the Israeli authorities have accepted full responsibility for the incident and apologized to the UN for what they say was an operational level mistake.

The Board did not have access to operational or tactical level Israeli Defense Force commanders involved in the incident, and was therefore unable to determine why the attacks on the UN position were not halted despite repeated demarches to the Israeli authorities from UN personnel, both in the field and at Headquarters.

The report concludes that all standard operating procedures were followed and no additional actions could have been taken by UN personnel that would have changed the outcome.

The Secretary-General once again pays tribute to the four who gave their lives in the cause of peace, and reiterates his heartfelt condolences to their families.

Asked why the statement was so muted, given that the Secretary-General had earlier called the targeting of the base as deliberate, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General had referred to apparently deliberate targeting. He disagreed with the opinion that the statement was a muted one, saying that it clearly lays out the facts, and makes clear that Israel accepted responsibility for the attack and apologized.

The report, he added, makes it clear that the United Nations is unable to determine why the attacks were not halted despite repeated demarches. Although, Dujarric said, the Board was unable to interview operational or tactical-level IDF commanders, it did have access to senior political and military officials.

The Spokesman said that the report has a number of conclusions that will be studied, adding, I dont think anyone has said that this is closed.

Asked about compensation, the Spokesman said that the United Nations has procedures to provide compensation for those who die in the line of duty.

Asked whether the United Nations, in mentioning the precision-guided bomb, was saying that the base was targeted by the Isarelis, he reiterated that Israel has accepted responsibility for what it said was a mistake and that the Board was unable to determine why the attacks were not halted.

ISRAELI TANK SEEN CROSSING BLUE LINE INTO LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) says that late yesterday, a French patrol traveling near the southern Lebanese village of Marwaheen saw an Israeli tank cross the Blue Line into Lebanon. After some communication, the Israeli tank re-crossed back into Israel, but UNIFIL reported the incident as a ground violation of the Blue Line.

UNIFIL, meanwhile, continues to expect that Israel will fully withdraw from southern Lebanon in the coming days.

SECURITY COUNCIL IS TOLD HARIRI INVESTIGATION MADE PROGRESS

Serge Brammertz, the head of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission, this morning briefed the Security Council on his Commissions progress in investigating the

assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 other people.

He told them that, despite the recent conflict in Lebanon, the Commission made progress in its investigation, and is satisfied with its efforts. He said that 20 major investigation and analysis projects are ongoing, with the focus in the last months on consolidating the results of an extensive forensic examination of the crime scene.

Brammertz added that the Commission is examining information suggesting that Hariri was the subject of earlier surveillance, and possibly of earlier attempts to kill him. Brammertzs open briefing to the Council was followed by closed consultations, in which the discussion of the report continued.

Also this morning, the Security Council has scheduled consultations on Georgia.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE BRIEFING ON MYANMAR

This afternoon, starting at 3:00 p.m., the Security Council is scheduled to hold a closed meeting on Myanmar. Council members expect to hear a briefing on the latest developments there by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari.

The Security Council has also scheduled a number of formal meetings in the afternoon to vote on resolutions extending the mandates of different peacekeeping missions and panels that would otherwise expire at the end of the month.

They are set to vote on draft resolutions concerning the mandates of the UN Missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as of the panel of experts dealing with

Sudan.

This is the last scheduled day of activity under the Security Council Presidency of Greece, with Japan taking over as Council President next month. According to the Greek Presidency of the Security Council, a straw poll for the selection of the next UN Secretary-General has been scheduled for today.

U.N. MISSION RECEIVES REPORTS OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN DARFUR

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) says that it has received reports that two local police patrols were attacked by unknown armed men on the road between Geneina-Sirba in Bir Dagig, in

West Darfur. No causalities were reported.

In South Darfur, UNMIS says there have been reports that two trucks belonging to an international NGO were held up by armed men two days ago while travelling to Khor Abeche via Netiga. The men stole money and cell phones before releasing the NGO staff.

Also in South Darfur, this time in Nyala, an NGO there reported that three shots were fired by an unknown man in front of its compound.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

The Human Rights Council this morning discussed two reports: that of the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for

Children and Armed Conflict,

Radhika Coomaraswamy; and that of the Independent Expert on technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka.

In the afternoon, the Council heard a presentation by John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1967. It also heard a progress report on the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon, which is currently carrying out its work in that country. The Commission is expected to report back to the Council on its findings within two months.

UNITED NATIONS COMMITS NEARLY $174 MILLION

TO HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that, as of tomorrow, the United Nations will have committed nearly $174 million from the new Central Emergency Response Fund for more than 250 projects in 26 countries.

During the Funds first seven months, nearly $97 million has been disbursed for new and/or rapidly deteriorating emergencies in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte dIvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Timor-Leste.

An additional $77 million of the funds have gone to under-funded emergencies in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte dIvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

ANNAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT PRECARIOUS SECURITY SITUATION

IN CENTRAL AFRICA

The

Secretary-Generals latest report on the regional confidence-building measures and activities of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa was issued today.

In it, the Secretary-General says that the Standing Advisory Committee, while welcoming recent elections in Burundi and the UN Missions efforts to disarm militias in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, nevertheless remains extremely concerned about the precarious security and humanitarian situation in the region.

The Secretary-General appeals to UN Member States to keep up their voluntary financial contributions to the Standing Advisory Committee. He also urges countries in the region to assume full ownership of the activities of the Committee.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY TO CLOSE OFFICE IN GUINEA AFTER SUCCESSFUL

REPATRIATION OF LIBERIAN REFUGEES

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that tomorrow, it will be closing its office in Kissidougou, Guinea, ending a nearly 18-year presence in the region. And that is primarily the result of a successful repatriation of Liberian refugees.

Meanwhile, the Central African Republic (CAR) recently gave its agreement for UNHCR to use an air charter company to resume its voluntary repatriation operation to South Sudan. UNHCR now plans to resume the operation for Sudanese refugees in southeastern CAR in a few weeks.

U.N. ENVOY CONCERNED OVER DEATHS,

HALT IN TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION IN SRI LANA

In a statement on Sri Lanka, Eric Schwartz, the UNs Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, said that he is deeply disturbed that over 200 civilians have been killed, and thousands displaced, over the past two months in Sri Lanka.

In parts of the north and east, the tsunami recovery process has ground to a halt, and significant investments in reconstruction, so generously supported by donors around the world, are now imperilled, he added.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT TO OUTLINE PROGRAMME OF WORK NEXT WEEK

The President of the General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, has begun a series of meetings with the Chairs of the General Assemblys main Committees, and Co-Chairs responsible for various reform processes, as well as representatives of Member States.

On Thursday she met with the Ambassadors of Italy, Germany, Argentina, Singapore, Sweden, New Zealand, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Yemen. They discussed a wide range of issues, and focused on the outstanding reform issues such as Security Council reform, revitalization of the General Assembly, a comprehensive counter terrorism convention, management reform and the reform of the Economic and Social Council.

She also met with the Ambassador of Japan, who will take over the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, and the Ambassador of Greece, the outgoing President of the Council.

The discussions focused mainly on the selection of the Secretary-General with a view to ensuring that transparency and open communication between the Assembly and the Council are maintained.

The Plenary will meet on Monday on the

Secretary-Generals report on the work of the organization.

Further to consultations this week and early next week, President Al Khalifa will outline the work programme for the 61st session around the issues mentioned earlier.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS PROVIDES FUNDS FOR RELIEF OF TYPHOON SURVIVORS IN PHILIPPINES: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is releasing funds for the Philippines, for the purchase of relief goods, including chainsaws and flashlights, to facilitate post-typhoon clean-up operations. Nearly 5,500 people have been displaced by that recent typhoon.

ANNAN HAS REPEATEDLY STATED CONCERN ABOUT LOSS OF LIFE IN GAZA: Asked about an incident in Gaza in which two Palestinians were reported killed, the Spokesman recalled that the

Secretary-General has repeatedly stated his concern about military activity and the loss of civilian life in Gaza.