United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-02

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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

Monday, October 2, 2006

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD STRAW POLL TODAY

FOR NEXT SECRETARY-GENERAL

Japan has assumed the Security Council Presidency for the month of October, Ambassador Kenzo Oshima is holding bilateral meetings with others members of the Security Council today.

As is customary, the Security Council President is scheduled to brief you on the programme of work for the month at a press briefing after the first consultations, which are scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, today at 4 p.m., the Security Council under the Japanese presidency has scheduled a straw poll in connection with the selection of the next Secretary-General, and Ambassador Oshima is expected to speak to you at the stakeout microphone.

The Spokesman, in response to questions, confirmed that Ambassador Oshima would talk to press both after todays straw poll and following the Tuesday discussions on the programme of work.

Asked whether Secretariat staff would be present at todays straw polls, the Spokesman said they would not.

Asked what the procedure for appointing the Secretary-General was, at the level of the Security Council and General Assembly, the Spokesman said that the process is clearly in the hands of the Member States.

Asked whether the United Nations would prepare for a transition, the Spokesman said that, once a Secretary-General was selected, the current team would do all it could to ensure that a smooth transition can take place.

ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM SOUTHERN LEBANON NEARLY COMPLETE

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) this morning started deploying along the Blue Line after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew yesterday from South Lebanon, except from the general area of Ghajar north of the Blue Line, which is still under IDF control. The Lebanese deployment continued throughout the day.

After conducting extensive patrolling over the past two days, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) troops from the Ghanaian, French, Spanish and Indian battalions confirmed that there were no IDF troops present in southern Lebanon, aside from Ghajar.

UNIFIL is also in close contact with the IDF to facilitate a speedy withdrawal from the area of Ghajar. Maj.-General Alain Pellegrini, the UNIFIL Force Commander, said he expects that Israeli forces will leave the Ghajar area in the course of this week.

Also today, senior UNIFIL and Lebanese officials met in Naqoura to discuss enhancing cooperation between them in light of the Israeli withdrawal. UNIFIL also informed the Lebanese Army that it is in the process of finalizing a plan for Ghajar that should be acceptable to all sides.

Asked whether the United Nations regards the IDF withdrawal as complete, the Spokesman said that at present, the withdrawal was not complete.

Asked whether Israel would withdraw from the remaining parts of Lebanon shortly, the Spokesman said he was sure that Pellegrini had received the necessary assurances, and he added that the United Nations is working with the Israelis on securing withdrawal from the last portion of Lebanon where its forces are still present.

The Spokesman declined to comment specifically on statements from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about UNIFILs tasks and the disarmament of Hezbollah. However, he noted that President Assad had promised the Secretary-General, during the latters visit to Damascus, that he would deploy more Syrian troops along the border with Lebanon.

Dujarric said that the implementation of

Resolution 1701 was not only the business of the Lebanese people, but also countries in the region have the responsibility to do all they can to stop the illegal flow of weapons into Lebanon.

U.N. AGENCY TAKES LEAD IN ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IN LEBANON

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is

leading an international team of experts that will begin an assessment tomorrow of the environmental damage in Lebanon caused by the recent conflict.

UNEP will lead the team and it will work closely with the Lebanese authorities.

The team will visit and take samples from sites thought to present potential risks to human health, wildlife and the wider environment these include the Jiyyeh thermal power plant which discharged up to 30,000 tonnes of fuel oil into the sea after being hit in mid-July; and the Beirut International Airport, where fuel tanks were set alight as a result of repeated bombing.

The team also plans to assess pollution risks at several damaged drinking water, sewage treatment and hospital facility sites.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says 50 health facilities in southern Lebanon have been assessed to date on the basis of their provision of health services and level of functionality - ten of them have been identified as damaged and in need of urgent rehabilitation.

A national mental health plan is currently being developed, and the World Health Organization has a mental health advisor in

Lebanon helping coordinate mental health and psychosocial support.

U.N. OFFICIAL BRIEFS IRAQI PREMIER ON COMPACT WITH IRAQ

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, today met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and briefed him on his recent travels, including the high-level meetings convened by the Secretary-General last month on the International Compact with Iraq. Prime Minister al-Maliki expressed his appreciation for the United Nations partnership with Iraq on the Compact and looked forward to an even closer engagement with it.

They also discussed the latest political and security developments in Iraq, and the Prime Minister informed Qazi about various initiatives that he hopes would combat terrorism and bring down the level of sectarian violence.

DARFUR SECURITY SITUATION WORSENING, U.N. MISSION SAYS

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) says it has received reports that the security situation is getting worse in the town of Gereida, in

South Darfur, as a result of tribal differences.

UNMIS has received reports that a government policeman was killed in Thur late last week in a shoot-out with members of the Sudan Liberation Army.

Meanwhile, in West Darfur, UNMIS says it has received reports that five people have died from cholera in the town of Um Kher.

U.N. RIGHTS BODY HOLDS TALKS ON REVIEW MECHANISM

The

Human Rights Council in Geneva today held a discussion on the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, which, when established, will offer the Council the opportunity to examine the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States.

There was a general agreement that the mechanism should, among other things: ensure universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States; complement and not duplicate the work of other human rights mechanisms; and be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs.

The Human Rights Council has until June next year to agree on the modalities of the mechanism.

BETTER PROTECTION FOR THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED NEEDED

The High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, called today for concerted international action to preserve the institution of asylum while finding better ways of dealing with irregular migration, post-conflict recovery and the plight of millions of people displaced within their own countries.

He described as one of the challenges for UN Refugee Agency was redressing one of the international community's "greatest failures," the neglect of tens of millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who because they remain within the borders of their own country lack the safeguards and assistance afforded to refugees outside their homeland.

Guterres made his remarks in a wide-ranging address to the annual meeting of the 70-nation governing body of the UN High Commissioner of Refugees.

URBANIZATION MUST BE INCLUSIVE, ANNAN SAYS ON WORLD HABITAT DAY

Cities around the world are marking

World Habitat Day today. The theme this year is: Cities, magnets of hope.

To mark the day, UN-HABITAT head Anna Tibaijuka delivered a

message from the Secretary-General in Naples, where the launch of todays observance took place. The closing ceremony will be held on Wednesday in the Russian city of Kazan.

In his message, the Secretary-General said that UN Member States, along with non-governmental organizations, the private sector and citizens all over the world, need to galvanize their strength as never before in the quest for sustainable urbanization and inclusive cities.

ANNAN PROMOTES HEALTHY AGING ON OLDER PERSONS DAY

Yesterday was the International Day of Older Persons and this years theme was: Improving the Quality of Life for Older Persons: Advancing UN Global Strategies.

In a message to mark the day, the Secretary-General said he had a personal stake in the fate of older persons and the fulfillment of their aspirations. As people across the globe come to live increasingly longer lives, our entire human family will encourage a productive and healthy aging process.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECRUITMENT UNDERWAY FOR NEW FOOD PROGRAMME CHIEF: Asked whether the Secretary-General would appoint someone to replace the current executive director of the World Food Programme, the Spokesman said that a selection process is ongoing for that position, and an appointment would be made in accordance with the normal procedures.

QUARTET HAS URGED ISRAEL TO TRANSFER FUNDS TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: Asked whether Israel has transferred money to the Palestinian Authority, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any large-scale transfer. He noted that the Quartet had called for such a transfer in its statement last month.

U.N. SEEKS CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN D.R. CONGO: Asked about concerns that the European Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be pulled out at the end of the month, the Spokesman said that the United Nations would want to see the international communitys sustained engagement in keeping the peace in that country, and he noted that the European Union has been helpful in that process.

ANNAN SUBMITS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORM TO ETHICS OFFICE: Asked whether the Secretary-General has filed his financial disclosure statement, the Spokesman said that he has done so, and the form was delivered last month to the Ethics Office for its review.

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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