United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-25

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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

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS COTE D'IVOIRE THIS AFTERNOON

The Security Council this morning met with the troop contributing countries for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, after which they held consultations on Western Sahara. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi briefed Council members on recent developments there, and the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Peter van Walsum, presented the Secretary-Generals recent report.

After that, the Security Council discussed Burundi, and adopted a resolution on the mandate of a UN Mission in that country.

Then, starting at 3:00 this afternoon, the Security Council will hold first a closed meeting, and then consultations, on Cote dIvoire.

In the closed meeting, Security Council members will hear from Said Djinnit of the African Unions Peace and Security Council. Then, in the consultations, they will receive briefings from the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Cote dIvoire, Pierre Schori, and the High Representative for elections in the country, Gerard Stoudman.

LEBANON: U.N. CONCERNED BY ISRAELI AIR VIOLATIONS

Maj. Gen. Alain Pellegrini, the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, has voiced serious concern over the increasing number of air violations over South Lebanon by Israeli planes, with nine occurring between Monday and Tuesday. Almost all the UNIFIL battalions have reported air violations taking place in their area of operations.

It is in the best interest of all the parties on the ground to respect the terms of Security Council

Resolution 1701 in letter and spirit, Pellegrini said.

Also, the Lebanese Navy and UNIFIL carried out a command amphibious exercise between Beirut and Tyre yesterday and today. The exercise gives an opportunity for the UN Mission to explore various courses of action if the main supply roads in UNIFILs area of operation are destroyed due to any security incidents.

Meanwhile, on the humanitarian front, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) closed its office in Lebanon yesterday and UN agencies wrapped up their emergency relief operations. The recovery and reconstruction phase, led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is now underway.

SUDAN: U.N. ENVOY TO MEET WITH ANNAN TOMORROW MORNING

Asked about the schedule of the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, the Spokesman said that Pronk was arriving late today in New York for consultations at UN Headquarters, and his first scheduled meeting would be with the Secretary-General, on Thursday morning.

Asked whether Pronk would speak to the Security Council, the Spokesman said that was up to the Council but added that nothing had been scheduled yet.

Asked whether Pronk had been replaced, the Spokesman said, Not at all. He said that Pronk remains Special Representative for Sudan and has the full confidence of the Secretary-General.

He said that the United Nations deeply regrets Sudans decision to ask for Pronks removal. He noted that Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hédi Annabi had met with the Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations on Monday to protest Sudans decision.

Dujarric added that the UN Mission in Sudan continues to do its work both regarding the North-South peace agreement and its support of the African Union Mission in Darfur.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF ARRIVES IN CHINA

Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari arrived in China yesterday, on the first leg of a three-nation trip that will also include stops in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

He is consulting with the three governments on strengthening their cooperation with the United Nations in conflict prevention, peacemaking and peace-building.

In Beijing, he has had discussions with senior officials, including the State Councillor and the Foreign Minister, on issues including the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, the Middle East peace process, Lebanon, and Darfur.

Gambari also discussed Chinas important role in contributing to peace and development in Africa, ahead of a Leadership Summit to be hosted by China in November with Heads of State and Government from countries throughout Africa.

TIMOR-LESTE CALM BUT TENSE FOLLOWING YESTERDAYS VIOLENCE

The chief of the Police Unit of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Antero Lopes, said the situation in the capital Dili was now calm but tense after yesterdays violence, reportedly between youth gangs.

Lopes said that a group of youths had attacked a camp for the internally displaced near the international airport and that the internally displaced population in that camp retaliated with stones and other weapons. He said the prompt intervention of the UN Police had prevented greater and further violence.

The violence, he said, was contained after several hours. No injuries amongst the UN police officers have been reported, but two Timorese have been confirmed dead.

Lopes said that the United Nations was in discussion with the Timorese Government to reopen the international airport.

UNITED NATIONS DAY IS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT WORLD

Yesterday was UN Day, which marked the 61st anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter.

Since the UN happened to be closed yesterday for Eid Al-Fitr, the traditional UN Day concert will be held tonight. The National Symphony Orchestra of Greece will perform at 7:00 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall, and the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan will attend.

Celebrations have also been taking place this week around the world. In Ethiopia, for example, near the Eritrean border, a local audience was entertained by Indian peacekeepers and an Indian dance troupe.

The Secretary-General had issued a message to mark UN Day.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ERITREAN TROOPS REMAIN IN TEMPORARY SECURITY ZONE: In response to a question about the build-up of Eritrean troops in the Temporary Security Zone between that country and Ethiopia, the Spokesman later said that the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea says there have been no significant developments regarding the recent incursion of the Eritrean troops into the Temporary Security Zone. They remain inside the Temporary Security Zone. The Spokesman noted that the UN Missions ability to see what was going on was greatly hampered by Eritreas UN helicopter ban.

SOMALIAS NEIGHBOURS SHOULD PLAY CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE: Asked about comments by Ethiopia that it is at war in Somalia, the Spokesman recalled that the UN Representative in Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, had called for all of Somalias neighbours to play a constructive role in Somalia at this time and had been in touch with them to that end.

APPOINTMENT FOR WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME AGENCY CHIEF TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON: Asked about a shortlist of candidates to head the World Food Programme, the Spokesman said that an appointment was expected to be announced in the next few weeks. He noted that the selection of that post was different from those for agency heads that must be approved by the General Assembly, where shortlists were put out; in this case, the appointment is made jointly by the Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS ARE INDEPENDENT: Asked about the presence of UN special rapporteurs for human rights in New York, the Spokesman said they were here to brief the General Assemblys Third Committee. He noted that the rapporteurs are independent experts, serving in their personal capacity, who were appointed by the old Human Rights Commission. Those appointments will be reviewed by the new Human Rights Council.

NEW TUBERCULOSIS REPORT ISSUED: The World Health Organization today

released a new report on tuberculosis. It says that most people in the world who have the disease or live in high-risk areas do not have proper access to rapid and accurate testing. Improved tests could bolster international tuberculosis control efforts while, at the same time, responding to a significant market demand, the report adds.