United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-09-27

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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 SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BANK KI-MOON

Thursday, September 27, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERALS SPECIAL ENVOY IS HEADED TO

MYANMAR

The Security Council,

in consultations yesterday, was informed by the Secretary-Generals Special

Envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, that he would be leaving that evening for the region,

and would seek to visit Myanmar. Gambari did leave New York shortly after he

briefed the Council yesterday.

The Council President, Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, told

reporters afterward that Council members supported Gambaris mission. He added

that Council members were concerned about the situation in Myanmar and urged

restraint.

[Following the noon briefing, the Spokeswoman announced that Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon had been informed by the Foreign Minister of Myanmar that the

Secretary-General's Special Envoy will be welcomed by the Myanmar government.

"The Secretary-General is pleased with this cooperation, " she said.]

In

response to a further question, Okabe said that the Secretary-General, through

his good offices, is committed to intensifying his efforts, with a view to

promoting national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and full

respect for human rights in Myanmar.

Asked for a readout of the Secretary-General's meeting yesterday afternoon

with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar, Okabe said that it was a tête-à-tête

meeting.

BAN KI-MOON

EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER

RECENT VOLATILITY IN FINANCIAL MARKETS

The Secretary-General this morning

addressed the annual ministerial meeting

of the Group of 77 and China, and he told the group that, in recent weeks,

volatility in financial markets has become a source of growing concern.

Instability and uncertainty in the global economy are being imported to the

developing world, he warned.

The Secretary-General said that substantial efforts are needed to avoid a

global economic slowdown, or even a recession. These efforts must be

coordinated and inclusive. If we do not act accordingly, developing countries

are likely to be the worst affected by any global slowdown.

He

also thanked Pakistan for its leadership of the G-77 over the past year and

congratulated the incoming chair, Antigua and Barbuda.

The Secretary-General also delivered

remarks at the tenth anniversary of the

Chemical Weapons Convention, an event that he called a milestone in

international efforts to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.

This afternoon, the Secretary-General will speak at the launch of the Foreign

Policy and Global Health Initiative; he will thank the seven nations involved

in the launch for coming together to use diplomacy in securing better health

for all, particularly for the most vulnerable.

SECRETARY-GENERAL

ESTABLISHES CLOSER PARTNERSHIP WITH ASEAN

The Secretary-General and his counterpart at the Association of Southeast

Asian Nations (ASEAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a

partnership for closer cooperation. That signing ceremony was witnessed by the

foreign ministers of ASEAN, who also held a working luncheon with the

Secretary-General.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates the commitment of

both organizations to work together to promote regional peace and stability

and to realize the Millennium Development

Goals.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ADDRESS CONTACT GROUP

ON KOSOVO

The Secretary-General will address this afternoons

ministerial-level meeting of the Contact Group on Kosovo.

The Secretary-General is attending this meeting at the

invitation of the Contact Group, which has organized the event here at UN

Headquarters on the margins of the General Assembly.

FORMER YUGOSLAV TRIBUNAL CONFIRMS TRIAL CHAMBER JUDGMENTS

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has confirmed Trial Chamber judgments against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members Fatmir Limaj, Isak Musliu and Haradin Bala.

The three were indicted for crimes committed against Serb and Kosovo Albanian civilians in the Lapunik prison camp between May and July 1998. It dismissed all the appeals lodged by parties, confirming acquittals of Limaj and Musliu while affirming Bala's convictions for torture, cruel treatment and murder and his sentence of 13 years.

CARJACKINGS INVOLVING AID WORKERS IN SOUTH DARFUR ON RISE

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reports that carjackings have been continuing in South Darfur over the past few days.

In one incident, the driver of a vehicle belonging to an international non-governmental organization was tied up and beaten. He is now being treated at a UN clinic in Nyala. A UN convoy was also attacked the same day.

Meanwhile, in West Darfur, as part of continuing efforts to reduce the risk of water-borne diseases following recent floods, UNICEF has taken part in hygiene promotion campaigns in several camps, and has also provided anti-malaria medicines and mosquito nets.

In response to a question, the Spokeswoman said she had no information to corroborate reports that the Sudanese government was demanding that the Sudanese military escort humanitarian convoys in Darfur. She added, however, that humanitarian workers need to have neutrality and reach the victims of conflicts.

MORE MEMBER STATES SIGN UP TO UNITED NATIONS TREATIES

In the last two days of the Focus 2007 Treaty Event, 19 States undertook 32 treaty actions, which consisted of 25 signatures, 4 ratifications and 3 accessions.

Ten States participated at the level of Head of State or Government and 8 States participated at the level of Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ten States are expected to participate today.

The treaty event will continue until 2 October. Photos of the treaty signing ceremonies are available on the Treaty Section's website.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO ANNOUNCEMENT ON CÔTE DIVOIRE ENVOY: The Spokeswoman, in response to a question, said that she had no announcement to make on the next Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire.

SASAKAWA PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has

announced the winners of its 2007 Sasakawa Prize. The $200,000 award will be given to Ms. Jeunesse Park of South Africa and the Bangladeshi Non-Governmental Organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha. That NGO helps poor and marginalized people in remote regions combat the effects of climate change. It delivers, by boat, renewable energy supplies and educational services to nearly 90,000 families a year. Ms. Park is the founder and CEO of Food and Trees for Africa, a South African NGO that promotes greening, sustainable natural resource use and food security.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

to the Spokesperson's Page

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