United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-05-05

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON'S

PRESS ENCOUNTER

FOLLOWING THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR

THE CAPITAL MASTER PLAN

[renovation of United Nations Headquarters]

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, May 5, 2008

[The noon briefing will resume tomorrow]

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to see you again. It took me two weeks to visit many countries in Africa and Europe.

I have just come from the groundbreaking ceremony for the Capital Master Plan, known as CMP, marking the renovation, even the rebirth, of UN Headquarters. Over the next five years, we will make our facilities safer, greener and more modern and efficient.

As you know, I spent the last two weeks in West Africa and Europe. Topic A at most stops was the global food crisis.

I wont repeat what you already know and what I have already stated during the last several days. Let me simply emphasize the gravity of the emergency and the need for an urgent response. The first thing I will do, back here in New York, will be to get our Task Force on the Global Food Crisis moving at full speed.

I am going to have a first Task Force [meeting] on Monday next week.

At the UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) trade conference in Ghana, I described the stakes very bluntly. If not properly handled, this crisis could cascade into multiple crises affecting trade, development and even social and political security around the world. The livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people are threatened.

We have made promising steps in recent days to address emergency needs. But the longer-term challengeand the realm in which the broader UN family must lead and act as oneis to boost agricultural development, particularly in Africa and other regions most affected. I have called on leaders not to take measures that distort trade and push up prices. We need immediate action to get seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to the worlds small farmers. This crisis did not come out of the blue. It grew out of more than a decade of neglect and ineffective development policies. We need a new start.

My Task Force will study the root causes of the crisis and propose solutionsto be executed decisively through coordinated global actionat the upcoming food summit in Rome early in June. I call on world leaders to join me there in Rome. Please come with fresh ideas. It is time for real commitment and real action.

You know, too, that the UN has major peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in West Africa. In Liberia and Côte dIvoire, leaders warned me explicitly that the food crisis could derail their efforts to recover from years of conflict. Côte dIvoire, especially, has scheduled elections for November 30.

These must succeed. In Abidjan, I got the parties to sign a code of good conduct so that their campaigns can be held freely and without violence, and to abide by the results. I also witnessed the signing of a Protocol of Understanding whereby international donors agreed to underwrite the elections and help finance Côte dIvoires steps toward political stability. As in everything we do, peace and development go hand in hand. There cannot be one without the other.

On the way home for todays groundbreaking, I stopped in London for the meeting of the Quartet last Friday. In fact, I chaired the Quartet and the Quartet plus Arab Partners meetings. We agreed that there must be urgent progress, if theres to be any reasonable prospect of building a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

I repeat today what we set forth in London: Israel must halt settlement building in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority must fulfill its commitment to fight terrorism. The rocket attacks on Israel must stop. The humanitarian suffering in Gaza must end. I am committed to work with the Quartet and with our Arab and Israeli partners toward these goals.

A final note: the Capital Master Plan effort will bring considerable inconvenience to how we function, both in the conduct of conferences and meetings, and the way we carry out our office duties day to day.

It is important that we all work together -- Member States, Host Country, Secretariat, staff, and the media - all of you. We need your continued support and cooperation so that we will be able to see this building in five years time refurbished - a greener, more efficient and effective and more comfortable place to work in.

Thank you very much. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Q: On Myanmar, if I could. Now that the Myanmarese/Burmese government has said it will accept UN assistance, are you able to detail exactly what kind of assistance the UN can now provide?

SG: I am very saddened [that] the Myanmar people have been struck by this cyclone. The United Nations will do whatever it can do to provide urgent humanitarian assistance. Because of the lack of communications and information we are not quite sure what would be the total extent of damages and casualties. But I am very much alarmed by the incoming news that the casualties have risen to more than 10,000 people already, according to the Myanmar Foreign Ministry announcement. Now, my Chef de Cabinet is meeting the Myanmarese ambassador at this time, to discuss what [we can do]. I have already mobilized the UNDAC the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team to find out what we can do. The United Nations is very much committed to actively assisting the Myanmarese people.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, the President of Senegal, President [Abdoulaye] Wade, has called for the Food and Agriculture Organization to be abolished. He says its been useless, and that better efforts need to be taken to deal with this whole issue of improving agricultural production, and today, also there were food riots in Somalia. I would like to know whether you agree with the President?

SG: In view of the gravity and seriousness of the situation, I can understand and sympathize with the frustrations of many African leaders, including President Wade of Senegal - particularly the people in many least developing countries. But I would like to underscore that since its founding in 1945, the FAO has been leading the international communitys efforts to help promote the production and productivity and provide necessary humanitarian assistance to many people affected by food shortages. I have been working very closely, particularly these days, with the Director General of the FAO on how we can address this issue in the short-term, mid-term, and longer-term, and I am going to attend myself this FAO summit meeting in June, and I am going to send out my own invitations, letters to all Heads of State and Government, today and tomorrow, as soon as possible, inviting them to come to Rome and to sit together with me to work out a strategy to address and overcome this crisis.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, your special Envoy, [Terje] Roed Larsen, will be presenting his report on the implementation of [Resolution] 1559 on Thursday to the Security Council. How much is the UN seeking speedy implementation of 1559, after reports that Hizbollah is monitoring Beiruts airport?

SG: I am still deeply concerned about the lack of progress in the implementation of important Security Council resolutions, including 1559, and 1701. The peace and stability in Lebanon has very important implications for peace and stability overall in the region. I have been very closely discussing this matter even over last weekend, and he [Roed-Larsen] has been traveling and meeting many world leaders and senior officials to help facilitate this process - to a more stable and peaceful process. In that regard, the report on implementation of 1559 will also be very important, and you have my full commitment on this issue.

Q: On Zimbabwe, you had urged for the results to be released of the election. Now that they have been released, can we have your reaction, and also, do you see any future role for the United Nations if a presidential runoff is going to go ahead?

SG: I am aware that the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission has now officially announced the results of the Presidential Election which was held on March 29th. At the same time, I am deeply concerned at reports of rising levels of violence and intimidation within Zimbabwe. I have been very closely consulting with African leaders - the African Union (AU) chair, President [Jakaya] Kikwete of Tanzania, I am going to speak with him right after this press conference; and I am going to speak with the new Chairman of the [Commission of the] African Union [Jean Ping], [and] the President of Zambia [Levy Mwanawasa], who is now the President of SADC [Southern African Development Community]. I have been constantly following and monitoring the situation and discussing how the United Nations and the African Union together can help the Zimbabwean situation reach a very harmonious and credible way. At the same time, I would urge the Zimbabwean authorities to take care of all humanitarian situations caused by this political and violent situation, and I also hope that the African leaders the African Union as well as leaders of SADC member states - will take due efforts to bring to an early and harmonious resolution of this issue.

Q: [inaudible] Envoy, there was talk of UN monitors, is that something that you still have in your mind?

SG: These are some ideas which I am going to discuss what would be the practical possible ways at this time.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, it is good to see you after such a long time. Mr. Secretary-General, on the last leg of the tour, you were in London on the Quartet meeting, a Quartet meeting which has now become even more important given the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Can you give us any assessment on any progress that has been made in the Middle East as a consequence of this Quartet meeting, and do you think that Israel and the Palestinians will move forward to any agreement by the end of this year, which is a goalpost being set up by the U.S. Secretary of State?

SG: First of all, it was good that the Quartet principals met in London after four months since we met last December. I know that this Annapolis [meeting] has not been making progress as one might have wished, but at the same time, it is encouraging that the leaders of both, the Prime Minister of Israel and President [Mahmoud] Abbas of the Palestinian Authority have been meeting regularly to address all these issues and to make progress, so that they will be able to make a peace treaty by the end of this year. I had good talks with leaders, Arab partners and also Secretary [Condoleezza] Rice of the United States. It would be necessary at this time first of all to manage the situation on the ground in peace and security, and also we need to focus on how to help the people in Gaza on humanitarian grounds, and help the Palestinian people so that they can work on their own economic activities. For that to be possible, it would be very important for the Israelis to ease access and movement by opening the crossings, the closures. This is very important.

At the same time, Tony Blair, the Quartet representative, has been making very significant progress to facilitate investment and social and economic development. All those are what we are doing in a comprehensive way.

I would like to say that it is not desirable to have an overly skeptical assessment in this situation. One needs to have some firm conviction and needs to encourage this ongoing Annapolis peace process. That requires the efforts and cooperation from all the parties concerned. I have mentioned in my remarks that there should be no rocket firing into Israel, and there should be no terrorist activities there. All this requires comprehensive efforts.

Q: A brief follow-up, sir. What about dialogue with Hamas? You said there should be an opening of the crossing points. How are you going to open without having direct contact with the party thats responsible for Gaza?

SG: The unity of Palestinians is very important. Therefore, we hope that the parties concerned will resolve all the issues through dialogue in a peaceful manner.

Q: Sir, the question on the Food Crisis Task Force. Youve mentioned that this high-ranking task force is going to have a lot of responsibility. I wonder if you have got any confirmed people on it yet, and when do you expect them to start working?

SG: I have already appointed the Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, and Mr. David Nabarro as the Deputy Coordinator, who is now working as the special coordinator on avian flu. He has been extremely helpful in coordinating the worlds community, consolidating the international communitys efforts in addressing the avian flu. Therefore, in coordination with many UN agencies, we have appointed two very distinguished persons who will coordinate all the UN agencies, including Bretton Woods and other member states. Mr. John Holmes will soon meet and establish an advisory board, before I convene the first task force meeting next Monday. We will address all short term and long term and medium term goals.

Q: On the question of the Congo, last week some documents became public about this investigation on the trading of gold and guns by peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So Im wondering, you had a letter from Human Rights Watch asking you to take action on it. What do you intend to do about that, about the problems they have raised with OIOSs [Office of Internal Oversight Services] investigation, and do you think there should be a UN Freedom of Information Law to make documents such as the ones that were released routinely available to the press and to the public?

SG: This has been in fact already investigated, and now with all these new reports and allegations, this is in the hands now of OIOS, the independent body to investigate and to look into this issue. It will be up to OIOS, and if anything new, if new elements are found, we would take the necessary actions. I would like to stress again that DPKO [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations] has provided all the necessary evidence to the previous investigation and the investigation report has been already released, but since there have been such new allegations, I hope that the OIOS will look at this issue carefully.

Q: Do you think reports such as the one released, should they as part of UN reform, should documents like that be made public the audit of OIOS?

SG: I first will have to look at how the findings of OIOS will come. Thank you.

Q: One more thing on Congo. If the problem is with OIOS itself, how does one hold OIOS accountable?

SG: I do not agree that there is any problem with OIOS. OIOS is an independent body created by the General Assembly. The head of OIOS, she is independent even from me, so she has full power to investigate any questions.

Thank you very much.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BREAKS GROUND FOR U.N. CONSTRUCTION

The Secretary-General this morning broke ground at a ceremony to mark the start of construction activity under the Capital Master Plan, the project to refurbish and renovate the UN Headquarters building.

He said, With this groundbreaking ceremony, we open a new chapter -- a historic period of construction that will last five years.

He added that, over these five years, we will make our facilities safer and more modern. We will make them greener and more efficient. We will make them a model of environmental stewardship, by reducing our electrical and water usage, and by removing harmful materials that were used in the original construction.

Under-Secretary-General for Management Alicia Barcena added that the renovation of the Headquarters would provide an opportunity to modernize the building.

DARFUR: REPORTED BOMBINGS OF VILLAGES, MARKETS ARE UNACCEPTABLE

The Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) expresses deep concern by the rising toll of civilian deaths and casualties as a result of the recent bombing of villages in Darfur.

The CFC Chairman, General Martin Luther Agwai, who is the Force Commander for the United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation (UNAMID), said the reported bombings of villages, markets and populated areas in Um Sidir, Ein Bassar and Shegeg Karo are unacceptable acts against civilians, compounding the extent of displacement, insecurity and untold human suffering.

UNAMID helicopters and medical evacuation teams are mobilized to evacuate casualties of the most recent attacks.

The spiral of blood-shed, violence and lack of respect for human life that characterize the shape of the conflict in Darfur, especially in recent weeks, is evidence to the total lack of commitment shown by the Government and Movements to the peace process and signed agreements, including the Ceasefire agreement.

It is tragic that the innocent remain the primary victim of the ongoing fighting.

The Ceasefire Commission urges all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and refrain from engaging in armed combat in populated areas.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE U.N. SYSTEM

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS NOTED IN SIERRA LEONE: In his latest report on the U.N. Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) , the Secretary-General notes that UNIOSIL has made significant progress in supporting the Governments efforts to consolidate peace through strengthening the capacity of the security sector, promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law, and building the capacity of the National Electoral Commission. However, Sierra Leone continues to experience political tension along ethnic and regional lines, a slow economic recovery rate, poor economic and social conditions and serious governance challenges, which if not carefully managed have the potential to derail the peace consolidation process. The Secretary-General calls on the main political parties to put aside their political differences in the interest of consolidating peace, and encourages the Government to collaborate closely with the Peacebuilding Commission to identify and implement economic recovery and overall peace consolidation projects. Following UNIOSILs withdrawal in September, continued U.N. commitment will be required, the Secretary-General adds. For that reason, he recommends that the Security Council approve the establishment of a U.N. integrated peacebuilding office for an initial period of one year.

COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OPENS 16TH SESSION: From today through 16 May, the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is meeting at U.N. Headquarters. The current session launches a two-year cycle aimed at tackling issues critical for increasing the global food supply in a manner that addresses concerns regarding poverty, hunger and the environment. More than 50 government ministers are expected to attend the high-level segment, which runs from 14-16 May. Timed to coincide with the CSDs opening, the U.N.s Department of Economic and Social Affairs has issued two new reports on trends in sustainable development. According to the surveys, efforts to reduce poverty and improve food security are being hampered by declining support for agriculture in developing countries, along with unequal access to land, land degradation and climate change.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MARK CONTRIBUTIONS OF RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY: The Secretary-General will speak this evening at an exhibition marking the work done by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He is to say that, were it not for UNRWA, the lives of millions of Palestinians would be much worse, and the threat to peace and security in the Middle East would undoubtedly be far greater.

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