United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-05-29

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, May 29, 2008

UNITED NATIONS MARKS 60 YEARS OF PEACEKEEPING

United Nations peacekeeping is 60 years old today, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the men and women in uniform in a video message to be aired to all UN work stations around the world.

He said that peacekeeping has grown into a flagship enterprise for the Organization.

He thanked the UN's partner organizations, notably the African Union and the European Union, and the more than 115 countries now contributing troops and police to UN peace operations. He also honored the memory of the more than 2,400 peacekeepers who died in the line of duty, saying Each one is a hero.

At UN Headquarters, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno led a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the event and later opened a special multimedia exhibition entitled Looking , Moving Forward that chronicles 60 years of UN peacekeeping.

UN staff members and supporters around the world planned various activities and events to mark the day.

In Timor-Leste, for example, hundreds of people marched for peace in the nations capital while others took in concerts and sporting events. Both President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão joined the festivities.

DARFUR: U.N.-A.U. MISSION IS OUTRAGED BY KILLING OF POLICE INSPECTOR

The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) says that a Civilian Police Inspector from Uganda was brutally and shamelessly murdered in North Darfur.

The Deputy Joint Special Representative Mr. Henry Anyidoho, Officer in Charge, has expressed his shock and outrage by the killing.

I learned of this wanton and barbaric act with disbelief and dismay, he said. This was a hideous and callous crime against an unarmed peacekeeper and I condemn it without reservation.

Inspector John Kennedy Okecha was found dead in a UNAMID vehicle at around 6 p.m. yesterday evening. He had been shot three times in the neck, chest and stomach.

The UNAMID Police Component described the killing as an act of cold blooded murder and appealed to all those with any knowledge of what happened to share it with the appropriate authorities so that perpetrators can be brought to justice.

IRAQS NORMALIZATION IN EVERYONES INTEREST

The Secretary-General arrived in Stockholm today and addressed the Annual Review Conference of the International Compact with Iraq. In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that, despite challenges, notable progress has been made in all areas of the Compact.

He noted that the Iraqi people continue to suffer from acts of terrorism, sectarian violence and criminality. But, at the same time, he said that, if he were asked to use one word to describe the situation in Iraq today, he would choose the word hope.

The Secretary-General added that, for the first time in its history, Iraq has a chance to integrate fully into the global economy.

He also noted that the International Compact is not only a road map for achieving the national vision of Iraq. It also represents a framework for Iraqs normalization and transition to a full member of the community of nations. That is in everyones collective interest, he said.

The Secretary-General met today with: the European Unions High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana; Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki; U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; the United Kingdoms Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband; and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amr Moussa.

He also met bilaterally with the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Slovenia, Italy, Turkey and Iran.

Later today, the Secretary-General will speak at the Review Conferences closing session and hold a joint press conference with Iraqs Prime Minister and Swedens Foreign Minister.

AGREEMENT ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS IS IMPORTANT NEW CHAPTER

[In response to questions about the an agreement reached on a treaty on cluster bombs, the Spokeswoman said following the briefing that : "Yesterday in Dublin, delegations from 111 States agreed on the text of a new Convention on Cluster Munitions, which will be formally adopted tomorrow.

This is an important new chapter in international humanitarian law as the treaty will prevent future suffering and will address the needs of cluster-munitions-affected communities." ]

U.N. ADVISOR TO HEAD TO SAHEL FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION MISSION

The Secretary-Generals Special Advisor, Jan Egeland, will travel to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from 2-6 June on a mission aimed at drawing attention to an array of challenges facing these and other countries of the Sahel region of Africa -- and the need for international assistance to help States cope with them preventively so they do not lead to conflict in the long run.

Among the key issues Egeland will explore in his meetings with officials and visits to rural areas are the social pressures caused by climate change, as well as other risk factors such as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region.

Egeland will be joined by staff of the UN Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and a scientist from the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

SIERRA LEONE COURT INCREASES SENTENCES OF EX-MILITIA LEADERS

The Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone has more than doubled the sentences for two former leaders of the Civilian Defense Force (CDF), a pro-government militia that operated during the civil war in that country.

The sentence for Moinina Fofana was raised to 15 years instead of the earlier concurrent sentences totaling 6 years. Allieu Kondewa, meanwhile, saw his sentence raised to 20 years in prison from the initial 8-year term.

This comes after the Appeals Chamber entered two new convictions against both men for murder and inhumane acts, in addition to their initial convictions for collective punishments and recruiting of child soldiers.

In other news, the Court has announced the election of Judge Renate Winter of Austria as the new Court president.

U.N. COURT IS CONCERNED THAT LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN ISOLATION

STILL AN OPTION IN RWANDA

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has denied the application for referral of the case of Yussuf Munyakazi to the Republic of Rwanda.

The Tribunal said that although Rwanda has abolished the death penalty, it is concerned that life imprisonment in isolation remains on the books in that country. It fears that such a sentence may not be in full conformity with international human rights standards.

The Tribunal also expressed reservations about fair trial under Rwandan law, citing limits on the rights of the accused and raising questions on the independence of the Rwandan court with jurisdiction over referred cases.

Munyakazi, the accused in this case, was arrested in 2004 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has pleaded not guilty to charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

U.N. AGENCIES OFFER AID TO VICTIMS OF SOUTH AFRICA VIOLENCE

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has distributed 4,000 blankets and 2,000 sleeping mats through local implementing partners. Furthermore, it has developed a project proposal to respond to the urgent needs of the most vulnerable migrants and allocated additional funds to its traditional implementing partners.

UNICEF has delivered emergency supplies to the South African Red Cross and the City of Johannesburg Migration Desk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has locally procured nearly 1,000 hygiene kits and has sent them to the South African Red Cross for distribution.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is coordinating the UN humanitarian assistance to support the Government-led response.

AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY PRICES TO REMAIN HIGH

Agricultural commodity prices should ease from their recent record peaks but over the next 10 years they are expected to average well above their mean levels of the past decade, according to the latest Agricultural Outlook from OECD and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Food prices and their impact on the world economy will be one of the issues that will be addressed at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on 4-5 June 2008.

At a separate summit at FAO headquarters in Rome, on 3-5 June, world leaders, including many Heads of State and Government, will discuss policies and strategies on how to improve and ensure world food security and re-launch agriculture in rural communities of developing countries.

MULTILINGUALISM COORDINATOR IS APPOINTED

The Secretary-General has appointed Under-Secretary-General Kiyotaka Akasaka as Coordinator for Multilingualism.

The appointment is in implementation of General Assembly resolution 54/64 of 6 December 1999, by which the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to appoint a senior Secretariat official as coordinator of questions relating to multilingualism throughout the Secretariat.

A national of Japan, Mr. Akasaka joined the United Nations in 2007 when he was appointed as Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. His new functions are in addition to his current responsibilities as head of the Department of Public Information.

BAN KI-MOON TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM AND SAUDI ARABIA

The Secretary-General will attend the International Conference on Afghanistan in France on 12 June, and then pay an official visit to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia from 13 to 16 June.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON POLICE REFORM IN TIMOR-LESTE: The Security Council held consultations this morning on Timor-Leste. UN Police Adviser Andrew Hughes briefed on police reform in that country and the findings of a recent expert mission on that topic. After breaking momentarily so that the Security Council President could attend a Peacekeepers Day-related event, the Council resumed consultations on other matters.

U.N. ENVOY IS ENCOURAGED BY CYPRUS LEADERS POLITICAL WILL: Speaking to reporters in Nicosia today, on the occasion of Peacekeepers Day, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, said he was encouraged by the commitment that the two leaders have shown. He said their political will has changed what has been the status quo up to now. So lets keep the hope alive, he added.

SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT NEEDED FOR ZIMBABWE RUNOFF: The Deputy Spokesperson, in response to a question, said that the Secretary-General has spoken clearly of the need for a suitable environment, including robust observation, during the runoff. We have been in touch with regional organizations and welcome their efforts to ensure sufficient numbers of international observers, she said. Our electoral experts are exploring how we might be of assistance in this effort, she added.