United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-07-08

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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 MICHELE MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

ZIMBABWES FLAWED ELECTIONS LED TO ILLEGITIMATE RESULTS, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro briefed the Security Council on Zimbabwe in an open meeting this morning, telling the Council that the Zimbabwe issue poses a challenge to the world. When an election is conducted in an atmosphere of fear and violence, she said, its outcome cannot have a legitimacy that is based on the will of the people, and Zimbabwes flawed elections produced illegitimate results.

The Deputy Secretary-General said that it is clear that Zimbabwe will have to go through a political transition, and will also need a process of national healing and reconciliation that should include wide-ranging and participatory national consultations. She noted that the creation of a Government of National Unity as a way forward enjoys broad support in the region, and added that the Secretary-General strongly supports the African Unions recommendation for a mechanism on the ground to support the mediation efforts.

Migiro warned that those who perpetrate crimes must be held to account, and the United Nations stands ready to play its part in supporting such a process.

The Security Council continued its discussions on Zimbabwe in closed consultations, with Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios on hand to answer questions from Council members.

Speaking to reporters after her briefing, the Deputy Secretary-General also noted the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, including the shortages of food and other basic amenities. She added that, in her discussions with African leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, recently, the role played by the Secretary-General through Menkerios has been appreciated, and the UN will see how it can continue to play a role in Zimbabwe.

WORLD MUST ACT AS ONE TO PROTECT FOOD SECURITY

In Japan today, the Secretary-General talked to students at Hokkaido University in Sapporo about the world's food challenge in the context of the triple crises involving food prices, fuel prices and climate change that are confronting the world today.

He said that the crises are having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable countries and vulnerable people, notably women and children, especially in Africa. He asserted, We must act now and together, responsibly, as one world community, for one shared humanity, to avoid a collapse of what food security the world enjoys today. If we do not, he warned, We will pay an unacceptably high price.

The Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings today with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and South African President Thabo Mbeki, who were also in Hokkaido for the Group of Eight Summit. The Secretary-General plans to attend the G8 Major Economics' Leaders Meeting on Climate Change and the G8 Outreach Working Lunch at Toyako tomorrow, before leaving Sapporo for New York later that day.

U.N. AGENCIES CALL FOR NEW GREEN REVOLUTION

The heads of the three Rome-based UN agencies today issued a joint call on G-8 leaders to help feed the world by taking the lead in promoting a new green revolution and significantly boosting development aid to the rural and agricultural sector.

In a statement, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the World Food Programme called for a twice-green revolution that would double global food production by mid-century.

The agencies noted that an underlying cause of the current global food crisis was the dramatic decline in agricultural investment over the past three decades. They said that, by reversing this trend, the current G-8 summit could help strike a decisive blow in the fight against hunger and poverty.

AFGHANISTAN: SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ATTACK ON INDIAN EMBASSY

Yesterday afternoon, the Security Council President, Ambassador Le Luong Minh of Viet Nam, delivered a press statement on the Councils behalf condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist suicide attack that took place at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, earlier that day.

Council members underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of that act to justice.

Asked about recent US air strikes in Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman reiterated that the Secretary-General has repeatedly addressed the issue of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, adding that he has urged steps to prevent the occurrence of such casualties.

U.N. MISSION STARTS NEW ROUND OF TRAINING FOR CHADIAN POLICE

Today in NDjamena, the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) is starting a third round of training for some 200 Chadian gendarmes and police officers.

Once their training is completed, the law enforcement officers will join the Security Council-mandated force in protecting refugees and internally displaced persons in northeastern Chad. They will further be supervised by UN Police under the administration of the UN Mission.

A total of 850 Chadian gendarmes and police officers will receive the UN-run training, which is expected to end in September.

SIMULATED NUCLEAR ACCIDENT WILL TEST PREPAREDNESS

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will

simulate an accident at Mexicos Laguna Verde nuclear power plant tomorrow -- to evaluate national and international preparedness for a possible nuclear or radiological emergency. Seventy-four IAEA Member States and 10 international organizations will participate in the 48-hour drill.

As this will only be a virtual nuclear accident, the exercise will not pose any risk to the public or environment.

Participating UN agencies include the Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

MORE SITES ADDED TO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

The World Heritage Committee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added 21 more sites to its World Heritage List.

Yesterdays additions include a thousand-year-old temple in Cambodia, a monarch butterfly biosphere preserve in Mexico, the lagoons of New Caledonia, and a historic Alpine railway linking Switzerland and Italy.

The Committee also expanded the scope of two existing sites: Spains Altamira Cave, to which 17 more caves with paintings from the Paleolithic era have been added; and the frontiers of the Roman Empire, which will now include a 60-kilometer wall fortification in the United Kingdom that was built in the second century A.D.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DECISION TO RELEASE CONGOLESE WAR CRIMES SUSPECT SUSPENDED: The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court has suspended the Trial Chambers recent decision to release Congolese war crimes suspect Thomas Lubanga. The decision came late yesterday following an appeal by the Prosecutor, and Lubanga will remain in the Courts custody until a final Appeals Chamber ruling.

LETTER ON IRANIAN DIPLOMATS RECEIVED: The Spokeswoman confirmed, in response to a question, that the Secretary-General received on 7 July a letter from the families of four Iranian diplomats, whom the family members have presumed were kidnapped in Lebanon 26 years ago, during the occupation of Lebanon by Israel. In the letter, the families requested that the Secretary-General follow up on the case.

REVISED HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR MYANMAR TO BE LAUNCHED THIS WEEK: The Spokesperson noted, in response to a question, that Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes would talk to reporters on Thursday after the launching of the revised appeal for Myanmar.

U.N. WORKS TO MEET SAFETY CONCERNS: Asked about construction activity taking place at UN Headquarters, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations is working to meet the expectations of the City of New York regarding fire safety and other key safety concerns. She said that, to the best of her knowledge, the City was satisfied with the steps being taken.

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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