United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-04-22

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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 MARTIN NESIRKY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, April 22, 2010

AFGHANISTAN BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORT HAS BEEN FINALIZED

The Board of Inquiry report on the 28 October 2009 attack on the UN guest house in Kabul has been finalized. The relevant findings of the report are being presented to the Afghan authorities, both here in New York and in

Afghanistan, and other relevant stakeholders will likewise be informed.

We are also trying to arrange a briefing with a senior UN official as soon as possible, once all the stakeholders have been informed.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY IN TIMES SQUARE

The Secretary-General participated in a special commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in Times Square.

In his remarks, he said that Earth Day has helped create a sense of shared responsibility for our environment and our one and only home. He added that we must learn to live in balance with the planet that sustains us and that there is a better, cleaner, greener, healthier way to do things.

The Secretary-General is also marking International Mother Earth Day, which is celebrated today by the UN. In a

message, he says that, too often, we have drawn on natures capital without putting back. He adds that we are now beginning to see the consequences of failing to safeguard our investment.

The Secretary-General says that without a sustainable environmental base, we will have little hope of attaining our objectives for reducing poverty and hunger and improving health and human well-being.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT STANDOFF IN THAILAND

Asked about letters from the red shirt movement in Thailand, the Spokesperson confirmed that two letters were delivered by protesters to the UN offices in Bangkok today. He said that the United Nations had no immediate response.

However, Nesirky said, the Secretary-General is very concerned about the continuing standoff and tensions in Thailand, and the potential for this to escalate. He appeals to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to avoid further violence and loss of life and to work to resolve the situation peacefully, through dialogue. This is a moment requiring restraint on all sides.

D.R. CONGO: U.N. ANNOUNCES REINFORCEMENT OF TROOPS IN EQUATEUR PROVINCE

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alan Doss, on Wednesday visited the town of Mbandaka, in the Equateur Province.

While there, Doss announced a reinforcement of UN troops in the region. He said that the strengthening of the UN military and police force, working with their Congolese counterparts, will help to bring calm and security to the population.

During the visit, Doss also met with various members of the provincial government and UN military and humanitarian staff.

NEW WEBSITE WILL TRACK AID PLEDGES MADE TO HAITI

A new online portal has been launched to promote the efficient use of the more than $9 billion in aid pledged to Haiti, at the donors conference on 31 March.

The initiative is part of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) support to the Haitian Government and partners to address the challenges linked to the management of external aid. UNDP says that the portal will help hold donors to their promises and ensure transparency and accountability of the use of their funds.

The system, which is also supported by the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Haiti, tracks the money from pledge to impact and will include contributions and support from NGOs and the private sector. The information is available in French and English at

www.refondation.ht

Asked about the amount of money that is being given to personnel of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Spokesperson said that questioning the amount that is spent on peacekeeping personnel is like saying that a countrys firefighting department shouldnt spend its budget on firefighters. He noted that UN operations go through transparent budgetary processes.

Asked about a boat that is housing UN Mission personnel, the Spokesperson said that the World Food Programme has explained how it issued tenders for that boat.

U.N. ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ANNOUNCES 2010 CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH AWARDS

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

announced today the six winners of the 2010 Champions of the Earth Awards -- the United Nations highest awards for environmental leadership. The awards recognize individuals who embody commitment and vision towards environmental leadership through their action and their influence.

The winners are: Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana and passionate forestry and ecosystem infrastructure proponent; Mohamed Nasheed, President of Maldives and international climate change campaigner; Prince Mostapha Zaher, Afghanistans Director-General of the National Environmental Protection Agency and avid sustainability advocate; Dr. Taro Takahashi, Japanese earth scientist and pioneer of research into how the oceans cycle carbon; Zhou Xun, Chinese actress and popular green life-style guru; and Vinod Khosla, American venture capitalist, green energy entrepreneur and co-founder of Sun Microsystems.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS DEBATE ON WORKING METHODS: The

Security Council today is holding an open debate to discuss its working methods. There are 53 speakers inscribed.

U.N. LAUNCHES NEW CAREERS PORTAL: The UN is launching today a new human resources system called

Inspira, an IT platform where job openings in the Secretariat will be posted. Job openings for the field will be available at a later date. The new website profiles 150 staff members and shows what the Organization does, where it works, what it looks for in staff and what it offers as an employer.