United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-05-13

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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, May 13, 2010

SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION ON ITS WAY TO D.R. CONGO

A

Security Council mission has left today for the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which the mission will visit on Friday and Saturday.

Over the next two days, the Council members will meet with President Joseph Kabila and his key ministers, and with the senior officials of the

UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).

Meetings with a range of parliamentarians and members of civil society have also been scheduled. The mission is expected to be back in New York over the weekend.

Asked about the membership of the Council mission, the Spokesperson noted that it was being led by the Ambassador of France, Gerard Araud.

Asked about the missions objectives, he said that the Council often makes periodic visits to different areas where peacekeeping missions have been mandated. In this case, he said, the visit to the DRC comes at a time when the future of MONUC is being determined.

U.N. MISSION IN LEBANON INVESTIGATING ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSION

The

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is investigating the circumstances surrounding an accidental explosion that took place yesterday during routine activity at one of the forces positions in south Lebanon. According to preliminary reports, the cause of the explosion was an accidental detonation of munitions.

Several UNIFIL troops were injured. One soldier sustained serious injuries and was evacuated for medical treatment. His condition is stable.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MET CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, DISCUSSED UPCOMING SUMMITS

The

Secretary-General on Wednesday afternoon wrapped up a one-day trip to Canada by meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They discussed the upcoming G8 and G20 Summits, the

Millennium Development Goals, climate change,

Haiti,

Afghanistan, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan.

Speaking to reporters afterward, the Secretary-General

said that the upcoming G8 and G20 summit meetings in Canada provide an opportunity to deliver for the world's poor and most vulnerable people.

He said that leaders of the G20 and G8 can and must galvanize progress on women's and children's health by concretely supporting the Joint Plan of Action launched in New York last month; provide full funding for the

Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; deliver on previous commitments to double aid for Africa, and to fund the L'Aquila food security initiative; and deliver fast track climate financing to meet immediate needs in developing countries and maintain negotiating momentum.

DISCUSSIONS HELD ON HOW U.N.D.P. CAN SUPPORT EMERGING ECONOMIES SUCH AS SOUTH AFRICA

The head of the

UN Development Programme (UNDP),

Helen Clark, is in South Africa, the last leg of her African tour.

Today she met with the Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, and the Minister of International Cooperation, Maitenkoana-Mashabane. They discussed the global relationship between UNDP and South Africa, and how UNDP can support emerging economies such as South Africa. Miss Clark underscored South Africas commitment to multilateralism and its contributions to African nations. She is expected to meet President Zuma in the coming days.

Tomorrow, Miss Clark will attend a number of events related to the

Millennium Development Goals and football.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS FULL RESPECT FOR SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT UNITED NATIONS

Asked whether the

Secretary-General is cooperating with the

UN Dispute Tribunal while he appeals some of its decisions, the Spokesperson said that, by filing appeals, the Secretary-General is exercising his rights under the administration of justice system with full respect for that system. Until appeals have been determined by the Appeals Tribunal, the judicial process is not complete, he added.

Nesirky said that the Secretary-General is fully committed to upholding the system of administration of justice as prescribed by the

General Assembly, and in particular, to facilitating and enabling the Dispute Tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal to carry out all their functions.

In accordance with this system, in those cases where the Organization has genuine questions about the Dispute Tribunals decisions, the Organization has been appealing such decisions to the Appeals Tribunal. This is to ensure compliance with the human resources framework, as established by the General Assembly.

The Spokesperson added that he would not comment on specific cases that are being appealed.

ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS FORUM TO BE HELD AT MONTHS END

Asked about the

Alliance of Civilizations, the Spokesperson noted that, at the end of this month, there would be a major gathering of the main parties involved in that Alliance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The

Secretary-General, he said, attached great significance to that meeting.