HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON
BRIEFING
BY FARHAN HAQ
ACTING ASSOCIATE
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, 19 August 2005
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES
BURUNDIANS ON ELECTION
The Secretary-General
the Burundian people on the election today of the first
post-transitional President in Burundi, Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza. He would like
to wish the President-elect every success as he faces the challenging tasks
ahead, including continuing on the path of major reforms, consolidation of
peace, national reconciliation, reconstruction and development.
The Secretary-General would like to express his
sincere appreciation to the Transitional Government of Burundi, which, under
the wise leadership of both Presidents Pierre Buyoya and Domitien Ndayizeye
has succeeded over the last four years under difficult conditions in stirring
the country from violent conflict to this momentous day in the history of
Burundi.
The Secretary-General would
also like to express his appreciation to regional leaders and the
international community, who have and continue to play a major role in support
of peace in Burundi
UNITED NATIONS
MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF BAGHDAD BOMB
Today is the second anniversary of the bombing of the UN
Headquarters in Baghdad, and the Secretary-General, in a message, says that no
one has been held to account for this crime, in yet another appalling example
of the impunity that so often follows assaults on UN personnel.
The Secretary-General
his renewed condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones of
the 22 people who died in that attack, and paid tribute to all UN staff for
“carrying on, shaken but undeterred, with our global mission of peace.” We
have that statement upstairs.
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the staff as
he accepted the Millennium Excellence Award in Accra, Ghana, today. He
“We should all be thankful that so many people are prepared to take
great risks for the cause of peace.”
This morning at UN Headquarters in New York, the Deputy
Secretary-General was among the participants at a ceremony in honor of those
who lost their lives in Baghdad, and a minute of silence was also marked in
their honor.
Ashraf Qazi, head of the UN Mission in Iraq, also paid
tribute to the fallen staff today, and pledged to work with the people and
Government of Iraq to deliver on the UN’s mandate.
KOFI ANNAN TO
VISIT NIGER
Next Tuesday, the
Secretary-General and Nane Annan will travel to Niger for a two-day visit,
aimed at expressing solidarity with the government and the people of Niger as
they deal with the humanitarian aftermath of accelerating desertification,
prolonged drought, and repeated locust infestations.
The Secretary-General wants to
help focus international attention on the special developmental challenges
faced by the countries of the Sahel, such as Niger, and the efforts that have
been made to tackle these issues.
As Niger’s President Mamadou
Tandja is also the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), the Secretary-General will consult with him on a wide range
of peace, security, and development issues confronting the sub-region.
The Secretary-General will also
visit a number of humanitarian field projects, along with the President.
In Niamey, he will meet with
the UN Country Team, local and international development officials, and Niger
civil society groups.
ANNAN
CONGRATULATES ISRAEL ON “FIRST STEP” TOWARDS PEACE
The Spokesman’s Office issued a
yesterday afternoon, in which the Secretary-General commends the
courageous decision of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to carry through
with the painful process of disengagement from the Gaza Strip and part of the
northern West Bank.
The Secretary-General hopes that both Palestinians and
Israelis will exercise restraint in this challenging period. He condemns the
terror attack of 17 August against Palestinian civilians, and sends his
condolences to the families of the victims and to the Palestinian Authority.
The Secretary-General believes that a successful
disengagement should be the first step towards a resumption of the peace
process, in accordance with the Road Map. He also notes that it is an
important opportunity for the Palestinian Authority to demonstrate its
commitment to peace and security by establishing the rule of law in Gaza
following the withdrawal.
GUINEA-BISSAU:
SECURITY COUNCIL LAUDS SUCCESSFUL ELECTION
The Security Council this
morning held a
on Guinea-Bissau following consultations on that country.
At the meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement, acknowledging
with satisfaction Guinea-Bissau’s successful presidential elections.
The Council also urged all
parties to refrain from any actions that could jeopardize efforts towards
peace and stability in the country.
The Council then held
consultations on Cote d'Ivoire, with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General
for ٱƵappkeeping Operations, Hedi Annabi.
REFUGEE
COMMISSIONER HEADS TO SUDAN, CHAD, KENYA
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees today
that its High Commissioner, Antonio Guterres, will go to Sudan,
Chad and Kenya starting next week, to visit refugees and check up on
humanitarian work.
The agency’s centers in those countries assist more than
five million people who have been displaced by the 21-year-long civil war in
Sudan.
The agency also
today that over the past week some 4,000 refugees from the Central
African Republic have crossed the border into south Chad, fleeing two days of
attacks by unidentified armed groups in their home country.
U.N. REACHES
OUT TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ()
-- together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) -- is
the situation in the southern part of the Central African
Republic, following torrential rains and flooding.
Meanwhile, the UN Country Team will be distributing
medicine, water purification tablets, jerry cans, therapeutic biscuits, and
petrol lamps to those in need.
NEPAL: U.N.
REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights
today said it has issued two reports on investigations into human rights
violations in Nepal.
One report details attacks on public buses in which
civilians were killed. The agency blames the Communist Party for the attacks
and faults the government for failing to take proper precautions. In the
second report, the agency says it has been unable to identify the perpetrators
in the murders of six people.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.N. SELECTS FIRM FOR PROCUREMENT REVIEW: The UN
Controller, Warren Sach, reports that the firm of Deloitte Consulting LLP has
been selected to review the UN’s procurement practices. The firm is to carry out
a full financial and internal control review of the
UN’s current procurement system. That review begins on Monday, 22 August, and is
expected to be completed by the end of September.
ANNAN THANKS RETIRING REFUGEE OFFICIAL: The
Secretary-General sends his best wishes to
, sworn in today as the Defence Minister of Tunisia. The
Secretary-General warmly thanks Mr. Morjane for his long and distinguished
service to the United Nations, including as his Special Representative in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and as Assistant High Commissioner for
Refugees.
NEW REPORT ASSESSES PROGRESS ON MILLENNIUM GOALS:
The World Health Organization (WHO) will launch its
first report on health and the Millennium Development Goals, on Monday in
Geneva. As well as assessing progress to date on the health goals, the report
looks at why improvements in the health sector are happening so slowly and
proposes steps to change the situation.
HELPLINE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS SET UP IN
KOSOVO: The Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Unit of the UN Mission in
Kosovo and the Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo today
an agreement to establish a toll-free Help Line for victims of gender
based violence. The Help Line will ensure access to justice for victims of crime
by offering them the opportunity to receive help from law enforcement
authorities and will facilitate victims’ access to medical, legal and
psychological services as well as other forms of support available.
U.N. FOOD AGENCY ASKS FOR RELEASE OF SOMALI RELIEF SHIP:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is still
to the transitional Federal Government of Somalia to press the
hijackers a WFP-chartered ship to release its ten-man crew and cargo. This
hijacking is now in its 54th day.
U.N. UNVEILS TOOL TO PINPOINT FOOD INDONESIAN PROBLEMS:
A new tool in the war on hunger has been developed for Indonesia and was
today by that country’s Ministry of Agriculture and the World Food
Programme. The “food Insecurity Atlas” highlights regions suffering chronic
food insecurity, identifies underlying reasons for affliction, and offers
guidance on strategies to help resole the problems.
ANNAN TO RECEIVE GHANAIAN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE:
Asked whether it was appropriate for the Secretary-General to receive an award
in Ghana in light of the recent controversies at the United Nations, the
Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had been given an award for excellence
on the basis of his achievements. He noted that the Secretary-General continued
to try to reform the way the United Nations works and that the United Nations
was cooperating with Paul Volcker’s
on problems with the
.
TONGA PAYS BUDGET DUES: Yesterday Tonga, with a
payment of $17,795, became the 103rd Member State to pay its
to the regular budget.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Monday, August 22
The General Assembly debate on the draft outcome document
prepared by Assembly President Jean Ping is scheduled to resume.
The World Health Organization will launch its first report
on health and the Millennium Development Goals in Geneva.
Tuesday, August 23
The Secretary-General and Nane Annan will travel to Niger
for a two-day visit, aimed at expressing solidarity with the government and the
people of Niger as they deal with the humanitarian aftermath of accelerating
desertification, prolonged drought, and repeated locust infestations.
The Security Council has scheduled an open debate on
Afghanistan.
Wednesday, August 24
The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing,
followed by consultations, on the Middle East.
Thursday, August 25
The Security Council has scheduled consultations in the
morning on Iraq, and in the afternoon on the work of the international
commission of investigation for Lebanon.
At 11:00 am, Under-Secretary-General Jose Antonio Ocampo
will brief on DESA's report on the World Social Situation 2005: The Inequality
Predicament.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will
launch its annual report, on its assistance to the Palestinian people.
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