United Nations Daily Highlights, 04-07-19

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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 FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, July 19, 2004

ANNAN

RETURNS TO HEADQUARTERS AFTER THREE-WEEK TRIP

Secretary-General Kofi Annan went back at work at UN Headquarters this afternoon following a three-week trip to Africa, Asia and Europe.

He spoke to reporters when he entered the building, discussing Iraq, Sudan and the Palestinian Authority.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HEAR BRIEFING FROM ANNAN ENVOY ON SUDAN

The Security Council Presidency says that a briefing in closed consultations by the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the body set up to monitor the United Nations and Sudans Joint Communiqué, by which Sudan pledged to facilitate humanitarian access to Darfur, met on Saturday in Khartoum.

At the meeting, UN officials said that although humanitarian access had improved, there had been no progress on security and protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region, according to OCHA. Instead, air raids and attacks by the Janjaweed and Government-aligned militias were making the displaced persons too afraid to return to their villages.

OCHA also reports that progress has been made in meeting the humanitarian needs of the displaced persons, but significant gaps remain. Humanitarian agencies are also worried about recent attacks targeting them, as well as by the increasing pressure the Sudanese Government is putting on IDPs to return to their villages or other relocation sites.

Asked to assess Sudans performance in dealing with the situation in Darfur, the Spokesman noted that Pronk would brief the Security Council, and added that the Secretary-General would want to talk to Pronk and Council members before making an assessment. He said it looked like a mixed picture, but added that it was too soon for the Secretary-General to say.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES WORK ON COUNTER-TERRORISM

The Security Council began today with consultations on the subject of Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, during which a presidential statement to be adopted at the end of a public meeting on the same subject was introduced.

The public meeting began with a briefing by Ambassador Alexander Konuzin, Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

In addition to the Council members, there are nine countries slated to speak.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RECEIVE DRAFT RESOLUTION ON ICJ

In response to a question about the General Assemblys emergency special session on the Middle East, the Spokesman said the Assembly was scheduled to meet at 3:00 p.m. today for the introduction of a resolution concerning the recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would meet with the Palestinians or the Arab League concerning recent comments made by Special Coordinator Terje Roed Larsen, the Spokesman later said no meeting was yet scheduled.

Asked about Larsens whereabouts, the Spokesman said he was in Norway. He noted that the Secretary-General had spoken by phone with Larsen on Saturday.

Asked about security concerns regarding Larsen, the Spokesman said he was unaware of any increased security concerns since Larsens briefing to the Security Council last week.

UNEVEN HUMAN RIGHTS PICTURE REPORTED IN AFGHANISTAN

A joint UN-Afghan report on human rights shows an uneven human rights picture in Afghanistan, with the degree of political freedom appearing to be greater in Kabul and in the east, and lower in parts of the south.

In western Afghanistan, meanwhile, registered political parties complain that local authorities are curtailing their freedom of expression and operation. The report also observes a high degree of self-censorship among parties and people who do not share the beliefs of those who hold power in the countrys different regions.

The report, written by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and the UN Mission in Afghanistan, was released on Saturday. It includes a number of recommendations to improve the environment in which the electoral process is currently unfolding.

UNITED NATIONS HOPEFUL THAT IRAQI ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON SCHEDULE

Asked what would happen if elections were delayed in Iraq, the Spokesman said that was a question for the Iraqis to decide, and he would not want to speculate on it. He voiced the hope that elections would be held on schedule.

He noted, in response to another question, that security in Iraq is the responsibility of the multinational force and Iraqi security forces, who would try to bring the situation under control.

Asked where Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi is at present, he said that Brahimi was in Egypt on business.

U.N. TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR ASKS BELGRADE TO HAND OVER SUSPECT

Last Friday, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia unsealed the indictment of a Croatian Serb, Goran Hadzic, who was charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes for murder, torture and other acts committed against Croats and other non-Serbs in the Krajina region.

In a press conference today, Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said that the indictment was unsealed after the Prosecutors had been informed that Hadzic had been informed about the arrest warrant against him and had gone into hiding. She said that the authorities in Belgrade had failed to cooperate with the Tribunal, and urged the Serbian Government to put its actions where its mouth is and arrest Hadzic and transfer him to The Hague.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN FUNDS FOR PERU: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has made an emergency grant of $25,000 to Perus Government, to alleviate suffering brought on by recent snowstorms and intense cold weather in that country. It has also offered a second grant, also of $25,000, from pre-positioned Danish funds. Peru has officially declared a state of emergency in eight of its Departments, with the number of people affected by the snowstorms and severe cold estimated at more than 150,000.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162 -

press/media only

Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212)

963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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