United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-02-03

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, February 3, 2005

ANNAN RECEIVES REPORT ON OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME INQUIRY

The Chairman of the Independent Inquiry Committee in the

Oil for Food Programme,

Paul Volcker, presented the

Secretary-General with a copy of the committees initial report.

The United Nations is currently studying the report.

At 5:00 pm today, the Secretary-Generals Chef de Cabinet,

Mark Malloch Brown, will present the United Nations initial reaction to the report.

The briefing may delayed and will only start 30 minutes after Volcker and other Committee members finish their press conference.

Asked about the UN reaction to the Independent Inquiry Committee report, the Spokesman said that the United Nations would first study the report to give a more considered response.

He added that the Secretary-General has made it clear previously that, if there are things the United Nations can do in order to improve the way it goes about its business, the United Nations will make those changes.

The Secretary-General has also made clear that he would waive the immunity of those named for criminal offenses, and would cooperate with the prosecution as they face the appropriate legal authorities.

Asked whether the Secretary-General was disappointed that Volcker had disclosed some of the report's findings in todays Wall Street Journal before presenting the report to the Secretary-General, the Spokesman replied, Surprised, perhaps.

He noted, in response to another question, that todays meeting between Volcker and the Secretary-General was a private one.

ANNAN RECOMMENDS 10,000-STRONG PEACE SUPPORT OPERATION IN SUDAN

The Secretary-General, in his

report on

Sudan issued as a document today, recommends that the Security Council, acting under Chapter VI of the

UN Charter, authorize the deployment of a multi-dimensional UN peace support operation consisting of 10,130 troops and 755 civilian police.

Deploying and sustaining the mission would be a considerable challenge in a country the size of Western Europe which has poor communications, few adequate roads or runways and an inoperable railway system, the report warns. There are also uncharted landmines and widespread unexploded ordnance.

The Secretary-General says that it would be impractical to wait for peace to reign throughout Sudan before supporting the agreements that have already been reached. A start must be made in implementing the North-South Agreement and to use the process to help the Sudanese resolve other conflicts as well. Support to the agreement is the most promising path to a resolution of other political crises facing Sudan, most notably in Darfur, he says.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan,

Jan Pronk, is expected to brief the Security Council on this report tomorrow.

U.N. AID VEHICLE COMES UNDER ATTACK IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Sudan continues to report on insecurity in

Darfur.

In West Darfur, it was reported that yesterday, two individuals fired at a water and sanitation truck marked with a UN agency and an NGO logo.

One person was injured. There were 10 bullets holes in the truck. The attackers looted all personal belongings of the driver and passengers of the truck. All UN movement on the road was suspended until further notice.

ANNAN HOPES SECURITY COUNCIL WILL ACT QUICKLY

ON DARFUR REPORTS RECOMMENDATIONS

The

Secretary-General, in

comments to reporters yesterday afternoon, said he hopes that the

Security Council will act quickly on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry report on Darfur,

Sudan.

In response to a question about how people guilty of crimes in Sudan are to be prosecuted, he said there is a debate going on in the Security Council but stressed, They must be prosecuted, whichever way the Council decides to go.

He said that the way

Iraqis turned out in large numbers to vote on Sunday showed the courage of the Iraqi people.

The Secretary-General added that, with the elections now behind us, every effort should be made to bring in Sunni nationalists, in a time for dialogue and reconciliation.

U.N. ENVOY CONTINUES CONSULTATIONS IN IRAQ

From Baghdad, the UN Envoy for

Iraq,

Ashraf Qazi, has been continuing consultations with Iraqi leaders on means of pushing the political process forward in the wake of the national elections held 30 January.

He met with Iraqs Interim Finance Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, a candidate on the United Iraqi Coalition electoral list, with whom he discussed the role the United Nations will continue to play in supporting the political and rebuilding processes in Iraq in the implementation of its mandate under

Security Council Resolution 1546.

Qazi held similar talks with President of the Iraqi Islamist Party, Muhsen Abdul Hamid, stressing the importance of the participation of all Iraqis in shaping the future of their country.

In comments to the press after the meeting, Qazi said this had been part of consultations he is holding with representatives of all Iraqi political forces in the wake of the elections. He said the United Nations stands ready to offer every possible support to the Iraqi people.

Qazi said the United Nations will continue to encourage inclusiveness in the political process based on broad based dialogue among all components of the Iraqi society.

ANNAN TELLS AID CONCERT OF SADNESS IN TSUNAMI-STRICKEN COUNTRIES

In a

video message, the

Secretary-General today told viewers of an

MTV Asia Aid concert in Bangkok that he had seen scenes of unimaginable sadness on his recent visit to

tsunami-stricken countries. The concert is being held primarily to raise funds for

UNICEF and its relief work in hard-hit areas.

Meanwhile, in the Maldives, the island of Kandholhudhoo, which was badly hit by the tsunami, has been completely evacuated. But on the island of Kulhudffushi, the

World Food Programme (WFP) is assisting more than 3,000 students in four schools as part of a new school feeding initiative.

And in Thailand, WFP has delivered large dispatches of rice and canned fish to the south, to supplement school lunch programs and feed vulnerable families.

In other news, the

Food and Agriculture Organization

reports that it has handed over the first of a consignment of boat repair kits, to the Sri Lankan government, to help restore the livelihoods of thousands of Sri Lankan fishermen.

Also in Sri Lanka, following reports of bottlenecks in the distribution of relief aid, WFP is increasing its staff and capacity there, to deal with any gaps in food distribution and to ensure that all who need food receive it.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF APPEALS FOR HELP IN TACKLING SEXUAL ABUSE

Jean-Marie Guehenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, addressed the

Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations this week.

In his speech, he appealed for its help in tackling as a top priority in 2005 the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse, and to recognize that the failure to do so could do irreparable damage to the image and reputation of UN peacekeeping.

He also appealed for them to approve the establishment of a standing civilian police capacity as well as a military strategic reserve force, and spoke about the

surge experienced in peacekeeping over the last year.

For example, there are now 75,000 military, police and civilian personnel deployed in 17 peace operations managed by the

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, compared to 55,000 at this time last year.

He also warned that the Department is over-stretched, and that it would be preferable not to ask the United Nations to establish any new complex peacekeeping operations, beyond Sudan, this year.

HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT MEETING OFFICIALS DURING VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN

Cherif Bassiouni, the UNs independent expert on human rights in

Afghanistan, began a new week-long visit to the country on Monday, in which he has started to meet with Afghan officials and civil society members.

He will report on his mission to the

Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, next month.

The

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan today also

said the demobilization of more than 36,000 former soldiers so far.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO SECURITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TODAY: There are no meetings or consultations of the

Security Council scheduled for today.

ANNAN WATCHED U.S. PRESIDENTS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH: In response to a question, the Spokesman confirmed that the

Secretary-General had seen President Bushs State of the Union speech on Wednesday night.

HEALTH MINISTERS, EXPERTS TO MEET ON CANCER TREATMENT: With the death toll from cancer claiming 1.7 million Europeans each year, Health Ministers and experts of leading oncology centers from 27 countries across the continent met at the

International Atomic Energy Agencys headquarters in Vienna this week to work together to combat the disease.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CHIEF WANTS LIBERIAN REFUGEE PROCESS SPED UP: The

UN High Commissioner for Refugees,

Ruud Lubbers,

concluded his visit to Sierra Leone yesterday, and went on to visit neighboring Liberia. On his way there, Lubbers followed a convoy of 205 Liberian refugees as they returned home. In a statement, Lubbers said that his visit to the area had convinced him that the situation has improved sufficiently to enable more of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Liberians to return. "It's time to accelerate the repatriation movement," Lubbers said.

UNESCO TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNET FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: The

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is

holding a two-day conference on freedom of expression on the internet, taking place at UNESCO headquarters today and tomorrow. One hundred and fifty media professionals, academics and policy makers from around the world will attend the conference, entitled Freedom in Cyberspace.

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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