United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-03-09

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE

SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, March 9, 2005

ANNAN TO OUTLINE COMPREHENSIVE U.N. STRATEGY TO COUNTER TERRORISM

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived today in Madrid, where he met Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. He spoke with the press after that meeting.

On Thursday in Madrid, the Secretary-General will deliver the keynote address to the closing plenary of the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security. In that speech, he will outline a principled, comprehensive strategy for the United Nations to counter terrorism.

He will make a strong plea to Member States to unite behind the proposal of his

High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change for a clear definition of terrorism, and to complete a comprehensive convention outlawing terrorism in all its forms.

ANNAN WELCOMES FORMER KOSOVO PRIME MINISTERS COOPERATION

WITH INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR EX-YUGOSLAVIA

In a

statement issued today, the

Secretary-General welcomes the fact that the former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has shown a good example of co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia by resigning from his post and surrendering voluntarily to the Tribunal.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the fact that the representatives of Kosovos Provisional Institutions, Kosovos political leaders and the people of Kosovo have expressed their feelings related to his resignation and departure in a peaceful, democratic manner.

Building on the achievements reached under the government led by Haradinaj, Kosovo must continue to make progress on the implementation of standards without delay in light of the envisaged comprehensive review and, pending the outcome of the review, a possible decision to initiate talks on Kosovos future status.

It is essential that we all remain focused on the work at hand so that we can move forward in building a stable, multiethnic and democratic Kosovo. The UN Mission in Kosovo is ready to continue to support the people and Provisional Institutions of Kosovo in the implementation of standards.

ANNAN PLEASED WITH PEACEFUL OUTCOME IN BOLIVIA

A

statement issued today noted that the

Secretary-General has been following developments in Bolivia, where Congress last evening agreed that President Carlos Mesa should remain in office, and where an agreement was reached between the Government and other political forces on crucial political, social and economic issues facing the country.

The Secretary-General is pleased to see this result achieved through dialogue and respect for the constitution. He is encouraged that all forces and groups in Bolivia are seeking to overcome political differences peacefully.

The UN system stands ready to assist the Government and people of Bolivia in addressing the important challenges that they face.

U.N. MISSION IN DR CONGO CALLS FOR ACTION

ON SECURITY COUNCILS CONCERNS OVER MILITIA LEADERS

The

UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has called on the transitional government there to seriously consider the presidential

statement issued by the

Security Council on 2 March, in which the Council expressed its serious concern about the illegal and criminal activities of the militias in

Ituri in the eastern

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and of their military or political chiefs.

Particular reference is made to Floribert Ndjabu, Goda Sukpa, Étienne Lona, Thomas Lubanga, Bosco Tanganda and Germain Katanga. They belong to various Ituri militia groups, and so far, while these militia chief commanders are said to be under house arrest, they havent been detained.

The Mission has yet to be officially informed on the governments position on the Councils statement.

The Mission also notes that the international communitys patience with the DRC governments slowness in pushing for the disarmament of militias in Ituri is reaching its limit.

HUMANITARIAN AID RESUMES IN EASTERN DR CONGO

The

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

says that more than 88,000 recently displaced people in the Ituri district in the eastern

Democratic Republic of the Congo are now receiving humanitarian assistance, following the resumption of aid activities in camps there this week.

However, OCHA says that the area remains tense and it cannot rule out further disruptions to aid activities.

Humanitarian organisations suspended assistance late last month to thousands of displaced people in Ituris Kakwa, Tché and Gina areas due to security concerns stemming from fighting between two militia groups in the area.

NEW FORCE COMMANDER NOMINATED TO U.N. MISSION IN DR CONGO

The

Secretary-General has informed the

Security Council of his intention to appoint of Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye of Senegal as the new Force Commander of the

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

He replaces Major-General Somaila Iliya of Nigeria.

The Security Council is expected to respond in writing shortly.

U.N.ENVOY MEETS SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER EN ROUTE TO EGYPT

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Implementation of

Security Council

Resolution 1559, met yesterday evening in Madrid with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

Roed-Larsen also met this morning with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amre Moussa. Moratinos and Moussa will stay in close contact with Roed-Larsen during the course of his mission.

Roed-Larsen is now headed to Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for further talks on the implementation of 1559.

The

Secretary-General was asked about the implementation of resolution 1559 yesterday, and he noted that the resolution calls for full withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon. Roed-Larsen would discuss full and complete withdrawal with the Lebanese and Syrian leaders, he said.

Asked about yesterdays demonstration in Beirut by Hezbollah, the Secretary-General said it is normal in every society that different groups may not hold identical views. He said we need to recognize that they are a force in society that one will have to factor in as we implement the resolution.

U.N. ENVOY IN SUDAN HOLDS FRUITFUL TALKS WITH DARFUR REBEL GROUPS

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan,

Jan Pronk, has returned from Asmara, Eritrea, where he met with representatives of the rebel movements of

Darfur.

The UN Mission in Sudan described the discussions with the Darfur rebel groups as fruitful. It said no dates were mentioned for the resumption of the Darfur talks but no blockages were raised either. The UN mission strongly encourages resuming the peace talks.

Pronk also met with representatives of the Beja congress and the Free Lions from Eastern Sudan.

The mission also reported that in South Darfur, two

World Food Programme-contracted vehicles carrying food items came under attack yesterday by armed militia members who looted the food items and money of the drivers and others on the vehicle.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON HAITI

At

Security Council consultations this morning, Hédi Annabi, the Assistant Secretary-General for

Peacekeeping Operations, introduced the Secretary-Generals report on activities of the

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and updated on the situation there.

In a statement to the press, the Council President noted that the security situation in Haiti continues to be unstable, and it remains imperative that MINUSTAH support the Transitional Government to ensure a secure and stable environment within the constitutional and political process in Haiti can take place.

Also, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement welcoming the conclusions of the London Meeting on supporting the Palestinian Authority on 1 March. In its statement, the Council said it hopes that the London Meeting will be part of a longer-term process of international support to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority and a contribution to helping both sides implement the Roadmap endorsed the Council.

U.N. OPERATION IN COTE DIVOIRE HELPS SETTLE FEUD

The

UN Operation in Cote dIvoire has been organizing several meetings between feuding ethnic groups in the west of the country, which resulted in an agreement yesterday between two such groups.

Two chiefs in the Fengolo area, in the zone of confidence, yesterday promised to take responsibility to ensure that no further clashes erupt between their respective communities.

MORE THAN 2,000 NGO REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND BEIJING +10

To date, 1,847 government delegates from 165 Member States and 2,611 representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have attended the

49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, out of more than 6,000 who registered to attend.

On Friday, members of the Commission will consider the resolutions that have been tabled by governments and these will be adopted by consensus or by vote. The report of the 49th session, also known as the Beijing +10, will be adopted on Friday afternoon.

INDIAN OCEAN COUNTRIES ASKED TO IDENTIFY TSUNAMI WARNING CENTRES

An

international tsunami warning system meeting ended last night at the headquarters of the

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris.

Among other things, it recommended that Indian Ocean countries quickly identify and establish national tsunami warning centres, develop response plans, and be able to receive, react to, and disseminate warnings on a 24-hour basis.

It also agreed to meet again in Mauritius, from 14-16 April 2005.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY ASSESSMENTS IN IRAQ CARRIED OUT CONTINUOUSLY: Asked about UN security assessments in

Iraq, the Spokeswoman said these assessments are being carried out continuously.

SPECIAL ADVISER ON SPORT ATTENDS HELSINKI CONFERENCE: Sport teaches skills and values essential to life, and can help countries achieve the

Millennium Development Goals. That was the message of

Adolf Ogi, the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, at a seminar today in Helsinki, Finland. The event was held in connection with the

International Year of Sport and Physical Education.

UNDP TO HOLD SEMINAR ON THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD: Thursday morning, starting at 9:40 a.m. at UN Headquarters, the

UN Development Programme and the Chilean Mission are jointly organizing a seminar by the Community of Democracies on the state of democracy in the world.

UNDP Administrator and Chef de Cabinet

Mark Malloch Brown will speak at that seminar, as will Chilean Vice President José Miguel Insulza, Timor-Leste Foreign Minister José Ramos Horta and Johns Hopkins University Professor Francis Fukuyama.