HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, November 11, 2005
KOFI ANNAN
EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH JORDANIANS
Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Amman, Jordan,
and was met on arrival by the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Farouk Kasrawi.The
Secretary-General then traveled to the Foreign Ministry where he met with
Kasrawi for about 45 minutes.
In afterwards, the Secretary-General said he was in
Amman to express his solidarity with the King, people and Government of Jordan
after they suffered a terrible attack. He noted that many of the victims of
the terrorist bombings had been at a wedding party, and said no cause could
justify the vicious killing of innocent civilians.
The Secretary-General renewed his call to all Member
States to agree on a comprehensive convention against terrorism, which could
be a New Year’s gift to the world’s people if it can be adopted before the end
of this year.
Afterwards, the Secretary-General called on King Abdullah
and personally expressed his condolences for the terror attacks.The King
briefed the Secretary-General on measures that Jordan has been taking
nationally to combat terrorism.
The Secretary-General then visited the sites of two of
Wednesday’s attacks – the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Radisson Hotel.
Later, he met with the UN
and
(UNAMI) staff based in Amman.
While the Secretary-General was meeting with the King,
Nane Annan, accompanied by Queen Rania, went to Amman’s Jordan Hospital, where
they visited and spoke to children and adults injured in Wednesday’s bomb
blast. Many of the victims at the hospital had also lost family members.
The Secretary-General has landed in Kuwait. He was met
by the foreign minister at the airport.
Asked whether the Secretary-General had discussed Syria
and Lebanon in his meeting earlier this week with the King of Saudi Arabia,
the Spokeswoman later said they had exchanged views on that matter.
U.N. LIBERIA
TEAM MONITORING POST ELECTION ACTIVITIES
Police units from the
(UNMIL) have been keeping a close eye on the
situation on the ground in Monrovia.
The 山Mission says that some
supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)
party attended a rally earlier today and then marched to the National Election
Commission, but there were no reports of significant disturbances there.
Some supporters continued
marching on, coming close to the entrance to the U.S. Embassy where a UN
police unit used tear gas to disperse the crowd.There have been no reports of
injuries.
The Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Liberia,
, has been in contact with the 山Police Commissioner and the
Force Commander, and has also spoken by telephone with CDC candidate George
Weah.
At his request, Weah was
interviewed on UNMIL Radio where he delivered a message of peace.
Asked whether the 山Mission in Liberia could confirm
that there is an official result in the elections, the Spokeswoman said it
could not, since the final result is not expected for a couple of weeks. She
noted that there were some partial results circulating, on the basis of a high
percentage of votes counted in some areas.
SECURITY COUNCIL FOCUSING ON LIBERIA
The Security Council, in its closed consultations on
Liberia today, considered a draft resolution that would adjust the mandate of
the 山Mission in Liberia. The Council
on a resolution that authorizes the 山Mission to apprehend
former President Charles Taylor should he return to that country.
(In a press statement read out after the consultations,
members of the Security Council stressed that any concerns related to the
election should be pursued and resolved exclusively through peaceful and legal
means which will further underline the new Liberia’s irreversible commitment
to the rule of law. The Members urged the candidates, their parties and all
their supporters to respect the final results of the election once they are
officially declared.)
Also today, under other matters, Council members heard a
briefing from Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan on his recent visit to Eritrea
and Ethiopia. He visited both countries in his capacity as chair of the
Council working group on peacekeeping operations.
ETHIOPIA- ERITREA BORDER REMAINS
TENSE
The
(UNMEE) reports that the military
situation in the Temporary Security Zone and its adjacent areas remains tense,
with troop movements reported on both sides.
The ban imposed by Eritrea on UNMEE helicopters remains
in place, while other restrictions on the Mission’s freedom of movement have
increased considerably. Night movements have been curtailed almost all along
the Zone.
The Mission continues to conduct ground patrols, and also
to provide medical assistance to the local population.
SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES NOMINATION OF
KOSOVO ENVOY
The President of the Security Council yesterday
to the Secretary-General, to inform him that the Council welcomed
the Secretary-General’s intention to appoint Martti Ahtisaari as the Special
Envoy for the future status process for
, and Albert Rohan as his deputy.
Attached to the letter were guiding principles for the
future status process, as agreed to by the Kosovo Contact Group.
FLASH FUND FOR SOUTH ASIA QUAKE REMAINS UNDER-FUNDED
The Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the South Asia
flash appeal is only 28% funded. And the $154 million received
includes $45 million in unfulfilled pledges.
On the ground in Pakistan, OCHA
reports that people are continuing to move from mountainous, remote villages
to lower grounds. But some are reluctant to move because of four main factors.
First, some are awaiting
compensation payments. Second, there is uncertainty about available services
and assistance provided at new locations. Third, the majority of the affected
are poor tenants, who are afraid they will lose their land. And fourth, many
are reluctant to abandon their livestock, their main source of income.
ANNAN TO RESPOND TO STAFF DISMISSAL
REPORT ON MONDAY
Asked whether the
United Nations would respond to the finding of the Joint Disciplinary
Committee concerning the dismissal earlier this year of Joseph Stephanides,
the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General intends to respond to that
ruling on Monday.
She declined to answer some specific questions about the
case until the response is given next Monday.
However, Okabe said, in response to a question about
whether Stephanides had been made a “sacrificial lamb” in the oil-for-food
investigation, that he had been the only sitting staff member against whom
there were adverse findings in the reports of Paul Volcker’s
. Both the Committee and Stephanides admitted
that he had violated 山staff rules. It was on that basis, she said, that the
Secretary-General acted.
She noted that other staff members also faced penalties,
including Alexander Yakovlev, who had left 山service but subsequently had his
immunity waived.
Asked whether the Secretary-General still believes that
Stephanides was guilty, the Spokeswoman said the facts of the case still
stand, and that Stephanides himself had acknowledged a violation of the staff
rules. At the same time, she said, the United Nations is considering the
severity of the punishment.
Asked about a comparison between Stephanides’s situation
and that of Benon Sevan, the Spokeswoman said that Sevan had been retired
prior to the Volcker Committee’s findings.
Asked repeatedly why the United Nations had not mentioned
the ruling until news of it came out in the media, the Spokeswoman said that
one reporter obtained a scoop on the story, and that the United Nations had
been preparing its response to the ruling.
ANNAN HAS CONFIDENCE IN U.N. LEBANON
BOMB INVESTIGATOR
Asked whether it
is appropriate for Prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who heads the 山International
Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, to negotiate a memorandum of
understanding with Syria, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General has
said that he trusts that his very efficient and highly qualified prosecutor
can conduct his investigation in the way that he sees fit.
Asked about Syria’s reported refusal to cooperate with
Mehlis’s specific requests, Okabe said the Secretary-General is leaving the
decisions on how to proceed to Mehlis.
UNITED NATIONS HAS NO MANDATE FOR
TRIBUNAL TO TRY SADDAM HUSSEIN
Asked about a request from Saddam Hussein’s defense
attorneys for a 山tribunal to handle that case, the Spokeswoman later said
that neither the General Assembly nor the Security Council have given a
mandate to follow up on that request.
UNITED NATIONS LOOKING INTO REPORTERS’
ACCESS CONCERNS
The Spokeswoman was asked about what reporters say are
new security restrictions at 山Headquarters that prevent them from having
access to the area immediately outside the General Assembly Hall.
She responded that the United Nations is aware of the
reporters’ concerns, and that the Department of Public Information says that
discussions with security are underway.
She assured them that the Department has the media’s
interests at heart and is doing everything it can to keep access open. This
will be done in consultation with the 山Correspondents Association.
Asked why the restrictions had been put in place, she
noted security concerns.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SEVERE HUNGER
CRISIS LOOMS IN GUATEMALA: On Guatemala, the World Food Programme
that a severe hunger crisis is looming in that country, following
the destruction caused by Hurricane Stan. It is therefore repeating an urgent
appeal to donors to help feed an estimated 285,000 survivors. The agency is
concerned that, as the weather grows colder, people will need a higher intake of
calories. Also, if they are weakened by hunger, they will be more susceptible to
disease.
POLIO PREVENTION PLAN TO REACH 100 MILLION
AFRICAN CHILDREN: The 山Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health
Organization
that they are assisting in a new polio immunization campaign launched
today in 28 African countries aimed at reaching 100 million children before the
end of the year. The new round of inoculations was a “maintenance” programme to
follow on a successful vaccination campaign that ended polio epidemics in ten
countries.
SUDANESE REFUGEE RETURN TO START SOON:
The Office of the
(UNHCR) says the first organized
repatriation of the first of hundreds of thousands of southern Sudanese refugees
from neighbouring countries is expected to start before the end of November.
UNHCR is strengthening its presence in the region and organised the first 'go
and see' visit this week for a group of refugees who have been staying in the
Central African Republic (CAR).
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Sunday, November 13
Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will make his first trip to the Middle East
since assuming the helm of the Department of Political Affairs. He is to visit
Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, between 13-21
November.
Monday, November 14
There will be morning Security
Council consultations on Afghanistan.
The Deputy Secretary-General will
be in Israel to attend the tenth commemoration of the assassination of Israeli
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
At 10:30 a.m., in the Dag
Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library/Department of
Public Information will hold a panel discussion on information and knowledge for
global decision making.
The General Assembly plenary will
hold a debate on strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster
relief assistance, among other items.
The World Health Organization
will be observing World Diabetes Day.
Tuesday, November 15
There will be an open briefing
this morning in the Security Council on the Council’s recent mission to Africa’s
Great Lakes region. There will also be a public meeting this morning on Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
A two-day regional meeting, hosted by the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the 山Development Programme,
starts in Dakar today. The subject is food security and sustainable poverty
reduction.
Wednesday, November 16
The Secretary-General will be in
Tunis for the
of the World Summit on the
Information Society, which opens today.
There will be consultations in
the Security Council this morning on Sudan and Cote d’Ivoire.
Thursday, November 17
The 294th session of
the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) ends
today in Geneva. Before closing, it will take up the situation in Myanmar in
relation to the ILO convention on forced labour.
Friday, November 18
The
of the World Summit on the
Information Society closes today in Tunis.
Saturday, November 19
The Secretary-General will
address a major conference in Pakistan on that country’s needs for post-quake
rehabilitation.
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