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MICHELE
MONTAS is the Spokesperson for
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
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The
Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General and the Spokesperson
for the President of the General
Assembly.
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UN:
UNITED NATIONS BRIEFING AND TV: FRIDAY,
11/01/2008
(MaximsNews Network)
UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews
Network / - 11
January 2008 -- Daily Press
Briefing: By the Office of the
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
BY
MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN
KI-MOON
Friday,
January 11, 2008
KENYA:
BAN KI-MOON URGES POLITICAL SOLUTION
-
In
the face of the deeply troubling
situation in Kenya,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls
once again on the political
leadership of Kenya to find –
urgently – an acceptable solution
through dialogue so that the
political crisis is resolved and the
country returns to its peaceful and
democratic path.
-
The
Secretary-General wishes to express
his continued support for the
various efforts being made by
regional and international actors to
help the Kenyans arrive at a lasting
solution.
-
Two
weeks have now passed since violence
erupted in Kenya following disputed
national elections, the conduct of
which prompted serious concerns on
the part of national and
international observers.
-
Today,
the death toll stands at an
appallingly high figure of more than
500 people, while more than 250,000
Kenyans have been forced to flee
their homes. Many of them are living
in fear. That much of the
violence appears to have been
directed at specific communities is
all the more worrisome.
-
The
killings must stop, alleged human
rights violations should be
investigated and those found
responsible for crimes should be
held accountable for their actions.
-
The
potential for further bloodshed
remains high unless the political
crisis is quickly resolved.
U.N.
AGENCIES DELIVER RELIEF SUPPLIES TO
DISPLACED KENYANS
-
In
the Northern Rift Valley and
Nairobi’s slums, which were both
hit by the recent post-election
violence, UNICEF has delivered
some 11,000 family relief kits --
containing tarpaulins, blankets,
cooking utensils, jerry cans and
soap -- for some 55,000 internally
displaced persons.
-
UNICEF
also sent six trucks loaded with
water and sanitation supplies and
1,500 post-HIV-exposure
treatment units
to
the town of Eldoret. It has also
provided basic drug kits to
Kenya’s Health Ministry.
-
The
Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that
some 3,400 Kenyan refugees and
asylum seekers have been registered
in Uganda. UNHCR is providing them
with firewood and tents and helping
the national authorities with the
planned relocation of refugees to a
single transit center.
-
The
UN Population Fund has delivered
midwifery kits and other materials.
BAN
KI-MOON CONDEMNS ATTACK ON PEACEKEEPERS
IN LEBANON
-
The
Secretary-General strongly condemns
the 8 January attack against a UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
vehicle on the coastal highway near
the town of Saida (Sidon), outside
UNIFIL’s area of operations. The
attack lightly injured two military
members of UNIFIL.
-
UNIFIL
and the Lebanese authorities are
cooperating and coordinating closely
in the ongoing investigation. The
Secretary-General hopes that the
perpetrators will be swiftly
identified and brought to justice.
-
The
Secretary-General is deeply
disturbed by this latest attack on
UNIFIL. The security and safety of
all UN personnel in Lebanon are of
paramount importance.
SECRETARY-GENERAL
DEPLORES FIRING OF ROCKETS AGAINST
ISRAEL
-
The
Secretary-General strongly condemns
the firing of rockets against Israel
on 8 January.
-
The
UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
is continuing its
investigation to determine the
launch site.
-
The
Secretary-General would like to
reiterate that if the rockets were
launched from Lebanese territory, as
is likely, the incident would
constitute a serious violation of
Security Council resolution 1701
(2006).
-
In
addition, the Secretary-General is
concerned over the incident near the
Blue Line in the area of Halta on 7
January, which highlights the
importance of his calls to visibly
mark the Blue Line. He takes this
opportunity to remind the parties of
their obligation to fully adhere to
Security Council Resolution 1701 and
to respect the cessation of
hostilities agreement.
-
UNIFIL
is continuing its investigations
into both incidents, in close
cooperation with the parties. The
Secretary-General urges both parties
to exercise maximum restraint.
SECURITY
COUNCIL CONDEMNS ATTACKS IN LEBANON
& ISRAEL
-
The
members of the Security Council late
yesterday afternoon condemned
the 8 January attack that wounded
two peacekeepers from the UN Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in a
press statement read by the Council
President
Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi of
Libya.
-
Council
members also strongly condemned the
rocket attack launched against
Israel on 8 January, which is
currently being investigated by
UNIFIL.
-
Members
of the Council “reiterated their
call upon all parties concerned to
respect the Blue Line in its
entirety and to exercise utmost
restraint,” the statement added.
SECURITY
COUNCIL SCHEDULES CONSULTATIONS ON SUDAN
AT 3 P.M.
-
The
Security Council is holding
consultations at 3 p.m. today in
connection with the Sudan with a
view to a formal meeting to adopt a
draft Presidential statement.
-
Also
on Sudan, starting
tomorrow, the United Nations and
African Union Special Envoys for
Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed
Salim, who have been pursuing a
political settlement to the crisis
through negotiations, are scheduled
to begin their mission to Sudan
for consultations with the
Government of Sudan and the
movements.
-
The
main objective of their trip is to
assess the status of preparations of
the parties, including the
unification efforts among the
movements, so as to determine the
next steps, including the
possibility of a second so-called 'Arusha-style'
meeting and the beginning of the
substantive peace talks.
BAN
KI-MOON TO RECEIVE REPORT ON ALGERIA
BOMBING
-
At
4:30 this afternoon, the
Secretary-General will receive a
report on the bombing that took
place one month ago at the UN
offices in Algiers
from his Under-Secretary-General for
Safety and Security, David Veness.
-
The
Secretary-General had dispatched
Veness and UNDP Administrator Kemal
Dervis to Algiers immediately after
the bombing, to assist the surviving
country team.
-
In
addition to evaluating the security
system in Algiers, Veness, along
with Dervis, ensured that those
injured in the attack would receive
the medical care they needed, and
that the families of those killed in
the attack were receiving the proper
support, both psychological and
financial.
-
The
Secretary-General also met with all
the survivors and the families of
the victims when he visited Algeria
days later.
-
The
Secretary-General will study the
report from Veness, and a response
is expected on Monday.
UNITED
NATIONS NEEDS STRONGER CAPACITY IN
PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
-
The
Secretary-General, over the past
three days, spoke
to all of the regional groups of UN
Member States, to discuss his vision
on what the United Nations will do
over the coming year.
-
He
told them that, in the year ahead,
he will proceed on three fronts
simultaneously: he will work to
deliver results; create a stronger
UN through full accountability of
all parties; and emphasize those
goods that are the world’s common
property.
-
The
Secretary-General urged greater
action on the development front,
noting that, in passing the midpoint
to the 2015 deadline for the
Millennium Development Goals, we
face a development emergency.
-
On
peacekeeping, he pointed to the
deployment of UNAMID, an
unprecedented joint operation with
the African Union, and added that, politically,
this year promises to be even
tougher than the last. He noted the
challenges in the Middle East, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Darfur and Kosovo,
as well as the need to strengthen
the overall UN capacity for
preventive diplomacy.
DEVELOPMENT
SHOULD BE A RIGHT FOR ALL
-
The
Secretary-General this afternoon
will speak at the ceremony to hand
over the leadership of the Group of
77 bloc of developing nations, which
is passing from last year’s chair,
Pakistan, to Antigua and Barbuda.
-
He
is to tell the G-77 representatives
that development should not be a
privilege of the few, but a right
for all.
-
And
he will discuss what needs to be
done to advance the implementation
of the Millennium
Development Goals.
U.N.
POLITICAL CHIEF LAUNCHES ANTI-IMPUNITY
BODY IN GUATEMALA
-
Under-Secretary-General
for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe
is en route to Guatemala
today, where he will participate
this afternoon in a high-level
ceremony to launch the International
Commission against Impunity in
Guatemala, a new independent
investigative body which has been
established by agreement between the
Government of Guatemala and the
United Nations.
-
Also
taking part in the launch will be
Carlos Castresana Fernández, the
commissioner designated by the
Secretary-General to head that body.
-
The
Commission is an innovative effort
to help Guatemala investigate and
dismantle violent criminal
organizations believed responsible
for widespread crime and the
paralysis in the country’s justice
system since the end of the armed
conflict.
BAN
KI-MOON WELCOMES RELEASE OF COLOMBIA
HOSTAGES
-
In
a statement
issued yesterday, the
Secretary-General welcomed the
release of the two hostages that had
been held by the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia and hopes that
this gesture will lead to the speedy
release of the many remaining kidnap
victims.
-
He
strongly condemns the practice of
kidnapping, which is a blatant
violation of international
humanitarian law.
-
High
Commissioner for Human Rights Louise
Arbour has also issued a statement
on the hostages’ release.
FOOD
RATIONS GIVEN TO NEARLY 200,000 SOMALIS
-
The
World Food Programme has distributed
monthly food rations to nearly
200,000 people along the Mogadishu/Afgooye
corridor in Somalia.
-
According
to the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
nearly 300,000 people have now been
displaced by the fighting in the
capital since the end of October,
nearly 40,000 of them in the past
three weeks alone.
-
Meanwhile,
WFP’s programme in Mogadishu is
now fully operational, providing
some 50,000 meals a day to people
trapped in the city.
MORE
GAZANS NEED FOOD AID AFTER BORDER
CROSSING CLOSING
-
Twenty-two
per cent more people in Gaza now
need food aid following the closure
of the Karni border crossing last
June, according to a recent study by
the World Food Programme (WFP).
-
The
number of non-refugees that WFP is
helping in Gaza has now risen to
more than 300,000, the agency says.
-
WFP
has increased its Gaza funding
appeal from $107 million to $141
million. So far $45 million has been
donated, but the agency says that
without further offers soon, it will
be forced to begin cutting back its
operations starting in March.
BAN
KI-MOON PAYS TRIBUTE TO EDMUND HILLARY
-
The
Secretary-General pays
tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary,
who gave profound meaning to the
concepts of courage and exploration.
-
Sir
Edmund not only climbed to one of
the purest victories known to
humankind, thereby championing and
pioneering an awareness of the
treasures of our Earth -- he also
worked to build health and education
in the communities around him.
-
The
Secretary-General joins Sir Edmund's
family, the people of New Zealand,
and his followers and friends around
the world in giving thanks for his
life.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEPAL
SUFFERING FROM HIGH LEVELS OF
MALNUTRITION: Regarding the appeal
for more than $104 million for UN
activities in Nepal in 2008, the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) says
the money will be used to address urgent
needs in the areas of food and
nutrition, health, protection, and
disaster preparedness and response. OCHA
notes that Nepal suffers from high
levels of malnutrition, while much of
the country’s drinking water is
contaminated and less than 40 percent of
the country’s population has access to
adequate toilet facilities.
SECURITY
TRAINING PROGRAMME WRAPS UP IN CHAD:
A Training of Trainers programme
organized by the UN Mission in Chad and
the Central African Republic ended
yesterday in N’Djamena with a closing
ceremony attended by Chadian and UN
officials. The programme aims to enhance
security officers’ readiness to
provide effective police services to
refugees, internally displaced persons
and humanitarian workers in eastern
Chad. Asked about the European Union
agreement to deploy troops in Chad, the
Spokeswoman said that contributions to
the European Force were a positive step.
BAN
KI-MOON IS ASSESSING KOSOVO SITUATION:
Asked about the Secretary-General’s
views on Kosovo, the Spokeswoman said
that he is observing and assessing the
situation as it unfolds.
UNITED
NATIONS IS STUDYING AFGHANISTAN ENVOY
OPTIONS:
Asked about the appointment of a new UN
envoy to Afghanistan, the Spokeswoman
said that the United Nations was still
studying different options on that
matter.
TONY
BLAIR IS NOT A U.N. ENVOY:
Asked whether Quartet envoy Tony Blair
had discussed his position with J.P.
Morgan with the United Nations, for any
potential conflict of interest, the
Spokeswoman noted that Blair is not a UN
envoy, but a Quartet envoy.
THE
WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Saturday,
January 12
In
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
a conference on peace, security and
development in the Kivus is expected to
continue until 17 January (began on 6
January).
Today,
the UN and African Union Special Envoys
for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed
Salim, are scheduled to begin their
mission to Sudan for consultations with
the Government of Sudan and the
movements.
Monday,
January 14
This
morning, the Security Council holds a
private meeting with troop contributing
countries to the U.N. Mission in Côte
d'Ivoire, followed by consultations on Côte
d'Ivoire.
At
noon in the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) Chamber, ECOSOC holds its
organizational session for 2008, where
it will elect the President and members
of the Bureau for 2008. The
Secretary-General is also scheduled to
address the Council.
Through
18 January in Geneva, the Group of
Governmental Experts of the States
Parties to the Convention on
Conventional Weapons meets to negotiate
a proposal on cluster munitions.
Also in Geneva, through 1 February, the
Committee on the Rights of the Child
holds its 47th session and
the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women holds its
40th session.
Tuesday,
January 15
The
Secretary-General attends the first
Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which
is taking place today and tomorrow in
Madrid.
This
morning, the Security Council is
scheduled to adopt a resolution on the
U.N. Mission in Côte d'Ivoire.
Today
and tomorrow in New Orleans, the World
Meteorological Organization convenes a
high-level meeting, attended by the
world’s space agencies, to discuss an
updated space-based Global Observing
System that would use dozens of
satellites to monitor climate change and
weather.
Wednesday,
January 16
At
11 a.m. in Room S-226, Kemal Dervis,
Administrator of the UN Development
Programme (UNDP), will brief on UNDP’s
development priorities for 2008.
The
guest at the noon briefing is John
Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency
Relief Coordinator, who will launch a
flash appeal for Kenya.
This
afternoon, the Security Council is
scheduled to hold consultations on the
U.N. Interim Administration Mission in
Kosovo.
Thursday,
January 17
In
The Hague, the International Criminal
Court swears in three new judges.
They are: Bruno Cotte (France), Fumiko
Saiga (Japan) and Daniel David Ntanda
Nsereko (Uganda).
Friday,
January 18
This
morning, the Secretary-General’s
Special Representative in Nepal, Ian
Martin, is scheduled to brief the
Security Council during consultations on
the U.N. Mission in that country.
From
3 to 5 p.m. in Conference Room 7, the
Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
holds an informal briefing on the
“2007 AIDS epidemic update”.
In
Geneva, the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction releases its 2007
disaster figures.
Office
of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055 |
