MICHELE MONTAS is the Spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

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: THURSDAY, 01/05/2008 (MaximsNews Network)

UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 01 May 2008 -- Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General and UN Webcast TV Video.

BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

Thursday, May 1, 2008

 BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN LONDON AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST MEETING

• Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in London today, where this afternoon he is meeting with some of the other senior officials attending tomorrow’s Quartet meeting on the Middle East, which he will chair.
   

• He has already met today with European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and with Salam Fayad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.
   

• He is scheduled to meet later today and tomorrow with other officials, including Quartet envoy Tony Blair and European Union High Representative Javier Solana.

 UNITED KINGDOM ASSUMES MAY PRESIDENCY OF SECURITY COUNCIL

• Today, Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom replaces Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa in the rotating Presidency of the Security Council.
   

• Tomorrow, the Security Council is expected to hold consultations on its programme of work for the month of May.
   

• The Security Council concluded its work for April last night by adopting resolutions extending the UN peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara and Sudan, and by issuing a Presidential Statement on Ethiopia and Eritrea. It extended the UN Missions in Sudan and in Western Sahara by one year each.
   

• In its Presidential Statement, the Security Council recalled its prior condemnation of Eritrea's obstructions and said that the restrictions posed by Eritrea have induced the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to relocate temporarily. The Security Council will, in the light of consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future UN engagement and on the future of UNMEE.

 HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF AID OFFICIAL IN CHAD

• Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes today strongly condemns the killing of Pascal Marlingue, Country Director of Save the Children-UK in Chad, and extended his condolence to the agency and Mr. Marlingue’s family.
   

• The incident occurred earlier today about 20 kilometers east of Farchana, on the road to the town of Andre.
   

• The targeting of humanitarian workers who are in Chad to assist people affected by civil strife is an inexcusable crime, Mr. Holmes says, adding that the killing must be quickly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

 U.N. ENVOY CONSULTING WITH OFFICIALS ON
 HOW TO INCREASE AID TO AFGHANISTAN

• Kai Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, is meeting today in Ottawa with Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay, as part of his continuing effort to consult with concerned countries about how assistance can be increased for Afghanistan.
   

• Tomorrow, he will be in New York to talk to Secretariat officials about the Paris conference that is to be held this June in support of the Government of Afghanistan and also to speak with Afghanistan’s international partners about how coordination efforts can be stepped up.
   

• Based on its recent travels to assess food security in Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) says that inflation in food costs hit 30 percent in February, with wheat prices rising by 50 to 100 percent in parts of the country. WFP is using $77 million from a recent appeal to provide food assistance to 2.5 million Afghans.

 HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF SPEAKS OUT ON FOOD ACCESS & PRESS FREEDOM

• High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says the underlying inequalities and inabilities to access food must be addressed by a comprehensive solution.
   

• She stresses that addressing the plight of the socially excluded, and the causes of any such discrimination, will be essential to resolving the current crisis.
   

• She adds that food-related social unrest could also result in other human rights risks, such as the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
   

• Meanwhile, in a message to mark World Press Freedom Day, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says that Governments are becoming more secretive and offering propaganda disguised as objective information – especially when alleged security-related issues are on the table.
   

• The proliferation of new or strengthened secrecy laws means that the media are forced to resort to speculation, which can then be used against them to further undermine their credibility, or even as a justification for initiating legal proceedings against them, she adds.

 CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER RUSSIA-GEORGIA RELATIONS

• Asked about the recent situation between Russia and Georgia, the Spokeswoman noted with concern the current dynamics in the bilateral relations between Georgia and the Russian Federation, which clearly affect the Georgia/Abkhazia and Georgia/South Ossetia conflicts.
   

• She said that the issue of recent decisions by the Russian Federation to establish direct ties with Georgia's breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia had been brought to the attention of the Security Council by Georgia and others on 23 April.
   

• At this point, Okabe said, we wish to recall that the Security Council has established a clear framework in its resolutions on "The Situation in Georgia". All actions by the parties and Member States should be in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Security Council decisions, including with regard to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
   

• Asked about monitoring by UN peacekeepers, the Spokeswoman said that the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) has indeed observed movement of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) personnel and equipment from Sukhumi, in Abkhazia, to the conflict zone. 
   

• Such movements were observed on 29 April, when the Russian decision was announced, and on Wednesday, she said. The CIS notified UNOMIG of the increase but without specifying troop numbers. At this stage, it is difficult to say whether these movements will continue and how many more soldiers and equipment will arrive.
   

• At this point, Okabe said, UNOMIG cannot confirm the number of CIS troops deployed.

 U.N. BUILDING RENOVATION TO START THIS MONDAY

• The Secretary-General, together with senior representatives of the Member States, special guests from the Host Country, and senior officials of the Organization will break ground for the construction of the North Lawn Conference Building on Monday, 5 May 2008, marking the beginning of the renovation of the UN Headquarters under the Capital Master Plan.
   

• Almost 60 years after the original groundbreaking, the UN Headquarters will go through a complete renovation, resulting in a greener, safer, more secure and more occupant-friendly facility by its completion in 2013, while its unique architectural heritage will be preserved.
   

• The event will happen either rain or shine, and will start at 11:00 a.m.

 OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS TAKES STAFF GRIEVANCES VERY SERIOUSLY: Asked about the response to a U.S. ruling on Wednesday concerning former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations would have no comment on the case, since there could be an appeal. In response to questions, she expressed the belief that the appropriate forum for staff members to air their grievances is the UN internal justice system. She also noted that the Secretary-General has made it a priority to improve that system. In response to questions of  immunity, she said that the Secretary-General can waive immunity of staff, on the advice of the UN Legal Counsel.

NO DIRECT INFORMATION ON REPORTED SOMALIA ATTACK: Asked about a U.S. attack that reportedly killed a Somali leader, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations does not have any direct information or comment on these reported attacks or any repercussions they might have. She said that the United Nations continues its effort through Special Representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah and the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) to promote dialogue and reconciliation, security sector reform and other areas in its mandate, in addition to its humanitarian work in Somalia.

U.N. OPENS NEWLY-REHABILITATED ROAD IN LIBERIA: The UN Special Representative in Liberia, Ellen Margrethe Løj, has officially opened the newly rehabilitated 43-kilometer Madina-Robertsport road. The PAK-ENGINEERS company of the U.N. Mission in Liberia replaced all 15 bridges and provided side drains to prevent rains from damaging the road’s surface. The company is also planning on rehabilitating several other roads in Liberia. Løj called on Liberians to protect newly-rehabilitated roads and report any individuals who unlawfully scoop gravel or laterite, which they then sell to construction companies.

U.N. AGENCY OFFERS CLARIFICATION: To clarify previous announcements, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reports that it is making $200 million available to small farmers to buy inputs before the next growing season and improve their harvests.  This is separate from the $72 million for rural poverty programs IFAD’s board recently approved as part of its regular ongoing work.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055

Labels: United Nations,  U.N., Secretary-General

 

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