DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Briefing

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Shirley Brownell, Spokeswoman for the president of the General Assembly, and Manoel de Almeida Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary General.

Briefing by Spokeswoman for General Assembly President

There is no plenary meeting today. The next scheduled meeting is Thursday morning, 14 October, when the General Assembly will elect five non-permanent members of the Security Council.

At yesterday afternoon’s meeting, the Assembly, on the proposal of President Theo-Ben Gurirab, decided to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 11 November, rather than the 15th, as had been suggested by the Member States that sponsored the item.

The President also announced that he had requested the Permanent Representative of Denmark, Jorgen Bojer, to coordinate the informal consultations on draft resolutions concerning item 20, entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance”. Last year, in resolution 53/1, the Assembly adopted 15 resolutions, A-O, on special economic assistance to individual countries and regions, plus one each on: the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel (53/87), on strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations (53/88) and on emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan (53/203).

Four of the Main Committees are meeting today. The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) will continue its general debate this afternoon on all disarmament and international security agenda items. A total of 100 speakers are inscribed for the debate that will conclude on 20 October.

At two meetings today, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) will be discussing implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) (A/54/316). The report before the Committee calls poverty in general, in particular abject poverty, one of the central challenges for the international community in the new millennium, despite the significant progress in development at the end of the twentieth century. It says that recent experience and discussion underscore the need for designing poverty alleviation strategies that cover a comprehensive mix of policies and programmes and encompass all interacting development sectors impacting on the poor.

In designing and implementing programme options for improving the conditions of the poor, the report says three factors are essential for success: good governance; an efficient administrative and institutional support structure at both the national and local levels; and adequate human and financial resource capacity and active partnership among all development actors. The report adds that the international community has a key role in assisting developing countries in reducing poverty and deprivation through development cooperation. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on 17 October.

A second document before the Committee is a letter from Bangladesh transmitting the text of the Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice for the Twenty-first Century, which emerged from the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference, held in the Netherlands from 12 to 15 May 1999. The Appeal addresses these issues: the root causes of war/culture of peace; international humanitarian and human rights law and institutions; prevention, resolution and transformation of violent conflict; and disarmament and human security.

Also at two meetings today, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) is continuing its general discussion of the items on advancement of women, and implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

This afternoon, the Sixth Committee (Legal) will continue its discussion of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) on the work of its thirty-second session (A/54/17).

I’ve received several queries on whether the General Assembly will be discussing the death penalty. I’m told that there’s a conference taking place at the Roosevelt Hotel here in Manhattan on that topic. By way of a response, I wish to draw attention to a draft resolution, sponsored by Finland, entitled “Question of the death penalty” (A/C.3/54/L/8), which was submitted under agenda item 116 (a) on human rights questions: implementation of human rights instruments. The Third Committee secretariat informs me that this draft will come up for a vote “towards the end of the session”. The draft resolution would call on all States that still maintain the death penalty progressively to restrict the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed, and to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty.

Copies of the Assembly President’s appointments for today are available in room 378 and on the Internet. He has a meeting this afternoon with Mr. Boubacar Toure, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Liaison Office with the United Nations.

Briefing by Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General

Good afternoon. I will start with a statement attributable to the Secretary-General. This statement is being issued simultaneously in New York and Sarajevo:

Once again today, we mourn the loss of irreplaceable colleagues. We mourn Valentin Krumov of Bulgaria, who was killed in Kosovo on the day he reported for duty. We mourn Luis Zuniga of Chile and another colleague who were killed in an ambush in Burundi. All three made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of those killed. They go to all the men and women of the United Nations family who risk their lives every day to work in an environment that poses ever greater danger.

Let us honour the lives of these three individuals with a prayer that their work for peace will not have been in vain. Let us remember that their work was dedicated to creating an environment where innocent civilians will no longer be the first victims of conflict. And let us insist that the killers be brought to justice.

I will now give you some details on these two incidents. One in Kosovo and the one in Burundi.

**Incident in Kosovo

The first of the two incidents involving United Nations staff took place around 9:10 p.m. Monday night in Pristina.

United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) employee Valentin Krumov, 38, a Bulgarian national, had just arrived in the Kosovo capital earlier yesterday from New York via Skopje. While walking with two other newly arrived UNMIK staff members down the popular pedestrian avenue known as "Mother Theresa", it appears that they were followed by a group of young people. When Krumov was asked what time it was, he responded in the Serbian language. One individual proceeded to hit him with his fist and another kicked him. A large crowd gathered around the altercation. All of a sudden, a shot was heard, the crowd dispersed and the body of Krumov was on the ground.

The UNMIK police are investigating the murder and are asking for the assistance of anyone who might have witnessed the incident.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative Bernard Kouchner expressed his deep outrage and strong condemnation of the murders.

**Incident in Burundi

A little more than 12 hours later, on another continent, two internationally-recruited United Nations staff members were killed in Burundi in a road ambush. One was identified as UNICEF Representative to Burundi, Luis Zuniga, of Chile. The second United Nations staff member from the World Food Program (WFP) has not yet been identified, pending notification of next-of-kin. Two other United Nations staff, from the UNDP and the UNHCR, were slighted injured.

The incident took place around 10:30 a.m. Burundi time today in the south-eastern province of Rutana while a nine-member multi-agency team was in the area carrying out an assessment of humanitarian needs in a displaced persons camp. We have available in our office copies of the statement by the Secretary-General, the statement by Bernard Kouchner and two press releases on the incidents -- one issued by the UNMIK on the incident in Kosovo and one from UNICEF and the WFP on the incident in Burundi.

Reflecting the human condition, we have death on one hand and we have life on the other. Today is the second day of the Secretary- General's visit to Sarajevo and it is also the day of the birth of "Baby Six Billion".

**Secretary-General Greets Birth of 6 Billionth Citizen in Sarajevo

Baby Mevic, born in Sarajevo's Kosevo Hospital just after midnight, was greeted today by the Secretary-General as the world's six billionth citizen. The Secretary-General said the challenge of the Day of Six Billion is to give every man, woman and child an opportunity to make the most of their abilities, in safety and in dignity.

The Secretary-General also announced a $50,000 grant to Kosevo Hospital from the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The assistance will be used to refurbish the hospital's maternity ward, including new equipment for safe deliveries and neonatal care, and to provide refresher training for doctors and midwives in the latest obstetrical techniques.

We have a note in our office with more details, as well as the text of the Secretary-General's speech.

**Population Growth Poses "Immense Challenges"

As the Secretary-General pointed out, reaching six billion poses immense challenges to humanity. Population is growing fastest in the world’s poorest countries. Ninety per cent of the 356,000 babies born each day are in developing countries. Family size in those countries is half what it was 30 years ago, but millions of women are still unable to choose the number and spacing of their children.

We have in our office more information on the Day of the Six Billionth Baby. We also have a press release from the World Health Organization (WHO), which contains interesting statistics on population and reproductive health.

In addition, we have a press release from UNICEF, which is calling for a broad approach to improve the 6 billionth child's chances of survival.

**Secretary-General Visits Multi-Ethnic Orphanage

After the Secretary-General visited the Sarajevo hospital, he paid a brief visit to Bjelave Children's Home, a multi-ethnic orphanage. He said that his short visit to the children's home had been a "very moving" experience for him.

"Seeing these innocent victims of violence and the inhuman policy of ethnic cleansing, no one can doubt the evil of war. Seeing these children whose parents died during the conflict or are now permanently disabled by it, no one can doubt the necessity of peace."

While talking to the children, the Secretary-General told them to learn to be tolerant and to accept the differences of others. He added: “We failed you, but you should not fail”.

**Secretary-General’s Other Meetings in Sarajevo

The Secretary-General started the day with a meeting with Graeme Williams, the Chief Military Observer of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka. Afterward, he had a meeting hosted by Jadrank Prlic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the two Prime Ministers of the two entities: the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At noon he had a meeting with the Council of Ministers and afterwards he was the guest of honour at a lunch hosted by his Special Representative Jacques Klein, with the "Principals Group" -- this group is composed of the Commander of SFOR, the international force there, the High Representative, the head of the OSCE mission and the head of the UNHCR.

Later in the day, the Secretary-General held a press conference, the transcript of which is forthcoming. We should have it available in our office in a few hours.

**Security Council Continues Consultations

The Security Council is holding consultations this morning. They started the session by continuing the discussion they began yesterday on the report of the informal working group concerning the Council's documentation and other procedural questions.

The second item on the agenda is Sierra Leone. Council members are expected to continue their review of a draft resolution to expand the United Nations presence in the country.

**Joint Military Commission on the Democratic Republic of the Congo Continues Meetings

The Joint Military Commission (JMC) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still meeting today in Kampala. Yesterday, they discussed, among other topics, the provision of security guarantees. These security guarantees, which are expected to be provided by tomorrow, would pave the way for the dispatch of the peacekeeping technical survey team and further deployment of United Nations military personnel, including the military headquarters of the main belligerents in Eastern Congo.

**Office of the Iraq Programme Releases Weekly Update

I have a note here from the Office of the Iraq Programme, informing us that their regular weekly update is available. It shows that as of last Friday, Iraq had exported an estimated $5 billion worth of oil in the current phase of the programme, Phase VI, which began on May 25 and continues until 21 November. You will recall that on 4 October, the Security Council adopted resolution 1266 authorizing Iraq to export an additional $3.04 billion above the usual ceiling of $5.26 billion for that Phase.

**World Health Organization Launches Inquiry into Tobacco Industry Practices

The World Health Organization issued a press release today citing documentary evidence of a "systematic and global effort" by the tobacco industry to undermine tobacco control policy and research and development within the United Nations family, including its Member States, and within the academic and NGO communities.

In response, WHO Director-General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland today called for a preliminary inquiry into the nature and extent of the undue influence which the tobacco industry has exercised over United Nations organizations.

More details are available in a press release in our office.

**Timor Emergency Update Available

The UNHCR Emergency Update on East Timor is available in our office.

**Statesmen of Jazz in Concert Today

Finally, there will be a concert today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjold Library featuring the “Statesmen of Jazz” -- musicians 65 years and older who are celebrating the International Year of Older Persons.

The media advisory is available in our office with more details.

Any Questions?

**Questions and Answer Session

Question: Have you heard anything on the situation in Pakistan? What is the United Nations presence there? Will the situation have any effect on the United Nations presence?

Answer: I think it's too early to say. We have seen the media reports. We're following the situation very closely, but it's very early. The news just came a few hours ago and it is too early to make an assessment of how much of an impact there would be on our operations.

Question: On Burundi, obviously the United Nations wants the killers to be brought to justice, is there any sense of who's responsible for this ambush and do you have any idea exactly what the team was doing at the time?

Answer: They were doing humanitarian needs assessment. We don't have many more details yet on the circumstances of the killings. We know it was an ambush on the road but more details on how it happened or who did it, we don't have. Question: Do you have any information about the clash between INTERFET and the Indonesian military on the West Timor border? Which side is to be blamed, INTERFET or the Indonesian military?

Answer: You are referring to the incident on Sunday, correct? Yes, I have seen some media reports on that. I think I also saw some footage on television of INTERFET and Indonesian security personnel discussing the conditions of how the incident happened. The understanding I have from INTERFET is that the incident happened in East Timor.

Question: There is a report that the Australian Parliament wants the United Nations to withdraw Australian troops from East Timor, do you think that the United Nations would consider that?

Answer: I have not seen that report and I am not aware of the Parliament saying that. In any case, INTERFET is a result of a Security Council mandated resolution. I have not seen the report you just mentioned.

Question: There are reports that a number of people witnessed the crime in Pristina, has anyone come forward or offered any information to the United Nations?

Answer: The UNMIK has issued a press release locally encouraging people who saw what happened to come forward and help in the investigation.

Question: The Fifth Committee is meeting and discussing financing and verification of the mission in Angola. What is the nature of that mission now?

Answer: The mandate of the mission in Angola was not renewed at the request of the Government, remember that. There was a report of the Secretary-General some time ago where he made the proposal of another type of United Nations presence there -- multi-disciplinary to cover liaison areas with the Government, including military, political and humanitarian. I believe we are waiting to hear from the Government on these proposals. This has been on the table for a few weeks now.

Question: The Foreign Minister of Canada issued a note regarding cooperation between the sanctions committee and DeBeers. Do we have anything here? This comes from Canada and the mission is a Security Council mission.

Answer: You probably were not here a few days ago when the president of the committee on sanctions, concerning the situation in Angola, held a press conference where he discussed the announcement about DeBeers and the work of the sanctions committee. If you remember, he took a trip to different parts of Africa and also Europe, to discuss sanctions. He held a press conference here in New York a few days ago.

Thank you so much. Have a nice afternoon.

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