DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
20000322The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon.
**Corell Heads Home, Praises Cooperative Spirit of Talks with Cambodian Government
United Nations Legal Counsel Hans Corell and his team concluded a week- long series of meetings with Cambodian officials this morning with a session with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
While no final agreement on the terms for a Khmer Rouge trial was announced, both sides expressed satisfaction on the degree of agreement achieved and expressed hope that before the Cambodian legislation is adopted by Parliament - and that is scheduled to happen next month -- the remaining gaps can be closed.
Mr. Corell told the press after the meeting with Hun Sen that he had given the Government a comprehensive proposal containing all aspects of the matters that they had been discussing. He praised the cooperative spirit with which the Cambodian Government had conducted the negotiations.
We have available in my Office the text of Mr. Corell's opening statement to the press. He took a few questions, and I'm sorry we don't have the text of that Q&A. We hope to get it, but I can't say when.
The team is now in the air and will arrive in New York tomorrow.
**Panel on UN Peace Operations Wraps Up Inaugural Session Today
The Secretary-General's panel on United Nations Peace Operations chaired by Lakhdar Brahimi is wrapping up its first session today, after meeting for more than three hours yesterday.
They will have a working lunch with the Secretary-General today. I understand that at this moment they are discussing the possible dates for their next meeting. We will let you know once that's decided.
**Security Council: Annabi Follows Consultations on Democratic Republic of Congo with Open Briefing on UNMIBH
The Security Council this morning began its work with closed consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in which it considered an interim report on the situation there. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi informed the Council of resurgent fighting in the region, particularly in the province of Kasai. The Council then issued a statement to the press after its consultations concluded.
Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 22 March 2000
The Council will also hear a more detailed briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo next Tuesday, when Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet is scheduled to discuss his just-concluded visit there.
The Council has gone into a formal session to hear an open briefing on the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). Mr. Annabi is expected to discuss the Secretary-General's recent report on Bosnia, which includes signs of progress in the Mission's work, notably, the inauguration of a multi-ethnic police force in the Brcko district and some positive movement on a State border service. However, obstruction and resistance to the establishment of joint police forces is still evident in central Bosnia, and particularly in Mostar.
We will have Mr. Annabi's briefing notes available to you once he has finished speaking.
The Council will hold an open debate tomorrow on the role played by United Nations peacekeepers in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. That debate follows the issuance last month of a report by the Secretary-General on how United Nations missions can support disarmament goals.
**Weekly Update from Office of Iraq Programme Available
We have available upstairs the regular weekly update from the Office of the Iraq Programme. It shows that last week Iraq exported 13.9 million barrels of oil, and that there is still $1.74 billion worth of contracts on hold.
And a reminder: On Friday, the Security Council will be considering the Secretary-General's report of 10 March, which combined a review of the oil-for- food programme, a summary of the group of experts report on the oil industry, and the usual 90-day report on the implementation of the programme. We understand that this will be an open briefing.
**Mozambique, WFP Launch New Appeals for Aid for Flood Victims
Today, the Government of Mozambique appealed to the international community for an additional $102 million for emergency and rehabilitation activities directed at 650,000 flood victims in a number of provinces. This appeal, which updates the requirements set forth by the Government and the United Nations on 23 February, covers the period through August 2000.
The World Food Programme (WFP) also launched today a new special appeal for $8.4 million for air transport to deliver food to flood victims through April.
The WFP's top priority remains reaching and feeding an estimated 650,000 people, both those who are still in camps throughout south and central Mozambique, and those who have returned to their homes.
We have a press release available in my Office.
**Liberia: Special Representative Welcomes Opening of President's Talks with Radio Stations
President Charles Taylor of Liberia has accepted to open discussions with radio stations that were suspended last week and has given instructions to members of his Government to this effect. This decision came as a result of a meeting he held yesterday with religious leaders on ways and means to solve this issue.
Felix Downes-Thomas, the Representative of the Secretary-General, was present at this meeting. Since the start of the crisis, Mr. Downes-Thomas has been intensely involved in the consultations that led to the decision by President Taylor, and he welcomes that decision.
**East Timor: Accidental Explosion Kills Three Children, Injures Another
A tragic story from East Timor: Three boys were killed and a fourth was seriously injured following the accidental explosion yesterday of an artillery or mortar shell near the city of Baucau.
Two boys, aged 10 and nine, died instantly, while the third, aged four, died this morning at the Médecins sans frontières hospital in Baucau. The fourth boy, who is 13, has serious abdominal and head injuries.
The boys were playing near an old Indonesian Army building when they found the shell and threw rocks at it, setting off the detonator.
This is the first incident of its kind since the multinational force arrived in East Timor last September.
**Notes From East Timor: UNHCR Reports Repatriation 'On the Rise'
The number of refugees returning from West Timor continues on the rise, the Office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports. Four hundred and fifty crossed the border on Monday, 300 more crossed yesterday, while today 500 arrived by sea from Kupang, and another 400 crossed the border at Batugade.
This brings the total number of returnees to about 155,000. The Indonesian government is currently conducting a census to verify estimates that more than 100,000 refugees are still in West Timor.
Bodies of Massacre Victims Autopsied
The autopsies on the bodies of two nuns and two other victims of the Los Palos massacre reveal that all four were shot and cut with knives.
Eight people died at the hands of the Team Alpha militia in East Timor on 25 September last year. Autopsies on all eight bodies have now been completed, showing the same gun shot and knife wounds in each case.
The Human Rights Division of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), along with United Nations civilian police, will exhume 10 bodies in Maliana, tomorrow. All are believed to be the victims of last September's violence.
**World Water Day
Today is World Water Day. Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), delivered the closing statement at the World Water Forum being held in The Hague, on behalf of the Secretary-General. He said: "Water has been a major factor in the rise and fall of civilizations. It has been a source of conflicts and tensions between nations." Noting the centrality of water in our lives, he added: "Nearly every decision we make -- whether the issue is growth, housing, transportation or economic development -- is directly linked to the use of our water resources."
The text of the statement, as well as message of the Secretary-General for World Water Day, are available on the racks.
**Update on UN Peacekeeping Operations Available
We have an updated background note on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations as of 20 March available in my Office.
This new note reflects the completion of MIPONUH -- the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti -- whose mandate expired on 15 March.
The note indicates that, currently, there are 15 United Nations Peacekeeping Operations worldwide where close to 27,000 military and civilian police personnel are deployed.
**Situation Report Available
We have available a situation report on the floods affecting Zimbabwe.
**UN Expert Panel to Discuss New Technology as Toll for Development
Tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, four leading experts dealing with information technology will discuss means to use the Internet and other technology to further the cause of development.
The three-hour panel will begin with opening remarks from Ambassador Makarim Wibisono of Indonesia, the President of the current session of the Economic and Social Council. It is one of several events leading up to the Council's high-level meeting on information technology from 5 to 7 July here in New York.
We have a press release available with more information, and you can also call Tim Wall with any further questions you have. You can reach him at extension 5851.
**Convention on International Watercourses to Meet in The Hague
From the Environment Programme: Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes will be meeting from 23 to 25 March in The Hague. The issue of responsibility and liability for the clean-up and repair resulting from the damage caused by water pollution is among the main items on the agenda.
The meeting comes in the aftermath of the occurrence of two major accidents in Europe: the accidental dumping of 20,000 tons of lead and other metals and the deadly cyanide spill from a mine in north-western Romania.
Do you have any questions?
Questions and Answers
Question: It was reported last week that members of the Security Council felt that MONUC deployment could not take place in the midst of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Secretary-General has said that the deployment would be likely in June. Do you have any further guidance from Mr. Miyet on this in light of his recent trip?
Spokesman: We saw a comment that Mr. Miyet made in Paris, saying that although the Security Council had given a green light for the deployment of this force, that light could change to orange or even red. That's not a direct quote, we're trying to get exactly what he said. I assume that the Council will also be following closely the developments inside the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the troop contributors are members of the Council, but I'm sure that all troop contributors will be watching the situation very closely there. If it is not safe, if hostilities resume, we, of course, know from past experience that that's no place to send peacekeepers.
Question: What are the chances of getting a readout of the Brahimi peace operations panel meetings?
Spokesman: I think I would have to twist Mr. Brahimi's arm very forcefully because he has indicated a strong preference for not saying anything until they get more deeply into their work. But we can try right after the briefing. I think they're probably just wrapping up their morning session. In the event he would come out and say a few words to you -- perhaps at the stake out -- we'll squawk it.
Question: Did Israel send a letter of protest to the Secretary-General regarding anti-Israeli action in the Middle East?
Spokesman: I have not seen that letter. I'll have to look into it. I can't comment on it until I've seen it and get some guidance.
Question: Are there any recent plans to have the Secretary-General go to India or Pakistan?
Spokesman: No. That's a trip that has been planned and replanned as various obstacles have come up in the way of dates being unacceptable to one or another party. So I think that his long-term intention, of course, is to go, but at this time we have no dates.
Question: Can you describe the meeting today between the Secretary- General and Hans Blix?
Spokesman: That is another of the formal and informal consultations that the Secretary-General will be having concerning the implementation of the latest Security Council resolution on Iraq.
Thank you very much.
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