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 Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**Situation in Sierra Leone: Secretary-General Condemns RUF Actions as Violation of Lomé Accord

I will start the briefing today with a statement by the Secretary- General through the Spokesman on the situation in Sierra Leone:

“The Secretary-General expresses his outrage at the continuing deliberate attacks on United Nations personnel in Sierra Leone by armed groups and individuals belonging to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Four soldiers from the Kenyan battalion of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) have lost their lives, while three others, at least, have been injured. A large number of UNAMSIL personnel are still being detained by RUF elements or are unaccounted for.

“The leader of the RUF, Foday Sankoh, is responsible for their actions. He has ignored repeated appeals by UNAMSIL to stop these attacks. The Secretary-General demands the immediate cessation of hostile acts, and condemns in the strongest terms this flagrant violation by Sankoh and the RUF of the Lomé Agreement and other related undertakings by the RUF. The Secretary-General believes that all those responsible for this unacceptable and criminal behaviour, especially leaders with authority, must be held accountable for their actions.”

**On Ground in Sierra Leone

We got an update immediately after I received the statement I've just read that confirms the number of persons killed has now risen to seven. We will amend this statement accordingly.

As you can imagine, the situation on the ground is extremely fluid and the numbers are being constantly updated. In fact, we now have information even more up-to-date than what I've just read to you, so please keep in touch with our Office throughout the day.

**Security Council Briefed by Miyet on Latest Developments in Sierra Leone

As you know, the Security Council has just gone into closed consultations to hear a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet on the latest developments in Sierra Leone.

Out of this, we have just learned that one Indian major has been released, according to Mr. Miyet.

Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 3 May 2000

The Secretariat is briefing the Council on the options available to UNAMSIL following the violent incidents of the past few days and the detentions of United Nations military and civilian personnel.

Following the fighting that took place yesterday and earlier today between United Nations troops and the RUF in the northern areas of Makeni and Magburaka, we can confirm that seven United Nations soldiers have been killed.

As we announced to you earlier this morning, we can also confirm that about 50 United Nations personnel are being detained by the RUF –- at least 21 in Makeni and Magburaka, and 28 in the eastern area of Kailahun. The detainees in the Makeni-Magburaka area include three military observers. Those held in Kailahun include eight military observers and six civilians -- four members of a helicopter crew and two civilian personnel of the United Nations Mission.

Yesterday afternoon, the Council heard an emergency briefing on the situation in Sierra Leone by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi. Following the briefing, the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Wang of China, read a statement on behalf of the Council condemning the actions by the RUF and calling its behaviour "criminal".

The Secretary-General, as you know, will submit a report to the Council by the end of the week containing recommendations on the future course of action in Sierra Leone.

**Secretary-General Concludes Five-Nation Tour of West Africa

The Secretary-General left Yaoundé, Cameroon, this morning and is on his way to Paris. The reason I was a little late this afternoon is because I was hoping to touch base with the team upon their arrival, but I was unable to do so.

The Secretary-General met this morning with about a dozen opposition members of the National Assembly, including representatives of the English- speaking minority in Cameroon. They shared with him their grievances, and a few submitted documents.

The Secretary-General then gave a press conference before leaving the country, concluding his five-nation tour of West Africa.

He will stay in Paris tonight, where he is expected to have a working dinner with French President Jacques Chirac. He is expected back in New York tomorrow. He plans to be at work at United Nations Headquarters on Friday.

**Secretary-General Appoints New Representative

The Secretary-General has sent a letter to the Security Council informing them of his intention to appoint Cheikh Tidiane Sy of Senegal as his new Representative in the Central African Republic. Mr. Sy, who is currently the Secretary-General’s representative in Burundi, will head the Peace-building Support Office established in Bangui last February. He is expected to take up his new functions in late May. The letters from the Secretary-General and the Security Council are on the racks today.

We will have Mr. Sy’s bio available in our Office later in the day. **UNICEF Warns Drought in Horn of Africa May Effect Seven Countries

In an urgent appeal for generosity in relation to drought victims in the Horn of Africa, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said that the sooner aid is forthcoming, the greater its impact will be. The children's agency stressed that seven countries in all are involved in the drought crisis and that this emergency is "not just a repeat of the mid-80’s".

A full release, "Facts and Figures on the Drought", and “Background Information on Water Supply Systems" -- both produced by UNICEF -– is available.

**Transcript of Press Conference by Iraq Humanitarian Coordinator

Somewhat belatedly, we have available in the Spokesman's Office a transcript of a press conference given on Sunday in Baghdad by the new United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Tun Myat.

**Afghanistan Humanitarian Update Puts Special Focus on Drought

The weekly humanitarian update for Afghanistan is out today, and it is a special edition focusing on the drought in southern Afghanistan, which it calls the country's worst since 1971. Moderate drought is also affecting the rest of the country, and may lead to a new influx of people from rural Afghanistan to Kabul, according to the update.

The report says that short-term interventions to provide drinking water and other support to the affected population will require some $1.8 million. Additional resource needs will be announced at the end of this month.

Copies are available in the Spokesman's Office.

We also have available copies of the daily press briefing from the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

**Payment

On the budget front, the Bahamas has become the eighty-sixth Member State to pay their full contribution to the United Nations regular budget for this year. They made a payment of close to $158,000.

**World Chronicle

The recently recorded World Chronicle TV programme 784, with Giandomenico Pico, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, will be shown today on in-house television Channel 3 or 31, at 2:30 p.m.

That's all I have for you.

**Questions and Answers

Question: Can you explain for us the rules of engagement under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter?

Associate Spokesman: I can read to you from the latest resolution on Sierra Leone (resolution 1289): “Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council authorizes UNAMSIL to take the necessary action to fulfil the additional tasks (following on a previous resolution), and affirms that in discharge of its mandate, UNAMSIL may take the necessary action to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel and, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, to afford protection to civilians under threat of imminent physical violence, taking into account the responsibilities of the Government of Sierra Leone.”

Question: So is it implicit then that if under fire, United Nations troops are authorized to return fire?

Associate Spokesman: Implicit in that, yes. Moreover, I think that the UNAMSIL Force Commander has said as much in his press encounters over the past few days.

Question: Can you tell us anything about the nationalities of the people who have been captured?

Associate Spokesman: I don't think at this point I can confirm to you the breakdown of the nationalities, precisely because the situation is so fluid and the numbers are being updated constantly. The Secretary-General, in his statement today, mentioned that the four peacekeepers who were killed were Kenyans, but as for a complete breakdown, I simply can't confirm anything for you. I'm sorry.

Question: Was the helicopter crew Russian?

Associate Spokesman: Again, I'm sorry I don't have any confirmation on that either.

Question: Can you give us any idea of the circumstances under which these killings took place? Was there an exchange of fire or were some of the peacekeepers killed after they were abducted?

Associate Spokesman: Well, in yesterday's briefing, we mentioned to you two incidents, and later in the day we updated you with information on a third incident that did involve some clashes. We do not have any detailed reports on any of the incidents or on the circumstances under which the seven peacekeepers were killed. We do know that they were surrounded at one of disarmament camps by the RUF forces in Makeni yesterday.

Question: Can you confirm that the Government of Sierra Leone is in control? And what level of control might that be?

Associate Spokesman: As we've mentioned repeatedly, we have a situation on the ground in which the RUF forces are launching attacks on United Nations personnel. Is the Government in control? I can only tell you what's going on right now. However, the Council is meeting and they are being briefed on the evolving situation. The Secretary-General is, as you know, appealing for an end to this situation and is in touch with the regional heads of State. We obviously have to wait and see what is going to happen in the Council today to see if they will contemplate further action.

Question: What are the mechanisms of the negotiations? Is the United Nations in direct contact with the rebels or are you going through the Government?

Associate Spokesman: I believe that this is a very sensitive situation and I don't think we can go into too much detail about the negotiations. As the Spokesman told you yesterday, those negotiations are ongoing, at all levels, in order to seek swift release of these detainees. And, as I just mentioned to you, we have a report that one Indian major was released. We will certainly keep you up-to-date on any further developments.

Question: How many peacekeepers are on the ground right now? Is there any chance for quick reinforcements?

Associate Spokesman: We have 8,700 peacekeepers on the ground, and we have a breakdown of that contingent in our Office. As far as reinforcements, I think you'll probably have to ask the members of the Security Council. Again, they're being briefed right now, and as you know they had an emergency meeting yesterday from which they issued a strong statement -- this, however was before the latest development revealed these most recent casualties.

Question: Was the release of the Indian major a result of the ongoing negotiations?

Associate Spokesman: All I can say is that we just received that information while I was doing the briefing, so I can't tell you anything more than that at the moment.

Question: Can you tell us how many of the 8,700 peacekeepers are in that particular region? What arrangements are being made for the others? Will they be evacuated or reassigned?

Associate Spokesman: I think those are the types of questions that will be addressed by the Security Council. We do have a chart upstairs with a regional breakdown that we can make available for you.

Question: You have reported that the RUF attacked these camps to get to ex-RUF combatants who had disarmed. Do we know what's happened to them, and can you tell us if any arms have been seized in these attacks?

Associate Spokesman: I don't have any more information on the precise details. I know that these recent incidents began in the areas of Makeni and Magburaka when ex-combatants came forward to disarm, but I simply don't have any more information other than what we've told you today.

Question: Has the United Nations been in touch with Foday Sankoh?

Associate Spokesman: The only information that's been passed on to me is that today he is apparently in his home surrounded by about 100 or so United Nations peacekeepers. Again, though, that's just a second-hand report.

Question: Will there be a press briefing by the Secretary-General upon his return on Friday?

Associate Spokesman: He will be in Paris in a few hours and will be spending the night there. He usually has several press encounters when he makes these stopovers, so he probably will be speaking to the press in Paris. I think it's a little too early to tell what his schedule will be on Friday.

Question: On a different topic, we heard this morning that the United Nations was going to reschedule the upcoming round of Cyprus talks. Can you confirm that?

Associate Spokesman: No. I don't have any more updates on the status of those talks outside of what we've mentioned to you previously. I can check on it and get back to you.

Question: The Government of Nigeria has always played an important role in the situation in Sierra Leone. Are you using their good offices to help in the negotiations?

Associate Spokesman: As I mentioned, this is a matter involving United Nations personnel who are being detained, so we really cannot talk to you in detail about the negotiations. I can repeat, however, that the Secretary- General is in touch with the regional heads of State and all parties concerned to bring about a swift end to this situation.

Thank you very much.

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