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. I think we have a light news day today. The Secretary- General, as you know, is having some private time in Sweden.

**Larsen Holds 'Especially Constructive' Meetings with Lebanese High Officials

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Terje Roed- Larsen is in Beirut today for a series of meetings with Lebanese officials and representatives of the diplomatic community.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Special Coordinator described his meeting with President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Selim Hoss as “especially constructive”.

He also told reporters that he had informed the Lebanese Government that Israel had committed itself to rapidly rectify the violations along the border and that “most of the violations we had observed have already been rectified”.

It was also decided that on Monday a joint team composed of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Lebanese Army personnel would tour the line of withdrawal to evaluate the process of rectification.

A significant part of the meeting was also devoted to the launching on 27 July of an ambassadorial-level meeting where the urgent needs of South Lebanon will be presented to key donor representatives.

Later in the day, Mr. Larsen met the ambassadors to Lebanon of the permanent members of the Security Council to brief them on all aspects of his current mission.

Mr. Larsen will continue high-level meetings tomorrow before ending his trip on Sunday.

The full transcript of Mr. Larsen's comments is available upstairs.

**Update: Sierra Leone

The security situation in Sierra Leone can be described as “calm but unpredictable”. The situation concerning the 222 peacekeepers and 11 military observers at Kailahun remains unchanged. We continue to make every effort and look at every option to resolve this situation.

**UNICEF Strongly Condemns Attack on Children's Centre in Angola

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Angola and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) strongly condemn the attack carried out in the evening of 9 July by a group of about 100 armed men on Children’s Town –- a residence, school and training centre for children and youth, many of whom were orphans -- in the town of Quissala.

A 16-year-old boy was killed and four children between 14-16 were injured in the attack. In addition, 21 children between the ages of 11 and 18 were abducted by the attackers and their current welfare and whereabouts remain unknown.

The UNICEF and the Humanitarian Coordinator call on the perpetrators of this cowardly crime to ensure the safe and immediate release of the children.

Early this morning, in another incident, a local UNICEF staff member was seriously injured in a vehicle hijacking in Luanda, the capital. The staff member remains in serious condition after being shot three times.

**UNHCR Denounces Violence in East Timorese Refugee Camps, May Review Operations in West Timor

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a press release denouncing the continued violence in East Timorese refugee camps, and says that the Indonesian Government's failure to live up to its commitment may force the UNHCR to review its operation in West Timor.

The UNHCR has called off a programme to register this week and estimated 125,000 East Timorese refugees in West Timor after pro-Indonesian ex-militias threatened and stoned workers in four incidents, injuring one, as well as damaging offices and vehicles. Soldiers had to fire shots in the air to extricate staff in two camps.

As you know, under an agreement signed in October, the Indonesian Government agreed to ensure unhindered access to camps and allow refugees to freely decide on their future.

The UNHCR has repeatedly requested the Government to maintain order in the camps, separate trouble makers from refugees and clarify the status of East Timorese enlisted in the Indonesian army, police and civil service.

The full press release is available upstairs.

**Security Council to Discuss Impact of AIDS on Peacekeeping Operations

There is no scheduled activity for the Security Council today.

On Monday morning, the Council will hold a public meeting to discuss “The impact of HIV/AIDS on Peace and Security”. It is expected that they will vote on a United States-sponsored resolution on that subject.

Peter Piot, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), will brief that session of the Council and then he will come here, to room S-226, to brief you.

Monday afternoon, the Council will meet in consultations with troop contributors to discuss the situation in Western Sahara.

**In Report out Today, Secretary-General Hopes for Political Solution to Dispute in Western Sahara

Available on the racks today is the Secretary-General’s report on Western Sahara (S/2000/683), in which he hopes that some progress could be achieved during the forthcoming expert-level meetings in Geneva, despite the lack of progress in the London meeting between the parties.

Following those consultations, the Secretary-General expects his Personal Envoy, James Baker III, to meet again with the parties to try once again to resolve the problems relating to the implementation of the settlement plan, and to try to agree on any other political solution to their dispute.

In the meantime, he recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October.

**Budget Matters

On the budget front, Austria has become the 100th Member State to pay its dues in full to the United Nations regular budget. The payment amounts to just over $9.9 million.

We have available in the Spokesman's Office the "Monthly Summary of Troop Contributions to Peacekeeping Operations" as of 30 June.

This chart illustrates that as of the end of June there were just over 36,000 military and civilian police personnel coming from 89 countries, who are serving on 14 United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide.

**UNMIK and UNHCR Briefing Notes Available

We also have press briefing notes of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) from Pristina, which include an update on the ongoing registration process for elections in Kosovo.

We also have the UNHCR briefing notes that mention the deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is forcing the UNHCR to suspend some relief activities for refugees on the Republic of the Congo side of the River.

**Week Ahead at United Nations

We have available our weekly feature, the “Week Ahead” at the United Nations.

Some highlights:

Sunday, 16 July

Erick de Mul, the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan, is expected to go to Kabul today to continue discussions with Taliban on last week's edict which barred Afghan women from working with the United Nations and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Tuesday, 18 July

Dr. Paul Robertson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, will be holding a press conference at 3:30 p.m., in room S-226.

Wednesday, 19 July

The United Nations Reconnaissance Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea returns to New York after completing their work in those two countries.

Thursday, 20 July

The Secretary-General will address the Security Council’s public meeting on conflict prevention, to be chaired by Jamaican Foreign Minister Paul Robertson.

The Secretary-General will also address the official opening of the United Nations Millennium Exhibit “Our World in the Year 2000”, located in the Visitors’ Lobby.

The two-day, expert-level technical meeting between Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saquia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) begin Thursday in Geneva.

You can pick up the full list of activities in our Office.

**Housekeeping

And finally, just a reminder that this Saturday -- that's tomorrow -- the Spokesman's Office will be launching our new e-mail system of distributing the Secretary-General's statements to United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) members on weekends and holidays. This system will also be used to inform to contact journalists with information on Security Council sessions that come to our attention on weekends and holidays. So if you have not already done so, please give our Office your weekend e-mail addresses.

We also have available upstairs guidelines for correspondents covering the Millenium Summit in September.

And that's what I have for you. Are there any questions?

**Questions and Answers

Question: On Afghanistan, it was my understanding that some sort of deal had been reached where women were now allowed to work for United Nations agencies. Can you confirm this?

Associate Spokesman: What has happened is that Erick de Mul travelled to Kandahar this week where he met with the Taliban Foreign Minister. They discussed the edict that was announced last week by the Taliban. Mr. de Mul returned to Islamabad instead of returning to Kabul because the discussions in Kandahar had been very positive and the indications were that a resolution to this problem was imminent.

Mr. de Mul is still going ahead with the planned meeting on Sunday in Kabul to discuss the issue with the Minister of Planning, as it was that Ministry which had originally announced the edict. But all indications point to a resolution, and this meeting is just a continuation of his efforts to ensure that Afghan women are able to help implement the humanitarian programmes in that country.

Question: What exactly is the Secretary-General's position on proceeding with the implementation of the settlement plan for Western Sahara?

Associate Spokesman: At the moment, I think all I can tell you is that the talks have been scheduled for next week and that the report has been released. Certainly, he is hoping that progress can be made at those talks.

Question: Does the Secretary-General feel that it is not possible to move ahead with the peace process?

Associate Spokesman: I don't think he would pronounce himself as having given up on the peace process. As I mentioned earlier, he is hoping that efforts will continue to bring about a solution. At the moment, I don't think we can comment on anything more until we see the outcome of the talks next week.

Question: On the Republic of the Congo, some time ago, hadn't there been a request for aid to that country? Has there been any movement on that appeal since that time?

Associate Spokesman: I think that the Republic of the Congo humanitarian appeal is what you're talking about and, at the moment, I think it only has about 6 per cent of the total requirements. Yes, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) did issue a transitional appeal for the Republic of the Congo.

The OCHA is now in the midst of its annual review of the consolidated appeals process. That Office will be meeting on 26 July for a review of all the appeals-- including the Republic of the Congo.

Question: What is the Secretary-General's position on this issue? Is he concerned that there has been no movement on generating sufficient funds for this appeal? Are there any other appeals that are under-funded?

Associate Spokesman: The Secretary-General has been consistently appealing for countries to contribute generously to these humanitarian appeals. I don't have a breakdown of all the appeals that have been issued, but as you know, there are many areas of the world where appeals are under-funded. So let's see what OCHA comes up with next week in terms of where all these appeal stand and then we'll definitely highlight for you the efforts that the Secretary-General will be making on behalf of any country whose appeals are found to be under-funded.

Question: Do you have any more information on the expert panel announced yesterday that will monitor violations of the sanctions on Angola?

Associate Spokesman: I understand that they will be located here, but that they will be travelling a great deal. Obviously, their work is to look into violations and monitoring. What I can tell you is that their first meeting will be here at Headquarters towards the middle or the end of next week.

Question: Mr. Ibrahim Gambari [Under-Secretary-General and Adviser to the Secretary-General for Special Assignments in Africa] spent some time in Angola. Why was it that he didn't meet with Jonas Savimbi or other members of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)?

Associate Spokesman: I think Mr. Gambari said that he met with persons who were close to Savimbi. I don't think he said that he did not meet with any UNITA representatives.

Have a great weekend.

[Correction: In yesterday's noon briefing transcript, the date of the upcoming Security Council Conflict Prevention debate was given as 23 July. In fact, the debate is scheduled to take place on 20 July.]

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