DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
20000808The following is a near verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Manoel Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary- General.
**Lebanon
The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Rolf Knuttson as his Personal Representative for Southern Lebanon. The appointment is for six months, at the level of Assistant Secretary-General. Mr. Knuttson's tasks will include coordinating United Nations activities in Southern Lebanon, and day-to-day responsibilities for diplomatic and political liaison with the Lebanese Government on the implementation of relevant resolutions. He will maintain an office and small staff in Beirut. He will work in close cooperation with the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Terje Roed Larsen.
Mr. Knuttson currently has been working as Director of Political Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and as Deputy to the United Nations Chief of Staff. He has worked for the United Nations since 1969 including peacekeeping assignments in the Middle East, Honduras and Western Sahara. He is a Swedish national. Copies of his CV are available in our office.
Also on Lebanon, I should tell you that as of today the United Nations Interim Force in that country (UNIFIL) has deployed some 400 troops to 17 new positions in Southern Lebanon, 9 of which are on the blue line. The UNIFIL intends to place troops at 10 or 11 more points in the next few days. The situation on the ground is reported as calm.
**Haiti
I have some sad news from Haiti. An international staff member of the United Nations international civilian support mission to Haiti, known by its acronym in French, MICAH, is currently in very critical condition in a hospital in Miami after being shot in the head last night in the capital, Port-au-Prince. He was apparently caught in the crossfire during a robbery. The staff member, Garfield Lyle of Guyana, was evacuated this morning to Miami where he is receiving medical attention at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements are being made to transfer his wife and one of his children to the American city. This is the first such shooting incident to involve a staff member of MICAH. In recent days United Nations officials have expressed their concern at growing problems and the alarming law and order situation in Haiti.
Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 8 August 2000
**The Sudan
I now have a statement that is attributable to the Spokesman, and it is on the Sudan. The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the security of humanitarian personnel and facilities belonging to Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS). He is particularly alarmed at the latest incident on 7 August, when some 18 bombs were dropped in the vicinity of United Nations-based facilities at Mapel, 60 kilometres southeast of Wau. A United Nations aircraft that had been cleared by the Government of the Sudan to undertake its flight was on the airstrip at Mapel at the time of the bombing.
The Secretary-General regrets that this latest incident took place despite assurance from the Government of the Sudan that bombings of locations being used by the OLS would not reoccur. These assurances followed earlier bombing incidents in late July that threatened the safety of humanitarian personnel and relief aircraft.
In light of these developments, all OLS relief flights have been temporarily suspended, pending a security assessment. The Secretary- General and humanitarian agencies are extremely concerned with the impact that the suspension may have on vulnerable populations who rely on relief aid to survive.
The Secretary-General calls upon both the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan's People Liberation Movement (SPLM) to reinforce as a matter of urgency the necessary measures to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and civilian beneficiaries throughout the country. He reiterates his call to the parties to resume the humanitarian ceasefire that expired on 15 July.
**Afghanistan
I have another statement attributable to the Spokesman, and this is on Afghanistan. The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the ambush and murder of seven relief workers on 5 August 2000 while traveling from Badghis to Herat in western Afghanistan. He was shocked at the violence of this unwarranted attack on humanitarian personnel, that included the torching of the two vehicles being used by the victims.
The relief workers were a part of the United Nations supported mine action programme for Afghanistan, which is a vital component of the humanitarian programme in that country.
The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Afghan non-governmental organization OMAR, which employed them. The use of landmines in Afghanistan continues to jeopardize the safety and lives of civilians and relief workers. The Secretary-General calls upon all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to take immediate measures to apprehend those responsible for this crime and to bring them to justice. The Secretary-General
Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 8 August 2000
hopes that urgent steps will be taken to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel and civilians in Afghanistan.
**New York
Here in New York there is no Security Council meeting scheduled for today. The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for tomorrow morning, when it is expected to hold consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The open meeting on Ethiopia and Eritrea that had been planned for today is now expected to take place later this week, possibly on Friday. The Secretary-General's report on a concept of operations for a United Nations role in Ethiopia and Eritrea is still being finalized, and has not yet gone to the Council.
**East Timor
Some news from East Timor. This last Sunday there were two incidents where the United Nations peacekeeping force, in particular the Australian contingent, exchanged fire with militia. At about 5:30 p.m. peacekeepers encountered a group of seven or eight militia men approximately seven kilometres northeast of Maliana town. These people were wearing Indonesian-type camouflage uniforms and armed with rifles and hand grenades.
The group was challenged and instructed by the peacekeeping force troops to lay down their weapons. At this point, the militia opened fire. The peacekeepers returned fire, the militia withdrew and escaped. Yesterday morning, Monday, in follow-up operations, a blood trail was found indicating that one of the militia may have been injured. Operations continue in that area.
Also on Sunday, and also in the western part of East Timor, soldiers from the Australian contingent discovered two men about seven to eight kilometres south of Batugade, again in Maliana district, only 500 to 600 metres inside the border of East Timor. One of them was again dressed in Indonesian camouflage uniform and armed with a rifle and the other was in civilian clothes and possibly unarmed. As they were approaching the peacekeeping force detachment from the direction of the border, they were also challenged and asked to lay down their weapons.
At this time, the individual in uniform raised his rifle and fired several rounds at the Australian soldiers. Fire was returned and the person in civilian clothes was injured and later captured. This person has been evacuated to the United Nations military hospital in Dili and has undergone surgery. The one in uniform escaped back in the direction of the border.
I should also say that in the Suai district, also the western part of East Timor, in particular in the area of Zumalai, there have
Daily Press Briefing - 4 - 8 August 2000
been several reports in the last days of a large group of armed militia, estimated at approximately 20 to 30 people. According to the local population, the group has made several contacts with locals to get food and seek information concerning United Nations and non-governmental organization activities in the area.
The peacekeeping force is conducting operations in the area in order to identify the group and determine what their intent is. More details are available in the briefing notes from East Timor, which will also have other news. I would particularly bring to your attention that they carry this time an organigram of the Cabinet of the new transition administration, which includes Timorese and international officials.
**United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
We also have briefing notes from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The notes of today report that fighting in several parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has driven thousands of new refugees into neighbouring countries.
The UNHCR staff who traveled last week to Uganda reported that an estimated 2,700 refugees have crossed the Congolese border into Uganda since late July. Many refugees say that they are running from rebel forces, who have accused them of harbouring Interahamwe militia. As you know, Interahamwe are former Rwandan Hutu militia. Those refugees are coming from the Congolese province of North Kivu, just across the border from Rwanda and Uganda.
New arrivals have also been recorded in the Central African Republic, which currently hosts some 7,000 refugees who fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Equateur Province. More refugees are also fleeing to the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo- Brazzaville, which now hosts some 60,000 people from Congo-Kinshasa. Further details can be found in the UNHCR briefing notes.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
Also on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we have available in our office a press release from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which tells us that Carol Bellamy, UNICEF's Executive Director, will begin a three-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo starting on Thursday, in an attempt to boost the global effort to wipe out polio.
She will visit Kinshasa on Thursday, where she will meet the Health and Foreign Ministers. Then she will travel to Mbuji-Mayi and Kananga on Friday to participate in immunization efforts, before traveling to Brazzaville, in the neighbouring Republic of Congo, on Saturday. Ms. Bellamy will wrap up her trip by taking part in door-to- door outreach operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo site in Kisangani on Sunday.
Daily Press Briefing - 5 - 8 August 2000
**International Day of the World's Indigenous People
The International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be observed here at Headquarters tomorrow and on Thursday. Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. there will be a press briefing in this room on progress made in the Programme of Activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, and on the theme for this year, which is "Indigenous Children and Youth".
Following the briefing at 11:30 a.m. at the Visitor's Entrance Public Plaza, the traditional sacred pipe ceremony will once again be celebrated by Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Lakota tribe, who is the nineteenth Generation Keeper of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Pipe.
In the afternoon, from 3:00 to 6:00, in Conference Room 1, there will be a day-long preparatory consultation for next year's World Conference Against Racism. For more details on these events, please see the press release, which is available in the Spokesman's Office.
**Questions and Answers
Question: Do you have any reaction from the Secretary-General regarding this morning's news from Santiago that the immunity for Augusto Pinochet has been lifted?
Deputy Spokesman: No. That is an internal issue, but we are of course interested in seeing how this may impact on the rule of law, on international law and on the concept of universal jurisdiction.
Question: Is there any reaction to the sentence handed down against the former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim?
Deputy Spokesman: Like the other question, this is also an internal matter. We are aware of the concerns and reservations expressed in different quarters. It is also our understanding that Mr. Anwar Ibrahim will appeal. We expect that he will be accorded due process of law, and that every effort will be made to address the concerns that have been expressed.
Question: Can you comment on the report in the Washington Post that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in severe financial straits because of the failure of Member States to pay their dues?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. I spoke with the IAEA this morning after reading that article. They tell us that the article refers to a situation which arose at the end of July, due to an unexpected deviation from the established patterns of payments of contributions to the regular budget by some major donor Member States. While the agency is experiencing cash flow pressures which underscore their vulnerability to the timing of receipt of Member States contributions, the agency is pursuing all avenues to resolve that problem. In
Daily Press Briefing - 6 - 8 August 2000
response to its request by IAEA, several Member States have already taken steps to accelerate payment of their overdue contributions. Other Member States' missions are checking with their Governments to see what temporary measures they might be able to authorize.
Question: You mentioned an unexpected deviation. Is there any explanation for that?
Deputy Spokesman: I do not think there is. It is the timing of the contributions. If you wish to get more details, you may speak with Hans Meyer of the IAEA. His direct line in the Vienna office is 431.2600.21275.
Question: The Israelis were complaining today that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has failed to deploy troops near the Fatima Gate, which has been the scene of some serious incidents, including stone throwing, etc. I am wondering whether you had any comment on that?
Deputy Spokesman: No, I do not other than the fact the UNIFIL has not completed its deployment yet, and there are a dozen or so points that UNIFIL soldiers need to be deployed at.
Question: Can one take it from that that UNIFIL troops may still be deployed at these positions?
Deputy Spokesman: I would have to check on the locations.
* *** *