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 Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon. It's nice to be back. A special “thank you” to my Deputy Manoel and the skeleton team from my office who filled in so well while I was away.

**Secretary-General Follows with 'Sorrow' Fate of Russian Submarine Kursk

We're going to start with a statement attributable to the Spokesman on the sinking of the submarine Kursk:

“The Secretary-General has been following with sorrow the tragic developments in the Barents Sea following the sinking of the submarine Kursk. As hope now appears to be fading, his prayers are with the families and loved ones of those on board.

“The Secretary-General is heartened by the international cooperation demonstrated in the rescue efforts over the last few days. It is yet another example of how the international community must stand united in the face of disaster and work together to alleviate its consequences.”

**Notes from Sierra Leone: ECOWAS, Regional Leaders to Discuss RUF Leadership

Today in Sierra Leone, the United Nations Mission (UNAMSIL) reports that President Alpha Konaré of Mali -- the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) -- and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria met with President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and with Foday Sankoh to discuss the issue of the leadership of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

The two visiting Presidents met Sankoh with President Kabbah's consent, and handed him a letter informing him that the RUF's leadership had unanimously decided to choose Issa Sesay as their new leader. Sankoh, according to reports, handed the two Presidents a reply indicating his understanding and full agreement with that decision.

The visiting Presidents urged the new RUF leader to commit himself and the RUF fully to support the peace process in Sierra Leone.

Over the weekend, the United Nations Mission also received information that the Sierra Leone Government and its allies repulsed an attack by the RUF on the northern town of Kabala. That attack began on

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Friday, a day after the World Food Programme (WFP) and other agencies delivered food aid to the town, using United Nations helicopters. The United Nations Mission reports the situation in Kabala is now calm, and believes that the attackers were seeking food and ammunition.

Last, this is to inform you that the defence chiefs of the troop contributing countries for Sierra Leone will be holding a meeting in New York this Wednesday.

**New Special Envoy Begins Mission to Democratic Republic of Congo with Meetings in Zambia

General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General dealing with the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is scheduled to arrive today in Lusaka, Zambia, where he will consult with Zambian President Frederick Chiluba.

After his meetings in Zambia, General Abubakar will fly to Kinshasa tomorrow to meet with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Laurent Kabila, as well as with other senior officials. Later in the week, he is to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to hold consultations with Salim A. Salim, Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

General Abubakar, you will recall, was appointed by the Secretary- General last week to travel to the subregion and clarify once more the position of the Security Council and the role of the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). Among the issues he will discuss are the need for a cessation of hostilities, the granting of full freedom of movement to the United Nations Mission and concerns about propaganda attacks against the Mission and its personnel.

**Knutsson Gets 'Firsthand Look' at Line of Withdrawal in Lebanon

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Southern Lebanon, Rolf Knutsson, was in the south today to get a firsthand look at the situation along the “Line of Withdrawal”.

Mr. Knutsson was first briefed by the commander of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Seth Kofi Obeng, on the general situation along the so-called “Blue Line” as well the United Nations role in providing humanitarian assistance in the area.

He then flew by helicopter over the area and stopped at two UNIFIL observation posts on the line before returning to Beirut.

**Vieira de Mello Outlines Steps to Independence at First CNRT Congress

From East Timor we have word that during the opening today in Dili of the first congress of the National Council of East Timorese

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Resistance (CNRT), the Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello outlined the key political steps towards full independence.

The first one would be drafting a provisional constitution, followed by the election of the Constituent Assembly. Mr. Vieira de Mello also called for political tolerance and a broad national debate on democracy and the constitution.

He also announced the benchmarks, or goals, that should guide the United Nations Mission (UNTAET) in providing the foundations for the future independent state. You can learn about the benchmarks and other aspects of the situation there by reading his speech, which is available in my office.

The congress has 460 delegates from the 13 East Timorese districts, political parties and civil society groups. It will go on for nine days. Xanana Gusmao, the president of the CNRT, told congress participants that the transition to independence and the forthcoming elections should not be treated as just a democratic "fiesta".

More details in the East Timor briefing note, available upstairs, will tell you about the twenty-fifth anniversary of the FALINTIL -- the armed wing of the CNRT -- which was commemorated yesterday and when Xanana Gusmao turned over his commander-in-chief post to Taur Matan Ruak, his deputy.

Vieira de Mello called the FALINTIL “a force of conciliation, goodwill and common sense”.

**Malnutrition in Children on the Rise in Drought-Stricken Kenya

In a press release issued in Nairobi today, the WFP said that 25 to 30 per cent of children under five are suffering from malnutrition in the drought-stricken areas of Kenya.

The number of cases of malnutrition among children is accelerating at an alarming rate.

This increase comes at an especially critical time as the WFP has been forced to cut food rations across Kenya due to lack of funding. More than three million Kenyans rely on the WFP for food.

The complete press release is available in my office.

**Note from Kosovo

In Kosovo, Special Representative Bernard Kouchner signed an administrative directive on regulating sports organizations, which requires that at least 30 per cent of the members of sports federations or associations be women and that 10 per cent come from minority communities. At least one woman and one minority representative should

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sit on each organization's board, as part of an effort to encourage equality and tolerance in Kosovo.

There are more details in the Briefing Note upstairs.

**United Nations-Sponsored Conference on Disarmament to Open in Japan

Tomorrow we have the opening of a United Nations-sponsored conference on disarmament in Akita, Japan. The conference is being organized by the Department of Disarmament Affairs' Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific.

The meeting will examine, among other topics, new confidence- building measures for peace and security in Asia, as well as issues relating to nuclear and conventional disarmament.

The participants from 23 countries will attend in a personal capacity. Those attending are Government officials, members of civil society and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

This event runs until Friday.

**Oil-for-Food Update

We have the weekly report from the Iraq Programme showing the latest oil figures. In the week to 18 August -- that was last Friday -- Iraq exported 17.5 million barrels of oil, which generated revenue of $452 million.

The Security Council's Sanctions Committee on Iraq has approved another two contracts -- one with a Russian company for six million barrels of Basrah Light for Europe and Asia, and the second with a Panamanian company for 1.5 million barrels of Kirkuk for Europe. And if you know the difference between Kirkuk and Basrah Light, you're way ahead of me.

**Status of Contributions for United Nations Budgets Available

Available in our Office is the "Status of Contributions" Summary as of the end of July.

By that date, Member States owed the United Nations just over a paltry $3.2 billion dollars -- that includes about $744 million for the regular budget, just over $2.4 billion for the peacekeeping budget and there's another $73 million for the two international tribunals.

**Press Conferences

At 12:30 p.m. today, the Mission of Albania is sponsoring a press conference by Hashim Thaci, the Kosovo Albanian leader.

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And there is a press conference tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., Ambassador Vladislav Jovanovic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

That's all I have for you. Are there any questions on this nice quiet Monday?

**Question and Answer

Question: On the racks today, there is a statement from Belarus saying that there will be outside monitors for the upcoming elections there. Is the United Nations going to send anyone?

Spokesman: I'll have to check with our elections unit whether there's been a formal request from Belarus. I don't have that information yet. Check with me just after the briefing and we'll phone upstairs for you. [He later confirmed that the United Nations will have no role in the Belarus elections.]

Thanks very much.

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