DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
20001128The following is a near-verbatim transcript of todays noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Susan Markham, Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly.
Briefing by Spokesman for Secretary-General
**Middle East
Good afternoon. This morning the Secretary-General met with the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Peter van Walsum of the Netherlands, to brief him on the status of his ongoing efforts as mandated by the Security Council to get the Israelis and the Palestinians to agree to a possible international presence on the ground.
Yesterday afternoon, the Security Council met in a private meeting at the request of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
During this meeting the Council heard from the Foreign Ministers of Qatar, Senegal, Morocco and Iran as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of the OIC. They appealed to the Security Council for an international force to move in quickly to protect the Palestinians.
Immediately following that meeting, the Council met in another private meeting to hear from the Permanent Representative of Israel, Ambassador Yehuda Lancry.
At the conclusion of that meeting, the Council members gathered for an open meeting, during which they adopted resolution 1328 which extends the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights until May 31 of next year.
Also on the Middle East, the Secretary-Generals Report to the General Assembly on the Situation in the Middle East and the Question of Palestine is out.
In the report, the Secretary-General outlines the major events that have taken place relating to the Middle East since the Camp David summit hosted by the United States in July, and including his visit to the region in October and his presence at the summit of the OIC in Doha in November.
In the report, the Secretary-General states that the present crisis holds the potential for further escalation, with dangerous consequences for the entire region. It is therefore imperative that all efforts be made to curtail the current wave of violence and resume the peace process.
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He adds that "for its part the United Nations will continue to support the resumption of the peace process and to respond in an integrated way to the economic, social, humanitarian and other needs of the population in the West Bank and Gaza.
**Security Council
The Council this morning met in closed consultations during which they were briefed on the situation in Guinea-Bissau by Youssef Mahmoud, the Director of Africa II division in the Department of Political Affairs, after which a draft Presidential Statement was introduced on the situation in that country. Please note that tomorrow the Council will hold an open meeting on Guinea- Bissau, which will be attended by a delegation from that country headed by the Foreign Minister.
Later this morning the Council met in an open meeting on the situation in East Timor and were briefed by Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative in East Timor.
De Mello said that the United Nations is at a positive critical juncture beyond the emergency phase and beyond the start-up of UNTAET, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. We are now well advanced on the transition to independence, he said.
He added that it is now time to begin thinking about what type of international assistance East Timor might need once that independence has been attained.
This afternoon, Carolyn McAskie, acting head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will brief the Council on the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the constraints agencies are facing in trying to deliver aid to some 16 million war- affected people. You can read more about the humanitarian situation in the section on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the just issued Consolidated Appeals 2001.
**Iraq
On 22 November, Iraq State Oil Marketing Organization, or SOMO, submitted its oil pricing mechanism for December. On that same day, the United Nations oil overseers, having reviewed the pricing mechanism, advised the Security Councils Sanctions Committee on Iraq that the prices as submitted by SOMO did not represent a fair market value.
Based on the oil overseers advice, the Committee has been unable to accept the oil pricing mechanism for December, as proposed by Iraq. Subsequently, the oil overseers have asked Iraq to submit a revised oil pricing mechanism for December that reflects a fair market value.
The weekly figures from the Office of the Iraq Programme show that during the week leading to 24 November, Iraq exported 16.1 million barrels of oil, raising an estimated $464 million in revenue under the United Nations "oil-for- food" programme.
Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 28 November 2000Iraqs total oil exports in the current phase, which is phase eight, now stands at 359.9 million barrels for an estimated revenue of over $9.3 billion. Phase eight ends on 5 December, 2000.
Since the start of the Programme on 10 December 1996, Iraq has exported over 2,190 million barrels, bringing the estimated total revenue to more than $38.3 billion.
**SG Humanitarian Appeals
This morning, the Secretary-General launched the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals for the year 2001, in which he asked for $2.26 billion designed to alleviate suffering for more than 35 million vulnerable people around the world.
He noted that the amount the United Nations is asking for is less than the world spends on military purposes in a single day, and he added, Rest assured, the people on whose behalf I speak do not want handouts, they want a helping hand in their efforts to help themselves.
The theme of todays launch is Women and War, and the Secretary-General said that projects in the Consolidated Appeals focus on womens practical needs - including protection, food, health services and fuel wood - and also their strategic needs, such as their role in decision-making.
The Secretary-Generals speech is available in my office and the Consolidated Appeals can be found on the reliefweb web site.
**Côte dIvoire
For the upcoming December 10 parliamentary elections in Côte dIvoire, the United Nations Electoral Assistance unit will provide the coordination of international observers.
This coordination, which will be handled by three United Nations staff members, will include the preparation of observer manuals, the legal framework and code of conduct under which they will operate, and a plan for deployment. However, the United Nations will not undertake any logistical assistance for the observers.
As youll recall, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has just concluded a visit to Côte dIvoire, where he met with Government officials, opposition leaders and members of civil society.
**SG on UN Volunteers Year
This morning, in his address to the opening ceremony for the International Year of Volunteers, the Secretary-General said that volunteerism is the ultimate expression of what the United Nations is about, and he praised the work of United Nations Volunteers in areas from electoral assistance to providing information on AIDS.
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The Secretary-General noted that, earlier this year, he had asked the United Nations Volunteers to lead a United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) to help people in the developing world learn how to use the Internet and other information technology. So far, he said, 40 volunteers have already joined UNITeS and taken up assignments in developing countries.
We have the text of his speech available in my office. The International Year of Volunteers, meanwhile, is to last through 2001, and today's ceremony is continuing with more speeches and video messages in Conference Room 4.
**Haiti
In his latest report to the Security Council and General Assembly on the work of the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti, or MICAH, which is out on the racks today, the Secretary-General notes disturbing signs that political polarization is growing in that country.
The report, which covers events from mid-July through early November, and was completed on November 9, before last Sunday's elections, warns that Haiti's political and electoral crisis has deepened, and notes the increase in violent crime, which included the August 7 murder of a staff member of the United Nations Mission.
In the current climate, the Secretary-General says, "it will be necessary to devise new forms of technical assistance that might better allow the United Nations system to continue supporting the Haitian people." He adds, "in light of the conditions in Haiti, a renewal of the mandate of MICAH is not advisable." Accordingly, he recommends that the Mission be terminated when its mandate ends on February 6 of next year.
The United Nations system and the Friends of the Secretary-General for Haiti have already begun to discuss ways of designing a programme of assistance for Haiti that will take into account the country's political realities and its absorption capacity. The Secretary-General also stresses the urgent need for democratic governance, including a well-functioning multi-party system in Haiti.
**Democratic Republic of the Congo
The so-called Maputo II summit on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attended by six heads of State as well as the Secretary-Generals Special Representative Kamel Morjane, concluded on a positive note, with President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announcing that he would cease blocking deployment of United Nations observers trying to oversee a ceasefire agreement.
The lack of freedom of movement is one of several issues standing in the way of implementation of that accord, which was signed in Lusaka in July of last year. Other issues include the convening of the inter-Congolese dialogue, which is essential for a lasting peace in the country.
Morjane is expected to be in New York next week to assist the Secretary-General, who is considering what recommendations to place before the Security
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Council in his forthcoming report on the future of the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose mandate expires on 15 December.
**Climate Change Conference
We have a statement on the Climate Change Conference. I will read only parts of it, you can get the full text in my office.
The Secretary-General was closely following the negotiations at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which took place in The Hague last week, and is disappointed by their inconclusive outcome. He is deeply concerned that unresolved differences between governments may prevent the Kyoto Protocol from coming into force.
The Secretary-General urges governments to make every effort to bridge the gaps between them so that agreement can be reached at a resumed session of the Conference next year. The United Nations stands by ready to assist.
**Burundi
Today in Arusha, Tanzania, the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the Arusha Peace Agreement on Burundi held its first meeting, under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Berhanu Dinka.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Government of Burundi and 19 political parties, as well as six distinguished Burundi citizens appearing in their personal capacity. The United Nations, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), regional initiatives and the donor community are also represented in the Committee.
At today's meeting, the Committee discussed its rules of procedure, and it plans a second meeting tomorrow to discuss organizational matters. For the time being, the Committee's work will take place in Arusha, although it is expected eventually to move to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.
Today's meeting also coincided with the conclusion of the latest round of talks in Arusha organized by the Facilitator, former South African President Nelson Mandela.
**UNHCR
Todays United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) briefing note from Geneva includes updates on the situations in Serbia and Kosovo, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.
**Press Releases
And finally, press releases out today. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced that a review of the World Food Summit will take place during the next session of its Conference in November 2001. The
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World Food Summit: five years later will review the progress made in implementing the World Food Summit Plan of Action in which States pledged to cut by one half the number of the worlds hungry by 2015.
Three new sites have been added to the List of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, announced today that the City of Zabid in Yemen, the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary in Senegal, and the Fort and Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan, were inscribed on the list at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Cairns, Australia.
We also have two statements from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World AIDS Day, which will be observed on Friday with the theme of this years observances -- Men make a difference. In her statement, Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland urges men to take responsibility for preventing HIV by facing up to the realities of their actions.
Yes, well start with Robert.
Question: Fred, can you give us more details on the Iraqi oil pricing? Was the price about market rates and was that affected by the switch to the euro? Can you explain why its not a fair market price? Is it the first time this has happened that they have rejected the Iraqi mechanism?
Spokesman: I would like to direct all your questions to Benon Sevan or his shop. It's a highly technical thing as you know and I dont want to put my foot in it.
Question: What was the response of the Security Council to the OIC group? Is anything going to be done?
Spokesman: I think they listened to the Ministers in the private session yesterday. Every member of the Council, I believe, spoke. A number of the Ministers spoke at the stakeout when they came out afterwards. Unfortunately they spoke in Arabic, which might not have been helpful to some of you. And they did not then go ahead with their scheduled press conference at which there would have been translation, interpretation. To my knowledge that's as far as it goes.
Question: Just as a follow-up, the Secretary-General met with Ambassador van Walsum this morning. Any readout on where this is going? What kind of contact the Secretary-General is having?
Spokesman: I have really nothing to tell you. He told the Ambassador this morning that Israels position was as it was outlined to the private meeting of the Council yesterday, and as the Ambassador I think described it to you speaking at the stakeout after he briefed the Council. The Secretary- General considers this an ongoing process. His contacts with both parties will continue both here and through his Coordinator Terje Roed Larsen who is in the Middle East.
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Question: Fred, are you aware of reports that Senator Mitchell was opposed to sending observers? Can you clarify that?
Spokesman: I believe he told the press that he was referring this to President Clinton to discuss further, if he wished, with the Secretary-General. I dont believe his position as he stated it to the press yesterday was clearly for or against. I think he considers it a matter that would have to be discussed with the parties, and with the President or the Secretary of State of the United States as the mediator.
Question: I understand that Iraq has asked the United Nations to make available some oil-for-food money to finance the intifada, is that something you could comment on?
Spokesman: Im not aware of that. I havent seen that so I dare not comment.
Question: How significant is the announcement at Maputo by President Kabila about accepting peacekeepers? Are there still lots of things holding it up or would we soon see a timetable for the 5,000 going in?
Spokesman: I think we would like to accept the Presidents statement at face value, and I assume that we would test it out on the ground and we hope that our observers will be able to move freely around the country for the first time. And as I already mentioned, the Secretary-General and Kamel Morjane will be conferring leading up to the Secretary-Generals next report to the Council. Whether there will be time to test the Presidents new commitment before that report comes out or not, I cant say now.
Question: So really its just the 200 that are there at the moment?
Spokesman: Yes, we have not been able to move beyond that point because those 200 have not been able to do the jobs assigned to them. So the hope is that now they will be able to do some useful monitoring, observing.
Question: Fred, what is the position of the Secretary-General on the ongoing criticism, even from President Kostunica, that the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) should take responsibility for the situation that is developing now in parts of Kosovo?
Spokesman: The Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, has been talking with the Kosovo Force troops. I think everyone is concerned about attacks in southern Serbia launched from Kosovo. I think its the Kosovo Force's (KFOR) intention to be as tough as it can be in patrolling the demilitarized area in that part of Kosovo to see that these attacks dont continue.
Question: If the situation continues to develop in this direction, does UNMIK have any extra plan to address that?
Spokesman: Not beyond its areas of operation, but I think they feel that they can through with extra patrolling, tougher crackdown on arms caches in that
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part of Kosovo where they have recently made a number of discoveries and seized illegal arms, and that they can get the situation under control. They certainly want to because they consider it destabilizing if it should continue. Anything else? Sue?
Briefing by Spokeswoman for President of General Assembly
Thank you. This morning the General Assembly began its discussion on Assistance in Mine Action and we expect them to adopt a resolution on that today. As you know there are millions of unexploded mines and other devices around the world and the resolution looks at ways of providing assistance to clear these, among other things.
Tomorrow, we expect a number of resolutions to be taken up in the plenary, and to be acted on, including resolutions on a Zone of Peace in the South Atlantic, Culture of Peace, a draft on the outcome of the General Assemblys special session on follow-up to the Social Summit, and the Role of the United Nations in promoting a new Global Human Order.
And in the afternoon, the plenary is scheduled to take up the Question of Palestine.
Looking ahead on Thursday, the General Committee will meet to consider a request for an additional agenda item in this session of the General Assembly which is entitled Proclamation of 31 August as the International Day of Solidarity.
And on Friday, the plenary will take up the Question of the Role of Diamonds. They were supposed to discuss the report of the Third Committee; that is now going to happen on Monday afternoon. Thats all I have, thank you.
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