DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
20001204The following is a near-verbatim transcript of todays noon briefing by Fred Eckhardt, spokesman to the Secretary-General, and Susan Markham, spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly:
Briefing by the Spokesman of the Secretary-General
**Secretary-General in Sierra Leone
Good afternoon. The Secretary-General arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone early Saturday afternoon, where he told the waiting press, "We believe that peace in Sierra Leone is possible, and that if the people, the Government and the international community work together, we can bring peace to this land."
He met with the leadership and staff of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, urging them to "pull together as one".
He then met with the President of Sierra Leone, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who thanked him for all the United Nations was doing for the country, and also said that he was pleased that the Secretary-General was going to be travelling outside the capital. "Sierra Leone is not only Freetown," he said.
On Sunday, the Secretary-General travelled by helicopter inland to Port Loko, where the local United Nations commander told him this was the most volatile area controlled by United Nations troops. He visited a Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Camp, where more than 6,000 ex-combatants had been prepared for a return to civilian life. He then met with traditional leaders who awarded him the title of Honorary Paramount Chief, naming him Bai Bureh Kabbi II. The original Bai Bureh fought British colonial rule in the second half of the last century and was driven into what is today Ghana, the Secretary-General's home country.
Bai Bureh One's figure is on Sierra Leone's 1,000 leone note, and I have a sample here somewhere, if I haven't lost it. It looks like this, and the Secretary-General was given a hat that very much looks like this one, in honour of his new title.
The Secretary-General took this occasion to call on the rebel Revolutionary United Front "to demonstrate its commitment to peace."
He also visited a rehabilitation centre for ex-child combatants at Lakka, where he was visibly moved. The Centre, he said, had given a gift to children. It had given them back their childhood.
Back in Freetown, the Secretary-General gave a press conference. We have the transcript upstairs.
He flew last night to Cotonou, Benin, where today he addressed the Fourth International Conference on New and Restored Democracies. In that speech, the text of which was made available to you in advance, he concluded by quoting in
Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 4 December 2000
Akan a saying he had learned in his youth: "One head alone is not enough to decide." A press kit on the conference is also available in my office.
His scheduled meeting this afternoon with President Mathieu Kerekou was postponed, and if it's rescheduled, we'll let you know as soon as we get the details. We have written reports from Manuel, my deputy, who is with the Secretary-General, as well as a variety of transcripts, if you want a complete documentation of the trip thus far.
**Security Council
On the Security Council. They are meeting in closed consultations to first discuss the Programme of Work for this month. As you will recall, on Friday the Russian delegation took over the Presidency of the Council for the month of December. The second item on the Council's agenda is the presentation of the "Oil-for-Food" report by the Iraq Programme's Executive Director, Benon Sevan. After his presentation to the Council, Mr. Sevan will be available to take your questions at the stakeout position.
**Ethiopia and Eritrea
The first meeting of the Military Coordination Commission of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was successfully conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, over the weekend. The Commission is one of the main instruments for addressing the military concerns of the parties and for consultation with them on the activities of the peacekeeping mission.
At the first meeting, the delegations from Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed to further the process of improving freedom of movement for UNMEE personnel. Specifically, two additional land routes are now scheduled to be open on Thursday of this week. In addition, both parties have agreed to begin as soon as possible the process of providing the United Nations Mission with information on known and suspected minefields.
As for the Eritrean announcement of the signing of a peace accord on 12 December, the United Nations, as of now, has received no official confirmation.
If confirmed, this is indeed a positive development, and we would welcome it. As you know, the Secretary-General is visiting both countries starting tomorrow.
**Cyprus
Alvaro de Soto, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus arrived on the island yesterday for what he called periodic visits to keep in touch with both leaders.
This morning, Mr. de Soto met with His Excellency Glafcos Clerides and later in the day, he will meet with His Excellency Rauf Denktash.
We expect Mr. de Soto to hold a Press Conference tomorrow in Nicosia.
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**Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, will deliver the keynote address at the annual conference of the Washington Chapter of the Society for International Development. That would take place this afternoon.
The address on the theme of "Global Development" will focus on globalization, conflict, HIV/AIDS and the environment as issues affecting development, and which were identified at the Millennium Summit as being key areas of concern. The full text of the address, which is embargoed until 12:30 today is available in my office.
**World Conference Against Racism
The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Americas for the World Conference Against Racism starts today in Santiago, Chile, and will end on Thursday.
Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will make a statement there tomorrow. Representatives from Member States from the Americas will discuss issues such as victims of racism, measures of prevention, recourse and address, as well as strategies to achieve full equality. The delegates will also discuss a draft declaration and programme of action to be adopted next year at the World Conference Against Racism, which will take place in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September.
**Press Releases
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has launched an appeal for $207 million as part of last week's Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal to protect children in 19 crisis zones from disease, starvation and exploitation. The sum is about one quarter of UNICEF's overall spending which, Executive Director Carol Bellamy said, indicated their commitment to tackling the toughest problems.
We have a press release with more information.
In another press release, the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention today announced the launch of its redesigned web site. The web site can be found at and features a rotating storyboard on the home page and is linked to the Office's 22 field and liaison office web sites.
Today's briefing notes from Kosovo and East Timor are also available. That's all I have for you. Questions before we go to Sue, if any? Over to you, Sue.
Briefing by the Spokeswoman for the President of General Assembly
Thank you. In the plenary this morning, there was the introduction of two draft resolutions concerning the Situation in Central America, in particular, the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala and procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development. Under the terms of this draft, the mandate for the Verification Mission in Guatemala would be renewed until the end
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of next year. Action on the two drafts will be taken later, once they have been reviewed for budgetary implications.
Scheduled this morning was action on a resolution that was first introduced last week on Assistance in Mine Action, but action on this was also deferred to a later date.
This morning, Mr. Holkeri opened the Pledging Conference for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This is the only United Nations programme that is a direct subsidiary of the General Assembly. It was established nearly 51 years ago and is a lifeline for almost four million Palestinian refugees.
Mr. Holkeri, in his statement, which is available upstairs in the Spokesman's Office, drew attention to the fact that UNRWA is facing chronic under- funding. For the next year, its regular budget cash requirements are around $311 million. The UNRWA is also lacking working capital and is looking for a minimum amount of $25 million early in January next year in order to continue its operations.
Yesterday was the International Day of Disabled Persons and in a statement issued by the President of the General Assembly, he emphasized the importance of equal rights and opportunities for disabled persons. The full text is available in the Spokesman's Office.
This afternoon, the plenary will have a very busy time. It's taking up 13 reports of the Third Committee. This is all the action from the Third Committee. The resolutions will deal with social development, older persons, crime, drug control, the advancement of women, refugees, children, indigenous people, racism, self-determination and human rights.
This morning, the Credentials Committee met for the second time this session, and I understand that it has recommended that the credentials for Somalia be accepted by the General Assembly. I understand that the report will be out tomorrow and will be taken up by the General Assembly this week.
Also, I understand the Working Group for the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations is nearing completion of its report on the Brahimi report. So we can expect that to be made public and be discussed in the Fourth Committee, hopefully this week.
Today, the President of the General Assembly is hosting a luncheon in the West Terrace at the beginning of the Finnish Food Festival, which is running in the Delegates Lounge until 15 December, a little commercial break here. He is giving a second luncheon tomorrow also. On the menu is venison. I'm told, I'm assured, that it's certainly not Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. That's all I have for you. Thank you.
Spokesman: Questions? Thank you very much.
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