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
20001212The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Susan Markham, Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly.
Briefing by the Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General
Good afternoon. I'll start with an announcement in response to a question that we've gotten over the past several days: the Secretary-General will hold his year-end news conference on Tuesday, 19 December, at 11 a.m.
**Secretary-General Calls Ethiopia, Eritrea Peace Agreement Victory for "Voice of Reason"
The Secretary-General today welcomed the signing in Algiers of the peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea as a "victory for the voice of reason, for the power of diplomacy and for the recognition that neither one of those countries -- nor the continent as a whole -- can afford another decade, another year another day of conflict".
Speaking at the signing ceremony just a few hours ago, the Secretary- General said that already nearly 1,800 United Nations troops and military observers are in place in Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the number to grow to more than 4,000 peacekeepers in the weeks ahead. He also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis facing both countries, with hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons requiring emergency assistance.
The Secretary-General should be departing Algiers about now to fly back to Rome. Earlier this morning he had been in Palermo, Italy, where he addressed the opening session of the signing conference of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
There, he warned the heads of State and Government gathered for the ceremony of the forces of "uncivil society" -- including terrorists, criminals, and drug and human traffickers -- who can undo the good work of civil society. He said that the Convention being signed at Palermo would provide a new tool to address the scourge of crime as a global problem, and urged all States to ratify the Convention at the earliest possible date.
The Secretary-General also announced that 25 per cent of the value of all Italian confiscation of illicit assets would be donated to the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. Before leaving for Algiers, he also greeted the President of Italy, wishing him a happy birthday.
The Algiers and Palermo trips are among the last stops of the Secretary- General's recent travels, which have also included stops in Geneva, Sierra Leone, Benin, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Secretary-General intends to spend tonight in Rome and is expected to fly back to New York tomorrow.
Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 12 December 2000
**Jacques Klein Briefs Security Council on UNMIBH and Mission's Future
The Security Council is meeting in an "open" session this morning on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Council members will hear a briefing by Jacques Klein, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Bosnia and head of the United Nations Mission there (UNMIBH).
Mr. Klein told the Council of the Mission's achievements and informed them of his planning for the future. Among the accomplishments, he underlined the return of refugees and displaced persons in the first 10 months of this year. "In the first 10 months of this year", he said, "over 46,000 minorities have registered, twice the number of last year". He added that some of these returns are taking place in areas with a difficult history such as Srebrenica, Prijedor and Zepa.
Mr. Klein also pointed out that full freedom of movement within the country, which is now taken for granted, has facilitated commerce and the restoration of normal links.
Turning towards the future, he said the progress already made has enabled him to think about an end-point. We have prepared, he said, as an internal and evolving document, a plan for the completion of our core mandate in a two- year time frame.
The full text of his comments is available upstairs and he will be available to journalists after the completion of the Councils session.
Under the format agreed upon for this meeting, the Council will also hear from the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, at todays session, Senator Joseph Biden represents the United States.
In the afternoon, the Council will gather for closed consultations to discuss a draft resolution, sponsored by China, on the renewal of the peacekeeping mandate in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and a draft resolution, sponsored by the United States, welcoming todays signing of a peace treaty between Ethiopia and Eritrea, to which we just referred.
Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan
Also this morning, the Security Councils Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan is meeting to listen to a briefing by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the implications of the United Nations operations in the country. This is the report on the implications of the current sanctions on Afghanistan. The Office has said that it will make its report on the subject available to the press following the completion of the Sanctions Committee meeting.
**Notes from Afghanistan: Vendrell Highlights Meeting Between Taliban and United Front
Also on Afghanistan, we have a briefing note from the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, who has been in Turkmenistan since the weekend.
Mr. Vendrell says that on Sunday evening, at an informal Iftar - the fast-breaking evening meal during the holy month of Ramadan -- he had an unexpected opportunity for a general exchange of views between the Taliban and the United Front, both of whom had representatives in Turkmenistan for ceremonies marking the fifth anniversary of the proclamation of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the delegations of the Taliban and the United Front in over a year, and while not an official session of the process of dialogue, it was held within the framework of the agreement signed by the two parties last month, on which Mr. Vendrell briefed you.
Meanwhile, from the field, intensified fighting in northeastern Afghanistan combined with drought, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has driven the largest group of Afghan refugees into Pakistan since the Taliban took Kabul in 1996. The current total is 47,000 since September.
**Notes from West Africa: Secretary-General "Gravely Concerned" by Situation in Guinea
I have this statement attributable to the Spokesman on Guinea:
The Secretary-General continues to follow with grave concern the situation in Guinea. He condemns the brutal attack on the town of Kissidougou on 10 December and deeply regrets the loss of innocent lives and the displacement of thousands of Guinean civilians. The Secretary-General has asked Oluyemi Adeniji, his Special Representative in Sierra Leone, to travel to Guinea and Liberia as his Special Envoy. Mr. Adeniji will assess the situation on the ground and make recommendations to the Secretary-General on how best the United Nations could help the governments concerned, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to stabilize the situation.
Along with the Secretary-General's statement, I have two updates from the field in West Africa:
On Guinea, the Office of the UNHCR reports that it is still trying to establish the whereabouts of two security guards missing since the attack on UNHCRs Gueckedou office last Wednesday. The refugee agency also draws attention to the fact that attacks over the past 10 days have been reported further and further inside Guinea, including fighting in the town of Kissidougou in southwestern Guinea on Sunday, sending tens of thousands of refugees as well as local people into flight.
On Sierra Leone, since the meeting last Friday between the force commander of the United Nations mission Lt. General Daniel Opande and the interim leader of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Issa Sessay, the RUF has opened road between the towns of Magburaka and Mile 91. The United Nations Mission (UNAMSIL) says civilian traffic has been noticed on the road and sees this development as a positive sign.
Tomorrow, the Force Commander will travel to Magburaka to recover equipment that had been stolen by the RUF from the United Nations Mission, as was promised by the interim leader in last weeks meeting.
**Update from the Office of the Iraq Programme
The Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP), in its weekly update, informs that Iraqs suspension of its oil exports under the United Nations "oil-for-food" programme continues into the 12th day. The Security Councils sanctions committee, on the advice of the United Nations oil overseers, on 8 December approved the pricing mechanism for the sale of Iraqi oil for the month of December. The Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) had submitted a revised December pricing mechanism on 7 December.
Also, yesterday, 11 December, the Memorandum of Understanding of May 1996 was formally extended between the United Nations Secretariat and the Government of Iraq for an additional 180 days. The extension covers the current Phase IX, which came into effect on 6 December. Iraq has not given an explanation for the continuing suspension of its oil exports.
There are 56 approved contracts for almost 77 million barrels of oil under Phase VIII that remain pending. The validity of these contracts is being extended on a case-by-case basis by the oil overseers at the request of the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization and the buyers.
The full text of the weekly update from the Office of the Iraq Programme is available in the Spokesman's Office.
**Missing UNOMIG Observers "Alive and Well," Georgian Authorities Report
Georgian authorities today have informed the United Nations of their efforts to contact parties who are believed to have taken hostage two military observers, belonging to the United Nations Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), who have been missing since they were patrolling the Kodori Valley on Sunday.
The Georgian authorities have reported that the two United Nations military observers are alive and well. Efforts are continuing to secure their prompt release.
**Secretary-General Welcomes Ukraine Governments Decision to Close Chernobyl
We have a statement attributable to the Spokesman on Chernobyl:
The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Government of Ukraine to close the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on 15 December, as an important step towards achieving global nuclear safety. He thanks all parties who have worked towards the decommissioning of the plant, and hopes that continued support will be provided to help Ukraine alleviate the economic and social problems stemming from the plant closure.
On this historic occasion, the Secretary-General appeals to all Governments to give nuclear safety the highest priority, so as to prevent any recurrence of this kind of disaster.
You can get the full text, including some background information, in the Spokesman's Office.
**Notes from East Timor: UNTAET Staffer Injured in Satisfactory Condition after Grenade Attack
Last night in East Timor, an Australian peacekeeper from the United Nations Mission (UNTAET) was injured by what is believed to have been a grenade thrown at a United Nations position. Private Chris Carter suffered minor shrapnel wounds from the grenade attack, which took place at Aidabaleten, about 60 kilometres west of Dili. He was immediately brought by helicopter to the United Nations Military Hospital in Dili, and his condition is described as satisfactory.
The United Nations Mission has launched an investigation into the incident. Two suspects have been apprehended.
Tomorrow, the Mission will present to the East Timor Cabinet a draft proposal for setting up an East Timor Commission of Truth and Reconciliation. Once that proposal is endorsed by the Cabinet, it can be brought to the National Council for debate and approval.
For further details, please see today's briefing notes from Dili.
**Donor Conference on Burundi Concludes Today
On Burundi: The International Donors Conference on Burundi is wrapping up in Paris today.
The conference, hosted by President Jacques Chirac of France, is being held under the co-chairmanship of Nelson Mandela, facilitator of the Burundi peace process, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP). Also attending are major donors as well as representatives of the Burundian governments and the parties signatory to the 28 August Arusha accords.
A wrap-up press conference will be held in Paris shortly to announce the results of the conference.
Thats all I have for you today. Are there any questions before we go to Sue?
**Questions and Answers
Question: Has the Secretary-General received a 7 December letter by six members of the United States Congress regarding a Cuban political prisoner?
Associate Spokesman: I don't have an information on that now but I'll look into it and get back to you.
Question: When is the Security Council set to take up the latest draft on the proposed embargo against the Taliban?
Associate Spokesman: As far as I know, there's been no date set for the vote. As I mentioned, the Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan is meeting today to discuss the implications of the current sanctions on the country. That is one of the steps, then I believe the group of experts will meet before the Council discusses how to proceed on that resolution.
Question: What's the latest, if anything, on the possible steps to move United Nations out of Afghanistan when the sanctions are imposed?
Associate Spokesman: I can tell you that, earlier today, our Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan said that despite existing security arrangements, if additional sanctions are enacted it is likely that the risk to United Nations personnel, premises and property might increase. If this were to be the case, the United Nations would be compelled to reduce the numbers of staff in the field, or even to evacuate international staff.
Briefing by the Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly
Good Afternoon. President Harri Holkeri presided over the General Assembly as it took action on the reports of the Sixth Committee (Legal). There were some 15 resolutions adopted by the Assembly, one on measures to eliminate international terrorism was adopted by a recorded vote of 151 in favour, with none against and 2 abstentions (Lebanon and Syria). Following the adoption of the resolution, there were a number of explanations of vote, as well as some rights of reply.
This morning, the General Assembly decided that the date of recess for its current session would be Friday, 22 December. As I mentioned yesterday, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) is expected to conclude on 20 December. This is why the plenary will not finish until the 22nd.
We also have some schedule changes that were announced in the plenary this morning. Thursday morning, 14 December, the plenary will take action on resolutions relating to humanitarian assistance. The following Tuesday, 19 December, it will take up emergency assistance to Afghanistan, originally scheduled for Friday.
Also this morning, Mr. Holkeri announced the re-appointment of two co- chairs for the Open-ended Consultative Process on Oceans and law of the Sea. The Co-chairs are Ambassador Tuiloma Slade (Samoa) and Mr. Alan Simcock (United
Daily Press Briefing - 7 - 12 December 2000
Kingdom). The second meeting of this consultative process is to be held 7 to 11 May next year in New York.
Following this mornings meeting of the plenary, the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on Security Council Reform met to agree to the appointment of two Co-chairs, Ambassador Thosteinn Ingolfsson (Iceland) and Ambassador John de Saram (Sri Lanka). The working group will meet next year.
As I mentioned yesterday, the Fifth Committee will take up the Brahimi report on peacekeeping operations this afternoon. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) report on this is available. The Fifth Committee will also take up the issue of safety and security of United Nations personnel. The ACABQ report on this is also available.
Tomorrow, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Assembly President Holkeri will chair an informal dialogue for the Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on information and communications technology and development.
A reminder that coming up sometime next week will be the reports of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial). As soon as the exact date is set for the Assembly's action on those reports, I'll let you know.
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