DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by

Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Thanks for waiting.

** Kabila and the DRC

Although signs increasingly point to the death of President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Government has not officially confirmed this.  And although a number of you have been pressing us to release a statement, we won’t do so until the situation is clarified.

According to the latest reports, the city of Kinshasa, the capital, is calm, and all United Nations personnel there are safe and accounted for.

** DRC Report

The interim report of the Expert Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been transmitted to the Security Council by the Secretary-General.

The report said one of the most serious problems facing the Panel is the paucity of detailed and reliable information, including statistics, as to the nature, extent, location, yield and value of the natural resources of the Congo. Decades of government neglect, mismanagement and corruption make it almost impossible to establish a precise and impartial picture, it said.  Mines and other sources of natural wealth are remote and heavily guarded and cloaked by an atmosphere of lawlessness, violence and fear, according to the report.

The report lists the countries, the Panel members visited and the people they met.

The Panel requests a three month extension to complete the report, until mid-June this year, citing a number of challenges such as the complexity of the situation, the vast territories involved, the multiplicity of the actors involved, the difficulties of travel and communications, the lack of cooperation and security risks.

** Depleted Uranium Warning

Today, a letter will be going out to all United Nations staff advising them of the potential health risks of exposure to depleted uranium and advising them not to handle any remnants of armaments.

The Organization is carefully monitoring the situation, it says, and will review the World Health Organization (WHO) report when it comes out next month, at which time it will take whatever additional action may be required.

The text of the letter is available in my Office.

In a press release issued late yesterday, the United Nations Environment Programme reports that early laboratory results have confirmed that debris found at sites targeted by NATO in Kosovo in 1999 contained Uranium 236.  Some

340 samples of depleted uranium are being analysed for toxicity and radioactivity in five European laboratories.

** Security Council

This morning, the Security Council began its work with closed consultations on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, on which it is receiving a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi on the Secretary-General's latest report, which was issued yesterday.

In terms of the latest developments there, the United Nations Mission announced today that it is at present unable to make further flights on the high-altitude air access route between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Asmara, Eritrea, that had been opened on Monday of this week.  Instead, the Mission had had to resume its previous practice of using flights that cut across Djibouti, following difficulties in obtaining an agreement by both Governments on a direct route it can use between both capitals.

After the consultations on Ethiopia and Eritrea conclude, the Council will wrap up its discussion on Angola, begun last Friday, in which it had received a briefing from the Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa, Ibrahim Gambari.  Gambari will be on hand to respond to any questions and comments from Council members.

Then the Council expects to have a briefing, probably again by Mr. Annabi, to update the members on the latest developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

** East Timor

The Secretary-General's latest report on the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, covering events involving that Mission since last July, has gone to the Security Council and is now available upstairs.

In it, the Secretary-General notes that the United Nations Mission will be fully responsible for the conduct of elections in East Timor, and he outlines a political transition there that would include the formation of a Constituent Assembly, which could become the first legislature of the independent State of East Timor.  He also draws attention to the concerted effort over the past six months to accelerate the transfer of authority to the Timorese, including the work of the all-Timorese National Council and the Timorese-majority Cabinet.

Although he says that the goal of reaching independence before the end of this year is "ambitious and leaves little room for technical and political delays", the Secretary-General adds that the United Nations will do all it can to achieve it.  He notes that, even after independence, East Timor will still require international support, including the possible maintenance of what is now the United Nations Mission's military component until an East Timor Defence Force can be fully established.

The question of security, however, remains a matter of concern, with the Secretary-General reiterating the need by the Government of Indonesia to disband militia groups and to ensure safety and security in the refugee camps in West Timor.

On other news on East Timor, the Transitional Cabinet for East Timor today approved two draft regulations.  The first would provide for the creation of a Defence Force for East Timor and the second would establish an interim registry for political parties and rules by which political parties may register and nominate candidates to be elected to the Constituent Assembly.  We have further details on the draft regulations in today's briefing notes from East Timor.

** El Salvador

A United Nations Interagency assessment mission began its work today in El Salvador.  The mission will work closely with the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team and the Government to quantify the level of needs and the number of beneficiaries.

The World Food Programme continues to provide food aid, including cooked meals to the most vulnerable victims of the earthquake.  It has supplies to last for 15 days and will shortly launch an appeal for the food and rehabilitation needs for the next three to six months.  We have a press release with more information upstairs.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is mobilizing to assist national authorities in coping with the effects of the earthquake on the agricultural sector.  In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies, FAO is helping to identify the needs of farmers affected by the disaster and provide the assistance and resources needed to get them back on their feet.

** Afghanistan

United Nations Flight Operations in Afghanistan made an emergency flight yesterday to evacuate an injured Afghan de-miner from Khost in the east of the country.  The Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan reports that the de-miner was following standard procedure in removing an anti-personnel mine containing 210 grammes of high explosives, when it exploded, causing serious injuries to his face and head.

The de-miner was evacuated when his condition deteriorated.  Paramedics accompanying the de-mining team originally diagnosed the injuries as serious but not warranting emergency evacuation.  The flight to Khost was the first by a United Nations plane in two years.

In the weekly update from Afghanistan, we have news that the WHO has been distributing supplies to various health facilities throughout the country and the FAO has distributed improved wheat seed and fertilizer to farmers in the Khandahar and Helmand provinces.  In response to the drought situation, the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements has assisted in the repair of the water supply network and has improved 20 wells in Kabul.

** Mongolia

Carolyn McAskie, Emergency Relief Coordinator, a.i., said at a press briefing today in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, that the Appeal, scheduled for Friday for emergency assistance to Mongolia, will now be put off until next week.  Ms. McAskie said she was grateful to the Government of Mongolia for the support they provided in the aftermath of the helicopter accident last weekend.  Also present at the briefing was the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative who thanked the herders of Uvs province, where the accident took place, for their hospitality in helping to care for the survivors of the accident.

** Budget

This morning five more Member States paid their regular budget dues for 2001 in full.  We got cheques from Australia (when I say cheques, this is euphemistically speaking.  They are usually electronic transfers of funds).  We had payments from Australia worth over $16 million, the Czech Republic for over $1.1 million, Malta with more than $155,000, Nauru with more than $10,000 and Slovakia with more than $424,000.  That makes 20 governments paid in full.  How many days more to the end of January?  We’ll see how much we can get by the end of the month –- it’s a 30-day payment period from the time we send out the letters notifying governments of their dues before they go into arrears.

** Shashi Tharoor

As you know, the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Mr. Kensaku Hogen, has been recalled to the service of the Government of Japan.  The Secretary-General thanks him for his invaluable contribution to the work of the United Nations and wishes him every success in the future.  Upon Mr. Hogen's departure from New York on 25 January, the Secretary-General has asked Shashi Tharoor, the Director of Communications and Special Projects in his Executive Office, to assume charge of the Department of Public Information until a permanent successor to Mr. Hogen is appointed.  That’s all I have for you.  Any questions for me?

** Questions and Answers

Question:  What is the Congolese Government telling the United Nations? Has Annan been in touch with any one?  Can you tell us about any of his communications with regard to this, and what is the United Nations doing in the interim?

Spokesman:  We’re hunkering down.  We have asked all our staff to stay in their homes.  It is essentially what various governments are telling their nationals.  It is quiet, as has been reported, in Kinshasa.  Kamel Morjane, the Special Representative, has been in contact with a number of Government officials, but I think, we still don’t have a clear sense of what has taken place, and that is why we’re refraining from saying anything.

Question:  [Follow-up question inaudible.]

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General was in the air for six hours this morning, our time.  He should have touched down at Yaounde, Cameroon by now for the France-Africa summit.  We have been in touch with him since yesterday, and of course reporting on these developments.  Knowing how he operates, I’m sure he has been on the phone talking to as many people as he can.  He did not say anything before he left Paris this morning.  I have not talked to him directly, and so we are not aware that he has reacted in any way to the events.

Question:  Do you have any updates with regard to the Cyprus proximity talks or a visit by Mr. de Soto to the region?

Spokesman:  No.  I think you have been asking me about the possible impact on these talks about a number of statements that had been made and the positions that had been taken.  We are not prepared, as yet, to say that there will not be another round of proximity talks.  But the Secretary-General has asked Mr. de Soto to go to the region to attempt to clarify the position of the parties to see whether indeed more shuttle diplomacy by him is needed before another round of proximity talks can be held.  So we don’t yet now know whether talks will take place, but we do know that Mr. de Soto will be going, and, as of yesterday, he still did not have specific dates.  So as soon as he gives us the dates, we’ll pass them on to you.

Question:  You said all is quiet, and I think, you’re referring to Kinshasa?

Spokesman:  Yes, Kinshasa.

Question:  So, I think my question refers to other parts of the country.  Are there any reports that some of the military players may be trying to take advantage or not, depending on, I guess, what has happened really…?

Spokesman:  We have people in 13 other locations outside of Kinshasa, in the country.  We have, in the last several days, been picking up reports of intensified military activity.  We were concerned that we would see fresh fighting before this incident took place in Kinshasa yesterday.  I have not seen in any of the reporting from the mission, as of this morning, reports that there has been any military activity outside of the capital connected to this incident.

Question:  The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea opened a high-altitude direct flight between their two capitals.  Did the Mission receive official approval from the two Governments for the flights?  The Secretary-General’s report says the problem connected with the flights had been resolved. What has happened?

Spokesman:  We did get approvals from the Governments to conduct the flights which we announced on Monday.  The report reflects the situation as of

that point, and that was a very positive development from our point of view.  Then objections had been raised and further flights had not been possible.  And those details were conveyed orally to the Council this morning.  So, yes, there was approval for initial flights.  At this point, we don’t have approval for continuing high-altitude flights directly between the two capitals.  Our hope is we could get both sides to agree to permanently open this air route which would be very convenient to us and an important step in the peace process.

Question:  Has there been any explanations why they weren’t permitted?

Spokesman:  I don’t want to get into the details of the exchanges we have had with the authorities, other than to say that they raised some objections.

Question:  How many people do you have in the Congo (Inaudible)?

Spokesman:  Several hundred.  I don’t have the numbers including all of the agencies’ personnel.  There are over a hundred in Kinshasa, and I believe about a hundred in 13 other locations in the country.  I don’t have a precise total.  Thank you very much.

Correspondent:  It’s the first time this year that I have seen you and I should like to thank you publicly -- you and your staff.  I’m sure my colleagues will join me in thanking you for the enormously helpful efforts you have made on our behalf in the past year.  Thanks a lot.

Spokesman:  Thank you, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels.  And so we have sent out those questionnaires for your ideas on how we can improve our service, and I’m still waiting to hear from some of you.  I think we have got about eight or nine responses so far and one box of chocolates.  So

10 responses, I think.

Correspondent:  We have a feeling of satisfaction.

Spokesman:  Okay, thank you very much.

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