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

This is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

I understand we have some visiting journalists from India.  Welcome to the briefing.  Good Afternoon.

**Violence in Israel and Palestinian Territories

The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman, concerning the current violence in the Middle East:

"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned at the further escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. He reiterates his condemnation of terrorism from whatever quarter.  At the same time, the Secretary-General remains strongly opposed to the excessive use of force by Israeli security forces.

"The Secretary-General once again calls on both sides to exercise maximum restraint.  He is particularly distressed by the killing of young children and other civilians, which he condemns in the strongest possible terms.

"The Secretary-General notes that both sides have, in the past weeks, expressed their willingness to implement the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings.  It is now urgent that they do so.  He regrets that continuing violence and increasingly harsh rhetoric on both sides have obscured some limited, positive steps taken by them before the violence of the last few days.  He calls for an urgent resumption of political dialogue, since only a political settlement between the two sides can ensure peace and security for both."

You can get the text of that upstairs.

**Security Council

The Security Council has a heavy agenda for today, and it is possible that consultations that started this morning will go on during the afternoon.

The first item was Sierra Leone.  Dmitry Titov, Director of the Africa Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, briefed the Council and introduced the report of the Secretary-General.  The United Kingdom introduced a draft resolution, which Council members are yet to discuss.  The draft calls for an increase in the size of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to 17,500 troops and an extension of the Mission’s mandate for six months.  As you know, the Mission’s mandate expires on Saturday.

Guinea Bissau is the second item on the agenda.  Youssef Mahmoud, Director of the Africa II Division at the Department of Political Affairs, will introduce the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in that country. 

And then the last two items are Bougainville and Somalia.  Danilo Turk, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, will brief the Council on both.

On Bougainville, Mr. Turk will tell the Council about the status of the talks between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainvillean parties that are currently under way in Port Moresby, the capital.

**Somalia

On Somalia, Mr. Turk is expected to discuss the security situation in that country, which was highlighted this week by the abduction of seven United Nations staff members in Mogadishu.

The United Nations has repeatedly assessed the security situation in Somalia, and found that, for now, security concerns remain strong, complicating prospects for any quick return of a United Nations peace-building presence in the country.  The United Nations is still continuing its planning, however, so that, once security permits, it can present proposals for peace-building efforts in Somalia to the Security Council.

We don't have anything new to report on the four United Nations staff members who are still detained and believed to be held by a militia group in Mogadishu.  The group is still believed to be held by a militia group in Mogadishu.  The group is still believed to be held by Musa Sudi Yalahow, and the United Nations is continuing efforts to obtain their safe and speedy release.

**Secretary-General Begins Official Visit to Switzerland

The Secretary-General this morning travelled by train from Zurich to Bern, the Swiss capital, where he met with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Moritz Leuenberger, and other members of the Federal Council.  They spent

90 minutes for a review of world issues and of Switzerland's relations with the United Nations.

After that meeting, he and the President had a brief encounter with the press.  Asked about the United Nations aid workers abducted in Somalia, the Secretary-General said, "I have lots of admiration and courage for those colleagues of mine who go to difficult and distant places around the world to help the poor and needy.  They do not deserve to be treated this way."  The full transcript of the exchange will be available in the course of the afternoon.

After a luncheon hosted by the Federal Council, the Secretary-General and the President travelled by car to the town of Biel, where students at the Biel School of Engineering and Architecture demonstrated environmentally friendly projects such as solar-powered vehicles, and asked questions on a variety of topics.

This evening, the Secretary-General is to be the President's guest over dinner before attending a concert in his honour.  And then he'll travel overland, or if weather permits by helicopter, to Geneva, where tomorrow he will address the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

**Democratic Republic of Congo

Today, the disengagement process that began two weeks ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ended, and the United Nations Mission in that country started its verification mission, which is expected to last for the next 56 days. You'll recall that the parties agreed to pull back their forces 15 kilometres from lines of withdrawal, with United Nations monitors on hand to observe their disengagement.

The Mission has some positive news about the disengagement process, verifying the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma) from the town of Pweto in the east; the Government of the DRC has also been observed staying away from Pweto.  There has also been substantial Rwandan and RCD withdrawal from Kabinda, and the DRC Government claims to have withdrawn across the Ubangi River in the north.  However, the United Nations Mission hasn't yet observed a withdrawal of government and allied forces from Kananga, in the south-central province of Kasai.

Meanwhile, the rebel Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) has attached conditions to the withdrawal of its forces, asking for United Nations forces to move into territories that the rebels vacate to protect civilians there and also seeking progress in the inter-Congolese dialogue.

The United Nations Mission is now proceeding with its verification efforts, and the Security Council expects to receive a briefing from the Secretariat tomorrow on the latest developments in the DRC, including the withdrawals.

**Kosovo

Fighting has been taking place in the northern part of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in recent days, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that more than 170 people fled across snowy mountains yesterday to arrive in Kosovo.

Since Monday, the UNHCR says, more than 4,000 people have crossed into Kosovo from FYROM over the mountains, and have been welcomed by host families on their arrival.  The UNHCR is currently interviewing the new arrivals, who said they have fled because of the recent shelling.  Many fear returning to their homes, saying that they think the fighting is not over.

As of tonight, the UNHCR is maintaining a 24-hour presence at the Kosovo Force (KFOR) border post near the border in order to respond quickly to night-time arrivals from the FYROM.  Since the fighting began, the UNHCR says that some 40,000 Macedonians have left their homes, with more than 21,000 travelling to other parts of FYROM and 8,000 coming to Kosovo.

The Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, is in Pristina today, where she met with the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup.  We have more details on her visit and on the refugee situation in today's briefing notes from Pristina.

**Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The annual meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs closed this afternoon in Vienna.  The 53-member body called on nations to give renewed priority to drug- abuse prevention and rehabilitation.  It also called on the United Nations to do more to help Member States combat the rising tide of amphetamine-type stimulants while continuing efforts to reduce both the supply of and demand for illicit drugs.

The Commission also placed three so-called “party drugs” and one sedative under the control regime of the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances.  It also decided to tighten the watch over two common chemicals that are often diverted into illicit channels for processing heroin and cocaine.

In his concluding remarks, Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the United Nations Drug Control Programme, said that to continue strengthening the Programme’s performance there would be changes in its work methods, financial management system and use of systematic evaluation of project results.  We have a press release from Vienna if you want more details.

**Afghanistan

The latest report on human rights in Afghanistan by special rapporteur Kamal Hossain has been issued, and it is available on the United Nations Web site for Afghanistan.  You can get the URL in my Office.

The report highlights developments over the past year, including credible reports that Taliban forces massacred ethnic Uzbeks in Samagan province last May and conducted summary executions upon retaking Yakawlang this January.  The report also notes the United Nations sanctions on the Taliban, saying that "care should be taken to ensure that implementation of the sanctions does not, in any way, impair or affect the economic and social rights of ordinary Afghan women, men and children".

**Hunger in Sudan

The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned of an emerging food crisis in the Sudan with some 3 million facing hunger caused by drought and conflict.  With current supplies due to run out in April, the WFP is appealing for $135 million to provide assistance for the next 12 months. 

At a press conference in London, Masoor Hyder, WFP Country Director for the Sudan, said parts of the country are experiencing the driest season in living memory and the largest dam in Darfur state is completely dry for the first time since its construction in 1947.  Rains are due in July, but even with enough rain to sustain crops, a harvest cannot be expected before October.  He added there will be a disaster in the Sudan unless food arrives in time.

**Press Releases

I have a few press releases to flag for you today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today announced a joint initiative to cut in half global deaths from measles by 2005.  There are over 20 million cases and nearly 900,000 deaths annually from measles even though effective immunization costs just 26 cents and has been available for more than 30 years.  Vaccination coverage levels need to be above 90 per cent to stop measles deaths, and not all countries have achieved this level.  The new initiative will provide vaccinations, establish an effective monitoring and surveillance system and improve management of complicated measles cases.

Then, the WHO has issued new guidelines for the control of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, at a meeting of tuberculosis specialists in London today. The WHO is piloting a new initiative known as “DOTS-Plus” (DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse) and the guidelines will assist in projects in South America, eastern Europe, the Russian Federation and South-East Asia.

And finally, Catherine Bertini, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Drought in the Greater Horn of Africa, arrived in Addis Ababa today at the start of a four-day visit.  She is expected to meet with Ethiopian government officials, relief agencies and donors to review the humanitarian situation there.

**DPI Announcement

The Department of Public Information (DPI) and the United Nations Society of Writers will hold a poetry reading tonight in Conference Room 1 at 7 p.m., in honour of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations.  Pulitzer Prize winner Yusef Komunyakaa and Joyce Carol Oates will join several others poets.  And, of course, Giandomenico Picco, the Personal Representative for the Year, will also be present, and you are all invited.

**Stamps

Stamp news for you philatelists.  Today, the United Nations Postal Administration issued six new stamps in commemoration of the International Year of the Volunteer.  The stamps are based on works of art created for the One Heart, One World exhibition, which opened here at Headquarters last April and was shown in Brazil, France, Viet Nam and Australia.  A limited number of the philatelic bulletin and colour proof sheets are available in my Office, if you are interested.

**Press Conferences

Two press conferences to announce, both tomorrow.  At 1 p.m. in this room, UNICEF is sponsoring a press conference by the International Action Network on Small Arms.  And then at the noon briefing tomorrow, our guest will be Joseph Connor, the Under-Secretary General for Management, and he will be briefing you on the latest financial situation of the Organization, based on his report to the General Assembly's Fifth Committee.

That’s it.

**Question and Answers

Question:  Do you have any response to the United States' policy to abandon the Kyoto Protocol?

Spokesman:  I think if you want a nice strong response, you should look at the Secretary-General's speech that he gave in Bangladesh just two weeks ago.  I think he stands behind that.

He said, and I have a note here, that we are now talking about a new ethic of global stewardship.  He said that must come from countries big and small, and he said world leaders will have the opportunity to show that they take this idea seriously.  And one immediate test of resolve, he said, is the Kyoto Protocol.  He went on to say that the burden of leadership at this juncture falls on the industrialized countries, and in particular the United States, the European Union and Japan.

Question:  More on that, I mean, obviously he did say that before the United States indicated that it intends to abandon the Kyoto treaty.  So I am just wondering, what message does this send out, first of all on the environment, and secondly, on how Member States are working to undermine treaties that they signed up to?

Spokesman:  I don’t think that we would change the message in this speech, which was a major environmental speech.  He indicated the steps that he expected the developing countries to carry out as well.  He said the primary responsibility is the major industrialized countries' and he spells out what countries' responsibilities are to deal with this very pressing problem.

Question:  I suppose you are leaving it up to us to imply what he would think now, but, obviously, have they shown the kind of leadership that he was looking for is the question now.

Spokesman:  He sent a very powerful message two weeks ago.  It doesn't change.  He has not said anything while he has been travelling on this matter.  He hasn’t been asked about it, but I think he feels he gave his message two weeks ago and it stands.

Question:  On the DRC, to simplify matters if possible, can you say which nations’ or groups’ troops have already withdrawn the 15 kilometres and who's have not.

Spokesman:  I wouldn't go beyond what I said.  I mentioned which ones had withdrawn, which still hadn't moved, which were placing unrealistic conditions on their movement, unrealistic being that we have to move in places to protect civilians when that is not our mandate to do so.  I think you can probably take the names of the groups I mentioned and link them up to countries in the region who are supporting them.

Question:  You mentioned that some had withdrawn from various areas.  I didn’t know for sure whether that meant that withdrawal was the full

15 kilometres, if they had pulled out of a city say, or not?

Spokesman:  Look at the thing that I read.  You can pick up the text in my Office.  We indicated full withdrawal of some units, partial withdrawal of others and non-withdrawal of the remaining.

Question:  On the Middle East, realizing the different roles between the Council and what you can say, if you could comment on George Bush's comment today. He said that the United States wants the parties there to reach an agreement, but he said "this is what the United Nations tried to do the other day.  They tried to force a situation in the Middle East in which both parties did not agree and that is why I vetoed their suggestion".  Could you comment.  "This is what the United Nations tried to do the other day."  It is sort of acting as if the United States is not a part of this Organization.

Spokesman:  Well, I assume that was short-hand for the Security Council.  I don’t think that we have seen the end of the Council's deliberations on that subject of a mechanism or whatever you might want to call it.  There were some press reports from last night quoting Council members saying that they expected their action to continue.  So, I don’t think that we have seen the end of this debate, but I don’t want to comment on the American President's remarks.

Question:  Well, you are the United Nations Spokesman.  Is the United Nations trying to force both parties do something that?

Spokesman:  I speak for the Secretary-General and, by extension, the Secretariat.  You would have to ask the Security Council members what their intention was and I don't think that you will get a single collective response.

Question:  How do we explain this observer force?  It will never be and if the Council did vote it, nobody would ever join.  There is a lot of difficulty in explaining what this meeting was about for five days, because it was not about an observer force because there isn't such a thing.  There never will be such a thing.  It was about other things, but I am not sure what they were.

Secondly, I was wondering if the people coming into Kosovo from Macedonia, are they armed?  Are they being checked for arms because there are lots of reports that some of this is a strategic retreat into Kosovo?

Spokesman:  I will take your second question first.  The people that the UNHCR are reporting on appear to be civilians, many of them women and children. Whether KFOR has interdicted any armed fighters, I haven't seen reports of that.  I did see yesterday that KFOR had found an arms cache in Kosovo that they felt was linked to what's going on in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

On your first question, you would have to ask the 15 members -- the Non-Aligned Movement members that had one draft, the European members that had another draft.  The two of them huddled in small groups as you know, on and off over days, but it will have to be for them to say what their objective was.

Question:  I just think that the United Nations is in a fantasy land by discussing something that everyone knows, including all 15 members and the Secretariat, would never come to fruition.

Spokesman:  That is not a question that I can answer, I am afraid.

Question:  Some months ago the Secretary-General indicated that he would want about 20,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, but the draft here has 17,500.  Is there an explanation for that?

Spokesman:  Well, he does ask for the 17,500 as an interim step.  The Council indicated its willingness to consider up to 20,500 and I think that, depending on the situation on the ground, he will eventually want to go to 20,500. I think he probably feels, at this point, the absorptive capacity of the Mission is 17,500.

Question:  A follow-up on both the Middle East and Kyoto.  It is more informational than anything else.  What was your understanding of the status of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreements?  Was that an international treaty or was it a more nebulous understanding because during the course of the Security Council meeting, as I understand it, the United States said that it did not want any reference to that because it was from a previous administration and it didn’t feel bound by that.  And now that they don't feel bound by the Kyoto treaty either, I am just wondering if this is going to become a bit of a trend.

Spokesman:  Well, every new administration in Washington takes a number of months to formulate its policies.  I didn’t hear what you referred to that was said by the United States inside the Council.  The Sharm el-Sheikh agreement was just that.  It wasn't anything signed in writing.  It was a clear agreement.  It was articulated by President Clinton at the end of the meeting.  That was the single record of what was agreed, is what he stated. 

The Secretary-General has, prior to Sharm el-Sheikh, leading up to Sharm el-Sheikh and since that agreement, emphasized the importance of getting these security mechanisms used.  I think the idea of the Israelis and the Palestinians consulting among the senior security representatives of both sides goes back to the Wye Plantation accords and it had not been implemented, at least not at a high level, and the Secretary-General began pushing then for it to start being carried out at the senior-most levels.  There was an attempt to do that while he was in Jerusalem.

The Wye accords, I believe, call for the head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency to chair these high-level meetings, and you'll remember that George Tenet went to Jerusalem while the Secretary-General was there.  And then the situation on the ground prevented a meeting from taking place, but the Secretary-General kept saying after that, let's keep this mechanism active.  He included mention of it in his statement today.  I think he sees it as the best first step they can take to try to calm things down and the other thing that he has emphasized is, stop the harsh rhetoric, remember that words can enflame or soothe.  He hasn't really had much response on either call. 

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