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

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

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Manoel De Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Secretary-General Opens Racism Conference

I'm going to start with the Secretary-General in Durban. 

Today, the Secretary-General opened the United Nations Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, addressing front-on an issue that continues to divide delegates, as well as non-governmental activists.

The accusations of racism against any individual or group is hurtful, he said, and nowhere is that truer today than in the Middle East.

The Jewish people have been victims of anti-Semitism and in Europe were the targets of the Holocaust -- "the ultimate abomination," he stated.  "This fact must never be forgotten, or diminished".

"Yet we cannot expect Palestinians to accept this," he added, "as a reason why the wrongs done to them -- displacement, occupation, blockade and now extra-judicial killings -- should be ignored".

He then concluded, "Mutual accusations are not the purpose of this conference . . . Let us admit that all countries have issues of racism and discrimination to address".

In closing, the Secretary-General said, "if we leave here without agreement we shall give comfort to the worst elements in every society."  But if we can leave with a call to action supported by all", he said, "we shall send a signal of hope to brave people struggling against racism all over the world".

After the Secretary-General spoke, the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, also addressed the conference.  Then there was the election of the President of the Conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa.  Following that, the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri, addressed the Conference and the Secretary-General of the Conference, Mary Robinson, who is the High Commissioner for Human Rights, also spoke. 

Before a lunch hosted by the President, the Secretary-General had three bilateral meetings.  He met one-on-one with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.  With Cuban President Fidel Castro, he discussed the link between racism and poverty.  Finally, he met privately with a leader of the United States congressional black caucus, Representative John Conyers.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General opened a round table discussion on racism among participating heads of State, and that session was chaired by President Mbeki.

Following that, the Secretary-General participated in a Global Compact event running parallel to the racism conference at which business and labour leaders discussed the impact of racism and discrimination in the workplace and in the community.

This evening, the Secretary-General will attend a working dinner hosted by South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who earlier today, as I mentioned to you, was named by acclamation President of the World Conference Against Racism.

**UNHCR Presents Plan to Ship Impasse

Moving now to the episode of the boat.  The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met this morning with representatives of Australia, Indonesia and Norway to propose a three-point plan aimed at resolving the impasse that has kept more than 450 people aboard a container ship off Christmas Island for some five days.  New Zealand, which has also taken an active interest, is also attending.

Assistant High Commissioner Soren Jessen-Petersen said the most immediate humanitarian need was to get the people off the Tampa, which has no facilities for a large number of passengers.

The plan calls for the temporary disembarkation on Christmas Island for humanitarian reasons, immediate screening of asylum applicants, and transfer to third countries.

Governments are now considering this proposal.

[Following the briefing, the Deputy Spokesman announced that talks on the package of proposals to resolve the impasse are scheduled to continue in Geneva on Saturday.]

**Statement on Afghanistan

Now I have a statement attributable to the Spokesman on Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General is concerned at the reported detention of international staff of International Assistance Mission (IAM) by the Taliban in Herat and in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  He is also concerned about the order of expulsion given to all international staff of both IAM and SERVE, which may bring to an end their assistance activities in Afghanistan.  This action by the Taliban against the aid community could have serious consequences on the provision of international humanitarian assistance.  This aid is desperately needed to address extreme suffering caused by war, poverty, massive displacement, and severe drought.

The Secretary-General appeals to the Taliban to assure the security, and freedom to operate, of all international aid workers in accordance with international law.

**Afghanistan

Still on Afghan-related issues.  UNHCR today described the Pakistani authorities’ decision to deport 132 people to Afghanistan on Tuesday as unfortunate and regrettable, and has temporarily suspended the Afghan screening process.

It said the deportations are a clear breach of UNHCR’s agreement with the Pakistani Government on the screening of Afghans in Pakistan, which specifies that there would be no deportations from Jalozai and Nasr Bagh camps during the screening process.  The 28 families deported were in Jalozai camp.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) said it is delivering food supplies to a group of 1500 stranded Afghan refugees on a small island on the river Pyanj, on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

**East Timor

Moving to happier news.  Vote counting got under way in East Timor this morning the day after the country’s first democratic elections.

Carlos Valenzuela, the United Nations chief election officer, said this evening that counting had been proceeding smoothly with no reported problems. Ballot boxes were last night securely transported from individual polling stations and gathered at the 13 district electoral centers.

The results of the count in each district will be made public when they are complete.  The first partial results are expected on 3 September, and an unofficial result could be completed by 5 September.

This election, as you know, was to elect the 88-member Constituent Assembly, the body that will write East Timor’s first constitution, and they are expected to be sworn in on 15 September.

More information is available upstairs.  Today the Mission sent to us, and that is not only today's briefing note but also a fact sheet on the counting process, which was issued by the electoral unit.

**Security Council

Here in New York, the Security Council is holding back-to-back public meetings this morning.

During the first meeting, they unanimously adopted a Presidential statement on small arms in which the Council welcomed the adoption of the Programme of Action of the recent United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms.  In the statement, the Council also recognizes its responsibility in implementing the programme of action.

The second meeting, which is still under way, is a wrap-session of the Council’s work during the month of August.

Both of these meetings have been presided over by Colombia’s Foreign Minister Guillermo Fernandez de Soto.

Today is the last day of Colombia’s Presidency of the Council.  Starting tomorrow, 1 September, the Presidency is transferred to France.

Please note the Foreign Minister of Colombia, Foreign Minister de Soto, will be speak to journalists at the Security Council stakeout right out here after the conclusion of this morning's meeting.

**UNHCR Briefing Notes

Ethnic Albanians using side roads continue to return to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from Kosovo at a rate of 2,000 a day, despite blockages of main roads by groups of ethnic Macedonians opposed to the ethnic Albanians’ return. 

More details about his in the UNHCR briefing notes, which we have available in our office. 

We also have available briefing notes from the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

**Press Releases

Also available a few press releases. 

The Vice-President of the International Court of Justice has authorized the submission by Iran of an additional written pleading in the case concerning the destruction of Iranian oil platforms filed in 1992.  The additional pleading is to relate solely to the counter claim by the United States that Iran breached its obligations to the United States by attacking vessels and laying mines in the Gulf. 

The press release with full details is available in our office. 

**Budget

Iceland today became the 106th Member State to pay its 2001 regular budget contribution in full with a payment of more than $341,000.  At the end of August last year 119 Member States were fully paid-up.

**The Week Ahead

And finally, just to bring to your attention that we have available upstairs, as we do every Friday, the week ahead.  Some of the points I will highlight to you.

The Secretary-General tomorrow leaves South Africa.  He goes to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He will go to Kinshasa first, then on Sunday he goes to Kisangani.  He will go to Kigali the following day, on Monday.

Then on Tuesday, he meets with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and then departs for Sweden, where he arrives on 5 September.  The following day he will deliver an address at Upsala University.

Also on 5 September, the President of the Security Council for the month of September, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France, will present the programme of work for the month of September at a press conference here in this room, following the noon briefing. 

Also, I should point out that on Thursday, 6 September, Sir Ketumile Masire, the Facilitator of the inter-Congolese dialogue, will brief the Security Council and later will brief journalists here in Room 226.

And finally, next Friday, 7 September the Secretary-General will leave Sweden and arrive in New York.

As we have had in the last few days, the same announcement applies today.  No press conference is scheduled for today, or for Monday.  And of course, Monday is a holiday at the United Nations.  The Spokesman's Office will be staffed with the usual weekend duty officer. 

Just to remind you, as the Council session is over, the Foreign Minister of Colombia will be talking to you at the stakeout.

Any questions?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  You just talked about deportation of some 28 families and breach of an agreement.  Is it a verbal agreement or a written agreement between UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan, and what are the contents of that agreement?  We have been looking for the contents and the text of the agreement and have been unable to find it.

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't know where you're looking and I don't I know if this agreement was in writing or an agreement of principle between UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan.  The fact is that the camp, as you will recall, is a camp where the conditions were extremely harsh.  There was need for the screening process, exactly to reduce the number of people in a dignified, humane manner.

I would refer you to UNHCR, the lead agency, to give you more details if you need more on this particular issue.

Question:  Have arrangements been made for us to follow the South African conference here at Headquarters?

Deputy Spokesman:  Follow in which way?

Question:  There's the difference in time --

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't think we have live proceedings.  The Conference has a Web site, and they are posting almost immediately every speech delivered that is available to them for that purpose.  I'm afraid we don't have live feeds.  We're not at that stage yet. 

Question:  I see a $3 million radio project before the General Assembly.  What can we expect in the future?

Deputy Spokesman:  They are producing from there -- the radio unit.  United Nations Radio is covering from South Africa.  I thought you were talking about screens for you journalists here.  I don't think we have the means for that yet -- the financial means.  It would be good if we were able to do that.

Question:  You said yesterday that the Secretary-General was going to be meeting with Yasser Arafat last night in Durban.  Is there a readout on that and did the Secretary-General ask anything of the Palestinian leader as far as wording in the draft document for the Racism Conference?

Spokesman:  I don't have details on any requests.  What I do have is the readout of that particular meeting.  It was a review of the latest efforts to halt the violence between Israelis and Palestinians, and especially the initiative by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer to bring together President Arafat and

Foreign Minister Shimon Perez.  They also assessed the prospect for a return of the two parties to talks that might restore the search for a lasting peace.

If there are no more questions, I wish you a very pleasant lunch to begin a long weekend, which, at least for the New York area, seems to have very beautiful sunny days.  So enjoy them.  Thank you.

* *** *