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.

Good afternoon.

**Secretary-General/Middle East

Speaking on the situation in the Middle East, the Secretary-General told the Security Council this morning in closed consultations that the deployment of a multinational force deserves serious consideration.

He told the Council members that unless the international community assumes a direct and effective role on the ground, it is likely that there will be an intensification of violence, with a continuing disregard for Council resolutions, international law and accepted standards of human rights and humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General outlined to the Council his idea for a force, which would not be a United Nations force, but rather a multinational force authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VII, which is the enforcement provision of the UN Charter.

It would have four objectives, he said.  First, it would work with both Israelis and Palestinians to end the cycle of violence.  This would include monitoring Israeli withdrawal, facilitating the exchange of security information and monitoring compliance with a ceasefire.

Second, the force would gradually create conditions in the Palestinian territory which would help the resumption of normal activity.

Third, in conjunction with the international donor community, the force would also create an environment to allow the institutions of the Palestinian Authority to be rebuilt.

And fourth, it would create an environment to permit the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a political settlement.

Although accepting such a force would be in the interest of both Israelis and Palestinians, the international community should pursue this option proactively and not wait for the two to arrive at this conclusion on their own, he said.

He told the members of the Council that all the elements for a just and lasting peace are known, in Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 1397, as well as in the Madrid Quartet statement and the Saudi peace initiative.  What needs to be done now is to translate those elements into concrete reality, he said.

The Secretary-General began his briefing by saying he was deeply disturbed by the information he had just received on the conditions in Jenin camp from Terje Roed Larsen, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, and

Peter Hansen, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.  He called on Israel to comply urgently with its obligations under international humanitarian law to provide unimpeded access to the camp humanitarian agencies.

**Jenin Camp

As I just mentioned to you, both Terje Roed Larsen and Peter Hansen were able to visit parts of the Jenin refugee camp.  They described the situation as horrific beyond belief. Both men were appalled by what they witnessed.  They saw people digging corpses out of the rubble with their bare hands.  No major rescue operation has been allowed to begin.

The destruction is massive and the impact on the civilian population is devastating, they reported.  Water is in desperate need.  Food supplies are low and electricity has been cut.  The UNRWA managed to deliver some food today since the curfew was lifted during Hansen’s and Larsen’s visit.

**UNRWA

The UNRWA today protested to the Israeli military authorities about the tight security measures imposed on the Gaza Strip, which it says is causing a shortage of basic foodstuffs.

The Agency has loaned 250 tonnes of flour to bakeries in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip so that they can keep producing bread, but those supplies will run out in a matter of days.  In the past three days, only four truckloads of flour, four of garlic and three of onions have been able to enter the Gaza Strip, and the Agency’s own supplies for refugees are not being allowed into the area.

Lionel Brisson, UNRWA’s Director of Operations, called on Israel to allow the free flow of goods into the area, warning, “not to do so will amount to a humanitarian strangulation of a civilian population.”

We have an UNRWA press release upstairs with more details.  Also, we have available a press release from the World Food Programme, which has airlifted nearly 40 tonnes of high-energy biscuits for displaced Palestinians caught up in the fighting in the West Bank.  The planeload of biscuits arrived in Tel Aviv from Italy today.

**Madagascar

An accord was reached in Dakar, Senegal, earlier today under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity by which President Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana agreed that last December's election results were inconclusive and set out a road map to defuse the political crisis.

In the accord, which is available to you upstairs, the two agreed to a recount of the vote and if those results are still inconclusive, a referendum would be held within six months with the help of the OAU, United Nations and the European Union.

Arrangements for an interim transitional national reconciliation government are also spelled out in the accord, which was signed by Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana, as well as OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy and Ibrahima Fall on behalf of the Secretary-General.  The presidents of Senegal, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Mozambique are listed as facilitators of the accord.  We are now awaiting a statement from upstairs welcoming the accord.

**Afghanistan

Former King Mohammad Zahir Shah has returned to Kabul from exile.  The Secretary-General’s Special Representatiive for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, was one of the first to greet the former monarch as he disembarked from a C-130 aircraft assisted by aides to a red carpet welcome.  Afghan tribal leaders, diplomats and other dignitaries formed an L-shaped receiving line, and a small group of girls and young women wearing traditional costumes presented him with flowers.  No speeches were made during the low-key ceremony.

**Cyprus

This morning, the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus began destroying a stockpile of weapons, which had been in safekeeping since 1972.  The task is expected to take up to two months to complete, as it involves about 4,500 weapons. The weapons, consisting of automatic rifles, machine pistols, heavy machine guns and mortars, were originally imported to Cyprus in January 1972, having been purchased along with 5 million rounds of ammunition.

**Kosovo

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Michael Steiner, today addressed the University of Pristina on the UN Mission in Kosovo’s plans for privatizing Kosovo’s economy, and argued, “to get a functioning economy Kosovo needs investment.  And to get investment Kosovo needs to privatize.”

While stressing that there are no “quick fixes” for Kosovo’s economy, Steiner said that a Kosovo Trust Agency will be established to manage the process of privatization, which will be run by a Board of directors that will have three people from the UN Mission and three Kosovar representatives -– including at least two from the government and one representing a Serb community.  We have copies of the speech upstairs.

**Guatemala

We have a text of a statement attributable to the Spokesman concerning Guatemala.  I'll read only the first two paragraphs.

"The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Tom Koenigs of Germany as his Special Representative in Guatemala and head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), effective 1 August.  He will replace Gerd Merrem, who has led the Mission since August 2000.  Since August 1999, Mr. Koenigs has served as Deputy Special Representative for Civil Administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)."

We have the full details upstairs, including his bio.

**Colombia/Human Rights

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, today presented her report on Colombia to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, saying she remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation there.  She warned that the rule of law is in grave jeopardy as a result of the continuing armed conflict, the escalation of violence, the lack of a proper administration of justice and a burgeoning paramilitary threat.

She said, “the recent discontinuation of the peace talks between the Government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrillas and the consequent escalation of the armed conflict are disappointing”.  Her report refers both to increasing violence by guerrilla groups and the constant expansion and consolidation of paramilitary groups, which are among the main violators of human rights.  We have the full text of her statement upstairs.

**Democratic Republic of Congo

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Amos Ngongi, is in Sun City today attending the closing session of the inter-Congolese dialogue.  Mr. Ngongi is there to bring encouragements to the participants.  The talks are scheduled to end today, but may very well go on until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the DRC, a team of UN military observers are today in Ganga, in the north-east of the country, where violent conflicts between two factions of the Rally for Congolese Democracy have taken place.  Preliminary investigations have shown that 15 people have been killed in this fighting.

**Economic Report on Africa

The latest Economic Report on Africa, an annual flagship publication of the Economic Commission for Africa on the continent's socio-economic development progress, will be published in May.  Entitled Weathering the Global Slowdown, the report will show that Africa grew faster than any other developing region in 2001, reflecting better macroeconomic management, strong agricultural production, higher oil prices and the cessation of conflicts in several countries.

The report will emphasize that economic growth remains fragile, and will confirm that at current rates Africa will not achieve any of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations at its Millennium Summit.  The ECA said it will announce details of the report’s launch shortly.

**Angola

Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser for Africa, Ibrahim Gambari, is wrapping up a two-week mission in Angola.  He is expected to brief the Security Council next Tuesday.  We have a summary of his remarks at a press conference in Luanda, Angola, earlier today.

**Somalia

The Somalia Aid Coordination Body, comprising non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and donor governments, draws attention to the deteriorating situation in Somalia’s Northern Gedo region, and we have a press release on that for further information.

**East Timor

From East Timor, the President-elect, Xanana Gusmão, and Chief Minister Marí Alkatiri met today for the first time since Sunday’s election and are in “complete agreement” on how to proceed with island territory’s transition to independence, according to the UN Transitional Administrator, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Vieira de Mello invited both leaders to the meeting.  During the four-hour session, the three discussed, among other issues, the final weeks of UN administration before East Timor celebrates its independence on 20 May, and the preparations for the celebrations, including the participation of former freedom fighters.

On 26 April, the Security Council will hold a meeting on East Timor, which will be attended both by Mr. Gusmão and Mr. Alkatiri.

**Special Session on Children

The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, today announced an updated Secretary-General’s report “We the Children:  Meeting the promises of the World Summit for Children”.  The updated report has a new statistical index and analyzes the progress made by countries over the last 10 years in the areas of child health, education, nutrition and protection.  We have both a press release and the report available upstairs.

**Jesse Jackson

And finally, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH coalition, will be meeting with the Secretary-General in a few minutes.  Reverend Jackson has agreed to meet with the press at your request following that meeting, and he will come down to the stakeout to talk to you when the meeting is over.  And, we'll squawk that when it's ready to happen. 

That's all I have for you.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Just a small question about the boycott of the cafeteria.  Does the Secretary-General intend to observe it?

Spokesman:  We're still looking into that matter.  My Office asked some questions of the management.  I think the labour dispute is between Restaurant Associates or its parent company and all their employees, not just those working here at the UN.  And, at this point I have no guidance, and I have not discussed it with the Secretary-General, so I can't give you his personal reaction.

Question:  Is this company, which I understand is a major transnational corporation, part of the Global Compact?

Spokesman:  That's a good question.  You can probably look at up on the Web site, but I will ask for you.  Check with me after the briefing.  [It was later announced that the company is not part of the Global Compact.]

Question:  Fred, regarding the Secretary-General's speech to the Security Council, could you clarify his reference to Chapter VII?  He said he is not contemplating a United Nations force but a military force under Chapter VII.

Spokesman:  A United Nations force would be one that was approved by the Security Council to be administered by the United Nations.  So, that the United Nations would recruit the troops, equip them, transport and pay them.  That operation takes months to organize. 

A multinational force can be authorized by the Security Council as well.  A lead nation takes over, starts deploying its own troops, pays and equips them, and

recruits other nations to work alongside it.  They establish a chain of command; they do everything themselves. 

That kind of thing -- when the lead nation is militarily advanced and well-equipped -- can move much more quickly and can more effectively deal with areas of conflict that haven't cooled off sufficiently to be safe for a peacekeeping force. 

So, if you look at your Brahimi report on peacekeeping operations, you'll see that the preference for a "hot conflict" is to deploy a multinational force, rather than a UN-led peacekeeping force.

Question:  And that would be comparable under Article VII?

Spokesman:  Yes.  Well, the Security Council, in authorizing the force, can authorize it under Chapter VI, which is not an enforcement provision, or under Chapter VII, which does imply a military enforcement.  When you go into a hot conflict, the assumption is that the troops will have to use force to protect themselves.  So, Chapter VII is required and, in this case, the Secretary-General thinks that Chapter VII is necessary.

Thank you very much. 

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