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.

**Statement Attributable to Spokesman for Secretary-General

"We’ll start with a statement attributable to the Spokesman concerning the situation between India and Pakistan:

"The Secretary-General is increasingly concerned by the alarming rise in tension between India and Pakistan.  He is in close contact with the leaders of both sides, to encourage them to resolve their differences, including over Kashmir, by peaceful means.

"The Secretary-General considers it essential that the logic and language of war be replaced by the logic and language of peace.  At the same time, he wishes to reiterate his unconditional condemnation of all acts of terrorism.  There can be no tolerance for such acts, especially across the line of control in Kashmir.  The Secretary-General accordingly urges President Musharraf to take vigorous action to ensure full implementation of the policy set out in his speech of

12 January."

**Security Council -- Wednesday Evening

On the Security Council, just to recap, the Council ended at around 9:30 last night a day-long interactive debate on issues related to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.

Professor S. Jayakumar, Foreign Minister of Singapore, which holds this month’s Council presidency, said in his concluding remarks, “The debate provides a stepping stone for the Council to continue focusing actively on the challenges in Africa.  Members will refer in future to the rich debate we had today.”

Following that meeting, the Council, in a presidential statement, welcomed the elections held in Sierra Leone on 14 May and congratulated the people of that country on the peaceful and orderly way in which the elections were held.

Finally, the Security Council decided to refer the application of the Democratic Republic of East Timor to the Committee on the Admission of New Members, for the examination and report of that body.  That meeting took place at 10 a.m. today.

Later today, the Security Council is scheduled to hold a formal meeting on the admission of East Timor during which a resolution recommending to the General Assembly East Timor’s admission to the United Nations will be put forward.

**Security Council-Afghanistan

The Security Council is holding a public meeting on Afghanistan this morning.

The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, briefed members on the situation in the country, focusing on security issues.

He reminded the Council that the security situation in Afghanistan, and particularly outside Kabul, remains a major concern.

He went on to say that “in view of the absence of an expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) beyond Kabul, the United Nations and the Interim Administration continue to believe that the international community should address these legitimate security issues as quickly as possible”.

He added that it could not be expected that a sustained reconstruction process be launched in Afghanistan without real improvements in security outside Kabul and its environs.

Prendergast also reported on the Loya Jirga process under way and noted that the first phase has so far not been perfect, nevertheless in many ways it has been better than expected.  He noted that many of the obstacles in phase I of the Loya Jirga were caused by the uncertain security situation.

The full text as delivered is available upstairs.

The Council is also expected to adopt a resolution extending the mandate of ISAF for a further six months.

The Secretary-General has his monthly working luncheon with the Security Council taking place today.  He has no other appointments for today.

**MONUC

This morning in Kinshasa, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a preliminary report on the events which took place in Kisangani from 14 to 21 May, starting with the takeover of a local radio station by armed men.

The radio station was then used to broadcast calls to the local population to take up arms against ethnic Rwandans in Kisangani.

Once security troops loyal to the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) had regained control of the station, RCD officials –- in public broadcasts -– warned people to stay at home and clearly threatened anyone who would not follow those instructions.

Information gathered by the UN Mission in Kisangani shows that some

50 people were killed during the disturbances which followed.  The victims included men, women and children.  Some of the bodies found by UN personnel had been mutilated.

From this preliminary report, which is only available in French, the UN Mission says it is clear that grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were committed by the RCD authorities, who exercise de facto control in Kisangani.

**Kosovo

Earlier today in Pristina, Michael Steiner, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Kosovo, declared null and void a resolution which had just been adopted by the Kosovo Assembly.

The resolution sought to challenge the border agreement signed in February of last year between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

In comments made to the press afterwards, Steiner said the action taken by the Assembly was a clear violation of the province’s Constitutional Framework.

The Assembly, Steiner explained, cannot take up issues relating to foreign relations, and this includes the issue of borders.

These types of issues, he said, are within the competency of the Special Representative only.

We expect the full transcript of his press conference shortly.

**Secretary-General Appointment of New SRSG for Georgia

Today, the Secretary-General informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Ms. Ileidi Tagliavini as his Special Representative for Georgia.  She will succeed Mr. Dieter Boden, who has served as Special Representative for two and a half years.  The Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for

Mr. Boden’s untiring efforts to advance the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process and for his dynamic leadership of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia.

Ms. Tagliavini has extensive diplomatic experience and first-hand knowledge of the Mission and the region.  During 1998 and 1999, she served as Deputy Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia and, later, as Personal Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson in the Office of the Caucasus.  At present, she is Switzerland’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

**Middle East

In a statement issued last night, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, said that he was appalled by the latest suicide bombing against Israeli civilians which took place in Rishon le Zion.

He said “such attacks cannot be endured, and must stop”.

Roed-Larsen reiterated his long-standing condemnation of terrorist attacks and stressed that the Secretary-General had clearly and repeatedly stated that such attacks against civilians were morally repugnant and a clear violation of international law.

Terrorist attacks from any quarter were unacceptable and could not be tolerated by the international community, he said.

We put out copies of that statement last night.

**UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, better known as UNRWA, is in Washington today to meet with congressional staff and others on the UNRWA role in the Palestinian territories.

Deputy Commissioner-General Karen Koning AbuZayd will be briefing throughout the day today, and she will be coming to New York next week, and we have asked her to come to brief you.

**Lebanon

We have a press release from the UN in Beirut on the official launch next Tuesday of the second phase of Operation Emirates Solidarity (OES), the

$50 million demining project in south Lebanon funded by the United Arab Emirates.

**Guatemala

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, will be going to Guatemala from 27 May to 1 June at the invitation of the Government.  Ms. Jilani will assess the situation of human rights defenders and look at the legal framework and alleged incidents relating to the defence of human rights.  While there, she will meet with government, army and police officials as well as NGOs and individuals engaged in human rights work.

We have a press release from Geneva on that.

**Press Releases

Two other press releases.  First, the World Ecotourism Summit ended last night in Quebec City with the adoption of a declaration that will be tabled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August.  The Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism lays out guidelines, principles and standards and is the first step on the road to sustainable tourism.

The second press release is from the World Health Organization, giving news that its highest tobacco control award will be given to the Federation Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, in recognition of its tobacco control work.  As we announced last year, FIFA declared the 2002 World Cup to be tobacco free, and there will be no tobacco advertising or promotion at World Cup venues and tobacco and tobacco products will not be sold at the games in Korea and Japan.  In addition, there will be no smoking in public areas, although there will be a few smoking zones situated away from the general public.  We have a press release on that.

**Nane Annan

In Oslo today, Nane Annan spoke at the lunch of a leadership Forum for Children, initiated by the Norwegian Committee for UNICEF.

The Forum brings together high-profile Norwegian professionals and business people, and provides them with an opportunity to become creatively and actively engaged in efforts to protect and care for the world's children.

“I have been privileged to meet”, she said, “and be inspired by people all over the world who are doing something about what they believe needs to be done.”

Speaking at the recent Children’s Summit, Mrs. Annan said it had proved a leadership forum in itself for the world’s children.  She went on to add that the most urgent areas identified for action are:  health, education, child protection and HIV/AIDS.

**Press Conference

One press conference to announce for today.  At 1 p.m. in this room, Parliamentarians for Global Action briefing on Strengthening United Nations Peace Operations -– International Parliamentary Input.  And that’s being sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom.

**UNCA

Finally, I don’t see Norberto here, but the Correspondents’ Association is holding a special farewell party today, at 4 p.m. in the UNCA Lounge.  Norberto Svarzman, former President of UNCA, 30-year veteran of UN reporting, an institution within this institution, is packing it up and moving to Florida.  We all wish we could go with you Norberto, but I hope you will at least allow us to come and visit.

And in the meantime, we wish you a relaxing time on the beach with your laptop.  We’ll miss your sniggering laugh, your delicious scepticism and your delightful humour.  Good luck.

Any questions?  Richard.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  I’ll respond there.  Richard will not be happy and UN TV personnel who have to stand at the Security Council, and hundreds of UN staffers won’t be happy until the UN bans smoking and ends the hypocrisy of the UN allowing smoking while WHO and other agencies go on the warpath against it.  The question is, I know you mentioned this, you had a Secretary-General statement on Pakistan and India, but the Foreign Minister sent a letter to Secretary-General Annan asking for UN help.  Do you acknowledge receipt of this letter and is there any direct response to it?

Spokesman:  We received the letter this morning and an identical letter went to the Security Council.  And we’re still looking at the letter.  You’ll have to ask the Council how they intend to respond.

Question:  Any plan to go back to that region, hopefully, India, Pakistan, for any mediation by the Secretary-General at this point?

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General is always ready to extend his good offices to both sides.  But as you know, only one of the two sides welcomed his offer.  So that’s a "no".

Question:  As I was coming in this morning, I received a flyer that there’s a meeting today in the ECOSOC Chamber at 1:15 p.m. to be held by the Staff Council.  At the top of it is the issue "Discrimination in the United Nations", which is something, if I recall, that has been talked about since I have been here.  At what point, or is there a point when maybe the Secretary-General says that this is more than just a few, couple of disgruntled employees and maybe there is a systemic institutional problem?  Or do we continue to compile and listen to people and then maybe present that and let them have a meeting of the mind?  The other thing is:  when will I, being a reporter for the “Final Call” be able to sit down, I’ve put in requests to talk to Mr. (O’Connor)(?)  (Interrupted by Spokesman)

Spokesman:  That’s a personal matter, sir.  That’s not ... (Interrupted by correspondent)

Question:  But I am a reporter.  I am a member of UNCA. 

Spokesman:  But that’s not for discussion in the briefing.  So if you want to talk about office space or something like that, we should do it outside.

Question:  I’m not talking about office space.  I’m talking about the issue of discrimination in the ... I am not bringing it up for ...  I didn’t put this flyer out.

Spokesman:  Are you saying we discriminated against you?

Question:  Of course, not.  I’m talking about your employees who are saying they are being discriminated against.  When I wrote the article about six or seven months ago, we were hit; it was said that the “Final Call” was stirring up dirt.  What I was saying was “I didn’t stir it up”.  Now, here is another meeting today with employees of the Secretariat saying that they are being discriminated against.

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General is always happy to listen to complaints of employees.  Let’s see what this meeting produces today and we’ll give very careful consideration to anything that’s brought before us.  It’s not our view that systematic discrimination exists within the Secretariat.  If the staff wants to make that case, we’ll be happy to listen to it.  Elizabeth?

Question:  Fred, back on Afghanistan.  With the Security Council likely to vote unanimously to extend but not to expand peacekeeping forces, I’m just wondering what the Secretary-General’s reaction might be.  As you know, he’s called for additional troops; Brahimi has called for additional troops; Prendergast has called for additional troops.  But the Security Council appears to be ignoring these particular avenues of advice.

Spokesman:  Mr. Prendergast, I think, was expressing the Secretary-General’s views this morning.  And before you came in I quoted what I think were the relevant aspects of his statement and the full statement we made available upstairs.  And I would refer you to that statement.

Question:  Fred, do you expect any reaction to the Parliament in Pristina and can you tell us if there was any conflict?

Spokesman:  Reaction to what?

Question:  To the decision of the Representative of the Secretary-General

to eliminate the decision which the Parliament had ...  The thing that you described ...

Spokesman:  I’m sorry, I’m not following you, Serge.

Question:  You did mention that the decision was made by the Parliament and there ...

Spokesman:  Is that in Kosovo?

Question:  In Kosovo, yes.

Spokesman:  Yeah. Okay.

Question:  Do you expect any reaction from Parliament and did we have any conflict of such a nature in the past?

Spokesman:  I am not aware of anything like this that might have happened in the past.  But I am not the historian, so I can’t tell you for sure.  We’ll have to see whether the Parliament reacts.  But as far as the Special Representative goes, the guidelines clearly left these matters involving international relations in his hands; not in the Parliament’s hands.  And that’s why he made the statement that he made.  Yes?

Question:  Just to follow up on the India-Pakistan situation.  Is it correct to say that the Secretary-General will not engage in any mediation unless and until both sides welcome Van  ... (inaudible)

Spokesman:  Well, I was asked, "is he ready to go to the region?” and that’s a very active form of involvement that he would not undertake without an invitation from both sides.  He has been working the phones.  In the statement we mentioned that he’d been in contact with leaders on both sides.  Those telephone contacts took place just in the last 24 hours.  So he’s doing what he can from his bully pulpit.  But he’s not in a position to engage as a mediator without the invitation of the two sides.  Richard?

Question:  You mentioned that report on Al Qaeda and gems and diamonds.  Was there -- without reading it all the way -- was there new breakthrough material there or wasn’t there a similar report issued in December?  Do you know?

Spokesman:  Much of the material that was gathered was taken from public sources.  So I am not sure I am ready to say that the report broke fresh ground.  It could be that in the collection and presentation of the material it made a fresh contribution.

Question:  Anything new on the Iraq confirmation talks?

Spokesman:  No.

Question:  Would the Secretary-General be making the trip there, even if he may already be on the road, would that be seen as like the last time he wants to be personally there and not wait for another meeting?  Would he want to see the return of inspectors at that meeting whenever it is held?

Spokesman:  He has consistently been pressing the Iraqis to make a decision and make it quickly.  I don’t want to say that this is the last chance, this next meeting.  Certainly, he would hope that something definitive could come out of this meeting.  Serge?

Question:  Since there were many resolutions from the General Assembly regarding the embargo against Cuba and the subsequent declaration of the President

of the United States that he’s going to maintain this embargo.  Does the Secretary-General have any view on that situation?

Spokesman:  The Assembly has put itself on the record clearly.  I don’t think the Secretary-General needs to add anything to their combined voices.  Yes?

Question:  Going back to Iraq.  Does the Secretary-General, maybe, feel that his hands-on, maybe he could go and talk to President Saddam Hussein?  Maybe he could, by being in Iraq, that his personally being there can sort of maybe break the ice?

Spokesman:  No.  I think he is quite happy with the level of representation that they have been sending.  The Foreign Minister last time was accompanied by two senior, at least two senior weapons experts -- one on the nuclear side.  No, I don’t think he feels he needs to go to Baghdad to conclude these talks.

Thank you very much.

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