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.

**Ibrahim Gambari

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Ibrahim Gambari as his Special Representative for Angola.  Mr. Gambari will also serve as Chairman of the recently re-established Joint Commission for the Angolan peace process.

Mr. Gambari, who will brief you in person shortly, has been serving as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa, and has been closely involved in promoting the peace process in Angola.  He is expected to leave later today to take up his new assignment.  We have copies of Mr. Gambari’s CV upstairs in our office.

**Secretary-General’s Speech

The Secretary-General opened the debate at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly this morning by reflecting on the terrorist attacks of last September 11, which he called “an extreme example of a global scourge, which requires a broad, sustained and global response”.

The response to terrorism, he said, can only succeed if full use is made of multilateral institutions, and he told those gathered, “I stand before you as a multilateralist –- by precedent, by principle, by Charter and by duty.”

On matters ranging from the fight against terrorism to action against poverty and AIDS, he said, “for any one State -– large or small -– choosing to follow or reject the multilateral path must not be a simple matter of political convenience.”  Rather, he argued, the existence of an effective international security situation depends on the authority of the Security Council, and there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations.

The Secretary-General then pointed to four current threats to world peace that require true leadership and effective action.

First, he urged a return to the search for a just and comprehensive solution in the Middle East, saying that the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within recognized and secure borders can only be reached “if we move rapidly and in parallel on all fronts.  The so-called ‘sequential’ approach has failed.”

He urged Iraq to comply with its obligations under UN resolutions, for the sake of its own people and for the sake of world order.  “If Iraq’s defiance continues,” he said, “the Council must face its responsibilities”.

The Secretary-General also urged nations to maintain their commitment to Afghanistan, by helping the Government to extends its authority throughout the country and by following through on commitments for Afghanistan’s rehabilitation, reconstruction and development.

Last, in South Asia, he warned, the world had come closer than in past years to a direct conflict between two nations with nuclear weapons capabilities, in a situation which has calmed, but “remains perilous”.  The underlying causes, he said, must be addressed.

We have copies of his speech, in English and French, in my office.

**Meeting with President Bush

The Secretary-General met this morning for over half an hour with United States President George W. Bush, prior to this morning's opening of the General Assembly's general debate.  Their focus was almost exclusively on international security issues.

Not surprisingly, the first item on their agenda was Iraq.  But, they also discussed the search for a peaceful solution to the Arab/Israeli conflict, the situation in South Asia, including India and Pakistan, and efforts to restore stability to Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General raised a number of African issues, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan.  They reviewed the conflict in Colombia and the progress being made by the new democracies in Central America.  The Secretary-General also raised the issue of UN reform and the subject of arrears in payments to the UN.  The talks were substantive, cordial and relaxed.

With the President were Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice and other senior officials.  On the Secretary-General's side, there was Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast, Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno and Under Secretary-General for Management, Joseph Connor.

**Sierra Leone

The Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council on the UN mission in Sierra Leone has been issued.  The report, which assesses the security situation and describes the concept for the adjustment and drawdown of the mission, is scheduled to be discussed in the Council next Wednesday.

The report says encouraging developments, such as completion of the disarmament process, the successful May elections and the establishment of the Special Court, make it possible to consider beginning the drawdown.

The drawdown proposals are a product of close consultations with the Government, and the views of Council members and troop contributors were also sought and taken into account.  It says the military component could be expected to drawdown over a period of approximately two years.  A target date of December 2004 is mentioned.

He also expresses deep concern about the conflict in neighboring Liberia, saying that, unless the international community urgently addresses the Liberian issue, it could escalate and jeopardize the progress achieved in Sierra Leone and destabilize the region.

The Secretary-General recommends the Security Council approve the drawdown proposals and extend the mandate of the mission for a further six months in order to facilitate the start of what he considers a crucial process.

**Human Rights

Today in Geneva, Sergio Vieira de Mello walked into his office on his first day at work as High Commissioner for Human Rights.

While attending the flag-raising ceremony at the Geneva Headquarters for the newest UN Member State –- Switzerland itself -– he told reporters this morning that his priorities would be the protection of civilian populations in conflict, the fight against racism and for women’s rights.  He said, “Those are the three huge chapters that require a lot of attention, in addition to all the geographic hot spots that are well known.”

In the afternoon, he met for an hour with the staff of the Human Rights Office, introducing himself to all staff and discussing the goals he wants to achieve over his four-year term, in what staff members described as a friendly first meeting.

**UNESCO

Koichiro Matsuura, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, warmly welcomed the announcement by President Bush this morning that the United States would return to UNESCO after an absence of 18 years.

“I believe the United States’ return to UNESCO supports effective reform and renewal within the multilateral system," he said, “affirming UNESCO’s steady forward progress over the past years”.  We have the full text of the statement in my office.

**Malawi

As a rising number of people face increasing hardship in many parts of Malawi, the Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, James Morris, praised the international community’s efforts to curb an escalation of the humanitarian crisis in the region.  On Thursday, Morris highlighted two significant developments which will improve the logistics infrastructure in the region.

The first is a newly approved special operation by WFP to repair the Nacala railway line, the only direct rail link between Mozambique and land-locked Malawi.  Eight locomotives will also be leased in order to increase the pushing power and hence improve the capacity of the railway.

The number of people at risk in Malawi soared this month from 500,000 to 2.1 million, while resources pledged so far stand at 57 per cent, with

$62 million of the $144 million requested still needed for food and non-food assistance.

Morris arrived in Malawi on Tuesday as part of his ongoing mission through six southern African countries, accompanied by Carolyn McAskie, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and key technical experts involved in the crisis response.

**Democratic Republic of the Congo

Yesterday, in Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a second group of future police instructors began a training course organized by the UN mission.  Fifty-three men and one woman will be part of this five-week course, which is being led by UN civil police officers.

**UNCTAD/Palestinians

The increased closures regime imposed on the occupied Palestinian territory since April of this year has created a situation in the Palestinian territory that resembles “complex humanitarian emergencies”, according to a report officially released today by the UN Conference on Trade and Development

–- known as UNCTAD.

In such situations, vulnerability is great and the impact on productive capacity, institutional infrastructure and the economy as a whole is severe, says UNCTAD.  As a result of this situation, the Palestinian Authority has been forced into heavy dependence on donor support for maintaining emergency and basic activities, diverting its attention away from key development objectives, the report suggests.

This renders even more urgent the need for concerted efforts to identify strategies and policies to set the Palestinian economy on a path of recovery and sustained development -- a "still-elusive" goal that remains intertwined with the achievement of peace and security in the region.  A copy of the press release was put out upstairs yesterday afternoon and the report is available on UNCTAD’s Web site.

**Afghanistan

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has dispatched five teams to various parts of Afghanistan to assess how 30 years of conflict have affected the country's environment.  The teams will identify pollution hot spots and the immediate and long-term threats to these sites.  It is estimated that Afghanistan has lost up to 30 per cent of its forests since 1979, so that less than 2 per cent of the country remains forested.

In addition, UNEP will conduct an in-depth analysis of international environmental conventions to determine what opportunities and potential benefits they may offer Afghanistan.  The final report detailing the findings will be published in December.

**Guatemala

The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, yesterday completed a 10-day visit to Guatemala. 

In his speech before leaving the country, Mr. Stavenhagen mentioned the continuing discrimination against the half of Guatemala's people who are indigenous.  He urged the approval of legislation relating to racial and ethnic discrimination pending in Congress.  Stavenhagen will present his final report, including recommendations, to the Human Rights Commission next April.  The speech, in Spanish only, is available in a press release in my office.

**Security Council

The Security Council has scheduled no meetings or consultations today.

**United Nations University

The Secretary-General has reappointed Professor Hans van Ginkel of the Netherlands to a second five-year term as Rector of the United Nations University.  The appointment, which takes effect from 1 September 2002, was made after consultations with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the recommendation of the Governing Council of the University.

**Member State Dues

Two more Member States have paid their 2002 regular budget contributions in full today.  Madagascar made a payment of more than $33,000 and Mauritania more than $11,000.  That makes 100 fully paid-up Member States this year.

**Signings

At noon today, Peru ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.  The Protocol now has 94 parties.

And at about this time, Madagascar will be signing the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, the Convention on the Nationality of Married Women, and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court. So that is three signatures by Madagascar.

**Press Conferences

In Room 226:  at 1 p.m., Dominique De Villepin, the Foreign Minister of France; at 3:15 p.m., President Perez Musharraf of Pakistan:  4 p.m., Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Prime Minister of Denmark.  Denmark currently holds the Presidency of the European Union; and at 7:15 p.m., the Spokesman of the Foreign Minister of Japan will brief you.

That's all I have for you.  Any questions?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Can you elaborate on the importance and significance of the United States return to UNESCO?  What will it mean in the life of the organization to have a Group of 8 and permanent five country back in?

Spokesman:  I think you have anticipated my response. The reason the United States gave for pulling out of UNESCO was the need for management reform.  There have been consistent efforts over these years to improve UNESCO's performance and its organization.  I'm sure the leadership of UNESCO feels that their efforts have paid off.

Not only the United States, which signaled its approval by rejoining -— or announcing that it would rejoin today —- but I think other Member States, too, were pleased at the progress that has been made.  I think having a country the size of the United States, and with the resources of the United States, back in the organization will energize it and help it more effectively address its agenda. 

Question:  Have you any idea what the financial implications for UNESCO might be with the rejoining of the United States?

Spokesman:  It's a percentage, but it will be a percentage of a higher number, in theory.  It will be a matter for UNESCO members to sort out.  It will either mean a break for all the other members, who will bear a smaller burden of the existing budget, or they may be able to increase their activities and the budget.  But that is what the members will have to decide. 

Question:  Do you have the past amount the United States paid 18 years ago?

Spokesman:  We can find that out for you.  I assume it's 25 per cent. 

Question:  Yesterday the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement was listed as a terrorist group.  Could you give me more information on why it was listed?

Spokesman:  You will have to ask the Chairman of the sanctions committee for any substantive comment on that.  We don’t speak for the Security Council or any of its committees.

Question:  Is there a definition of "terrorist group"?

Spokesman:  All substantive questions should be addressed to the Chairman of the committee.

Question:  Do you know when the Security Council may begin to take up the question of Iraq?

Spokesman:  No, I have no idea.  I think that should be addressed to the President of the Council.

**Briefing by Spokesman for General Assembly President

Good afternoon.

General Assembly President Jan Kavan met with United States President George W. Bush this morning prior to opening the second plenary session of the General Assembly. 

In their meeting, President Kavan noted the importance of conflict prevention, the need to maintain and strengthen the international coalition against terrorism and support for sustainable development.  He especially emphasized the importance of the struggle against international terrorism. 

President Kavan expressed his preference for a joint approach to the situation regarding Iraq.  Both he and President Bush agreed that indifference is not an option.  Both agreed that the US will keep the General Assembly President fully and regularly informed about US policies and intentions prior to UN General Assembly discussions and decisions on related topics.

The atmosphere of the meeting was very cordial.

The President is chairing this morning’s plenary, at which the Secretary-General presented his report on the work of the Organization (A/57/1).  This was followed by opening of the general debate, at which Brazil is traditionally the first speaker.  Then followed addresses by 9 heads of State and one Prime Minister.  

President Kavan will attend the luncheon hosted by the Secretary-General.

This afternoon he will chair the third plenary session at which eight heads of State, one Prime Minister and one Vice-President and representatives of two other countries will speak.

This evening President Kavan will attend a reception hosted by President Bush at the World Financial Center.

I would like to give you a heads-up for tomorrow.

The Honourable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York, will address Member States at 9:45 a.m. in the General Assembly Hall, prior to the fourth plenary meeting of the General Assembly.  Any questions related to Mayor Bloomberg’s address should be directed to his press spokesman, Ed Schuyler, in the Mayor’s office, tel: 212-788-2958.

Thank you very much.

**Questions and Answers

Question: Could we have information on the status of the fifty-seventh Assembly Web site?  Because it doesn't seem to be functioning.  What can we expect?

Spokesman:  You can expect a functioning Web site very soon. We are aware that there have been some difficulties in getting information onto the Web site and are working on it.  In fact, we are working on it as we speak.

Question:  Will there be alternative arrangements so we can obtain copies of speeches in advance, or as soon as possible after it is delivered.

Spokesman:  Yes.  I will provide hard copies of speeches as well as put them on the Web site.

[The General Assembly Spokesman later said the problems were due to heavy volume and were now corrected.]

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