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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Richard Sydenham, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by the Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General

**OIOS report

Good afternoon.  At 10:30 this morning, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) of the United Nations released a report that concluded an investigation into alleged sexual exploitation of refugees by humanitarian aid workers and peacekeepers in refugee camps in West Africa.

Dileep Nair, the Under-Secretary-General for OIOS, reported to you that the allegation in the report of widespread sexual exploitation of refugees was not confirmed by their investigation.  However, OIOS has confirmed that the conditions in the camps and in refugee communities in the three countries make refugees vulnerable to sexual and other forms of exploitation and such vulnerability increases if refugees are female and young.

OIOS has made 17 recommendations to assist the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners in further addressing the issue, and to follow up on cases with the relevant organizations employing staff who have been using their position for exploitative purposes.

The Secretary-General, in a note transmitting the report to the General Assembly, says he fully concurs with its recommendations and notes that measures are being taken or initiated to correct many of the issues raised in the report.

“Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian staff cannot be tolerated”, the Secretary-General says.  “It violates everything the United Nations stands for.  Men, women, and children displaced by conflict or other disasters are among the most vulnerable populations on earth.  They look to the United Nations and its humanitarian partners for shelter and protection.  Anyone employed by or affiliated with the United Nations who breaks that sacred trust must be held accountable and when the circumstances so warrant, prosecuted.”

We have copies of the report upstairs, as well as the statement made by Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kenzo Oshima, and a list of remedial measures taken by UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies.

**Security Council

The Security council is holding an open meeting today under the presidency of Cameroon on “Strengthening cooperation between the United Nations system and the Central African region in the maintenance of peace and security”.  There are 30 speakers, including the Foreign Ministers of Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as Equatorial Guinea.

There are 30 speakers, including the Foreign Ministers of Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Equatorial Guinea.

Also among the speakers are senior representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the African Union and the

11-member Economic Community of Central African States.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Tuliameni Kalomoh, noted that the political, socio-economic, security and humanitarian situation in several countries in the subregion is a source of serious concern.

Mr. Kalomoh cited, as an example of one of the challenges being responded to by the United Nations, the efforts by the United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to disarm, demobilize and repatriate foreign armed groups.  That affected not only the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Sudan.  The success of the initiative depends primarily on the political will of the countries in the subregion, and on the cooperation of the international community as a whole, especially by providing the necessary funds.

The successful integration of ex-combatants requires a comprehensive approach by the entire United Nations system, working hand in hand with the World Bank.  He said this approach should address security and human rights, as well as economic and developmental aspects of reintegration into society.

**Secretary-General's Travels

The Secretary-General is winding up his trip to Central Asia.  He is in Ashkabad, Turkmenistan, where he met today with President Saparmurat Niyazov. They met one-on-one for an hour before being joined by their delegations, and had an additional exchange in front of the press.

The Secretary-General told the press that he and the President had discussed how best to consolidate the peace in Afghanistan, and he thanked Turkmenistan for its contribution to that effort and for its plan to build a gas pipeline through Afghanistan.  Security, he said, is linked not only to Islamic extremism, but to economic and social development.

They also discussed environmental issues, and the Secretary-General congratulated Turkmenistan for its support of the treaty establishing a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia.

In the evening, the Secretary-General and his wife, Nane, were the guests of honour at a dinner hosted by the President.

This morning, the Secretary-General and his party concluded their visit to Tajikistan by touring the country’s Drug Control Agency, which was set up in 2000 with the assistance of the United Nations Drug Control Programme and has, since then, seized some 750 kilograms of heroin, mostly of Afghan origin.

Speaking to reporters as he was leaving Tajikistan, the Secretary-General said the work of the drug agency shows what can be achieved in cooperation with the United Nations and the countries that are determined to fight drug trafficking.

The Secretary-General's wife, Nane, also spoke to reporters about the trip to Tajikistan, saying that the Secretary-General had told the girls they had met on the trip that a nation that has not used 50 percent of its human resources will lose out, “like an eagle that cannot fly with only one wing”, she said.

**Deputy Secretary-General

The Deputy Secretary-General is on her way back to New York and she will be back in the office on Thursday.  This morning, she left Kabul after a three-day visit.  In Kabul today, she met with members of the Independent Human Rights Commission.  She was also briefed on the Commission’s work and its need for support from the United Nations.  

Ms. Fréchette said she was encouraged by her discussion with them and agreed on the importance of human rights awareness and education.  She said, “Human rights is not only a question of legislative backing, but also needs to be in the hearts and minds of people so that human rights can be defended over time.”

**Middle East

As you recall, late yesterday afternoon we issued two statements, one on the Middle East and one on Côte d'Ivoire, and I will just read those into the record.  On the Middle East, the Secretary-General "is appalled by the terrorist car bomb attack in northern Israel on Monday in which at least 14 people were killed and many others injured.  He reiterates his condemnation of attacks against civilians in the strongest possible terms and conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Israel.  The Secretary-General once again calls on all Palestinian groups to stop immediately all such acts of violence."

**Côte d'Ivoire

Concerning the Côte d'Ivoire, the Secretary-General, in the statement yesterday, said he is "encouraged by the cessation of hostilities.  He urges the parties to do everything possible to consolidate this important step through dialogue and national reconciliation.  The United Nations will continue to support the sustained efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help the Ivoirian people achieve peace, tolerance and prosperity in their country."

The Secretary-General calls "on other international partners to remain attentive to the needs of Côte d’Ivoire in this difficult period".

**Iraq Oil

Today, being Tuesday, we have our regular weekly update from the Office of the Iraq Programme, which points out that Iraqi oil exports under the programme registered an unprecedented average of three million barrels per day.

This is triple the average of daily volume of exports since the beginning of the current phase, phase 12, which started on 30 May 2002.  Previously, the average had fluctuated around one million barrels per day.

The week’s exports totalled 21.2 million barrels for an estimated revenue of $547 million.

So far in this phase, Iraqi oil exports have generated an estimated

$3.8 billion in revenue.  This current phase ends on 25 November. 

Iraq would need to export about $7 billion worth of oil in the current phase in order to meet its humanitarian programme budget of over $5 billion.

We have the full update upstairs.

**Bosnia and Herzegovina

Turning to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations Mission in that country as well as the Office of the High Representative today sent out letters to all Bosnia’s political parties and interior ministries, condemning any form of political obstruction in the work of the country’s law enforcement agencies.

The letter says, “We will not tolerate any attempts by political or criminal elements to obstruct or subvert the work of the police forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina”.

We have copies of that letter upstairs.

The United Nations Mission in Bosnia is wrapping up its work at the end of the year, and the "draw-down" of its personnel has started, with groups of police monitors from the Mission’s International Police Task Force starting to return to their home countries. 

We have more details on that in the mission notes from Sarajevo.

And I’d also like to remind you that tomorrow the Security Council will hold an open meeting on Bosnia, and that both Jacques Klein, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Bosnia, as well as Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative in that country, will be speaking.  In addition, Mr. Klein will hold a press conference at 3 p.m., right here in this room, to speak to you about the mission draw-down.

**International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Yesterday in The Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia unsealed the indictments of three Bosnian Serbs accused of involvement in the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica.  All three were charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

And we have a press release upstairs available with more information.

**Human Rights

Turning to human rights, the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the General Assembly on her work over the past year -- and this is the last such report to have come out under Mary Robinson’s tenure –- is out on the racks today.  In it, she says that the year-long period through the end of this August has been a challenging one for human rights.

There is no doubt, the report says, that the consequences of the September 11 attacks, which shocked the conscience of humanity, had the greatest impact on the human rights work of the United Nations, with international attention focused on eradicating the scourge of terrorism.

Yet the report adds that there is growing evidence that, since September 11, some States have taken measures that violate their human rights obligations, on matters ranging from torture to asylum rights to freedom of expression and privacy.  “What is new after September 11”, the report says, “is the perception in some quarters that human rights transgressions may be overlooked until terrorism is defeated”.

**UNHCR

UNHCR today reports that, with a fourth-quarter shortfall, it could be forced next month to halt a number of its obligations, unless donor governments provided immediate funding.

To get through the remainder of this year, UNHCR still needs $80 million dollars to maintain at least minimum standards for refugees under its already twice-reduced annual programme budget.

“These cuts have been extremely painful and have affected refugees and our work on their behalf around the world", said the High Commissioner, Rudd Lubbers.  “I now urgently call on donor governments to help us ensure that refugees get all the help they deserve through the end of this year.”

Concerning the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNHCR reports that hundreds of Congolese refugees fleeing weekend fighting for the eastern town of Uvira arrived in western Tanzania on Monday, as the impact of the most recent conflict in the south Kivu region spread to more countries in the Great Lakes region.

The more than 500 Congolese arrivals in Kigoma, Tanzania, bring to nearly 13,000 the number of Congolese who have sought asylum in neighbouring countries following the recent fighting in south Kivu.

The majority of the refugees are in Burundi, while smaller numbers have also gone to south-western Rwanda.

Also on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Food Programme (WFP) today expressed its concern at the situation in that country.  The WFP says it has put in place an emergency plan to respond to the needs of nearly half a million people, who are considered especially vulnerable.

For more information, you can pick up the Geneva briefing notes as well as the UNHCR briefing notes.

And one more note on the Great Lakes Region:  Carolyn McKaskie, who is as you know, the United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator will be our guest tomorrow and she will brief you on her recent trip to the region.

**Secretary-General's annual report on staffing

The annual report by the Secretary-General on the staffing of the United Nations Secretariat, showing its demographic composition and geographic distribution of staff of the past year, is out on the racks today.

**Signings

New Zealand signed today the agreement on the privileges and immunities of the International Criminal Court, becoming the 23rd country to do so.

**Concert for UN Day

And in observance of United Nations Day, a concert of traditional Korean music will be held here in the General Assembly Hall at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly will make opening remarks.

The concert consists of performances by the Korean Broadcasting System's Traditional Music Orchestra.

And all accredited correspondents who wish to attend should call the Media Liaison Office at (212) 963-6934.

**Press Conferences

And lastly, a press conference tomorrow in addition to that of Jacques Klein, which I've already mentioned.  Ambassador Gabriel Valdes of Chile and others will brief you on the implementation of the Security Council's resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security".

And at 1 p.m., Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will also be speaking to the press.

And that is it for me.  Any questions?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  The report on sex abuse, we've been waiting for it to come down and it hasn't.  When you said it's upstairs, is it in your office?

Spokesman:  The OIOS report?  Yeah, it's been in the third floor Spokesman's office since this morning.

Question:  [inaudible] who gave the briefing said that we could come up there and get it.

Spokesman:  Sorry.  "There" is room 378. 

Thank you.  Richard?

Briefing by the Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly

Good afternoon.

The First Committee continues consideration of draft resolutions on all disarmament and international security agenda items.

And the Special Political and Decolonization Committee this afternoon continues its general debate on a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.

The Second Committee concludes a general discussion on environment and sustainable development in the areas of disaster reduction, implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity and implementation of the programme of action for the sustainable development of small island developing States.

The Fifth Committee concludes a general discussion of the Programme Budget for the biennium 2002-2003, and review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the UN.

The Sixth Committee takes up draft resolutions on the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the security and safety of diplomatic missions, and protocols relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts.

This afternoon there will be a round table on “Reducing the risk of biological weapons”, co-sponsored by the Department for Disarmament Affairs and the NGO Committee on Disarmament.  Donald Mahley (United States), David Boucher (United Kingdom) and Professor Matthew Meselson of Harvard and Sussex Universities will speak.  The media are invited to attend this round-table, which will be held in Conference Room C at 3 p.m. today.

Any questions?  Thank you.

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