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 the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Fred Eckhard.

Good afternoon.  Joining us today, on my left is Ercan Murat, the UNDP Country Director for Afghanistan, and on my right, David Lockwood, the Deputy Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.  They are here to talk to you about developments in Afghanistan.  We’ll get to them in just a minute.

**North Korea

As we speak, Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is about to give a press conference in Vienna on North Korea, and you can hear the audio of that briefing live on in-house television channels 56 or 17 -– starting just about now.

The 35-member Board of Governors today adopted, with two abstentions, a resolution expressing its deep concern that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has not cooperated fully with the IAEA, and called upon it to do so.  Based on a report that ElBaradei provided the Board today, it also declared the DPRK to be in further non-compliance with its obligations under the Safeguards Agreement it has with the IAEA.

The Board, in its resolution, also decided to report the matter to the Security Council and General Assembly, while stressing its desire for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue.

ElBaradei earlier said his numerous and repeated efforts to engage the DPRK have been in vain, and the current situation “clearly sets a dangerous precedent”, with the Agency unable to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material in that country.  We have his remarks to the Board, and copies of the resolution, in my office.

**Humanitarian Briefing on Iraq

On Monday, we gave you a note in response to questions, saying that we can confirm that the Secretary-General will brief members of the Security Council informally tomorrow in his conference room on the 38^th floor on the status of UN Secretariat humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq.

While the Secretary-General still feels that war is not inevitable, he thinks that he should share the status of the UN contingency plans with the Council at this stage.  About two months ago, he asked the Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, to consult with UN agencies, funds and programmes for maximum coordination system-wide in the event of a humanitarian emergency.  He wishes to report now on the result of her efforts.  Such planning, we said, is a normal part of the UN’s work.

**UNMOVIC 

Meanwhile, Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), is now back in New York.

This afternoon he will meet with UNMOVIC’s College of Commissioners to discuss his recent trip to Baghdad and his upcoming briefing to the Security Council on Friday.  This is not part of the regular cycle of meetings for the College of Commissioners.  They will meet again on February 24 and 25 in preparation for UNMOVIC’s next quarterly report, which is due on 1 March.

**Oil-for-Food

According to the weekly figures released by the Office of the Iraq Programme, in the week ending February 7, Iraq exported 11.8 million barrels -- an average of about 1.7 million barrels per day.  The exports generated about $320 million.  For more information, pick up the report.

**Myanmar

The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman:

“The Secretary-General is concerned by the arrests by the Myanmar authorities of 12 members of opposition parties, including seven members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) as well as Sai Nyunt Lwin, the Secretary-General of the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD).

“He reiterates his strong belief that national reconciliation should begin with a constructive dialogue between the Myanmar authorities and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which is being facilitated by his Special Envoy, Razali Ismail.  For such a constructive dialogue to move forward, the opposition parties, including NLD, should be able to engage freely in political activities in Myanmar.  He once again urges the Myanmar authorities to release without delay all political prisoners, and to engage in substantive political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”.

**Security Council

The Security Council is meeting this morning on Angola.  Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, briefed Council members on the latest report on Angola.

In that report, the Secretary-General says that the UN mission has completed its mandated political tasks, as set out in resolution 1433 of

15 August 2002.  However, he says, the residual tasks, including those on human rights, mine action, reintegration and resettlement of ex-combatants, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery and electoral assistance, require continued attention and support.  The Secretary-General proposes that the UN Resident Coordinator resume the responsibility for UN activities in Angola upon the conclusion of the UNMA mandate on February 15, this year.  He goes on to say “The Office of the Resident Coordinator will be strengthened for this transitional period by adding a unit under his supervision to address the residual tasks, for which additional resources may be required”.

The Security Council is also expected to discuss the format of the Friday briefing on Iraq.  There is a request from the Non-Aligned Movement that the briefing on Friday be an open one.

And at 4 p.m., the Security Council committee on Counter-Terrorism is meeting to brief Member States.  That will take place in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

**Côte d’Ivoire-Humanitarian

On Côte d’Ivoire, Carolyn McAskie, the Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy for that crisis, at the conclusion of her five-nation West African assessment mission, said that the most serious area of concern was in the western part of that country.

At a press conference in Geneva, McAskie said that the area along Côte d’Ivoire’s Liberian border was where “Liberian militias were running rampant and drugged kids with guns were committing every kind of atrocity possible”.  These areas were “no-go” even for the UN traditional partners, such as the International Committee for the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontières.

She said she would now be reporting to the Secretary-General, mainly on the humanitarian situation, but she would also be making recommendations in other areas due to the complexity of the regional humanitarian, economic and political crisis.

McAskie said she felt that the fact that the peace accord was holding was a credit to the international community and the West African States.  Keeping Côte d'Ivoire stable was “critical” for the stability of the region, she said, which would suffer “disastrous” economic and political consequences should the country fall.

She was to meet with donors in Geneva today to encourage them to contribute to the life-saving requirements.  McAskie will brief you here on her mission at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.  We have the transcript of her remarks in Geneva, as well as an update on the humanitarian situation.

**Sierra Leone-Guinea

Also in West Africa, the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reports it conducted the first joint border patrol with the Sierra Leone Armed Forces in the northern district of Kambia, along the border with Guinea.  The three-day patrol, starting on February 8, was the first significant operation of its kind involving the two forces in that border area of the country. 

**Uganda-Humanitarian

A persistent lack of security and funding shortfalls are placing already vulnerable populations in greater danger in Uganda, and the situation in northern Uganda remains bleak.  See a humanitarian update on this situation for more details.

**Decolonization

The Secretary-General just spoke to the Special Committee on Decolonization, which opened its yearly session this morning in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.  He noted that this year’s meeting comes after Timor-Leste, a former Non-Self-Governing Territory, has taken its place in the United Nations as a sovereign nation.

The Secretary-General expressed his desire for the Committee to continue to seek appropriate arrangements for the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories that remain in the world, adding that many of them have made considerable progress by developing their constitutional, political and economic systems.  We have copies of his remarks upstairs.

Press Releases

Two press releases to flag for you today.

The first announces the visit of the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund, or UNICEF, to Kenya.  Carol Bellamy will begin her two-day visit tomorrow to meet some of the children who will benefit from an initiative to assist the Government in implementing its policy to provide free primary education.

As you’ll recall, UNICEF is providing basic education kits for use by teachers and students in primary schools in Nairobi and other districts.  She will also meet with President Mwai Kibaki and key cabinet ministers.

The second press release is from the World Health Organization announcing a new report on long-term care.  The report focuses on many of the ethical and social issues associated with the long-term care of people suffering from chronic illnesses or disabilities.  A recent WHO study reveals that in many developing countries, the need for long-term care will increase by as much as 400 per cent in the coming decades.  We have that report, if you’re interested, on the WHO Web site.

Budget

Budget news.  Two more Member States have paid in full -- we are happy to say -- for 2003, although a little bit too late to make it to the honour roll. Croatia made a payment of more than $500,000 and Mauritius over $100,000, bringing the total number of paid in full to 42 Member States.

Noon Briefing Guest

And finally, our guest at the noon briefing tomorrow will be Stephen Lewis, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa.  As you know, James Morris, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for humanitarian needs in southern Africa, and Stephen Lewis, have just completed a mission to southern Africa and they have prepared a report.  Lewis will brief you on the contents of that report.

That’s all I have for you.  Any questions, before we go to Mr. Murat and Mr.Lockwood?  All the way in the back.

Questions and Answers

Question:  There were a couple of announcements in Ankara and in Athens on the Secretary-General’s visits on the 24^th through 26^th, and also Nicosia.  Can you confirm these visits?

Spokesman:  I think those announcements might have been a bit premature, but I can say that the Secretary-General is, indeed, considering a trip to the region during the last week of February, which is the period an agreement on Cyprus must be reached, if the opportunity that now exists is to be seized, as I have said a number of times.  And he strongly hopes that negotiations underway will be successful and is prepared to continue playing a personal role to this end.

Greece and Turkey have been approached on this possible visit.  The precise itinerary of his travel will reflect a judgement made closer to the time regarding the possibility of his playing a personal role in bringing efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement to a decisive conclusion.  And Alvaro de Soto, the Special Adviser on Cyprus, is in New York today.  He is seeing the Secretary-General this afternoon, as you probably know, and he’ll be here through tomorrow.

Question:  Are the elections in Cyprus playing a role in his consideration about going also to Nicosia?

Spokesman:  I don’t want to comment on the election issue.  Thank you.

Question:  According to the imminent humanitarian emergency planning for Iraq, is there any information about budget?

Spokesman:  We haven’t said much on budget.  Why don’t we see what the Secretary-General tells the Council members informally tomorrow and whether we can release any of that information after his briefing.  We’ll see.

Question:  I think that there was a police drill outside the building this morning involving a package coming from a bus.  Did you know about that drill?

Spokesman:  I didn’t. I heard that our own Security briefly closed the cafeteria here in what they described as a drill. This was outside the gates on First Avenue?

Correspondent:  Yes, on First Avenue.  They took a package from a bus, but the Police Department said it was merely a drill.

Spokesman:  They didn’t inform us about closing the cafeteria, either.  But, I guess, these games are necessary.

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