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

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
Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good Afternoon.

**Iraq

On the Iraqi humanitarian front, national staff from a number of
United Nations agencies are continuing to work under difficult circumstances.

In Baghdad, Hatim George, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) officer-in-charge, said the national staff feel they are “affirming their existence by continuing to work and doing what they can”.  Fifty UNICEF
first-aid kits have been distributed by government authorities to child care institutions and those looking after the elderly.

In northern Iraq, UNICEF staff in Suleimaniyah have started distributing fresh water to internally displaced families.  Staff have also been building latrines and putting up tents.

A team of national staff from the World Health Organization has sought permission to travel from Baghdad to Basra to assist with the potential public health emergency in Iraq's second largest city.  The lack of clean water in that city remains of great concern to United Nations agencies.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that about half of its staff in the north, in Erbil, are still reporting to work to continue food distribution, which has been scaled down to due to the reduced level of stocks in the warehouses.  The WFP has been concentrating its efforts where local residents have been hosting displaced relatives.

The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koïchiro Matsuura, yesterday urged the parties involved in the war in Iraq to respect the rights of journalists and refrain from targeting the media.  He called on them to recognize the need for a free flow of information. 

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)also expressed its concern at a report that military equipment has been found in a school.  The agency urges all parties in conflicts to ensure that schools are places that do not invite attack and remain a secure environment for children, where their right to education can be fulfilled.

For information on all these items, please pick up the notes from the Amman, Jordan press briefing that took place earlier today, as well as various press releases from the agencies.

**Secretary-General/Security Council

The Secretary-General yesterday afternoon opened the Security Council open debate on Iraq, which is continuing this morning, by saying that “all of us must regret that our intensive efforts to achieve a peaceful solution, through this Council, did not succeed”, and by calling for the Council to “rediscover its unity of purpose”.

He said that many people ask why the Iraqi Government did not take full advantage of the last chance it was given by the Security Council to disarm, while at the same time, many are seriously questioning whether it was legitimate for some Member States to proceed to such a fateful action now without first reaching a collective decision in the Security Council.

He warned that the inability of the Council to agree earlier on a collective course of action places an even greater burden on it today.

He drew particular attention to the need to protect the civilian population, the wounded and prisoners of war, and to bring relief to the victims.  He noted the concerted effort in the Council to reach agreement on adjustments to the “oil-for-food” program, adding his hope that it would soon succeed.  The United Nations will also launch a “flash appeal” to donors soon, he said.

The Secretary-General also underscored two guiding principles that should underpin all future decisions on Iraq:  respect for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence; and respect for the right of the Iraqi people to determine their own political future and control their own natural resources.

He noted that, in the last few months, people around the world have shown how much they expect of the United Nations and the Security Council, adding, “Many of them are now bitterly disappointed.”  Their faith in the
United Nations, he asserted, can only be restored if the Council is able to identify and work constructively toward specific goals.

As of this morning, 43 speakers were inscribed for the continuation of the open debate on Iraq.  And Council members are speaking now.

**Afghanistan/Security Council

This afternoon in an open meeting at the Council, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno will introduce the
Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in Afghanistan.

In his introduction, Mr. Guehenno will focus on the challenges ahead in the implementation of Bonn Agreement and how the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) proposes to meet them.  The Secretary-General noted in his report of 18 March, that security remains the most serious challenge facing the peace process in the country.

Mr. Guehenno’s introduction will be followed by consultations.
The mandate of UNAMA will expire tomorrow, and it is expected that a resolution to extend its mandate will be considered at a separate meeting of the Council tomorrow (Friday, 28 March).

**Blair-Annan meeting

A number of you have been asking about the meeting later today between the Secretary-General and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and I can confirm for you that their meeting will take place here at United Nations Headquarters, in the office of the Secretary-General starting at 6:15 p.m.

We will have the regular photo op at the start of that meeting.  And it is our understanding that the Prime Minister does not intend to talk to the press after the meeting concludes.

**Human Rights Commission

In a vote earlier today in Geneva, the Human Rights Commission decided not to hold a debate, known as a “special sitting”, on the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the current conflict in Iraq.

On Monday, nine countries had requested a special sitting to discuss the Iraq conflict, but their request was rejected today by a vote of 18 in favour, 25 against with seven abstentions.  Three countries were absent.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, said after the vote that all parties to the conflict must respect fundamental human rights and humanitarian law and take precautions to protect civilians.  In particular, he called on all parties to observe the principle of distinction between combatants and non-combatants, saying that parties must never carry out direct attacks against the civilian population or civilian objects, even if the purpose is to strike a military target.

Noting that the human rights of the Iraqi people have been violated for many years, the High Commissioner expressed regret that the human rights dimension of the situation in Iraq was not given the prominence it deserved over the years in the Security Council’s deliberations.

He urged the Commission, “Let us therefore redouble our efforts to make sure that we are not so powerless now.  Let us seek results.  Let us make a difference –- a real difference –- for the people of Iraq.”

We have copies of that statement upstairs.

**WFP -- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Three United Nations agencies today welcomed a substantial pledge of support by the Republic of Korea (ROK) for emergency feeding and health care programmes in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the
World Health Organization said in a press release that the ROK Government has indicated it will channel almost $20 million this year through the three agencies.

The Republic of Korea’s pledges are the latest in a series by donors to the DPRK, and bring to $72 million the level of funding secured by
United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the Red Cross movement for key humanitarian operations during 2003.  However, that is still
68 per cent short of the $225 million required to fully implement their programmes this year.

The press release from the three agencies is available in my office.

**Afghanistan Journalist

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed great concern today at an incident involving a Herati journalist, Ahmad Behzad.  He was beaten and arrested on 19 March, immediately following the opening of the Herat Office of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

Though he was released on that same day, UNAMA has learned that he was ordered to leave Herat, the city where he and his family live.  The UNAMA said that if those allegations are confirmed, it will be the urgent responsibility of the Afghan authorities both in Kabul and in Herat to investigate the case fully and to make sure that any wrongdoing does not go unpunished.  The UNAMA underscored that it is not acceptable that a journalist is prevented from doing his work in his own country.

You can find the briefing note from Kabul with more details in my office.

**Library News

The Dag Hammarskjöld Library has launched its first online edition of the United Nations Bibliographic Information System (UNBIS) Thesaurus.  This is the fourth edition of the Thesaurus; the first three being exclusively in print versions.  This is also the first time the Thesaurus is available in all six official languages of the United Nations.  The test version was launched in November 2001 and the current redesigned version has a completely new user interface. 

You’re invited to visit the site.

**SARS Update

The World Health Organization organized a virtual conference yesterday in which 80 experts from 13 countries discussed clinical features and treatment for patients suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.  They talked about symptoms, suspected viral agents and treatment options.  The group agreed to hold regular meetings using electronic communications to develop international guidelines for the care of SARS patients.

As of yesterday, 1,323 cases, including 49 deaths, have been reported.  This figure now includes statistics for China where there were 792 cases, including 31 deaths.

**Budget

Finally, budget news for today, three more Member States, I am glad to say, paid their 2003 budget contributions in full.  Egypt with payment of more than $1 million, Jordan with just over $100,000 and the Marshall Islands with about $13,000.  There are now 68 Members paid in full.  Yes, Mohammad?

Questions and Answers

Question:      Fred, this morning President Bush suggested a resumption of the oil-for-food programme.  Do you have any idea about this?

Spokesman:      No.  The consultations in the Council are continuing in the 661 sanctions committee on Iraq.  The Secretary-General said yesterday, as I reported to you and as you heard yourself when he came in in the morning, that following his luncheon the day before with the five permanent members, he was impressed with their determination to come up with a formula to deal with the urgent humanitarian needs in Iraq and on that basis he was hopeful that within a few days there would be a resolution agreed upon.  So, we’re waiting for the
661 committee experts to finish their negotiations and we’re hoping for an agreed upon draft soon.  Yes?

Question:      There was a gruesome attack on Monday in Shrinagar, Kashmir, Indian-administered Kashmir, where about 24 people were shot dead.  It’s believed to be JLFK but they did not claim the responsibility.  I am wondering if there’s any response from the Secretary-General?  Any official statement or anything on that?

Spokesman:      We issued a statement on that.  Anyone else?  Yes, Mr. Abade?

Question:      Fred, some NGOs including Doctors Without Borders have been asking for the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors to bring relief to civilians in some cities in Iraq.  Is the Secretary-General in a position to help in this regard?

Spokesman:      We would favour anything that gets emergency assistance to the Iraqis immediately.  For our own staff, the international staff are still excluded from going into Iraq until the situation is more stable.  As you have been able to tell from our reports on the work that the United Nations agencies are doing in Iraq, the local staff, particularly UNICEF staff, but many other agencies, are also continuing their work in Iraq using local staff.
So, anything that works, we favour.  Yeah?

Question:      Is the Secretary-General going to make a statement later, I mean, you mention that Tony Blair is not likely to, but would he be giving a briefing?

Spokesman:      No.  It was never his intent to speak to the press after this meeting.  The meeting was requested by the United Kingdom.  I think the Secretary-General is looking forward to getting a readout if you will, of
Mr. Blair’s meetings in Washington.  We expect that one of the principal focuses of the discussions will be the efforts to adapt the oil-for-food programme for

emergency humanitarian needs for Iraq.  And we will probably give you some kind of a general readout of a few lines after the meeting.

Thank you very much.

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