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 Hua Jiang, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman

The following is a Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the bombings in Rosh Ha’ayin and Ariel:

“The Secretary-General condemns the two suicide bombings in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha’ayin and outside the settlement of Ariel today that killed two Israelis and wounded some dozen others.  He extends his sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims of these terrorist attacks.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the current escalation in the violence, including the recent incursion into Askar refugee camp near Nablus and last night’s shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip.  He urges both parties to adhere to their Road Map obligations and to exercise restraint in the face of provocation.”

**Liberia

An eleven-person team composed of UN agencies and led by Deputy United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Carolyn McAskie has arrived in Monrovia today to accelerate humanitarian operations.

McAskie plans to meet today with UN national staff and humanitarian non-governmental organizations, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross, to discuss the most effective ways to proceed with humanitarian operations now that UN international staff have returned.

Delivering food to people in need is the top humanitarian priority.  Several NGOs are currently distributing high protein biscuits supplied by the World Food Programme.

On the peacekeeping front, no soldiers or equipment were flown to Monrovia from Freetown by the UN mission in Sierra Leone because of bad weather in the Liberian capital.  Helicopters that left for Monrovia had to return without landing due to heavy rain.

Jacques Klein, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Liberia, is scheduled to leave later today for the region.

On the ground, humanitarian agencies reported stepped up aid efforts.  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it has brought food and some equipment for the agency's office in the Liberian capital.  On Wednesday, UNHCR will send in another plane with two additional international emergency staff, as well as urgent supplies such as fuel and other equipment for the office.

UNICEF reported that 10 international staff had arrived in Monrovia, including three specialists in child protection.  The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said high-energy biscuits and oral rehydration salts would be arriving by plane Thursday or Friday.  UNICEF said its main priority was the protection of children and flagged the dire situation of street children in Monrovia, who had no access to food or water.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), two WFP international staff had arrived in Monrovia yesterday.  WFP hoped to have quick access to its food stocks in warehouses in the port of Monrovia.  Once WFP had access, it could immediately start the distribution of food.

David Crane, the Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, said that the departure of Charles Taylor from power and from Liberia constitutes a significant but incomplete step forward for West Africa in establishing a just and stable peace.  He called on the international community to ensure that Taylor stand before the Special Court for Sierra Leone to face the serious charges against him.

“Mr. Taylor left Liberia as an indicted war criminal and remains an indicted war criminal”, Crane said.

**Iraq

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, in a statement we have available upstairs, warmly welcomed the formation by Iraq’s Governing Council yesterday of the Preparatory Committee that is to find the appropriate mechanism to draft a new Iraqi constitution.  He wishes the Committee success in achieving its goal in a speedy manner.

Vieira de Mello reaffirmed that the United Nations will put its capabilities at the disposal of the Iraqi people, if they so request, to support the process of drafting a new constitution.

In other Iraq news, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recommends that States maintain a ban on forced returns to Iraq and that no returns take place at this time, including of people whose requests for asylum have been rejected.

A UNHCR convoy that was to bring refugees back to Iraq from Saudi Arabia’s Rafha camp yesterday has been delayed, due to recent protests in Basra.  That convoy is now expected to enter Iraq on 16 August.  We have more details in today’s UNHCR notes.

**Security Council

There are no Security Council meetings or consultations scheduled today.

Tomorrow, the Security Council has scheduled consultations on Afghanistan, with the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi attending.

**Democratic Republic of Congo

During a visit to Uganda on Monday, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), William Swing, announced that the UN mission troops would be ready to take over from the Multinational Force due to withdraw from Bunia on 1 September.

While in Kampala, Swing also updated the Ugandan Government on recent developments in the DRC peace process.  He confirmed that the transitional government effectively took off.  A meeting of armed groups operating in Ituri is scheduled for next Thursday in Kinshasa.  We have a press release with more details upstairs.

**Kosovo

The UN mission in Kosovo today announced that a weapons amnesty policy would be in effect throughout Kosovo for the month of September.  During that time, any person in Kosovo who possesses a weapon without valid authorization can surrender it to law enforcement authorities without fear of prosecution.  But, if Kosovars are found to possess illegal weapons after the 30 September deadline, they could face imprisonment and fines of up to 7,500 euros.  We have more details in a press release upstairs.

**Angolan Refugees

With over 12,000 Angolan refugees going home since the start of voluntary repatriation on 20 June, the UN refugee agency is increasing efforts to open up areas of return and to help returnees reintegrate in their home areas.

A 27-year civil war displaced an estimated 4.5 million Angolans within the country and drove some 450,000 others into the region before the fighting stopped in 2002.  To finance these repatriation and reintegration efforts in Angola, UNHCR has appealed for $29 million and received $16 million so far.

**Russia

The Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Russia today reiterated its appeal for the release of Arjan Ekrel, who had headed the Doctors without Borders relief mission in the Russian republic of Dagestan before he was abducted a year ago.  The UN condemns his continuing abduction and underscores that such actions undermine the effective provision of humanitarian assistance to thousands of civilians in need in the northern Caucasus.

**Youth

Today is International Youth Day, and the Secretary-General, in a message to mark the occasion, says that youth unemployment is a problem affecting all countries, with an estimated 74 million young people currently out of work.  We must develop strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work, he says –- a task that will become more crucial over the next decade, when more than a billion young people will enter the working-age population.

And that’s all I have for you.  Any questions?  Yes, please?

Questions and Answers

Question:  Is there any status on Arjan Ekrel, any status of his whereabouts?

Deputy Spokesman:  We don’t have information on that, no.  All right, have a very good afternoon.