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

AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

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

Briefing by the Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Good afternoon.

**Statements Attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General

We have a number of statements that we are issuing today, which I will read to you.

**Iraq

The first statement is on the situation in Iraq:

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s terrorist attack in Najaf, in which the spiritual leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution (SCIRI), Ayatollah Mohammad Baker Al-Hakim, and many others were killed.  He is appalled that this incident took place just after Friday prayers in one of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest sites.  The Secretary-General has repeatedly stated that all terrorist acts, whatever their justification, are morally reprehensible and wholly indefensible.

In the difficult days ahead, the Secretary-General urges all political and religious groups in Iraq to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from further acts of violence and revenge.  The Secretary-General reaffirms his belief that only a credible, inclusive and transparent political process can lead to peace and stability in Iraq.

**Rwanda

We have a statement concerning Rwanda:

The Secretary-General welcomes the news that the presidential elections in Rwanda –- the first since the genocide of 1994 –- were conducted in a generally peaceful manner with a high voter turnout, for which he commends the people of Rwanda.  The Secretary-General considers this election an important step towards the establishment of a pluralistic multiparty democracy in Rwanda.  He expresses the hope that the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month will further contribute to that process.

**Nepal

We have a statement concerning the situation in Nepal:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the breakdown of the ceasefire and the recent upsurge in violence in Nepal.  He remains convinced that there is no alternative to the continuation of dialogue and a peaceful solution to the conflict.

The Secretary-General urges all concerned, in particular the insurgents belonging to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), to return to the negotiating table.  He reminds the parties of their responsibilities to protect civilians and abide by international humanitarian law.

**Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece

Wealso have upstairs a statement we issued yesterday concerning the situation between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece.  I won’t read that, but it is available upstairs.

[The statement reads as follows:

Pursuant to the Interim Accord of 13 September1995, the representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met on 27 August 2003 under the auspices of the Secretary-General.  The Greek side was represented by Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis.  The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was represented by Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov.  The Secretary-General was represented by his Special Representative, Matthew Nimetz.  The parties continued to exchange views in the context of article 5 of the Interim Accord.  They decided to meet again on a date to be agreed.]

**Liberia

Turning to Liberia:  The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Liberia, Jacques Klein, has returned to Monrovia, where a second wave of the assessment team is due later today.  Klein is working with the team to finish a report of the Secretary-General for the Security Council on the situation in Liberia.

We reported to you yesterday about his meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where his spokeswoman says that Klein met with humanitarian agencies, which asked him to raise with the Government the idea of conducting cross-border operations into Liberia by opening humanitarian corridors between Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia.

Klein did, and President Laurent Gbagbo and other government officials indicated they would facilitate flow of humanitarian assistance.  The President and Prime Minister Seydou Diarra pledged their support for a UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia and stressed the importance of stabilizing the volatile border region between the two countries.

On the ground today, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and other partners was starting to sanitize some of the wells in Monrovia.  WHO said in Geneva that some 5,000 wells would be treated with chlorine.

**Bombing of UN Compound in Baghdad

Earlier today in Geneva, some 2,000 people filled the assembly hall of the UN Offices in that city to pay tribute to all the victims of the bombing of the UN offices in Baghdad.

In her address, the Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Fréchette, said no ceremony, no speeches can adequately express the sadness that we feel since the vile attack which cost the lives of so many of our colleagues.  Their death, she said, is not only a great loss to the UN family but also to the people of Iraq, who have also suffered so much.

During the ceremony, music, poems and photos were screened as a personal tribute to each of the victims.  Family, friends and colleagues attended the ceremony.  Also there were Permanent Representatives of Member States, Swiss federal and local officials, as well as Adnan Pachachi, member of the Iraqi Governing Council.  Mrs. Annan also attended the ceremony.

**Security Council

In two letters sent to the President of the Security Council yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General nominated prosecutors for the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, in accordance with a Council resolution that divided the prosecutor's job -- which is currently held by one person, Carla Del Ponte.

The Security Council will vote two resolutions concerning the appointments, but no date has yet been set.

There are no consultations or meetings scheduled for today.

Starting 1 September, the Council Presidency will be assumed by the United Kingdom.

**Security Council/Economic and Social Council

Also on the racks today is a letter from the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) addressed to the Security Council President on ECOSOC’s work on African post-conflict countries, notably Guinea-Bissau and Burundi.

ECOSOC President, Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, says he looks forward to continued interaction between the two bodies on the support to be provided to African post-conflict countries and on other issues of common interest.

**Angola

WHO Director Lee Jong-Wook conducted his first country visit to Angola, where he stressed the need to eradicate polio and measles in Angola and that successful nationwide immunization campaigns show that it is possible to provide health care for all in a country that was torn by almost three decades of civil war.

The three-day polio campaign aims to vaccinate more than 5 million children under the age of five.

And today being the last day of the week, we do have the “Week Ahead” for you.

Before I turn to Richard, any questions?

Questions and Answers

Question:  After today’s bombing in Najaf, how much pressure is there now on the UN to step in and help deal with the situation in Iraq?

Associate Spokesman:  Our political presence in Iraq after the bombing was literally decimated.  We are in the process of reassessing our security situation there, and the way we can best perform our core humanitarian and political functions.  Whatever we can do to help the situation we will do within the context of the current security situation.

Question:  Who is “we”, the UN, you or the Security Council, or together?

Associate Spokesman:  The UN, the Secretary-General through the mission he is given by the Security Council.

Question:  Is the bombing likely to increase the pressure that the UN seems to be undergoing at the present time from the United States to contribute troops to Iraq?

Associate Spokesman:  That is an issue that is being discussed –- the military issue –- within the Security Council members, and I can’t really predict what effect this will have on those discussions that –- as I understand –- are currently being held.

Question:  What about the situation in the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo?

Associate Spokesman:  I’ll see what update I can get to you about the situation on the ground.

Question:  The European Union has said that the election in Rwanda did not meet “free and fair” standards.  Does the Secretary-General share those concerns?

Associate Spokesman:  The Secretary-General today welcomed the presidential election.  We had no observers on the ground, unlike the European Union.  But I’ll try to get some more guidance for you on that.

Richard?

Briefing by the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly

Thank you, and good afternoon.

Today I would like to give you a heads-up about meetings of the General Assembly bodies in the next couple of weeks, leading up to the end of the fifty-seventh session.

Next Wednesday, the Committee on Host Country Relations will meet in the ECOSOC chamber at 3 p.m.

Next Thursday, 4 September, President Jan Kavan (Czech Republic) is co-chairing an interactive discussion on the role of civil society in conflict prevention.

The interactive discussion, co-hosted by President Kavan and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Danilo Türk, will take place, as I said, on Thursday, 4 September 2003 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.  Guest speakers will include Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and representatives of civil society groups who will present reports from their regions.  UN accredited media are invited to attend.

Just a little bit of background on this meeting:  the principal goal of this meeting is to build on the momentum created by the adoption this session of the General Assembly resolution on the prevention of armed conflict, which, as you know and I reported several times, is a major priority of the President of this session.  It is to create follow-up activities and initiatives; to explore how best to link the work of civil society in preventing armed conflict with the work of governments and the UN in this arena; and to update Member States about the ongoing preparatory work towards a major international conference devoted to the role of civil society in conflict prevention which is planned to take place at UN Headquarters in 2005, as well as to plan for regional preparatory meetings leading up to this major conference in 2005.

On Monday, 8 September, President Kavan will address the opening session of the fifty-sixth annual DPI/NGO Conference, on the theme “Human Security and Dignity:  Fulfilling the Promise of the United Nations”.

And from Monday to Wednesday, 8-10 September, the Committee on Conferences will hold its substantive session.

Also, to help your planning for the fifty-eighth session, available at the 3^rd floor documents counter will be, very shortly after this briefing, the proposed programme of work and timetables for the First, Special Political, Second and Third Committees, as well as the provisional list of speakers for the high-level plenary meeting on HIV/AIDS to be held on Monday, 22 September.  So far 112 Member States are scheduled to speak.

And I am sure you have seen the provisional list of speakers for the General Debate, No.2, Rev.1, which is available in the Spokesman’s office also.

Any questions?  Thank you and have a good holiday weekend.

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