DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
AND THE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Michelle Montas, Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Good afternoon.

**China’s First Mission to Space

The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman:

“The Secretary-General extends his warm congratulations to the People’s Republic of China on its first mission into space, and hopes for the safe and successful completion of this maiden voyage.

“He notes that, as the exploration of space knows no national borders, the mission of the Shenzhou V is a step forward for all mankind.”

**Situation in Gaza

This statement concerns the situation in the Middle East:

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the deadly attack on a United States diplomatic convoy in Gaza today.  He views with alarm this apparently deliberate attack on diplomats.  The Secretary-General sends his condolences to the families of the three murdered Americans, and to all those who were injured.  He calls on the Palestinian Authority to act with speed and determination to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.”

**Security Council - Iraq

On Security Council matters, yesterday evening, the Council held closed consultations on Iraq to discuss the latest draft resolution.

Following a short break, a new draft resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom and Cameroon, was put “in blue”, as we say, that’s just before it goes to a vote.

The consultations broke up at about 10:30 last night.  Council members are scheduled to resume consultations on Iraq at 3 today, with a view to holding a formal meeting to vote on the resolution afterwards.

[It was later announced that consultations on Iraq would resume at 7 p.m.]

**Security Council - Middle East

Following last night's consultations, the Security Council voted on a draft resolution sponsored by Guinea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Syria, which would have declared illegal the “wall” being built by Israel on parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Security Council failed to adopt it due to a negative vote by a permanent member of the Council, the United States.

The resolution also received four abstentions from Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany and the United Kingdom.

**Security Council – Timor-Leste

The Security Council heard, in an open meeting this morning, a briefing by Kamalesh Sharma, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste.

He expressed his concern that as the downsizing of the UN Mission advances, the risk of potential threats to stability in both rural and urban areas may rise, adding that it is doubtful if the National Police would be able to respond effectively and have the confidence or maturity to handle security challenges by the end of the UN Mission’s mandate, which is the 20^th of May next year.

He underscored that the Timorese and many partner countries strongly believe that continued substantive support would be needed in the immediate post-UN Mission period.

**Viet Nam/Iraq

Earlier today, a cargo ship carrying close to 1,500 metric tonnes of rice docked at the Iraqi port of Um Qasr.

What is significant about this particular shipment is that it is Viet Nam’s first donation to the World Food Programme (WFP), and marks that country’s historic transformation from recipient of humanitarian aid to international donor.

Less than three years ago, Viet Nam was on the receiving end of humanitarian assistance.

The country has now progressed from being a significant importer of rice in the early 1980s to becoming the world's second-largest rice exporter.

The $500,000 worth of rice will become part of Iraq’s nationwide public distribution system of food.

For more information please pick up the WFP press release upstairs.

**Democratic Republic of Congo

Yesterday, we reported to you that the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would start today its deployment of troops in Bogoro, Iga Barriere and Marabo in the Ituri province.

Now the Mission has informed us that this deployment has been postponed due to the poor state of the roads caused by heavy rains.  The Mission said that the deployment would instead take place from Thursday of this week through Monday of next.

Meanwhile all the armed groups in Bunia are gathering their troops for their future cantonment.  The Party for the Unity and the Safeguard of the Integrity of Congo (that’s a political party) held an information meeting yesterday with some of its combatants.  The Union of Congolese Patriots, another faction, is using the UN radio to give information to their troops on where to assemble.

All the armed groups are required to give information to the UN Mission on the assembly areas of their respective troops by 19 October.

**Liberia

From Liberia, UN humanitarian agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners are scaling up their programmes to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs), tackle shortages of clean drinking water and re-open schools.

Humanitarian activities had been temporarily curtailed after a security incident in Monrovia on 1 October.

You can read more about this in the latest humanitarian update on Liberia in my office.

**Secretary-General’s Speech to Islamic Conference

As I mentioned yesterday, the Secretary-General had planned to attend the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference that is taking place in Malaysia, but, unfortunately, has had to remain in New York for very important discussions relating to Iraq, in which he is intimately involved.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, will attend the summit and will deliver a message on the Secretary-General’s behalf, which is to urge a united effort to address the extremism that is on the rise not only in Islam, but among many faiths.

He will also discuss recent developments throughout the Muslim world, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.

We have copies of his message, which is embargoed until 11 p.m. tonight, upstairs in my office.

**Secretary-General’s Messages

In a message issued today in Beijing, the Secretary-General notes the progress of the International Criminal Court, and says that the Court is an instrument of justice, not expediency.  It can and must serve as a bulwark against evil, but it must also act responsibly and deliberately.

We have copies of that message, as well as one delivered on the Secretary-General’s behalf by the UN Children’s Fund Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, to the High-Level Meeting on the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency, which is also taking place in Beijing today.  In that message, the Secretary-General says that making iodized salt available for all is one of the most affordable and effective investments we can make to build a better world for children.

**Afghanistan

From Afghanistan, in a press briefing held yesterday in Kabul, Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz, the Chairman of the Security Council Committee on Al-Qaida and the Taliban, told journalists that there was a strong suspicion of a link between drug trafficking and the increase in Taliban activities.

He said that one of the most important issues of his Committee is to detect the money trail and the transfers of money, which had become more sophisticated.  He said the organizations of Al-Qaida have adjusted in response to the sanctions, so the Committee would also look at other distribution channels of the money.

We have the full transcript of his press briefing available upstairs.

**Water Briefing

A briefing entitled “Water for Life:  Fresh Perspectives on the World’s Water Crisis” will take place in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium tomorrow starting at 10:30 in the morning.

This briefing, which is part of the International Year of Freshwater campaign, will feature speakers from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Permanent Mission of South Africa and Ocean Arks International, an NGO dedicated to improving the world's water supplies.

This briefing will continue in the afternoon at the UN Church Centre, where a panel discussion and an interactive session with the audience will be held.

You’re all welcome to attend.

**Migration

Participants from the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and regional organizations are meeting today and tomorrow at UN Headquarters to coordinate their activities regarding international migration.

The second Coordination Meeting on International Migration, organized by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, seeks to respond to the mounting challenges of international migration and to provide further input on the issue to the General Assembly.

**Special Rapporteur’s Visit to Brazil

The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Juan Miguel Petit, will visit Brazil from 3 to 14 November.

During his visit, which comes at the invitation of the Government, he intends to meet government authorities, representatives of the judiciary, parliamentarians, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations.

**UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

The UN refugee agency says Angelina Jolie has signed on for another two years as Goodwill Ambassador.

Starting this month, funds raised from exclusive worldwide previews of her new movie, “Beyond Borders”, will go towards UNHCR's refugee programmes.

Already, donations related to these events have started streaming in to the agency, with more than $100,000 raised in ticket sales so far for the movie's world premiere in New York.

In addition to her high-profile work for the refugee cause, the Goodwill Ambassador has also offered private thoughts on refugee situations in personal journals of her field trips.

She will donate all the proceeds from her upcoming book, “Notes from My Travels:  Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador”,

**World Chronicle Screening

The World Chronicle Programme produced by the Department of Public Information will feature Catherine Bertini, the Under-Secretary-General for Management.  That’s programme number 910.

And you can see it today at 3:30 on in-house television channels 3 and 31.

**Guest at Noon Tomorrow

Our guest at tomorrow’s briefing will be the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, Dileep Nair.

He will be here to launch his office’s annual report.

That’s all I have for you.

Questions and Answers

Spokesman:  Yes, Sylviane?

Question:  Would you state the official reaction of the Secretary-General on the wall built by Israel in the Palestinian territory?  Is it legal or not?

Spokesman:  That is a matter that has just been discussed by the Security Council.  I don’t think he would comment on that at this time.  I would have to look into the archives to see if he has made any comments in the past on it.  And if you check with me after the briefing I’ll let you know.  [He later referred journalists to the final Quartet Statement of 26 September.]

Question:  Here’s a question.  The Chinese astronaut brought a UN flag in orbit and, according to a report, he said hello to this world body.  What do you say in response?

Spokesman:  I did have information on that subject.  We were waiting for the successful completion of the mission before going public with it.  So I’m not authorized to say anything about the flag, but if the astronaut did extend his greetings to the United Nations, we say “Hello” back and wish him a safe return.  Michelle?

Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President

Good afternoon.  Thank you, Fred.

Today the Assembly is focusing on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD):  on the progress made in implementation and on international support for the programme.

You had a briefing from Professor Ibrahim Gambari on the programme yesterday.

Forty-nine speakers are expected to take the floor on this issue, for the first time in the General Assembly.

The debate was opened this morning by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mozambique, speaking on behalf of the African Union.

The debate on the question of “equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council” will resume Thursday at the end of the debate on NEPAD.

The debate is still open on two issues, the report of the Security Council and the question of membership of the Security Council.  It will be summarized by President Hunte on Thursday.

Women are the focus of the work of two Committees.

The empowerment of women and migrants were essential stepping-stones towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals of universal sustainable development and poverty-eradication, speakers told the Second Committee yesterday, as it took up its consideration of sustainable development and international economic cooperation.

The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (the Third) today is to begin its consideration of the advancement of women.

The Third Committee concluded yesterday its discussion of crime and drug issues.  Over the past few days, delegations have raised concerns about the trafficking of human beings, drugs and small arms and the general spread of organized transnational crime through the use of modern technology.

The threat posed by non-compliance with the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the reasons underlying recent, well-publicized cases dominated debate yesterday in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

The First Committee will continue its general debate on all disarmament and related international security items, this afternoon.

This is all I have for you.  Thank you.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General:  Any questions?  Well, thank you very much.

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