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

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES 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 Marie Okabe, Associate Spokeswoman for the Secretary-General, and Michelle Montas, Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President.

Associate Spokesman:

Good afternoon.  Fred Eckhard is away and the Deputy Hua Jiang is getting ready to go to Kosovo, so I’m filling in today.

We have two statements attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General.  One is on the terrorist attacks in Baghdad and the second one is on the Middle East.

I’ll start with the one on Baghdad.

** Statement Attributable to Spokesman -- Terrorist Attacks in Iraq

“The Secretary-General is deeply dismayed at the latest series of terrorist attacks which took place in Baghdad today, resulting in numerous deaths and casualties.  He unequivocally condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

“The Secretary-General deplores the targeting of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Baghdad.  The ICRC is a universally respected humanitarian organization.  Its neutrality and impartiality are the mainstays of its operations.  Today’s attack on it is a crime against humanity.

“The Secretary-General, who spoke directly with Jakob Kellenberger, President of the ICRC, this morning, expresses his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who have been killed or injured in these attacks.  He shares their sorrow and grief.

“The Secretary-General reiterates once again that all terrorist acts, from whatever quarter and whatever their justification, are morally repugnant and indefensible.  He calls on the authorities in Iraq to take every possible measure to bring those responsible to justice.”

**SG Statement on Middle East

This is the second statement -- now on the Middle East:

“The Secretary-General continues to follow with great concern the ongoing cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.  He deplores all acts that fuel and intensify the conflict.

“The Secretary-General reminds the Israeli authorities that house demolitions amount to collective punishment, which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.  During the past month, some 200 buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed rendering more than 2,000 people homeless.  In this connection, he deplores the destruction by the Israeli military of three 13-story buildings in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night.

“The Secretary-General remains convinced that the only outcome that will bring real security to both sides is a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East in which two sovereign and independent states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders.

“He strongly urges Israel to cease and desist immediately from all actions, such as continued settlement activity and the so-called security fence, that make that outcome more difficult by creating unilateral facts on the ground.”

We also have a statement issued yesterday in Jerusalem from the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed Larsen, and that’s available upstairs in our office.

**Lebanon

According to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, a Hezbollah unit fired mortars and missiles towards Israeli positions in the Sha’ba farms area.  The Israeli army subsequently responded with artillery and aerial bombs.  At this stage, we have no report of casualties.

**Security Council

Here at UN Headquarters, the Security Council this morning held consultations on Western Sahara, on which it received a briefing from Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno on the Secretary-General’s latest report.  That report recommended a three-month extension in the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, until 31 January 2004.  Council members also received a draft resolution, submitted by the United States, concerning the extension of the UN Mission’s mandate.

The Security Council then held a formal meeting, in which its members voted unanimously to change the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, to allow for an increase in the number of short-term (or “ad litem”) judges.

**Afghanistan

And to re-cap from last Friday, in a regular briefing on Afghanistan to the Security Council Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, noted that many of the fundamental causes of insecurity in that country “remain unresolved”, adding that insecurity comes from terrorist attacks, factionalized government ministries and weakening of the political compact that supports the provisional government.

Guéhenno pointed to "worrying signs" that the political compact that helps support the Government of President Hamid Karzai “may be weakening”.

He added that further reforms are needed in national security ministries and all other Government ministries, which remain influenced by factional and ethnic interests.

**Central African Republic

We have a message on the Central African Republic.

In a message to the participants of the Dialogue of National Reconciliation in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, the Secretary-General congratulated the participants for the spirit of openness, forgiveness and understanding, which characterized their discussions.

Their dialogue brought political parties, civil society and religious leaders, as well as representatives of the international community, who facilitated the discussions.

In the message, which was delivered by the his Personal Representative in the Central African Republic, General Lamine Cissé, the Secretary-General noted that those present during these discussions had understood the need for a permanent dialogue to sustain national unity and guarantee the well-being of future generations.  National reconciliation, he added, is not just an event; it is a process that requires determination, well beyond the transition period.

We have the full text of this message upstairs; it’s available in French only at this time.

**SG –- UN Reform

The Secretary-General this morning addressed the annual meeting at the United Nations of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, telling the delegates that the last year has been a difficult one, with many people around the world wondering what the United Nations can do to protect them and ensure their security.

He said that one reason that question is so widely asked is that the inter-governmental structures of the United Nations reflect an earlier age, most clearly in the case of the Security Council.  The other UN institutions, including the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council, also bear re-examination, he added.  We have copies of his remarks upstairs.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, meanwhile, addressed the General Assembly on UN reform today, noting the “agenda for further change” that the Secretary-General introduced last year, and adding that there remains one unfinished piece of business:  reform of the planning and budgetary system.

The Secretary-General has emphasized that the process needs to be more strategic and results-oriented and less time-consuming.

“Reform is not a single, specific destination”, she said.  Ultimately, she added, it reflects openness to new ideas and partners, and a continuous search for better ways of working.

**Ralph Bunche

On Friday evening, the Secretary-General opened an exhibit on the life and UN career of Ralph Bunche, as part of the celebration for the centenary of the birth of the long-time UN official.  We have his remarks upstairs.

**SG –- AIDS

And then yesterday, the Secretary-General spoke, in a video message, to the eleventh International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS, which took place in Kampala, Uganda, and he said he admired the courage of HIV-infected people, as they have stood up publicly in the struggle against stigma, silence and discrimination.  He added it is necessary for Governments to provide leadership, by introducing laws and policies against discrimination and providing access for treatment to all who need it.

**UNEP/Habitat

We also have a press release upstairs today in which the United Nations Environment Programme announces the co-winners of this year’s prestigious Sasakawa Environment Prize.  You can read more about that in the press release.

Another press release we have from UN Habitat regarding a new donation to the agency’s Water and Sanitation Trust Fund.  The fund is designed to assist African cities to promote investment in the water and sanitation sectors.  Please pick up the press release if you want to read more about that.

**Press Conference Announcement

And then just a re-scheduling -- the press conference scheduled for 12:45 this afternoon, by Ambassador Heraldo Munoz of Chile, who is the Chairman of the Security Council Sanctions Committee concerning Al Qaida and the Taliban, has been postponed to Friday, 31 October, here in room 226 at 10 a.m.  He has just completed a mission, as the Chair of this Committee.

And that’s all I have for you today.  You have any questions for me?  If not, Michele…

Spokeswoman for General Assembly President

Thank you Marie, and good afternoon.

President Julian Hunte, this morning, addressed the issue of UN reforms, also, in particular, General Assembly revitalization, in two different meetings.

Speaking at the opening session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Hearing here today, he said:

“The reform we envisage will not change the essential nature of international relations, but, if done well, it can transform the General Assembly into a more viable instrument to secure consensus and to follow-up the implementation of its decisions.  We seek to foster the building of a global parliament more efficient in its decision-making process and more capable of taking effective decisions.  Above all, we need a United Nations General Assembly whose decisions are respected and have a decisive influence on the actions of Member States.”

“A streamlined United Nations will not solve the problems of the world”, he added, “but such an organization will be able to muster more support for credible proposals and to have its actions carry more political weight.”

The General Assembly began also, discussion this morning of a cluster of reform items.  Particular attention is focused on item 55, the “Revitalization of the General Assembly.”

In addressing the Assembly this morning, President Julian Hunte underlined his commitment to the reform process, which he considers a matter of the highest priority.

He stressed practical steps already taken to streamline the work of the Assembly and to make better use of the General Committee, as a body providing coordinating and oversight advice and support to the President.

Among these steps, we note one provision which confers specific responsibilities on the President, but had not been previously implemented, that of providing assessments of the debates, for instance on the report of the Security Council.

“The comments made by speakers in the General Debate” he said, “including those made by a large number of Heads of State and Government, indicate that Member States consider that the time had come for serious consideration to be given to a wide range of reform issues.  Reform and revitalization of the General Assembly figure prominently among these issues”.  Stressing the need for action, he told the Assembly, “in order to move forward, we need to speak frankly to each other and we need to make specific proposals”

He also announced, upon the conclusion of this debate, the appointments of “facilitators” to move the process forward.

I will note that an informal “Framework for Action” paper from the President of the Assembly was circulated a week and a half ago, during informal open-ended plenary consultations, which took place on 17 October.

President Hunte also asked Member States, this morning, “to demonstrate a combination of imagination in proposing solutions and a willingness to be flexible during the process of negotiation”.

On the economic front, President Hunte will chair this afternoon, an open-ended panel of the General Assembly on commodities from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Conference Room 3.  The panelists are drawn from among the eminent persons convened by UNCTAD to examine and report on commodity issues.

This is a prelude to a week that will be dominated by the two-day UN General Assembly dialogue, 29-30 October, on issues relating to trade, aid, debt, investment, domestic finance and international financial architecture, with more than 30 ministers in attendance.

President Julian Hunte will chair the dialogue, which he will address it himself, on Thursday morning.

The plenary will also be addressed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, World Bank President James Wolfensohn, IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero, UNDP Administrator and UN Development Group Chairman Mark Malloch Brown, Economic and Social Council President Gert Rosenthal, and International American Development Bank Director Enrique Iglesias.

Assembly President Hunte, will issue a summary of the meeting on 30 October.

However, we will also have a press conference with him the day before on the whole issue.

This is all I have for you today.  Thank you.

Questions and Answers

Question:  President Hunte’s two speeches from this morning, were they generally available?

Spokeswoman for General Assembly President:  The speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Union is already on the web site.  If you go to Presidency Statements, it will be there.  The second that he made in the Assembly this morning, I don’t have yet.

Associate Spokesman:  If there are no other questions, have a great afternoon.

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