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 Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Michéle Montas, Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President.

Good Afternoon.

**Security Council -- Oil for Food

The administration of the “oil-for-food” programme for Iraq will be transferred from the UN to the Coalition Provisional Authority at midnight tonight.  There was a formal handover ceremony in Erbil earlier today.

The oil-for-food programme, the Secretary-General told the Security Council yesterday afternoon, was one of the largest, most complex and most unusual tasks ever entrusted to the Secretariat. 

It was also the only humanitarian programme ever to have been funded entirely from resources belonging to the nation it was designed to help.  The Secretary-General went on to tell Council members that the United Nations takes pride in the orderly handover of such a complex programme despite the current insecurity in Iraq.

“We are closing the oil-for-food programme”, he said, “but we remain determined to continue helping Iraq’s long-suffering people in whatever ways are still open to us and we are determined to implement the other mandates you have given us.”

Following the Secretary-General’s words, the Council adopted a Presidential Statement in which it underlined the exceptionally important role played by the oil-for-food programme in providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people during the sanctions regime.

The Council, in its statement, also emphasized the need for continued international efforts aimed at the reconstruction of Iraq.

Copies of the Secretary-General’s text and the Council’s statement are available in my office.

**Secretary-General –- Council Lunch

The Secretary-General will submit a report to the Security Council in the next few weeks on UN activities in Iraq and how it will proceed, he told Council members during his monthly luncheon with them yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after the lunch, the Secretary-General said his report would indicate how it can operate in Iraq.  He added that the United Nations is not sitting back and waiting for circumstances to change, but is trying to do cross-border work, offer advice and otherwise help the Iraqis.  In the immediate future, he said, “we’ll probably establish a regional office to focus on the Iraq activities”.

He said he would make two appointments on Iraq.  First, he would name someone fairly soon to handle the operations on the ground.  Then, in the not-too-distant future, he intends to name a new Special Representative.

We have transcripts of his press encounter upstairs.

**Security Council

The Security Council is holding an open meeting today on Iraq.

Council members were briefed by United States Ambassador John Negroponte and United Kingdom Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry on behalf of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

At 3 p.m. today, the Council has scheduled consultations on Cyprus and other matters.

Also regarding the Security Council, the Secretary-General mentioned to reporters after the Council luncheon yesterday that a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States is expected at UN Headquarters on Monday to appeal to members to establish a peacekeeping operation in Côte d’Ivoire.

**Migration

The Secretary-General was at Columbia University this morning, to deliver the Emma Lazarus Lecture on International Flows of Humanity.

In his lecture, the Secretary-General noted that currently some 158 million people are deemed to be international migrants – that is people who have chosen to live outside the country of their birth.  While mobility and diversity should be cause for celebration, he said that many “receiver” countries see migration as a problem which threatens jobs, absorbs social services and compromises security.

The Secretary-General said that these concerns had to be answered –- but the answers did not lie in halting migration but rather in managing its supply and demand rationally, creatively and compassionately, for the benefit of all parties:  sender countries, countries of transit, host countries and the migrants themselves.  He reminded the audience that migrants are human beings and not merely units of labour and that, consequently, human rights must be at the heart of all migration policies.

Regarding the situation in the United States, the Secretary-General said he understood the need to ensure that newcomers were not a threat to national security but he added:  “It would be a tragedy if this diverse country were to deprive itself of the enrichment of many students, and workers and family members from particular parts of the world, or if the human rights of those who would migrate here were compromised.”     

After delivering his lecture, the Secretary-General answered questions from the faculty and students at Columbia.  Asked about recent security-based restrictions on migration in European nations and the United States, he said he was concerned that some governments use “the T word”, terrorism, to curb human rights and civil liberties.  He added, “We need to protect society and fight terrorism, but I don’t think there is a trade-off between security and human rights and civil liberties.”

**Climate Risk

As we speak, the Secretary-General will be appearing at a summit of institutional investors who are discussing the risk posed to investments by climate change.  He will tell them that their investments can have a decisive impact on trends in future greenhouse gas emissions, and that they can help to create the conditions for efficient emission trading systems.

He will tell the representatives gathered today at the Economic and Social Council Chamber that, as investors responsible for more than 1 trillion dollars, they are the guardians of solemn promises to men and women who have entrusted them with their earnings.  The entire UN system is committed to intensifying its cooperation with them.

We have copies of his remarks upstairs.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman Regarding the Situation in Georgia

The Secretary-General has been following with interest and concern developments in Georgia, particularly since the parliamentary elections on 2 November.  He hopes that demonstrations will remain peaceful and that all concerned will exercise maximum restrain.  The Secretary-General urges the country's political leaders to do their utmost to seek a peaceful resolution to this situation. 

**Iran

The Board of Governors for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today accepted Iran’s proposal to sign on to the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows for unannounced nuclear inspections.  Iran still has to sign that protocol.

The Board will continue its discussions on Iran next Wednesday.

**Uganda

The United Nations humanitarian agencies have committed themselves to expanding their presence and activities in northern and eastern Uganda.

This follows discussions by the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, Jan Egeland, with senior colleagues from UN agencies, funds and programmes, as well as donors.  As you know, Mr. Egeland very recently visited Uganda as part of a wider regional tour.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, steps are already under way to send additional humanitarian aid workers to the northern part of Uganda to meet the increasing emergency needs there.

It’s estimated that the number of people internally displaced by fighting and in dire need of assistance and protection stands at 1.3 million.  Children, in particular, have suffered enormously.

We have more on this issue available upstairs.    

**UNIFEM

The elimination of violence against women must be a global priority, said Noeleen Heyzer, the Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women.

A new report issued today by the Fund singles out gender inequality as the chief source and breeding ground for the continuing scale of violence against women.

The report, entitled Not A Minute More:  Ending Violence Against Women, provides an overview of the achievements made by women globally to move the issue from the shadows to the foreground.

More information is available upstairs in a press release.  And please note that Noeleen Heyzer will brief you on this report on Monday at 12:45 p.m. in this room.

**Mexico

Yesterday’s discussion in the Security Council of the Oil-for-Food programme was the last appearance by Mexican Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, who is leaving that post.  The Secretary-General paid tribute to Ambassador Aguilar Zinser at the open meeting, saying that we will miss “his wit, his sense of humour, his independent spirit and his keen sense of justice and fair play”. He told the Ambassador, “You can leave with the full knowledge that you have made a difference, and you have made a contribution.”

The President of the Security Council, Ambassador Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins, said that Aguilar Zinser had distinguished himself with his intense interest in the UN role in post-conflict situations.

For his part, Ambassador Aguilar Zinser said it had been an unparalleled honour and responsibility to serve on the Council.

**Press Conference this Afternoon

At 1:00 in this room, the UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) will be sponsoring a press conference on the Investor Summit on Climate Risk.  Speakers will include New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier, and other United States State Treasurers.

**Guest at Noon on Monday

Our guest at the noon briefing on Monday will be Judge Dolliver Nelson, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and he’ll be here to talk about the work of the Tribunal.

**World Chronicle

DPI has asked me to announce that World Chronicle programme No. 919 will feature Hina Jilani, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders, and you can see that on in-house television channels

3 or 31 at 3:30 this afternoon.

And we have our Week Ahead at the United Nations for you to help you plan your workload for the next week.

Any questions before we go to Michele?

      Questions and Answers

Question:  [Inaudible] the Secretary-General and the departure of the Mexican Ambassador.  Is it not a departure from the diplomatic norms that the Secretary-General congratulate an Ambassador which is in so-called trouble with his own country?  

Spokesman for the Secretary-General:  We just reported on what took place in the Council yesterday, in an open meeting, at which several people, including the Secretary-General, made comments.

Question:  My question is [inaudible].   

Spokesman:  We’re just reporting what was put on the record.  Michele?

Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President

Thank you Fred, and good afternoon.

The next plenary in the General Assembly is scheduled for Monday.  There will be a joint debate on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, and on sustainable fisheries.  The General Assembly will also examine the New Partnership for Africa's Development and progress in implementation and international support for NEPAD.

As you know, the General Assembly held a closed meeting yesterday to pursue the Open-ended informal consultations of the plenary on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.

A working text, or if you prefer, a draft decision is being worked out with the facilitators after yesterday’s discussions.  It should be formerly adopted before mid-December.

Two committees are taking action today on resolutions.  As you know, the Third is taking action today on different resolutions on human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.  As of this morning, 36 resolutions are still pending, 20 have been formerly introduced, and 9 were scheduled to be voted on today.  Yesterday, as you probably already know, I’ve had a number of questions today, the Committee approved 10 draft resolutions on human rights questions.  Out of those approved, five were adopted by recorded votes.  Several draft resolutions were also introduced, only yesterday, on issues related to alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights.

The Fifth Committee is discussing the financing of several UN missions, the financing of the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire, the financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

President Julian Hunte met yesterday with the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union, Yoshio Utsumi, on the information summit in Geneva.

I would also like to attract your attention on the upcoming High-Level Conference on south-south Cooperation that will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 16 to 19 December.  The objective of the Conference is to further strengthen south-south cooperation in different areas including north-south issues, information and communication technology, trade, investment, finance, debt management, food, agriculture, transport, energy, health and education.  President Julian Hunte will participate in that High-Level Conference in mid-December in Marrakech.

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

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