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 Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, and Michéle Montas, Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President.

Good Afternoon.

I understand we have visiting journalists here today.  Welcome to the United Nations, and I hope you are enjoying your stay here.

**Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General --Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Ethiopia and Eritrea

I have a number of statements today.  The first one is regarding a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Ethiopia and Eritrea:

“The Secretary-General has been very concerned about the lack of progress in the implementation of the Algiers Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

“In order to help move the process forward, the Secretary-General offered his good offices to the two parties, and has appointed Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, former Foreign Minister of Canada, as his Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

“The Secretary-General hopes that, in carrying out this important assignment, the Special Envoy will enjoy the full cooperation of all parties concerned.”

We have copies of Mr. Axworthy’s bio in the Spokesman’s office.

**Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General -- Agreement reached by Somali Leaders

The second statement we have is on Somalia:

“The Secretary-General welcomed the agreement of Somali leaders on a transitional charter signed in Nairobi on 29 January.  He encourages Somali leaders to build on the progress achieved and swiftly conclude the Somali National Reconciliation Conference with the establishment of an inclusive government.

“The Secretary-General warmly commends President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, other leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and international supporters of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference for their perseverance to help Somalis reach national reconciliation.”

Also on the topic of Somalia, the top UN official there today strongly condemned the abduction of a UN staff member and called for his immediate and unconditional release.

German national Rolf Helmrich was abducted yesterday morning, approximately 45 kilometres north of Kismayo.

**Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General --Latest developments in Venezuela

The third statement we have is on Venezuela:

“The Secretary-General is following with special interest the latest developments in Venezuela and welcomes the constructive attitude of all parties in the search for a constitutional solution, as established in the agreement of 29 May 2003 signed by the Government and the opposition Coordinadora Democratica.

“In this context, the Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to involve international observers in its ongoing work, an important element in ensuring a peaceful, electoral, and constitutional solution to the country’s political impasse.”

**SG Travels

The Secretary-General today concluded his official visit to Belgium with a meeting with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and a dozen senior members of his Government, including Foreign Minister Louis Michel.

In the hour-long meeting, they discussed the situation in Iraq; the Secretary-General made a strong pitch for troop contributions to peacekeeping operations; and they had a detailed overview of the subject of UN reform. 

At a press encounter afterwards, the Secretary-General was first asked about Cyprus.  He said he had had a good meeting last night with his excellency Tassos Papadopoulos, who indicated his determination to proceed with renewed talks with the Turkish Cypriots.  The Secretary-General said he had not yet heard from the Turkish Cypriots, but he had spoken last night with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said that the United States would be supportive of the process. 

Asked about the Middle East, the Secretary-General said the situation there is extremely worrying, with many people killed over the last several days.  He added, “I have always condemned without reservation suicide bombings that take innocent lives, and have also indicated that we need to be active and energize our efforts to find a way of bringing the parties to the table”.

He sent his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of all those who lost loved ones and those who have been injured.  “But the only solution to this”, he said, “is to focus on peace”.  We have the transcript of his comments upstairs.

Later, the Secretary-General flew to Geneva, where he is now and where he will meet with the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France on a fresh initiative to combat global hunger and poverty.  They are also expected to issue a joint declaration and to attend a public meeting to unveil the plan.  We will have copies of that upstairs as soon as they are ready.

**Security Council

Here, the Security Council this morning, in a series of formal meetings, unanimously voted to extend the mandates of three UN peacekeeping missions, which were due to expire at the end of the month.  The Council granted a three-month extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Western Sahara, until the end of April.  It also voted to extend the missions in Georgia and in Lebanon by six months, until the end of July.

Following the adoption of the three resolutions on the peacekeeping operations, the Security Council has gone into experts’ level consultations to discuss a draft resolution regarding measures dealing with Al Qaeda and the Taliban.  [She announced later that 4 p.m. consultations had been scheduled to discuss the draft resolution.]

Today is the last day of the Chilean Presidency of the Security Council, and China will take over the Council Presidency as of February the 1^st.

**SG/UNMIK Report

The Secretary-General’s latest report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Kosovo is out on the racks today.  In it, the Secretary-General notes that while there has been progress in some areas, such as the preparation of legislation at both the central and local levels of self-government in Kosovo, much remains to be done.  He notes that one of the areas of concern is that the Kosovo Assembly is again refusing to take into account the legitimate concerns of minority groups and is over-stepping its competencies.  We have copies of that on the racks upstairs.

**International Criminal Court

And yesterday in London, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, said he has determined that there is sufficient basis to plan for the first investigation of the Court, dealing with allegations against Uganda’s rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).  The determination to initiate an investigation will take place in the coming months.

Moreno Ocampo met yesterday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who wanted to establish a basis for Ugandan cooperation with the Court, including the key issue of locating and arresting the LRA leadership.  The Court put out a press release yesterday afternoon and that has a lot more details than this.

**UNHCR:  Ecuador/Colombia

Turning to a few matters regarding refugees.  After visiting Colombia, the Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane, is in neighbouringEcuador to review the situation of some 7,000 refugees and 2,000 asylum seekers who come mainly from Colombia.  You can read more about that in the UNHCR briefing notes upstairs.

**UNHCR/Sudan

UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is urgently appealing for funds to help up to 135,000 Sudanese refugees in the border area with Chad.  UNHCR says it’s racing against time to relocate refugees to safer areas inside Chad.  Its call comes amid a bombing attack that we reported on yesterday to you.

**FAO/Bird flu

The success of eradication of bird flu in affected countries in Asia will depend heavily on mass cullings, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says.  You can read more about that upstairs.

**Conference on Small Islands wraps up in Bahamas

And the interregional meeting of Small Island Developing States is wrapping up in the Bahamas today, with delegates evaluating how much has been achieved since the Barbados Programme of Action was agreed upon in 1994.  We expect a final statement on this later today.

**The Week Ahead at the United Nations

We have upstairs The Week Ahead for your planning purposes for next week.

**UN Holiday

And just to remind you that Monday is the Eid Holiday and United Nations Headquarters will be closed.  The Spokesman’s office will be staffed at regular weekend holiday staffing levels and there will be a duty officer.

**Guest at Noon -– Tuesday

And finally, on Tuesday our guest at the noon briefing will be Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Ethiopia/Eritrea, who will be joining us to brief you on the work of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

And that’s what I have for you today.  Before I turn to Michéle, Bennie and then Mark.

Questions and Answers

Question:  The Israeli Ambassador was here earlier.  Perhaps you’ve heard that he’s dissatisfied with the response the Secretary-General had to the bombing in Israel.  Also, he said that perhaps the Secretary-General didn’t actually sign off on that.  He speculated that it may have been somebody else that wrote it for him.  Can you shed any light on that?

Associate Spokesperson:  Well, let’s start at the top.  There has been no change in UN policy on these issues.  The Secretary-General has consistently and strongly condemned all acts of terrorism from whatever quarter, including the suicide bombing in Israel yesterday.  Today, I’d like to refer you to his remarks, which I quoted from already, and from there you can tell that what he is saying, which I echoed earlier on.  And in it, he says he sends his deepest sympathy and condolences.  And he says he has always condemned without reservation suicide bombings that take innocent lives, and have also indicated that we need to be active and energize our efforts to find a way of bringing the parties to the table.  His main message being that he is doing everything he can to stop the killings.

On your second question about the statement, I think Fred Eckhard has mentioned to you in his past briefings that the Secretary-General does see and read and sign off on everything that he reads in public.  Yes?  Mark was first and then...

Question:  Just regarding the appointment of Lloyd Axworthy.  So, have the Eritreans dropped their objections to that?

Associate Spokesperson:  In the appointment, as you saw, the Secretary-General calls on all parties for their cooperation.  I can’t get into what the procedure was along the way.  But the fact that we have made the appointment clearly is an indication that he wants this process to move forward.

Question:  I know, but Eritrea has been extremely vocal saying it did not accept the appointment of this representative because they didn’t believe that there was anything to talk about.  Has anything changed?  Have the Eritreans transmitted any change of stance on that or do they still oppose the appointment?

Associate Spokesperson:  I think you have to ask the Eritreans that.

Question:  Have they transmitted anything to you?

Associate Spokesperson:  I have not heard anything recently, no.  Yes?

Question:  How concerned, if at all, is the Secretariat about the criticism made earlier today by the Israeli Ambassador?

Associate Spokesperson:  Well, first of all, the press conference finished just minutes before I walked in here.  So, I can’t give you an account of how the Secretariat would feel.  I think the position that I just stated sums up what the Secretary-General feels and how the UN feels; that that one statement does not make a policy and that what the Secretary-General said before; what he will say from here on out on his views, which have always been consistent, will always stand.

Question:  But is there a feeling that such criticism, which has become recurrent, could push the UN to review that policy?

Associate Spokesperson:  As I said, the press conference just ended now.  I don’t have any read out from anybody directly right now on the exact words from the previous press conference.  All I can tell you again is that the Secretary-General and the United Nations feel that our position is fair and balanced and the central focus of the Secretary-General’s efforts in this region are to stop the killings and to focus on peace.  I mean, that’s what he is working towards.  Yes?  Warren and then David?

Question:  On this same subject.  I spoke to the Israeli Ambassador after the press conference and told him of the press briefing today in Brussels that you read from.  It was the first that he’d heard about it.  So, we have a timing thing here going on.  I guess what my question is, to ask you, could you do something for us, which is:  Can we get to Fred Eckhard, or to the Secretary-General, to say this statement has now come after the one you’ve made in Brussels.  Will there be any further response from the Secretary-General?  This is rather direct, this statement here, and it’s critical of the statement yesterday, which is pretty much the same statement that came out today from Brussels.  So, can we expect to get another answer from the Secretary-General or his entourage to this rather direct accusation?

Associate Spokesperson:  No.

Question:  You said ‘No?’

Associate Spokesperson:  No.  David?

Question:  It’s the same as Warren’s but I’ll try it a little bit differently and hope we get a different answer.  The Israeli Ambassador clearly said he would be happy if the Secretary-General found it right to condemn the massacre in the strongest terms possible.  And I am a little bit unsure about the timing itself.  But should the statement that came out of Brussels be considered that condemnation of what the Israeli Ambassador called the massacre in stronger terms, or did the timing happen so as this statement came before the SG was in touch with the Israeli Government over their concerns?

Associate Spokesperson:  The remarks that the SG made today in Brussels were made this morning at a press encounter in…(Inaudible interruption)

Question:  …in the region that they could have…(Inaudible) 

Associate Spokesperson:  I am just giving you a time line.  He made the remarks in Brussels this morning when he was asked about his comments on the Middle East in which he gave the remarks that you see in the press and what I have quoted from them and from what we have upstairs.  The press conference just occurred now.  The Secretary-General is obviously not aware of the exact wording that was used in this press conference here… (Interrupted)

Question:  Yet, he is in touch with the (Inaudible) before or prior to this press conference either in the region or on the telephone, where the concerns of the Israeli Government might have been relayed to him.

Associate Spokesperson:  He is in constant touch with the parties in the Middle East and his only aim in doing that is bring peace to the Middle East.  His focus is on peace.  And I think what we’re saying here is that one press statement does not make a policy.  If you look at his words and his deeds before, today and after, you will see that his only objective and the only objective that he is working towards in this region is to make the parties focus on peace.

Question:  But Marie, about what you said, ‘One press statement does not make a policy’, to what extent are you implying here that that press statement might have been a little bit miscalculated?

Associate Spokesperson:  I am not commenting on whether the press statement was miscalculated.  I am simply stating the policy of the Secretary-General and the position of the United Nations regarding its quest for peace in the Middle East.  Yes?

Question:  Marie, I’ve been following those statements on bus bombings and Israeli responses in the end, whichever way you want to characterize them, forever.  I’ve never seen such a tepid and non-responsive statement as the one that you initially came up with.  It’s clearly the exception to the rule of what the Secretary-General has been saying in the past.  What led to that kind of exception?  That’s the question I think that everybody here wants to know about.

Associate Spokesperson:  I don’t think we’re going to get into how a statement was written and the details of that.  The statement came out, as you know, it was issued in Brussels.  We read it here.  Subsequent to that, the Secretary-General has gone public.  He has condemned without reservation suicide bombings.  And again I said that he has consistently and strongly condemned all acts of terrorism and from whatever quarter.  He has described them and will continue to describe suicide bombings as morally repugnant and as I said, one press statement does not make a policy.

Question:  It’s a different press statement, which means that it may indicate a change of policy because it is such a different statement than in the past.

Associate Spokesperson:  I repeat; there’s been no change in UN policy on these issues.  Yes?

Question:  On Iraq, the Secretary-General made a comment that the (Inaudible) should be going with the UN.  Does this mean that the security team is already there…?  (Inaudible)

Associate Spokesperson:  The security team arrived early this week.  It is doing its work.  It’s doing its work on schedule.

Question:  (Inaudible)

Associate Spokesperson:  The green light of sending in an electoral team will be based on the findings of the report from the security team to the Secretary-General.  And he will make that determination.  I have said previously, that because this involves the security of staff, we will not be reporting in advance if and when these movements of staff are going to be and that we simply probably will be able to confirm to you once an event has occurred.

Question:  Any…(Inaudible) about the CPA…?

Associate Spokesperson:  No.  Any other questions?

Question:  How large is the electoral assistance team likely to be and how long are they likely to be in Iraq for?

Associate Spokesperson:  I can’t answer that.  The Secretary-General will have to decide that based on the findings from the security assessment team, which is currently conducting its work in Iraq.

Question:  Is the UN going to be doing any mediation in terms of political (inaudible) between the Coalition Provisional Authority and (inaudible)

Associate Spokesperson:  I don’t think we’re going to get into any details of this electoral assessment team again until the Secretary-General decides in what form, when it is going, etc.

Question:  Any statement about personnel of that team?

Associate Spokesperson:  Excuse me?

Question:  About personnel?  Who will be in that team?

Associate Spokesperson:  Not yet.  Yes, Akram?

Question:  When do you think the United Nations is going to be involved in this Middle East problem?

Associate Spokesperson:  Excuse me?

Question:  When is the UN going to be involved definitely for this Road Map, so called Road Map?

Associate Spokesperson:  As you know, the Secretary-General has been devoting a great deal of energy throughout his term in office involved in trying to bring peace; to bring the parties to focus on peace in the Middle East.  He has been involved for as long as he has been here.

Question:  Any updates?

Associate Spokesperson:  Nothing new today.  As there are no more questions, I would like to turn over to Michéle.

Spokeswoman for General Assembly President

Thank you Marie and good afternoon.

About the General Assembly, this morning informal consultations were held in the Assembly on suggested reforms of the Security Council.  President Hunte, as Chairman of the “Open-ended working Group on the question of equitable representation on, and increase in the Membership of the Security Council” had previously submitted an informal note that was discussed this morning.  All permanent representatives were invited to participate and a large number contributed to the debate today.

President Hunte stressed his intention to ensure that the momentum on reform that was started last year is maintained and intensified over the coming months.  The informal note that was circulated this week on Security Council reform takes stock of where the debate stands on the issue of Council reform since the General Assembly established the working group in 1993.  The working group has been considering two sets of issues.

The first set is concerned with the expansion of the Council; that is categories of membership, non-permanent and permanent, and the size of the enlarged Council, and with decision making in the Security Council, including the veto.  It should be noted that the number of non-permanent members of the Security Council was increased from 11 to 15 in 1963.

The second cluster of issues deals with the working methods of the Security Council and the transparency of its work.

In his statement this morning, President Hunte noted that the outcome of the working group’s deliberations to date has been somewhat of a disappointment.  The President of the session appealed to influential Member States to give new impetus to Security Council reforms, noting that the provisions of the Charter give a very small number of Member States an important role to play in Security Council matters.  He also underlined the desire of most Member States to continue to be involved in the process.  President Hunte also asked in his remarks this morning:  “What is the role of the Secretary-General’s Panel of Eminent Persons on our deliberations?”  He noted that the Panel was not set up by the General Assembly nor did the Assembly determine its terms of reference.  “We have not been asked by the Secretary-General to suspend our work while the Panel deliberates.  It is unclear if and how the Panel will specifically deal with issues of Security Council reform.  And, it is uncertain when the Assembly will receive information on the deliberations and conclusions of the Panel.”

President Julian Hunte has asked the Permanent Representative of Ecuador H.E. Mr. Luis Gallegos Chiriboga and the Permanent Representative of Lichtenstein, H.E. Mr. Christian Wenaweser to be vice chairs of the open-ended working group on Security Council reform.

“This is undoubtedly the year of reform”, President Julian Hunte said at a recent European Union lunch.  He was referring to two parallel processes taking place right now in the General Assembly, as the General Assembly is also pursuing its work on revitalization after the resolution it adopted last December.

I will get a chance in the next few days to brief you on that one issue.  I also want to attract your attention this morning on the work of the Interregional Preparatory Meeting onSmall Island Developing States that is to conclude its work today, in theBahamas, as Marie mentioned.  Speaking earlier this week in Nassau, President Hunte said to some 300 representatives of small islands, including several ministers, many donor countries, UN officials, experts and non-governmental organizations, that thefocus must now change, to empowering small island developing States to implement policies that put them on a straight path to sustainable development.

“Our small size and small populations force most of us into the role of importers, especially in the vital areas of food and energy; but we have little or no control over the prices of these imports”, said President Hunte.  “We live”, he said, “in a world where the rights of shareholders in a multinational corporation are judged to have priority over the rights of banana growers in the eastern Caribbean, and entire economies are thrown into total collapse to protect these rights”.

The Bahamas forum has been addressing pressing issues for small islands such as the rising level of seas due to global warming, vulnerability to cyclones, trade, tourism, freshwater, energy, transport and communications, good governance and HIV/AIDS.

The week-long meeting in Nassau is part of the preparatory process for a meeting slated for later this year in Mauritius to review progress since the adoption, in 1994, of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

You will be briefed on the outcome of the Interregional Preparatory Meeting (Bahamas) and on the forthcoming International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Mauritius on Tuesday afternoon by Mr. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Secretary-General of the Conference.

This is all I have for you. Thank you.

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