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

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good Afternoon.

**Statement attributable to the Spokesman on Côte d’Ivoire

We’re going to start with a statement attributable to the Spokesman concerning the situation in Côte d’Ivoire:

“The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed that, despite his personal appeals and the interventions by ECOWAS leaders, demonstrations which were held in Abidjan on 25 March resulted in a tragic loss of life.  The Secretary-General urges all Ivorian parties and every citizen of Côte d’Ivoire to put the national interest foremost, stop all confrontations, and resume, without further delay and without any preconditions, the full implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.  At a time when the UN is preparing the deployment of a peacekeeping operation, the Ivorian parties must demonstrate the political will to reject all forms of violence and engage in genuine reconciliation and mutual accommodation.”

**Côte d’Ivoire -- Addition

The UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire reports that violent attacks have broken out in various parts of Abidjan, and says that sporadic shooting was heard throughout the city.  Initial reports indicate that some 20 to 25 people may have been killed, and many others reportedly injured.

Demonstrations have also taken place in Yamassoukro, where one person was reportedly killed, and in Bouaké, where the demonstration was generally peaceful.  The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Albert Tevoedjre, has been maintaining phone contacts, urging all sides to halt the fighting.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations intends to brief the Security Council on the developments in Côte d’Ivoire tomorrow.

**Security Council

A multi-faceted regional approach is needed if we want to deal effectively with West Africa’s problems, the Secretary-General told the Security Council in its open debate this morning on that region.

He said that the root causes of West Africa’s problems are linked above all to questions of governance, human rights and transparency. Regrettably, such abuses are all too prevalent in the region.

He urged Governments in the region to build on the gains they have recently made and establish solidly democratic organizations and effective regional organizations. We have copies of his speech upstairs.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator meanwhile, Jan Egeland briefed the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in West Africa.

While highlighting considerable progress made in countries such as Sierra Leone, Egeland noted that many communities in the region still suffer widespread human rights abuses.  He said that the efforts of the humanitarian community should not be "quick fixes". Instead they should also address root causes such as the spread of small arms, poor governance, absence of the rule of law, and poverty.

Council members are continuing their debate, which is chaired by France’s Minister Delegate for Cooperation and Francophonie. A Presidential Statement is expected at the end of the meeting.

The Security Council intends to hold another formal meeting this afternoon, to vote on a draft resolution on the Middle East, concerning the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. That meeting is tentatively scheduled at 4:00 o’clock.

**Cyprus

The [Cyprus] talks taking place in Burgenstock, Switzerland, are on schedule, and the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto, spoke to the press there today.

He said the setting is in many ways ideal, since we have the participants from the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side, Greece and Turkey now able to interact in a way that is unusual for them. “I think that to that extent”, he said, “it is a successful endeavour”.

The real test, he added, is whether it will be possible by 31 March to have an agreed text that goes to referenda, rather than one that is finalized by the Secretary-General.

**Afghanistan

The UN Refugee Agency says that the rate of returns by refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan has increased steadily since UNHCR resumed its voluntary repatriation program on 3 March, with more than 1,000 people a day going back to Afghanistan. In the first three days of this week, UNHCR helped more than 3,700 Afghans come home from Pakistan.  We have more details in today’s briefing notes from Kabul.

**Rwanda genocide

We have a media advisory concerning an announcement the Secretary-General will make tomorrow at the Memorial Conference on the Rwanda Genocide at 9 a.m.  The information contained in the advisory is embargoed until 9 a.m. tomorrow.

**Chad –- UNHCR opens new camp for Sudanese refugees

The UN refugee agency has opened the first camp for Sudanese refugees in the southern part of the affected border zone with Chad. Up until now, UNHCR had four camps, all along the northern part of the border.

The new camp offers refugees encamped along a 300-kilometre stretch an opportunity to move to a safer location further inside Chad.  The camp received the first convoy of 78 refugees on Tuesday and the second convoy of 130 today. 

In all, some 110,000 Sudanese refugees are estimated to have fled to Chad from fighting in the Darfur region of western Sudan.  We have press release on that.

**Internet governance

This morning the Secretary-General spoke at the opening Session of the Global Forum on Internet Governance. He said that he Internet has revolutionized trade, health, education and, indeed, the very fabric of human communication and exchange.  But, he added, the world has a common interest in ensuring the security and dependability of this new medium and in ensuring that it is accessible and responsive to the needs of all people. 

The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Markus Kummer of Switzerland as the head of the secretariat that will assist the Secretary-General in setting up a Working Group on Internet Governance.  The Secretary-General was asked to establish such a working group by the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, which was held in December.  The secretariat will support the working group once it has been established.

**China

China’s impressive economic achievements have left women lagging behind, according to an unprecedented United Nations report on China, launched jointly today in Beijing by the UN and the Government of China.

Gender discrimination contributes to disproportionate poverty rates among elderly women and rising female suicide rates, the report says.

The 45-page report, “Millennium Development Goals, China’s Progress”, also notes that the country will probably achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  UNDP has a press release out with more details.

**SG on staff

The Secretary-General just spoke on the Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, saying that feelings at the UN on that subject are especially raw after last year’s horrific attack in Baghdad.  He said the United Nations is trying its utmost to ensure that staff can work in safety, as far as that is possible.  We have copies of his remarks upstairs.

**Convention on tobacco control signed by 100 countries

With the signature of Ecuador and the Republic of Congo this week, a total of 100 countries, plus the European Community, have so far signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

According to the World Health Organization, the signing countries have underscored their commitment to protect their populations -- some 4.5 billion people -- from tobacco-related diseases.

However, WHO also notes that the tobacco epidemic is still expanding, especially in developing countries where seven out of every ten tobacco-related deaths now occur.  We have a press release on that.

**Press conferences today

Press conference at 12:30; in other words, very shortly in this room, Jose-Maria Figueres Olsen, the Chairman of the UN Information and Communications Technological Task Force, will be joined by Finton Cerf, the Senior Vice President of MCI, and others, to brief you on the issues before the Global Forum on Internet Governance, which is taking place today and tomorrow here at Headquarters.

**Press conferences tomorrow

And then a press conference tomorrow, 12:30 again, in this room, Ambassador Inocencio Arias of Spain, Chairman of the Security Council’s Counter-terrorism Committee, will brief you on the work of the Committee.

That’s all I have for you.  Yes, Warren?

Questions and Answers

Question:  Fred, is the Secretary-General today seeing the perm reps from the Security Council?  And if he is, is it for the purpose of discussing his commission or his plans to investigate oil-for-food?

Spokesman:  Yes.  Late last night the Secretary-General informally circulated to members of the Council the draft terms of reference for his independent panel to look into allegations of wrongdoing with the oil-for food programme for Iraq.  And he has asked them to join him in his conference room this afternoon for an informal meeting to review that draft with them.  I think that’s scheduled for something like 3:00 o’clock, and we have organized a photo opportunity at the top.  Bill?

Question:  Will the Secretary-General at that time; and if not, when, name the panel that will conduct the independent investigation?

Spokesman:  He is still talking to possible members of the panel.  That will not happen today.  In other words, the membership of the panel will not be finalized today.  It’s still his hope to try to get it done by tomorrow, but there is also a good chance that these panelists will not be lined up even by the end of tomorrow.  So, looking to get it done by the end of tomorrow; but it might have to slop over to next week.  Yes, Per?

Question:  We’re learning that the Defense Department in Washington has conducted an audit of the oil-for-food programme.  After looking at 10 per cent of contracts they have uncovered, they claim, more than $500 million worth of overpricing.  What, if any comments do you have on these findings from the Pentagon?

Spokesman:  I’ve been told by the oil-for-food programme that experts from the programme did meet with Pentagon contracting experts involved in the study of these contracts, and shared information with them.  We have not yet seen this report and so we won’t be able to comment on the substance of it until we’re able to review it.  Yes?

Question:  It sounded like the SG was saying that the UN needs to take a greater role in governing the Internet.  Is he suggesting that the UN should take over from ICON?

Spokesman:  No. No, I think what he’d like to see is governments coordinate their policies more effectively so that the benefits of the internet can be shared more widely.

Question:  The SG is not proposing that an agency take over that role?

Spokesman:  Not that I am aware.  It’s not a subject I know the details on, so I don’t think I can say any more.  Bill?

Question:  There’s a report that the Secretary-General offered the Israeli Foreign Minister yesterday UN assistance of some nature in terms of securing the peace, monitoring, running, assisting in Gaza after the Israeli disengagement.  What exactly did the Secretary-General have in mind there?

Spokesman:  I think we gave you a brief read out of that meeting in which we said that the Israeli Foreign Minister had briefed the Secretary-General on the Government’s plans for the withdrawal from Gaza.  There was mention of the UN’s role in the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.  I think it was the Foreign Minister who first raised that.  The Secretary-General said that Israel might want to look at the successful experience of the withdrawal from Lebanon, which involved both the Security Council and the UN peacekeeping mission in the area.  There was no specific discussion of the nature of UN involvement.  It was more a suggestion, I think, on the Secretary-General’s part that Lebanon might be a useful model for Israel to look at; particularly regarding the role of the Security Council.  David?

Question:  For the benefit of those who need you to say something maybe on camera, is there anything you can share with us about the terms of reference drafted by the SG?  I take it they’re subject to change, but maybe broadly, what kind of mandate he is looking for for this panel?

Spokesman:  No, I wouldn’t want to.  It’s a two-page letter drafted by lawyers, and I wouldn’t want to summarize it in a few sentences.  And as you said, the Secretary-General called this meeting this afternoon to discuss its contents with members.  And should members want to suggest changes, he would certainly entertain those suggestions.  So, let’s let this consultation process go ahead, and then when the letter comes out, possibly by the end of tomorrow, more likely early next week, it would contain the names of the members of the panel as well as the final terms of reference.  Bill?

Question:  Will the Secretary-General be seeking a Security Council endorsement of these terms of reference specifically, you know, saying we support these terms by adopting a presidential statement or some sort of other declaration saying that?

Spokesman:  I think we’ve already said that for two reasons he needs Council support:  first, it’s not within his competence or his authority to initiate an investigation of the actions of governments or private companies.  So, in putting together this panel, he’s looking for a nod from the Council.  And second, without the full cooperation of governments and companies, the investigation is not likely to succeed.  So, for those two reasons, he is looking for a signal from the Council -- we don’t know whether it would be in the form of a statement or a letter in reply to his letter, but some indication that they agree with his going ahead.  And I think he is confident he will get that nod.  Yes, Serge?

Question:  Fred, do you recall any circumstances of a Secretary-General appearing before a commission of inquiry -- such as what he is going through with the oil-for-food?

Spokesman:  I think it’s too early to how this panel once formed would conduct its work, particularly since the terms of reference aren’t finalized. So, I don’t have an answer to that question.  Your question is would the Secretary-General himself submit to…(Interrupted)

Question:  Well, I did not want to ask it directly like that… I asked you if there was any (inaudible) or consensus…

Spokesman:  …submit to interrogation by the panel?  I am sure he’d give the panel his full cooperation.

Good.  Thank you very much.

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