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

and Spokesperson 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 Michèle Montas, Spokeswoman for the General Assembly President.

Good afternoon,

Michèle Montas is with us today.  It’s her last day on the job.  And she’ll be briefing you and introducing to you her successor in just a few minutes.

**Afghanistan

On Afghanistan, we put out a statement yesterday in which the Secretary-General condemned the attacks that took place on Sunday against United Nations offices, non-governmental organizations and the Independent Human Rights Commission in Herat, in western Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General called on all concerned, including Afghan and international security forces, to help create a safe environment for the holding of the upcoming election in the western region, and in the country as a whole.  We have the full text of that statement upstairs.

The UN Mission in Afghanistan’s office in Herat suffered considerable damage, as did equipment and vehicles at the compound.  Similar damage was reported at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

There were no injuries reported among UN staff in the city, and US forces stationed nearby yesterday took the international staff members to safety.

The UN Mission in Afghanistan today sent a mission to Herat, led by Deputy Special Representative Filippo Grandi, which met with UN staff there.  The Mission decided that some 15 UN international personnel, supported by hundreds of UN national staff, will continue on in Herat, while some 38 UN international staff were relocated to Kabul for a few days.

Today, the High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said that he is deeply concerned at the latest flare-up of violence, which prompted UNHCR to suspend its operations in western Afghanistan for the second time in less than a month.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

We issued the following statement today on Hurricane Ivan saying that “The Secretary-General was deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of Hurricane Ivan, which has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean.  He is deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries and destruction that have resulted from the disaster.  He wishes to convey his condolences to the people and the Governments of Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.  The Secretary-General requests the international community to offer solidarity and the resources necessary to alleviate the hurricane’s effects”.

**Hurricane Ivan

The United Nations system is providing assistance to the Caribbean nations affected by the hurricane.

In Grenada, a team from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is arranging for emergency funds and working with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency on incoming relief supplies.  Of immediate and urgent concern is the condition of an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 persons housed in temporary shelters.  Shortages of food and water and poor sanitation conditions have been also reported.  The UN Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, yesterday flew health kits, oral rehydration packets and other supplies into the island.  According to an assessment by the Pan American Health Organization, Grenada’s GeneralHospital has lost its roof and most of its equipment. 

Similar assistance is being provided to Jamaica where the UN is facilitating coordination among international partners and the Jamaican Government.  Some 12,000 people remain in 285 emergency shelters.  National authorities have called urgently for tents, lanterns, blankets, food, water, generators, and heavy-duty removal equipment.

As the hurricane progresses, the UN system will continue to monitor needs in other areas, especially the Cayman Islands -- where initial reports have indicated major damage -- and Cuba.

Press releases are available from UNICEF and also from the UN Mission in Haiti, which is assisting the Government in assessing flood damage in that country.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

This statement was issued over the weekend regarding the tragic helicopter accident:

“The Secretary-General is saddened to learn of the death of His Beatitude Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, in a helicopter crash in Greece.  He conveys his sincere condolences to his family, as well as to the families of the other victims of the crash, and to the Greek Orthodox community.”

**Sudan

On Sudan, the UN mission in Khartoum reports that the Joint Implementation Mechanism, co-chaired by the Special Representative for the Secretary-General for Sudan Jan Pronk and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman, is scheduled to hold its next meeting this Friday.

The meeting, the first since the submission of the Secretary-General's report on Darfur to the Security Council, is expected to focus on how to move forward on implementation of the Sudanese Government's commitments under the Joint Communiqué. 

Meanwhile, the UN mission says it continues to receive reports on clashes and violence in different areas in Darfur, particularly north Darfur, which has led to a number of casualties.  These reports include fighting between Government forces and the rebel SLA forces outside the areas designated by the Government to be made safe and secure.  Also tribal clashes, as well as militia activities have been reported.

Reacting to these reports, Pronk has expressed his concern about the increased tensions and violence and called on all parties to the Abuja Talks to resume negotiations on the remaining key issues on the Agenda, in particular the security cluster.  He has stressed that a negotiated political solution was the only sustainable way to settle the Darfur crisis and ensure the safety and security for the people of Darfur.

The heads of the delegations of the parties to the Abuja Talks are expected to meet tomorrow with President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, current chair of the African Union, in order to discuss where and when the talks, which have been adjourned over the weekend, could be resumed.

I’m sorry, I said that the statement on Hurricane Ivan was issued yesterday.  In fact it was issued just today.

**Palestinian Meeting

Earlier today, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, delivered a message on behalf of the Secretary-General to the International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People.

In the message, the Secretary-General said that the international community, including civil society, cannot turn away from its obligation to do all it can to alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people and to help cultivate a climate conducive to political negotiations and reconciliation between the two peoples.

Civil society and grass-roots efforts have an important role to play in conflict resolution.  Non-governmental organizations, he said, have the experience and the knowledge to explore new ways of working together to find common ground.

But, he added that a peace settlement can only be reached through official political negotiation.  Otherwise, both sides will face the grim reality of a never-ending stalemate and continued violence.

And we have the full text of that statement upstairs.

**Security Council

The Security Council is holding a public meeting on “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts”.

Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz, the Chairman of the Committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida and the Taliban, gave his second 120-day oral assessment.

As you’ll recall, Ambassador Muñoz also briefed you, two weeks ago here, on the latest report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.

Also on the Security Council programme today, this afternoon at 3 p.m. are consultations on the latest report of the Secretary-General on the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea and other matters.

**IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today began a meeting of its Board of Governors in Vienna, and Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei said that the Agency is making steady progress in understanding the nature and extent of Iran’s nuclear program.  He urged Iran to continue to accelerate its cooperation and pursue a policy of maximum transparency and confidence building, so that outstanding issues can be resolved within the next few months.

He added that IAEA teams have examined facilities in South Korea since the Agency was informed about uranium enrichment experiments conducted by scientists there.  ElBaradei said it is a matter of serious concern that the conversion and enrichment of uranium and the separation of plutonium were not reported to the Agency.

We have a copy of his statement to the Board of Governors upstairs.

**Cyprus

With the help of the UN Peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot enclave of Rizokarpasso in the northern part of the island now has its first Greek-language secondary school.

Previously elementary school students wishing to continue their education had to move to the south.

The UN mission sought the cooperation of officials from both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot authorities to make this project a reality.

A senior official with the UN mission delivered text books to the school this morning.

The head of the Civil Affairs unit of the UN mission personally delivered text books to the school this morning.  He told reporters that this day “is a happy day and belongs to all Cypriots”, noting that “UNFICYP is happy that it has been of some assistance.”

**HABITAT

Today in Barcelona, Spain, the Executive Director of UN Habitat Anna Tibaijuka, opened the World Urban Forum.

Held every two years, it is part of a global initiative to address one the challenges of the new Millennium:  the planet's transition to an urban world. 

The meeting will focus on cities as crossroads of culture.

In a message to the gathering, the Secretary-General said that the world’s cities must become genuine examples of inclusiveness and equity, as called for in the Millennium Declaration.  Otherwise, he added, they will remain reservoirs of poverty and potential flashpoints of conflict -- and ultimately, barriers to advancing the human condition.

The message was delivered by Mervat Tallawy, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

At the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafic Hariri, was awarded the Special Citation of the UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award for his leadership in the reconstruction his war-torn country.

**Interdependence

No country can protect itself from threats by turning itself into an impregnable military fortress, the Secretary-General said in a message issued yesterday to mark the Second Interdependence Day in Rome.  He said that, although the United Nations is a far-from-perfect organization, it is the locus of international legitimacy and the vital centre of multilateral action.

We have the full text upstairs.

**Uzbekistan

The UN Special Rapporteur dealing with torture, Theo van Boven, today said he regretted that he continues to receive information that people were executed in Uzbekistan whose confessions were allegedly extracted under torture.  He noted the recent execution of at least nine death-row prisoners in Uzbekistan, despite requests from the UN Human Rights Committee to stay the executions pending consideration of the cases.

We have a press release on that.

**FAO/European Commission

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Commission today signed a strategic partnership agreement designed to reinforce their joint efforts to reduce poverty, promote agricultural development and fight hunger in developing countries.

Specific areas of collaboration include food security, sustainable rural development and agricultural policies.

And there is more in a press release on that.

**UNFPA

The UN Population Fund will put out its new State of the World Population report this Wednesday, and we will have Safiye Cagar, the new Director of Information at UNFPA, at our noon briefing that day to talk to you about the report, along with Jill Sheffield, the President of Family Care International.

The report reviews progress in the ten years since the International Conference on Population and Development took place in Cairo.  Embargoed copies are available at the documents counter.

**Press Conference Tomorrow

Press conferences:  11 o’clock tomorrow, Palitha Kohona of the Office of Legal Affairs will be joined by Mark Bowden and Cate Steens of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to brief you on the Focus 2004 treaty event taking place from 21 to 24 September.  This year’s event is on the Protection of Civilians.

**Guests at Noon

Our guests at the noon briefing will be Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women, Christian Ahlund, Executive Director of the International Legal Assistance Consortium, and Judge Navanethem Pillay of the International Criminal Court.  They will be here to talk to you about the Gender Justice conference taking place this week at the Millennium Hotel.

That’s all I have for you.  Any questions before we go to Michèle?  Yes, Mark?

Questions and Answers

Question:  I just wondered, as the EU is making various pronouncements of its support, calling for the Secretary-General to instigate an investigation into possible genocide in Sudan:  Is the Secretariat already sort of making preparations for this?  Is this something that you, guys, could do fairly quickly?  Or do you have to wait for the Security Council to call on you do it and then take several months to try and set up a team and all the rest of it?

Spokesman:  Well, there is a provision in current draft resolution being considered by the Council calling on the Secretary-General to conduct an inquiry.  Should the Council adopt that resolution with that provision in it, we would move quickly to set up a group to conduct such an investigation.  I can’t imagine that that investigation could be completed in a matter of a few days or may be even a few weeks.  But certainly, we would move on it in a responsible way as quickly as possible.  But I wouldn’t predict that it could be done quickly, no. Edie?

Question:  Some housekeeping issues:  Are we going to get a security briefing on arrangements for the general debate?

Spokesman:  About a week ago we asked the Media Accreditation Unit and UN Security to jointly brief you as they normally do.  I don’t think we’ve fixed a date for that.  But, I guess we’ve about run out of time... (Interrupted).  What?

Media Accreditation Unit:  A date has not been fixed yet, but there will be a briefing.

Spokesman:  Okay.  Well, the General Assembly starts tomorrow, doesn’t it?

Question:  It does!  And also, are we going to be able to talk to the Secretary-General at all before the start of the general debate?  Just to talk about, you know, the big issues on the agenda.  What he is going to be pushing... We’re all going to be writing set-up stories, I assume.

Spokesman:  So, you’d rather to talk to him before than after?

Question:  Well, we’d probably like to do both.  But certainly before.

Spokesman:  Okay, I’ll relay that request.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  Is there any further information on who these elements who attacked UN premises and destroyed vehicles and material, who they are and have they advanced any reasons or claims for their actions?

Spokesman:  No, I have nothing on that.  We’ve received reports overnight by cable.  But I don’t have any conclusions to share with you from this podium.

Michèle, welcome to your last briefing.

Spokespersons for GA President:  Thank you, Fred.  Good afternoon.

The General Assembly will close its fifty-eighth session this afternoon, as you know.  Thirty-nine items are still on the agenda, including the report of the working group on the Security Council on issues like the proposed enlargement of the Council between 24 and 26 members, the right of veto and the issue of accountability, among others.  This is the progress report from the Committee.

President Hunte met you earlier today, so he has assessed the fifty-eighth session with you.  He will deliver his closing remarks at the end of this session this afternoon.

I am here today to tell you how much I enjoyed working with you.  Being a journalist for over 30 years, I was glad to meet a number of people I knew already and to make friends with others I got to know.

I am here also essentially to introduce my successor, Djibril Diallo.  All of you know Djibril.  You’ve known him as the Director of Communications at UNDP.  And he will be the spokesperson for the General Assembly starting tomorrow, the fifty-ninth session.  Djibril.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General:  Djibril, get used to this chair.  As of tomorrow you will be sitting there.

Djibril Diallo:  Thank you Fred.  I was just saying that since the session is starting tomorrow, I wanted to thank Fred and thank you, Michèle, and just say I look forward to working with you.  Some of you I’ve worked with in the -- I wouldn’t want to say, because one may remember one’s own age -- but as early as the 1980s.  We want to have a system whereby we reinforce what Michèle and Fred have given you, which is really to transform much more the issues around the General Assembly and issues that are thought of in terms of messaging, projection and so on.  So that I will be working very closely, for instance with the UN Communications Group, which, as you know, is the forum of directors of information of the entire UN system and other fora reaching out to the journalist in the developing world.  So, I will not take up your time today.  I will do the first briefing tomorrow.  Shashi Tharoor has been kind enough to provide the support of the Department of Public Information in allowing me to do this function when I have my own function also as Director of Communications of the United Nations Development Programme.  But I see that there is a first question to me.

Question:  It’s very simple:   What are your contact details please?

Djibril Diallo:  Yes, I will have my contact details here.  But my phone number for the time being is 212-906-5300.

Question:  And your cell phone?

Djibril Diallo:  I will have a cell phone, which I don’t have right now, but as of tomorrow I will be able to communicate that to you.

Thank you.

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