Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

AND THE SPOKESMAN 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 Djibril Diallo, Spokesman for the General Assembly President.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General

**Guest at Noon

Good afternoon.  Joining us today will be Alberto Motivans, the Research Officer for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, who will talk about the “Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2005”.

The report found that, while more children are going to school than ever before, many drop out before grade five of primary school, or graduate without mastering even a minimum of cognitive skills.  So, he’ll be telling you a little bit more about that after my briefing.

**Secretary-General Appeals for Restoration of Calm in Côte d’Ivoire

We’ll start with a statement attributable to the Spokesman regarding the situation in Côte d’Ivoire:

“The Secretary-General condemns the attacks that have taken place across the Zone of Confidence, including against the French Licorne force.  He deplores the continuing violence in Abidjan, including against foreign citizens.  To prevent any further deterioration in the situation, he urges the parties to ensure the maintenance of the ceasefire and the earliest restoration of calm and normalcy, including through the cessation of all “hate media”.  He calls on the parties to ensure the protection, safety and respect for the human rights of all in Côte d’Ivoire.  The Secretary-General welcomes the commencement of joint patrols in Abidjan by units from the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FANCI) and the French Licorne force”.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the statement by the President of the Security Council of 6 November, which confirms that the United Nations mission, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, is authorized to prevent any hostile action, in particular, within the Zone of Confidence”.

“The Secretary-General is increasingly concerned about the humanitarian dimensions of the crisis.  There are worrying reports that water and electricity are no longer available at numerous locations, in particular, in the north.  Additionally, UN agencies and NGOs have been forced to drastically reduce their programmes due to security concerns.  The Secretary-General urges the Ivorian authorities to restore and maintain basic services and calls on those concerned to ensure that aid workers have unimpeded access to populations in need”.

“The Secretary-General welcomes today’s visit to Abidjan by President Mbeki, on behalf of the African Union, and reiterates his full support for the efforts pursued by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, in coordination with the United Nations, to find a rapid and lasting solution to the current crisis in Côte d’Ivoire.  He reiterates his call to the parties for a resumption of dialogue and a return to the process of implementing the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III Agreements”.

This text is available in French as well.

**Côte d’Ivoire

Also in Côte d’Ivoire, UN peacekeepers from Niger and Togo patrolled the tense city of Abidjan today with their counterparts from France and Côte d’Ivoire, in a joint military operation designed to secure some areas and reassure the frightened population.

However, the UN mission reports an increase in hate messages on radio and television, which it says are getting more abusive.  For example, the plate number of a white van said to be driven around by French nationals was given on national television.

Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Côte d’Ivoire on behalf of the African Union to try to end the current crisis.

On the military front, no Ivorian troops –- neither FANCI, the national army, nor Forces Nouvelles, the rebels -– are reported in the UN-monitored Zone of Confidence.  The northern part of Côte d'Ivoire is reported to be generally quiet.

In Abidjan, violent demonstrations showed no signs of waning, however.  Thugs control some areas.  Today, women had to pay 100 CFA (about $2) to get access to at least one market.  Food is reportedly getting scarce in some areas.

The number of people, mostly foreign nationals, seeking refuge in UN-protected locations reached more than 1,800.

And in Bouaké, in the north, the humanitarian situation is reported to be alarming in some areas, where there is no water and no electricity.  The UN mission is trying to get fuel to hospitals in that area.

**Côte d’Ivoire – Humanitarian

Since the outbreak of violence in Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday, at least 1,327 Ivoirians -– mostly women, children and some elderly -– have fled into north-eastern Liberia, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

UNHCR says it is extremely concerned over the security situation in Côte d'Ivoire and the impact it could have on its neighbours, particularly Liberia, which is itself struggling to emerge from 14 years of civil strife.

UNHCR offices in the region surrounding Côte d'Ivoire have been alerted for any contingencies, and planning in case of an outflow of Ivoirians is in full swing, including an assessment of emergency stocks and staff in the region.

**Afghanistan

From Afghanistan, more than 8 million Afghans, or some 70 per cent of registered voters, participated in last month’s elections, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean Marie Guéhenno, told the Security Council this morning.

Addressing the Council in an open briefing, Guéhenno said that ethnic considerations played an important role in the voting, yet candidates were able to operate widely outside their core constituencies.  More importantly, he said, Afghans showed that they were united in their rejection of violence and their right to participate in a peaceful political process.

He said that the UN mission in Afghanistan, following initial consultations, says that the overwhelming majority of Afghans is ready to embark on the next stage of the electoral process, to create representative local and national institutions.  Parliamentary and local elections are scheduled for next spring.

Mr. Guéhenno said that a number of groups are working around the clock to seek the release of three UN staff members who were abducted in Kabul on 28 October.  Meanwhile, he said, a number of special measures have been taken by the UN to enhance staff security, which are the most stringent to be put in place in Kabul since 2001.

Council members followed the open briefing with closed consultations on Afghanistan.  The Council expects to issue a press statement on that subject once consultations end.

**Iraq – UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, today said it is extremely concerned at the fate of tens of thousands of people who have fled the Iraqi city of Fallujah to escape the fierce fighting there.

The displaced people are staying with relatives, friends or other Iraqis around Fallujah, UNHCR says, citing information received from groups monitoring the situation in Iraq.

Some of the displaced people have been provided with tents.  The majority of civilians appear to have left the city, although it is difficult to establish numbers with any certainty.  The most immediate needs of the displaced are food, shelter, water and sanitation and health care, the Agency says.

**Sudan

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, has met with John Garang, the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, to discuss issues related to the UN mission's role in the south of the country.

On the humanitarian front pertaining to southern Sudan, the mission reports that many internally displaced persons and refugees have begun to return to their areas of origin.  They are encouraged by the good prospects for peace between the Sudanese Government and the rebel SPLM.

Protection of these refugees and returnees along the main roads remains a concern, the mission says.  Landmines constitute a major risk for them.

In Darfur, the World Food Programme (WFP) noted today that in October, the WFP was able to reach 1.1 million persons in Darfur with food aid.  In September, it had been able to reach almost 3 million people in Darfur.  The main reason for the decrease was the lack of security and the resumption of violence.

**Kosovo/Elections Certified

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, has certified the results of the Kosovo Assembly elections held last month.

Speaking at the certification ceremony today, he said he expects the political parties will accept the results, and that they’ll now get down to work –- which means once again quickly forming a new Government, and moving on with the many priorities for the next six to eight months.

He also mentioned the need for political parties to listen to the voices of all minorities in Kosovo, especially that of the Kosovar Serbs.

We have more on his words upstairs.

**Haiti Update

From Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is reporting that, despite serious security concerns, the humanitarian situation in the north-western city of Gonaïves is gradually improving.

The amount of clean water being distributed to the population has greatly increased, although it is still far short of the volume that a population of some 200,000 people would normally require.  The UN Children’s Fund and the NGO Oxfam are working together to restore the clean water supply to some 50 schools and to disinfect wells in the area.

Due in large part to the presence of a 120-bed Canadian/Norwegian Red Cross field hospital, health care in Gonaïves is now considered to be better than it was before storms battered the city in September.  But the health sector still suffers from a lack of Haitian doctors, a shortage of free medical services and difficulty in replacing epidemiologists who have left the area.  Another urgent priority is restoring the destroyed irrigation systems, as the vast majority of the city’s population depends on agriculture for employment.

Much of the reconstruction work is being hampered by lack of funds.  The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes that UN humanitarian agencies have received only 27 per cent of the 37 million dollars required under the Haiti Floods Flash Appeal.

And we have more information on that in our office.

**WHO/Malaria Vaccine Shortage

There is likely to be a shortage of one of the most effective medicines used for treating one of the deadliest forms of malaria from now until at least March next year.

The World Health Organization says this is due to heavy demand for a key ingredient -– known as “artemether-lumefrantine”.

The WHO’s supplier of the medicine has said that its providers of the ingredient in China are experiencing a shortage.

This means that the WHO won’t be able to get the quantities it needs during the coming months.

The WHO recommends that all countries facing shortages increase procurement of their second-line anti-malarial treatments.

We have more on that upstairs.

**Bellamy/Education

Carol Bellamy, the Executive Director of UNICEF, that’s the UN Children’s Fund, has called on nations to respect promises made to ensure that girls and boys receive the same educational opportunities.

Worldwide, 121 million primary-school-age children are currently denied schooling.  More than half of them are girls.

Bellamy said that in some regions, investment and assistance for education has not been enough to sustain gains made during the 1990s; and new challenges –- such as HIV/AIDS and civil conflict -– have eroded these gains.

Bellamy has outlined a strategy to achieve a “radical breakthrough” in these areas; and we have more on this upstairs in a press release.

**Sexual Exploitation of Children

In a three-day meeting in Bangkok, which concludes today, governments, civil society and youth delegates from more than 20 countries in East Asia and the Pacific have been reporting on new measures to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation, to assist victims and to punish exploiters.

These efforts include the world’s first multi-country Memorandum of Understanding to prevent trafficking, which was signed by six East Asian countries on 29 October, as well as action to address the prostitution of children within their home countries.  The meeting also considered strategies to stop the exponential rise in the supply of and demand for child pornography over the internet.

And there’s more information on that in a press release upstairs.

**World Chronicle

Today at 3:30, in-house television channels 3 and 31 will feature a World Chronicle programme that discusses the protection of civilians working for humanitarian agencies.  Mark Bowden, of the Policy Development and Studies Branch of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is the guest.

**Press Conference Tomorrow

And, finally, a press conference tomorrow in this room immediately following the noon briefing, Susan McDade, the Team Manager of the UN Development Programme’s Sustainable Energy Programme, will be joined by Professor Vijay Modi of Columbia University, and Dr. Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency, to launch three reports:  “World Energy Outlook 2004”, “Energy Services for the Poor”, and “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals:  the Role of Energy Services”.

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

Questions and Answers

Question:  Fred, do you have an answer to the question of Bill Varner yesterday about the OIOS?

Spokesman:  Yes, I found out that the report looking into the allegations against the OIOS by the staff union has been completed by the Department of Management and is expected to go the Secretary-General later today.  I can’t tell you what the reaction might be, but that’s what the status of that report now is.  Yes?

Question:  Does the Secretary-General have any statement about the death of Yasser Arafat?

Spokesman:  We are hearing conflicting news right now, so I don’t think we feel that that has been yet confirmed, at least to our satisfaction.

Spokesman for General Assembly President

Thank you.  Good afternoon.  The General Assembly is holding today an open-ended informal consultation on the organization of next year’s plenary meeting to review progress made on the United Nations Declaration and implementation, as well as follow-up to the outcome of major United Nations conferences and summits.

On the preparation of next year’s high-level segment, President Jean Ping noted that the Secretary-General had submitted a report on the modality, the format and the organization of this segment, and that report is already available under document number A/59/545.  Due to the importance of the subject, there is a need, said the President, to prepare a resolution before December on the high-level segment.  And today’s meeting will hear the views of delegations on the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report.

President Jean Ping also announced that he had appointed as facilitators the Permanent Representatives of Nicaragua and Norway, Ambassadors Sevilla Somosa and Levald.  Those two permanent representatives will help the President of the General Assembly prepare the draft resolution on the high-level segment.

President Jean Ping reiterated the importance of the preparation of this meeting, and pointed out that consultation on the meeting will only start after the submission of the Secretary-General’s report in March 2005.

The President came back again to key events that I have mentioned in these briefings, which will be borne in mind on the way to the high-level segment.  These events include the submission of the High Level Panel’s report in December; in January, Jeffrey Sachs’s report on financing for development and the Millennium Development Goals; and other initiatives, such as the Mauritius meeting in January, which will focus on the implementation of the Programme of Action for sustainable development in small island developing countries; the dialogue between ECOSOC, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, that dialogue is to be held in Washington, D.C., in mid-April; the General Assembly plenary session on HIV/AIDS, that will be held in June; the initiatives of the Presidents of Brazil, Chile, Spain and France to eradicate hunger and poverty; the British Prime Minister’s Commission for Africa initiative; the G-8 Summit; and the annual summits of regional organizations, like the African Union summit, the summit of the Organization of American States.

I have one item on the work of committees, that is, the Third Committee, which will hear this afternoon the report of the High Commissioner for Refugees.

That’s all I have for you.  Any questions?

And I have also a list of the major conferences for those of you who are interested.  These are conferences that took place mostly in the 1990s and the first four years of 2000.  So we have that in our office upstairs as well.  Thank you.

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