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.

Good afternoon.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General

**Côte d’Ivoire

United Nations peacekeepers have so far escorted up to 400 non-UN persons from the three sites protected by UN Blue Helmets for processing prior to evacuation out of Cote d'Ivoire.  They have also escorted up to 150 Canadians, some 40 Spanish nationals and an unspecified number of Moroccans to the airport.  These groups are being flown out by the respective countries.

The United Nations mission continues to take in and protect several newcomers in the three locations secured by the peacekeepers.

The UN mission reports inter-ethnic violence in President Laurent Gbagbo's home town of Gagnoa.  The town has so far been a “no go” area for impartial forces, despite many attempts by UN military observers and peacekeepers to monitor the area.

The UN mission cannot confirm the deaths, or a death toll, but says that the local Bete and pro-Gbagbo ethnic groups are pitched against Dioula populations.  Dioula are mainly from the north, although they settled in Gagnoa decades, if not centuries, ago.

Earlier today, instructions were given so that a unit of UN peacekeepers could travel to Gagnoa in order to investigate and report back.

The situation in Abidjan is quieter.  Fewer demonstrators are on the street, the mission reports.  Some economic activities are being restored.  A few buses are running.  Some shops have opened.

Meanwhile, the situation in Bouake, in the north, is getting serious.  Water and electricity must be restored.

The hate messages continue.  Local languages are now being used.  Anti-French messages on public radio and television continue unabated.  The United Nations Mission radio station, though, continues to broadcast 24 hours a day.

**Security Council

As of now, there are no meetings or consultations for the Security Council scheduled for today.

However, the Council Presidency says there is a possibility of calling a vote on the Côte d’Ivoire draft resolution, which has not yet been turned into the final form prepared for adoption.

**Secretary-General’s Statement on the Abuja Talks on Darfur

“The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the signing by the Government of the Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement in Abuja on 9 November, of the Protocols on the Improvement of the Humanitarian Situation and on the Enhancement of the Security Situation in Darfur.  He congratulates the parties on this significant achievement, and commends the active efforts of the African Union, notably those of its current Chairman, President Obasanjo of Nigeria, in mediating the talks on Darfur, with the support of the United Nations.  That support was also provided by the European Union, the League of Arab States and other partners including Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.”

“He urges the parties to implement the Protocols fully and in good faith, so as to help improve the humanitarian and security conditions in Darfur.  He is hopeful that these measures, combined with the deployment and strengthening of the expanded African Union Mission, will re-establish security and stability in the region, and facilitate the safe return of the displaced and refugees to their home areas.  He urges the parties to intensively pursue the political negotiations and conclude an agreement without further delay.”

**Sudan

According to the UN mission in the Sudan, reports have come in that police again raided the Al Jeer camp in Nyala, South Darfur, last night.

On this occasion, the attack on the camp was witnessed by a BBC correspondent.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Sudan, Jan Pronk, who is on a previously arranged visit to Nyala, is expected to visit the camp as soon as possible.

According to reports reaching the UN mission in Khartoum this morning, and following the return to the Al-Jeer camp of a number of refugees previously dispersed on the night of the second of November, four small truckloads of police raided the camp in the early hours of the morning.

They destroyed flimsy shacks, which had been built by the camp residents, shot in the air and shouted at the terrified people.  Some reports said they also used tear gas.

Due to the shots being fired, UN agencies and partner groups were immediately withdrawn from the area for their own safety.  They withdrew back to the town of Nyala.

Latest reports say that the area has now “calmed down”.

**Iraq

In Iraq, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi, today met with the Chairman of the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission, Abed Al Hussein Hindawi, and other members of the Commission.  Hindawi briefed Qazi on progress the Commission is making in preparing for the elections scheduled to take place towards the end of January.

Qazi assured Hindawi and the Commission members that the United Nations will continue to do everything it can to enable the Commission to carry out its task of organizing Iraq’s first democratic elections.

Qazi, who also hosted Hindawi and his colleagues for an Iftar at his residence, stressed that the UN remains committed to advance the political process in Iraq, underlining that the holding of credible elections represents a key milestone in this process.

**Humanitarian Appeal

Tomorrow the Secretary-General is to request more than 1 billion dollars to help people survive a web of forgotten humanitarian crises, mainly in Africa.  He will make the appeal to donor governments gathered in the Economic and Social Council Chamber from 11 to 11:35 in the morning.

After that, Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who is responsible for putting the appeal together, will be here at the noon briefing to update us on the world’s pressing humanitarian needs and propose a response.  He will be joined by Angelina Atyam, Chair of Uganda’s Concerned Parents Association, who will recount how the humanitarian emergency in northern Uganda has affected her.  Her daughter is one of 21,000 children abducted by rebels over the years, in a country where many people are displaced from homes and require assistance.

**Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has not yet achieved a critical threshold of self-sufficiency, and public administration there remains weak and fragile.  That, the Secretary-General says in a new report, is the finding by a UN technical assessment mission that went to the country in October.

The Secretary-General says that Timor-Leste has made steady progress in its institution-building efforts over the past three months.  But he recommends that the UN Mission in the country be retained for a further six months, until 20 May next year, to allow it to consolidate the gains made thus far.

He also says that, over the coming six months, the UN Mission will need to focus on preparing its exit strategy, so that the country will not suffer significantly from its withdrawal.

The report is out on the racks today.

**Kosovo/SRSG on NATO

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, has appealed to NATO Member States to “stay the course” in Kosovo, and maintain adequate force levels as the international community is entering a decisive phase.

Mr. Jessen-Petersen made the comments in an address to the North Atlantic Council in Brussels this morning on the political and security situation in Kosovo.

He also warned that if threats to order and security in Kosovo aren’t contained, then the goal of creating a stable multi-ethnic society in the foreseeable future will not be reached.

We have more on his speech upstairs in a press release.

**Former Yugoslavia

Available on the racks today is the eleventh annual report of the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which says that the Tribunal’s three trial chambers ran six trials simultaneously over the course of the past year.

Over that period, nine accused surrendered voluntarily and one was arrested, but high-level suspects, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, remain at large.

The report also notes the growing and significant gap between the Tribunal’s approved budget and the collection of contributions by Member States, with the two international tribunals having a cash deficit of more than $70 million.

**AIDS

A new UN-supported study says that people who provide reproductive services should also be used to integrate HIV prevention activities into their work.

According to the analysis, reproductive health providers already offer a wide range of services to millions of women who are at the centre of the AIDS pandemic.  Yet, their potential role as front-line providers of HIV prevention services is largely untapped.

We have a press release on the study, which was published jointly by UNAIDS, the United Nations Population Fund, the Alan Guttmacher Institute and the International Planned Parenthood Foundation.

**Nobel Message

The Secretary-General today called on the world’s Nobel Peace Laureates to support the Millennium Declaration and UN reform efforts, including the work done by the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

In a message to the Laureates’ fifth world summit, the Secretary-General says that what is needed, more than ever, is a constructive debate on how to build a collective security system to meet today’s challenges, in which all States can have confidence.

And we have copies of that message upstairs.

**Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is scheduled tonight to attend the International Rescue Committee’s 2004 Freedom Award Ceremony.

Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire, the former Commander of the UN Mission to Rwanda and Uganda, is being given the organization’s Distinguished Humanitarian Award.

**WHO/Better Research

A new report from the World Health Organization says that effective research could prevent half of the world's deaths with simple and cost-effective interventions.  That’s one of the key findings of the new World Report on global health research –- which sets out the strategies needed to reduce global disparities in health by strengthening health systems.

We have more on that in a press release upstairs.

**US Mission/Afghan Exhibit

And a heads-up on an exhibit that is opening at UN Headquarters this afternoon.

The exhibit is called “Out of the Shadows –- The Role of Women in Afghan Society”, and it’s being sponsored by US-AID and the US Mission to the United Nations.

Speakers at the event include US Ambassador John Danforth and James Kunder, US AID’s Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East.

The one hour event starts at 5 p.m., and will be held in the South Gallery, in the Conference Building Lobby.

An Iftar Reception will follow the opening statements, and there’ll be music performed by Afghan musicians.

**Press Conferences Today and Tomorrow

Finally, press conferences today and tomorrow.

Immediately following this briefing, Ms. 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. Faith Birol, Head of the Economic Analysis Division of the International Energy Agency, and they will be briefing you on three energy reports.

And then at 1 o’clock tomorrow, also in this room, Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie of Iraq will brief on a number of issues, including the political role of religious leaders in the Middle East.

That’s my report for today.

Questions and Answers

Question:  On Côte d’Ivoire, the Ivorian UN Ambassador is calling for the UN to bring French forces under its flag in Côte d’Ivoire.  He’s also saying that the Security Council should hold off on the issue of the French draft resolution until Thabo Mbeki has rendered the results of these mediations.  I’m wondering if you have any reactions to both those ideas?

Spokesman:  No, that’s a Council matter, so please don’t ask the Secretariat to intervene at this preliminary stage.

Question:  And on Iraq, as a follow up to Ashraf Qazi’s activities there, the Secretary-General has obviously expressed concern over the invasion of Falluja in the famous letter.  Now the Islamic Party has withdrawn from the Government in Iraq.  The Council of Islamic Scholars is calling for a boycott of the polling in January.  How concerned is the UN now that the polling won’t happen in Iraq as a result of what’s happening now?

Spokesman:  I don’t think we’re prepared to predict any impact of what’s happening in Iraq today on the elections planned for January.  As we’ve said a hundred times before, it will be the Iraqis who decide on the timing of those elections.  The developments that you cite are worrying, and don’t move us in the right direction.  But we’re waiting to see how the military operation proceeds, we’re hoping for a minimum of civilian casualties, and we’re hoping for a positive political outcome.  Edie?

Question:  Fred, in regards to the letter that the Secretary-General received about the oil-for-food-related documents from a Senate sub-committee.  Is there any response, and was the Secretary-General’s meeting yesterday with Mr. Volcker related in any way?

Spokesman:  We only just received that letter.  I think you may have gotten it before we did.  So we are studying the letter.  We have been fully cooperative and open with the Volcker Committee; we have shared all of our documentation with them.  We will be looking at the points raised in this letter over the next few hours.  We may have something to say after we’ve had a bit more time to study it.

I don’t have any information on what was discussed between the Secretary-General and Mr. Volcker yesterday, so I don’t believe that the Secretary-General knew about the letter at the time of his meeting with Mr. Volcker.  In fact, I know he did not know about the letter at that time.

Question:  Fred, what can you tell me about the status of preparations or implementation of evacuation of non-essential UN personnel from Cote d’Ivoire?

Spokesman:  We don’t like to talk about these things in any detail.  It is true that we are now looking to temporarily relocate any non-essential UN staff.  We’re also looking at, and assessing, the security situation in the streets, as to whether it’s safer to leave people where they are or whether it’s safe enough to start moving them out.  So, I don’t think we want to say anything more about what has become a dangerous situation for all foreigners in Cote d’Ivoire.

Question:  How many UN personnel are there in Côte d’Ivoire, and how many are non-essential?

Spokesman:  I don’t have the non-essential figure.  I think we have about 100, including the staff of our specialized agencies, funds and programmes.  And I believe there are over more than 600 civilians linked to the peacekeeping mission there.  Richard?

Question:  On oil-for-food, when you say you may have something to say later.  Is that an indication perhaps there would be a shifting in policy regarding the documents?

Spokesman:  No, I think we just want to clarify what our position is, and we need, in doing that, to consult first with Mr. Volcker, because one of the attachments to the letter that came from the Senators referred to an instruction reportedly given by Mr. Volcker’s Commission.  So, we need to clarify what their position is and we would like to clarify for you, and reassure you, of what our position is, as far as being as cooperative as possible.

Question:  What has been your position on sharing documents with the many Washington Committees?

Spokesman:  We have shared all our documents with Mr. Volcker, and Mr. Volcker has told you what his view is regarding control of those documents.

Question:  Do you feel criticism is justified about the UN hiding and not willing to share audits with others who are investigating, at others who are looking around the world at this complicated scandal?

Spokesman:  We would like those who are asking for these documents to have a clear understanding of why we take the position that we do.  It’s not to inhibit.  So if you’ll just give us a couple more hours to consult with Mr. Volcker, we may be able to give you a fuller position.  But it will be a reaffirmation of our former position, perhaps more fully explained.

Question:  On the work of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges, etc., some delegations have stated publicly that the recommendations should be [inaudible] by all the governments.  How does the Secretary-General envision the adoption of these recommendations, by consensus, by resolution, or by taking note of?

Spokesman:  That will be a decision for the General Assembly to take.  So he will be presenting the report to the Assembly on the second [of December], he would expect that the Assembly would decide which of the recommendations need to be discussed at the summit level, and which can be discussed in committee or in another body.  So that’s really not a position for him to take.  He would expect the Assembly to organize its work as it sees fit.

I will now call Djibril up to do the briefing on the General Assembly.

Spokesman for General Assembly President

Good afternoon.

This morning, the General Committee met informally to hear a presentation from Mr. Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.  The meeting was held to enhance the consideration of agenda item 39, that agenda being on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian assistance, including special economic assistance, and that in preparation for a Plenary discussion tomorrow.

Immediately following the adjournment of the Committee’s informal meeting there was a formal meeting to consider, including a new sub-item.  That sub-item is entitled, “Rendering assistance to the poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas”.  The request for inclusion of this item came from Afghanistan, Costa Rica, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal.  It is contained in document A/59/238.  This sub-item would be included under agenda item 88, that agenda item is entitled, “Groups of countries in special situations”, and it would be allocated to the Second Committee.

Speaking of which, the Second Committee is meeting today to discuss quite a few items:  macroeconomic policy questions; triennial comprehensive policy review of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system; actions related to the particular needs and problems of least developed countries, and finally, “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”.

The Fifth Committee, Administrative and Budgetary, took up yesterday a newly-developed strategic framework for the years 2006-2007, which has been prepared in an effort to streamline the complex and costly process of planning and budgeting at the United Nations.  The framework consists of a plan outline, reflecting longer-term objectives, and a two-year programme plan.

By the terms of General Assembly resolution 58/269, it has been prepared on a trial basis, to replace the current four-year plan, which is to end in 2005.  A final decision on the matter is to be made at the Assembly’s sixty-second session, which would allow for a review of experiences gained.

An item of good news I’d like to share with you.  This has to do with the Sixth Committee, the Legal Committee.

The Sixth Committee approved, without a vote, a United Nations Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their properties.

Why is this good news?  Because this item has been on the agenda of the General Assembly since December 1977.  So, through consistent work and follow up, we have the United Nations Convention, which has 33 articles applying to the immunity of a State and its properties from the jurisdiction of the courts of another State.  The Convention would be open for signature on 17 January 2005 until two years later, 17 January 2007.  And the Convention would enter into force on the thirtieth day after the thirtieth party would join.  So, I understand from experts, from students of United Nations affairs, that this was a very contentious issue in 1977, and it has been brought to a close by this Convention, approved without a vote, by the Sixth Committee, Sixth Committee being the Legal Committee.

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

Questions and Answers

Spokesman for General Assembly President:

Question:  Does the General Assembly have any idea how the report on the High-level Panel would be adopted -- by consensus, by vote, or by taking note of?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  The President of the General Assembly is taking this report very seriously, and has put in place a series of consultations within the General Assembly itself.  So I would say that it won’t be before March that one would have an idea, because March, being March 2005, would be marking the end of the consultative process that would be started on the second of December.  So, it’s too early to determine right now which way it would go.  Yes, Edie?

Question:  When was this Convention adopted?  Was it adopted today or yesterday?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  The Convention was approved yesterday.  And I would really like to recommend it to you because I’ve heard, very often, in this room, that the General Assembly is often a “talk shop”.  And very often, one mentions it, this is an example again of where global issues can only be resolved through a global platform, as the President of the General Assembly, Jean Ping, often reminds us.  Issues, which are contentious today, may take time, but through the General Assembly, they come to a resolution, whereby any country, which is below the agreement of the Convention, will be seen as such by the International Community.  Yes?

Question:  The Legal Committee is supposed to make a decision on two draft resolutions on human cloning.  But, so far, no meeting is scheduled to call for on this issue.  Can you tell us when the committees are going to resume discussions on these two draft resolutions?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  This is the issue on cloning.  The two groups of co-sponsors of draft resolutions, L.2 and L.8, have been undertaking consultations on an ongoing basis.  The Committee is supposed to complete its work on 19 November.  As you know, there are two proposals, one by Costa Rica and the group of co-sponsors, and the other by Belgium and co-sponsors.  The Office of the President of the General Assembly has been monitoring the situation very closely.

If there are no more questions, then thank you very much.

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