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,

**Guest at Noon

The high text up here is in preparation for Vincent McClean, the New York Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, who will be talking to you about the Afghanistan Opium Survey 2004.  That will be in just a few minutes.

**Secretary-General in Nairobi

The report from Nairobi today:  The Secretary-General met with President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, immediately after arriving at UN headquarters in Nairobi today.  The Secretary-General praised Kenya for its leading role in both the Somali and Sudanese peace processes.  The President and the Secretary-General reviewed the peace process in those two countries.  And they also discussed the work of the UN’s humanitarian agencies in Kenya.

Later in the morning, the Secretary-General addressed the Security Council’s meeting in Nairobi, and said that it was high time to conclude the negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Army, and to start implementing what has been agreed.

He told Council members and other dignitaries that the conclusion of such negotiations would also serve as a catalyst for the resolution of existing conflicts.  He said that the devastating conflict in Darfur is a glaring example of the effects of the delay in closing what is known as the Naivasha process.

The Secretary-General reported to Council members that the security situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate as both rebels and the Government breach ceasefires.  This has made humanitarian access difficult, if not impossible, he said.

“When crimes on such a scale are being committed”, he added, “and a sovereign State appears unable or unwilling to protect its own citizens, a grave responsibility falls on the international community, and specifically on this Council”.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General returned to the Security Council for a closed meeting on Sudan.

He later took questions from the press on Sudan and Somalia.  And we hope to have a transcript of that press encounter later this afternoon.

**Security Council

The Security Council began its meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, today with strong calls to the parties involved in the long drawn out conflict in the Sudan to reach a global peace deal by the end of the year.

The Security Council President, Ambassador John Danforth of the United States,  announced that the parties to the north-south peace talks are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding tomorrow, committing themselves to completing their peace agreement and signing a peace agreement by the end of the year.

In addition to the Secretary-General, taking part in the public meeting were Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha and SPLM leader John Garang, along with representatives of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD.

Council members were also finalizing a draft resolution on Sudan, scheduled to be voted on tomorrow morning in Nairobi.

**Sudan -- Humanitarian

The UNICEF said today that reports of violence against women and children, in and around Darfur’s camps for civilians displaced by fighting, seem to be increasing rather than diminishing.

Speaking from New York, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, said that reports of aid agency monitors “strongly dispute claims that the situation is under control”.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that while the attention of the media has focused heavily on the continuing humanitarian emergency in the Darfur region of western Sudan, the food outlook for southern Sudan in 2005 looks fairly bleak.

The situation, WFP warned, could worsen when peace is achieved between the north and south, since there would most likely be an influx of southerners returning to their homes.

**Kyoto Protocol

While in Nairobi today, the Secretary-General received from Russian Ambassador Andrey DenisovRussia’s instrument of ratification for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The Secretary-General said this was a historic occasion for the whole world.  He added that we now “need to intensify our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and”, he said, “I hope even the countries which have not joined yet will make efforts in that direction”.  We have his full statement available upstairs.

Also present when the Secretary-General received the ratification were UN Environment Programme Executive Director Klaus Toepfer and Wangaari Maathai, the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In a separate statement, Toepfer said that the Protocol is a welcome first step, but only a first step -– and that fighting climate change needs to be incorporated into all facets of society, from city infrastructure planning to planning for the world’s energy needs in the 21st century.

Under the Protocol, industrialized countries are to reduce their combined emissions of six major greenhouse gases during the five-year period of 2008 through 2012 to below 1990 levels.  The Protocol will enter into force 90 days from today.

**Côte d’Ivoire

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire, Albert Tevoedjre, accompanied by UN Force Commander General Abdoulaye Fall, paid a visit to Bouake today –- the first time since the breakout of hostilities.

The UN delegation first held talks with Forces Nouvelles Secretary General Guillaume Soro.  The Special Representative reiterated the UN’s commitment to help bring back the peace process on track.  The delegation also visited the three sites that came under bombardment last week.

General Fall explained the role of the “blue helmets” in this crisis, saying that UN military forces had played their roles in different ways, helping with evacuation as well as observing the violation of the ceasefire.

Fall said UN forces had prevented ground troops from crossing the zone of confidence, including by firing warning shots in the air.

Meanwhile, in Abidjan, the situation continued to gradually return to normal though it still remains tense.  Offices, banks and businesses are re-opening.  Children are slowly returning to school, all of which have opened except for the four French schools.

The UN mission says that human rights violations perpetrated by Forces Nouvelles elements are being reported in Bouaké and other parts of the north.

The UN refugee agency reports the number of people fleeing Côte d'Ivoire to neighbouring Liberia has climbed to 13,000.  The WFP has been able to resume some of its operations.

**Haiti/UNDP Report

A new report projects disturbing downward trends in Haiti’s health, education, economic and environmental sectors over the following decade.

The joint report -– by the Government of Haiti and the United Nations -– says that if trends continue, one out of every 10 Haitians will be infected by HIV by the year 2015 and a quarter of the population will remain shackled by extreme poverty.

The report was researched during the final and most turbulent years of the Aristide Government, and was finished prior to the hurricane-related tragedy in Gonaïves last September.

The UN Development Programme’s Resident Representative in Haiti says the message behind the report’s findings is that the international donor community needs to make good on its promises of financial support for Haiti, and Haiti’s leadership must develop good governance practices and use the resources made available to it in a transparent and efficient manner.  We have more on that upstairs.

**Iraq

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, today met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zubari for talks that focused on the international conference on Iraq, which is to be held on 23 November in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Qazi stressed the importance of the conference as a clear demonstration of the international commitment to help Iraq through its transitional process.  He and Zubari also discussed the latest political developments in Iraq and the role of the United Nations in coordinating international support for the country.

**Cyprus

The head of the UN Mission in Cyprus today hailed the launch of a Landmine and Ordnance Clearance Programme in the country as a “truly historic event”.

Zbigniew Wlosowicz said that “every mine removed leaves space for stepping-stones to mark the path of peace and reconciliation”.

The 2.5 million-euro project is being done by the UN Development Programme and the UN Office for Project Services, with funding from the European Union.

**Afghanistan

The UN Mission in Afghanistan today marked the end of the third week since three staff members were abducted from Kabul.  The Mission reiterated its gratitude to the Afghan authorities for their hard work, and its appreciation to the support it continues to receive from Afghans in these trying times.  It once again called for the three staff members to be set free.  We have copies of the Kabul briefing notes upstairs.

**Appointment of DSRSG/DRC

The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Ross Mountain of New Zealand as his Deputy Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, replacing Ms. Lena Sundh.  Mr. Mountain has had over 25 years experience in the field of economic and social development and humanitarian affairs.  Immediately prior to this appointment, he served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq.  We have more in a bio note upstairs.

**Secretary-General’s Messages

We also have messages from the Secretary-General on the International Year of Microcredit, and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and AIDS.

**Press Conference Tomorrow

Finally, press conference tomorrow:  Ambassador Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaidaei of Iraq will be here at 11:15 to talk to you about the role of religion in the political spectrum of the Middle East and Iraq, in light of the current violence in his country.

That’s all I have for you.  Mohammad?

Questions and Answers

Question:  Fred, what is your reaction to the early resignation proposal of the Secretary-General in one of today’s New York dailies?  Is it the beginning of a new wave of pressure against Mr. Annan?

Spokesman:  What article are you referring to?

Question:  The New York Sun.

Spokesman:  The New York Star?

Question:  The New York Sun, I believe.

Spokesman:  Oh, the Sun.  The Secretary-General has two years, one month and almost three weeks, maybe two weeks to go in his second term.  And he expects to fulfil that second term.  It will be a challenging final two years, but I don’t think he reads the New York Sun.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  As a result of the recent violence in Côte d’Ivoire, some 10,000 refugees have crossed over into Liberia where the facilities have been overwhelmed.  What measures has the High Commissioner for Refugees taken to alleviate the situation?

Spokesman:  You’ll have to ask them.  We’ve been reporting daily on the refugee flow out of Côte d’Ivoire.  The figure I think I used today was 13,000.  And we’ve also reported that the UNHCR was working with the neighbouring government to try to set up emergency feeding and shelter for these refugees.  But as far as what else is being done to find more long-term camps for them, if they deem that’s necessary, that’s a technical issue.  You’d have to ask UNHCR.  Or you can ask someone in my office to look into it for you.  They can check with UNHCR for you.  Richard? [He later told the correspondent that UNHCR has set up a temporary transit centre to shelter refugees arriving in Butuo in north-eastern Liberia.  A community health centre is open, although there is an acute shortage of medical supplies.]

Question:  Because it involves the Secretary-General, do you know if he’s been formally interviewed by the Volcker panel?  And would you be able, if it does occur, to tell us when it does happen?

Spokesman:  He is available to them, as is every other member of the UN Secretariat involved in the programme.  I don’t believe he has been interviewed yet.  I’d have to check.  He has had some lengthy sessions with them; but whether those constituted formal interviews or not, I would have to see.

Question:  Are you referring to other meetings on the Volcker session, one-on-one, when you say lengthy sessions, or these are other meetings?

Spokesman:  No.  We told you he met with Mr. Volcker last week, for example, and that was for an hour, more than an hour.  But what I don’t know is whether they were formally interviewing him.

Question:  How many of the eminent persons will come with the report in early December?

Spokesman:  I believe that the Chairman Anand Panyaruchun will be joined by Gro Harlem Brundtland, to give the main press conference in this room regarding the release of the report.  And other members will be available to the press wherever they might be on that day.  I don’t think that they’re expected to all be here in New York.

Question:  So, that will be on 2 December and…?

Spokesman:  2 December.  And our intention is to brief you on an embargoed basis before then, and to share with you an embargoed copy of the report so you’ll have a day or two to study it before it goes public.

Good.  Well, Vincent McClean, come up please.

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