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 for the Secretary-General

The lead item for today that just was given to me on Iraq is a statement attributable to the Spokesman:

“The Secretary-General intends to proceed with further expansion of the UNAMI presence in Iraq, in implementation of the mandate given to him by the Security Council in resolution 1546 (2004).  Stressing the high importance he attaches to the provision of essential security protection for the staff concerned, he has given instructions that the first steps be taken to assess the security conditions to establish UNAMI presence in Basra and in Erbil as soon as practicable.”

**Sudan

The UN mission in Sudan reports that fighting is continuing in areas around Nyala in South Darfur.

The reported build-up of rival armed groups in these areas have raised serious concerns in the humanitarian community.  UN operations and movements have been suspended in these areas due to insecurity.

Humanitarian agencies report that militias had entered some sections of Kalma camp on the evening of 13 December, randomly shooting into the air, and looted personal items from some huts and livestock belonging to some new arrivals.  We have the weekly briefing notes from Khartoum upstairs, if you want more information.

**Security Council

The Security Council is holding consultations today on the UN Mission in Sierra Leone and on the issue of the return by Iraq of Kuwaiti property and repatriation of missing Kuwaitis and third-country nationals.

Following consultations, the Council has scheduled a meeting to adopt a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights.

And for the record, at the end of a day-long meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Council, in a presidential statement, condemned all acts of violence against civilians in armed conflict, particularly the use of media to incite hatred and violence.  It urged all parties to armed conflict, including non-State parties, to put an end to such practices.

**Sierra Leone

Out on the racks today are copies of the latest report of the Secretary-General on the UN mission in Sierra Leone, which is being discussed by Security Council members this morning.  Noting that the mission is continuing its drawdown as planned, the Secretary-General says that, by the end of December, the troop’s strength is expected to be reduced to some 4,000.

He commends the Government of Sierra Leone for its efforts to enhance the control of diamond mining, which has resulted in a considerable increase in revenues from official diamond exports.

He notes, however, that the recent disturbances in Côte d’Ivoire have created a ripple effect in the region, especially with regard to the influx of Ivorian refugees on the overstretched facilities in neighboring countries.  He warns that if the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire persists, the stability of the whole subregion, including Sierra Leone, could be seriously jeopardized.

**DR Congo

UN peacekeepers in the town of Bukavu, which is in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, have repulsed an attempt by unidentified armed men to cross into the DRC from Rwanda in three dug-out canoes.  The UN Mission in the DRC says the peacekeepers were fired upon by a dozen occupants of the canoes, and they returned fire, which caused the canoes to turn back.  Bukavu is located near the narrow strait where the lakes Kivu and Tanganyika meet, with Rwanda on the other side of the water.

Meanwhile, regarding reports of renewed fighting in the locality of Kanyabayonga, in the eastern province of North Kivu, the Mission says there’s no proof that it involves Rwandan troops –- and believes the fighting is between factions of the Congolese national army.  As I mentioned yesterday, the Mission has sent a military team to Kanyabayonga to investigate what’s happening there, and that team reached the area today at around 2 p.m. local time.

**High-level Panel

This afternoon, the Secretary-General will complete his initial discussions with Member States of the report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.  He will meet the group of Eastern European states, having met over the past two days with the groups representing African, Asian, Latin American, Western European and other states.

**Philippines

Today the UN launched a Flash Appeal to help those hit by the recent typhoons and tropical storms in the Philippines.  The Flash Appeal seeks $6.4 million and covers the period from mid-December 2004 through mid-March 2005.  And we have a press release with more information on that in my office.

**SG Message –- Climate Change

We must not allow the consequences of climate change to undermine our work in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  That statement is part of the Secretary-General’s message to the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is currently meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Secretary-General adds that Parties must look beyond the Kyoto Protocol, since it takes them only to the year 2012, and that the longer-term challenge is to promote the use of low-carbon and renewable energy sources, as well as low-greenhouse-gas technologies.  We have the full statement available upstairs.

**New Early Warning Web Site

UN humanitarian agencies and partners today launched a new early warning service web site.  Designed to enhance humanitarian preparedness, the site displays the latest forecasts, reports and alerts on drought, floods, tropical storms, locust infestation, El Niño, earthquakes and volcanic activity.  You can visit it at:  www.hewsweb.org.  And we also have a press release on that with more information.

That’s all I have for you.

Okay, we’ll take you in from front to back.  Evelyn?

Questions and Answers

Question:  How many people does that involve in Basra and Erbil?

Spokesman:  I don’t have specific numbers.  I am not even sure I would give them.  We may have some more information before the afternoon is over.

Question:  And when will that happen?

Spokesman:  Again, I believe that there are just the essential planning missions going to these areas now, and I don’t know that we are able to say today when we would actually establish the presence there.

Question:  So, just to clarify, you’re saying now that this is a security assessment that’s being done for these two areas first?  When you say planning mission, what exactly will be done?

Spokesman:  I assume that what we’re doing is looking at and assessing sites where we would house our people and where they would work.

Question:  So, does that mean after the decision that will be made, you will increase the number of international personnel in Iraq?

Spokesman:  Say it again.

Question:  Having made the decision to increase the number of people in Iraq... (Interrupted).

Spokesman:  The details of this have to be worked out.  The current ceiling of 59 is not adequate for what we want to do.  We’ve been talking to you for some time about the introduction of security elements from Fiji, which would bump that number up to something closer to 200 once they’re deployed.  They’re already in the process of being deployed.  So, I am not prepared to say today that there is a new upper limit.  But clearly, we’re in a process of increasing our presence.

Question:  Does this mean that the UN has gotten the security guarantees, assurances, that it was looking for?  And who will ensure, primarily, the security of these forces, of these employees, rather?

Spokesman:  All along we’ve been saying that, apart from the close protection unit being provided by Fiji, the other levels of security provided to our people would be integrated into the multinational force, although they would function as a unit specially mandated to protect UN personnel.  So, it’s the multinational force that we’re depending on for our security.  Edie?

Question:  Fred, does this mean that the goal would be to have these 200 people there at least, perhaps by the end of December, or certainly early mid-January, ahead of the elections?

Spokesman:  I can’t say specifically, I don’t have guidance on that point.  I am hoping to get a little bit more information later today.

Question:  Are you able to clarify, to follow up, what generally these extra people would be doing?  Are these (inaudible) people geared towards election support or are there other political functions or humanitarian functions?

Spokesman:  Well, the bulk of the 200 would be the Fijian close protection.

I think that the number of electoral personnel that we hope to get up to remains something like 25.  And we continue to be working with election officers and experts provided by other nations that go in under those nations’ authority, but work closely with us.

Yes, Laura?

Question:  Fred, I know you’ve said in the past that you don’t know exactly what’s going on, but, Basra and Erbil, are they going to be divided evenly, the number of staff there, or is it going to be, are you going to...?

Spokesman:  I don’t know that.  I would assume that there would be approximately the same number in both those locations.  But I don’t know for a fact.  Massoud?

Question:  Yes, this formula, the procedures in the Security Council –- is it that some of the Mission’s officials seconded by the UN as their personnel, is that also being discussed at all... (Interrupted)?

Spokesman:  Say it again.  What are you talking about?

Question:  Officials who are representing various missions and embassies over there...

Spokesman:  Yeah.

Question:  ...and if they’re willing to help the UN should it be accepted by the United Nations...(Interrupted)?

Spokesman:  You’re talking about the electoral officers.  Yes, we’ve said that there are already electoral experts from the U.K. and elsewhere that we’re working with.  Yes?

Question:  What’s the status of, more specifically, the deployment of the Fijian troops?  And also, what’s the status of UN talks with Romania and Georgia on their contribution?

Spokesman:  The Fijians are completing a training exercise and are in the process of being deployed.  And we will announce when they are in place and assuming, formally assuming their responsibility for close protection, which is currently being provided by the multinational force.  The rest of your question was what?

Question:  First of all, is there a schedule for their full deployment?

Spokesman:  It’s very close and we’ll be announcing it soon.

Question:  And the second questions was, any talks on the status of Romania and Georgia, on them providing their own contribution to the protection?

Spokesman:  That’s the so-called middle ring.  The recruitment of those people is being done by the multinational force, with our involvement.  But I have nothing to tell you about the status of their recruitment at this time.  Peter?

Question:  Technically, how long does it take for these security assessments?  How soon might we hear that a decision has been made?

Spokesman:  I can’t predict for you.  It’s usually a matter of days.  David?

Question:  Just a question.  Earlier this week, Special Representative Qazi mentioned this, that there was an argument for expanding.  But he also said that the UN has to be cautious because places that look tame and look quiet, are deceivingly dangerous to the United Nations.  I wonder practically how is this announcement today any different from what he announced in the Security Council meeting the other day?  Is this a concrete decision to move forward with this? It sounded like the last earlier leak.  He was also saying the conditions were secure.

Spokesman:  This is a formal statement that starts, the Secretary-General intends to proceed with further expansion of the UN mission.  So, it’s a declaration of intent.

Question:  And if I could just follow up.  The Secretary-General is going to Washington tonight to meet with... folks tomorrow.  To what extent should we understand this announcement to be within the context of his trip to Washington?  Some sort of sweetener, if you will, when he meets with folks in Washington tomorrow?

Spokesman:  You don’t expect me to answer that question, do you David?  I mean, come on.

(Laughter)

Spokesman:  Liz?

Question:  There are more reports coming out from Congressional investigators on ties between Kojo Annan and the UN.  They’re coming up with documents that show phone records.  That there were many phone calls made between Kojo Annan and the UN, hotel bills that show Kojo Annan staying as “K. Annan, United Nations” at a South Africa hotel.  Other documents that seem to show links.  So, are there any comments or thoughts?

Spokesman:  I assume the documents you’re referring to are ones that were provided by Kojo Annan to the Volcker commission and that may have been shared with congressional sources.  Can’t imagine why they would be leaking those documents to the press.  We’ll leave Mr. Volcker to evaluate all that evidence and to conclude as he sees fit.  Edie?

Question:  Fred, I am slightly confused on the numbers, because when you initially talked about 200, is that 200 number to include the Fijians?

Spokesman:  Yes.

Question:  And what’s the total number of Fijians that we’re expecting to be deployed?

Spokesman:  I don’t have a figure.

Question:  Oh, I think they announced it.  It was 100 to 150.

Spokesman:  That’s the ball park, 150.  Susie?

Question:   Fred, the expansion, is that envisaged to be just because more people are going to Basra and Erbil, or they looking at an expansion in Baghdad as well?

Spokesman:  The expansion that we have announced today refers to the two other cities:  Basra and Erbil.  So, there is an expansion outside of Baghdad, there is the imminent emplacement of the close protection unit of the Fijians and, I think you would have to say that...  Well, I am saying to you that we see this as an expansion of our presence.  Irwin?

Question:  (Inaudible) possible, because you have a 150 Fijians and you have a present ceiling in there of 59 –- that right there would be 209.

Spokesman:  We’re talking geographic expansion and we’re talking about the putting in place of the close protection force.  Evelyn?

Question:  Yes, the puzzling thing is, when you set up, you haven’t given a date, you don’t say when Erbil and Basra.  Is that going to mean more people than the 25 electoral workers of the 60-65 total that you have, or will have in Baghdad shortly?  Does that include that amount?  Because otherwise what is the expansion except the geographical office, which you could open with anyone.

Spokesman:  A geographical office and the emplacement of the close protection force.  I am not... I have not been given any more information than this statement.  So, I am trying to make a little bit of sense of it for you and I am hoping that we might get more details later today or tomorrow.  But this is all I have for now.  Bill?

Question:  Let me understand this. The ceiling that is set by the Secretary-General, in this case which is currently 59, is that ceiling raised to include the Fijians or does that ceiling only involve UN Secretariat workers such as electoral workers?

Spokesman:  My understanding is that it will be raised to include the Fijians, because they will be on our payroll as our security personnel.

Question:  And would it be fair to assume that this is a prelude to increasing the number of purely Secretariat people, such as electoral people and others who will staff the Erbil and Basra offices?

Spokesman:  Well, let’s take it a step at a time.  We’ll get close protection in place.  We’ll increase the electoral officers as we have predicted.  We’ll see if we can safely expand to two other cities.  The close protection would go with those personnel going to those cities.  If the situation continues to be tolerable from a security point of view, the Secretary-General would always have the option to send in more people. But that judgement would be based on the security assessment day-by-day.  Yes, Ghilda?

Question:  Following the decision by the Iraqi interim government to begin trying former members of the Ba’ath regime as early as next week, what’s the formal position of the UN on this?

Spokesman:  I took that question yesterday.  I don’t think I have anything new to add.

Question:  Sorry, I missed it.

Question:  What can you tell us about, I guess there are two senators coming to meet with Annan today?  Anything you can tell us about that?  Is Sununu coming?

Spokesman:  Patrick Leahy is on the programme.  I am not aware of anyone else.  I’d have to double check.  We’ll try to get for you the read out, as usual.  I don’t know why the meetings were asked for.

Question:  What about the Danforth meeting, do you have anything...?

Spokesman:  I don’t know why he asked for that meeting either.  You’ll have to ask him.

Question:  And back on the Kojo Annan issue.  Is there any update on in terms of communication between [Kofi] Annan and his son in terms of information that Annan may have now about Kojo’s business dealings that might change his statement about whether or not Kojo Annan did, in fact, have any dealings with the UN?

Spokesman:  The only thing we consider relevant is there is any information that Kojo Annan might be making available to Mr. Volcker and his panel.  And therefore, it’s privileged until Mr. Volcker decides to release it.

Question:  About the 150 Fijians, was that considered the number needed for Baghdad alone? Or is taking into account that there might be?

Spokesman:  To my understanding, that was the approximate number required for close protection overall.

Question:   How many UN international staff is there?

Spokesman:  We have not been giving specific numbers.  We did go public with the new ceiling of 59, and it’s in that neighbourhood.

Thank you very much.

Question:  By the way, just one more question.  Fred, what was the reason that your briefing was moved forward an hour?  I understand that there is a big personal reason?

Spokesman:  I’ve got to get to the church on time.

(Laughter and applause)

Spokesman:  Thank you.

* *** *