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

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.

Thank you for waiting.  I’m sorry I am late.

Good afternoon.

**Security Council

At 4 p.m., following a troop contributors’ meeting on Cyprus, the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open meeting on Iraq.

The Secretary-General will make an opening statement.  And then his Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, will brief Council members before they go into closed consultations.

Yesterday at 5 p.m., Council members met in closed consultations on Iraq.

And they also had discussions with Lakhdar Brahimi on Saturday afternoon during their weekend retreat with the Secretary-General.

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

The Secretary-General is relieved at the news that the 16 Sudanese and international aid workers were released unharmed by the Sudan Liberation Movement in Darfur on Sunday.  He condemns these detentions, which are unacceptable violations of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.  He underscores the crucial importance of safe and unhindered humanitarian access and urges all parties to facilitate it in this crisis where every moment counts.

**Darfur, Sudan - Hostage Release

The 16 humanitarian workers who had been detained by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), were released early Sunday and have returned safely to their base in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The group includes workers from UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and donors.  They were conducting assessments to prepare the way for delivery of relief assistance for displaced people in North Darfur when they were detained by an armed SLA unit on Thursday last.

**Darfur - Humanitarian

The World Health Organization and UNICEF say that an ambitious plan to vaccinate millions of children against measles in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region began over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN refugee agency, has stressed the urgency of funding more assistance for Sudanese refugees in Chad after seeing firsthand the dire situation in the border area.

The World Food Programme is also appealing to the international community for urgent funding to expand its operations in both Sudan and Chad.

**Sudan - Add

In a message delivered in Nairobi on Saturday, the Secretary-General commended the parties to the Sudan peace process who gathered in Nairobi to launch the final phase of peace efforts for southern Sudan.  He urged everyone present in Nairobi to sustain the political will that has brought us this far, and added that the United Nations will continue to be a close partner in that effort.

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

We have the following statement attributable to the Spokesman on the death of Ronald Reagan:

“The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ronald Reagan, the fortieth President of the United States of America.  He extends his sincere condolences to Mrs. Nancy Reagan, to the family of the former President, and to the Government and people of the United States.

“President Reagan will be remembered for his leadership and resolve during a period of momentous change in world affairs, as well as for the warmth, grace and humour with which he conducted affairs of State.  The positive and optimistic attitude that he brought to ending long-standing conflicts led to historic agreements on the reduction of nuclear arms, as well as advances in peace processes in different parts of the world.”

**DRC – Update

From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Mission reports that the situation in Kinshasa is calm today and that expected demonstrations by students were called off.  The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, William Swing, is in constant contact with President Joseph Kabila and his Cabinet, working with the Transitional Government to restore its authority in Bukavu.

Efforts continue to ensure that all the rebel forces in Bukavu withdraw from the city.  Latest reports from MONUC indicate that some 100 of Colonel Jules Mutebutsi’s troops are back in Bukavu, having left the cantonment site they were in outside the town.  No other troop movements have been registered.  General Laurent Nkunda has pledged to the UN Mission that he does not intend to return to Bukavu and will continue to relocate to areas close to and in Goma, from where his forces originated.  However, his forces continue to be around Kavumu, which is near the airport north of Bukavu.

On Sunday, two South African peacekeepers died near Rutshuru, in the eastern DRC after their convoy came under fire and a truck subsequently overturned.  Another 11 peacekeepers sustained injuries.

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

And on that subject we have the following statement:

“The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two United Nations peacekeepers near Rutshuru in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo yesterday after their convoy came under fire.  He extends his most sincere condolences to the Government and people of South Africa, and to the families of the bereaved.

“The United Nations Observer Mission in the Congo (MONUC) is carrying out a full investigation into the incident, in which at least 11 other MONUC personnel were injured.”

**Middle East

On the Middle East, Terje Roed Larsen, the UN’s Middle East envoy this morning welcomed the Israeli Cabinet’s decision to begin preparations for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.

Larsen said he took positive note particularly of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s announcement of his intention to evacuate all settlements in the Gaza Strip.

The International Community, led by the Quartet, Larsen said, has repeatedly pledged its support to any Israeli plan that would lead to an end of the occupation of the Gaza Strip.

We have the full text available upstairs.

**Palestinians

In a message delivered today in Geneva at the opening of a two-day conference on the humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees, the Secretary-General called for renewed support of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East –- UNRWA.

In his message, delivered by Peter Hansen, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, the Secretary-General underscored the continuing struggle of the Palestinian refugees to cope with increased socio-economic hardship.  He also noted that since September 2000, the number of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip who relied on UNRWA for food aid has gone from 130,000 to 1.1 million.  And, concurrently, the percentage of Palestinians living below the poverty line has tripled from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.

Continued under-funding of the Agency, the Secretary-General said in the message, is starting to occur, with decaying facilities and overstretched classrooms and clinics.  If this continues, he warns, the gains made in key health, education and social indicators could begin to unravel.

Much information is available upstairs on this two-day conference, which is co-hosted by UNRWA and the Swiss Government.

**Palestinians

On a related note, 10 UN agencies, including the UN Children’s Fund, the UN Development Programme and UNRWA today called on the Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on movement in the occupied territory to enable 60,000 Palestinian students to sit for their final high school exams, which get under way today.

UNICEF says that failure to sit for these exams will result in the students forfeiting the entire school year.

We have a press release on that upstairs.

**UNMOVIC

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) for Iraq has just issued its seventeenth quarterly report to the Security Council.

In it, the Commission’s acting Executive Chairman, Demetrius Perricos, reports that UNMOVIC experts have been conducting investigations following the discovery of Iraqi missile engines in a scrap yard in the Netherlands.

While continuing its monitoring work through the use of commercial satellite imagery, UNMOVIC says that a number of sites in Iraq previously known to have contained equipment and materials subject to UNMOVIC monitoring have been either cleaned out or destroyed.

The report also says that the US-led Iraq Survey Group has made no official information available to UNMOVIC on either the work or the results of its investigations carried out in Iraq.

And the full report is available upstairs.

**Afghanistan

On Afghanistan, a convoy of UN and Afghan electoral workers was attacked yesterday morning while travelling on a road in southern Afghanistan, in the district of Paktia.

The four-vehicle convoy was attacked by two improvised explosive devices, small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.

The police who were escorting the vehicles fired back at the attackers, and, after a fire-fight that lasted some two hours, the police escort pushed the attackers back.

Initial reports indicate that no one in the convoy was hurt.  Until further notice, the UN Mission says, UN vehicle movements along the road between Gardez and Khost have been suspended.  We have more details in the briefing notes from Kabul upstairs.

**Kosovo

On Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, the head of the UN Mission in there, yesterday voiced his deep distress at the shooting incident that took place on Friday night in Gracanica, in which a young Serb boy was murdered.  He said that violence will only set Kosovo back, and any provocation that aims to flare up ethnic tensions will be firmly countered.

Holkeri added that, due to the effective action of UN and Kosovo police, two suspects were arrested on Saturday.

**Côte d’Ivoire

The Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council on the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire is out as a document today.

The future of the peace process will clearly depend on whether the political leaders of the country will be able to rise above their personal ambitions and interests and give priority to the national interest, he says.

The only alternative would be further confrontation with the possibility of widespread violence, he warns.

He appeals to the Security Council, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and other stakeholders to continue to play an active role in encouraging all Ivorian parties to resume political dialogue and to the opposition parties to return to the government.

**Report - Liberia

On Liberia, the Security Council Sanctions Committee on Liberia has transmitted the report of the panel of experts on Liberia.

The panel says that it has found no evidence of weapons trafficking into Liberia since August 2003, but organized, international smuggling networks remain in place and could be reactivated at any time.

On diamonds, it says that mining in Liberia has virtually ceased, and current levels of smuggling are negligible.

On timber, it says that sanctions appear effective, but notes that the UN mission is not deployed in forest-rich south-eastern parts of the country.  Given the past complicity with human rights abuses and widespread corruption of the Forestry Development Authority, the panel recommends a comprehensive review of the industry by an independent authority.  It says conditions for lifting the sanctions have not been met.

Liberia sanctions are on the Security Council consultation agenda for Thursday afternoon.

**Civilians/Armed Conflict

In a report out today, the Secretary-General notes that, in the past 18 months, civilians have borne the brunt of armed conflicts in places stretching from Sudan’s Darfur region to Côte d’Ivoire, Nepal and Iraq.

He notes that the conflict in Darfur has displaced more than 1 million people, leaving them to struggle in harsh conditions while entire villages have been destroyed.  In Côte d’Ivoire, he adds, more than half a million people have been displaced.

In Iraq, the Secretary-General warns, the fighting and insecurity has resulted in disproportionate and avoidable civilian deaths and injuries, while detainees have been subjected to torture and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

**Haiti – Humanitarian Update

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than two weeks after heavy rains devastated western Haiti, some 5,000 families in the hard-hit Mapou district still need urgent humanitarian aid.  As the area remains inaccessible by road, relief supplies are being flown in by helicopter today.

An assessment by the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team indicates that the families will require food, clean water and other supplies for the next two months.

As further rains during the hurricane season (which lasts from June to November) could produce more mudslides, some villages in the area are expected to be fully or partially evacuated.

**Latest Developments in Venezuela – Friday Afternoon Statement

Just a reminder, we issued a statement late Friday on Venezuela, which I will read into the record.  It’s a short one:

“The Secretary-General takes note of the National Electoral Council’s announcement of the preliminary results of the reparos (correction) process.  In that regard, the Secretary-General commends the work carried out by the OAS and the CarterCenter, both of which have observed the entire process.

“The Secretary-General urges all Venezuelans to cooperate constructively to ensure a peaceful electoral and constitutional solution to the country’s political impasse.”

**Ustinov

And finally at, or penultimately, at 5:30 today in Conference Room 2, there will be a memorial service to pay tribute to the life of actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Peter Ustinov.  UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy and several other Goodwill Ambassadors will participate.

And there will be a message from the Secretary-General read out at that meeting.

**World Chronicle Television Programme

And now really last, the World Chronicle TV programme featuring Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, the President of ECOSOC, which was cancelled on last Friday’s slot will be shown today at 3:30 p.m. on in-house television channels 3 or 31.

Sorry that was so long.  Warren?

Questions and Answers

Question:  Is Lakhdar Brahimi’s presentation to the Security Council today his last act as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Iraq, and does the Secretary-General intend to name a new envoy before the 30 June date of transfer of power?

Spokesman:  I don’t think we can predict when Lakhdar Brahimi will be finished with Iraq.  I know he has made some public statements to the effect that he feels his work there is done.  We’ll just have to see whether the Secretary-General feels that he needs him some more.  He remains as Special Adviser.  That’s not just on Iraq, but on a wide variety of issues.  So, he’ll be here in his office on the 38th floor at the Secretary-General’s call.  The Secretary-General does intend to name a Special Representative for Iraq, where we are gearing up for a substantial programme should security permit.  When that person would be announced, I can’t say.  And would it be by 1 July?  I honestly don’t know.  Abdurrahim?

Question:  I have several issues.  I’ll start with Sudan.  Did the rebels explain why they held the 16 humanitarian workers in the first place, and what actually went on to bring about the release of the 16 detainees?  And then one on the appointment of John Danforth...(interrupted)?

Spokesman:  I can’t remember multiple questions.  So, let me take them one at a time.

I don’t think I have those details.  So, I would ask you to check with us afterwards.  But, I seem to recall something about these humanitarian workers wandering into territory controlled by the SLA, and the SLA taking them into so-called protective custody.  It was late in the day, and they ended up spending the night.  But to get the precise details see me after the briefing.  Second question?

Question:  On John Danforth’s designation as the next US Ambassador to the UN, since John Danforth has served as the Bush Administration’s envoy to Sudan.  Does his possible confirmation spell good or bad for what the UN is trying to do in Sudan?

Spokesman:  Why does the question come up?  I would think that it’s helpful that he has experience in this critical area.  I don’t know what the timing would be of his confirmation or when he would take up his post as the new US Ambassador, but the Secretary-General looks forward to working with him; not least on Sudan.  Do you have a third question?

Question:  Actually, I do.  On UNRWA and the Palestinians, the figures that you quoted, the rise from 20 per cent to 60 per cent as far as reliance on food aid is concerned, is that a result, does that reflect a deterioration in the situation of the Palestinians?  Or does it also indicate a rise in Palestinian population?

Spokesman:  I think the economy of the Palestinian territory has been devastated during this period of fighting that is known as the intifada.  So, it is a deterioration of the security situation; it is a result of the steps that the Israelis felt necessary to take to block Palestinians from moving from point A to point B when they might live in A but have jobs in B.  And so it’s been a steadily declining economic situation in the whole of the Palestinian territory.  Joel?

Question:  The destruction of their homes as well.

Spokesman:  Among other things.

Question:  My question was about the UN will maintain the MNF that will eventually provide security to the UN mission when it occurs.  A) how will that be put together?  Will the UN look for contributors?  Will that be like a traditional peacekeeping force within the MNF?  And B) will you begin that process now and keep it on standby so that when at least security is good enough to go back they will be ready?  Or that process begins once you determine that the security situation is good enough?

Spokesman:  The Security Council hasn’t yet adopted its resolution.  But I think you might have seen that the intention is for a special unit within the MNF to be assigned to provide security to United Nations personnel.  That actually could be more than one unit.  I think I mentioned last week that some potential troop contributors did come directly to us, expressing interest in providing that security for the UN personnel within the MNF.  And yes, we’ve had some tentative discussions with some troop contributors.  In the end, of course, these discussions will have to take place in close coordination with the MNF because this unit, this protection unit for the UN must be fully integrated in the MNF.

Question:  The UN will put it together and then give it to the MNF to run?

Spokesman:  Not necessarily.  All I said was we’ve had discussions with troop contributors who came to us, and we have relayed this information to the Coalition leaders and others who would be involved in the formation of the MNF.

Question:  Given how long it takes to put these forces together, is that a process you will begin now and keep them on standby?

Spokesman:  We’ve been actively talking with those countries who came to us with the offers.  Mohamed?

Question:  Fred, with (regard to) the participation with the Council’s meeting, Mr. Brahimi and the Secretary-General are going to meet.  Could please help us a little bit about this meeting?  And my second part of the question is will the address of Mr. Brahimi and the Secretary-General’s in the Council be available or not?

Spokesman:  I don’t know the purpose of this meeting.  I’d have to see.  But we will have the text of Mr. Brahimi’s statement and the Secretary-General’s statement in this open meeting, which we will make available to you right after they deliver their respective statements.  Yes?

Question:  Fred, in other Serbia (inaudible) holy site of (inaudible).  Is it time to let the Serbian Government protect its own people?  You’re preventing the Serbian Government to protect its own citizens and UNMIK is not able to do it.

Spokesman:  I don’t know about the incident that you’re talking about today.  I gave you Mr. Holkeri’s reaction to the killing of this Serb teenager over the weekend.  No police force can provide a 100 per cent protection to any population.  Mr. Holkeri said that he was determined to enforce security and to find and prosecute those who carried out this first murder -– I am not aware of the second one –- and as I already mentioned, they arrested two Kosovo-Albanian teenagers in connection with the weekend murder that happened on Sunday.  Sir, all the way in the back?

Question:  Fred, yesterday the United States Ambassador said that the new draft resolution would be voted on tomorrow.  And in the new draft resolution there is some clarification on the United Nations’ role in the reconstruction of Iraq.  Does the Secretary-General have any comments on that?  Do you think the vote will be tomorrow?

Spokesman:  I can’t predict when the vote will take place.  And as to any references to the UN role in the resolution -- I don’t know the specific thing you mention on reconstruction –- but the Secretary-General did over the weekend at the retreat present some suggested changes in the draft to cover his own concerns.  And I have not seen the draft that’s supposed to be put on the table this afternoon.  So I don’t know whether those changes proposed by the Secretary-General would be taken on board or not.  But I did not hear any objection from any of the Council Members when the SG put his suggestions forward.  Yes, Ma’am?

Question:  Has the Secretary-General spoken to Colin Powell today?

Spokesman:  I don’t believe so.  I’d have to double-check the phone log; but I don’t believe so.  [The Spokesman later confirmed that the Secretary-General did not speak with United States Secretary of State Colin Powell any time this weekend].

Question:  And when is he expected to come into the UN today?  I know he has a meeting at 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., but... (interrupted)?

Spokesman:  Oh, he came in a little after 11 a.m.

Question:  And what is Lakhdar Brahimi’s programme been since after he returned?

Spokesman:  I don’t know.  I suppose he’s been working on his presentation for this afternoon, I don’t know.  I am not normally informed of his programme and we don’t usually describe or discuss the details of the programmes of anyone but the Secretary-General in this room.  Yes?

Question:  On the death of Ronald Reagan, (inaudible)... but not Muammar Qaddafi of Libya and accuses Reagan of illegal aggression against Libya in the late ’80s.  How does the UN rate Reagan’s multilateralism?

Spokesman:  I am going to limit myself to the statement that I read out earlier if you don’t mind, Abdurrahim.  Yes?

Question:  Fred would you make us the information for countries for the special unit, the countries which came forward...(interrupted)?

Spokesman:  I am sorry, I am not understanding...?

Question:  Would you make public the names of the countries which would like to contribute to the special unit once the resolution is passed?

Spokesman:  Oh, I see.  No, it’s pretty much standard practice that we don’t discuss potential troop contributors and we more or less wait till the mission has been fully formed.  In this case, it is not our mission to assemble.  An MNF is usually blessed by the Security Council, very often designating the lead country or countries authorizing them to form the MNF.  Then we would be dealing with the MNF as far as finalizing the details for the close protection and the perimeter protection of our staff and our headquarters in Iraq.

Question:  And the special unit will be under?

Spokesman:  Under MNF command.

Thank you very much.

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