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

Good afternoon,

**Volcker

A few minutes ago, the Chairman of the Independent Inquiry Committee in the Oil-for-Food Programme, Paul Volcker, presented the Secretary-General with a copy of the committee’s initial report.

We are currently studying the report, which is 219 pages long, plus appendices.

And then, at about 5:00 o’clock this afternoon, the Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff, Mark Malloch Brown, will come to this room to give you the United Nations’ initial reaction to that report.

But we will peg the timing of that briefing to about a half hour after the ending of Mr. Volcker’s briefing in midtown, which I understand is supposed to start at about 3:00 o’clock.

**Sudan

On Sudan, the Secretary-General’s report is out as a Security Council document today.

In it, he recommends that the Security Council, acting under Chapter VI, the non-enforcement chapter of the UN Charter, authorize the deployment of a multidimensional UN peace support operation consisting of 10,130 troops and 755 civilian police.

Deploying and sustaining the mission would be a considerable challenge in a country the size of Western Europe which has poor communications, few adequate roads or runways and an inoperable railway system, the report warns.  There are also uncharted landmines and widespread unexploded ordnance.

Nonetheless, the Secretary-General says it would be impractical to wait for peace to reign throughout Sudan before supporting the agreements that have already been reached.  A start must be made in implementing the North-South Agreement and to use the process to help the Sudanese resolve other conflicts as well.

Support to the agreement is the most promising path to a resolution of other political crises facing Sudan, most notably in Darfur, he says.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Jan Pronk, is expected to brief the Security Council on this report tomorrow.

**Sudan - Ground

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Sudan continues to report on insecurity in Darfur.

In west Darfur, it was reported that yesterday two individuals fired at a water and sanitation truck marked with a UN Agency and an NGO logo.  One person was injured.  There were 10 bullets holes in the truck.  The attackers looted all personal belongings of the driver and passengers of the truck.  All UN movement on the road was suspended until further notice.

We have the transcript of Jan Pronk’s press conference from yesterday.

**SG Remarks

The Secretary-General, in comments to reporters yesterday afternoon, said he hopes that the Security Council will act quickly on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry report on Darfur, Sudan.

In response to a question about how people guilty of crimes in Sudan are to be prosecuted, he said there is a debate going on in the Security Council but stressed, “They must be prosecuted, whichever way the Council decides to go.”

He said that the way Iraqis turned out in large numbers to vote on Sunday showed the courage of the Iraqi people.  The Secretary-General said that, with the elections now behind us, every effort should be made to bring in Sunni nationalists, in a time for dialogue and reconciliation.  We have the transcript of his remarks upstairs.

**Iraq

From Baghdad, UN Envoy for Iraq Ashraf Qazi has been continuing consultations with Iraqi leaders on means of pushing the political process forward in the wake of the elections.

He met with Iraq’s Interim Finance Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, a candidate on the United Iraqi Coalition electoral list, with whom he discussed the role the UN will continue to play in supporting the political and rebuilding processes in Iraq in the implementation of its mandate under Security Council Resolution 1546.

Qazi held similar talks with the President of the Iraqi Islamist Party, Muhsen Abdul Hamid, stressing the importance of the participation of all Iraqis in shaping the future of their country.  In comments to the press after the meeting, Qazi said this had been part of consultations he is holding with representatives of all Iraqi political forces in the wake of the elections.  He said the UN stands ready to offer every possible support to the Iraqi people. 

Qazi said the UN will continue to encourage inclusiveness in the political process based on broad-based dialogue among all components of the Iraqi society.

**Security Council

The Security Council has no meetings or consultations scheduled for today.

**Tsunami

On the tsunami:  in a video message, the Secretary-General today told viewers of an MTV Asia Aid concert in Bangkok, Thailand, that he had seen “scenes of unimaginable sadness” on his recent visit to tsunami-stricken countries.  The concert is being held primarily to raise funds for UNICEF and its relief work in hard-hit areas.

Meanwhile, in the Maldives, the island of Kandholhudhoo, which was badly hit by the tsunami, has been completely evacuated.  But on the island of Kulhudffushi, the World Food Programme (WFP) is assisting more than 3,000 students in four schools, as part of a new school-feeding initiative.

And in Thailand, the WFP has delivered large dispatches of rice and canned fish to the south, to supplement school lunch programmes and to feed vulnerable families.

Also in Sri Lanka, following reports of bottlenecks in the distribution of relief aid, the WFP is increasing its staff and capacity there, to deal with any gaps in food distribution and to ensure that all who need food receive it. 

**Guéhenno - C34

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, addressed the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on Monday.

In his speech, he appealed for its help in tackling -- as a top priority in 2005 -- the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse, and to recognize that the failure to do so could do irreparable damage to the image and reputation of UN peacekeeping.

He also appealed for them to approve the establishment of a standing civilian police capacity, as well as a military strategic reserve force, and spoke about the big surge experienced in peacekeeping over the last year.

For example, there are now 75,000 military, police and civilian personnel deployed in 17 peacekeeping missions, compared to 55,000 at this time last year.

He also warned that the Department is overstretched, and that it would be preferable not to ask the UN to establish any new complex peacekeeping operations, beyond Sudan, this year.

**Afghanistan

Professor Cherif Bassiouni, the UN’s independent expert on human rights in Afghanistan, began a new week-long visit to that country on Monday, in which he has started to meet with Afghan officials and civil society members.  He will report on his mission to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, next month.

We have details in today’s briefing notes from Kabul, which also mentioned the demobilization of more than 36,000 former soldiers so far.

**IAEA

From the IAEA; with the death toll from cancer claiming 1.7 million Europeans each year, health ministers and experts of leading oncology centres from 27 countries across the continent met at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s headquarters, in Vienna, this week to work together to combat the disease.

We have a press release with more details on that.

**Press Conference Tomorrow

Finally, at 1:15 tomorrow in this room, Ambassador Don Mackay of New Zealand, the Coordinator of the fifth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will brief you on the outcome of the session, which concludes tomorrow.

That’s all I have for you.

The lady all the way in the back?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Paul Volcker has already outlined his (Inaudible)...in the Wall Street Journal today on the oil-for-food.  Do you have anything to say in response to what he said so far?

Spokesman:  No, because we’re just reading the report.  We assume that what he chose to highlight in this article does in fact constitute the main points to be made in these 200-plus pages.  But we prefer to study the report and give you a more considered response towards 5:00 o’clock this afternoon when Mark Malloch Brown will talk to you.

Massoud?

Question:  What, if any, action is the Secretary-General going to take in view of Mr. Volcker’s recommendation against officials who were implicated in the report?

Spokesman:  I don’t want to prejudge, but I can tell you what he has already said.  He will study the report’s findings very carefully.  If there are things that can be fixed in the way the United Nations does business, he will fix those things. 

If there are individuals against whom there are criminal accusations, he would waive the immunity of those people and he would cooperate with the prosecution, as they seek to defend themselves before whatever judicial authorities have jurisdiction and decide to prosecute. 

Yes?

Question:  The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Mr. Roed-Larsen, is going Saturday to Lebanon.  He will be meeting with the Lebanese President and then, on Tuesday, he will be meeting with the Syrian President.  What kind of message is Mr. Annan sending with Mr. Roed-Larsen?

Spokesman:  I can’t tell you.  I don’t have that information.  But perhaps we could put you in direct contact with Mr. Roed-Larsen, if he is available after the briefing, and you might ask him directly.  We can also see if there is anything we can get from the Secretary-General’s office.

Betsy?

Question:  Yes, Fred, did the Secretary-General watch the State of the Union address last night?  Do you have any response to it?

Spokesman:  He did.  He told me this morning that he did.  I have no response to give you.  He did not give me a line on that, I am sorry.

Question:  Fred, the next question, did the UN have anybody there in the hall last night?  Frequently, foreign dignitaries and organizations are invited as well...(Interrupted).

Spokesman:  I’d have to check.  I don’t know.

[He later said no one from the UN attended and international organizations are normally not invited.]

Yes?

Question:  Was the Secretary-General disappointed at all that Mr. Volcker went out with some details of the report in the Wall Street Journal before delivering it to him?  Or sort of, (inaudible) publicly worried about what was in it before giving it...(Interrupted)?

Spokesman:  Surprised, perhaps.

Yes?

Question:  Fred, are there any circumstances under which the Secretary-General would consider lifting, for example, Benon Sevan’s immunity less than criminal actions?

Spokesman:  Well, if he’s not being prosecuted for a crime, I don’t think there is any reason to waive immunity.  If -- and here I mean, we’re just being totally speculative and, perhaps, I shouldn’t say anything at all.  Let’s wait and see what this report says and then you could put that same question to Mark Malloch Brown later this afternoon when we know what is exactly said in this report about Mr. Sevan.

Question:  And one more follow up on Darfur.  When Mr. Pronk is here tomorrow, will he be pushing the Security Council specifically to try and come up with a solution other than the International Criminal Court by, say, next week, for example?

Spokesman:  I think you should ask him that question when he comes here.

Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  I understand there is some meeting in London on Prime Minister Blair’s initiative toward Africa; some kind of Marshall Plan.  Is the UN represented at that meeting and at what level?

Spokesman:  I’ll have to find out.  I don’t know.

Yes, David?

Question:  I just wondered why it wasn’t seen as important to have the (inaudible) covered by the electronic media the meeting today with Mr. Volcker?

Spokesman:  It was private meeting and, therefore, we set up the cameras at the Secretariat entry stakeout area.

Question:  The story was the handover of the report, not Mr. Volcker walking into the building.

Spokesman:  But that it was a private meeting and that’s how we handle private meetings.

Okay, so we’ll see you later this afternoon.

Djibril Diallo, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Spokesman for General Assembly President:

Good Afternoon,

General Assembly President Jean Ping attended this morning the fifty-thirds National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of the Congressional Committee.

The gathering attempts to cross all political, religious, ethnic, economic and international barriers that divide the human race and it is normally attended by the President of the United States, his Vice-President, members of Congress, other American leaders, as well as leaders from all over the world.

President Jean Ping is expected to fly back to New York towards the end of the morning.  And he has a programme of activities this afternoon in his office.

**Programme of Meetings and Agenda

In the heading “Programme of Meetings and Agenda”, for your attention, first item:  The Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation and increase in the Membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council.  That Open-Ended Working Group will hold its first meeting on Monday, 7 February, at 11 am, and the agenda is to consider organizational matters, including the appointment of two Vice-Chairpersons.

By way of background for you, the Report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change that was issued last December has brought renewed momentum to the Reform of the Security Council.  The Working Group that is meeting on Monday has been dealing with the issue for almost 12 years.  As you will recall, the High-Level Panel has presented two models for the enlargement of the Council to a wider membership.

Many delegations have already addressed these models and other parts of the Report dealing with Security Council, and that in the course of 27 January and the following days.

While there was no agreement on either of the suggested models, there was strong momentum to find an agreement on a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, and that comprehensive reform of the Security Council was already called for in the Millennium Declaration of 2000.

President Ping is of the view that the Open-Ended Working Group must play an instrumental role in this process, and his co-chairs have, therefore, been holding very wide consultations with Member States on how best to proceed in the framework of the group.

**African Expert Group meeting on Report of High-Level Panel on Threats,

Challenges and Change

A second announcement of meetings has to do with African Expert Group meeting on the Report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.  There will be a two-day meeting of African experts, which will take place on Monday and Tuesday next week, to discuss the key findings and recommendations of the Report of the High-Level Panel.  The closed meeting is jointly organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the African Leadership Forum, the Africa Institute of South Africa and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

That’s all I have for you.

Any questions?  Yes, sir?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Of the two models for the reforms of the Security Council, which one is preferred by the President of the GA?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  The President in his summary took note of the comments of the Member States on both fronts, and he does not have any kind of particular preference.  Let me add for this briefing that, in fact, some countries have suggested that a third model should be put forward.  So, some consultations are going on on the two models and also possibly a third model to be put forward by the Member States.

Question:  Do you have any idea what that third model will entail?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  Consultations are going on, sir.  But it’s just that there has not been agreement on the two models, so some countries are saying why not suggest a third model.

Question:  Djibril, what is the third one?

Spokesman for General Assembly President:  I cannot, again, give comments on it.  It’s just a number of countries have come forward with it.  So, it could be a third dimension without any kind of prejudgement on the two other models.

Okay, thank you.

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