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

Our guest at today’s briefing will be Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator, to give you an update on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan.

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

We have the following statement attributable to the Spokesman on the subject of Indonesia and East Timor:

“The Secretary-General decided to appoint Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati of India, Professor Yozo Yokota of Japan, and Ms. Shaista Shameem of Fiji, to an independent Commission of Experts to review the prosecution of serious human rights violations committed in East Timor in 1999.

“The Secretary-General recalls that the Security Council, in its resolution 1573 (2004), reaffirmed the need to fight against impunity.  In response, the Secretary-General on 11 January informed the President of the Security Council of his decision to establish a Commission of Experts.  On 26 of that month, the President of the Security Council responded to the Secretary-General that the members of the Council had taken note of it.

“The Commission would assess the progress made by the judicial processes in Dili and Jakarta, and make recommendations to the Secretary-General with regard to possible future actions.  The Commission would further consider how its analysis could be of assistance to the Commission of Truth and Friendship, which Indonesia and Timor-Leste agreed to establish.  In his letters of 22 December to President Yudhoyono of Indonesia and President Gusmao of Timor-Leste, the Secretary-General outlined to them the tasks of the Commission, and requested their cooperation.

“The Secretary-General is of the view that the work of the Commission could complement that of the Truth and Friendship Commission, and expresses his hope that the Governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste will extend full cooperation to the Commission of Experts.”

**WHO/DRC Plague

The World Health Organization (WHO) is helping health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo deal with what appears to be an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the Ituri district, in the province of Oriental, in the country’s north-east.

As of this past Tuesday, WHO has received reports of 61 deaths from the plague, but the total number of cases is still not known.

The cases have occurred among workers in a diamond mine where around 7,000 people work.

Preliminary results from rapid diagnostic tests in the area confirm pneumonic plague, and the cases had clinical features compatible with the disease.  We have more on this upstairs.

**Haiti

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Haiti, Juan Gabriel Valdés, said progress has been made in security for Haiti, but difficulties remain, particularly in the disarmament process.

Valdés made the comments at a conference on Haiti, attended by heads of State and foreign ministers from the Caribbean Community, which ended yesterday in Suriname.

Valdés also called on the member States of CARICOM to support reconstruction efforts in Haiti, in line with the Secretary-General’s earlier appeals on the subject.  We have a press release upstairs in French only.

**DSG

The Deputy Secretary-General will travel to Strasbourg and Brussels from 23 to 25 February for her annual visit to the European Union institutions.

In Strasbourg, she will address a joint meeting of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee with the Trade, Development and Budget Committees.  She will also meet with the President of the European Parliament.  In Brussels, she will have meetings with José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, with Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and with a number of commissioners.

In the course of her visits, she will also meet with Karel de Gucht, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Jean Louis Schiltz, Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg and other high-level officials.

Among the key topics to be discussed during the Deputy Secretary-General’s visit are preparations for the 2005 high-level event of the General Assembly on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, UN reform issues, and cooperation between the UN and the EU.

**Security Council

There are no meetings or consultations of the Security Council scheduled for today.  The next scheduled meeting of the Council is Tuesday.  The subject is the Middle East.

In a presidential statement on small arms, issued by the Security Council yesterday, the Council encouraged Member States to undertake vigorous actions aimed at restricting the supply of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to areas of instability.

At the same, however, the Council reaffirmed the inherent right of States to import, produce and retain such weapons for their self-defence and security needs.

**Tsunami

And now a tsunami update from Banda Aceh, in Indonesia.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has just released a report from its Emergency Food Security Assessment Mission to Aceh province.  It estimates that nearly 800,000 people there may be in need of food assistance over the next few months.  The agency also notes that, as access improves, more and more hungry survivors are being found.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) -- in addition to distributing hygiene and reproductive health kits -- is supporting the re-establishment of reproductive health services in the hardest-hit districts of Aceh.  It is also conducting a gender needs assessment to identify specific problems faced by women and girls.

And then for its part, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has begun a programme to teach survivors how to start and improve their own businesses in Banda Aceh.  There is more in a briefing note upstairs.

**SG Report – Censuses

Out on the racks today is a report by the Secretary-General on population and housing censuses.

Among other things, it notes that the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs is initiating a programme, to be implemented from 2005 to 2014 -- if we’re all still here -- which intends to get all countries to agree on international principles governing national censuses.  The report also looks at efforts taken by the regional commissions in the area of population and census-taking.

**Kazakhstan

Almost 1.5 million young people will be immunized against measles and rubella over the next two weeks in Kazakhstan.  The mass immunization campaign, covering the entire country, aims to stop a recent outbreak of measles.  The United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization are supporting this campaign.  And we have a press release on that upstairs.

**The Week Ahead at the United Nations

We have The Week Ahead to help you cover the UN next week, which is a four-day week because of the holiday on Monday.

**Guest at Noon – Tuesday

And then on Tuesday, our guest here will be Kristin Hetle, Chief of the UN Population Fund’s Media Services Branch.  And she will be here to talk about “Fistula Fortnight” Nigeria, the largest surgical effort to treat women living with obstetric fistula.

That’s all I have for you.

Abdurrahim?

Questions and Answers

Question:  Fred, two questions on Lebanon and on Iraq.  Lakhdar Brahimi said he was in Lebanon to convey his condolences to the Lebanese, implying that he wasn’t there as man who brokered the Taif agreement.  To what extent is the SG concerned that the Taif agreement may come unstuck?

Spokesman:  I mean, he’ll always be the man who brokered the Taif agreement.  And I think that’s why he was so welcomed there by so many people.  But his official reason for going there was merely to represent the Secretary-General at the funeral.

Is the Secretary-General concerned that the Taif agreement could become unstuck?  I think everyone is concerned about the effects of the assassination of Mr. Hariri on Lebanese politics and society.  I don’t think we want to speculate about how bad it could get or whether things will fall apart because international efforts are now focused on preventing the worst from happening.

But, sure, everyone is worried about it.

Question:  And are you in a position to tell us to what extent he may have been successful in assuaging fears in Lebanon that the Taif agreement may come unstuck?

Spokesman:  Who?  Who “he”?  Brahimi was there to attend the funeral.  I can’t tell you anything about the conversations he might have had with Lebanese officials and personalities.  I just don’t know.

Question:  And on Iraq, the bombings in Iraq.  To what extent does the SG feel that they may further stress the politics in Iraq?

Spokesman:  You have triggered a statement:

“The Secretary-General condemns the deadly mosque bombings that took place today during prayer in Baghdad.  He conveys his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims.

“The Secretary-General regrets the continued acts of intolerance and violence, particularly when perpetrated against innocent civilians and places of worship.  Now that Iraqis have successfully held their elections, the Secretary-General appeals to Iraqis of all faiths, ethnic backgrounds and political persuasions to come together in a spirit of dialogue and national reconciliation to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Iraq.

“The United Nations will continue to stand by the Iraqi people to help them succeed in this critical period of their history.”

Question:  Let me see if I can trigger another statement.

Spokesman:  I don’t have any more.

Question:  Does the SG view these bombings as just another series of bombings or is this something that could lead to further deterioration in the security situation, not just in Baghdad, but elsewhere in Iraq?

Spokesman:  We were there to work on the elections and we’re now there to help the Iraqis, if they want, with the writing of a constitution.  I don’t think we want to speculate on that question; at least not now.

Yes, Susie?

Question:  Fred, could you confirm that the report in the Independent newspaper today that the OIOS report on Mr. Lubbers is an accurate representation of what the report says?  And will the Secretary-General, on the basis of what we have read in the Independent, be asking Mr. Lubbers to resign?

Spokesman:  As far as we can tell, yes, the details that were in the Independent article are an accurate reflection of what is in the report.  And we will tell you if we have something to give you about the Secretary-General’s meeting with Mr. Lubbers only after it’s been finished.

David?

Question:  Just to follow up.  Is it within the Secretary-General’s power to ask him to resign?  Or who makes that decision?  Or is it purely up to Mr. Lubbers?

Spokesman:  That’s not written anywhere, as far as I know.  But I think that the Secretary-General would judge Mr. Lubbers as a staff member, as he already has done when he received the first OIOS report.  Nothing has changed since the Secretary-General got that report, except that you now know some of the details of it.  But the issue at the time, of course, was the OIOS report, Mr. Lubbers’ response and then on that basis the Secretary-General made a difficult judgement.

James?

Question:  Fred, does the Secretary-General continue to have confidence in Mr. Lubbers?  And, is there any change in his previous position that the allegations could not be substantiated and, therefore, there were no grounds for Mr. Lubbers to leave his post?

Spokesman:  On the first, I prefer to let this meeting take place and then see what we would have to say afterwards.  I’m sorry, and your second?

Question:  Is there any change in his position that there is nothing in the OIOS report?

Spokesman:  No, there is nothing new come to light.  These facts reported in the newspaper today were facts that the Secretary-General had at his disposal when he made his judgement.

Yes, Jonathan?

Question:  Fred, perhaps you need just revisit Kofi Annan’s original decision now.  I mean, we’ve all read the report.  There is a pattern of sexual harassment, seemingly proven by the OIOS report.  There is alleged to be extensive, intensive intimidation and influence exerted by Mr. Lubbers to influence the outcome of the report.

Can you just explain to us how on earth the Secretary-General read that same report and did not see a case for taking severe action against Mr. Lubbers?

Spokesman:  There were, of the cases that are mentioned in the report and cited in the paper today, none of those witnesses were willing to come forward.  So, there wasn’t a legal basis.  And the original complainant, the first complainant, there were no witnesses.  The two other witnesses in the room did not substantiate her allegation.  So, the Secretary-General’s conclusion was that this was not a sound enough basis to take...  (Interrupted).

Question:  To be fair, one witness did substantiate the allegation.  The other one, who also happened to be a subordinate to Mr. Lubbers is the one who didn’t.  And given the influence and intimidation Mr. Lubbers brought to bear; doesn’t that say something to you?  Or did not that say something to the Secretary-General?

Spokesman:  Well, the Secretary-General looked at this report very carefully; looked at all these details that you’re mentioning.  He heard Mr. Lubbers’ defence and he decided –- he judged –- that these allegations were not sustained by the evidence.  He did send letters both to Mr. Lubbers, Mr. Nair and a message to the staff of the High Commissioner for Refugees.

It was not an easy decision, but it was one he felt was justified by the facts as they were presented to him.

Question:  Why can’t the Secretary-General immediately then come out?  He’s already made his decision.  Nothing new has happened.  Surely, this morning he should have already made that decision; an announcement saying nothing’s changed.  Why is there a new consideration about whether to ask for Mr. Lubbers’ resignation?  In other words, if there’s any change now, it would be an absolute admission on the Secretary-General’s part that he had made an absolute wrong decision.  And so, maybe other people should ask for his resignation himself.

Spokesman:  You’re speculating about what’s going to be coming later today.  So, why don’t we wait and see what comes out of this meeting and then we’ll take your questions?

Question:  Why is he even holding this meeting then when it was already a done deal and the only new thing is the Independent?

Spokesman:  It was a previously scheduled meeting, but you can assume that this subject will be discussed.

Question:  Fred, given that the public has now had the opportunity to read the OIOS report, maybe you should explain from the UN’s point of view to the public why there is a frotteur as the head of the UNHCR?  Frotteur.

(Giggles and Laughter)

Spokesman:  Are there any other questions?

Yes, Ma’am?

Question:  If I may ask you, is the UN aware that there are scores, if not hundreds of photos and video clips of a UN staffer who was engaged in sexual acts with some children there?

Spokesman:  Yes.

Question:  And what is the UN doing about that?

Spokesman:  These photographs, as I understand it, were taken by an individual, a civilian working for the UN Mission, and he has been charged.  He is currently being prosecuted in France.  He’s a French national.  And France has, I think, a sexual tourism law, under which they could charge him.  So, that’s now a trial that’s in progress.

Question:  And of the women and children there who claim that they have been raped or impregnated, or sometimes infected with the HIV virus, many of them say that the UN has done nothing to help them or to provide them counselling or services to them.  Is the UN doing anything for them or do you plan to?

Spokesman:  I’d prefer to get someone from the Peacekeeping Department to give you the details on that.  If you like, I can arrange for you to speak to someone directly.  If it’s general interest we can bring someone down to the briefing.

Yes?

Question:  Fred, can you bring us up to date on the revision of the allegations with Dileep Nair?  There’s going to be a revision in talking to the Union again soon on what could be brought forward.  What’s kind of transpired...  (Interrupted)?

Spokesman:  I don’t think there’s been any development.  I’ll have to check.  I haven’t looked into this in a while.  But, what we did was we asked the staff association that, if they had any hard evidence to present to us, to please do so.  And last I heard, they hadn’t responded.  But, we’re prepared to look at anything they would give us.

Mohammad?

Question:  Fred, what was the purpose of Mr. Negroponte’s meeting with the Secretary-General?

Spokesman:  This meeting had been set up a long time ago in his capacity as US Ambassador to Iraq.  Periodically when he is in New York, Ambassador Negroponte has come by to see the Secretary-General to brief him on the situation in Iraq.  So, it has nothing to do with the announcement made yesterday regarding his new assignment in Washington.

David?

Question:  To follow up.  Ambassador Negroponte seems eager in walking in, to ask for more support in Iraq.  Is there anything new that the SG would offer to Ambassador Negroponte as far as resources in Iraq beyond just simply restating what we already know about the presence in Erbil, Basra and in Baghdad?

Spokesman:  I am not aware that there is anything new that the Secretary-General has to tell the Ambassador on that subject.  But, I’ll have to double check for you to see if we have to get a readout of the meeting to see if there is anything new on offer.

Okay.  Jan, why don’t you come up and talk to us about Darfur?

(Issued separately)

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