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 Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**UNDP

I’d like to start off the briefing by answering a question a lot of you have been asking us over the last couple of days.

The Secretary-General wrote this morning to the President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) submitting the name of Kemal Derviş, a former Finance Minister of Turkey and former senior World Bank official, as his preferred candidate to be the next Administrator of the UN Development Programme.

Mr. Derviş, who is 56, served for two years as Turkey’s finance minister following his 22-year tenure at the World Bank, where he was both Vice-President for the Middle East, North Africa and Europe and Vice-President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management.

It’s important to note that Mr. Derviş would become the first Administrator not to come from a donor country, but rather from programme country where UNDP is very active.  As you well know, the current Administrator, Mr. Malloch Brown, who is also the Chef de Cabinet, is a UK citizen and his five predecessors in the job were all Americans.

This nomination will now be the subject of a UNDP Executive Board consultation later this week.  The nomination for the four-year appointment as Administrator of UNDP must then be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly for confirmation. 

Mr. Derviş has outstanding qualifications and numerous accomplishments in the area of economics and global governance.  The Secretary-General chose him from an outstanding array of global candidates.  Mr. Derviş combines a proven practical and intellectual track record in the fields of development and international finance, a passionate commitment to addressing the scourge of poverty and he has established skills as a manager.

The Secretary-General said he had every confidence Derviş will be able to build on the successful reform effort implemented by Mark Malloch Brown over the past six years, and consolidate UNDP’s critical role in helping address global development priorities from the Millennium Development Goals to crisis prevention and recovery.  And we have a press release available upstairs.

**Togo Statement

I now have a statement on Togo:

“The Secretary-General expresses grave concern over reported violent incidents that broke out, especially in Lomé, following the voting on 24 April 2005 and the announcement on 26 April of the preliminary results.  He expresses his sadness at the deaths and injuries caused.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for calm, and calls upon the various political leaders and their supporters to refrain from any actions or statements that incite further violence or promote hatred and divisions in the country.  He also calls on the security forces to exercise similar restraint.

“The Secretary-General continues to support efforts by regional leaders and institutions, in particular the efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to promote peace in Togo.  He welcomes, in this regard, the initiative taken on 25 April 2005 by the current Chairman of the African Union, President Obasanjo of Nigeria, to encourage dialogue and national reconciliation in the country.”

**Secretary-General - India

Turning to the Secretary-General’s travels, yesterday evening he arrived in India.

At a press conference upon arrival in New Delhi, he said he hoped to have the chance to discuss the UN Reforms, noting that there cannot be security without development and there cannot be development without security and he added that we will have neither unless we respect human rights.

Today, the Secretary-General met UN staff for discussions which focused on UN reconstruction assistance for tsunami victims in India, as well as the rise of HIV/AIDS in India.  Tomorrow, he’ll hold high-level meetings with Government officials -- including the President of India, the Prime Minister, as well as the Minister for External Affairs.

The Secretary-General will also take part in a round-table discussion on HIV/AIDS, during which he’ll meet people living with HIV and hear of the work undertaken by key aid givers.

**Security Council

Turning to the Security Council, at 10 a.m. this morning, Council Members began an open meeting on Côte d’Ivoire.

At 3:30 p.m., the Council is scheduled to hold closed consultations on Western Sahara and Timor-Leste.

Also, after yesterday’s briefings by the chairmen of its three anti-terrorism Committees, the Council issued a presidential statement calling for strengthened cooperation among the Committees.  And we have that statement available upstairs.

Also, Council members today received copies of the Secretary-General's report on resolution 1559. 

And at 4 o’clock this afternoon, a senior UN official will be in this room to give you a background briefing on that report.  It’s scheduled for 4, but we’ll try and see if we can move it up slightly.  And also note that the background briefing will not be broadcast around the building on UN TV, so, you have to be in the room.

**Chernobyl

On Chernobyl, in a statement issued today, for the nineteenth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the Secretary-General urged the international community to financially support programmes designed to make traumatized communities self-sufficient again, and to help families to lead normal, healthy lives in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has issued a new report, noting that people living near the Chernobyl site still lack the information they need to live healthy lives and are instead vulnerable to misconceptions about radiation and health.  And we have more information upstairs from UNDP.

**UNHCR – Darfur Burning

A couple of more notes, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it’s alarmed by the fact that abandoned villages in west Darfur are, once again, being burned to discourage the people who once lived there from returning home.  The agency says this kind of destruction -- on top of the displacement of some 2 million people from their homes -- threatens to change the social and demographic structure of Darfur irrevocably.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme said today that, thanks to a rapid donor response, it won’t be forced to carry out ration cuts next month for close to 2 million people living in western Darfur.  Just three weeks ago, WFP had warned that it may have to cut rations due to a lack of funds.  We have more information on that upstairs.

**UNHCR - Democratic Republic of Congo

While on the topic of the UNHCR, tomorrow, the agency will launch the first phase of one of the most logistically challenging major refugee voluntary repatriation programmes it has ever undertaken anywhere in the world.  It’ll try to return home some 58,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Equateur province, who’ve been living in the Republic of the Congo for the past six years.  The return journey includes crossing dense rain forest, numerous waterways and extremely rough roads.  We have more information available upstairs.

**Africa - Humanitarian

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have begun to hand out food and basic supplies to families in Ethiopia and Somalia, where heavy rains have caused severe flooding.

Meanwhile, WFP also warned today that 2 million Kenyans -- particularly in the arid north and east -- would need food assistance until August, despite a general improvement in weather conditions.  We have press release available on this upstairs.

**Annan Notes Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones’ ‘Moral Value’

Today, a three-day conference for States Parties and signatories of nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties is getting under way in Tlatelolco, Mexico.  And the Secretary-General has issued a message on the occasion, saying that he hopes the meeting will remind all States not only of the strategic and moral value of nuclear-weapon-free zones, but also of the possibilities for progress in our quest for a world free of nuclear weapons.  And the full text is available upstairs.

**Catherine Bertini

Lastly, as most of you may know, Catherine Bertini is stepping down as Under-Secretary-General for Management at the end of this month.  The Secretary-General reluctantly accepted her resignation, as she and her husband Tom look to become more involved in the community, the arts and other activities.  In particular, Ms. Bertini intends to return to academia, as well as to continue her active involvement in supporting global girls’ education. She’ll also maintain her role as Chair of the UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition.

In reply to her resignation letter, the Secretary-General cited Catherine’s 10 years of service to the World Food Programme, from 1992 to 2002, during which WFP became “a model of success in assisting millions of victims of wars and natural disasters around the world”.

He praised her “efficient leadership” as the Under-Secretary-General for Management since 2003 during a crucial period of UN reform, as well as the “outstanding job” she did for 16 months as UN Security Coordinator, when UN staff around the world were at great risk.  He thanked her on behalf of the United Nations and the international community as a whole for her “splendid services to humanity”.

If any of you are interested in talking to Catherine, you should give her a call to her office and they can try to arrange an interview.

**Guest at Noon Tomorrow

And tomorrow at noon, our guest will be Carol Bellamy, the Executive Director of the UNICEF.  In her final press conference as head of UNICEF, she will reflect on her tenure at the agency.

I think that’s it from me.  Any questions?  Yes, Nick?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  I wonder if the Secretary-General has any reaction to Paul Volcker’s comments, in his interview with Fox today, that it’s possible that the investigation will extend beyond the summer and that they might ask for more money.  Is it the Secretary-General’s view that he wants this thing done by summer as the committee has said?  Is he worried that they are now talking about extending it and seeking more money?

Associate Spokesman:  The key is to allow Mr. Volcker to do his work and to continue to do it as he sees fit.  But we have not seen any official request from his to that effect.  Yes, Mark?

Question:  A couple of questions, if I may.  First is, I understood that the UN is putting together some tighter rules to deal with conflict of interest and so forth.  Could you give an update on that?  That would be great.  Second, what’s happening in the Congo?  I don’t know if...(Inaudible) supposed to give an update on that, but with all these deadlines and stuff, and it seems that things are kind of happening in the Congo that I am just a little bit unclear.

Associate Spokesman:  We’ll try to get someone from peacekeeping to come down and give you an update.  And on the conflict of interest reforms, I’ll have to check and I’ll get back to you after the briefing.  Yes?

Question:  Hi, Steph.  In the interview with Fox, Volcker said, quote, in regards to the question of exoneration and whether Kofi was exonerated or not, he said, “I thought we criticized him rather severely.  I would not call that an exoneration.”  Can you explain what the position is, I mean, of the Secretary-General now?  Especially after hearing that and Volcker’s position?

Associate Spokesman:  I mean, it’s clear that the report criticises the Secretary-General rather severely.  But, I think we need to remind you exactly what the Secretary-General said after the release of the second Volcker report.  He never characterized the whole second report as having exonerated him of all of the criticism raised in the report.  He did use the word “exonerate” with respect to a very specific and well-defined issue that he specifically identified in the press conference.

He was referring to the finding in the report that there was “No evidence that the selection of Cotecna in 1998 was subject to any affirmative or improper influence of the Secretary-General in the bidding or selection process.”  He also said that he fully accepted the panel’s criticism, including its criticism that he did not do enough in the initial enquiry ordered into the issue of the relation between Cotecna and his son, Kojo.  Go ahead.

Question:  Just after Kofi made these remarks though, Mark Malloch Brown spoke very strongly, in more broad terms, about exoneration.  I mean, you know, we can break apart what Kofi said and what he was attributing it to.  But that wasn’t the impression certainly that we got from Mark Malloch Brown.  Does Mark Malloch Brown have a different impression of what exoneration is?

Associate Spokesman:  No, he does not have any different impression.  But, I think you need to focus on what the Secretary-General said and I think he was clear in what he said and what he was referring to when he used the work “exonerated”.

Question:  Steph, well, as you know, at that press conference he only took three questions.  So, we really haven’t had a chance to ask him.  Given that he accepts the report, does the Secretary-General accept that he was at fault in forwarding a letter from Cotecna to the Ghanaian Ambassador about a contract in Ghana in 2002?

Associate Spokesman:  The Secretary-General accepted the criticism or the criticisms in the report.  And when he comes back to New York -- I think he will be back in the office probably early next week -- we’ll try to have his usual press encounter when he comes back and you can address as many questions as you want.  Yes?

Question:  Another question, given that there is now this drive to be transparent, can you tell us whether Maurice Strong or James Wolfonsohn played any role at all in the selection of Paul Volcker to head the UN enquiry?

Associate Spokesman:  The Secretary-General spoke to a lot of people.  And he took advice from a lot of people.  But I think it was his decision...(Interrupted).

Question:  Can we speak to those people?

Associate Spokesman:  I don’t know if he spoke specifically ... (Interrupted).

Question:  Can you check...?

Associate Spokesman:  ...I will see if I can find out...(Interrupted).

Question:  ...that on this issue, did he speak to Maurice Strong or James Wolfonsohn about the selection of Volcker?

Associate Spokesman:  If that information is available, I will see.  Yes, Massoud?

Question:  I just wanted to know, over a period of time, how many special representatives and Secretary-General’s special envoys have been appointed during the time that he has been Secretary-General?

Associate Spokesman:  Over what period of time?

Question: Mr. Annan.  Do you know a figure?

Associate Spokesman:  No.  But we could go back and look at all the press releases.  I mean, it’s all public knowledge.  You can tabulate that.

Question:  Okay.  And also, I just didn’t get an answer to the last thing about Mr. Strong as to what really happened, because you were not able to find out as to what really happened.

Associate Spokesman:  On?

Question:  On Mr. Strong when he was first employed in 1947.

Associate Spokesman:  My understanding is he was on a three month’s temporary appointment.  That’s al the information I have.  Yes, Mark?

Question:  I am just wondering if you could confirm a couple of things that were in the New York magazine article on Kofi.  Is correct that he was aware -- I can’t remember whether it was at the end of November or in December -- but, anyway, basically around that period, that Volcker was going to find adversely and highlight this issue that Iqbal Riza was shredding the documents and that, as a result of that, that partly played into his decision to replace Iqbal Riza with Mark Malloch Brown?

Associate Spokesman:  No, I am not...  I don’t know.  But, if I can get something, I will let you know.  But, I don’t know.

Question:  Right.  And is it also correct that Mr. Annan basically knew the things that the Volcker report was going to say about him, and therefore drafted his response...(Interrupted by fellow correspondent)?

Question:  Mark, could you speak louder?  I can’t hear you.

Question:  I am sorry.  That Mr. Annan and Mr. Malloch Brown knew what Volcker was going to say in the report; and therefore drafted a response the Sunday before the Volcker report actually came out?

Associate Spokesman:  I’ll see if I can get any information on what contacts there may have been between the two.  Yes, Nick?

Question:  What happens now on the UNDP?  Does he have to go to the GA?

Associate Spokesman:  Yes, he has to be discussed by the Executive Board of the UN Development Programme, which should happen this week.  Once they have agreed on the nomination of Mr. Derviş, the Secretary-General will then forward that to the General Assembly so they can confirm the decision.  Yes, Richard?

Question:  I don’t know if you were asked this on Friday or Monday.  Is the UN worried that for months -- I think you are, as a matter of fact -- that for months you have been throwing it to Volcker, Volcker, now Robert Parton, Miranda Duncan, two investigators, leading investigators have quit, saying that they disagreed with how the process reached the conclusion and various other aspects.  Doesn’t this taint the entire Volcker report that in whatever it says about Kofi Annan and the UN?

Associate Spokesman:  I think we have full confidence in Mr. Volcker.  He addressed that issue I think, in his interview with Fox, and he stressed that there was unity among all the commission members.  I mean, it seems to me an internal committee matter, which we’re not privy to.  Yes?

Question:  Steph, rather than us trying to grab the Secretary-General when he returns from this trip overseas, and at best maybe get in one question out of him on arrival, would it not be better to address this situation in a more formal forum like a press conference and that we be allowed to ask more than three questions to the Secretary-General about this issue, so that we can put this to rest and get whatever questions off...(Interrupted)?

Associate Spokesman:  We’ll see what we can do.  I’ll put that upstairs.  Richard?

Question:  I don’t know if you commented on the Lebanon report.  Are you able to, just for broadcast purposes, explain what the main conclusion is?  It gets a different interpretation.  Was Syria cleared?  Are there problems, but not with the withdrawal?  That the withdrawal will take place?

Associate Spokesman:  You know, the Council Members have the report.  I can’t go into it.  I know a number of you have been asking us for the reaction to the Syrian letter saying that they have withdrawn.  We’ve made it clear that, yes the Syrians have informed the Secretary-General that they have withdrawn.  We will now have to verify that withdrawal.  And there is a three-man team, as I said here yesterday, that is on its way to Damascus.  They are scheduled to arrive today.  They will then go on to Beirut and then they will begin the verification work on the ground.  And once they are satisfied, they will then report back to the Secretary-General.  Yes?

Question:  Stéphane, last time I asked this question about Iqbal Riza, Fred gave me the following answer:  He said that the Secretary-General was considering whether or not the shredding of the documents was maybe something that required disciplinary action.  Has there been a decision yet about whether Mr. Riza will face disciplinary action for shredding those documents?

Associate Spokesman:  I am not aware of that, but I will check.  Yes, Mark?

Question:  Just on North Korea, now that the UN does not have an envoy, do you have any more clarity?  Because it’s all rather tense.  Do you appoint a different envoy or just continue without an Envoy for the time being?

Associate Spokesman:  No.  As I said, at this point it still continues, with the Political Affairs Department following the file and travelling, if needed, to the region.  Yes?

Question:  Stéphane, it was announced last week, when we had questions about Mr. Strong’s finances, that actually in future, special envoys would be included in the rule requiring Under-Secretaries-General to make financial declarations.  First of all, has Mr. Strong done this?  And what is the time frame for Mr. Strong and other Under-Secretaries-General on special assignments to make financial disclosure to the UN?

Associate Spokesman:  No.  The Secretary-General said he was considering removing that sort of waiver when, you know, sort of temporary special envoys.  But, I’ll see if I can get you a time frame when that...(Inaudible) in place.

Question:  But I understood that there was a firm decision that waiver would be removed.  Are you now saying that that’s not...(Interrupted)?

Associate Spokesman:  No.  It will be removed.  I just have to see exactly where we are in the pipeline.  Yes?

Question:  Can you find out what the time frame is, because there are a number of special envoys who have questionable business practices.  And a follow up questions is, when that information is received by the UN, will it just be put in a bottom drawer somewhere, or will it be somehow available for scrutiny either by the Member States of by the press?

Associate Spokesman:  It will be received so it can be looked at by the Secretary-General.  Where it goes beyond that, I don’t know.

Thank you.

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