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

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Secretary-General

Good afternoon.  The Secretary-General arrived in Khartoum today for a three-day visit that will take him to Darfur and southern Sudan.  In the Sudanese capital he held an initial meeting with a senior government official, Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail.  Speaking to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General said he was encouraged that the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement was moving forward.  He also said the two of them discussed the need to do everything possible to bring security to Darfur and to ensure that farmers can get back to their land, plant and cultivate and harvest their crops.  He added that he would be going to Darfur to see things for himself.  The Secretary-General said the Foreign Minister had assured him that the Sudanese Government would do everything to facilitate the work of the humanitarian community in the region.

The Secretary-General also drew attention to the funding shortages in the UN’s humanitarian programme in southern Sudan.  In response to a question about food shortages in the southern, the Secretary-General said, “it’s a shame that in the south where we do have a peace agreement, we don’t have the resources required.  It looks like the governments have shifted the support they used to give to the South to Darfur”, he said, “What is needed are additional resources to cover both crises”.  Accompanying the Secretary-General on the Sudan leg of his trip are three heads of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), George Rupp of International Rescue Committee, Tom Arnold of Concern and Ken Bacon of Refugees International.  And we have copies upstairs of a press briefing he gave on arrival at the airport and we expect to have the transcript of the joint press meet with the Foreign Minister a little bit later on this afternoon.

**Statement of Pakistan

I now have two statements, the first on Pakistan:

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the senseless terrorist bombing at a shrine in Islamabad today that killed at least 20 people and injured many more, according to reports.  He is outraged by the repeated targeting of civilians at their places of worship.  The Secretary-General calls on authorities to spare no effort to bring those responsible to justice, and he appeals for calm on the part of all Pakistanis.  His heart goes out to the bereaved families and to those injured in the attack.”  The copies of the statement are of course available upstairs.

**Statement on Bolivia

I now have a statement on Bolivia:

“The Secretary-General is following with concern the growing social tensions in Bolivia.  He urges all Bolivians to peacefully and democratically resolve their differences over major issues of national interest:  the use of natural resources, questions of regional autonomy and proposals for a constituent assembly.  The Secretary-General calls on all citizens to engage in a constructive dialogue to allow for the democratic and non-violent resolution of their differences.  He reaffirms the need to abide by constitutional principles and to fully respect human rights.  The United Nations is ready to assist all Bolivians in finding solutions to the challenges they are currently facing.”  This statement is also available upstairs.

**World Trade Organization Appointment

Yesterday afternoon we issued a statement from the Secretary-General warmly congratulating Pascal Lamy on his formal selection as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization.  And the full text of that statement is upstairs and already on the Web.

**Security Council on Kosovo

Turning to the Security Council, Council members are currently meeting on Kosovo.  This morning the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, briefed Council members on the latest developments there. Saying “Let there be no doubt that there has been progress,” Jessen-Petersen added that with a resolution to the status issues and an end to uncertainty, the world would see even more significant results on issues such as reform, freedom of movement and the economy.  He noted the positive developments on dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, but at the same time he was concerned that there was still no clear signal from Belgrade to the Kosovo Serbs to participate in Kosovo’s institutions.  Mr. Jessen-Peterson will be at the stakeout following the conclusion of the open meeting.

**Security Council on Peacebuilding

Also on Security Council, late yesterday afternoon following its meeting on post-conflict peacebuilding, the Security Council issued a statement.  In the statement, the Council recognized the important role that the Secretary-General’s proposed Peacebuilding Commission could play to bridge the gap between the maintenance of international peace and security and the work of humanitarian and economic development assistance.  And you can find full copies of the statement upstairs or on the Web.

**Human Rights

Earlier today, we released earlier a strategic reform plan put together by the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Louise Arbour.  The plan outlines her vision for the future of her office with the aim of ensuring better implementation of fundamental freedoms around the world.  The plan’s recommendations include strengthening the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as enhanced monitoring of human rights situations and a faster response to requests for assistance from countries.  The report, entitled, “Plan of Action: Protection and Empowerment”, is a response to the Secretary-General’s reform report, In Larger Freedom, which reaffirms the centrality of human rights to the UN and recalls that the protection of human rights is essential to building a more secure and prosperous world.  Arbour’s plan of action was transmitted to the General Assembly today, and we have copies of it upstairs, and we have somebody from the Human Rights Office here if you have more questions on this after the briefing.

**Tsunami

Today, former US President Bill Clinton, who is the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, visited two sites in southern India which were struck especially hard by last December’s tsunami.  Among his stops were a temporary shelter housing over 4,000 people, as well as a UN-supported child-care centre staffed with youth volunteers involved in psycho-social care.  In related news, UNICEF says it’s building 200 temporary primary schools in areas of Aceh, Indonesia, which was extremely hard hit by the tsunami.

**WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) says that another shortage of funds will force it to slash its food assistance to two million people in Burundi unless it receives $23 million in additional funding.  And we have more from WFP upstairs.

**Somalia

Also, the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative for Somalia, François Lonseny Fall of Guinea, is due to arrive in Nairobi today to take up his duties as head of the UN Political Office for Somalia, which is located in the Kenyan capital.

**Assembly Action on High Commission for Refugees

A couple of in-house matters.  The General Assembly is scheduled to confirm the appointment of the new High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Guterres, in a formal vote today at 3 p.m.

**International Peacekeepers Day

And a reminder that this Sunday is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.  As I mentioned yesterday, we’re observing it today at Headquarters.  A posthumous medal ceremony was held this morning to honour the 115 peacekeepers who lost their lives in the course of their duties last year.  And at 2:30 on the Promenade outside the Visitors Entrance, there will be a medal parade at which military and civilian police officers will receive the UN service medals.  And we also have upstairs on the same issue, a press release from the UN Volunteers, who are also being honoured for their dedication and courage in helping improve the lives of millions of people in war-torn and post-conflict countries.

**Briefings

At approximately 12:45 today, Ambassador Duarte of Brazil, the President of the 2005 NPT Review Conference, will brief you on what is going on in the conference.

Also as a heads-up, the Secretary-General’s adviser, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, is due to speak at the Council on Tuesday afternoon on the topic of sexual abuse and exploitation in peacekeeping missions.  And along with the Department of Peacekeeping Operation’s Assistant-Secretary-General, Jane Holl Lute, he’ll speak with you afterwards at the Council stakeout.

And today, unless I’m mistaken, is Friday, and I should have the Week Ahead, but hopefully it’s upstairs.  And that’s it for me.  Any questions?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Do you have any reaction to the article in today’s New York Times on the detainees in U.S. custody?  And my other question -- do UN special rapporteurs and the Red Cross have any access to U.S. prisoners?

Associate Spokesman:  On the issue of access by the International Committee of the Red Cross, I believe that’s an issue that’s been dealt with directly between the ICRC and the US government.  As for the special rapporteurs, I’ll have to check to see if they’ve had access, but I don’t believe they have to that specific place.

Question:  What will the Secretary-General do to address the basic failure of the NPT?

Associate Spokesman:  Let’s let Ambassador Duarte brief.  The Secretary-General has been obviously following with concern what’s been going on over the last weeks here, and I’m sure we’ll have some reaction after their conclusion of the conference.  And I’ve been told that Monday is a holiday and we will not be briefing and the building will be closed.  Thank you very much.

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