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United Nations
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON INVESTIGATON INTO DARFUR
* The Security Council this morning heard an update from Luis
Moreno-Ocampo, the prosecutor for the International Criminal
Court, about his investigation into alleged crimes in Darfur. He
said that genocide is continuing there, as are rapes in and around
camps for displaced people; yet key suspects, including Ali
Kushayb and Ahmed Harun, remain at large. When it comes to
justice, Moreno-Ocampo said, "only words have been offered," but
no concrete steps have been taken.
* The prosecutor noted that the decision on his request for an
arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is now in
the hands of ICC judges, and he said that the Security Council
must be prepared for their decision. He warned, "The international
community cannot be part of any cover-up of genocide or crimes
against humanity."
* The Security Council will also hear an update this afternoon, in
another open meeting, from Emergency Relief Coordinator John
Holmes, who recently completed visits to Sudan and Chad.
* The Security Council also held consultations this morning to
discuss a request from Libya for an open meeting on the Middle
East. Council members will hold that meeting this afternoon,
following the briefing by John Holmes.
UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES SIGNING OF TREATY BANNING CLUSTER MUNITIONS
* Representatives of some 100 governments gathered in Oslo, Norway,
today to sign a historic disarmament convention aimed at closing
the chapter on cluster munitions, an insidious weapon that kills
innocent civilians and cripples communities for decades after
hostilities have ceased.
* In his message to the signing conference, the Secretary- General
urged all governments to sign and ratify the Convention without
delay, adding that the Convention indicates a significant and
fundamental change in the position of many governments.
* Adopted at a diplomatic conference in Dublin this May, the
Convention on Cluster Munitions offers an unprecedented
prohibition on the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of
cluster bombs and commits States to the clearance of areas
contaminated with unexploded cluster munitions and to the
provision of assistance for victims and their communities.
* The Oslo Signing Conference is the culmination of diplomatic
efforts that began in Oslo in February 2007, representing the most
significant humanitarian and disarmament treaty of the decade.
* This Convention --negotiated by States that represent past and
current producers, stockpilers and victims of cluster munitions--
represents a new milestone in humanitarian disarmament and
establishes important commitments regarding assistance to victims,
clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles.
* It is the first successfully negotiated international treaty to
ban an entire category of conventional weapons and is a
significant strengthening of international humanitarian law.
* Asked about Israeli cluster bombs dropped in Lebanon, the
Spokeswoman noted that, in their meeting last weekend in Doha, the
Secretary-General and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora had
discussed the issue of cluster bombs.
* UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams today
reiterated that the United Nations has been calling on Israel to
provide the strike data of the cluster bombs dropped over south
Lebanon, in line with the implementation of Security Council
Resolution 1701.
MORE THAN 500 CHOLERA DEATHS REPORTED IN ZIMBABWE
* The World Health Organization issued a press release updating
information on the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, following a
meeting called by the Zimbabwean Minister of Health and Child
Welfare with WHO, UNICEF and other agencies on the ground.
* WHO reports that according to its latest statistics, there were
12,546 "suspected" cases of cholera and 565 deaths since August in
Zimbabwe. WHO also says that South African health authorities have
reported this week that there had been more than 400 cholera cases
and eight deaths.
* WHO is procuring emergency stocks of supplies to meet identified
gaps and is deploying a full outbreak investigation and response
team, including epidemiologists, water and sanitation engineers
and social mobilization specialists.
* UNICEF says that Zimbabwean children are already bearing the brunt
of a shattered economy, severe food shortages, HIV/AIDS and
failing social services, as well as suffering the acute effects of
a lack of food, water and health care. Now, UNICEF adds, they are
now succumbing to cholera and are not likely to return to school
even after their Christmas break.
* Asked about reported criticism of the Secretary-General's meeting
in Doha with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, the Spokeswoman
confirmed that they had a one-on-one meeting last weekend. She
noted that the meeting included discussion of humanitarian and
power-sharing issues, and that the Secretary-General had raised
concerns expressed in his earlier statement on Zimbabwe. Montas
emphasized that it is normal for the Secretary-General to hold
meetings when it is necessary to discuss ways to help people in
dire humanitarian circumstances
EASTERN D.R. CONGO REMAINS CALM, SAYS U.N. MISSION
* The security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
remains calm today, says the UN Mission there (MONUC).
* The World Food Programme, meanwhile, is ramping up its
humanitarian operation in the North Kivu province and expanding
into Orientale Province, where civilians have been attacked by the
Lord's Resistance Army.
* During November, the agency increased food aid to some 564,000
people across eastern DRC, with more than half of these displaced
in North Kivu alone. But widespread insecurity and bad roads have
also hampered access to some 70,000 displaced people in North
Kivu.
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GLOBAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP STABILIZE SOMALIA
* Asked about Ethiopia's presence in Somalia, the Spokeswoman said
that the Secretary-General has received a letter from Ethiopia
stating their intentions regarding that presence.
* The Secretary-General, she said, has been strongly advocating
international assistance to help stabilize Somalia. He has been
urging nations who are in the position to help Somalia to come
forward with support for the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) and has worked to line up international forces who can
take part in a multinational stabilization force.
* Such commitments are not yet in place, Montas said, and we are
concerned now about a vacuum being created, should Ethiopia
withdraw along the timeline they have indicated. She added, in
response to further questions, that Ethiopia came into the country
with the agreement of the Transitional Federal Government of
Somalia.
UNHCR: DEAD MIGRANTS WASH UP ASHORE IN YEMEN
* The UN Refugee Agency said that the bodies of 20 dead would-be
migrants washed up ashore in Yemen earlier this week after
smugglers forced them overboard in the Gulf of Aden. Another 2
migrants are reported missing.
* The boat was reportedly carrying around 115 passengers, mostly
Ethiopian nationals. UNHCR said the other 93 passengers on the
boat made it to shore on Monday. The agency has helped bury the
dead and is now helping to care for the survivors.
* More than 43,500 people in over 850 smuggling boats have arrived
in Yemen so far this year after taking the dangerous trip across
the Gulf of Aden. At least 380 people have died and some 360
remain missing.
U.N. MISSION SEES PROGRESS IN LIBERIA'S HUMAN RIGHTS
* The U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), in its bi-annual report on
human rights in that country, finds progress in several areas, but
notes that Liberia's criminal justice system is still facing
serious challenges. These include the absence of key personnel and
inadequate resources for essential rule of law institutions.
* Rape and gender-based violence also remain prevalent, while
harmful traditional practices, including ritual killings and
female genital mutilation, are practiced almost with impunity, the
report said.
* UNMIL recommends continued international technical assistance and
other measures to strengthen the criminal judicial system. It
also calls for a nationwide awareness campaign against harmful
traditional practices, and for making the Independent National
Commission on Human Rights operational.
RWANDAN MUSICIAN SENTENCED FOR INCITEMENT TO GENOCIDE
* Rwanda composer and performing artist Simon Bikindi was sentenced
to 15 years in prison for incitement to genocide.
* The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which
pronounced the verdict yesterday in Arusha, noted that through his
songs and speeches and in stage shows with the Interahamwe
militia, Bikindi was active in the anti-Tutsi campaign of 1994,
which led to the genocide. Prosecutors also blamed him for
specific attacks and killings in Gisenyi prefecture.
* The Tribunal says that Bikindi will receive credit for time served
since his arrest in 2001.
ALL CROSSINGS FOR GOODS GOING INTO GAZA STILL CLOSED
Process (UNSCO) reports that the Gaza crossings situation remains
unchanged today. All crossings for goods going into Gaza are still
closed.
* No fuel, humanitarian supplies or commercial commodities are being
allowed in.
* Asked about the UN's efforts to deal with the closures, the
Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General had recently spoken
to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni to call for humanitarian access and the movement of
necessary goods into Gaza. Humanitarian agencies have also pressed
that case.
AIDS CONTINUES TO BE AFRICA'S LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
* The AIDS epidemic is not over in any part of Africa, according to
UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot. He was speaking in advance
of the 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually
Transmitted Infections, which opens today in Dakar, Senegal.
* According to UNAIDS, sub-Saharan Africa remains the region in the
world most heavily affected by HIV, with about 22 million people
living with the virus.
* In 2007, the region accounted for two thirds of all people living
with HIV and for three quarters of AIDS deaths globally. AIDS
continues to be the leading cause of death in Africa.
SECRETARY-GENERAL NOT TO VISIT MYANMAR WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS BY
GOVERNMENT
* Asked about a letter from more than 100 Heads of State or
Government about Myanmar, the Spokeswoman confirmed that the
Secretary-General received that letter. The Secretary-General also
received a phone call this morning from former Prime Minister
Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway, the coordinator of that
initiative, Montas added. They discussed the letter, which asks
the Secretary-General to visit Myanmar and to urge the release of
all political prisoners by the end of this year.
* The Secretary-General, the Spokeswoman said, reiterated his pledge
to remain fully engaged, both personally and through his Special
Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari. He said he would like to visit Myanmar
again to discuss a broad range of issues but that he will not be
able to do so without reasonable expectations of a meaningful
outcome.
* The Secretary General has consistently said that the primary
responsibility lies with the Government to deliver substantive
results, including freeing political prisoners and holding a
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, she added.
* Asked about Gambari's travels, the Spokeswoman noted that he would
not travel to Myanmar unless there was a real possibility of
moving forward there.
W.F.P. COMMITS $15 MILLION TO HELP IMPROVE NUTRITION IN ASIA
* With a goal to improve nutrition for one million hungry people in
Asia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today
announced a $15 million commitment to improve the nutritional
status of hungry children and their families in 7 countries across
Asia.
* The announcement was made at a meeting of the Clinton Global
Initiative (CGI) in Hong Kong today, where business leaders and
philanthropists also committed to raising more than $4 million in
support of WFP's work.
* WFP will provide one million undernourished children and mothers
with improved, locally-fortified food products over the next three
years to improve their nutrition. In Bangladesh, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Timor Leste, WFP will target
at-risk children under two, moderately malnourished individuals,
pregnant and lactating women and populations suffering from
micronutrient deficiencies and chronic illness.
* WFP is developing a comprehensive strategy to improve the overall
nutritional status of the people that WFP assists in Asian
countries.
* In a video message for the opening of the conference, the
Secretary-General urged the Asia-Pacific region to play a leading
role in averting a prolonged slowdown and a human catastrophe.
* Adding that Asia has achieved remarkable gains in economic growth
and development in recent decades, he commended the Clinton Global
Initiative, saying that it will contribute to the progress and
give a valuable lessons to the rest of the world.
UNITED NATIONS ALLOCATES $3 MILLION FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NEPAL
* The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has
allocated about $3 million to assist rural communities in Nepal
suffering from serious flood insecurity caused by rapidly
increasing food and fuel prices, the destruction of food stocks
and crops by the recent floods, and the effects of long-term
conflict.
* The United Nations in Nepal says that nearly 1.5 million people in
the remote regions need urgent assistance to meet their basic food
needs and the levels of acute malnutrition are extremely high,
especially among poor, landless and marginalized populations.
* The CERF funding will ensure that vulnerable families continue to
receive the critical food assistance being provided by the World
Food Programme and partners as well as creating quick-impact
opportunities to help restore family livelihoods through community
construction and infrastructure projects.
U.N. MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
* Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In
remarks to this morning's commemoration, the Secretary-General
noted that this year's entry into force of the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities was a cause for celebration.
* He stressed that the UN remains committed to promoting
accessibility in all aspects of society and development. This
means political access, access to the internet and communications
technologies, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in
all international goals, from development and human rights to
peace and security.
* It also means physical access, he said. That includes at
Headquarters, where the UN is working hard to make it easier to
navigate the building, he said.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS LEADERS ON MUMBAI ATTACKS: Asked about
international response to the Mumbai attacks, the Spokeswoman noted
that the Secretary-General had spoken on Tuesday by phone with Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about that matter, and had also
discussed the issue with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari today.
U.N., PAKISTAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS COMMISSION ON BHUTTO ASSASSINATION:
Asked about the progress of the inquiry into former Pakistani Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the Spokeswoman said that the
Secretary-General had discussed the issue today in his phone call with
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Montas said that UN officials
and the Pakistani authorities continue to discuss the format and
funding of a fact-finding commission to deal with the Bhutto
assassination.
UGANDA'S LRA LEADER FAILS TO SIGN AGREEMENT: Asked about the
activities of the Lord's Resistance Army, the Spokeswoman noted that
LRA leader Joseph Kony once more had failed to sign an agreement,
despite the very extensive efforts by the mediation, by the
Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Joachim Chissano, and by the many
community leaders of northern Uganda. The Secretary-General will be
getting a full briefing from President Chissano in the coming days.
U.N.-NATO AGREEMENT IN LINE WITH SIMILAR UNDERSTANDINGS: Asked about
the recent UN-NATO agreement, the Spokeswoman recalled that it
concerned cooperation on issues of mutual interest, adding that it
does not imply agreement with all NATO policies. The United Nations,
she noted, has similar agreements with other regional organizations on
practical arrangements for cooperation.
ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA STILL BEING DISCUSSED: Asked whether a new
Western Sahara envoy would be named, the Spokeswoman said that no
appointment had yet been made, with consultations continuing among
concerned parties.
* The guest at today's briefing was Mark Bowden, UN Humanitarian
Coordinator for Somalia.
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