REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Elena Ponomareva-Piquier, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing. Spokespersons for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the Economic Commission for Europe, the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Labour Office participated in the briefing.

Quartet and UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Condemn Terrorist Attack in Netanya

Mrs. Ponomareva-Piquier said the Quartet had yesterday condemned the terrorist attack in Netanya in the strongest possible terms. In a statement, the Quartet said that representatives of Palestinian Islamic Jihad had claimed responsibility for the bombing through al-Manar television. The Quartet repeated its demand that the Syrian government take immediate action to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and to prevent the use of its territory by armed groups engaged in terrorist acts. The Quartet denounced all acts of terrorism and urged all parties to exercise restraint, avoid an escalation of violence, and keep the channels of communication open. The Quartet said it encouraged and supported the Palestinian Authority's efforts to take immediate steps to prevent armed groups from acting against law and order and the policy of the Authority itself. It reiterated its support for efforts to assist the Palestinian Authority in the reform and restructuring of its security services. The Quartet believed it was imperative that all involved act decisively to ensure that terror and violence were not allowed to undermine further progress in accordance with the Roadmap. The Quartet would remain seized of these matters.

Separately, Alvaro de Soto, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said he was shocked and saddened at the suicide bombing in Netanya. He condemned this act of terrorism, saying that no cause could justify the deliberate killing and maiming of civilians. He sent his condolences to the bereaved families and to the Government of Israel. Mr. De Soto added that he had no doubt that whoever ordered and carried out this attack wanted to undermine efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “I hope that all concerned will not play into their hands,” he said.

The two statements were available in the press room.

Geneva Meetings and Press Conferences

Mrs. Ponomareva-Piquier said that States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction were holding their third meeting in Geneva from 5 to 9 December to discuss and promote common understanding and effective action on the content, promulgation and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists. In his message to the meeting which was delivered on his behalf yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said next year’s Review conference of the BWC was a major opportunity to reaffirm the ban on biological and toxin weapons and would also provide a chance to address the threat posed by the possible use of such weapons by terrorists. The Secretary-General said it was increasingly understood that bolstering the biological security regime had become a matter of tremendous importance for global health and international peace and security.

The message of the Secretary-General and the background press release on the meeting were available in the press room.

Mrs. Ponomareva-Piquier said the Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission would hold its fifty-eighth session from 6 to 8 December under the Presidency of Ambassador Tassos Kriekoukis of Greece. The Council would discuss various issues relating to the activity of the Commission. The Chief of the Secretariat of the Compensation Commission, Mojtaba Kazazi, and Joe Sills, the Spokesperson, would brief journalists about the session around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, 8 December. The background press release on the meeting was available in the press room.

There were a number of press conferences which would be held this week. There was a press conference at 11:30 a.m. in Room III by Jean Michel Jakobowicz, Editor in Chief of UN Special, on the “Picture of UN Staff” during which he would talk about the results of a world wide survey.

There was also a press conference on regional cooperation for human development and human security in Central Asia by the United Nations Development Programme at 2 p.m. in Room III. At 1:15 p.m. today, there would be a press conference by the Syrian Mission on the Diplomatic Conference on the adoption of a third additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. On Wednesday, 7 December, at 11:15 a.m., there would be a press conference by the Food and Agriculture Organization to launch the plan for the State of Food and Agriculture 2005. The main launch was being held in Geneva. Copies of the embargoed report and the press release were in the press room.

In conclusion, Mrs. Ponomareva-Piquier said UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd would speak to journalists at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, 8 December in Room III on the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. On Friday, 9 December, also at 11:30 a.m. in Salle III, there would be an ILO press conference on key indicators of the labour market.

Human Rights Day

José Luis Díaz, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Human Rights Day was marked on 10 December. The Office would start to mark the Day on Wednesday, 7 December in Geneva and New York. High Commissioner Louise Arbour would be making a statement in New York where she was at the moment. Copies of her statement would be made available. The theme this year was efforts to combat torture and the risk of erosion of the total prohibition of torture in the context of counter-terrorism efforts. In Geneva, there would be, among other things, an exhibition of art works by survivors of torture which would be opened on Wednesday evening by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and a representative of the Director-General of UNOG. The exhibition would be open from 8 to 30 December at the Palais in the corridor between the new and old buildings. An advisory with details would be sent out.

Fadela Chaib of the World Health Organization said Human Rights Day was commemorated on 10 December. This year, WHO had decided to dedicate it to persons who suffered from mental problems. There would be a press release issued tomorrow on the violation of the human rights of persons with mental problems and what could be done to protect their rights. There would also be a press conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Swiss Press Club.

A journalist said yesterday the United States Secretary of State had made a very clear statement that rendition was legal in her opinion and asked if the Office shared that opinion. Mr. Díaz said the High Commissioner would be addressing that very point, along with the issue of diplomatic assurances. The High Commissioner would also look at reports of secret detention and the risks that that posed for the perpetration of torture. The issue of rendition was very complicated. There was a very clear prohibition in international law that persons may not be returned to places where they faced a risk of torture. The concern was that there had been efforts to circumvent that prohibition. In the cases the Office had seen so far, for example a case that had been adjudicated by the Committee against Torture, the issues were clear. He could make the observations of the Committee available again. [In that case, Agiza v. Sweden, the Committee had found that merely securing diplomatic assurances from Egypt, assurances which furthermore could not be monitored, was insufficient to rule out torture following the deportation of the individual in question once returned to Egypt. The Committee had also found that the circumstances in which the individual had been taken to Egypt from Sweden by agents of a third State contravened the Convention against Torture].

Return of Sudanese Refugees to South Sudan

Jennifer Pagonis of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees said as South Sudanese refugees were starting to go back to their homeland after more than two decades of exile, a group of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was getting ready to leave South Sudan to return to their home country. UNHCR was in the process of registering some 1,700 Congolese refugees who had been in South Sudan for the past four decades. UNHCR had been working in close cooperation with the Sudanese Commission of Refugees in identifying the refugees and registering them. Meanwhile, UNHCR was continuing preparations for the start of the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees. A group of 12,000 Dinka herdsmen was making its way back to the region of origin. The group was now arriving in Juba. The group was moving slowly as many roads were mined and UN agencies were also providing support to the Dinka.

Jemini Pandya of the International Organization for Migration said IOM would provide assistance to at least 3,500 vulnerable people from Sudan’s Dinka tribe so that they could return to their homes in Bor in Jonglei province. This vulnerable group was part of a much larger group of around 12,000 Dinka whose members were spontaneously making their way home on foot from Maridi in Western Equatoria via Juba, with 300,000 to 500,000 cattle. WFP and UNICEF were providing people at the way station with food and medicine and an NGO was providing medical care. The possibility of cattle raiding had raised concerns about the safety and security of the group.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Visits Zimbabwe

Elizabeth Byrs of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland was in Zimbabwe. He had arrived on 3 December and would depart tomorrow. In Zimbabwe, Mr. Egeland had met with senior religious figures, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and members of humanitarian operations. Mr. Egeland was scheduled to meet with the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. Mr. Egeland would have a press conference on 7 December before flying back to New York where he would also brief journalists on his visit.

Earthquake Hits Eastern Side of Lake Tanganyika

Ms. Byrs of OCHA said an earthquake measuring between 6.3 to 6.8 on the Richter Scale had hit the eastern side of Lake Tanganyika yesterday. OCHA had sent evaluation missions to the area around the epicentre. The earthquake was felt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. There were reports of unconfirmed deaths, injuries and damage to property in the worst hit villages of Kabalo, Manono and Kalemie. The first situation report was available at the back of the room. There were concerns of poisonous gas emissions from the ground of the lake, and there were also fears of the possibility that the quake might have caused landslides. She hoped to have further details about the earthquake later in the day.

Humanitarian Aid for Victims of Earthquake in South Asia

Jennifer Pagonis of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees said there was heavy snow forecast by the end of the week in the areas struck by the earthquake in Pakistan and UNHCR was standing by for a possible exodus of people from higher elevations. The Government of Pakistan estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 more people could come down. UNHCR had 19 mobile teams providing technical advice and assistance to the army. UNHCR’s main priority was assisting the local authorities with winterisation of the spontaneous camps. UNHCR also continued to fly relief aid to Pakistan with NATO.

Jemini Pandya of the International Organization for Migration said the situation in Pakistan’s earthquake affected area was becoming ever more critical with falling temperatures, snow and rain. With daily rock and mudslides, road transportation was more difficult and time consuming. At the same time, IOM’s operational capacity had greatly increased.

Other

Jean-Michel Jakobowicz, Editor in Chief of UN Special, said last June, UN Special had sent out a questionnaire to UN staff around the world. It had received 5,320 responses, including 1,400 from Geneva. At 11:30 a.m. today, he would release the results of this questionnaire.

Speaking as Spokesperson for the Economic Commission for Europe, Mr. Jakobowicz said the ECE was today launching a web-based portal – the Clearing House on Transport, Health and Environment – along with WHO as part of their joint activities under the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme. The web portal was designed to facilitate exchange of information and knowledge across the transport, environment and health sectors in the pan-European region. A press release was available on this Clearing House. Mr. Jakobowicz said another press release was available on the signing ceremony on partnership between the International Cooperative Alliance and the ECE’s Committee on Human Settlements.

Fadela Chaib of the World Health Organization said an update on the avian influenza would be posted on the WHO website sometime this afternoon. It concerned a new case in Indonesia, a 25-year-old woman who lived near Jakarta. This brought the total number of cases in Indonesia to 13, including 8 deaths.

Simon Pluess of the World Food Programme said WFP had successfully delivered its first food aid delivery to Somalia by land since February 2001. This came after an endless saga of piracy of WFP food ships in the Horn of Africa and the final suspension of all food deliveries by maritime route. The trucks had arrived with some 500 tons of food. In this region, transporting food by truck cost 25 to 30 per cent more than transporting by ship. The food situation was worsening in South Somalia due to a lack of rainfall. WFP needed to rapidly increase the quantity of food in these areas in order to respond to the food shortages. The trucks were also slowed down by checkpoints. Among the 1 million Somalis that WFP would have to feed next year, some 640,000 were in the southern regions of Somalia.

Jennifer Pagonis of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees said High Commissioner Antonio Guterres was in Copenhagen today at the start of a four-day visit to Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden where he would meet with senior government officials, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations and others. The four countries were key strategic partners of UNHCR’s work for refugees around the world. They were also among the top ten per capita donors to UNHCR, contributing a total of nearly $ 200 million to UNHCR’s programmes so far this year.

Annick Bouvier of the International Committee of the Red Cross said that on Friday, 9 December, ICRC would launch its emergency appeal for food for 2006. There would be a press conference at 2 p.m. at ICRC Headquarters. An embargoed press release and other documents on the appeal would be placed in the press room starting Wednesday.

Corinne Perthuis of the International Labour Office said that on 9 December at 11:30 a.m., ILO would be holding a press conference on the key indicators of the labour market, which was published every two years. This report examined 20 key indicators, including quantitative and qualitative indicators. Among its conclusions were that globalization was not fair and the number of poor workers was increasing.