REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
Marie Heuzé, the Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing which provided information about the visit of the Deputy Secretary-General to Strasbourg and Brussels, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva activities and press conferences, the Zarand earthquake in Iran, and other issues. Spokespersons for the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Economic Commission for Europe, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the International Organization for Migration participated in the briefing.
Annual Visit of Deputy Secretary-General to European Union Institutions
Mrs. Heuzé said that Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette would be travelling to Strasbourg and Brussels from 23 to 25 February for her annual visit to the European Union institutions. In Strasbourg, she would address a joint meeting of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee with the Trade, Development and Budget Committees. The Director recalled that last week, Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, had debated the question of the rule of law in Strasbourg with high-level representatives of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In Brussels, Mrs. Fréchette was scheduled to have meetings with José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and with a number of commissioners. During the course of her visits, Mrs. Fréchette would also meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, the Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, and other high-level officials. Among the key topics to be discussed were 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.
The Director said a press release was available in the press room about the results of the tripartite discussions between UNOG, the Council of Europe and the OSCE which the Director-General participated in. The discussions had also focussed on the freedom of expression and the participants in the meeting had recognized that the threat of terrorism should not be used as an excuse to impose restrictions on freedom of expression or freedom of information. They had also called on the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit on the Information Society to recognise freedom of expression and freedom of information as fundamental principles for the establishment and development of the information society.
A seminar of experts on democracy and the rule of law would be held from 28 February to 2 March at the Palais des Nations. The seminar would be held behind closed doors. A list of the participants in the seminar was in the press room so interested journalists could contact them through the Information Service of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The High Commissioner for Refugees
Mrs. Heuzé said that available in the press room were copies of a letter which the Secretary-General had addressed to the staff of UNHCR. It was dated 21 February. The Secretary-General said that he had accepted the resignation of Ruud Lubbers, the High Commission for Refugees, with regret because he had greatly appreciated the energy and commitment with which, over the past four years, he had led collective effort to help some of the world's most unfortunate people. There was no more noble task among those assigned to the United Nations and it was one to which Mr. Lubbers had devoted himself wholeheartedly. The Secretary-General said that he wished to stress that Mr. Lubbers had not been found guilty of any offence and his decision to accept the resignation should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt.
Ron Redmond of the High Commissioner for Refugees said that he did not have any specific update on the resignation of the High Commissioner. UNHCR staff welcomed the concern of the Secretary-General expressed in his letter to them. It should be obvious to journalists that UNHCR staff members were continuing to work around the world, carrying out numerous projects to help refugees and asylum seekers in more than 115 countries. UNHCR was obviously very concerned about the events of the past week, but its staff members were still out there doing their good work.
Asked who was now in charge of UNHCR, Mr. Redmond said the High Commissioner had said that he would make himself available until the Secretary-General decided on his successor. The High Commissioner was still working, and he had had a full schedule of meetings yesterday. He would be in discussions with New York on the hand-over.
Geneva Activities and Press Conferences
The Director said that the Working Group on Internet Governance concluded its work on 18 February. Nitin Desai, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General for the World Summit on the Information Society, and Markus Kummer, Executive Coordinator of the Working Group on Internet Governance, yesterday briefed journalists about the results of the meeting. A press release had also been issued.
The second Preparatory Committee of the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society would conclude on Friday, 25 February. The Director said that every evening, a summary of the debates held during the day was posted on the Internet website of the International Telecommunication Union www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom.
Gary Fowlie of the International Telecommunication Union said that today, a special session would be held by ITU with the World Health Organization on ICTs for disaster relief. The first part of that session would start at 1:30 p.m. in Room XI on health action in the tsunami crisis. At 8:15 p.m. in the same room, there would be the continuation on telecommunication for disaster relief, which focused on the Tampere Convention which came into force more than one month ago. Also today, the PrepCom would move ahead on the "Tunis plan: from principles to action". There would be a final briefing on the conclusion of the PrepCom scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Friday, 25 February.
The Director said the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination yesterday started its winter session at the Palais Wilson. The Committee discussed a periodic report from Lao People's Democratic Republic yesterday afternoon and this morning. In addition to considering the situation in seven other countries, the Committee would also hold a thematic discussion on the prevention of genocide on 28 February and 1 March as well as a general debate on multiculturalism on 8 March.
Mrs. Heuzé said that the Information Service was making a particular effort to respond to ACANU's complaints that Geneva was being bypassed during the launch of reports. So she wished to remind journalists that at 2:30 p.m. today, the Agha Khan, Chairman of the Agha Khan Development Network, and James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, would brief journalists on the important initiative to expand micro finance to reduce vulnerability of the poor. At 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, the French version of the Worldwatch Institute's publication State of the World 2005 would be launched in Room III. Participating in the briefing would be the President of the Worldwatch Institute, the President of Green Cross International and the Director-General of UNOG.
Damien Personnaz of the United Nations Children's Fund said that as Marie had noted about trying to make Geneva the site of more launches, on Friday, 25 February, the Innocenti Report Card "Child Poverty in Rich Countries" would be launched at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. by Philip O'Brien, Regional Director of UNICEF's Geneva Regional Office. Copies of the embargoed report and other documents would be distributed at the time of the briefing. Geneva would be the main launch.
Mrs. Heuzé said that Iraq's Minister of Telecommunications, Al-Hakim Mohammad, would brief journalists about the situation in Iraq, the results of the elections, the rebuilding of Iraq's Telecommunication System and plans for the future tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Room III. And on 24 February, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies would brief journalists on the launch of the global water and sanitation initiative.
Zarand Earthquake
Elizabeth Byrs of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale had hit Zarand in Kerman Province, Iran early this morning. The earthquake had struck 200 kilometres northwest of Bam. Available was the first situation report. An evaluation team from UNICEF and WFP who had staffers based in Bam had left for the affected areas right away. The Iranian Red Crescent had immediately come to the aid of the affected areas, sending eight search and rescue teams equipped with sniffer dogs, three helicopters, 30 ambulances and three psycho-social support teams. Iran had not asked for international help as the amount of damage caused by the earthquake was not yet known. The experience of the Bam earthquake had helped prompt the immediate response. According to the latest information at 10 a.m. local time, they were talking about 100 persons killed.
Damien Personnaz of the United Nations Children's Fund said that six UNICEF staff members had now arrived in the region affected by the earthquake. Four of them were based in Bam which was why they had been able to arrive so quickly. Others were members of the country team travelling from Tehran. The immediate needs included tents, covers, water and food. The team was some 20 kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake and its members had already seen many destroyed villages and many people standing out in the open. The weather was very bad with the rains turning the ground into mud which was difficult to pass. He had no estimate yet on the numbers of dead and wounded, or of the numbers of affected children.
Other
Jean-Michel Jakobowicz of the Economic Commission for Europe said that the ECE's sixtieth annual session had today started. This morning, the seminar would be discussing the economic problems of the Euro. At 6 p.m., Pascal Lamy, former Trade Commissioner the European Commission, would deliver the Myrdal lecture on "Global Governance: Lessons from Europe".
Carine Richard-Van Maele of the World Meteorological Organization said that WMO's Commission for Basic Systems would be holding its thirteenth regular session in St. Petersburg from 23 February to 3 March. The Commission was responsible for the coordination of the operational activities related to WMO's World Weather Watch system of WMO's 187 Members, especially with respect to the generation and worldwide, timely exchange of weather observations, forecasts and warnings. The Commission would also discuss and agree on the standards, procedures and practices which were needed to respond to the scientific/technical progress and the application of new technological systems in meteorology and related disciplines. Michel Jarraud, the Secretary-General of WMO, would open the meeting. A press release would be issued.
Fadela Chaib of the World Health Organization said that the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control would enter into force on Sunday, 27 February. Available was a media advisory on the various events which would mark this occasion, including a press conference on Thursday, 24 February, at 1:30 p.m. in Room III. A formal ceremony would be held on Monday, 28 February from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at WHO Headquarters.
Ms. Chaib recalled that a 10-person team had travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to study an outbreak of pneumonic plague. The team had arrived in Kisangani yesterday on their way to the affected area in a diamond mine in the north of the country. Initial reports spoke of 61 deaths among the 400 cases of pneumonic plague, as well as new cases cropping up. The team would try to reach the diamond mine despite the insecurity in the area.
Ron Redmond of the High Commissioner for Refugees said that Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin would brief journalist about her mission to southern Sudan on Friday, 25 February, at 3 p.m. She would also respond to any questions on the situation at UNHCR. UNHCR was dispatching a 15-member emergency team to southern Sudan to start urgently needed reintegration projects in preparation for the return of some 550,000 Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries. UNHCR hoped that this could start later this year. The projects were aimed at quickly putting in place the basic groundwork for a voluntary repatriation operation and conditions for refugees to return home. The projects were also aimed at meeting the needs of an estimated
4 million internally displaced persons from southern Sudan who were starting to return on their own to the same areas where refugees were expected to return. Projects included renovating or building schools and health facilities, supplying school items, providing bicycles and training for teachers, constructing sanitation facilities for schools and health centres, and rehabilitating roads and community water sources among others. Out of the $ 62 million required for the south Sudan programme for 2005, UNHCR had so far received nothing which was a serious concern.
Mr. Redmond said that in Colombia, the number of people who had fled their homes along the Bojaya River in the northwestern province of Choco ahead of potential fighting had risen to nearly 1,300 according to a UNHCR team which was dispatched to the region late last week. The displaced had been receiving emergency food rations thanks to provisions made by the authorities and the World Food Programme. And in Pakistan, a two-week nationwide census of Afghans living in Pakistan was due to start tomorrow.
Simon Pluess of the World Food Programme said that Claude Jibidar, WFP's head of mission in Aceh, would brief journalists at 11:30 a.m. today on the present situation in Aceh and WFP's challenges in the field, with special emphasis on the problem of continuous IDP movements in Aceh province.
Mr. Pluess said WFP was very concerned about signs of a potential food crisis in certain areas of Sudan. The rapid increase in food prices to an unprecedented high, combined with food insecurity and limited purchasing power of families had raised concern that many more people than initially anticipated might face food shortages. Reasons for this included erratic rainfalls in 2003. WFP was mostly concerned about the Bahr el Ghazal region in south Sudan, Kasala and Red Sea State in the east, and Kordofan region in the centre. In Darfur, the situation was further complicated by insecurity. WFP was urging donors to pledge funds to existing food operations to allow WFP to purchase and deliver food. There was very little time left as it took four months for a pledge of money to actually materialize into food for the affected people. WFP had commissioned three studies to help it determine the severity of the situation.
Jemini Pandya of the International Organization for Migration said IOM had helped more than 2,160 families in northern and western Afghanistan with winter supplies as severe winter weather had left hundreds of people dead due to cold-weather illnesses. The situation was expected to worsen with Government officials warning that floods could occur as a result of the melting of snow when spring began. IOM was preparing to purchase tents in order to assist those who may be left homeless from any new disaster. In Haiti, nearly one year since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide had fallen, IOM was nearly halfway through a programme to help rebuild stable communities in the strife-ridden country.
Ms. Pandya said that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the IOM office in Sarajevo was today launching a nationwide education campaign in primary and secondary schools to raise awareness among students, parents, teachers and other school personnel of the dangers of trafficking, including the transmission and spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Also, IOM Director-General Brunson McKinley and the Permanent Representative of Morocco to UNOG had signed an agreement that provided IOM with the same privileges and immunities as specified by the 1947 Convention on Privileges and Immunities of UN specialized agencies.