PRESS BRIEFING BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL &
RICHARD SYDENHAM
SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN
FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

December 10, 2002

Excerpts

. . .

** UNMOVIC

Today was the busiest day yet for United Nations weapons inspections in Iraq, with a biological team from the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) carrying out inspections at two sites, while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) teams visited four different facilities.

The UNMOVIC biological team inspected the National Project for Controlling Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (NPCBT) and the Saddam Centre for Biotechnology (SCB).  The team accomplished its inspection objectives smoothly. 

Meanwhile, at Tuwaitha, an IAEA team continued to take a physical inventory of nuclear materials from Iraq’s past nuclear programme.  This work should be completed by the end of Thursday.

Another team investigated an outlying site of the Al Qa Qaa explosives plant, as well as the Al Furat State Company for Chemical Industries in Mussayib. Inspections were made at a complex of sites belonging to the Al Karama facility, and another IAEA team departed Baghdad for the Qaim Phosphate Complex near the town of al-Qaim on the western border of Iraq.  Qaim was previously associated with Iraq’s production of uranium from ores found in the area.

While the inspectors carried out their work, their ranks were bolstered by the arrival of 28 additional UNMOVIC inspectors today.  There are now a total of 70 inspectors in Iraq, with 43 of them from UNMOVIC and 27 from the IAEA.

** Oil-for-Food

The Weekly Update of the Office of the Iraq Programme is out today reporting that oil exports under the United Nations oil-for-food programme are down slightly for the week ending 6 December to 10.8 million barrels, compared with the previous week’s 11.9 million.

A cumulative oil revenue shortfall, dating from the second half of December 2000, has left some $3.2 billion worth of United Nations-approved humanitarian supply contracts without funds.

About $25.6 billion worth of humanitarian supplies and equipment have been delivered to Iraq under the oil-for-food programme since December 1996.

The full text of the oil-for-food update is available upstairs.

. . .

** Security Council

The Secretary-General addressed the Security Council in an open formal meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.  He said, "What we need most of all is practical action and a clear path from policy to implementation."

He went on to say, "We need to move forward and develop a more systematic approach to this issue.  We need to build a solid structure through which analysis and policy, and an awareness of best practices, will translate immediately into practical action that makes a difference in people's lives.”  He referred to his report, which contained recommendations.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima and Angelo Gnaedinger, the Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, were among the more than 30 speakers at the meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Carolina Barco of Colombia, which holds this month's Council Presidency.

Security Council members have scheduled their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General at 1:15 p.m. today.

We have copies of the statements by the Security Council.

We have also arranged for a stake-out on the fourth floor, by the delegates' dining area, and any media expecting to be at the stake-out should be in place by 1 p.m.

. . .

** Press Conference

And finally, one press conference to announce for tomorrow.  At 12:30 p.m., in this room, Ted Turner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Foundation will be joined by Timothy Wirth, the President of the Foundation, to discuss the partnership between the United Nations and the United Nations Foundation.  That is all I have for you.  Any questions?

** Questions and Answers

Question:  What time should one be at the stake-out at the end of the lunch?

Spokesman:  I can't really predict that.  They want people in place when the Secretary-General and the members of the Council go in.  It is much harder to predict when they will go out, but the Secretary-General has a 3 o'clock appointment so it will be before then.  My guess would be about 2:30 p.m.

Question: Concerning the statement made yesterday by the Security Council President on the examination of the Iraqi report, what did it mean when he said that a 'working version' of the declaration would be produced as soon as possible?

Spokesman:  I think the intention of the Council, as the President explained on Friday, was to produce a sanitized version of this documentation which would expunge any sensitive information that might be covered by international treaties prohibiting the sharing of information on how to make such weapons and also prohibit parties from trying to acquire such information.  I believe that once that material has been taken out, the sanitized version of the document could be made available to the other 10 members of the Council.

Question:  How extensive are the revisions on Cyprus?  Mr. Denktash stated today that it is an old plan.

Spokesman:  I am not going to comment on any statement by either of the parties.  As you know, Mr. de Soto said that he will not comment on the substance of what is going on.  There will not be any executive summary of the revised plan submitted to the Security Council, therefore all the discussions taking place now are strictly confidential.  I have no information on how many changes or how extensive the changes are in the revised document.  The clock is ticking, please be patient and wait to see if Mr. de Soto can bridge the gap.

Question:  Has the Council received the revised document?

Spokesman:  No they have not and they will not.

Question:  Finally, Mr. Denktash is going to Ankara for an operation; how will this affect the talks and the 12 December deadline?

Spokesman:  We'll have to see.  From the Secretary-General's view, he has no objection in dealing with anyone that Mr. Denktash might designate to negotiate on his behalf.  So from our point of view, this is not necessarily an obstacle.

Question:  Even for a signature?

Spokesman:  Anyone who is designated from the Turkish Cypriot side can sign as far as we are concerned.

Richard.

Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly

Good afternoon.

In his message for Human Rights Day today, General Assembly President Jan Kavan notes that 54 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many whose human rights and fundamental freedoms are still not respected.

The President points out that respect for human rights are best fostered where conflicts are prevented through preventive diplomacy and other actions.  "It is crucial to enhance the United Nations preventive capacity and in so doing move from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention.  The recommendations of the Secretary-General's report on Prevention of Armed Conflict serve as a guide. United Nations and other international organizations side by side with world leaders, civil society, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders must do their best to prevent armed conflict in all parts of the world.  But even while waging a justifiable war against terrorism it is clear that the universality of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be fully respected."

The message will be available shortly as a press release and on the President's Web site.

Continuing its discussion of Oceans and the Law of the Sea this morning, the Plenary, in regular session, heard from Brazil and the United States, who introduced draft resolutions.  There were 52 speakers inscribed in this debate, which will continue this afternoon.

This afternoon, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) takes action on sustainable development and international economic cooperation and environment and sustainable development draft resolutions.

Also this afternoon, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) will conclude its general discussion on the proposed programme budget for 2004-2005, and programme budget for 2002-2003.

As Fred has already told you, there is a screening at 1 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjold Library auditorium of the Blue Planet: Seas of Life- video.

And tomorrow, the Plenary takes up the report of the Credentials Committee and reports of the Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth) Committee.

Any questions?

Thank you.