START OF LEBANON TRIBUNAL 'DECISIVE MILESTONE' IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE -- BAN

START OF LEBANON TRIBUNAL 'DECISIVE MILESTONE' IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE -- BAN
New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
Just over four years after former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others were killed in a terrorist attack in Beirut, the international tribunal set up to try the perpetrators began its work today, marking what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deemed a historic step in the search for justice.

"The commencement of the Tribunal''s work marks a decisive milestone in the tireless efforts by all Lebanese and the international community to uncover the truth, bring those responsible for this assassination and related crimes to justice and end impunity," Mr. Ban said in a <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3727>statement issued by his spokesperson.
As the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, an independent body located in The Hague, commenced functioning today, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's commitment to its mission, and called on all Members States to fully supp
ort and cooperate with the court.

The Tribunal is designed to try those accused of recent political murders in Lebanon, particularly the February 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut that killed 22 others.

The probe into the killings is being carried out by the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), headed by Daniel Bellemare, a Canadian prosecutor.

As of today, Mr. Bellemare will assume office as Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal and continue his investigations from The Hague.

Mr. Bellemare, in a letter that was published in the media yesterday, noted that the IIIC is unique and precedent-setting in many ways. "Like any new process, it was not perfect. But we adjusted and found solutions where none existed. And as we close down our doors, we will leave behind a series of lessons learned for others to benefit if needed.

"But one thing remains beyond any doubt: the reason for which it was created, that is to help the p
eople of Lebanon find the truth and put an end to impunity is a noble cause that deserves our commitment and collective effort."

He added that while the investigative work will now continue from The Hague, the Office of the Prosecutor will have a field office in Beirut, which will serve as a base for the investigators who will undertake regular missions to Lebanon to collect evidence and to meet with Lebanese officials and witnesses as required.

UN Legal Counsel Patricia O'Brien is attending today's ceremony in the Netherlands on behalf of Mr. Ban to mark the start of the Tribunal.

Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
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RELATIONS BETWEEN RWANDA AND DR CONGO FOCUS OF BAN'S TALKS IN KIGALI

RELATIONS BETWEEN RWANDA AND DR CONGO FOCUS OF BAN'S TALKS IN KIGALI
New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Paul Kagame discussed the situation in the border region between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today during their meeting in Kigali, the current stop on the United Nations chief's five-nation Africa trip.

"I expressed to President Kagame my satisfaction at the steps he has taken to open a new chapter in Rwanda-DRC relations," Mr. Ban <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1272>told reporters after his meeting, adding that he is "heartened" by the President's intention to establish full diplomatic relations with DRC.

In a move supported by the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC), DRC and Rwanda launched a joint military offensive in January against the ethnic Hutu militia known as the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), which has caused havoc in the eastern part of DRC for years.

Mr. Ban noted that t
he joint operation appears to have made progress. At the same time, he urged President Kagame "to ensure that these operations do not affect negatively the civilian population and humanitarian access to those in need."

Just a couple of weeks ago, MONUC reported that the FDLR is conducting a campaign of terror, systematically raping, murdering, looting and abducting civilians in an attempt to undermine the joint operation.

Since then the mission has boosted its efforts to protect and reassure threatened populations, mostly in North Kivu province where some 250,000 civilians have been uprooted by fighting between Hutu groups, a mainly Tutsi militia known as the CNDP, the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and others since August.

Mr. Ban had a chance to hear some of the concerns of the civilians uprooted by the fighting, when he met earlier in the day with a group of people living in the Kibati camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near Goma, the provincial capital of North Kiv
u..

"Their first concern is security," Mr. Ban <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1271>noted during his visit to the camp. "Even though they want to return, they fear that when they do, they may be attacked by the FDLR. This must stop, and the United Nations, led by MONUC and the FARDC will provide the necessary security and safety to those returning to their homes."

Another concern is humanitarian assistance, and in this regard, the Secretary-General appealed for support from all quarters to enable the UN and others to provide the vital relief that the IDPs need.

He also expressed his gratitude to the many aid agencies and their partners who are assisting those at the camp, which at the peak of the crisis sheltered more than 80,000 IDPs. It currently has some 20,000 residents.

Mr. Ban noted that his visit to the camp, as well as yesterday's meeting in Goma with victims of sexual violence, has "strengthened my resolve to work even harder for all those many people who
need our support."

In addition to DRC and Rwanda, the Secretary-General also visited South Africa and Tanzania on his current trip, which will take him next to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an international conference on Gaza's reconstruction.

Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
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MEDIA REPORT ABOUT UN ENVOY IN SUDAN 'COMPLETE FABRICATION,' DECLARES MISSION

MEDIA REPORT ABOUT UN ENVOY IN SUDAN 'COMPLETE FABRICATION,' DECLARES MISSION
New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has strongly protested a report in today's Al-Raed newspaper alleging that Special Representative Ashraf Qazi admitted that the Mission provided information about the country to the International Criminal Court.

"The report is a complete fabrication," the Mission said in a statement issued in Khartoum, referring to the report headlined 'Qazi admits UNMIS provided information to the ICC about Sudan.'

According to UNMIS, the Al-Raed report is a distortion of a recently published Egyptian magazine article, entitled 'I did not provide the ICC with reports on Al-Bashir-SRSG.'

The Mission questioned Al-Raed's motive in misrepresenting Mr. Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan and head of UNMIS, on so sensitive an issue at this particular time.

The International Criminal Court is due to announce its decision o
n the application for an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on charges of war crimes in Darfur on 4 March.

"UNMIS calls upon Al-Raed to correct this flagrant example of misreporting which, in the Mission's view, verges on disinformation," the statement said.

The Mission added that it has repeatedly urged media to uphold standard journalistic practices and to check with the UNMIS Spokesperson's Office when reporting on UNMIS-related matters.

Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
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EFFORTS TO RID WORLD OF LANDMINES MUST GO ON, BAN SAYS ON ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMARK TREATY

EFFORTS TO RID WORLD OF LANDMINES MUST GO ON, BAN SAYS ON ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMARK TREATY
New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended the tireless efforts undertaken over the past decade to rid the world of anti-personnel landmines, while stressing that much work remains to eliminate this global scourge.

A <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3726>statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (1 March), notes that the treaty's achievements are "quantifiable and many."

Last year over 200,000 landmines were cleared around the world, according to the UN Mine Action Team.

In Afghanistan, over 81,000 anti-personnel mines were removed during 2008 by over 8,000 national staff. Meanwhile, to date in Sudan, collective efforts have opened over 29,000 kilometres of road thereby increasing freedom of movement, reclaiming productive land and reviving
trade.

"However, there are still formidable challenges: landmines continue to kill and injure every year, they hinder social and economic development, and represent a serious obstacle for humanitarian operations throughout the world," the statement says.

Since the Convention's inception, 156 countries have become States Parties to the treaty, thereby committing themselves to prevent future suffering from anti-personnel mines, and also to resolve the existing landmine problem.

Mr. Ban strongly urges all States that have not yet done so to accede, as soon as possible, to the treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention.

"This Convention exists because people and Governments across the globe agreed that anti-personnel landmines have no place in our world," according to the statement. "On this anniversary, let us recommit ourselves to the task of eliminating anti-personnel landmines, assisting survivors and building a more prosperous and peaceful world."

The Secretary-General als
o commended the dedicated efforts that States Parties to the treaty and mine action practitioners are pursuing to achieve the goal of a world free of anti-personnel landmines, including the tireless work of the UN, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Altogether, more than 50 countries have received various UN support in mine action. Coordinating this vital assistance for more than a decade has been the UN Mine Action Team, comprising 14 UN departments, programmes, funds and agencies.

Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
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