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In an open briefing to the

He noted a palpable sense of drift and foreboding, and added that neither
side has fulfilled its obligations under the road map.

He highlighted the major Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, which
resulted in the deaths of a large number of Palestinians, including numerous
civilians. He also underscored the fact that the terror attacks in Taba
Egypt, were an attack on a place that had been known as haven of coexistence
and peace.

He told Council members that the United Nations remains gravely concerned
at the extensive destruction of civilian property by the Israeli army,
adding that movement restrictions imposed on Palestinians continue to erode
the humanitarian situation. He also expressed renewed concern at the
continuous, illegal Israeli policy of targeted assassination.

Prendergast also called on the Palestinian Authority to do everything
possible to quell the terror emanating from territory under its control; and
to pursue a determined course of reform, including the appointment of an
empowered Prime Minister.

He reminded Council members that the planned Israeli pullout from Gaza
and the northern West Bank must be full and complete, and be carried out in
the context of the

In conclusion, Prendergast said that the time had come for renewed
commitment and effort. He said that the international community’s more
vigorous engagement is an indispensable ingredient if we want end the
violence and restore hope for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, as
the parties cannot succeed left to themselves.

Council members continued their discussions in closed consultations.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES GUINEA-BISSAU, VOTES ON CYPRUS

After consultations ended, the Security Council held a formal meeting in
which it voted to adopt a resolution extending the mandate of the

UN: SOME TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN CRITICAL NEED IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said, "Though we are steadily
increasing the amount of aid we deliver to Darfur, we are constantly running
to catch up with growing needs." He noted that the number of humanitarian
personnel in Darfur has tripled, to more than 6,000, since July.

Of the two million people in Darfur affected by the crisis, some 1.6
million are internally displaced persons. The number does not include an
additional 200,000 Darfuri refugees in Chad.

UN VOICES DOUBTS ABOUT SUPPORT FOR IRAQI TRIBUNAL

The Spokesman said that the United Nations informed the ICTY that
accepting such invitations would divert Tribunal officials from performing
their duties at the Tribunal, at a time when it is expected to do its utmost
to meet the target dates for its completion strategy, as stressed by the
Security Council and the General Assembly.

From a legal point of view, the United Nations added, it is doubtful
whether UN officials should be involved in the establishment of a tribunal
that is not a UN body. In this case, there is no specific mandate for this
from a competent political organ, the Spokesman said.

In addition, the United Nations noted that serious doubts exist regarding
the capability of the Iraqi Special Tribunal to meet relevant international
standards.

The Secretary-General recently stated that UN officials should not be
directly involved in lending assistance to any court or tribunal that is
empowered to impose the death penalty, the Spokesman added.

Asked why this approach differs from UN support for mixed courts in

Asked about

SPOKESMAN SAYS ELECTIONS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE IN IRAQ

Asked whether the United Nations was ready to send in more electoral
workers, he said that the present ceiling of UN international personnel in
Iraq, set at 35, was unchanged. He added that there were some eight UN
electoral workers in the country, but that number did not reflect the much
larger number of electoral staff doing out-of-country work.

ANNAN SAYS WESTERN SAHARA PARTIES NO CLOSER TO AGREEMENT

The Secretary-General also expresses concern regarding the recent
escalation of public rhetoric emanating from the parties and the region, and
he urges them to exercise the utmost restraint.

Regarding the Security Council’s call for the United Nations to review
its military strength in Western Sahara, the Secretary-General recommends
either the maintenance of the status quo or the withdrawal of no more than
37 military observers from the Mission.

UN ENVOY TO HAITI SHOWS SUPPORT FOR DEMOBILIZATION EFFORTS

Valdes will also show support for the Government’s office to support
demobilized military, which started its work on Thursday. There are a
number of former members of the Haitian army that are still operating in the
Cap Haitien area.

UNICEF SAYS SCHOOLS HAVE REOPENED IN GRENADA

Children are resuming schooling in classrooms whose roofs have been
temporarily sealed with plastic sheeting provided by the US government, and
a shipment of 74 UNICEF-provided tent classrooms will provide more classroom
space when it arrives next week.

Nearly 30,000 children were affected when Hurricane Ivan struck in
September, with many of the island’s schools either severely damaged or used
as shelters for the homeless.

UNEP WELCOMES RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF KYOTO PROTOCOL

In a statement released today, he also said that while the US has
declined to ratify the treaty, dialogue on the issue must be kept open so
that hopefully it can eventually be won over.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNEP CITES RESOURCE PROBLEMS IN SOUTHERN CAUCASUS: A new

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, October 25

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the Central African
Republic and a private meeting with the troop contributors to the UN Mission in
Western Sahara.

The Seventh Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control
of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal will take
place in Geneva through Friday.

Tuesday, October 26

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Somalia and Western
Sahara.

Wednesday, October 27

From 1:15 to 2:209 p.m. in Conference Room Four, the Secretary-General will
launch his reform initiative on strengthening UN country-level support for the
promotion and protection of human rights, called the "Action Two" initiative. At
2:45 p.m., in Room 226, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy, Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland and
UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown, will brief on the "Action Two"
initiative.

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on the Great Lakes and
Georgia.

Global health leaders and Dr. Lee Jong-wook, the Director-General of the
World Health Organization, are launching the World Alliance for Patient Safety
at 10:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C., at the Pan American Health Organization.

Other press conferences:

10:00 a.m. -- Ambassador Philippe Djangone-Bi of Cote d’Ivoire on the
situation in his country

12:45 p.m. -- Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on
Human Rights Defenders

3:30 p.m. – Theo van Boven, the Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur
on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

Thursday, October 28

The Security Council has scheduled formal meetings to vote on the mandates of
the UN Mission and in Western Sahara. It also expects to hold an open debate on
women, peace and security.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Jean-Marie Guehenno,
Under-Secretary-General for ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡keeping Operations, who will brief on the
Secretary-General’s report on women, peace and security.

Press conferences:

11:00 a.m. – Jean Ziegler, Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on
the right to food

3:00 p.m. – Cherif Bassiouni, Independent Expert appointed by the
Secretary-General on human rights in Afghanistan

Friday, October 29

Press conferences:

11:00 a.m. – Vitit Muntarbhorn, Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur
on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

3:00 p.m. – Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Minister of Development of Norway

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only

Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by
e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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