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SECRETARY-GENERAL, U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMN ASSASSINATION OF PAKISTAN’S MINORITY RIGHTS MINISTER

• The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s tragic assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, a prominent advocate for minority rights and a promoter of inter-faith understanding.
  

• This follows the recent assassination of the Governor of Punjab, Mr. Salman Taseer, which the Secretary-General also strongly condemned. The Secretary-General encourages the Government of Pakistan to continue its efforts to combat terrorism, protect the rights of minorities and promote tolerance. The Secretary-General extends his condolences to Mr. Bhatti’s family and the Government and people of Pakistan.
  

• The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, also condemned the assassination. Ms. Pillay said, “These murders are a tragedy for Pakistan and those who envision a future for the country centred on human rights.” She asked for the killers to be held to account.

HEAD OF WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME CALLS FOR ENHANCED GLOBAL ACTION TO PREVENT HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN LIBYA

• The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (), who visited the border of Tunisia and Libya on Tuesday, says that it is clear that the world must step up action to prevent a disaster inside Libya.
  

• Josette Sheeran calls for safe humanitarian access to the country, stressing that cutting off food supplies must not be used as a weapon.
  

• Ms. Sheeran had an audience with Pope Benedict today and was able to inform him about the Libya crisis.
  

• WFP is launching a nearly $40 million emergency operation to provide food aid to 2.7 million people in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. It is also planning a three-month programme to help shore up the food safety nets of Egypt and Tunisia, and will also purchase food from the region to help ensure that the recovery from the disruption can begin immediately.
  

• The United Nation Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are urgently appealing to governments for a massive humanitarian evacuation of tens of thousands of Egyptians and other third-country nationals who have fled into Tunisia from Libya.
  

• More than 75,000 people – mostly Egyptian nationals – have crossed into Tunisia since late last month. Some 40,000 more are waiting to enter, and the organizations are concerned that the overcrowding at the border is worsening by the hour.

U.N. ENVOY IN SUDAN DEPLORES FIGHTING IN ABYEI

• Haile Menkerios, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, deplores the recent fighting in Abyei, which constitutes a clear violation of the letter and spirit of the Kadugli Agreements of 13 and 17 January 2011.
  

• He urges the parties to recommit themselves to the full implementation of the Agreements, including the establishment of the agreed High-Level Implementation Committee and its effective functioning as a mechanism to contain such incidents and prevent their recurrence. The UN Mission in Sudan () stands ready to assist the parties in this endeavor.
  

• Mr. Menkerios further urges the two parties to expedite agreement on the settlement of the Abyei issue, as promised by the Presidency last month.

IRAQ: U.N. MISSION VOICES CONCERN OVER RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TIED TO DEMONSTRATIONS

• The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq () has issued a statement concerning the recent demonstrations in that country, emphasizing that freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental rights of all people in a democratic state, when conducted in a peaceful and law-abiding manner.
  

• UNAMI noted with concern that several instances of human rights violations in relation to the demonstrations have been reported. The reported violations include disproportionate use of force by Iraqi security forces; restrictions on the media and attacks on media organizations; and arrests and detention of, in particular, journalists.
  

• The UN Mission in Iraq regrets the loss of lives and calls upon the Council of Representatives and the Government to ensure that legitimate grievances of the people will be addressed and that those who committed human rights violations will be held accountable.

U.N. ENVOY MEETS WITH THAI, CAMBODIAN LEADERS ON SAFEGUARDING WORLD HERITAGE SITE

• Koïchiro Matsuura, the Special Envoy for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization () met with leaders from Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ways to safeguard the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear, during his visits to Bangkok and Phnom Penh between 27 February and 1 March. He met with the Prime Ministers of each country, as well as other senior officials.
  

• During his discussions in both capitals, Mr. Matsuura stressed the need to create the conditions necessary for the safeguarding of the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple. Mr Matsuura expressed the hope for a lasting dialogue between the two countries with a view to establishing long-term sustainable conservation of the site.

U.N. MISSION WELCOMES START OF TRIAL OF CONGOLESE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

• The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo () has welcomed the start of a trial of 11 officers of the Congolese army accused of crimes against humanity, including rape, child abductions and looting. The court, in the South Kivu province, said the crimes were committed between 26 and 29 September 2009.
  

• The accused include a ranking officer. However, eight defendants have been on the run since the charges were brought against them. The UN Mission says the fugitives will be tried in absentia. Officers from the Mission’s human rights section will be monitoring the trial.

NEW U.N. REGIONAL OFFICE FOR CENTRAL AFRICA INAUGURATED

• A new UN political mission, the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), has been inaugurated today in Libreville, Gabon. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, attended the inauguration on behalf of the Secretary-General.
  

• In a message delivered by Mr. Pascoe, the Secretary-General said that the establishment of UNOCA underscored the priority the United Nations system accords to early warning and early political action as major tools for conflict prevention.
  

• “The opening of the UN Office in Central Africa is an investment in prevention rather than cure and is designed to enhance the capacity of subregional actors so they can come together in a regional framework to prevent and resolve conflicts,” the Secretary-General stressed.
  

• UNOCA is the third UN regional political office, along with those operating in West Africa (UNOWA) and Central Asia (UNRCCA).

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS MARCH PROGRAMME OF WORK: The Security Council adopted its programme of work for March this morning.

U.N.-AFRICAN UNION MISSION SAYS CAMP FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED ATTACKED IN DARFUR: The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur () that some 30 unidentified armed men have attacked a camp for the internally displaced near Shangil Tobaya, in North Darfur. One girl was killed and at least three people were injured in the attack. Several houses were set ablaze before the attackers fled an intervention by local authorities. The Mission says that it is probing the incident and watching security conditions inside the camp.

* The guests at the noon briefing were Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, U.N. Police Adviser Ann-Marie Orler and Yuri Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ().