UN Webcast

By the Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General.

Elements of the Noon Briefing:

CYPRUS

The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities met in Nicosia today.

They discussed the upcoming talks with the Secretary-General at the Greentree Estate in Long Island from the 22nd to 24th of this month.

FIJI

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, today welcomed the lifting of the emergency law in Fiji, called the move a step in the right direction towards the full enjoyment of fundamental human rights in the country.

Ms. Pillay also said she hoped that amendments made to the Public Order Act would be in line with international human rights norms and would not in any way replicate the restrictions in the Public Emergency Regulations.

She also expressed concern that critics of the Government have faced criminal charges, arbitrary detention or other forms of intimidation.

Her full statement is available on the website of the UN Human Rights Office.

SOUTH SUDAN

Over the weekend, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for South Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson, visited Pibor and Fartait in Jonglei state.

She called for the cycle of violence to stop The safety and security of all must now come first, she said. This means a committed, coordinated and cooperative drive by all concerned to achieve peace and stability.

Ms. Johnson said that the situation in Jonglei was a major test for the newly independent South Sudan and she called on the government to take immediate steps to establish its peace team and move forward with urgency, working with church leaders, the communities and civil society.

The Special Representative also said she was very concerned about the humanitarian situation. She urged the international community to respond generously to the efforts made by the UN humanitarian community.