Browse through our Interesting Nodes of Hellenic Student Societies Worldwide Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

United Nations Daily Highlights, 98-07-20

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 20 July, 1998


This daily news round-up is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information. The latest update is posted at approximately 6:00 PM New York time.

HEADLINES

  • Security Council extends mandate of UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara.
  • Secretary-General describes the establishment of the permanent international criminal court as "a gift of hope".
  • The Secretary-General resumes his visit to Latin America.
  • Secretary-General expresses sympathy to the government and people of Papua New Guinea.
  • General Assembly President hopes ongoing recovery efforts will prevent further loss of life in Papua New Guinea.
  • UNHCR and WFP condemn murder of aid workers in Afghanistan.
  • The Secretary-General recommends an extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
  • The Secretary-General recommends an extension of the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia.


The Security Council on Monday extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for a period of two months until 21 September 1998, so that the Mission can proceed with its identification tasks with the aim of completing the process.

In unanimously adopting resolution 1185 (1998), the Council called upon the parties -- the Government of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y del Rio Oro (Frente POLISARIO) -- to cooperate constructively with the United Nations, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and the Identification Commission in order to complete the identification of voters phase of the Settlement Plan and the agreements reached for its implementation.

The Council also noted with satisfaction the expressed readiness of the Moroccan Government to cooperate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in order to formalize the presence of UNHCR in Western Sahara.

Reiterating its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just and lasting solution to the question of Western Sahara, the Council called for a prompt conclusion of the status-of-forces agreements with the Secretary- General to facilitate the full and timely deployment of MINURSO-formed military units, in particular the deployment of the military engineering support and demining units.

The Council also called for the lifting of any restrictions imposed on MINURSO aircraft, or on passengers whose travel MINURSO determined to be of assistance in the fulfillment of the mandate, in line with the practice of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council every 30 days on the progress of the implementation of the Settlement Plan and the agreements reached between the parties, and to keep the Council regularly informed of all significant developments in the interim period.


United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has described the historic treaty setting up the permanent international criminal court as a "gift of hope to future generations". The signing of the conference's Final Act took place at Rome's Capitoline Hill after weeks of intensive talks and wrangling. The Secretary-General interrupted his Latin American tour to fly to Rome overnight on Friday in order to attend the ceremony commemorating the adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court. "The establishment of the Court is still a gift of hope to future generations, and a giant step forward in the march towards universal human rights and the rule of law", the Secretary-General said. "It is an achievement which, only a few years ago, nobody would have thought possible".

Mr.Annan said that the decision (to establish the court) had special significance for the United Nations. "We never forget that our Organization has its origins in a global struggle against regimes which were guilty of mass murder on a horrendous scale. And unhappily, we have had to deal all too recently,..... with new crimes of the same appalling nature, if not quite of the same magnitude, the Secretary-General added.

The permanent court will judge the most serious crimes of concern to the international community such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Statute which was opened for signature on Friday has already been signed by 26 States. It must be signed and ratified by sixty nations to come into effect. The international criminal court will come into effect one month after the sixtieth ratification. It will remain in Rome until October 17, then deposited with the Secretary-General in New York where it will stay open for signature until December 31, 2000.


Secretary-General Kofi Annan was on Monday flying back from Rome to Guatemala to resume his 5-nation Latin American trip. Mr. Annan had interrupted his visit to Argentina on Friday to fly to Rome for the signing ceremony of the Statute of the International Criminal Court. The secretary- general was on a 16-hour flight to Guatemala to resume his programme this evening, United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters at Monday's daily briefing.

The Secretary-General was expected to meet with President Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen of Guatemala at 5:30 p.m local time and at 6:15, the president was scheduled to decorate the secretary-general with the medal of Quetzal Order, which is the highest honour the government can bestow on a civilian", the Spokesman added.

Mr. Annan began his Latin American tour in Brazil and has so far also visited Uruguay and Argentina. His next and last stop is Mexico.


Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed his deepest sympathy to the people of Papua New Guinea as they struggle to cope with the tragedy that has befallen them, according to his Spokesman Fred Eckhard. "He was profoundly distressed to learn of the terrible damage wrought by last week's tidal wave and especially by the tragic loss of so many lives, including those of hundreds if not thousands of children".

The Spokesman said the Secretary-General "hopes the international community will give generous and timely assistance to the government and people of Papua New Guinea in their hour of need", adding that the "United Nations stands ready to help in assessing the damage and in mobilising the necessary international relief effort".

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has put on stand-by a four person United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) South Pacific team to assist the national authorities and the UN Development Programme Office in Port Moresby, in needs assessment, coordination of the relief activities, mobilization of international assistance and reporting. OCHA has also offered the Deputy UN Resident Representative the release of an emergency grant of up to USD$ 50,000 for the local purchase of relief supplies, following an appeal by the Government of Papua New Guinea.


The President of the General Assembly Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko of Ukraine is following with grave concern reports of the mounting death toll in the wake of the devastating tidal wave that struck the northwest coast of Papua New Guinea, according to a statement issued through his spokesman.

The Assembly President also expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. "He is hoping that the ongoing recovery efforts will be able to prevent further loss of life and bring relief to those injured by this calamity", the statement concluded.


The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), have both condemned the killing in Afghanistan of two Afghan aid workers. "This tragic incident once again demonstrates the extreme risk faced by locally recruited staff of humanitarian agencies in certain parts of the world," said Sadako Ogata of UNHCR.

WFP's Executive Director Catherine Bertini said that all at WFP "are united in condemning this evil act". "These brutal killings are a cruel reminder that despite appeals for greater respect for humanitarian workers, some people or groups continue to kill with impunity", Ms. Bertini said.

The victims, who worked for the United Nations agencies, were kidnapped a week ago from in front of Jalalabad University while waiting for a UN vehicle to transport them to work. Their bodies were found over the weekend. Both workers had worked on UNHCR's programme for the reintegration of refugees returning from Pakistan to the Jalalabad area.


Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended that the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), be extended for another six months, until 31 January 1999. "UNIFIL's contribution to stability and the protection it provides to the population of the area remain important", the Secretary-General said in his report to the Security Council. He said that during the past six months, "fighting in south Lebanon continued and civilians were again put at risk, although the number of those who were killed decreased". "UNIFIL continued its efforts to limit the conflict and to protect the inhabitants from the fighting". I am also concerned at instances of harassment of United Nations personnel", the Secretary- General added.

Mr. Annan also drew attention to the "serious shortfall in the funding of the Force", noting that unpaid assessments amounted to $103.5 million. "I appeal to all Member States to pay their assessments promptly and in full and to clear all remaining arrears, he concluded.


Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended an extension of the mandate of the UN Mission of Observers in Georgia (UNOMIG), for six months, until 31 January 1999. In doing so, the Secretary-General said that while UNOMIG's ability to operate smoothly has been further hampered, it's been proven that the mission's presence is essential.

The Secretary-General said that the situation on the ground was tense and the risk of new confrontation high. "My Special Representative as well as the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator were forced to address one immediate crisis after another, caused by the lack of willingness on the part of both sides to renounce violence and seriously consider peaceful options", the secretary-general said. He reported the burning and looting of some 14 hundred private homes, including those recently rebuilt with international assistance at a cost of $2 million and the plight of some 40-thousand people forced by the hostilities to leave their homes for a second time. "I deplore such reprehensible acts, whose motive appears to be to expel people from their home areas", the secretary- general stressed.

Mr. Annan also condemned attacks against peacekeepers of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and reiterated that protection of unarmed United Nations military observers rested with the parties - the Georgian and Abkhaz authorities. "Both sides still have to make substantial efforts to contain the threat on the ground", he said.


For information purposes only - - not an official record

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org


United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Back to Top
Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
All Rights Reserved.

HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
undh2html v1.01 run on Monday, 20 July 1998 - 22:15:06 UTC