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United Nations Daily Highlights, 99-07-26United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSMonday, 26 July, 1999This 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. Latest Developments HEADLINES
The United Nations refugee agency said on Monday that just 4,527 Kosovars returned home from neighbouring countries over the past three days, while returns from abroad gathered pace. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that no repatriation flights took place on Sunday, but on Friday and Saturday, around 1,700 refugees returned from other European countries, with their travel organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to the UN refugee agency, the first UNHCR/IOM-assisted repatriation flights from Turkey took place on Friday. The flights from Corlu to Skopje carried 340 passengers. The head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo condemned as a "despicable crime" the murder of 14 Serb farmers working in a field near the town of Lipijan and called for an urgent and relentless investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. In statements issued over the weekend, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, the Secretary- General's Special Representative in Kosovo, expressed horror at the massacre of 14 Serb civilians Friday night who were peacefully harvesting hay in a field outside the village of Malo Gracko, near Lipijan. Dr. Kouchner, who heads the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), said UNMIK and KFOR, the international security force, would spare no effort in investigating and prosecuting those responsible. Noting that in recent days the UN has been making significant steps towards stability and democratic self-government in Kosovo, Dr. Kouchner appealed to the leaders and people of Kosovo to join together with the international community to establish the rule of law in the province. "All Kosovars who are concerned about the future of this land and its people should reject such cowardly and wanton acts of violence," Dr. Kouchner said. In a related development, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, said she was "shocked and saddened" by the incident. For information purposes only - - not an official record Return to From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |