United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-02-08

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

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, February 8, 2000

ANNAN DEPLORES AIR ATTACKS IN LEBANON

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued through his Spokesman, deplored the Israeli air attacks against civilian targets in Lebanon.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the escalation of the hostilities, the statement said, and noted the "adverse implications" of the hostilities for the Middle East peace process.

He called on all parties to show restraint.

HEAD OF NEW INSPECTION BODY FOR IRAQ TO START DUTY ON MARCH 1

The Secretary-General, in a letter to the Security Council that was issued today, said that Hans Blix's appointment as Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) would take effect on March 1.

On Monday, in Stockholm, Sweden, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Jayantha Dhanapala met Blix for an exchange of views on a wide range of issues, including the composition of the College of Commissioners for UNMOVIC.

In his letter, the Secretary-General says that he expects to be able to consult with Security Council members on that issue later this month.

In response to questions about whether Iraq has indicated its acceptance of Blix, the Acting Deputy Spokesman noted that the United Nations has not received any communication from Iraq about whether Blix can work there. He noted that the Chairman's first tasks would be to form the College of Commissioners, produce a program of work and draft proposals for consideration by the Secretary-General and the Security Council. Only after that would the question of permission to work in Iraq arise.

CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS "ON TRACK," SAYS ADVISER

In Geneva today, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, addressed the media following a total of 14 meetings with the Cypriot parties in the latest proximity talks. He said that the process, which began in December in New York and continued in Geneva, is on track.

The parties have accepted in principle the Secretary-General's invitation to resume the proximity talks on May 23 in New York.

COUNCIL TO CONSULT ON PROTECTION OF PERSONNEL

At 3:30 this afternoon, the Security Council will hold closed consultations to discuss arrangements prior to Wednesday's open debate on the protection of UN, humanitarian and associated personnel in conflict zones.

The Council is expected to work on a draft Presidential Statement, which will be read at the end of the open debate.

Argentina's Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodr&iacute;guez Giavarini will preside over the debate, and Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fr&eacute;chette will speak on the need to protect UN and associated personnel in conflict zones. Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, will be among the other speakers.

LEGAL COUNSEL TO DISCUSS KHMER ROUGE TRIALS

In response to recent reports about developments in the proposed trial of members of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the Spokesman noted developments that are occurring today, and said that the UN Legal Counsel, Hans Corell, held a press conference at 2 p.m. to discuss the issue.

Over the past several months, the United Nations has repeatedly voiced its concerns about the trial, she noted.

Corell said the Secretary-General sent a letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen detailing the UN position on certain issues concerning the draft plan for the proposed trial that need to be resolved before the Secretary-General decides to send a team of experts to Cambodia.

REPORT ON SOCIAL SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP NOTES PROBLEMS

Today is the first day of the new session of the Commission for Social Development, which is to last until February 17. The session will highlight follow-up to the March 1995 World Summit for Social Development, which brought together 117 Governments in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Secretary-General, in a report issued today, detailed what Governments have done to follow through on the commitments they made in Copenhagen. The report includes information from reports by 74 Governments on national implementation of the Social Summit's goals.

The report presented a mixed picture, saying that social development has taken on greater importance in the past five years, but that there have also been signs of regression. Although relative poverty has declined, the report said, the absolute numbers of people living in poverty continues to grow; inequality is rising within and among nations; and resources to strengthen cooperation for social development have actually declined.

There will be a special session of the General Assembly, to be held in Geneva from June 26-30, to review the progress in the five years since the Social Summit. For further information, click here.

UNHCR REPORTS NEW DEPARTURES FROM MITROVICA

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today that 157 Kosovo Albanians left the predominantly Serb north side of Mitrovica for safety in the south of the city. Most of them were taken south in Kosovo Force (KFOR) armored vehicles. These latest displacements bring to 550 the number of Kosovo Albanians who have fled insecurity and intimidation in north Mitrovica since last Friday.

UNHCR said reports of attacks on occupied apartments by grenades and other explosives seem to have declined, but the pillaging of unoccupied Kosovo Albanian apartments in north Mitrovica seems to be widespread. Click here for more details.

UN MOVING TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP IN SERBIA

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), concerning the UNEP-Habitat Balkans Task Force, said that a group of international scientific experts would start work on environmental clean-up feasibility studies at four "hot spots" in Serbia on February 13.

In its assessment report presented to the Secretary-General last October, the Task Force concluded that pollution detected at the four areas (Pancevo, Kragujevac, Novi Sad and Bor), poses a serious threat to human health. Projects to address priority needs for humanitarian assistance at the "hot spots" will be identified during February and March and next week's studies are required before the actual environmental clean-up can begin. For the full assessment report click here.

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UNHCR URGES ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE IN WEST TIMOR

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today that it has called on Indonesian authorities to take immediate measures to stop a surge in violence committed against refugees and aid workers in West Timor.

At least four security incidents were reported in camps outside the West Timor capital of Kupang last week. This includes attacks against journalists and the disruption of repatriation operations.

UNHCR is particularly concerned about the fate of two refugees who were yanked out of repatriation buses at Tuapukan camp last week. There are also threats of growing intimidation against aid workers along the border areas of West Timor. Workers are not being allowed inside the camps or are getting veiled threats. Click here for more details.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The World Food Programme (WFP) said that is has witnessed a surge in the number of people becoming displaced in Uganda due to an escalation of violent rebel attacks over the past six weeks, in a press release issued today.

In The Hague, Judge Fausto Pocar of Italy was sworn in as a Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Pocar was appointed by the Secretary-General to replace Judge Antonio Cassese, who is also from Italy, and he will serve the remainder of Cassese's term of office until November 16, 2001. (A press release from the Tribunal provides more details.)

In The Hague Monday, the International Court of Justice elected Judge Gilbert Guillaume of France to be the President of the Court. It also elected Judge Shi Jiuyong of China to be the Court's Vice President. Both justices are to serve three-year terms.

Monday afternoon in Hamburg, Germany, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea decided that the "Camouco," a fishing vessel sailing under the flag of Panama, should be released from the custody of France, on a bond of eight million French francs (about $1.2 million). The Tribunal also set out the standards for a reasonable bond. The "Camouco" was seized by France and detained at R&eacute;union Island since last September. Panama had brought the case to the Tribunal last month, seeking the prompt release of the ship.

The Pan American Health Organisation notes that Dr. Ciro de Quadros, Director of its Division of Vaccines and Immunization, will receive the Albert Sabin Gold Medal for his role in efforts to eradicate polio and measles in the Western Hemisphere.

The International Drug Control Summit, which brings together legislators from around the world to discuss international drug control, began this morning in Washington, D.C. The Summit is co-hosted by Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, and Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Afghanistan and Belize today became the 48th and 49th Member States to pay their full contribution to the UN regular budget for this year. Afghanistan made a payment of close to $110,000, which covers its full balance for prior years and its payment for this year, and Belize made a payment of just over $10,000. Click here for the full list of payments to the UN Regular Budget.

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