United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-02-16

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Wednesday, February 16, 2000

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCLUDES OFFICIAL VISIT TO INDONESIA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan began the second and final day of his official visit to Indonesia with a meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Defense, Juworno Sudarsono, who is the first civilian in 33 years to be appointed to the post. They discussed Indonesia's response to its human rights commission's report on the violence in East Timor, as well as the issue of East Timorese refugees in West Timor.

The Secretary-General then went to the Presidential Palace, where he met privately with President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri. They were then joined by their respective delegations, who discussed the democratic changes taking place in Indonesia, the efforts to bring to trial those responsible for the violence in East Timor last year, the turbulence in Aceh and the Moluccan Islands and plans for economic and financial reforms.

Among a heavy schedule of meetings today, the Secretary-General met with Indonesian Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, formerly head of the National Committee on Human Rights. They discussed the forthcoming trial of those named by the Committee in connection with the atrocities in East Timor. The Attorney General said he would like access to the files of the UN Human Rights Commission's Special Inquiry on East Timor, as well as a cooperative agreement with the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor.

The last appointment for the day was with General Wiranto's successor as Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Suryadi Soedirdja. They discussed the country's reform efforts and the plight of refugees in West Timor. The Minister voiced optimism that these problems could be overcome.

ANNAN TO VISIT EAST TIMOR THURSDAY

The Secretary-General is scheduled to leave early Thursday for East Timor.

He is expected to arrive in Dili at mid-day Thursday. At Dili Airport, he will meet with UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello, and the President of the National Council of Timorese Resistance, Xanana Gusmao.

The Secretary-General will then visit Liquica, one of the former militia strongholds, where a massacre took place at a church last April.

Back in Dili, the Secretary-General will attend a special session of the National Consultative Council and also meet East Timorese leaders who are not members of the Council. He will also meet with the Commanders of the International Force in East Timor and the UN peacekeeping force, as well as UN staff and non-governmental organization representatives. Click here for his schedule.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS "PRIVATE MEETING" ON KOSOVO

This morning, the Security Council began its work with informal consultations on Kosovo. After that, the Council went into a private meeting in the Council chambers, to hear a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations H&eacute;di Annabi on the latest developments in Kosovo.

Annabi said that the UN Mission in Kosovo continues to be preoccupied by the harassment, eviction and murder of minorities; he added that the security situation has deteriorated in early February. But he also noted the Mission's gradual progress in restoring the rule of law in Kosovo, including the first round of appointments of judges and prosecutors. By February 11, there were 2,052 UN police in Kosovo.

He also drew attention to the humanitarian effort, saying that a humanitarian crisis in Kosovo has been avoided this winter. However, he said that more funding is needed, since the funds available for Kosovo's consolidated budget in 2000 would be exhausted by early March.

In other Council business, an exchange of letters was issued today between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council confirming the appointment of Gen. Vincent Couerderoy of France to serve as the Commissioner of the International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Thursday, the Council intends to hold a formal meeting to consider the application of Tuvalu for admission into the United Nations. If the Council recommends Tuvalu's admission, the matter then goes to the General Assembly for its approval.

In response to previous questions, the Spokesman noted that private meetings of the Council are held in the Council chambers but are not regarded as formal meetings. Non-Member States of the Council may be invited to attend the meetings, but are not permitted to speak; all Council members can speak, however. The meeting is closed to the press and public.

ROBINSON CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING IN CHECHNYA

Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the Russian Government today to allow human rights monitoring of the situation in Chechnya and to act on mounting evidence of serious human rights violations during and after the assault on Grozny and other parts of the territory.

She expressed deep regret that the Russian Government had not agreed to her request to visit Moscow and the areas affected by the conflict, or to her earlier offer to send a personal envoy to the region. Robinson said the failure of the Russian authorities to respond to legitimate worries "leads to heightened concern that allegations of human rights violations may be well-founded." Robinson expressed particular concern over the "catastrophic situation" facing civilians in Chechnya and their exposure to disproportionate use of force by the Russian military, including heavy bombardment and attacks with munitions.

She said, "The suffering caused by indiscriminate bombing and seeming disregard for civilians must not be compounded by the denial of the basic human rights of people in Chechnya."

Robinson added, "It is the responsibility of the Russian authorities to do all they can to ensure that those under their jurisdiction enjoy the rights and freedoms they are entitled to under international law and to provide for effective remedies for victims of violations."

The High Commissioner intends to address the situation in Chechnya at the upcoming session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which opens in Geneva on March 20. (Click here for the complete text of her statement.)

TASK FORCE BEGINS STUDIES ON DANUBE CYANIDE SPILL

Scientists from the Balkan Task Force, provided jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Habitat, have begun taking water samples from the Danube River, using one of its two mobile laboratories that it had brought to Serbia last weekend. The goal is to provide a reliable initial assessment of the immediate risks posed by the cyanide spill from Romania to the environment and human health of the affected people. The results of the sampling are not yet available.

Asked about the UN role on the cyanide spill, the Spokesman said that a number of Governments have asked for UN assistance. UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer today said the spill was "extremely disastrous" and has offered UNEP assistance, including the mobile labs and activities taken in coordination with the Environmental Commission of the European Commission.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Today, Portugal signed the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, making Portugal the 13th nation to sign on to the treaty since it was opened for signature here last month. It needs to be ratified by 22 countries before it can enter into force. Portugal also signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was opened for signature last December; Portugal is the 25th country to sign it.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has become the 52nd Member State to make their full contribution to this year's regular budget with a payment of just over $42,000. (To access the full list of "Payments to the UN Regular Budget" click here.)

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia announced that it would hold a high-level meeting at the UN House in Beirut from February 23 to 25, to discuss ways to strengthen its work in social and economic development in the region.

The International Court of Justice issued a transcript of the opening statement at a press conference delivered Tuesday in The Hague by Justice Gilbert Guillaume, the newly-elected President of the Court. He emphasized that, although the Court has been at times accused of acting slowly, it can often make rulings within days. However, he added, the Court may face more delays in the future unless it receives additional resources.

Today in Bangkok and Nairobi simultaneously, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched a new task force to assist developing countries in integrating their trade, environment and development policies. Click here for the complete press release on that issue.

Carla Del Ponte, the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, welcomed the arrest on Tuesday of two high-ranking military officers, both former members of the Rwandan armed forces. The arrests took place in France and Denmark. A press release from the Tribunal is available with more details.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article