United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-02-25

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

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, February 25, 2000

UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF TO VISIT DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is sending his top peacekeeping official to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in early March, to explain to the parties the newly-adopted Security Council resolution, including the concept of operations and the deployment of 5,537 military personnel.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet is finalizing his plans for the mission, which is expected to begin in the second week of March.

The mission will be the first step in setting the groundwork for the start of the deployment of 500 military observers in four bases in the DRC -- at Mbandaka, Mbuji-Mayi, Kisangani and Kindu. The deployment process could take 150 days under ideal circumstances, according to UN officials.

Miyet is also expected to discuss with the DRC Government difficulties that it has raised concerning the proposed deployment.

RESIGNATION OF UNSCOM DEPUTY CHAIRMAN CONFIRMED

In response to a question on the status of Charles Duelfer, the Deputy Executive Chairman of the UN Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM), the Spokesman said that Duelfer has confirmed this morning that he submitted a letter to the Secretary-General on Thursday announcing his resignation. That resignation becomes effective on March 1.

Duelfer has noted the arrival on that date of Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), which replaces UNSCOM. He offered to make himself available to Blix should the UNMOVIC Chairman find it useful to meet as he sets up the new Commission, Eckhard said.

Asked about a recent media report on changes to UN sanctions policy, the Spokesman noted the Secretary-General's comments on "smart sanctions" and the need for fresh thinking on sanctions in general, to minimize their impact on civilians. His comments, Eckhard added, were based on a UN study on sanctions and the idea of "smart sanctions" targeted at leaders rather than civilian populations.

The Spokesman responded to questions about the visit next week of UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Hans von Sponeck by noting that von Sponeck would meet the Secretary-General on Monday and would be expected to conduct other normal meetings in the Secretariat. The Security Council has not asked the Secretary-General so far to provide von Sponeck to brief them on Iraq, he said.

UNHCR SAYS CONVOYS COULD BEGIN AID DELIVERY TO CHECHNYA

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its briefing in Geneva today that its aid convoys could begin delivering UN humanitarian assistance inside Chechnya as early as next week, if security conditions permit.

UNHCR said it is looking at this first convoy, probably to consist of some10 trucks to the Grozny area, as a pilot project to provide aid to the civilian population. The agency added that it wanted to ensure that security is in place and that an effective distribution and monitoring system can be established.

The convoy of local drivers and local UNHCR staff will originate from the UN base of operations in Stavropol, Russia.

UNHCR has sent 32 convoys and more than 5,000 tons of humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in neighboring Ingushetia since last autumn.

Today in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson joined the Secretaries-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe in expressing deep concern at continuing reports of violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Chechnya. The three officials reiterated their call to the Russian Government to allow international monitoring of the human rights situation.

Asked about the number of Chechens in Grozny, the Spokesman said that the United Nations had no presence there that would allow it to make any accurate estimate.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP WESTERN SAHARA, BURUNDI AND BALKANS

There is no meeting of the Security Council today.

Thursday afternoon, the Council heard a briefing on Western Sahara by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet. He told the Council that, after nine years, there remain a number of doubts about the implementation of the Settlement Plan for Western Sahara, including the possibility that the UN Identification Commission may face appeals from nearly 140,000 people contesting their voting status. In light of the obstacles, the Secretary-General, in his latest report, asked his Personal Envoy, James Baker, to consult with the parties to find some way forward. While that process begins, the Secretary-General has recommended a three-month extension for the UN Mission, which is set to expire at the end of February. Council members are expected to vote on the extension Monday.

Also on Monday, the Council is expected to hold closed consultations on Burundi.

After that, it intends to hold an open briefing to hear from the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Balkans, Carl Bildt, on the situation in that region.

POLICE OFFICER IN EAST TIMOR FORCE DIES

The first death was recorded among the staff of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today, after a 32-year-old civilian police officer, who had been stationed in Liquica, died of a viral infection. He had been evacuated to Darwin, Australia on Wednesday.

The exact cause of his death is being determined, with autopsy results expected for Saturday. His name will be released after his family is notified.

Meanwhile, the Universal Postal Union has confirmed the official status of the postal administration of East Timor under UNTAET's authority. The Portuguese Postal Service will provide technical advice on the establishment of the East Timorese service and will donate equipment for two initial post offices in Dili and Baucau.

The UN Mission will provide transportation for domestic and international mail, and UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello has already approved the first stamps. The postal service is expected to start its operations by early April, and it will initially employ 18 East Timorese.

On Thursday, the National Consultative Council approved a resolution to establish a Border Service for the country.

UN TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM ROADBLOCK IN SIERRA LEONE

In Eastern Sierra Leone, after several hours of unsuccessful negotiations with Revolutionary United Front rebels who were blocking UN troops on Thursday, the soldiers from the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) chose to return to their respective duty stations

Following this incident, the UN Mission issued a statement today in Freetown recalling that "UN peacekeeping operations rely on three main tactics: neutrality, persuasion and diplomacy". The statement added, "Neither UNAMSIL nor the Revolutionary United Front stands to gain from violent confrontations."

In another incident on Wednesday, UN troops returned fire from a rebel group on Pepel Island, 35 kilometers from Freetown. They chased away the rebels who were trying to loot a village, and freed several abductees. The UN statement said that the incident showed that "when confronted with force at the tactical level, UNAMSIL does not hesitate to act forcefully to protect Sierra Leoneans in fulfilling its peacekeeping mandate."

APPOINTMENTS OF WOMEN IN UN SECRETARIAT SHOWS SMALL INCREASE

The Secretary-General's latest report on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat, issued today, shows a small overall increase in the population of women on appointments of one year or more, rising from 35.5 percent in December 1998 to 36.1 percent in November 1999.

The largest percentage increases were at the D-1, or Director level, from 68 in December 1998 to 77 in November 1999.

These figures do not include all mission appointments, which generally last less than one year.

WFP DETAILS AID EFFORTS FOR 100,000 MOZAMBICANS

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it estimates that over the past three weeks it has managed to get food aid out to over 100,000 desperate people in Mozambique affected by floods and cyclones.

In Rome on Thursday, WFP approved a US$4.2 million emergency feeding operation for Mozambique. The operation will ensure that food supplies continue to reach an average of 110,000 people every month for the next 90 days.

WFP has so far shuttled via helicopter some 1,200 metric tons of food to over 50 key delivery points in districts badly struck by the floods. The food is being distributed with the help of local authorities, non-governmental organizations, church groups and area residents.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

In Pristina, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo noted that the Interim Administrative Council agreed today to create a professional civil service in Kosovo that will remain when the administration is handed over to Kosovo's people after international administrators have left.

In response to a question on the relations between UN peacekeepers and the Serb community in Kosovo, the Spokesman said that he hoped the Serbs would see the presence of the United Nations as being in their best interests. He noted the tensions in Mitrovica but added, "We're doing our best to sort that out. We're in Kosovo for the long haul, and we hope that we can move Kosovo closer to a multi-ethnic community and not an ethnically divided community."

A team of international experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs started work in Romania today on a scientific assessment of the environmental damage caused by the recent cyanide spill and other waste products from the Baia Mare gold mine in northwestern Romania.

The United Nations mine action assessment mission to Egypt completed its two-week visit to the country last Tuesday and has begun to develop a comprehensive report on the situation there.

The third meeting of the so-called Tripartite Repatriation Commission in Kabul held on Wednesday endorsed plans by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the return of 200,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran during this year. UNHCR will provide logistical support for all those who wish to return to Afghanistan and will monitor the repatriation process.

The results from the World Health Organization's MONICA Project - the largest community-based study on heart disease ever undertaken - were published in the UK medical journal, The Lancet, in its February 26 edition. Those results show that heart disease rates are related to changes in major coronary risk factors and to the introduction of new medical treatments.

A report issued today by the Secretary-General on the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships notes that the United Nations Foundation, the charity established by Ted Turner, will make grants to the UN system of approximately 30 million dollars annually to support projects on population and women. The money is to focus on projects dealing with the health needs of girls between the ages of 11 and 20.

Bangladesh has become the 58th Member State to pay its assessed contribution to the regular budget in full with a payment of just over $105,000. (To access the full list of "Payments to the UN Regular Budget" click here.)

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27

The United Nations has deployed an electoral expert team to Tajikistan to monitor the electoral process in its parliamentary elections, which are to be held Sunday. The United Nations Electoral Expert Team will monitor the electoral process jointly with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's observation mission.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28

The Secretary-General will address a global meeting of United Nations Development Programme resident coordinators, held in Glen Cove, New York. The meeting will last through the week.

The Security Council will hold consultations, and possibly a formal meeting, on the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. That Mission's current mandate expires on Tuesday. It will also hold consultations on Burundi.

The Council has also scheduled an open briefing on the Balkans by Carl Bildt, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General. After his briefing, Bildt will answer questions from the press at the stakeout outside the Security Council.

The Secretary-General will meet the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Hans von Sponeck.

The Committee on Sustainable Development's inter-sessional working groups will begin a two-week session in New York.

The Commission on the Status of Women begins its 44th session.

In Vienna, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization will meet through Friday.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29

The Secretary-General will brief the Security Council on his recent trip to Asia and on current issues, on the last day of the Council presidency of Argentina.

The Statistical Commission will hold its 31st session through Friday.

At 11:00, former Prime Minister of France Michel Rocard will give a press conference on small arms.

Jacques Klein, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will give a press conference at 3 p.m. He will be in New York on Monday and Tuesday.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

The rotating Presidency of the Security Council passes from Ambassador Arnoldo Manuel Listre of Argentina to Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh.

The Secretary-General's newly-appointed Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission for Iraq, Hans Blix, will have the opportunity to meet the press at the noon briefing.

Wednesday is the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines. To mark the occasion, there will be a press conference at 10:30 a.m. with Jerry White and Ken Rutherford, the co-founders of the Landmines Survivors Network, as well as with World War II landmine survivor John Wack.

The United Nations Asian Meeting on the Question of Palestine will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from today until Friday. The meeting is intended to mobilize international assistance to the Palestinian people and Ambassador Ibra Deguene Ka of Senegal, Chairman of the UN Palestine Committee, will attend.

The Secretary-General's report to the Security Council on Haiti is expected.

At 6 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, there will be a special screening of the HBO-TV film documentary "Children in War," hosted by Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu and Gillian Sorensen, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations. A question-and-answer session with the filmmakers, Alan and Susan Raymond, will follow the screening.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

The Deputy Secretary-General will deliver a speech to the UN International School on "A Changing World: Examining Global Interdependence and Inequalities."

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

The Commission on the Status of Women will begin preparatory work for the Special Session this June of the General Assembly on "Women 2000," the follow-up to the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The preparatory committee session will last until March 17.