United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-04-14

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

BY DAVID WIMHURST

ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, April 14, 2000

ANNAN WELCOMES RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF START II TREATY

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued through his Spokesman, welcomed the ratification by the Russian State Duma today of the START II Treaty and commended President-Elect Vladimir Putin for having taken the initiative.

"This long-awaited development is likely to provide a fresh impetus to nuclear disarmament efforts, and will have a positive effect on the forthcoming 2000 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference," the statement said. It added that the Secretary-General looks forward to commencement of START III, which "will contribute to further reductions in nuclear weapons."

ANNAN ATTENDS FINAL SESSION OF SOUTH SUMMIT IN CUBA

Today is the last day of the Secretary-General's visit to Cuba. He visited UN offices in Havana and met with staff before attending the closing session of the Group of 77 South Summit.

At midday, he met with the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf. They discussed a range of issues involving Security Council resolutions on Iraq, including the sanctions regime, weapons inspections, banking issues, stolen property and prisoners of war.

In addition to his previously announced meetings, the Secretary General also met Thursday with President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, with whom he had an extended conversation during the official lunch hosted by President Fidel Castro.

Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General also had a meeting with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Their talks focused on peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Secretary-General and his wife, Nane, are scheduled to arrive back in New York this evening.

UN MONITORS EXPLOSION IN MAIN AIRPORT IN KINSHASA

There has been a large explosion involving a Boeing 707 aircraft at Kinshasa's main international airport. The cause of the explosion, which took place around midday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was not immediately known.

The initial explosion occurred at 11:30 a.m., and a subsequent series of explosions that lasted for an hour and a half could be felt 20 miles away at the UN Mission headquarters in Kinshasa, as well as in Brazzaville, 25 miles away. Dozens of people were reported to be seriously injured, although the UN Mission has yet to confirm those reports.

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) said that all international and local Mission staff had been accounted for.

Extensive damage was reported at the airport, which was closed. The facility has been surrounded by a heavy police and military presence.

The UN Mission has offered to the Kinshasa government assistance in transporting the wounded.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS OPEN MEETING ON RWANDA

The Security Council this morning opened a formal meeting on Rwanda, to discuss the report of the independent three-member panel on the UN actions in Rwanda before and during the 1994 genocide, which was issued last December.

The Chairman of the panel, former Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, addressed the Council and noted that the genocide in Rwanda had unfolded before the eyes of the international community. We hope to have copies of his speech available later in the day.

The Council then proceeded to discuss Rwanda, in a debate chaired by Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy.

On Thursday afternoon, the President of the Security Council issued a note to the Secretary-General approving the organizational plan for the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) circulated by its Executive Chairman, Hans Blix.

It also unanimously approved a resolution extending by six months the UN Office in Angola. That Office is now extended until October 15.

Asked about follow-up to the Carlsson panel's recommendations on Rwanda, the Spokesman noted after the briefing that the Secretary-General has formed a panel, led by Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, to explore ways to improve UN peace operations. That panel is expected to issue its findings in July.

ANNAN URGES RESUMED TALKS ON PREVLAKA

The Secretary-General's latest report to the Security Council on the United Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), available today as a document, noted that both the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia have indicated their willingness to resolve their dispute over Prevlaka through bilateral talks. However, no talks have been held since last year.

"It is very much hoped that, despite the prevailing political difficulties, the parties will find a way to restart their talks since it is difficult to foresee substantial progress being made otherwise," the Secretary-General said.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF UN CRIME CONGRESS BEGINS

The 10th UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders began its high-level segment in Vienna this morning with an appeal by Congress Secretary-General Pino Arlacchi for rapid completion, signature and ratification of the draft UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols.

Informal negotiations continued today on the text of the draft declaration of the Congress. Once approved by the Congress, the declaration will be forwarded to next week's meeting of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, also to be held in Vienna.

TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL INTRODUCES REPORT ON COLOMBIA

This morning in Geneva, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson introduced her report on the activities of her office in Colombia before the Commission on Human Rights. In her address, she said that "despite the efforts for peace, the human rights situation in Colombia has deteriorated significantly".

The Commission also received a draft resolution on East Timor welcoming the general progress made by the Indonesian Government to investigate violations of human rights and urging a rapid solution to the East Timorese refugee problem in West Timor.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, April 15

Pop star and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador Geri Halliwell will be the keynote speaker at the opening of the Model UN Millennium Summit, which will be held at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation in London. She will speak on sexual health and population issues at the start of a two-day gathering of more than 100 secondary school students from 11 countries.

World Food Programme Executive Director Catherine Bertini, on a mission as the UN Special Envoy on the Drought in the Horn of Africa, will leave Ethiopia to travel to Djibouti, where she will meet with Government officials, the UN country team and donors. Later in the day, she will travel to Eritrea, where she will meet with Government officials and examine the effects of the drought before traveling to Kenya on Monday.

Sunday, April 17

The Security Council will have an open debate in the afternoon on general issues relating to sanctions. The briefing is one of three consecutive open meetings this week chaired by Canada's Foreign Minister, Lloyd Axworthy; it will be preceded by a morning discussion of the same subject at the International Peace Academy.

Canadian Foreign Minister Axworthy, George Lopez of the University of Notre Dame, David Cortright of the Fourth Freedom Forum, and David Malone of the International Peace Academy will hold a press conference at 1:15 p.m. on general sanctions issues.

The report of the Secretary-General on the return by Iraq of Kuwaiti and third-party nationals is due.

In Montreal, the Committee of the International Civil Aviation Organisation begins a session that will last until May 5.

The guest at the noon briefing will be Dr. Ebrahim Samba, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa, who will talk about "Health in Africa", a panel discussion taking place from 3-6 p.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber. On hand to answer questions at the briefing will be the Ministers of Health and Social Services of Namibia and Guinea.

Political and business leaders dealing with information technology will begin four days of closed meetings on an effort to chart a global information technology action plan at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Tuesday, April 18

The Security Council will hold an open meeting on Angola, focusing on the recent recommendations by a Security Council mission, which visited Angola in January, on strengthening the sanctions against UNITA.

In Vienna, a three-day session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will begin.

A media briefing with experts from the UN Children's Fund, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the UN Development Programme and the UN Population Fund on the forthcoming World Education Forum will be held at UNICEF House at 10:30 a.m.

Nobel Laureate Lawrence R. Klein of the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Peter Pauly of the University of Toronto, and Ian Kinniburgh and Jozef van Brabant of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will discuss the work of the Expert Group on the World Economic Outlook at an 11 a.m. press conference.

Wednesday, April 19

The Security Council will hold an open meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Following the meeting, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Ambassador Robert Fowler will hold a press conference in S-226.

At 11:15 a.m., Nyam-Osoryn Tuya, Minister for External Relations of Mongolia, will hold a press conference.

Catherine Bertini, the UN Special Envoy on the Drought in the Horn of Africa, will hold a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, at the end of her trip to the region, and one day after a visit to Somalia.

Thursday, April 20

The Security Council will hold an open briefing on Sierra Leone. Council members are also scheduled to hold their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General's report to the Security Council on the UN Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected.

Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Jayantha Dhanapala will be the guest at the noon briefing. He will discuss the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which begins in New York on Monday, April 24.

Friday, April 21

UN Headquarters will be closed. It is Good Friday.

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