United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-12-14

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

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, December 14, 2000

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN THE CONGO

This morning the Security Council, after a short meeting in closed consultations, held a formal meeting during which they unanimously approved resolution 1332 (2000).

The resolution calls for an extension of the mandate of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until June 15 2001.

Prior to the vote, the council heard from the Foreign Minister of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Leonard She Okitundu.

ANNAN URGES RESUMPTION OF INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, said, that no military measures can succeed in the long run unless the political aspects of the Lusaka Agreement are also respected.

To that end, I again urge the parties, especially the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to take part in the inter-Congolese dialogue required under the terms of the Lusaka Agreement, the statement said.

The parties should resume the dialogue as soon as possible, he said in the statetment. In this context, I welcome the indications we have recently received that the Government may be more willing to talk to other parties, to release political prisoners and to permit political activity.

On my part, I am prepared to assist the parties in promoting the peace process and building up of the recent regional initiatives, the statement said. I am also contemplating additional steps to be taken in this regard.

ANNAN TO BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL FRIDAY

Friday at 3 p.m., the Secretary-General will brief the council, in closed consultations, on his just-concluded visits to Sierra Leone, Benin, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Italy and Algeria.

Early Wednesday evening, while in closed consultations, the Security Council heard a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General Hédi Annabi on the situation around the Presevo Valley in southern Serbia. The president of the Council, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of Russia, informed members that he had received a letter from President Vojislav Kostunica of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on that subject. The Council decided it would pay special attention to this issue at a formal meeting next Tuesday.

UNHCR MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The 50th Anniversary of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is being marked today.

In New York, at an opening of an exhibition called Respect Refugees, the Secretary-Generals Chief of Staff Iqbal Riza delivered a statement on his behalf paying tribute both to the work of UNHCR and to the people it has helped over the years. The exhibition includes artwork by refugee children on the theme Far from Homeland.

At her final press conference in Geneva as High Commissioner, Sadako Ogata said that this anniversary itself was no cause for celebration as the ultimate goal of a refugee-free world still remains as elusive as ever. Ogata added that this anniversary year would highlight the courage and contribution of the worlds millions of refugees. She launched the Refugee Education Trust, which will provide post-primary education to young refugees in developing countries.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Secretary-General will be sending a letter of congratulations to U.S. President-elect George W. Bush saying he looks forward to working with him.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it is temporarily suspending its operations in southern Guinea due an upsurge in the fighting in the Gueckedou area of the country.

The head of the UN mission in East Timor (UNTAET), Sergio Vieira de Mello, today signed an amendment to a regulation on the taxation system, which introduces a wages and income tax for East Timor. The system, which goes into effect January 1, 2000, calls for a 10% income tax for those earning between $100 and $650 per month and for a 30% tax for those earning more than $650. Any Timorese who earns less than $100 per month will be exempt from paying any income tax.

The Secretary-General will be in the press conference room at UN headquarters Friday morning at 11:30 to make a special announcement; he will be accompanied by the former President of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo.