United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-05-01

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

FROM THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, May 1, 2001

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ANNAN SAYS NEEDS OF THE POOR MUST BE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA

This morning, the Secretary-General addressed a meeting drawing together the Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC) and high-level officials of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and noted that the meeting was taking place amid UN predictions of a slowdown in world economic growth.

The Secretary-General told the panelists at today's meeting, "Wherever and however such problems arise, one result is the same: the poor always suffer disproportionately. I urge you to keep the needs and aspirations of the poor at the top of your agenda."

He also noted that today's meeting occurs on the eve of the third session of the Preparatory Committee for next year's International Conference on Financing for Development in Mexico, and urged donor countries to increase their aid.

Immediately following the Secretary-Generals speech, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, who chairs the International Monetary and Finance Committee, said he sensed growing support for a global health fund to deal with AIDS and other infectious diseases. He added that he now expected pharmaceutical companies also to meet the challenge, by developing and making affordable vaccines to fight AIDS.

ANNAN ENCOURAGES EASING OF RESTRICTIONS IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

In a statement released this morning, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had a meeting Monday with the Foreign Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres, who informed him about serious attempts that are being made to achieve a cease-fire, as well as measures that Israel is taking to relieve the pressure on the population in the Palestinian Territories.

The Secretary-General feels that it would indeed be very encouraging if these measures were taken. He welcomes any measures that have the effect of easing living conditions in the Territories and facilitating movement and exchange between them and the outside world, as well as allowing easier access for humanitarian organizations.

The Secretary-General stresses, however, that it is the implementation of such measures that will be decisive.

The Secretary-Generals staff will be closely following developments on the ground.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, LIBERIA ON COUNCIL AGENDA

Today is the first day of the United States Presidency of the Security Council.

There are no scheduled meetings as the Council president will be spending the day in bilateral consultations with other council members.

On Wednesday, the Council will meet in closed consultations to discuss its program of work for the month of May.

Following the briefing, the Spokesman announced the availability of the Report by the Secretary-General regarding proposed sanctions against Liberia. The report, which was requested by the Security Council, contains inputs from various sources regarding Liberias compliance with demands presented in Resolution 1343, which decided that sanctions against Liberia would go into effect on May 7 unless the Council determines otherwise. The Council is expected to discuss the report on Friday.

In response to questions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Spokesman later said a public meeting on the report by an independent panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to be held Thursday. The Spokesman also said the Secretary-General had never met with the members of the panel. When asked if the Secretary-General had been in contact with the Ugandan government, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General had sent a message to the Ugandan government regarding press reports that Uganda had pulled out of the DRC peace process but had not had a response yet.

UN MISSION CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

Early this morning in the central Bosnian town of Vitez, an explosive device went off near the local branch office of the Social Democratic Party, resulting in severe damage to the building, but causing no injuries.

The UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina ( UNMIBH) condemned the attack, which targeted one of the non-nationalist political parties that currently hold power in Bosnia. Officers of the UN International Police Task Force have been present on the scene today and are monitoring the work of local police as they investigate the bombing.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES RENEWED VIOLENCE IN FYROM

Late Monday, the Spokesmans Office issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General's dismay at the attack over the weekend in which eight members of the security forces of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were killed.

In the statement, the Secretary-General deplored the unprovoked act of violence and once again stressed the importance of continuing a dialogue among the political leaders in that country, to strengthen multi-ethnic relations and democratic norms and restore stability.

UN ENVOY ATTENDS SIERRA LEONE CEASE-FIRE TALKS IN NIGERIA

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, Oluyemi Adeniji, is in Abuja, Nigeria, today to attend a meeting to review implementation of the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement.

Representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the rebel Revolutionary United Front and the UN mission ( UNAMSIL) in Sierra Leone, in the presence of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), will conduct an assessment of the implementation of the Abuja Agreement of November 10, 2000.

UNAMSIL also announced today plans to set up a human rights office in Kenema in eastern Sierra Leone to train, monitor and report on abuses and raise public awareness, as well as to promote the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

UN IRAQ PROGRAMME FORESEES $5.8 BILLION IN REVUNUES FOR PHASE IX

According to the weekly update from the Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP), there were 11 loadings of Iraqi crude oil in the week 21 to 27 April 2001 under the United Nations oil-for-food programme, at an overage of just over 2 million barrels a day.

A total of 14.6 million barrels of oil was exported during this period, raising an estimated 354 million in revenue at current prices.

The foreseen revenue for current phase IX that ends on 3 June is about 6.4 billion ($5.8 billion.)

EAST TIMORESE WOMEN CANDIDATES BEGIN POLITICAL TRAINING

Today marks the start of a month-long effort in East Timor to train 169 women candidates to the Constituent Assembly in political participation, decision-making and the process of running for the August 30 elections. The first batch of 35 women candidates began a three-day workshop today, with others to come later in the month.

The training program follows the announcement by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for East Timor, Sergio Vieira de Mello that women will be encouraged to participate in the upcoming elections. Organizations all over East Timor have been asked to help identify women who may be interested in running in the August 30 ballot.

UN REFUGEE CHIEF URGES ALL SIDES TO ALLOW AID FLOW TO AFGHAN REFUGEES

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ruud Lubbers was in Kandahar, Afghanistan, today to meet with senior officials of the Taliban, including those dealing with foreign affairs and drug control. He is also scheduled to travel to the capital, Kabul, this afternoon, before he goes to Faisabad to meet with the leaders of the Northern Alliance.

He is carrying a message to both sides that the international community cannot be expected to continue delivering aid to Afghanistan each year while the parties go on fighting. He is appealing for both sides to refrain at least temporarily from further hostilities so that aid agencies can step up their efforts in the country.

On Monday, Lubbers arrived in the Afghan city of Herat, where he visited a camp where some 100,000 internally displaced people who have sought aid.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The World Food Programme (WFP) has made an urgent appeal for funding for the Osire refugee camp in Namibia. Basic rations have been cut by about 20 percent over the past four months. The operation has received just 30 percent of $1.2 million it requires to feed about 20,000 refugees from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Department of Management has informed the Spokesman that an area has been designated in the basement of the Headquarters for a smoking lounge to be built. The plan is for a smoking lounge to be built during the first quarter of next year, as part of our effort to reduce smoking in the hallways.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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