United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-06-25

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

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MANOEL DE ALMEIDA E SILVA

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, June 25, 2001

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS WORLD IS WAKING UP ON AIDS

This morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his address to the opening plenary of the General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, said that, this year, the world has seen a turning point in its response to the epidemic. He told the Assembly, "AIDS can no longer do its deadly work in the dark. The world has started to wake up."

He also told Governments to remember the needs and human rights of all those infected with HIV. "We cannot deal with AIDS by making moral judgments, or refusing to face unpleasant facts," he said, "and still less by stigmatizing those who are infected, and making out that it is all their fault."

Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said that Member States are in the process of finalizing a strong declaration on AIDS, but added that it was not surprising that difficulties remained in agreeing on a final draft.

Earlier, the Secretary-General opened the three-day Special Session by participating in the unfolding of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, in a ceremonial unfolding begun by six people living with HIV.

Nane Annan today opened a briefing organized for the spouses of heads of delegations attending the Special Session. The group, which is comprised of 11 women and three men, is being briefed by representatives of UN agencies. In her welcoming remarks, Nane Annan noted that in all situations she has had the opportunity to see firsthand in her travels since her husband was elected Secretary-General, nothing compares to the devastation of HIV/AIDS.

ANNAN URGES G-8 LEADERS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR AIDS

The Secretary-General has written a letter to the leaders of the "Group of Eight" (G-8) nations as they prepare for their annual summit meeting, to be held this year in Genoa, Italy, in which he reiterated the need for funding an additional $7 billion to $10 billion dollars a year to combat AIDS. He hoped they would make a serious material contribution to the campaign for global health at this week's Special Session.

He also said that much more needs to be done to increase official development assistance to poor countries, and that many handicaps remain that limit the benefits from trade for developing countries. The removal of such handicaps, he said, depends on leadership from the G-8 leaders.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ETHIOPIA, ERITREA

The Security Council will hold consultations at 3:15 p.m. today on the UN Mission on Ethiopia and Eritrea ( UNMEE), on which it received a progress report from the Secretary-General last week. The Council will receive a briefing on that report by Dmitri Titov, Director of the Africa Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

On Tuesday, the Council will hold consultations in the morning on the Secretary-General's report on Western Sahara, on which the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, James Baker, will provide a briefing. In the afternoon Tuesday, the Council will hold a formal meeting on Iraq and Kuwait, in which Council members are expected to discuss proposals to change the "oil-for-food" program.

ANNAN GIVES CONDOLENCES FOLLOWING PERU EARTHQUAKE

The Secretary-General, in a statement, was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake that struck southern Peru on Saturday, with the impact felt as far away as Chile. He extended his condolences to the Government of Peru and to the families of the victims. The Secretary-General reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to assist in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) reported that water, electricity and telephone services have been interrupted by the earthquake and giant waves caused serious damage to ports in Camana and Chala in the department of Arequipa, about 750 kilometers south-east of Lima. Eighty percent of housing in Moquegua has been seriously damaged and thousands have been made homeless. OCHA has released a grant of $30,000 for emergency aid.

The Pan American Health Organization reported that medical supplies are not needed at present and that the health service infrastructure, though damaged, is functioning with the use of emergency generators and water reserves.

UNS TOP HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL HOPES FOR TRANSFER OF MILOSEVIC

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said today that the decree issued by the Yugoslav Government on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was a major step forward in the fight against impunity. She hoped the decree would open the way for the transfer of former President Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague.

Robinson said that "the decree is a recognition that the serious crimes that the former President and others are accused of must come to trial." Today, she said, the world is a step closer to telling tyrants, "You will be called to account. There is no place to hide."

ANNAN SAYS OIC IS A PARTNER IN MIDDLE EAST EFFORTS

Today in Bamako, Mali, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahima Fall is to deliver a message of the Secretary-General to the 28th meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

For the United Nations, the Secretary-General said, the OIC is an indispensable partner in its efforts to achieve a just and durable peace in the Middle East.

In his message, the Secretary-General also touched upon the current crisis regarding Iraq, saying he shared the OICs concern over the continuing suffering of the Iraqi people. He said he was ready to continue the dialogue with the Iraqi Government, which began in February to try to find a way out of the current impasse.

REPORT CALLS FOR FUNDING FOR GUINEA-BISSAU INSTITUTIONS

The Secretary-General's report on developments in Guinea-Bissau since mid-March, issued today, notes the recent instability when some political parties briefly opposed the program of work of Prime Minister Faustino Imbali's Government and activities by Casamance rebels in the border area between Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

The Secretary-General calls for financial support for Guinea-Bissau's newly restored democratic institutions, to reorganize the armed forces, achieve demobilization and ensure the smooth functioning of government bodies. He adds that it is important for all sides to keep the national interest above political differences.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The World Food Programme said today that it has resumed flights to all localities in Angola, including Kuito in the central highlands. WFP reported seven flights today to Kuito, transporting maize and fish, with a total cargo of 127 tons.WFP had resumed all humanitarian assistance flights in Angola last Thursday after two attacks this month on its aircraft had forced it to suspend operations.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima, in a statement, expressed relief at the release of four Afghan women working for the World Food Programme in Kabul, after a three-day detention by the Taliban. He expressed concern about the increasing harassment and abuse of Afghan national staff of the UN and non-governmental organization community.

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of the decision by Judge Mohammed Bedjaoui of the International Court of Justice to resign from his post, effective on September 30. The Secretary-General noted that the Security Council might wish to consider filling the vacancy that will open up on that date.

The Security Council President has written the Secretary-General, to respond to the Secretary-General's recent report on the protection of civilians and armed conflict and to suggest steps, including closer cooperation between the UN humanitarian and peacekeeping departments, to assist that goal.

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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