United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-06-29

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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

Friday, June 29, 2001

ANNAN RE-ELECTED FOR SECOND TERM AS SECRETARY-GENERAL

This morning, the UN General Assembly approved by acclamation a second term for Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General, for a five-year period beginning on January 1, 2002. The resolution was introduced by Security Council President, Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh, who said Annan had excelled in his office and delivered under trying circumstances.

After the members of the General Assembly rose in unison to signal their approval of his second term, the Secretary-General addressed them and said he was sustained by a profound feeling of gratitude for the confidence they had placed in him and the encouragement and support he had received from so many quarters.

"Wherever I have traveled in these past four years, and whatever issues I have tackled, I have been inspired by the sacrifices that the staff of the United Nations make, every day, on behalf of the peoples we serve," he said.

He said he had sought to equip the United Nations to adjust to change and rise to new challenges; to assess the failures of its recent past unflinchingly; to speak out to defend those who cannot speak for themselves; and to make universal human rights the touchstone of his work. He added, "Whether, or how far, I have succeeded in these aims is not for me to judge. I do know, however, that the task is far from done."

The Secretary-General then renewed his oath of office, swearing to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience the functions entrusted to him.

The Secretary-General was accompanied today by his wife Nane, his daughter Ama, and other relatives, as well as by many friends, including some dating back to his days in Macalaster College in Minnesota, from which he graduated in 1961.

General Assembly President Harri Holkeri said that today's decision was a clear testimony of the continued support for the Secretary-General's ideas and actions, and he thanked him for accepting the responsibilities of the job for a second time.

Members of the regional groups of Member States, and also of the host country and the group of Arab States, also spoke.

Kofi Annan is the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations.

ANNAN SAYS REFORM WILL CONTINUE, THANKS MEDIA

After he was re-elected to a second term, the Secretary-General spoke to reporters, saying that reform and the search for excellence would be an ongoing process and thanking the media for their cooperation with him over the past few years. When he had not been able to answer media questions, he said, he trusts that they knew that he was wise to do so.

Asked about the upcoming Racism Conference that is to be held in South Africa, he said, "I hope this conference will be forward-looking and will be constructive." He appealed to all to focus on that; otherwise, he said, "we risk derailing the conference by focusing on the issues of the past."

MILOSEVIC DETAINED BY TRIBUNAL FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

In the early hours of this morning in The Hague, former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic arrived at the detention unit of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY), one day after the Serbian authorities transferred him to the Tribunal.

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued Thursday afternoon , welcomed the decision to transfer Milosevic, saying, "It is a day few had imagined, but many had hoped for. It is a day that will be remembered not for vengeance, but for justice. It is a victory for accountability over impunity."

The Tribunal's President, Judge Claude Jorda, hailed the transfer as "a new and irreversible step in relation to the international community's resolve to fight against impunity." He emphasized the need that Milosevic be afforded a fair and expeditious trial in accordance with the highest international standards.

Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, who gave a press briefing at The Hague today in which she said the charges against Milosevic would be expanded to include the names of more victims, said the transfer was only the beginning of the criminal proceedings, with a great deal of work still to be done to bring the case to a just conclusion.

The Tribunal announced today that Milosevic is scheduled to have his first appearance before the court next Tuesday.

Milosevic was indicted, along with four other Yugoslav leaders, in 1999 on four counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including deportation and murder, which occurred in Kosovo. However, prosecutors have said they are considering adding other indictments, which have yet to be filed, for crimes committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Croatia.

In response to a question on the transfer of Milosevic, the Deputy Spokesman declined to comment about the process by which he was transferred but said that all States are obliged to cooperate with the Tribunal by providing evidence and transferring suspects. Any cooperation by any State is welcome, he said.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS SAHARA MISSION, REVIEWS WORK

The Security Council began its work with consultations on Western Sahara, and shortly afterward, it went into a formal meeting to approve a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Mission in Western Sahara by five months, until the end of November.

The Council also issued a Presidential Statement on Burundi, calling for an immediate suspension of hostilities in Burundi and for all armed groups to enter into negotiations.

The Council then held a public meeting to review the work of the Council this past month under the Presidency of Ambassador Chowdhury. This is the first time such a review session is being held in public. The Secretary-General attended the meeting.

This afternoon, Council members will gather in closed consultations to be briefed on the latest developments in Somalia by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast.

After that briefing, Council members will resume their discussion of the Iraqi "oil-for-food" program.

NORTH KOREANS DEPART FROM BEIJING

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) today confirmed that the seven North Koreans who had sought help at the UNHCR office in Beijing departed for a third country.

UNHCR said that it hopes that the incident, which has highlighted the problems of North Koreans, will lead to a renewed dialogue with Chinese authorities so the refugee agency can properly address the plight of North Koreans in China especially those who leave for refugee-related reasons.

ISRAEL AGREES TO SUSPEND OVERFLIGHTS OVER LEBANESE CITIES

Today in Beirut, the Secretary-General's Personal Representative for Southern Lebanon, Staffan di Mistura, said he had received a commitment from Israel Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer that, effective immediately, there would be a suspension of all overflights by Israeli planes over the cities of Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, Tripoli and deep inside the territory of Lebanon and that there would be no more sonic booms over such cities.

Di Mistura made this announcement to the press following a meeting this morning with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

The Personal Representative told journalists that on Thursday, he had met in Israel with Ben-Eliezer, as a follow-up to the Secretary-General recent visit to the region. The meeting, which was also attended by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Terje Roed Larsen, was described by Di Mistura as "frank."

Di Mistura, who called this a "positive decision" added that the United Nations will continue to request the respect of the Blue Line by all concerned and involved sides.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The United Nations Foundation has set up a special account to receive contributions to the Global Fund for AIDS and Health. The Foundation will hold these contributions in readiness until the Fund is fully operational. A mechanism to contribute by credit card via the Internet and a toll free number should be in place by early next week.

Todays UNHCR briefing notes contain reports on efforts underway to assist the more then 60,000 people who fled their homes in the Central African Republic following a failed coup attempt last month, the repatriation of Somali refugees from Ethiopia, and an update on population displacements in the former Yugoslav Republic on Macedonia.

The Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, today appealed to international donors for resources of the "safe and sustainable" return of Kosovo Serbs.

In Arusha, Tanzania, today, Siméon Nshamihigo pleaded "not guilty" to three counts of genocide, extermination and violations of the Geneva Conventions, in an appearance before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He made the plea in his initial appearance before a judge following his transfer to the Tribunal on May 25.

Today, Germany and Viet Nam were added to the list of Member States which have paid their full contributions to the 2001 regular budget. Germany made a payment of more than $101 million and Viet Nam more than $2 million, bringing to 92 the number of Member States that have paid in full for the year.

The Republic of Korea will ensure a tobacco-free 2002 World Cup, in an announcement to be formally confirmed by Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo during an official visit to the World Health Organization ( WHO) in Geneva on Tuesday. This first ever tobacco-free World Cup with join many other tobacco-free events supported by WHO.

The UN Environment Programme ( UNEP) says that voluntary actions by industry, Governments and organizations are leading to a small but significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. A study by the World Energy Council says that by 2005 the reduction could amount to 3 percent of the 2000 emission figures.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, July 2

Ambassador Wang Yingfan of China, the President of the Security Council for the month of July, is expected to hold bilateral consultations with Council members on its program of work for the coming month.

The Secretary-General will deliver remarks at the presentation to Thailand of the 2001 Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Award.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette will begin a visit to East Timor, which will last through Thursday.

In Geneva, the High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council is scheduled to begin.

The World Economic and Social Survey for 2001 will be launched.

Tuesday, July 3

Barring action by the Security Council, the current extension of the "oil-for-food" plan expires today.

Wednesday, July 4

Today is a U.S. holiday. UN Headquarters will be closed.

In Philadelphia, the Secretary-General will receive this year's Liberty Medal, which will be presented to him by Philadelphia Mayor John Street.

Thursday, July 5

Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Jayantha Dhanapala is expected to be the guest at the noon briefing, to discuss the upcoming UN Conference dealing with small arms, which is to begin on July 9.

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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