United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-08-10

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

BY MANOEL DE ALMEIDA E SILVA

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK Friday, August 10, 2001

UN WILL REVIEW DRAFT LAW ON CAMBODIA SPECIAL COURT

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, noted that King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia today signed the draft law on a special court to try Khmer Rouge leaders, bringing the legislation into effect.

The United Nations looks forward to receiving the law and an official translation now that it has been adopted. The legislation will be reviewed to determine that it conforms to a draft memorandum of understanding governing UN participation with Cambodia in a trial.

The United Nations is prepared to continue to work closely with the Government to assist it to undertake a trial that will finally bring Khmer Rouge leaders to justice and provide a measure of accountability for the heinous crimes they committed against their fellow Cambodians and their country. The relationship between the United Nations and the Government of Cambodia will have to be governed by a memorandum of understanding.

Asked how long it might take to conclude work on a memorandum of understanding, the Spokesman said that first, the United Nations would have to receive an official translation of the legislation and review it.

HIGH COMMISSIONER NOTES PROGRESS IN RACISM TALKS

This morning, Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism held a press conference in Geneva, highlighting some of the progress to date, notably on the issue of indigenous peoples. Concerning the more sensitive issues of reparations and the Middle East, she observed the good will on all sides while discussions are continuing.

The two working groups, one for the Plan of Action and the other for the Declaration, will report to the plenary of the Preparatory Committee in Geneva later today.

The High Commissioner added that while the formal work will stop this evening, informal consultations will continue and the two working groups will officially resume their talks at the start of the Conference on August 31 in Durban.

Asked whether the Preparatory Committee meeting would end as scheduled tonight, the Spokesman said it would.

NEW ASSISTANT HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES APPOINTED

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ruud Lubbers announced the appointment of Kamel Morjane of Tunisia as Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, replacing Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark.

Morjane most recently served as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is to take up the post, the third-highest in UNHCR, on October 1.

UNHCR VOICES CONCERN OVER ATTACKS ON UK ASYLUM SEEKERS

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is deeply concerned about the outbreak of vicious attacks on asylum seekers in the United Kingdom over the past week, including the murder of a Turkish Kurd in Glasgow on Sunday and stabbings of other asylum seekers in Glasgow and Hull.

UNHCR called the incidents "sadly predictable" given the climate of vilification against asylum seekers in some mass circulation media and by some politicians. High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers noted in a recent editorial that asylum seekers make a perfect target for those who want to invoke the age-old prejudice against foreigners, and they cannot answer back.

GOVERNMENT, REBELS HOLD UN-CHAIRED TALKS IN SIERRA LEONE

The Government of Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) are holding their fourth meeting on disarmament issues today in the eastern town of Kenema. Oluyemi Adeniji, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, is chairing the meeting.

The meeting is to review progress in the disarmament process and to look at the commitment of the RUF and the pro-Government Civilian Defence Force (CDF) to disarming, among other aspects of the country's peace process.

UN EAST TIMOR MISSION PROPOSES FULL REVIEW OF SHOOTING

The UN Transitional Administration of East Timor (UNTAET) has proposed to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry that an ad hoc committee be formed to review fully the shooting of an Indonesian soldier by New Zealand Peacekeepers on July 28.

The proposed committee will work to reach conclusions about the incident acceptable to both sides and agree on preventative measures for the future.

In addition, the Peacekeeping Force has approved the formation of a Board of Inquiry, a UN internal investigation, following the initial fact-finding investigation carried out by UN Military Observers immediately after the incident.

The incident took place in Suai district. The initial investigation concluded that the deceased man was an Indonesian army sergeant who was out of uniform but carrying a service rifle close to the border, contrary to orders from his superiors.

The Mission also noted that an interim office of the Truth, Reception and Reconciliation Commission was set up in Dili this week. The office will initially consult with East Timors civil society organizations to establish selection panels that will solicit views from the East Timorese community over who should become Commissioners.

ANNAN SAYS YOUTH DAY SHOULD FOCUS ON HEALTH, UNEMPLOYMENT

This Sunday is International Youth Day, and the Secretary-General, in a message, says that this year's observance should focus special attention on health and unemployment.

On health, he notes that every minute, five people between the ages of 10 and 24 are infected with HIV, and encourages Governments to carry out the steps to which they agreed at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

On unemployment, he says that there are roughly 70 million unemployed young people in the world today, and he urges Governments to support the Youth Employment Network, an initiative launched by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to make proposals on employing young people.

If young people are left on society's margins, the Secretary-General says, all of us will be impoverished.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

There will be no Security Council meetings today or Monday. The next scheduled consultations of the Security Council will be next Tuesday, on Bougainville.

By the end of July, the United Nations was deploying 44,675 military and police personnel who come from 88 countries in its 16 peacekeeping operations.

Today, the 2001 International Coffee Agreement will be signed by the Dominican Republic and India, bring the number of signatories to eight.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) today announced the launch of the Girls' Education Movement will take place in Kampala, Uganda, next week. UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will participate in the launch, together with President Museveni of Uganda and Ministers of Education from across Africa. The three-day meeting will discuss safety and security, gender in the curriculum and excluded children.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS Sunday, August 12 This is International Youth Day, which coincides with the conclusion of the World Youth Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Monday, August 13 The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will begin an extraordinary session in Geneva. Tuesday, August 14 The Security Council will hold consultations on Bougainville. Wednesday, August 15 UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Carol Bellamy and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will attend the launching of the Girls' Education Movement in Kampala, Uganda. Thursday, August 16 The Security Council may hold consultations on Liberia. Friday, August 17 Towards the end of the week, the Security Council expects to receive the Secretary-General's report on Kuwaiti and third-country nationals missing since the Gulf War in Iraq.

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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