United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-08-16

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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 Thursday, August 16, 2001

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES LIBERIA, ANGOLA

The Security Council met today in closed consultations to receive briefings on Liberia from Assistant Secretary-General Danilo T&uuml;rk and Deputy Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs Carolyn McAskie.

In his briefing, T&uuml;rk noted the positive outcome of the meeting which finished Wednesday in Monrovia of the Foreign Ministers of Mano River Union during which the three countries in that union -- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- agreed, among other things, to take collective measures to curb the activities of armed groups operating in their sub-region.

McAskie told the Council members that an estimated 34,000 people have been internally displaced by recent fighting between Government and rebel forces in northern Liberia, particularly in Lofa County.

McAskie also voiced her concern about the severe lack of funding that has undermined the ability of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide basic assistance to the internally displaced persons and refugees in the West African sub-region, particularly in Liberia.

T&uuml;rk also briefed the Council on the attack last week on a train in Angola by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The latest casualty figures for that attack report 252 dead and 165 injured.

DISARMAMENT BEGINS IN SIERRA LEONE'S MOYAMBA DISTRICT

On Wednesday in Sierra Leone's Moyamba District, combatants of the pro-Government Civilian Defence Force turned in a small number of weapons to UN peacekeepers in a symbolic disarmament ceremony in the village of Gandorhun, which was witnessed by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Oluyemi Adeniji. Adeniji destroyed an AK-47 rifle to initiate the disabling of weapons.

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) is also preparing for disarmament of Civilian Defence Force and Revolutionary United Front combatants in the districts of Kabala and Koinadugu, which is to begin on August 20.

UN MISSION NOTES CONDITIONS AT MITROVICA JAIL

The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) noted efforts to improve conditions at the Detention Center in Mitrovica, where 16 Kosovo Serbs are on the second week of a hunger strike during which, among other things, they have demanded improvements in the quality of life there.

The jail has been refurbished over the past year to prevent escape; it is not designed for long-term incarceration, and has few amenities. However, the UN Mission's Judicial Affairs Department is looking into what improvements can be made, and the International Committee of the Red Cross is visiting the hunger strikers regularly.

The Mission also noted the meeting Wednesday between the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic.

UN ENVOY RECEIVES REPORT ON VIEWS ON EAST TIMOR CONSTITUTION

East Timor's Constitutional Commissioners today presented the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello, with detailed reports describing the views of tens of thousands of East Timorese on what should be considered in drafting a future Constitution. Vieira de Mello praised the more than 38,000 people who had come to express their views at 200 public hearings held across East Timor.

The hearings also discussed what East Timor's political system, currency and flag should be, as well as topics ranging from punishments for crimes to education and foreign investment.

Vieira de Mello will present a final report on the Commissioners' findings to the Constituent Assembly that is to be elected on August 30.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo will make his return to competitive football this Sunday, August 19, in his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), in a match in Milan that is to be dedicated to the fight against poverty. Ronaldo and his InterMilan team will face Nigeria's champion soccer club Enyimba, in part of the continuing effort to raise awareness and support for initiatives to combat poverty. Proceeds will go to UNDP-selected projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in an information note today, pointed to the effectiveness of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. UNAIDS and WHO stress that the consistent use of male latex condoms significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection, and that such condoms are impermeable to infectious agents contained in genital secretions, including the smallest viruses.

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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