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United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-08-30United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgxmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"Marie Okabe Normal Marie Okabe 2 90 2001-08-30T19:31:00Z 2001-08-30T19:31:00Z 5 2074 11822United Nations 98 23 145189.3821 /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"\FF2D\FF33 \660E\671D"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:647 134676480 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:647 134676480 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} h1 {mso-style-next:Normal; 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mso-level-text:\F0B7; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY MANOEL DE ALMEIDA E SILVA DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK Thursday, August 30, 2001lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; ANNAN COMMENDS EAST TIMOR ON HISTORIC ELECTION DAY 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement issued by his Spokesman, the Secretary-General congratulated the people of East Timor on the success of today's Constituent Assembly elections. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: "The level of popular participation in the vote proved exceptionally high, an estimated 93 percent," the Secretary-General said, "which is far greater, in fact, than that of most democratic nations." 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: "I commend," Annan added, "the spirit of peace, maturity and tolerance shown by each and every one of you and by all political parties -- both throughout the campaign period and at the polls. It provides a glowing example to the world community." 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Secretary-General went on to say that the determination shown by the people of East Timor over the past years has been the catalyst for all the support that the United Nations and the international community have given in reviving lives and livelihoods and in re-establishing the institutions of government. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: "The United Nations stands with you in the challenging months that follow as you embark upon the complex, second phase in the establishment of government institutions and an economic structure that are sustainable well into the future," he said. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The UN mission in East Timor described the atmosphere during today's vote as "calm and peaceful" throughout the country, with no incidents of insecurity reported nationwide. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Secretary-General's Personal Representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello said, "The lack of transport proved no deterrent to the East Timorese. Voters in several rural districts walked overnight in family groups in order to arrive before the opening time. Those, including the elderly and pregnant women, were not stopped by often very long queues. Three to four hours in line in the open sun was unfortunately typical, especially in urban areas some waited even longer. Wherever I went, I was struck by the enthusiasm and determination of so many people to take part in what they clearly regarded as an historic process and another major milestone on the road to full independence." lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; ANNAN SALUTES WORK OF CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS IN FIGHT AGAINST RACISM 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In Durban, South Africa, the Secretary-General addressed the NGO Forum, a conference of non-governmental groups running in parallel with the World Conference Against Racism. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: "So often it is you, the civil society activists, who breathe life into these events," he said. "Sometimes it is also you who bring clarity," the Secretary-General added, "because you can discuss openly those awkward issues that governments tend to avoid, or to blur, in the interest of reaching consensus." 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Texts adopted in conference halls will not change anything, he went on to say, "unless people like you work with governments to follow them up, and to ensure that they are implemented." 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Annan proposed to those present that they work together to produce an annual report on the struggle against racism, highlighting not only violations but also success stories, "so that practices which have worked against racism and intolerance in one country can be tried in others." 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: After his speech, which was interrupted repeatedly by applause, he took questions from the audience. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: This evening, the Secretary-General begins a series of bilateral meetings in the margins of the Racism Conference, with the following leaders: President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister of Mozambique Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi and, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: While in Durban, the Secretary-General learned of the death of President Thabo Mbeki's father, Govan Mbeki, who himself was a leading figure in the struggle against apartheid. A statement was issued relaying in which he extended his deepest sympathy and condolences to the President and his family, as well as to the people of South Africa. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; MARY ROBINSON APPEALS TO AUSTRALIA TO ALLOW REFUGEES IN 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Speaking at a press conference in Durban, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, appealed to the people of Australia to be generous and reach out to the more than 400 possible asylum seekers aboard a Norwegian ship off Australia's Christmas Island. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In addition, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reiterated its offer to help find a solution for the impasse and said that Australia is best positioned to take the lead in resolving the impasse. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Australian Prime Minister John Howard called the Secretary-General earlier today regarding the ship problem. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: A letter from the Taliban leadership sent to the Secretary-General, concerning the ship, was received at UN headquarters yesterday afternoon. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Asked if the Secretary-General had spoken out on the matter, the Spokesman said he had not but he was following the situation very closely. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In a public meeting this morning, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the role of the Security Council in the prevention of armed conflict. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In a subsequent open meeting, the council received a briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hedi Annabi, who mentioned a number of positive developments on the political and military fronts. He cited for Council members the serious violation of human rights persisting throughout the country and the continued lack of access by humanitarian agencies to people in need. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Annabi said that the Secretary-General intended to submit to the Security Council in October, the latest details of a concept of operations for the third phase of the deployment of the UN mission in the DRC. The Secretary-General will visit the DRC and Rwanda starting this weekend following his participation in the World Conference Against Racism. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: This afternoon the Council will meet in closed consultations. The Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Colombia and the United Kingdom will report to other Council members on a recent meeting of the open-ended working group on Security Council reform. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; NEW INDICTMENTS ANNOUNCED AGAINST MILOSEVIC 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Carla del Ponte, today announced that she would sign new indictments against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in October for war crimes in Croatia and Bosnia and for genocide in Bosnia. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Milosevic appeared before Judge Richard May today in a Status Conference, which has to be called within 120 days of a first appearance to check on the progress of both the defendant and the prosecution. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Judge May announced that the Trial Chamber would ask the Registrar of the court to appoint an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to challenge the prosecutor's case in the absence of a challenge by the defendant, as Milosevic has not appointed a defense team. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: During the hearing, Milosevic made points which were noted by the Judge but then strayed into political statements at which point the Judge said that the hearing was not the forum for such statements and he would be given a chance to make them during his trial. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In other news from the Tribunal, a judge Wednesday granted former Bosnian Serb official Biljana Plavsic provisional release until her trial date is set. The Tribunal is in the process of making arrangements for Plavsic's release. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; UNRWA CHIEF THREATENED AT GAZA CHECKPOINT 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: This morning in Gaza, the convoy of Peter Hansen, Commissioner General of the UN Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was blocked at newly erected Israeli checkpoint near the Rafah refugee camp. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Hansen got out of the car and was threatened at gunpoint by the IDF soldiers and was told to immediately return to his vehicle. The convoy was forced to turn back and travel to Rafah camp by alternate roads. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Earlier in the day, at the same checkpoint, four UNRWA trucks were fired at and were also forced to turn back. The trucks, clearly labelled as UN vehicles, were carrying 60 tons of foods for distribution to special hardship cases. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: UNRWA hopes that the Israeli authorities would allow the agency access to refugee areas in order to fulfil its humanitarian mandate. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; ANNAN CELEBRATES SIGNING OF BOUGAINVILLE ACCORDS 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In a statement released through his spokesman, the Secretary-General expressed his delight at joining the rest of the international community in celebrating the signing in Arawa (Bougainville) today of a Comprehensive Political Agreement between the national government of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville leaders. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In his view, the parties to the Agreement, and all others concerned, are to be congratulated on the wisdom and foresight they have shown in reaching the Agreement, which covers the crucial issues of autonomy, referendum and weapons disposal. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Secretary-General commended the Peace Monitoring Group, comprising representatives from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu, for the important role it has played in the peace process. He is especially glad that the United Nations, through the work of its Political Office in Bougainville, has been able to make a contribution to national reconciliation. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Secretary-General expressed the readiness of that Office to assist the parties in the task of implementing this historic agreement, and particularly disposing of their weapons, on which, he hopes, they will now focus. The surrender of weapons by the combatants would clear the way for post-conflict peace-building activities, which in turn can help to ensure that the people of Bougainville benefit materially from the return of peace to the island. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; WESTERN SAHARA TALKS CONCLUDE IN WYOMING 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, James Baker, met with representatives of the Polisario Front and the Governments of Algeria and Mauritania in Pinedale, Wyoming, from August 27 to 29. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In accordance with Security Council Resolution 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001, the proposals made by the Polisario Front to overcome the obstacles in the implementation of the settlement plan were fully considered. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The proposed Framework on the status of Western Sahara was then discussed. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Algerian delegation gave its views and objections on the Framework Agreement and promised to provide further clarifications. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Polisario Front expressed its objection to and reservations about the Framework Agreement but indicated that it would consult its leadership and revert to the Personal Envoy. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The representatives of Mauritania expressed their support for any solution to the problem of Western Sahara that would promote peace and stability within the region and that would have the support of the parties. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; UN ENVOY HOPES PROGRESS IN MYANMAR WILL CONTINUE 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Razali Ismail, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar, concluded on Thursday his four-day mission aimed at facilitating national reconciliation and democratization process in Myanmar. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: During his stay in Yangon, Razali met with leaders of the Government, including Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and Foreign Minister Win Aung. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: He also met with Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), including Chairman Aung Shwe and Vice Chairman Tin Oo, who were released from house arrest last Sunday, and ethnic group representatives. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Special Envoy was pleased to confirm that all parties remain committed to the process of national reconciliation. He hopes that further progress in the on-going talks between the Government and the NLD will be possible. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Special Envoy will report the results of his mission to the Secretary-General when he visits New York in September. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; ANNAN CONFIRMS HIS PARTICIPATION AT WORLD FOOD SUMMIT 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: In a statement issued by the Secretary-General through his Spokesman, he said the views expressed by his Personal Representative for southern Lebanon, Steffan de Mistura, concerning the World Food Summit in Rome were unauthorized and unwarranted. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: They do not represent the position of the Secretary-General or of the United Nations. The Secretary-General is informing de Mistura accordingly. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: All conferences of this nature are authorized by the member governments, in this case of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, and are usually held at headquarters. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: The Secretary-General supports the convening of this conference and has confirmed his attendance. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, is in Sydney, Australia, today where he delivered an address at the 10th Anniversary of the Centre for International Communication of Macquarie University. He said that even the most challenging disarmament goals are achievable, "but only as a result of a process that is driven by political will and based on the collective sentiments of an informed and resolute public". Dhanapala continues his visit to Australia tomorrow with meetings with government officials. 12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Today, Oman became the 105th Member State to pay its 2001 regular budget contribution in full with a payment of more than $457,000. Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General United Nations, S-378 New York, NY 10017 Tel. 212-963-7162 Fax. 212-963-7055 Back United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |