United Nations Daily Highlights 96-04-08

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 8 April 1996

HEADLINES

• UN Member States must make hard call as to which UN Programmes should continue and which ones dropped, Secretary-General says.
• Secretary-General back in Headquarters after three-nation Asian mission.
• Concerned over fighting in Liberia, Secretary-General appeals to fighting factions to desist from escalating violence.
• Limited progress in Angola by Government and UNITA, Secretary-General reports.
• Allegations by NGOs on torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances before Commission on Human Rights.
• Committee on Human Rights calls on a few countries to implement International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as it concludes session.
• Twelve Best Practices selected to be highlighted at Habitat II.

In the past four years, the Organizations have been streamlined, Dr. Boutros-Ghali states. In addition, the staff is leaner, procedures simpler, and duplication has been sharply reduced. Also, his proposed $2.5 billion budget for 1996-1997 is $98 million less than the previous year's budget and $140 million in cuts have been identified.

The United States and the Russian Federation dominate the past-due list, Dr. Boutros-Ghali states. In spite of that, the Russian Federation has paid $400 million, including its full regular assessment of $46 million for 1996. However, the United States owes $1.5 billion in dues and assessments. Thus, even with Russia's payment, the United Nations will run out of money by the end of 1996. The cash on hand is currently under $100 million, he adds.

Borrowing from the peacekeeping budget to meet regular United Nations operating needs can't continue, the Secretary-General adds. It needs to be injected with more cash, otherwise it would collapse, he emphasized.

In his "Op-Ed" article, Dr. Boutros-Ghali said Americans needed to know what was going on, because their country took the lead in creating the Organization, and its delinquency in paying arrears is threatening it.

In his five-day visit to Beijing, he met with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng to discuss China's crucial role in global affairs, and in the United Nations in particular. Discussions also covered other topics such as the issue of Taiwan and the status of talks on East Timor.

In the second-leg of his Asian mission, the Secretary-General met with the President of the Republic of Korea, Kim Young Sam whom he told the United Nations will pave the way for easing tensions between the two Koreas. The Secretary-General also told him that the Korean peninsula was at the heart of the region, and security there could significantly contribute to peace world wide.

In the third and final leg of his Asian mission, Dr. Boutros-Ghali visited Japan where he met with Primer Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to discuss the pitfalls that can stall the development process and the failure of some United Nations Member States to pay their assessed contributions. The Secretary-General also inaugurated the UN University's Institute of Advanced Studies in Tokyo.

Even though a decision to evacuate the United Nations staff has not been made, most of them have moved to the United States compound UN Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said.

The number of personnel of the United Nations Observation Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) as well as that of all the agencies numbered 233. That included about 90 military observers as well as about 60 local and international civilians, Mr. Fawzi said. He added that nobody had been hurt and communications with the mission had been restored after being interrupted. In addition, thousands of people had fled the fighting areas. Internally displaced people will require assistance once freedom of movement is established, the UN Spokesman emphasized.

In his progress report on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III), the Secretary-General has indicated the hopes expected from the meeting between President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and UNITA leader, Jonas Savimbi on 1 March had not been fulfilled. Dr. Boutros-Ghali has called upon the Government of Angola and UNITA to implement - in good faith and in the agreed time frame - the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol. He has also stated that if the peace process is to reach a successful conclusion, the next few months must be a period of dynamic and fundamental change.

The Commission for the Defense of Human Rights in Central America said there has been a trend toward legislation granting impunity - Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Peru have passed such laws.

The Committee also reading its draft general comment on Article 25 of the Covenant, which concerns the right to take part in public affairs, to vote or be elected, and to have access to public service. In several closed meetings, it also considered communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violation of rights protected by the Covenant.

Regarding Nigeria, for example, the Committee recommended that it immediately suspend all decrees establishing special tribunals or otherwise abrogating fundamental rights. It urged that persons facing trials be afforded all the guarantees to a fair trial and to having their conviction and sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal.

A 10-member international Best Practices jury - which met in Toronto, Canada - selected the 12 projects which include the Integration Council in the Favelas' Rehabilitation Process, Fortaleza, Brazil; Post- calamity Reconstruction of Anhui Province's Rural Areas, China; Shelter Upgrading, Agadir, Morocco; and City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.

The 12 selected Best Practices are expected to send a message to the world at the City Summit in Istanbul that will encourage and motivate other communities to adopt plans that provide healthier, safer, more equitable and sustainable living conditions.

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

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