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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-04-17United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSWednesday, 17 April 1996This document is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information and is updated every week-day at approximately 6:00 PM. HEADLINES
Through its upcoming discussions, the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), could cooperate successfully in the United Nations' permanent aim of enforcing cooperation among countries and people, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told the 51st session of the Commission. In his message to the opening of the ECE's annual session in Geneva, the Secretary-General praised the intention of the Commission towards strengthening the economic cooperation and partnership in the ECE region. He welcomed the Commission's initiative in discussing cooperation and sustainable industrial development. Dr. Boutros-Ghali also expressed satisfaction at the Commission's actions towards launching a process which will lead to the definition of the strategic directions of future activities of the ECE reflecting new realities in the region. Such initiatives complemented his own efforts towards reforming the UN, he added. Despite many months of vigorous efforts and intensive negotiations by the Russian Federation in its capacity as facilitator, the Georgian- Abkhaz peace process remains stalled, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali says. In a report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, Dr. Boutros-Ghali says that neither side has signed the draft protocol on the principal elements of a settlement of the conflict. This, he attributes to continued disagreement over the political status of Abkhazia. He warns that while the stalemate continues, there can be no significant improvement in the situation of displaced persons and refugees. The Secretary-General reports that the Abkhaz leadership currently recognizes that Abkhazia will be part of a single Georgian State within the boundaries of the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic as at December 1991. It also agrees that the State should be "federative" in nature. However, pronounced differences remain over the constitutional definition of the Georgian State. Dr. Boutros-Ghali explains that the Georgian side wants the draft protocol to reflect that Georgia is one single federal State within which Abkhazia enjoys certain state powers and rights. On the other hand, the Abkhaz side demands that the draft protocol describe the State as a union which came about as the result of a treaty between two subjects of equal status under international law. Even if the draft protocol is signed in the near future, it seems unlikely that it will clearly define the political status of Abkhazia, the Secretary-General says. A member of the Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG), who had been held hostage at the Barclay Training Camp in Liberia, had managed to escape, UN Spokesman Sylvanna Foa said today. Describing their condition as "pathetic", the former hostage reported that there were still about 1500 hostages inside the Camp and that 50 hostages had died due to abuse, lack of food and water, Ms. Foa said. In addition, it had been reported that the elements inside the Camp had enough food for a month. On the other hand, the UN office in River View had reported that the situation was calmer but still tense, Ms. Foa said. They expressed some relief because a ship had arrived with 100 tonnes of fuel as well as with a satellite phone fax, she added. The UN Spokesman said the World Food Programme (WFP) had distributed about 165 tonnes of food over the last few days to some 45,000 people in Monrovia. However, WFP officials expressed their concern about the fate of some 1.5 million people who have been relying on relief food assistance since civil war first broke out in Liberia in 1990, she added. The United Nations has appealed for $13 million to address the humanitarian needs of persons displaced as a result of the conflict in the Chechnya region, UN Spokesman, Sylvanna Foa said today. The 1996 UN consolidated inter-agency appeal covers the period 1 January through 31 December. The fighting in Chechnya has forced approximately 500,000 persons from their homes, roughly half of the region's population, Ms. Foa said. An estimated total of 150,000 persons have taken refuge in Daghestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia. As fighting continues, more displaced persons are expected to seek refuge there, she added. The Centre for Bio-clinical Research on AIDS for Africa was inaugurated today, at a special ceremony in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention (WFARP), which was started in 1993 - under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - is creating the centre. The new research unit is part of WFARP's programme to counter the disease in the sub-Saharan region where more than 70 per cent of the world's people suffering from AIDS live, according to a UNESCO statement. The unit will perform basic research on the African strain of HIV; it will also enable researchers to perform cell cultures on the spot, instead of sending them to Europe or the United States. In addition, it will train African physicians and scientists to form a core of indigenous AIDS researchers. The new Abidjan unit follows the opening of the Luc Montagnier Centre for AIDS research in Paris last February. Both form part of a network of WFARP research units that is expected to include others in Thailand, Japan and the United States. A former President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Betty Gough, has been chosen to receive the annual Serge Sotiroff Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to international drug control efforts, according to an announcement from the UN office in Vienna. Ms. Gough, a former diplomat and specialist in international organizations, was a member of the INCB from 1977 to 1990 and served as President of that body in 1985, 1986 and 1990. The Award granted to her commemorates the contribution of UN staff member Serge P. Sotiroff in international drug control, particularly his role in preparatory conferences leading to the 1961 Convention as well s the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. For information purposes only - - not an official record From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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