United Nations Daily Highlights 96-04-25

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, April 25, 1996

HEADLINES

• General Assembly calls upon Israel to immediately cease military action against territorial integrity of Lebanon and to withdraw forces from all Lebanese territory.
• Security Council calls upon parties in Abkhazia Georgia to achieve substantive progress without delay.
• Security Council condemns all acts of violence in Burundi, and expresses concern at calls for arming of civilians.
• UN Conference on Trade and Development should define new strategies to support developing countries in efforts towards progress, Secretary-General says.
• International community responds positively in assisting Lebanon with humanitarian needs, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs says.
• Situation in Liberia improves with all hostages released; concern over cholera cases.
• International Tribunal for former Yugoslavia orders General Djukic's provisional release solely on humanitarian grounds.
• With flurry of final pleas for greater respect for human rights of children, Commission on Human Rights concludes five weeks of general debate.
• Two-day programme of activities begins at UN Headquarters to mark tenth anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear accident.

The Assembly took that action today by adopting an orally revised resolution by 64 votes in favour, 2 against (Israel and the United States), and 65 abstentions. The resolution called for strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries. In addition, all concerned were called upon to respect the safety and security of civilians in conformity with the rules of international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General was requested to dispatch a special technical mission to the area to study and prepare, within one months time, in cooperation with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a report on the human and material losses and damage resulting from the recent and ongoing hostilities. Furthermore, the Assembly called upon Member States to offer humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the population and to assist the Government of Lebanon in the reconstruction of the country.

In a presidential statement today, - after considering the Secretary- General's interim report concerning the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia - members of the Council stressed that the international community's ability to assist in the region depends on the full cooperation of the parties. It reaffirmed its full support at achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, including the political integrity of Abakhazia, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

Security Council President for April, Ambassador Juan Somavia of Chile reading the statement on behalf of its members, said the Council expressed its deep concern at the deterioration of security conditions in the Gali region which negatively affected the ability of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) to meet its mandated tasks.

Reading the statement on behalf of its members, Security Council President for April, Ambassador Juan Somavia of Chile said the Council called upon all Burundians to renounce the use of violence and to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to ensure a peaceful future for their country.

Speaking to correspondents on his arrival in South Africa for the opening of the ninth meeting of UNCTAD, the Secretary-General said the Conference should play a key role in addressing the promotion of growth and development in the era of globalization and liberalization of the world's economy. The meeting will, in particular, look at ways of integrating two billion people who are excluded from the global economy and live in conditions of poverty.

Dr. Boutros-Ghali expressed his hope that the international community will demonstrate its political will to improve people's lives, in particular, in the least developed countries. He said that South Africa was giving the world an example of politically, socially, and morally sustainable nationhood.

The international community has donated $4.5 million to assist Lebanon with basic supplies such as food, water and medicines, Mr. Akashi said. In addition, UN agencies such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) had greatly assisted Lebanon.

Since the conflict began, 400,000 persons - about 1/8 of Lebanon's population - have been displaced, Mr. Akashi said. Some 10 per cent of them were housed in compounds of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Providing the needy with supplies was still difficult due to the on-going bombardments. The Government of Lebanon had expressed its concern over the crisis, since before it the country was undergoing reconstruction.

The forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) had been deployed around the Barclay Training Camp, Ms. Foa said. The food and water situation had improved but the World Health Organization (WHO) was concerned over the cholera cases which currently numbered 45.

According to a statement by the Tribunal, the Judges said General Djukic's medical condition was incompatible with any form of detention. It therefore ordered that he be permitted to leave the Netherlands in order to join his family.

General Djukic's departure was subject to the following conditions: to inform the Registry of his address, and of any future change of address; to keep the Registrar informed as to his medical condition; should his medical condition permit, the General, when summoned, needed to appear before the Tribunal to answer any request addressed to him. In addition, the Government of the States of his residence could not obstruct the execution of any requests made by the Tribunal in respect of the General.

During its final debate, speakers stressed the problems of child labour and the need to eradicate it. Developed nations were urged to help poorer nations - where child labour was endemic - by providing financial and technical assistance and by giving higher priority to goods from developing countries. The Commission has also elected 13 experts and several alternate members to its principal subsidiary body, the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

As part of the activities there would be a concert by the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra today, and tomorrow, a press conference by representatives of Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine would take place, Ms. Foa said. The explosion, ten years ago, at the Fourth Reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, had a devastating impact on the subregion's economy and environment. It's impact continues to haunt the economies of three countries Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as the health of many people living there.

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

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