United Nations Daily Highlights 96-05-06

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, May 6, 1996

HEADLINES

• Africa shows greater promise than at any time in past 15 years, Secretary- General says in message to Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
• Government of Guatemala, URNG and United Nations sign agreement on socio- economic aspects and agrarian situation.
• Committee on Information begins annual review of UN Information Policies, Activities.
• Moment will come, when all young people of the Middle East must join hands and reconstruct what was destroyed, says Executive Board Chairman of UNESCO.
• Committee on Natural Resources to focus on management of water and mineral resources during third session.

Average rates of economic growth in Africa in the past two years have improved; political liberalization was taking hold; rehabilitation and reconstruction were gaining momentum in many previously conflict-torn countries. These trends were cause for optimism about Africa's future, Dr. Boutros-Ghali said.

However, the Secretary-General noted that there were also reasons for concern. Conflicts continued in some countries, with disruptive effects that were felt in neighbouring countries as well. The United Nations was deeply committed to working with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to find solutions to those conflicts. He urged African governments, member States of the ECA, to support those efforts.

Dr. Boutros-Ghali said today's challenge for Africa was to reinforce the promising trends and overcome impediments to accelerated development. The United Nations' determination to assist Africa achieve its vision of a better future has been demonstrated by the launching of the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa, on 15 March 1996, he said.

With the signing of the agreement, the peace process in Guatemala is gathering momentum, a United Nations spokesman said. The cessation of offensive military action declared by both parties in March has held; the suspension, as of today, of the practice of the "war tax" by the URNG will broaden support for the peace process within the country.

The Agreement embodies one of the most comprehensive packages of commitments on several issues critical to the building of lasting peace in Guatemala, including: permitting wider participation in decision- making; promoting a more efficient and equitable agrarian structure; increasing and redirecting Government spending towards social development.

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the United Nations by Under Secretary- General for Political Affairs Marrack Goulding and UN Moderator Jean Arnault.

The Secretary-General's report points out comprehensive steps taken by DPI to ensure cost-effective production measures; judicious marketing; enhanced dissemination, including the inauguration of a UN Home Page on the World Wide Web; and revenue generation - all aimed at meeting DPI's mandate of promoting global awareness about the United Nations while taking budgetary constraints into account.

The report also reviews activities carried out in connection with the United Nations fiftieth anniversary; the two major conferences: the World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women; as well as the "extraordinary level of activities" of 62 UN information centres during 1995.

At the conclusion of its 149th session, UNESCO's Executive Board was responding to Lebanon's many civilian victims and the destruction recently wreaked on Lebanese educational, cultural and archaeological infrastructure. It called for international assistance to that country.

At the same meeting, in view of "the tragic situation prevailing in Lebanon as a result of the recent bombardment," the Board adopted a resolution asking UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor to provide emergency aid within the Organization's mandate and to assess, in co- operation with the Lebanese Government, the country's educational, cultural, media and scientific needs to create rehabilitation programmes.

During the two-week session, the Committee will consider issues involving water resources and minerals. This will include a review of implementation plans for averting a freshwater crisis and the consideration of strategies for responding to future water-resources management issues. It will also include consideration of environmental protection and restoration issues arising from mineral-industry activities, as well as discussion of the challenges of providing an environment conducive to private investment in mineral resources while also promoting social equity and sustainable development.

The 24-member Committee is made up of experts nominated by Member States of the Economic and Social Council.

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

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