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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-05-14United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSTuesday, May 14, 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
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has arrived in Moscow for an official visit to the Russian Federation. Shortly after his arrival, the Secretary-General told reporters that the main purpose of his visit to the Russian Federation is "first to reinforce the relations between the Russian Federation and the United Nations". He was also there to address the Summit Meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States and "to have consultations with the leaders concerning many problems which we have in common and which we are trying to solve". He listed these as international disputes to be solved peacefully, reinforcement of economic cooperation, and the protection of human rights. The Secretary-General is accompanied by the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, Vladimir Petrovsky and his senior adviser, Under Secretary-General Chinmaya Gharekhan. The Department of Public Information (DPI) is being urged to balance its forays into the information superhighway with continued support for more traditional media, particularly in developing countries. The calls came as the Committee on Information continued its general exchange of views and review of United Nations public information activities. The representative of China He Yafei noted that at a time when the Organization is facing grave challenges, itūs historical mission and unique influence in international affairs are irreplaceable by any other international organization. However, he said the Organization can hardly accomplish its historical mission if its work and purpose are not understood by the world's people. Therefore it has become particularly important to attach importance to and strengthen public information and communication, he added. Three more UN Member States have paid their assessed contributions to the 1996 regular budget of the United Nations. A UN spokesman said Brunei had paid just over $217,000; Ghana $108,000 and the Marshall Islands also $108, 000. Today's contributions bring the total to 61 member states and two non- member states that have so far paid their 1996 regular budget assessments. The UN Transitional Administrator for Eastern Slavonia, Jacques Klein met Monday with Serbian President Milosevic, according to spokesman Phil Arnold. Mr. Klein discussed with Mr. Milosevic the forthcoming demilitarization programme which he had previously stated would start during the second half of May, and was once more reassured by President Milosevic of his full support for the withdrawal of any kind of military units or paramilitary groups or others which have been in the UNTAES region in the past years. The meetings are held regularly with both the Croatian and Serbian leadership. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has said that more than 20, 000 Burundi refugees have arrived in Uvira in eastern Zaire over the last two weeks. However, humanitarian officials say the influx has abated in recent days from a high of several thousand daily to several hundred in the last 48 hours. One reason they say, may be the reduced tension inside Burundi's Chibitoki area. They also attribute the decline to the closure of the border which is making it more difficult for refugees to leave Burundi. The officials say small arms fire can be heard regularly on either side of the border. UN Spokesman Sylvanna Foa said today that the officials have seen people moving into Tanzania since early May when the security situation deteriorated inside Burundi. Between 150 and 300 people have been arriving daily at the Tanzanian border. That border is closed, but people who manage to slip across are allowed to stay, she said. The ship Challenge with more than 3,000 Liberian refugees fleeing fighting in Monrovia was allowed to dock in Takoradi, Ghana, according to UN Spokesman Sylvanna Foa. UNHCR said disembarkation began shortly after noon and refugees on board were being taken to an area 10 kilometres from the port. UNHCR was providing tents, plastic sheeting, blankets and other essential emergency supplies, and has also informed the government that UNHCR was willing to pay for the food, health, social services and shelter. Meanwhile, a second ship, the Victory Reefer with 900 Sierra Leone refugees who had taken refuge in Liberia along with 15 troops from the West African States Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG), including 14 from Sierra Leone and one from Nigeria, was allowed to dock in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Education Ministers representing over 30 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean are meeting in Jamaica for a conference intended to set the region's educational agenda for the 21st Century. The conference, organized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the theme "Education for Development and Peace", is focusing on the elaboration of region-wide education strategies, particularly in the areas of curriculum improvement and new approaches to classroom instruction which emphasize group learning in conjunction with personal growth and skills acquisition. The conference is also reviewing progress made in eradicating illiteracy and the improvement of the management of education systems at both the national and school levels, with emphasis on strengthening decentralization. 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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