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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-05-20United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSMonday, May 20, 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
The United Nations and the Government of Iraq have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding which codifies the practical arrangements for the implementation of the oil-for-food agreement, including duration and renewability of the agreement, distribution plan, establishment of an escrow account, sale of petroleum and petroleum products, procurement and confirmation of procedures, distribution of humanitarian supplies and observation of the distribution of humanitarian supplies. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali has told the Security Council that the agreement was a success for the Council because it was the outcome of their initiative, according to UN Spokesman Sylvanna Foa. He has told the Council that in 1995, it had recognized the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people and decided to find a way to help some of the poorest of the poor on this earth. The Spokesman said the agreement was an expression of the humanitarian concerns of the Secretariat, the Security Council and all Member States of the UN for the suffering of the people of Iraq. She noted that this is the year for the eradication of poverty. "What better place to start but in a land that does not produce enough food to support itself but has the resources to feed its people?" A way to alleviate the problems of the people of Iraq was being found, said Ms. Foa. The General Assembly should not accept the demand by the Congress of the largest contributor for "certification" that the United Nations budget did not exceed $2.6 billion as a pre-condition of payment of dues, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, the representative of Cuba, told the Administrative and Budget (Fifth) Committee as that body was discussing proposals to save $154 million. Such a policy was contrary to the Treaty obligations of Members States and accepting the demand would create the dangerous precedent of the extra-territorial application of a State's national law, he added. The representative of China, Zhang Wanhai, said savings from the budget should not affect the full implementation of programmes, while Nikolai Lozinsky, the representative of the Russian Federation, said the Secretariat should explain why it was seeking a greater vacancy rate than the 6.4 per cent requested by the Assembly. The view was echoed by several other delegates. While savings were necessary, the United Nations must provide delegates with full and efficient conference servicing with equal facilities for all the languages he said and expressed sympathy for the views of the Committee on Conferences on the effect the savings could have on the ability of the United Nations to service meetings. Speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, the representative of Costa Rica, Nazareth Incera, reiterated that absence of such services would affect the quality of work of some Member States. "Building the Palestinian Economy" is the theme of a seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, to be held in Cairo, Egypt, from 21 to 23 May. The event aims to make a positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles, signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Movement (PLO) in September 1993. The seminar has been convened by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. To review its mandate, terms of reference and scope of work, and elaborate its programme of activity to the year 2000, the Commission for Social Development will hold an eight-day special session at Headquarters beginning 21 May. The Commission will also focus attention on the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, especially the aspects dealing with poverty eradication. The General Assembly has proclaimed 1996 as the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty and designated 1997-2006 as the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. The Commission for Social Development is the body with the central role in the follow-up to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development. The General Assembly would express concern about proposals to further reduce the budget of the Department of Public Information (DPI), which might negatively affect its mandated activities, according to a draft resolution approved by the Committee on Information at its closing meeting. The Assembly, among other actions, would ask the Secretariat to continue DPI's involvement at the planning stage of United Nations peace- keeping and other field operations. Addressing the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Public Information Samir Sanbar expressed appreciation for the Committee's continued support for DPI. Municipal Representatives from European cities will meet in Warsaw, Poland, from 23 to 25 May to review key strategies and policies required for reorienting the administrative structures, processes and methods of metropolitan governance to meet the increasing needs for economic development. The results of the meeting are expected to be presented at Habitat II along with the reports from other regional meetings. The Colloquium has been organized by the United Nations in collaboration with the City of Warsaw, the Polish Municipal Development Agency, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Another UN Member State has paid its assessed contributions to the 1996 regular budget of the United Nations, a UN Spokesman said. Thailand has paid over $109,970 in full and the contribution brings the total to 63 member states and two non-member states that have so far paid their 1996 regular budget assessments. 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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