United Nations Daily Highlights 96-06-03

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, June 3, 1996

HEADLINES

• Crises of urban development are crises for all states, Secretary-General tells HABITAT II.
• Problems of human settlements transcend national borders; demand collective will, Secretary-General says at pre-Habitat II ceremony.
• Barbados and Belize become 67th and 68th UN Member States to pay 1996 assessed contributions in full.
• UNDP gives $1 million to tornado victims in Bangladesh.
• UNDP to launch Human Development Report next month.
• UNPA issues HABITAT II stamps.
• Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer space to consider convening third conference on exploration and peaceful uses of space.
• Compensation Commission awards $425 million to claimants.
• United Nations seminar on building Palestinian economy, discusses international assistance to Palestinian people.

Dr. Boutros-Ghali noted that Habitat II was the last in a series of United Nations Conferences which have shaped, during the 1990s, an agenda for development. He recalled that since assuming office he has stressed the importance of viewing development as a cooperative venture. He then told the delegates that they were deciding the form of development cooperation the United Nations would adopt, which would in turn determine development patterns for future generations.

He pointed out that although the crises of urban development were crises for all States, rich and poor, challenges were more severe in the developing countries. He therefore urged delegates to balance their concern with cities and towns with a need to develop rural settlements and the rural economy. He said the problems of human settlements were "common problems" but that they also provided "the basis for common action."

He sounded the alarm regarding the problems of rapid urbanization and called upon the world to adapt a global plan of action that will ensure cities, towns and villages that are viable, safe, prosperous, healthy and equitable in the next century.

The Secretary-General paid tribute to the people of Istanbul and of Turkey "who have welcomed us all so warmly in their beautiful city". He expressed gratitude to President Demirel of Turkey and the Mayor of Istanbul, Tayyip Erdogan.

President Suleyman Demirel noted that it was imperative that a global approach be sought to remedy the many problems that accompany rapid urbanization. The Istanbul Conference gave world leaders an opportunity "to commit themselves to the urgent cause of making the world's cities, towns and villages healthy, secure and sustainable", he added.

The Secretary-General of HABITAT II, Wally N'Dow, pointed out that the recipe of the past can no longer suffice. "A global contract for building sustainable human settlements must be forged", he said.

Speaking on behalf of 132 developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean members of the Group of 77 and China, Ambassador Fernando Berrocal-Soto of Costa Rica, said the key to sustainable human settlements was the eradication of poverty. He emphasized that international cooperation was indispensable for strengthening the capacities of developing countries to eradicate poverty, addressing the problems of population, and achieving sustained economic growth. Those would lead to sustainable development, stamp out homelessness and make villages, towns and cities in developing countries healthy, productive, just and caring.

To this end Ambassador Berrocal-Soto urged that substantial financial resources should be mobilized by the international community with the view to addressing the issue of human settlements in developing countries.

The Secretary-General expressed his deepest gratitude "to the Turkish Republic, the city of Istanbul" and to President Demirel of Turkey for hosting the Habitat II Conference.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali also met with Turkey's Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. The Prime Minister told him that his country attached great importance to the extension of the Implementation Force (IFOR) mandate when it expired at the end of the year. Mr. Yilmaz had paid a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina recently.

The Secretary-General reviewed Turkey's role in the implementation of the "oil-for-food" agreement with Iraq. He also thanked Turkey for its participation in various UN peace-keeping operations.

Among the issues the Secretary-General and Prime Minister Yilmaz discussed, was the reform of the United Nations, including that of the Security Council.

Some 525 people were killed and 21,800 houses damaged by the tornado.

The stamps were issued in sheets of 25 stamps, consisting of 5 horizontal se-tenant strips of 5 stamps each. The denominations are 32 cents, Fs. 0,70 and S 6. The three five-stamp strips depict various human settlement activities, designed by Teresa Fasolino of the United States of America.

The Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will consider the General Assembly's request to focus on all issues related to the possible convening of a third United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, including technical and political objectives, a focussed agenda, funding and timing, as well as whether the objectives of such conference could be met by other means.

Growing concern about how to deal with the problem and dangers of accumulating debris in earth orbit --mainly in the form of used or damaged satellites-- will also be addressed. The two week meeting will provide an opportunity for governments to review their recent space-based activities and to exchange views on how best to share the benefits of space research.

Participants emphasized the need for the Palestinian economy to reduce its dependence on the economy of Israel. The meeting also expressed concern at the repeated closures by the Israeli authorities of parts of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, resulting in limited economic exchange and causing considerable disruption for the Palestinian economy.

As its fifth anniversary approaches, the Commission is in an advanced stage of its work, having dealt with 2.2 million of the 2.6 million claims received and will soon start making its first substantial payments of compensation awards.

The Compensation Commission is charged with awarding compensation claims to individuals and organisations affected by the Gulf war.

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

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