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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-06-18United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSTuesday, June 18, 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 Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the planet is still "losing ground" to desertification, with some 1 billion people directly affected and 5.2 billion hectares of useful drylands in more than 100 countries having already suffered erosion and soil degradation. The Convention to Combat Desertification may soon take effect with the likelihood that the 50 ratifications necessary for the Convention to be realised could be reached by the end of this year. One year after the first World Day to Combat Desertification was observed on 17 June 1995, 31 countries have ratified the Convention. Symbolizing an agreement between developed and developing nations on the need for a global coalition to address desertification, the Convention differs from previous efforts in that it is legally binding. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has today issued an appeal for $12.9 million for the repatriation and integration this year of some of the 104,000 refugees from Mali and 15,500 from Niger. The refugees are currently in the surrounding countries, according to the agency. UNHCR says of the $12.9 million needed this year, varying amounts will cover the costs of transport, the supply of water to returnee areas in the desert, shelter, health services and of livelihood projects. The benefits and burden of conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources should be equitably shared among all countries, according to Dr. Jaques Diouf, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Addressing the 4th International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, Dr. Diouf said that a significant portion of important plant genetic resources stored in genebanks, or conserved by farmers is currently not secure. Dr. Diouf urged the delegates attending the week-long Leipzig- Conference to adopt the proposed Global Plan of Action. "You should not leave Leipzig without an agreement. The international community can now enter a new era of more systematic, rational, balanced and equitable co- operation with this Action Plan. You can imagine the discouraging decades ahead if the necessary steps for the adoption of the Plan are not taken now," he said. The Global Plan of Action proposes policies and strategies for better management of plant genetic resources at regional and global levels, combining traditional knowledge and modern technologies. Dr. Diouf also announced that the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) would convene a World Food Summit at the level of Heads of State or Government in Rome, 13-17 November 1996. The Summit is expected to renew the world's commitment to universal food security and agree on the policies and strategies and a Plan of Action to achieve this. The Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly, charged with the preparation of the mid-term review of the United Nations Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, will hold an organisational session at Headquarters later this week. The mid-term review is scheduled to be held in September. The New Agenda was adopted by the Assembly in 1991 as a compact between Africa and its partners to reverse the deterioration in the continent's socio-economic situation and to renew the international community's support to Africa's efforts to achieve growth and development. A revised and updated publication, 'United Nations and Crime Prevention,' originally published in 1991, was released today by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI). The 160-page book reviews recent crime trends, ranging from the growth of "crime multinationals" and international money- laundering to "eco-crime", "cyber-crime" and large- scale trafficking in illegal migrants. The publication also addresses contemporary ways of looking at old problems, like violence against women, juvenile delinquency and crimes against cultural patrimonies. The book may be obtained from the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A draft declaration to ensure that the benefits of space exploration and space technology are shared among all nations, as well as plans for a third United Nations conference on space cooperation are among some of the recommendations by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at the conclusion of its annual session in Vienna. The eight-article draft declaration recommended to the General Assembly would have the assembly affirm space exploration as the province of all humankind, stressing the freedom of States to determine what type of cooperation they deem to be equitable, effective and mutually acceptable. The Committee would also have the Assembly decide that a third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Exploration and Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) should take the form of a special session of the Committee, open to all Member States. It would be convened at Vienna in 1999 or 2000, depending on how soon agreement can be reached on an agenda. The Committee also made a series of other recommendations including a recommendation concerning ongoing work by its subsidiary bodies, as well as a call for closer cooperation between the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Real income per person is rising this year in over 80 per cent of the developing economies, where 96 per cent of the population of the developing world lives, the World Economic and Social Survey 1996 states. The Survey will be released next week by the UN Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (DESIPA), as the Economic and Social Council begins its substantive session at Headquarters on 24 June. The survey also investigates business investment in the world economy, and in the light of the just concluded second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) looks at the demography of urban population growth, electricity capacity in developing countries, and the looming crises in available freshwater. The Security Council, meeting in consultations today, heard a report on the situation in Somalia from the Special Advisor to the Secretary- General Mr Gharekhan, according to UN Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi. The Council had requested the Secretariat to report every month on the situation in Somalia. In his report, Mr Gharekhan addressed the question of the UN political office in Somalia. The office, currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, is continuing to monitor the situation in Somalia closely. The Spokesman also said that there are efforts to coordinate the peace- making activities of the United Nations and the regional organisations, the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) and the Arab league regarding Somalia. Meanwhile, the Mogadishu seaport and the airport remain closed following the fighting in south Mogadishu resulting in many casualties. Two major towns Baidoa and Kismayu remain tense, however humanitarian assistance activities are continuing, except in Mogadishu and Baidoa which are off limits for the time being, the Spokesman said. The Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (UNITA) crossed the 50 000 quartering mark, by registering 50,165 soldiers, according to a UN spokesman. The Government already quartered its Rapid Reaction Police on 11 June. The talks between Mr. Beye, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and UNITA leader, Dr. Jonas Savimbi were constructive, according to the Spokesman. Mr. Beye expressed satisfaction with progress in disarming the UNITA troops in 14 UN supervised quartering areas. The Government of Cyprus would make voluntary contributions for peace- keeping operations equivalent to one third of its assessed contribution for such operations from 1 January until the next adjustment of the regular budget scale of assessments, a UN Spokesman said, today. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to the President of Cyprus for "this concrete gesture of support for the United Nations", the Spokesman noted. 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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