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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-06-26United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSWednesday, June 26, 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
UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was shocked to learn of the terrorist attack on a United States airforce base in Dhahran, Saudia Arabia, a UN Spokesman said. Expressing condemnation at "this latest act of terrorism", the Secretary- General called upon the international community to strengthen its efforts to combat international terrorism. Dr. Boutros-Ghali extended condolences to the families of the victims. Negotiations on the Cyprus situation have been at an impasse for too long, UN Secretary-General told Security Council in his report on the current mandate period of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Secretary-General, in his report to Security Council, noted that thirty- two years after the first involvement of the United Nations in the Cyprus conflict, international community can reasonably demand evidence that both parties, and others concerned, are serious in their pursuit of an overall settlement, UN Spokesman, Sylvana Foa said. Noting that the Security Council has repeatedly stated that the existing status quo is unacceptable, the Secretary-General says a lasting settlement will not be achieved unless the two leaders can persuade their communities that their interests will be better served by flexibility and compromise than by continuing confrontation. The Secretary-General call on the two leaders to cooperate with the UN and the international community to break the present impasse and establish common ground on which direct negotiations can be resumed, the Spokesman said. The United Nations and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement aimed at enhancing and strengthening cooperation between the two organisations. The UN Secretary-General hailed the agreement as an important recognition for the need for close cooperation on global issues, especially those involving the movement of people affected by complex or natural disasters. Commenting on the cooperation agreement, the IOM Director-General James N. Purcell, Jr. said the agreement underscored the close ties between the two organisations and held the promise of continued improvement in the international community's handling of issues involving migration, refugees and displaced persons. The IOM, with more than 100 member and observer States, assists in meeting the operational challenges of migration worldwide, advances understanding of migration issues, encourages social and economic development through migration, and works towards effective respect for the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Donors were willing to fund massive public works projects with visible, palpable benefits for Palestine Refugees, yet, were unable to support the basic health, education and relief activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said UNRWA representative William Lee. Addressing the annual North American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Mr. Lee said the UNRWA sought to use its unique position to reach beyond present needs and build a foundation for the future, however because of severe budget deficits, the Agency could no longer continue without a visible diminution in the quality and quantity of its services. He said the Agency would welcome non-governmental organisation initiatives to persuade governments to maintain and broaden their financial support. International teams of scientists will be collecting terrestrial and marine samples at the Pacific atolls of Mururoa and Fangatuafa for about one month starting early July, in the context of the radiological study requested from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by France. Teams will visit the atolls in relays to collect samples including plankton, fish, seawater, lagoon sediment, coral, soil, coconuts and vegetation. The samples will subsequently be shared for analysis with a grid of laboratories worldwide, and the results forwarded to the IAEA in Vienna. Governments should strengthen their judicial systems in the effort to combat illicit drug trafficking, the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Oskar Schroeder, told the Economic and Social Council at the start of its three-day high level discussion, in New York. He added that careful consideration should also be given to extradition, mutual legal assistance and to the confiscation and sharing of assets and proceeds. The high-level meeting also heard that the proposed 1998 special session of the General Assembly, to discuss the problem of illegal drugs, should establish deadlines for universal adherence to international drug control conventions. Various speakers called for greater international cooperation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rodrigo Pardo Garcia-Pe¤a, who said that his Government would continue attacking drug cartels through stronger national legislation, fines and longer prison terms. Political will was essential in reducing international demand, he said. The Council President, Jean-Marie Kacou Gervais of Cote d'Ivoire, said the cooperation of all countries would be needed to ensure the implementation of the 1988 UN Convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Some 150 million people worldwide had incurred significant health risks as a result of using psychoactive substances other than alcohol or tobacco, said Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). He told the meeting that it was necessary to provide affordable care to those who needed it by strengthening community-based approaches and primary care. 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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