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United Nations Daily Highlights, 96-11-21United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSThursday, 21 November 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 today told the World Television Forum that the challenge is to harness the immediacy and emotional power of television in the service of greater knowledge and understanding of world events. He added that the cultural, economic and political impact of media globalisation demands an informed and considered response from all. The two- day United Nations conference, being held in New York, is aimed at bringing together a large diverse group of world broadcast leaders. Dr. Boutros-Ghali said that the beginning of a cross-fertilisation of sensitivities and understanding of the other can only take place with a true globalisation of information. He pointed out that there is a risk of creating a culture of the moment, a series of instantaneous reactions, without the analysis and the debate necessary to understand the many complex dimensions of various problems. He underscored that the quantity of information or the technological advances could not be emphasised at the expense of quality of analysis. "The images carried by television affect the work of the United Nations. I have often remarked that television is the sixteenth member of the Security Council. I am convinced that the impact of television images, especially current affairs and news programmes have a considerable bearing on public opinion. And today, the weight of public opinion is a recognised influence in policy-making," the Secretary- General stated. The President of the General Assembly Ambassador Razali Ismail of Malaysia said the revolution in information technology has enormous implications for the business and deliberations of the United Nations. He added that the power of television was real, and that, as with all human-created powers, its expression must be framed within an understanding of the grave responsibilities that accompany it. "While the power of the media - particularly of television in the case of remote places - is such that it can influence decision making at the highest political level, such an enormous responsibility is only deserved if it is matched by an even-handed representation of news values and world events," Mr. Ismail stated. The Assembly President told the conference that the media has been unable to cover the major debates, such as those that are conducted in the United Nations as part of the mainstream political and social debate. UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has said in a report on the UN Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) that there has been some improvement in the security situation in the country and in the capacity of the Haitian National Police. In his report to the Security Council, Dr. Boutros Ghali also said the spate of violence in that country had abated. He indicated, however, that there were indications that small groups of former members of the Armed Force of Haiti, with support from certain political figures of the previous regime, were behind some of the incidents. While inactive in recent weeks, he added, some of these groups continue to have access to funding and weapons. "The presence of UNSMIH continues, therefore, to be required to give the international programme of support the firm foundation necessary to ensure its success, to allow for an orderly transfer to the Haitian authorities of the functions now being carried out by the Mission, and to consolidate the considerable investment made by the international community in the resolution of democracy in Haiti," the Secretary- General's report says. Dr. Boutros-Ghali stated that he would be ready to recommend that the Security Council extend the mandate of UNSMIH until 30 June 1997 at its current strength if the Government of Haiti makes such a request. UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has said in his progress report on the United Nations Verification Mission to Angola (UNAVEM III) that despite some progress in the peace process, the implementation of the timetable is still behind schedule, Secretary-General's Spokesman Sylvana Foa said today. The commitment the parties made only a week ago have not been fully implemented especially by the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), she added. The report stated that it was imperative that UNITA cooperates fully with the United Nations in resolving outstanding issues related to quartering of all its troops, handing over of its military equipment, and the formation of unified armed forces, according to the Spokesman. The Secretary-General's report said the Angolan government is expected to complete all logistical preparation for the incorporation of UNITA troops and Police personnel into the unified armed forces and the new national police force. In an effort to streamline and economise the UNAVEM operation, Dr. Boutros-Ghali indicated in the report he has decided to withdraw from Angola four UN infantry and support units. UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has received a communique from the President of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Tabbah and the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Corporal Foday Saybana Sankoh, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General said. They have put out a statement in Freetown, saying they have agreed to meet in Abidjan on 29 November to sign a draft peace agreement, according to the Spokesman. The Secretary-General said that is the best present he could have gotten in his fifth anniversary as Secretary-General, Ms. Foa added. He has consistently urged an early signature of this accord which will mark a significant development towards establishing peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone. Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali has called on both parties to implement in good faith their understanding as stated in their joint announcement, the Spokesman said. The Observer for the Holy See at the United Nations, Archbishop Renato Martino has called for the lifting of economic sanctions against Burundi. Archbishop Martino told the Third Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian) of the General Assembly that if Burundi continued to be isolated and its people condemned to live in extreme need, extremists could plunge that country in chaos. Archbishop Martino said a remedy must be found for the turbulence that has given rise to genocide and political unrest. The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the General Assembly said it will ask the Assembly to call for the equal and non- discriminatory participation of girls and young woman as partners with boys and young men in social, economic and political life. The Committee said States and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be called on to implement gender sensitive strategies to address the rights and needs of children, especially the girl child. The Assembly would call for social support to enforce the laws on the minimum legal age for marriage, particularly through educational opportunities for girls, and to strengthen and reorient health education and services. It would also call for special attention to protect adolescent girls from sexual exploitation, harmful cultural practices and abuse. The General Assembly would urge Administering Powers to safeguard the inalienable right of peoples of colonial and Non-Self Governing Territories to their natural resources, according to a draft resolution approved by the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonisation). The Assembly would also urge that they be permitted to establish control over the future development of those resources. UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Director- General, Federico Mayor has called the incarceration of children and adolescents an admission of society's failure and recalled the importance of respecting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. "Even worse, there are instances of incarceration that are extremely severe, where minors are subjected to cruel punishment which include harmful physical and psychological treatment often leading to attempts at auto- mutilation. Those who succeed hope to find relief in an infirmary, if one exists," Mr. Mayor stated. Jumber Lezhava, 57, a native of Georgia in the former Soviet Union has been travelling around the world by bicycle since 1993, the Spokesman for the Secretary General Sylvana Foa said today. Mr. Lezhava and his bicycle called Jane, have so far covered 115,800 miles, with a United Nations flag as a constant companion. Mr. Lezhava's trip was dedicated to the idea of love, peace, tolerance and friendship, Ms. Foa said. The cyclist said he still had 120,000 miles to go and is now heading for South America, Africa and Europe. 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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