United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-01-07

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday, 7 January 1997

HEADLINES

• UN Secretary-General receives United States Secretary of State.
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees says 1.3 million refugees returned to Rwanda from Tanzania and Zaire in 1996.
• UNITA soldiers continue to be incorporated in Angolan National Army.
• UN Civilian Police to investigate explosion at catholic church in area of responsibility of UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia.
• Conference on Disarmament to begin first part of its 1997 session on 21 January.
• United Nations Volunteers honoured for population work.
• Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee to begin its 16th session in New York next Monday.

Meanwhile, 473,082 Rwandan returnees had arrived in southeastern Rwanda from Tanzania between 14 and 31 December, according to the latest report from the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda (HRFOR), which included 138 observers. A majority of the returnees, from the former refugee camps in Ngara and Karagwe in northeastern Tanzania, were originally from Kibungo and Mutara Prefectures, a UN Spokesman in Geneva said.

HRFOR also reported that as of 31 December, at least 5,460 returnees from Zaire and Tanzania were being held in detention throughout the country, the Spokesman stated, adding that HRFOR had observed the first genocide trials in Kibungo, Kigali and Byumba in Rwanda. The Operation welcomed the beginning of trials, but it expressed concern over several aspects of the proceedings in Kibungo, in particular the lack of respect for the right to a defence.

The number of UNITA soldiers selected for incorporation - but not yet incorporated as of today - is 18,873, the Spokesman for the Secretary- General stated. He added that the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Blondin Beye, planned to resume consultations tomorrow with both the Angolan Government and UNITA, regarding the remaining issues, including the special status of UNITA leader Dr. Jonas Savimbi and the extension of the State Administration throughout Angola.

The Spokesman indicated that, on these two questions, UNITA had submitted a document outlining its positions, while the Angolan Government had earlier submitted its own proposals. He pointed out that, according to the agreed timetable, 70 UNITA deputies would return to Luanda on 17 January to assume their functions in the National Assembly; UNITA would start functioning as a political party on 18 January; a new government of unity and national reconciliation would be formed on 23 January; and an inaugural ceremony would take place, two days later. The new Government would start functioning as of that date.

Part of the inventory of that church was demolished on December 24 when between 200 and 300 local Serbs demonstrated against the visit of the Croatian displaced persons from Ilok and the holding of Christmas mass there. UNTAES Spokesman in Vukovar, Phil Arnold said that both the UN Civilian Police and the Transitional Police Force were conducting the investigation.

Consultations would aim, in the light of the progress made with the drafting of the text of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, to continue to strengthen the Conference as the sole multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament.

Delia Buratto was instrumental in introducing population education in schools and in helping to pioneer population studies and training in the university in Zimbabwe. Ms. Buratto helped the Government develop projects in the information, education and communications fields, as well as in population dynamics, the trends affecting population growth.

Bhagwan Shrestha worked in the health and population sectors in Guyana for nearly nine years, particularly with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA). Travelling throughout the country, Mr. Shrestha trained the Association's staff, health professionals, educators, and community leaders in information, education and communication, as well as in counselling personnel.

"The UNFPA suggested the award by way of marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations Volunteers, which has made significant contributions to the work of the Fund and its partners over the years. The UNFPA felt that to honour one or two of the most outstanding contributions would be an appropriate way of honouring all the United Nations Volunteers, " UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Nafis Sadik said.

The Committee will review the report of eight States parties to the Convention, including the initial reports of Morocco and Slovenia. It will also examine the combined initial, second and third periodic reports of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the second and third reports of Turkey; and the third periodic reports of Denmark, the Philippines, and Venezuela. The Committee will consider the third and fourth periodic reports of Canada.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which has been ratified by 154 countries, requires State parties to eliminate discrimination against women in the enjoyment of all civil, political, economic and cultural rights. State parties are also encouraged to introduce affirmative action measures to promote equality between women and men. Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, one year after becoming a State party and then at least once every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

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

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