United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-04-24

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, 24 April 1997

HEADLINES

• Security Council dismayed by the continued denial of access to United Nations and other humanitarian relief agencies by the rebels in Zaire.
• General Assembly convenes emergency special session on "illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian Territory.
• United Nations Secretary-General appeals for the safeguarding of great Buddhist sculptures in the Province of Baniyan, Afghanistan.
• United Nations Secretary-General calls on United States businesses to help integrating the developing world into new global economy.
• The World Food Programme launches a second emergency operation in Albania.
• Nuclear disarmament should be focus of 1999 General Assembly special session, Disarmament Committee is told.
• The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to meet in Geneva.
• The Committee against Torture to review measures adopted by several countries at its forthcoming meeting in Geneva.

In a Presidential statement on Thursday, the Council stated that it was increasingly alarmed at the deteriorating situation in Zaire and at the humanitarian consequences this is having on the refugees, displaced persons and other affected civilian inhabitants. It expressed deep concern at the lack of progress in efforts to bring about a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict in Zaire.

"The Council once again underlines the obligation of all concerned to respect the relevant rules of international law, including those of international humanitarian law", the statement said.

Expressing concern at the obstruction of the repatriation plan of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Council called upon the Alliance and the Government of Rwanda to cooperate fully and without delay with UNHCR to enable the early implementation of the plan.

It said it was particularly alarmed by reports of massacres and other serious violations of human rights in eastern Zaire.

Addressing the session, the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Razali Ismail of Malaysia said the maintenance of international peace and security was certainly a matter of concern to all states as well as people.

"A threat to peace and security in any part of the world has a direct bearing on universal peace and security. No nation or group of nations can claim immunity from such developments", he stated.

He told the Assembly that the emergency special session underlined the resolve of members to seek recourse in the General Assembly to resolve the issue with all peaceful means, fearful of grave consequences in the event the issue is not satisfactorily resolved.

"It is not being conducted with rancor or acrimony but is an effort to eliminate tension and to protect and save the peace process at this crucial juncture", he said.

The sculptures are reportedly under threat of destruction in the continuing military operations in the area. Mr. Annan stated that the "priceless sculptures which have purely historical and cultural significance" should be preserved.

In an address to the Business Council for United Nations on Wednesday in New York, Mr. Annan said 80 per cent of foreign direct investment goes to just 12 countries.

"The global impact of American business and industry, and your access to American political leaders, place you in a uniquely influential position", he told the meeting.

Outlining a range of specific United Nations activities and technical assistance projects aimed at private sector development, Mr. Annan said the Organisations work in peace-keeping, the eradication of disease and promotion of literacy, helps to create the conditions that business needs to succeed.

"The result is better living standards and stable, functioning, democratic societies. For business, this translates into reduced risk, new markets and new opportunities for global production, trade and investment", the Secretary-General said.

Mr. Annan told the meeting that in each of the past two years, the United Nations system purchased well over US$3.5 billion in goods and services. "United States companies receive the lion's share of this spending, reflecting American industry's reputation for high quality and productivity", he noted.

A previous emergency operation launched on 4 April targeted 7,500 people in social institutions as well as destitute families. With the new food supplies, the agency will cover the needs of the targeted population until the next harvest in July. The cost of the operation is about US$6.5 million.

India's representative, one of a number of speakers who talked about arrangements for the special session, said that it should also review measures needed to eliminate other weapons of mass destruction, as well as excessive measures relating to conventional weapons.

The representative of China said that a special session would be essential for reaffirming and formulating principles and objectives for international arms control and disarmament in the twenty-first century. Many countries, including his own, had put forward proposals and initiatives that could be discussed in depth at such a session.

A number of other speakers stressed the importance of addressing the illicit traffic in conventional weapons. The representative of South Africa said conventional weapons were the source of most of the death and suffering in conflicts around the world, and a greater emphasis should be placed on conventional armaments in all disarmament forums.

The representative of Mexico said the Rio Group had proposed the negotiation of a draft convention against the illicit small arms trafficking.

The proposed convention would be legally binding and would prevent and suppress the illegal transfer of weapons. It would also serve as a model for future treaties, he said, adding that the draft could contribute to preparations for the fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament.

The countries are among the 135 parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which is part of the International Bill of Human Rights.

The treaty, which entered into force in 1976, recognises, among other things, the rights to work, to form and join trade unions, to social security, to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, to an adequate standard of living, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and to education.

The Committee will also consider reports from specialised agencies of the United Nations system on the progress made by States parties to fulfill the obligations of the Covenant.

The representatives of these six States are expected to come before the Committee to defend their records in implementing the rights enshrined in the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or degrading Treatment or Punishment.

In addition, Israel is scheduled to present a report on the decision of its Supreme Court last November to cancel an interim injunction ordering the country's General Security Service to abstain from the use of any physical pressure during the interrogation of a detainee.

The Committee against Torture was established in 1987 to monitor compliance with the Convention and to assist States parties in implementing its provisions.

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

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