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United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-05-22United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSThursday, 22 May 1997This 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 Security Council has reiterated its call to the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG), to continue to implement fully their commitments under the Agreements signed in Guatemala City last December. The Council welcomed the successful conclusion of the military observer mission attached to the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA). The purpose of that military observer mission was to verify the agreement on the definitive ceasefire between the Government and the URNG. Reaffirming its full support for the peace process in Guatemala, the Council commended both parties for the progress made in the implementation of the Peace Accords to date, in particular for the establishment of the Follow-Up Commission, which will oversee the implementation of the agreements. The Council expressed its confidence that the international community would continue their support for the peace process in Guatemala and for the implementation of the peace accords. The Security Council has decided to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), until 30 September 1997. By a unanimous vote on Thursday, the Council reiterated its commitment to the holding without further delay, of a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The Council also urged the parties to continue to cooperate with James Baker III, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and to demonstrate the political will to overcome the persisting stalemate and find an acceptable solution. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday received a letter from the Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Zaire, informing him of a number of changes in the country. The Spokesman for the Secretary- General, Fred Eckhard,said the letter stated that Laurent Desiree Kabila was the President of the country as of 17 May. The letter said that the new President had decided to change the name of the country to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adding that there was a new national anthem and that the national flag would revert to the one raised in June 1960 on the country's attainment of independence. According to the Spokesman, the letter was reviewed by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs which affirmed the validity of the credentials of the Deputy Permanent Representative who signed it. "The Secretary-General will therefore comply with its contents which includes that it be circulated as an official document. To date, there have been no challenges from other states to the credentials of the delegation here which has just continued on representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo", the Spokesman said. The President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Sam Nujoma, on Thursday welcomed the establishment of the Government of National Unity in Angola. Addressing UN correspondents in New York following a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Nujoma said Namibia appreciated the role played by the United Nations through the UN Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III). He noted that Namibia would like to see a gradual phasing out rather than a one-time withdrawal of UNAVEM III. The Namibian President, who is on a four-day official visit to the United States, told correspondents that the recommendation of the Secretary- General to establish a follow-up to the United Nations presence in Angola to succeed UNAVEM III was commendable. "The international community should continue to support the Government and people of Angola in their pursuit for lasting peace and national reconstruction", President Nujoma said. Concerning the developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Nujoma said the Namibian government had extended formal recognition to the country led by President Laurent Kabila and his allied partners. He said top priorities now included peace, social and economic well-being and reconstruction. Some 300 Kurdish demonstrators on Thursday stormed into the Palais des Nations, the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, demonstrating against Turkey's military action against Kurds in northern Iraq. According to UN officials in Geneva, the incident, which lasted about five hours, did not affect the work of the United Nations, and the staff continue to fulfil their duties. Meanwhile, in New York, the UN Secretary-General's Spokesman Fred Eckhard told the press that the UN leader had said earlier that the Turkish incursion into Iraq could not be condoned. In his statement in Vienna, the Secretary-General said: "The Iraqi territorial integrity has to be respected, and I have urged that the Turkish troops withdraw as soon as possible. I hope other Governments are exercising the right pressure on them to pull back". The United Nations on Thursday announced the appointment of Major- General David Stapleton as Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The Force, stationed on the Golan Heights in Syria, is charged with supervising the observance of the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces. Major- General Stapleton, who succeeds Major-General Johannes C. Kosters of the Netherlands, has extensive UN experience in command and staff appointments in UN peacekeeping missions. 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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