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United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-07-23United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSWednesday, 23 July 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 condemned the mistreatment of personnel of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations in areas under the control of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). At the same time, the Council has expressed its deep concern at recent destabilising actions in Angola, in particular, the failure of UNITA to comply with the conditions of the 30 June resolution. In a statement read out in an open meeting on Wednesday by the President of the Council, the Security Council said it considered the information submitted by UNITA to the Joint Commission earlier this week with regard to the strength of its armed forces, the extension of state administration and the activities of Vorgan radio station to be neither complete nor credible. "The Security Council notes with concern that the increasing tension in the northern part of the country is rapidly spreading to the central and southern provinces with very dangerous implications for the implementation of the remaining tasks of the peace process", said the Presidential statement. It called on both parties to refrain from any use of force, in accordance with their commitments under the Lusaka Protocol. The Council also called upon both parties to continue to work closely with the Joint Commission, and in particular UNITA, to cooperate fully with the UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA). Members of the Security Council have responded to recent attacks against international personnel in Republika Sprska, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Speaking to journalists following Council consultations, Council President Ambassador Peter Osvald of Sweden said members of the Council "condemned in the strongest terms possible" the attacks against the personnel of the Stabilization Force/International Police Task Force (S- FOR/IPTF) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Council members called on the authorities of the Republika Sprska to investigate the actions and to bring to justice those responsible, said Ambassador Osvald. He said the Council members called on the Republika Sprska authorities to exercise their responsibility in protecting the international personnel. The Liberian National Patriotic Party (NPP) of Charles Taylor holds over 75 per cent votes in Liberia's elections, according to reports from the UN Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL). Citing preliminary results released by the Independent Election Commission (IECOM), the UN observer mission, which is charged with observing and verifying the election process, said Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's Unity Party followed with nine and a half per cent of the vote. 1,344 out of Liberia's 1,864 polling stations have reported their results. The election commission chairman Henry Andrews said he hoped to be in a position to announce the final results later this week. The UN refugee agency has called on the Government of Bangladesh to halt the forced repatriation of Myanmar refugees. UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned on Wednesday that it may have to review its operations in the country, unless the expulsions stopped. In a letter to the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner Sergio Vieira de Mello expressed deep concern over the forcible repatriation of nearly 400 Myanmar Muslims earlier this week. He said the returns violated the principles of international law. The letter also drew attention to reports of maltreatment of refugees during the preparation for their return, including physical abuse, the separation of at least 67 minors from their mothers and the return of individuals who are ill or handicapped and therefore unfit for repatriation without medical supervision. A first non-Rwandese has been arrested by Kenyan authorities in connection with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. A Belgian journalist, Georges Henri Joseph Ruggiu, a presenter on the radio station, Radio Television Libres des Milles Collines in Rwanda in 1994, was arrested at the request of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). He has since been transferred to the Tribunal's detention facilities in Arusha, Tanzania. A UN Spokesman said on Wednesday the suspect was believed to have made numerous broadcasts in French inciting violence and hatred against the Tutsis, moderate Hutus and Belgian nationals during the massacres in Rwanda in 1994. The detention of Mr. Ruggiu brings to eight the number of persons arrested under an operation launched by the Tribunal last week. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed an American veteran diplomat to head the UN mission in the Eastern Slavonia region. The Secretary-General appointed Ambassador William Walker as the Transitional Administrator for the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES). In a letter to the President of the Security Council Ambassador Peter Osvald (Sweden), the Secretary-General said that the appointment of the American diplomat, with 34 years experience as a Foreign Service Officer, would be with effect from 1 August 1997. The Secretary-General acted under a Security Council resolution 1037 (1996) which established a transitional administration and peace-keeping operation to help with the demilitarization of the Eastern Slavonia region, the creation of a multi-ethnic Transitional Slavonia Police Force, the organization of free and fair local elections and the eventual reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium into Croatia. Ambassador Walker will replace Jacques Paul Klein who has recently been appointed Principal Deputy High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Economic and Social Council has reaffirmed that Israeli occupation remains a major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance, and integration in the development planning of their society. The Council which is the principal body to coordinate the economic and social work of the United Nations, made the statement in Geneva on Monday as it continued to take action on draft resolutions and decisions proposed by subsidiary bodies. Measures on social development, crime prevention and criminal justice, and narcotic drugs were also approved. Through the resolution on "Palestinian women", the Council called on Israel to facilitate the return of all refugees and displaced Palestinian women and children to their homes and properties in the occupied Palestinian territory. In other action, the Council approved a set of agreed conclusions on freshwater issues calling for technical assistance to developing countries and stressing the need for an update and reassessment of the water resources of the world. The Council also held extended debate on whether coordination and reform within the United Nations were realizing enough savings to make up for cuts in resources for carrying out the Organizations mandated programme. Argentina says the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women stood at par with the Constitution of Argentina and was complementary to the rights and guarantees recognized by it. The President of Argentina's National Council on Women told the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in New York that the Argentine Constitution established a real equality of opportunity for men and women in their access to elective and party positions. In that context, she said, the country's Law of Quotas established that there should be a minimum of 30 per cent women on the lists of elective positions. 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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