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United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-07-31United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSThursday, 31 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
Reiterating its deep concern at the continued deadlock in achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, the Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 31 January 1998. The extension is subject to a review by the Council if there are changes that may be made in the mandate or in the presence of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force. In a unanimous resolution on Thursday, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, within its internationally recognized borders, and to the need to define the status of Abkhazia in strict accordance with those principles. It underlined the unacceptability of any action by the Abkhaz leadership in contravention of those principles. The Council stressed that the primary responsibility for reinvigorating the peace process rested on the parties themselves. It called on the parties to achieve substantive progress without further delay towards a comprehensive political settlement. Condemning the continued laying of mines in the Gali region, the Council called on the parties to take action to prevent mine-laying and intensified activities by armed groups. At the same time, the Council urged the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary steps in order to improve security conditions and to create conditions for the effective implementation of the mandate of UNOMIG. The Council reaffirmed the right of all refugees and displaced persons affected by the conflict to return to their homes in secure conditions in accordance with international law. Members of the Security Council have expressed their deep concern over the breakdown of talks in Abidjan on Wednesday on the situation in Sierra Leone. The talks were held between the Committee of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and representatives of the "illegal regime" in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Speaking to journalists at UN headquarters following a briefing to the Council by UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Pendergast on the negative developments in the talks, Council President Ambassador Peter Osvald of Sweden said the Council members reiterated their call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Sierra Leone under President Tejan Kabbah and their full support for the mediation efforts undertaken by ECOWAS ministers. The Council members would consider the situation in Sierra Leone again when further information on the talks in Abidjan and the situation on the ground in Sierra Leone was available, Ambassador Osvald stated. The General Assembly has authorized the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations component of the International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH) until 31 December 1997. In a resolution adopted without a vote on Thursday, the Assembly reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to continue technical, economic and financial cooperation with Haiti in support of the country's economic and social development efforts. The Assembly's action follows a recommendation by the Secretary- General to renew the mandate of the joint participation of the United Nations with the Organization of American States in the International Civilian Mission to Haiti. The responsibilities of the Mission would include supporting efforts at judicial reform and verifying full observance by Haiti of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It would also contribute to institution-building and the strengthening of democracy through technical assistance. Welcoming the continuing commitment of the Government and people of El Salvador to the consolidation of the peace process, the General Assembly on Thursday urged all concerned to continue working together to complete the implementation of the peace process in El Salvador without delay. In a resolution adopted without a vote, the Assembly decided that the support unit for the Secretary-General's envoy in El Salvador should be closed down as a separate entity, as it has concluded its mandate. In his report to the Assembly on the assessment of the peace process in El Salvador, the Secretary-General had said that the implementation of the peace process was at a sufficiently advanced stage to allow him to recommend the closing of the support unit. At the same time, the Assembly welcomed the proposal of the Secretary- General to assign two international Professionals and two local consultants as a unit under the administrative structure of the United Nations Development Programme, for a period of six months. The unit would follow up on the outstanding elements of the peace accords. The Assembly called on the member States and international institutions to maintain their political, technical and financial support for the efforts of the Government and people of EL Salvador to promote peace, freedom, democracy and development in that country. The General Assembly on Thursday commended the Government of Guatemala, the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca and the Guatemalan people for their participation in the implementation of the peace accords. In a resolution adopted without a vote, the Assembly encouraged the two parties and all sectors of the Guatemalan society to join efforts for the implementation of all steps provided for in the second phase of the Agreement on the Implementation, Compliance and Verification Timetable for the Peace Agreements, until 31 December 1997. The Assembly reiterated its full support for the comprehensive agenda of democratic, equitable and multi-cultural development included in the accords. It invited the international community to continue cooperating in the establishment of most favourable conditions for its realization. The General Assembly on Thursday adopted the report of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations System. In a statement the President of the Assembly Ambassador Razali Ismail of Malaysia said the report contained measures to improve the working of the General Assembly, its subsidiary bodies as well as the Secretariat. He said the decisions would take effect from 1 January 1998 and should contribute to the goal of making the UN efficient and effective in deciding the mandates given to it. "The Group has produced a solid and sensible package of measures that constitute a sturdy function on which to build in the coming years" said the Assembly President. The Working Group was established on 14 September 1995, with the aim of improving the Organization's ability to meet the aspirations of Member States. The Group had focused on improving the capacity of the Assembly to discharge its functions and powers and that of the Secretariat to carry out its mandate effectively. States parties to the Biological Weapons Convention agreed on Thursday to meet in Geneva on 25 August 1997 to consider allegations by Cuba that it had been the target of "biological aggression". The decision comes following an informal meeting called at Cuba's request after formal complaints by the Government over the appearance of the Thrips palmi plague on the island. The consultative process is carried out in accordance with article 5 of the Biological Weapons Convention. A week-long meeting on a common international strategy for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from developed countries opened in Bonn, Germany on Thursday. The meeting comes just a few weeks after emissions targets and timetables dominated the agenda of the UN General Assembly's "Earth Summit +5" and the Denver "Summit of the Eight". The focus of the current negotiating session is a text of over 100 pages compiled by the Chairman of the Ad hoc Group on the Berlin mandate (AGBM), Ambassador Raul Estrada-Oyuela of Argentina. After a final negotiating session in late October, Ministers will gather in Kyoto, Japan, in early December to finalize the resulting amendment or protocol to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Under the Convention, developed countries had agreed to take measures aimed at reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. 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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