United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-10-02

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, 2 October 1997

HEADLINES

• UN Secretary-General recalls four members of his Human Rights investigative team from Kinshasa.
• UN Secretary-General urges halt to fighting in northern Afghanistan, where Tajik refugees have been killed.
• UN Secretary-General calls on Organization of Islamic Conference to work to end fighting in Afghanistan.
• Foreign Minister of Qatar says Security Council veto should be limited to enforcement resolutions.
• Dominica's Prime Minister calls for short discussion and quick implementation of Secretary-General's reform ideas.
• Foreign Minister of Belarus says Eastern Europe should have one non- permanent seat on Security Council.
• Foreign Minister of Mali says working group on Security Council reform created momentum for success.
• Zambian Minister says Africa should have two permanent and three non- permanent seats on Security Council.
• Foreign Minister of Gabon says new permanent members of Security Council should have same powers as others.
• Foreign Minister of Marshall Islands calls for greater prominence of Pacific on reformed Security Council.
• Foreign Minister of Liberia calls for elimination of veto power on Security Council.
• Reform must proceed within an appropriate time period, Senegal's Foreign Minister says.
• Iraq's Foreign Minister says Security Council sanctions regimes should be subject to strict time-limits.
• Reform efforts must safeguard the rights of developing countries, Mozambique's Foreign Minister says.
• Foreign Minister of Chad says he "firmly supports" Secretary- General's proposed reforms.
• Deputy Foreign Minister of Democratic People's Republic of Korea says UN must reflect will of developing States.
• Foreign Minister of Cote d'Ivoire says UN reform must not be confined to "obsessive desire" to cut costs.
• Foreign Minister of Burundi says his country supports United Nations reform to achieve development.
• World Health Organization warns of acute health situation in Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Clarifying an announcement made earlier on the Secretary-General's decision, United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard said that all the three principal investigators, Atsu-Koffi Amega of Togo, Reed Brody of the United States, and Andrew Chocovera of Zimbabwe, as well as a coordinator, Jose Luis Gomez del Prado of Canada, were due to arrive in New York on 7 October.

The United Nations Secretary-General has recalled the members of the team pending final clarification of the policy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the team's work, Mr. Eckhard said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday told reporters that the Government of his country had no problem with the United Nations investigative team.

Speaking at a press conference, Bizima Karaha said his Government would help the team. Recalling that the team's mission was initiated following reports that 200,000 Rwandan refugees were missing, the Congolese Foreign Minister said that if they were missing, the United Nations must explain because it was managing the refugees. "You even have to answer the difficult question, namely to say if there had been a continuation of Rwandese genocide on our soil because, as you all know, the same people who committed genocide crossed the border with their arms, with their machetes, with their ideologies and continued to do the same work on our soil."

Responding to a question regarding the team's inability to go to suspected sites in Mbandaka, Mr. Karaha said that "someone who knows the history of these refugees would clearly understand that you cannot start the investigation in Mbandaka" which, he said, was the last place the refugees had been before they had gone to Congo-Brazzaville. They had spent less than a week in Mbandaka, he added.

The team should start its investigation in Mugunga, he said, because it was the biggest refugee camp in the world where refugees had spent two-and-a- half years. "Even if they don't want to investigate, and they don't want to investigate, are they not curious to go and know what happened in that camp?" the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo asked.

In a statement issued through his spokesman, the Secretary-General said the United Nations is in touch with all relevant authorities in order to prevent a humanitarian tragedy and ensure the safety of some 7,000 refugees in the Sakhi camp. "The Secretary-General urges all Afghan parties to cease all military activities in and near the camp and to allow the refugees to repatriate safely as soon as possible", the spokesman said.

The Secretary-General said the OIC and the United Nations had already joined forces in a number of areas, including promoting social and economic development; increasing peace and security; and protecting fundamental human rights. They had forged new bonds in the area of peacemaking in such countries as Tajikistan and Somalia, he said. "I am pleased to say that we have achieved progress in bringing the parties together and limiting the civilian casualties."

Stating that the OIC and the United Nations were "natural partners in the cause of peace and prosperity", the Secretary-General said the two could bring new momentum to the process of democratization and prosperity for all.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al-Thani told the General Assembly that the Council must also be expanded in order to be more representative. He called for a rotational system of membership so that all States would have the opportunity to participate in the Council's work. Asia, Africa and Latin America must have greater representation on an expanded Security Council.

The Foreign Minister of Qatar also said that reform of the United Nations should enable it to better meet the challenges of the next century. "To this end, the process of reform must begin by activating the role of the General Assembly and enabling it to fulfil its duty in an effective manner that would give its democratic resolutions strength and credibility." He added that in order for the Secretary-General to be able to carry out the reforms in his competence, the Organization's financial crisis must be resolved. Member States must pay their dues in full and on time.

Effective functioning of the United Nations, he said, required proper management of its resources. "We encourage the Secretary-General in his efforts in this regard, and we call upon all members to do their best to provide the necessary financial support as much as they are able to."

Prime Minister James also thanked Ted Turner for his generous donation and called on others to do likewise. "I am convinced that the Secretary-General will use this gift most wisely and judiciously, knowing that proper utilization of these funds will dispose others to come forward," he added.

As the General Assembly continued its general debate, Ivan Antonovich said that the addition of the seat for the region was in full compliance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution. The membership of the Eastern European region, he pointed out, had more than doubled in recent years.

Welcoming the Secretary-General's reforms, Mr. Antonovich quoted a letter sent to the Secretary-General by the President of the Republic of Belarus which stated that those reforms were "a timely and meaningful response to the objectives facing the United Nations during this complex period at the turning point of the millennia, including problems which ought to be solved with the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations system."

Foreign Minister Modibo Sidibe said the working group on the reform of the Security Council had made some progress, although no concrete steps had been taken. "By redoubling efforts I am convinced that we will be able to benefit from the momentum that has been created, and that we will succeed in restructuring the Security Council and modernizing it by making it more democratic and giving it greater credibility, as well as greater legitimacy and transparency."

He said that by applying the principles in the Charter, States would be able to respond to the prevailing uncertainties, and put an end to the climate of doubt, fear and suspicion that clouded international relations. "We believe in the United Nations to help us achieve this." The Foreign Minister noted that a restructured, modernized United Nations, provided with the essential capacity to act, could help resolve disputes. Mali would continue to work to make the United Nations truly united in its diversity, at peace with itself, and resolutely committed to the service of all people.

The Security Council should be reformed to make it more representative and more democratic, he said. Both the number of permanent and non-permanent members should be increased. Zambia, he said, supported the position of the Organization of African Unity and the Non-Aligned Movement that the Council should have 26 members. Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean deserved seats as permanent members. "Africa, commanding nearly 30 per cent of the United Nations membership, certainly deserves to have two permanent and three non- permanent seats on the Security Council."

Zambia believed that the United Nations should provide leadership in forging international consensus on the crippling external debt problem of developing countries, and assisting in the mobilization of new resources for development financing, he said. "It is also our expectation that the United Nations will provide leadership in redressing widening development disparities existing among nations, and addressing the increasing trends towards unfair trading practices and protectionism in international trade which have had the effect of marginalizing some regions, notably Africa."

Speaking before the General Assembly on Thursday, Casimir Oye Mba reiterated Africa's claim of two rotating seats on the Security Council. He further reiterated Africa's commitment to the principle of universality and the sovereign equality of States which, he added, should underlie all thinking on reform.

Recalling the Secretary-General's appeal to make the current session of the General Assembly the "Assembly of Reform", the Foreign Minister of Gabon said the United Nations must adapt to the new realities. "Indeed, the world today is not what it was in 1945." He expressed hope that the current session of the Assembly would strengthen the ideals of the international community. "This transition towards a more humane world will not be a smooth one. We will have to combat the upsurge of egoism and at the same time the development of false solidarity which can lead our peoples to fratricidal struggle", he added.

Foreign Minister Phillip Muller told the General Assembly that the Marshall Islands fully supported the reform proposals put forward by Secretary- General Kofi Annan. Reform was crucial to a forward-looking and effective United Nations. "Reform of the United Nations requires that the Member States recommit themselves to their treaty obligations, to negotiate in good faith and to find the mutually beneficial steps that we need to take", he said.

Expressing his displeasure that the major contributor to the United Nations had not paid up its arrears, he said, "I think a very tragic signal is being sent by this disregard." A review of the scale of assessments, he said, could be a first step towards financial reform.

In his statement during the general debate of the fifty-second session of the General Assembly, Monie R. Captan said that due to the far-reaching implications of the Council's decisions and actions for global peace, there had been persistent demands to expand its membership to reflect geographic balance and ensure equitable representation. Besides, the Foreign Minister of Liberia added, of the fifteen members of the Council, five enjoyed the veto power which left "the fate of our world to be decided by only a few members".

Mr. Captan also called for the expansion of the membership of the Council to include two permanent seats for Africa which he described as "the region with the single largest numbers of members".

The Liberian Foreign Minister said his country shared the Secretary- General's decision to institute reforms in the administrative and operational aspects of the Organization. He added, however, that Liberia supported a reform process that did not diminish the capacity of the United Nations to perform its mandated functions in the area of development, more especially meeting the needs of developing countries. He welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal to use savings generated through reform to finance United Nations development programmes.

Moustapha Niasse told the General Assembly that reform should be carried out within an appropriate time period so that the Organization could better respond to the challenges of the day and the aspirations of the people for whom it was created.

Reform of the Security Council required special attention and a shared will to be faithful to the ideals of the Charter, he continued. The working group on Security Council reform had made considerable progress, even though no consensus had been found on fundamental issues such as expansion and use of the veto. Member States, he said, must proceed to restructure the Council in order to give it greater legitimacy, and Africa must play its rightful role in this process.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Said Al-Sahaf noted that Iraq had been suffering under an "unjust blockade" for more than seven years, even though it had complied with all of its obligations under resolution 687 (1991). "We are convinced from our practical experience that the insistence on the perpetuation of the blockade against Iraq is not connected to the fulfilment by Iraq of its obligations. It is rather a systematic plan to inflict severe damage on Iraq by putting an end to its development potential and destroying its economic infrastructure to fulfil the selfish interests of an aggressive superpower", he said.

Success of the United Nations depended on the proper application of the provisions of the Charter, he stressed. Proper United Nations reform must ensure justice to all geographical groups. Efforts should be made to prevent the machinery of the United Nations from being used by one superpower which was trying to dominate the world. The United Nations should not be controlled by the rich, he said, adding that it was critical to avoid marginalizing developing countries.

Leonardo Santos Simao welcomed the Secretary-General's reform proposals. He expressed support for a number of specific proposals, including the consolidation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Centre for Human Rights; the establishment of the post of Deputy Secretary-General; and the establishment of "UN houses" in the field. The Foreign Minister said he hoped that the proposed reforms would result in greater focus of the United Nations in the economic and social spheres.

Regarding the Organization's financial crises, he agreed with the Secretary- General that it was "directly linked to the failure of Member States to discharge their obligations regarding prompt and full payment of assessed contributions". He called on those countries that had not paid their dues to do so and to contribute to the Secretary-General's proposed revolving credit fund.

Expressing alarm at the international economic situation, he said that poverty was a key source of conflict. "Poverty in the developing countries and the impoverishment of important social strata in the developed countries are the embers upon which are fanned the flames of intolerance, extremism and nationalism." Despite numerous documents adopted at major conferences, concrete action had run aground.

Africa, in particular, was ravaged by poverty, malnutrition and epidemics of all kinds, he said. The ongoing marginalization of the continent must be addressed through concrete measures.

In his statement to the General Assembly, Choe Su Hon said that in order to prepare itself for the demands of the next century, the United Nations should "make an early departure from the outdated structures that only serve the interests of a few countries, allowing their privileges and high- handedness". First of all, the Deputy Foreign Minister added, the international community should be democratized through the democratic reform of the United Nations.

On the restructuring of the Security Council, Choe Su Hon said that the present composition of the permanent membership of the Council did not fully represent the developing countries which formed the overwhelming majority of United Nations Member States. Similarly, the non-permanent membership of the Council did not reflect geographical representation.

The success of United Nations reform depended on a resolution of the Organization's financial crisis, said Foreign Minister Amara Essy. All Member States must honour their financial obligations in full, on time and without preconditions, he added.

He said a reformed Security Council must reflect the realities of today's world. While supporting permanent membership for Japan and Germany, he emphasized that Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Asia should also be represented as permanent members of the Security Council. The new permanent members should have the same rights as permanent members, including the right of veto. That right itself should be eliminated, or at least limited to questions under Chapter VII of the Charter, he said.

Luc Rukingama said that his delegation shared the Secretary- General's concerns for efficiency and economy in an administration that was streamlined, acting to combat poverty, and promoting capacity- building, particularly in the area of development.

On the restructuring of the Security Council, Mr. Rukingama said his country supported the position of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He added that developing countries must be properly represented on the Council. Beyond the question of representation, Burundi was convinced that reform of the Security Council must, above all, involve its methods of work and adapt it to the requirements of the world at large.

According to the WHO, immunization activities have decreased and child malnutrition has increased because of the natural disasters and economic problems affecting the country. A WHO team which visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 15 to 20 September found that the incidence of tuberculosis is much more widespread than previously thought. The WHO estimates that the mortality rate of the country's 10,000 reported tuberculosis cases annually is as high as 50 per cent. It also estimates that an additional 20,000 cases of tuberculosis are going unreported.

The WHO is planning to control the problem by dedicating $600,000 in the first year and $1 million each year following before a large drug- resistance problem develops in the country. Without a stepped-up fight against the tuberculosis, WHO warned, morbidity and mortality from the disease will remain high.

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

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