United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-11-17

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 17 November 1997

HEADLINES

• UN Secretary-General and General Assembly President condemn terrorist attack in Luxor, Egypt.
• Secretary-General says efforts are being made to find a diplomatic way out of impasse in Iraq.
• UN expert finds "widespread, systematic and serious violations of human rights" in Iraq.
• UN Special Representative on human rights in Iran reports violations, but adds that he is optimistic about change.
• New report says transitional process leading to referendum on Western Sahara can start on 7 June 1998.
• Talks on Georgia resume in Geneva under chairmanship of Secretary- General's Special Representative.
• UN Secretary-General says a competent civil service imbued with ethical standards is central to development.
• Information plays a critical role in unprecedented reform of the United Nations, says Assistant Secretary-General.

In statements issued by their respective Spokesmen, the two United Nations leaders expressed shock at this "senseless" attack which resulted in the death of a number of civilians.

The two officials also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families.

The bulk of the staff of UNSCOM, which is overseeing the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, was withdrawn from the country last week following disagreements with the United Nations over the composition of the inspection teams.

Asked about comments made by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz regarding a proposed recomposition of the Special Commission, the Secretary- General said that "all sorts of efforts are being made to try and see if we could find a diplomatic way out of this impasse, and I see his suggestion as part of that effort".

Mr. Annan said that at least "this is a movement from the original position where they were adamant that there should be no Americans. Let's say it is part of a dialogue".

In a related development, Ambassador Richard Butler, the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM, has proposed that the Council meet on Wednesday morning to get a briefing on UNSCOM's ability to perform its functions in the current circumstances. The proposal is contained in a letter sent to the President of the Council on Monday in reply to the President's letter of 14 November 1997 asking the Executive Chairman to give an assessment of UNSCOM's ability to operate in the current circumstances in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the oil-for-food programme continued in Iraq despite problems created by fuel shortages which made it difficult for the observers to carry out their tasks.

According to UN Spokesman Fred Eckhard, there have been long lines at gas stations in Baghdad. "However, the United Nations was given a priority access to a gas station" on Monday, paving the way for the resumption of the normal activities of UN observers throughout the country on Tuesday.

Benon Sevan, the new Head of the UN Iraq Programme, and the UN Security Coordinator, met with Iraqi officials on Sunday in connection with the oil- for-food programme. He was scheduled to meet with the Iraqi Foreign Minister late on Monday and with the Trade and Health Minister on Tuesday morning before departing for a four-day stay in northern Iraq.

Addressing the General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee, Mr. van der Stoel discussed cases of summary, arbitrary and extrajudicial executions, which he said underlined the extremely low value placed on human life by the Governmental authorities. "We are no longer surprised by these cases because we have seen so many in the past and because we know that Iraq has a remarkably long list of offenses which formally prescribe the death penalty even for misdemeanors and non-violent property crimes."

The Special Rapporteur went on to say that the majority of killings in Iraq took place "without any basis in or process of law". He said there was a "virtual absence" of freedoms of opinion and expression in Iraq, noting that Revolution Command Council Decree No. 840 of 1986 continues to prescribe the death penalty for anyone criticizing the President, the Revolution Command Council, the National Assembly, the Government or the Baath Party.

Iraqi authorities continue to forcibly displace persons belonging to non- Arab communities, particularly in the governorate of Kirkuk, according to the Special Rapporteur. "The current Governmental programme of Arabization is forcing out mainly ethnic Kurds and Turkomens."

Concerning the rights to food and health, Mr. van der Stoel charged that they "continue to be spectacularly violated by the Government to the severe detriment of much of the population". He reported that the Government had sought to frustrate the monitoring system used by the "oil-for-food" programme. United Nations humanitarian observers were not allowed to travel in complete freedom throughout the country. According to the Special Rapporteur, in order to receive humanitarian assistance, prospective recipients must comply with a complex system of registration with the Government.

Special Representative Maurice Danby Copithorne told the General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee on Monday that there are numerous areas of concern. But, he said, "the people of Iran seek a life that is more respectful of human dignity. I believe that ultimately, the will of the people will prevail".

Noting that the new Government in Iran had expressed its intention to effect significant change in the area of human rights, Mr. Copithorne said "Now it remains to be seen how soon and the extent to which these intentions will be implemented. In the meantime, it is my duty to note that serious violations of human rights do continue to occur." He added that Iranian and foreign press sources recently reported the public stoning to death of six persons in northern Iran.

In his report to the General Assembly, Mr. Copithorne states that the number of publicly announced executions reached 137, a rate of increase that, if continued, would constitute a doubling over the previous year. Public hangings also appear to be on the increase.

The Special Representative is deeply concerned about reports of torture in Iran, according to the report, which provides details on the cases of stoning. "The Special Representative believes that for [stoning] to happen at all is unsustainable both legally and morally."

The report also states that freedom of expression is being circumscribed by "various means of official and unofficial control". These include the press tribunal, restricted access to newsprint, need for approval of book and film manuscripts, various licensing systems and unofficial strong-arm enforcers of their own view of religion and morality.

Concerning the "fatwa" against Salman Rushdie, the report indicates that the reward for his death has been increased to $2.5 million. "The Special Representative would once again record his own condemnation of the threat upon the life of Mr. Rushdie and state that he shares the view of those who judge the offer to be an incitement to murder."

In his latest report on the situation concerning Western Sahara, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says that the two parties to the conflict, Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el- Hamra y del Rio de Oro (POLISARIO Front) have agreed to facilitate the resumption of the identification of people eligible to participate in the referendum.

The Secretary-General says in his report that Morocco has expressed readiness to provide all practical support for the resumption of identification. For its part, the POLISARIO Front has agreed to make available most of the premises previously organized as identification centres.

Those commitments were made during extensive high-level discussions between the parties and the Secretary-General's Special Representative, James Baker III, in Houston Texas from 14 to 16 September.

The Secretary-General stresses the proposed plan and timetable are based on a "best-case scenario". That scenario rests on the assumption that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be provided with all the financial resources necessary to deploy in a timely manner in order to implement the plan for the referendum. The scenario will also depend on the cooperation of the two parties with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and on the continued support by the Security Council of the mandate of MINURSO.

Mr. Bota told reporters in Geneva that there had been a number of positive developments since the last meeting between the parties in July. But he added that despite strenuous efforts to reactivate the peace process, there had been no progress on key issues including the future political status of Abkhazia and the permanent return of refugees and displaced persons.

The two sides are expected to discuss resuming progress in the negotiations on the main aspects of the comprehensive settlement of the conflict; identifying areas where concrete political progress could be made; intensifying efforts in the humanitarian, social and economic areas; and elaborating the programme of activities and mechanisms for their implementation.

The talks will be chaired by Mr. Bota. Also participating, in addition to the two parties, will the Russian Federation in its role as facilitator, as well as the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Attending as observers will be the Group of Friends of the Secretary- General: France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan made these remarks in a statement to a Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece on "The Public Service Transition", which was delivered on his behalf by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Vladimir Petrovsky.

The Secretary-General drew parallels between the reform process transforming the United Nations and many of the issues facing participants. "Enhancing performance. Raising morale. Improving professionalism. Enforcing the highest possible ethical standards. Instilling a sense of core values and principles. These are among the goals we share."

The Secretary-General warned that corruption and poor administration inhibited a country's development and penalized its citizens. "But the effects are wider still, touching neighbours and entire regions, as States with weak institutions and laws become bases for ill-intentioned persons and their illicit operations", he added.

Effective cooperation requires a shared programme framework and common database. The vital importance of an information clearinghouse has been demonstrated in Thessaloniki through the imaginative use of websites by many of the conference participants, which has created linkages among major organizations working on public service issues in eastern and central Europe, the Secretary-General said. "This high-level Conference is yet another hopeful sign, for political leadership is crucial, not only in setting the civil service on the path of reform, but in keeping it on course. The Untied Nations, as ever, stands ready to assist."

Addressing the Committee on Information on Monday, Assistant Secretary- General Samir Sanbar said that public information is a crucial part of the life-support system of the United Nations. "Without an effective public outreach effort to keep peoples well-informed of what the Organization is doing to make a difference in their lives, support for the Organization will erode", he explained.

The United Nations now has a greater capacity for outreach than ever before, Mr. Sanbar continued. The number of hits on the United Nations Home Page on the Internet -- managed and coordinated by the Department for Public Information (DPI) -- exceeds 1 million per week. "In radio, we have begun a successful series of international live radio broadcasts from Headquarters, initiated by the Secretary-General." Mr. Sanbar also noted that DPI had just signed a memorandum of understanding with China to expand its outreach, through radio and television, to what may be the largest audience in any Member State.

In the area of television, Mr. Sanbar noted that the United Nations was broadcasting a three-minute weekly telecast through CNN and others reaching an audience of 200 million people in 106 countries. "As a means of enhancing the growing partnership between the United Nations and television broadcasters, more than 200 leading international television executives are expected to participate in the 1997 UN World TV Forum at Headquarters this week."

Quoting from the report of the Task Force on the Reorientation of United Nations Public Information Activities, Mr. Sanbar stressed that "The communications functions should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the Organization; its image -- indeed its long- term survival -- depends upon effectively communicating its message and its activities to an increasingly cost-resistant world."

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

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