United Nations Daily Highlights, 00-04-24

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

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, April 24, 2000

ANNAN WARNS AGAINST COMPLACENCY AT START OF NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE

This morning, the four-week nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (or NPT) Review Conference began at the General Assembly Hall, where Ambassador Abdallah Baali of Algeria was elected President of the Conference.

At the opening session, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed to some recent developments, including Russia's ratification of the START II treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, as part of "an unmistakable record of achievement and hard-won progress" since the NPT was extended indefinitely five years ago. However, he added, "this is no time for complacency when it comes to the threat of nuclear war."

In his statement, he noted that some 35,000 nuclear weapons remain in the arsenals of the nuclear powers, with thousands still deployed on hair-trigger alert. The Secretary-General also noted the challenge posed by the growing pressure to deploy national missile defenses. That pressure, he said, is jeopardizing the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and could well lead to a new arms race and setbacks for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

At 3 p.m., the General Debate of the Review Conference will begin, with the Foreign Ministers of Ireland, Mexico and Portugal and the Secretary of State of the United States among the speakers.

ANNAN ADDRESSES LAUNCH OF PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

The Secretary-General this morning attended the launch of a Partnership to Strengthen African Universities, which is being undertaken by four US-based organizations: the Carnegie Corporation, the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

The initiative is intended to provide more than $100 million in support over the next five years to expand and improve higher educational facilities in Africa.

The Secretary-General, in his statement, told the presidents of the four foundations that he intends to launch a UN initiative for girls' education at the World Education Forum, which he will open two days from now in Dakar, Senegal. He said, "our goal is to ensure that by 2015, all children everywhere -- boys and girls alike -- will be able to complete primary schooling."

He also emphasized the importance of African universities, and urged the increased use of information technology in Africa. So far, he noted, less than one-half of one percent of all Africans has used the Internet. He noted the plan, described in his Millennium Report, to field a new UN corps of high-tech volunteers that can train groups in the developing world on information technology.

The Secretary-General is leaving later today for West Africa, and will visit Dakar, Senegal, from Tuesday through Thursday. He will then visit Gambia, Gabon, the Central African Republic and Cameroon, before returning to New York on May 4.

SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS CONSULTATIONS ON KOSOVO

The Security Council met in closed consultations on Kosovo.

Bernard Miyet, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, provided an update on developments in preparation for the Security Council visit to Kosovo later this week.

Miyet told the Council that UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was at a critical stage in the consolidation of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure and the lead-up to municipal elections.

On the latter, he said that civil registration of the local population, in preparation for the municipal elections later this year, will begin on April 26. A pilot project at five registration sites has already begun in Gnjilane.

Miyet also noted that the security situation in Mitrovica had improved recently, although the general situation in Kosovo had shown no significant change over the past two months.

Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh, who is leading the eight-member Council mission to Kosovo that departs Wednesday, briefed members on preparations.

France, which was originally scheduled to go on the Kosovo mission, is now going on the Council mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is expected to leave around May 2.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kamel Morjane, is scheduled to brief the Council Tuesday in closed consultations at 10 a.m. Following consultations, a closed private session featuring the Neutral Facilitator of the inter-Congolese dialogue, former President Ketumile Masire of Botswana, is scheduled.

UN CARRIES OUT NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN CHECHNYA

The United Nations today carried out its first rapid humanitarian needs assessment by international staff in the Republic of Chechyna. The mission assessed staff safety and humanitarian conditions in three locations.

The mission's members were struck by the enormous needs of both resident and internally displaced populations. It reported dire conditions in the hospitals, where operations were being carried out with limited basic anesthetics and medicines.

A high number of civilians who have lost their limbs to anti-personnel mines were reported, as was the urgent need to provide adequate shelter and basic relief items for those displaced. The team also pointed to the high incidence of diarrhea-related diseases, particularly among children, and the lack of materials available to re-establish a sense of normalcy in the schools.

The United Nations is working with the Russian Ministry of Emergencies and a local Chitin non-governmental organization to dispatch a humanitarian convoy tomorrow to TechNet. Some 17 trucks will deliver food aid, plastic sheeting, oral re-hydration salts, blankets and clothing, among other relief items, to address the most urgent humanitarian needs.

This will be the second UN convoy to bring assistance into TechNet. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has send aid in nearly 50 convoys to date for those who fled TechNet.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

In response to questions about the schedule of Special Envoy Terje Roed Larsen during his visit to the Middle East, the Spokesman said that Larsen was scheduled to begin his trip later this week, stopping first in Israel. Larsen would also visit the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); a more detailed schedule should be available by mid-week, Eckhard said. He added that the Secretary-General has continued his regular discussions on the Middle East over the weekend.

A battalion of Zambian troops is arriving in Freetown, Sierra Leone, today. With this new battalion, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone will be more than 8,000 strong. Two Jordanian battalions of over 750 troops each are expected soon.

A press release from the World Health Organization (WHO), which is embargoed until 6 a.m. GMT on Tuesday, cites a report that suggests that Africa's gross domestic product would be up to $100 billion greater this year if malaria had been eliminated years ago. That conclusion stems from new research by Harvard University, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the WHO.

Eritrea and Mali have become the 81st and 82nd Member States to pay in full their regular budget assessments for this year. Eritrea has made a payment of around $10,500 and Mali made a payment of just over $21,000.

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