United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-04-26

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

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, April 26, 2001

"WAR CHEST" NEEDED AGAINST AIDS, ANNAN TELLS AFRICAN LEADERS

This morning in Abuja, Nigeria, the Secretary-General told African leaders that the AIDS crisis in Africa was a continent-wide emergency, and that he considered the battle against AIDS as his personal priority.

In his speech, delivered to the opening session of the African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases, he outlined five objectives in the fight against AIDS: prevention, mother-to-child transmission, care and treatment, scientific breakthroughs and protection of those left vulnerable by the epidemic, including orphans.

He told the delegates, "The war on AIDS will not be won without a war chest, of a size far beyond what is available so far." At a minimum, he said, nations need to spend an additional $7 billion to $10 billion annually in the worldwide struggle against AIDS. That amount, he said, is a little more than one percent of the world's annual military spending.

The Secretary-General also called, to enthusiastic applause, for a social revolution that would give more power to women, which would allow them to protect themselves and their children against HIV.

Earlier in the day the Secretary-General met with Namibian President Sam Nujoma on the sidelines of the Summit for a review of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the afternoon he had another series of bilateral meetings, including with President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, who is also the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, for a discussion of West African issues. In particular, the Secretary-General thanked the President for facilitating dialogue between the political leaders in Cote dIvoire.

The Secretary-General is also scheduled to meet with President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote dIvoire and with former US President Bill Clinton.

ANNAN TO ASK US FOUNDATIONS TO JOIN BATTLE AGAINST AIDS

Following his speech in Abuja this morning, the Secretary-General will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to address the Council on Foundations.

He will ask Council members to join a coalition of Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to launch a worldwide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis at the Special Session of the General Assembly this June.

The Council of Foundations has as members some 2,000 US-based foundations, as well as corporate giving programs, which in 1999 issued a collective total of $16 billion in grants.

ANNAN TO MEET LEBANESE, ISRAELI LEADERS

On Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at his residence, the Secretary-General will be meeting with Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon.

On Monday, at 5:30 p.m. at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General will meet with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

Asked about a Lebanese press reports that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will pull out of Lebanon unless the Lebanese army occupies the south, the Spokesman said he had no comment on the matter, noting that it was a Security Council issue.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES WESTERN SAHARA, AFGHANISTAN

This morning the Security Council met in closed consultations to receive briefings on the Secretary-Generals latest reports on Afghanistan and on the UN mission in the Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations H&eacute;di Annabi briefed the Council on the latest report on the UN mission in Western Sahara. A draft resolution was introduced that, if adopted, would extend the missions mandate by two months until June 30, as recommended by the Secretary-General.

Following that discussion, the Council received a briefing on by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahima Fall on the latest developments in Afghanistan since the Secretary-Generals report was released last week.

Then Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima briefed the Council on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The Council will continue its discussions on Afghanistan at 3:30 p.m. today.

CHERNOBYL ANNIVERSARY MARKED AT UN HEADQUARTERS

The 15th anniversary of the worlds worst nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was commemorated at UN headquarters this morning with the ringing of the Peace Bell.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima, who rang the bell, said, "This Peace Bell which we ring today is cast from coins donated by representatives of 60 countries and from individual contributions of various metals. We hope very much that the symbolism of this kind of spirit of unity and cooperation will trigger the wide-ranging support that is urgently needed to help those that are still suffering from the consequences of Chernobyl."

CHINA OFFICIALLY ENDORSES ANNAN FOR A SECOND TERM

The Foreign Ministry of China announced today that Beijing extended its support for a second term for the Secretary-General.

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Wang Yingfan, personally conveyed his Government's support to the Secretary-General last week, before Annan left for Abuja. The United Nations has also received a letter, dated April 20, from Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, formally extending China's support for a second term, as well as for efforts to enhance the role of the United Nations in the new century.

OTHER ANNOUCEMENTS

East Timor's National Council today set up a 15-person Special Committee which will conduct public hearings with civil society and political parties about the proposed Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. The regulation on the Truth Commission was itself endorsed in principle by the Council yesterday. The Special Committee will report back to the National Council on May 28.

Today is the first observance of World Intellectual Property Day, which is intended to salute innovation and creativity. A statement released today by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said, "We owe the inventions, designs and works of art that ease our workload, improve our living conditions and enrich and beautify our surroundings, to a long line of men and women whose creativity and invention have led us from the inkwell to the Internet and from railways to rockets."

The World Health Organization (WHO) published today a report on depleted uranium, which recommends that young children's exposure to depleted uranium must be monitored, and that heavily affected impact zones for depleted uranium munitions should be cordoned off and cleaned up.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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