United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-05-30

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

FROM THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, May 30, 2001

ANNAN: BASIS FOR PEACE EXISTS IN GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA

Addressing this morning's Security Council open briefing dealing with the Council's two-week mission to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that the world faces a daunting challenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). But he added that there is a foundation for peace in the DRC, based on maintaining a cease-fire, implementing the disengagement of troops and liberalizing political life.

The Secretary-General also highlighted remaining concerns, saying that international support for humanitarian work in the DRC is "unacceptably low," with only some 20 percent of the current appeal for $139 million being funded. He voiced concern at the dire human rights situation in the country, saying, "Without accountability for the most severe crimes, there can be no lasting peace."

He said that, in a report he intends to issue in mid-June, he would present his recommendations for the third phase of the UN Mission to the DRC.

Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France, who headed the Council mission to the Great Lakes, began today's briefing, and noted the pledges by all sides to proceed with the disengagement of their forces. He added that political parties and leaders had expressed their hope to the Council mission that an inter-Congolese dialogue can be held on Congolese territory.

Levitte said the current troop ceiling for the UN Mission of 5,537 military personnel "seems to be enough" to perform the tasks that are currently envisioned.

COUNCIL MISSION SAYS GREAT LAKES VISIT WAS "ENCOURAGING"

The report of the Security Council Mission to the Great Lakes region, which took place from May 15-26, says that the mission "found much that was encouraging in its visit to the Great Lakes region. For the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, the outlines of a solution appeared to be taking shape."

From all its meetings with politicians and representatives of civil society, the mission found that the attitude of the Congolese people shows that the country is eager to move towards national reconciliation. It is important for all the parties, the report goes on to say, to take advantage of this window of opportunity.

As for Burundi, the Council mission says it was "struck by the complexity and intractability of the situation in Burundi, and its serious potential for large-scale violence."

FIRST UN PATROL BOATS FOR CONGO RIVER ARRIVE IN KINSHASA

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported the arrival today of the first two patrol boats for use on the Congo River. The boats are for use by an Uruguayan Riverine Unit, expected to arrive early next month.

With receipt of these fast boats and the Uruguayan unit, the UN Mission says it is taking an important step in the re-opening of the Congo river to navigation, as announced by Ambassador Levitte in Mbandaka on May 20. The Secretary-General also noted the re-opening of the river network as an important signal.

The first barge leaving Mbandaka for Kisangani is scheduled for June 7.

UN STAFF THREATENED BY FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN AFGHANISTAN

The United Nation's top humanitarian official for Afghanistan, Erick de Mul, said, following his three-day mission to Kabul to meet with Taliban officials, that "we have been bending over backwards in order to try to help the people, but the United Nations' space to operate in Afghanistan is narrowing."

De Mul noted that all staff are facing threats from what he called non-Afghan foreign guests of the Taliban.

He also said that the Taliban's refusal to allow Afghan women to survey households enrolled in a World Food Programme ( WFP) bakery project would force the agency to suspend the project as of June 15.

"The ball is in the Taliban's court," de Mul said.

He added that, if the Taliban wished to have serious discussions, he would be willing to go back and talk.

Asked about the non-Afghan guests, the Spokesman said that a number of Muslims from other countries were residing in Afghanistan at the invitation of the Taliban. Some had threatened UN staff, with harassment ranging from insults and spitting directed at staff to death threats.

The Spokesman noted that some Taliban officials indicated shock at the behavior of the so-called foreign guests, but it remained to be seen if they could guarantee the security of UN personnel.

UN TRIBUNAL ASKS BELGRADE TO ARREST TWO SUSPECTS

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Tuesday issued arrest warrants and orders for the surrender of two suspects, Radovan Stankovic and Dragan Zelenovic, to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The two men have been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the rape of Bosnian Muslim women and girls in Foca, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 1992.

The Tribunal's order directs the Belgrade authorities to search for, arrest, and transfer to the Tribunal the two suspects, or report to the Tribunal if they are unable to do so.

Today in The Hague, the Tribunal's appeals chamber granted an appeal by Anto Nobilo, the defense attorney for one of the suspects tried by the Tribunal, who had been charged in December 1998 with contempt of court.

MORE GOODS FOR "FAST-TRACK" PROCESSING APPROVED FOR IRAQ

The Office of the Iraq Programme, in its weekly update, noted that the Security Councils 661 Sanctions Committee last week approved a list of about 100 items in the electricity sector for "fast-track" processing. Since the adoption of the first of the lists of goods that can obtain "fast-track" approval, in March 2000, the Office of the Iraq Programme has processed over $4.76 billion worth of such contracts.

Iraqi oil exports showed a slight increase during the week of May 19-25, totaling 15.6 million barrels, and earning an estimated 433 million euros in revenue, at current prices. Revenue for Phase IX of the "oil-for-food" program, which ends on 3 June, stands at 6 billion euros.

ARLACCHI CONCLUDES VISIT TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Pino Arlacchi, the Director General of the UN Office at Vienna, where he oversees programs against drugs and organized crime, concluded his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa Tuesday.

His main purpose was to meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, at the President's request, to discuss technical assistance to Nigeria in the recovery of stolen assets. In a meeting last Friday, Obasanjo and Arlacchi agreed on a course of action to address this problem.

The Commission on Crime Prevention adopted a resolution earlier this month giving the Crime and Drug Programme a mandate to become active in the field of asset recovery.

Arlacchi also met with a number of other leaders in Nigeria, including from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), appealing for prompt ratification of the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.

UN MISSION SAYS FIVE KILLED IN ATTACK NEAR EAST TIMOR BORDER

The UN Mission in East Timor reported today that five civilians were killed, and up to 40 wounded, in the bombing incident at the border between East and West Timor Tuesday. Hand grenades had been thrown at a group of Timorese attending a market near the East Timorese town of Balibo.

Those who were wounded in the attack are being treated in Balibo and in Atambua, in West Timor. Both Indonesian and UN forces have deployed to the border area following the incident.

The motives behind the attack remain unclear, and the UN Mission and the Indonesian Armed Forces are investigating the incident.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Before the Security Council began its formal meeting on the Great Lakes region of Africa, it unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force ( UNDOF) in the Golan Heights by six months, until November 30.

The Secretary-General, in a note to the General Assembly, has formally proposed to extend the appointment of Mary Robinson as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for one year, until September 11, 2002. Her present term expires this September 11. The Secretary-General trusts that the General Assembly will approve this extension.

At 6:30 today, the Secretary-General will launch the first in a series of books about the United Nations. "Ahead of the Curve? UN Ideas and Global Challenges" is the first volume in the UN Intellectual History Project, an independent study, supported by the governments of Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, as well as the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Saint Kitts and Nevis this morning made the full payment of more than $10,000, becoming the 83rd Member State to pay their 2001 regular budget contribution in full. Last year at this date, 90 Member States had fully paid their regular budget dues.

The World Health Organization ( WHO) today announced the release of a report, "Women and the Tobacco Epidemic Challenges for the 21st Century", warning that tobacco-related deaths among women will increase unless a wide range of control measures are implemented. Calling second-hand smoke a womens issue, WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland said, "Women everywhere are exposed to second-hand smoke and suffer serious health consequences because of it." Worldwide, 12 percent of women smoke, compared to 48 percent of men.

The UN International School (UNIS) will hold a commencement ceremony for its 2001 graduating class in the General Assembly on Thursday, with Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press" delivering the commencement address. This year's graduating class of 110 students comprises 47 nationalities and 30 languages.

The guest at Thursday's noon briefing will be Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), who will discuss the General Assembly Special Session taking place next week to review the Habitat Agenda.

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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