United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-07-24

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

/* Style Definitions */

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal

{mso-style-parent:"";

margin:0in;

margin-bottom:.0001pt;

mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

font-size:12.0pt;

font-family:"Times New Roman";

mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}

a:link, span.MsoHyperlink

{color:blue;

text-decoration:underline;

text-underline:single;}

a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed

{color:purple;

text-decoration:underline;

text-underline:single;}

p

{margin-right:0in;

mso-margin-top-alt:auto;

mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;

margin-left:0in;

mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

font-size:12.0pt;

font-family:"Times New Roman";

mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}

@page Section1

{size:8.5in 11.0in;

margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;

mso-header-margin:.5in;

mso-footer-margin:.5in;

mso-paper-source:0;}

div.Section1

{page:Section1;}

/* List Definitions */

@list l0

{mso-list-id:12610769;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:-1243997330 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l0:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l1

{mso-list-id:14843060;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:-891782826 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l1:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l2

{mso-list-id:344744244;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:-862568056 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l2:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l3

{mso-list-id:516307475;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:1081356298 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l3:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l4

{mso-list-id:652874890;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:1439186948 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l4:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l5

{mso-list-id:1001003110;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:1584661444 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l5:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l6

{mso-list-id:1167087251;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:108326806 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l6:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l7

{mso-list-id:1745758510;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:570475400 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l7:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l8

{mso-list-id:1779255634;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:820407424 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l8:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l9

{mso-list-id:1925604839;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:731667128 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l9:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

@list l10

{mso-list-id:2010599554;

mso-list-type:hybrid;

mso-list-template-ids:-1857397116 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}

@list l10:level1

{mso-level-number-format:bullet;

mso-level-text:\F0B7;

mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;

mso-level-number-position:left;

text-indent:-.25in;

font-family:Symbol;}

ol

{margin-bottom:0in;}

ul

{margin-bottom:0in;}

HIGHLIGHTS

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

ANNAN LAUDS ENVOY AS SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES CONGO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning opened the Security Council's formal meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC) by paying tribute to his outgoing Special Representative for the DRC, Kamel Morjane, for bringing the parties back to the path of negotiation and giving the people of that country new hope.

The Secretary-General also noted that the restoration of peace and stability would ultimately rest on the success of the inter-Congolese dialogue.

Morjane, who had briefed the Council last week in informal consultations on developments in the DRC, today thanked the Council members for their commitment to the peace process. He also highlighted the need for the parties to engage in dialogue and the importance of the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement of armed groups.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY DISTURBED BY FLIGHT OF SLAVS INSIDE FYROM

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) says it is deeply disturbed by reports that Slavs in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are fleeing ethnic Albanian areas of that country.

Eric Morris, UNHCR's special envoy for the region, said the refugee agency has been concerned about the possible separation of ethnic populations in FYROM since the beginning of the conflict earlier this year.

He said, "It was not my feeling that ethnic cleansing was the intent of the conflict, but if theres going to be a separation of the population, the consequences could be the same. It can spiral out of control. And if a community believes it was forcibly expelled, enormous barriers will be created for any eventual return."

KOSOVO: BORDER WITH FYROM CLOSED; BUSH MEETS UN OFFICIALS

The UN Mission in Kosovo said today that the border between Kosovo and FYROM has been closed. No other information was immediately available.

U.S. President George Bush, during his visit to Kosovo today, met for 40 minutes today with the Secretary-Generals Special Representative Hans Haekkerup.and KFOR Commander Lt. General Thorstein Shiaker.

The U.S. President assured officials from the UN mission in Kosovo ( UNMIK) and KFOR that the U.S. troops had entered Kosovo together and would leave Kosovo together with other NATO forces based here. He also endorsed UNMIKs efforts at preparing the people of Kosovo for taking on greater responsibility for running their own affairs. He was eager to know the ideas of the UN Special Representative on when this would take place and when the international community would be able to reduce its presence here.

President Bush asked about UNMIK and KFORs efforts in containing extremism and in preventing the export of violence into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and he urged UNMIK to do its utmost to deter and detain extremists. He was also interested in UNMIKs efforts to combat organized crime.

Haekkerup expressed his gratitude for the presence and activities of US troops in Kosovo and said that UNMIK was doing its part to implement President Bushs Executive Order regarding suspected extremists in the region. He also said that UNMIK, KFOR and the Kosovo Police Service were working hard to prevent the cross-border movement of extremists.

UNHCR WORRIED ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST AFGHANS IN IRAN

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) today voiced its worry about recent outbursts of violence that have been directed against Afghan refugees living in Iran. Last week, a number of people were injured when anti-Afghan protestors rampaged in a neighborhood south of the capital, Teheran, with some shouting, "Death to Afghans."

That is the second recent demonstration of anti-Afghan sentiment, following an attack on July 6 against Afghans in Falavarjan, in the province of Isfahan. UNHCR attributes the recent outbreaks of violence to anger among some Iranians who believe the Afghans are taking their jobs.

UNHCR hopes that the violence will subside and that its regular screening and voluntary repatriation operations in Iran will resume shortly.

UN OFFICE REPORTS RISE IN IRAQI OIL EXPORTS

The weekly update from the Office of the Iraq Programme shows a strong rise in Iraqi oil exports under the UN "oil-for-food" program. Last week, Iraq exported oil at an average rate of 2.27 million barrels per day, for a total of 15.9 million barrels in the week of July 14-20.

The value of contracts placed on hold by the Security Council's 661 sanctions committee rose slightly to $3.47 billion, up from the previous week's total of $3.4 billion.

UN, ERITREAN MILITARY TO RECEIVE AIDS TRAINING

On Monday in Asmara, Eritrea, a course to educate people who will train UN military and civilian staff, as well as the Eritrea Defence Force (EDF), on HIV/AIDS issues was officially opened by Ian Martin, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General.

This training program is intended to strengthen the capacity of each contingent of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea ( UNMEE) to deal with AIDS, by increased access to condoms for all Mission staff, and HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services, among other steps.

The joint effort by the UN Mission and the Eritrean Defense Force is part of a major UN effort to ensure that the issue of HIV/AIDS is addressed by UN peacekeeping operations.

HEAD OF UN INVESTIGATION INTO VIDEO LEAVES LEBANON

Joseph Connor, the Under-Secretary-General for Management, left Lebanon today and will return to New York this evening.

He interviewed members of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon in connection with his internal investigation into the taking of a videotape of two vehicles thought to have been involved in the abduction of three Israeli soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border last October.

He still hopes to finish his report by the end of the month.

Asked who was interviewed by Connor and his team, the Spokesman said that the half-dozen team members had conducted interviews and reviewed documentation both in New York and in Lebanon; Connor had spoken to a number of key actors himself.

Asked about Israel's criticism that Connor had not visited that country, the Spokesman said that Connor's terms of reference called for him to investigate the actions of peacekeepers. He did not meet Israeli or other Government officials, but had made it clear to the Israelis before he left for the region that he would be happy to receive any information that any Government considers to be relevant to his investigation.

In response to a question on whether Connor's findings would be issued, the Spokesman said that a final decision would be made once Connor delivers his report.

COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT ANNAN ON SIERRA LEONE COURT

A letter from Security Council President Wang Yingfan to the Secretary-General, issued today, notes the Secretary-General's plans to move forward with a Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The members of the Council welcome the Secretary-General's proposals and support the process of regular informal consultations between the Secretariat and a group of interested States to continue planning for the Court. They intend to use their best efforts to encourage donor States to expedite the transfer of funds to a Trust Fund that has been established for the Special Court.

ANNAN ANNOUNCES SENIOR-LEVEL APPOINTMENT

The Secretary-General today appointed Miles Stoby as Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services with effect from August 1.

Stoby, a Guyanese national, served most recently as Coordinator for the Millennium Assembly and has also worked with the UN International Partnership Trust Fund and as Deputy Executive Coordinator for UN Reform. A former diplomat, he joined the Secretariat in 1978 in the Office of the Director-General for Development and International Economic Cooperation.

Stoby replaces Federico Riesco, who retires at the end of this month.

AIDS FUND CONFIRMS CONTRIBUTIONS BY RUSSIA, ITALY

The UN Global AIDS and Health Fund has confirmed receipt of donations made by Russia and Italy late last week. The total amount donated to the Fund now stands at just under $1.4 billion.

In response to a question on how contributions can be made to the Fund prior to its formal establishment, the Spokesman noted that it is possible to make contributions through the UN Foundation.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asked to respond to reports that the town of La Verkin, Utah, would declare itself a "UN-free" zone, the Spokesman said the matter was a Constitutional issue between La Verkin and the Utah Attorney General. He hoped that the citizens of La Verkin would see the United Nations for what it really is -- an organization of Governments dedicated to the betterment of humankind, and not a threat.

In Geneva today, a spokesman for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that UNICEF would benefit from an auction on November 6 in Rockefeller Center of paintings by Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Leger, Joan Miró and other artists. The auction is expected to raise $40 million for UNICEF. The collections were bequeathed to UNICEF by the late Belgian businessman René Gaffé in an unprecedented gift.

The UN Environment Programme says, on the first day of a meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol dealing with the ozone layer, that tighter controls are needed for ozone-destroying chemicals. The three-day meeting of the Protocols Open-Ended Working Group, which is taking place in Montreal, will also look at reducing emissions from ozone-depleting chemicals and will review applications for exemptions.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, in a statement today, spoke of the need for a breakthrough in dealing with racism at next month's World Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa. The third meeting of the preparatory committee for that Conference will take place in Geneva, starting on July 30.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General United Nations, S-378 New York, NY 10017 Tel. 212-963-7162 Fax. 212-963-7055

Back

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article