United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-07-30

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HIGHLIGHTS

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARIE OKABE

ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, July 30, 2001

ANNAN URGES COMMON GROUND AT RACISM CONFERENCE

In Washington, D.C., this morning, Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed the annual conference of the National Urban League to discuss the most critical challenges facing the United Nations in the battle for human dignity. Those challenges, he said, included the future of Africa, the fight against AIDS and the upcoming World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racial Intolerance in Durban, South Africa.

The Secretary-General said that the months leading up to the conference have opened up deep fissures on a number of issues.

Saying that there was an acute need for common ground, he added, "We need a Conference and a Declaration that will look unflinchingly at every society in the world, and at those flaws which exacerbate, rather than eliminate, conflicts rooted in race and ethnicity. We need to acknowledge the tragedies of the past, but not become captive to them."

He added, "We need a Declaration that all people can recognize as their own one that inspires all peoples, not just Governments, to do their part, to understand the past and build a better future."

He was interrupted by applause nine times.

The Secretary-General is expected to be back in New York this afternoon.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL: ZIONISM ISSUE INAPPROPRIATE FOR CONFERENCE

Today in Geneva, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson opened the third meeting of the preparatory committee for World Conference on Racism to be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 7, in Durban.

Robinson urged delegates to ask themselves one question over the two-week meetings that began today: "Is the position I am taking likely to lead to a successful outcome in Durban?"

She urged all sides to show flexibility and a sense of realism in tackling the issues they face.

In particular, she noted that the UN resolution that had equated Zionism with racism was repealed a decade ago, and added, "I believe that it is inappropriate to reopen this issue in any form here, and that anyone who seeks to do so is putting the success of the Durban Conference at risk." However, she added that she was aware of the suffering of the Palestinian people, and voiced dismay at the daily toll of deaths and injuries.

ANNAN APPOINTS CHAIR OF WORKING GROUP FOR AIDS FUND

The Secretary-General today appointed Dr. Crispus Kiyonga of Uganda, as the Chair of the Transitional Working Group for the establishment of the Global Fund for AIDS and Health.

Kiyonga is currently acting National Political Advisor and Minister without Portfolio in Uganda's Cabinet, and was previously Uganda's Health Minister and Finance Minister.

The Transitional Working Group will work between now and this December to establish the Global AIDS and Health Fund. Interim arrangements for the fund were agreed to at a meeting in Brussels on July 12-13, attended by representatives of the Secretary-General, developed and developing nations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. So far, $1.4 billion has been pledged to the Fund.

The position of Chair of the Transitional Working Group will be crucial in bringing together the widest range of stakeholders in support of the Fund.

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON EAST TIMOR

Today at the Security Council's formal meeting on East Timor, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and Transitional Administrator, Sergio Vieira de Mello, said that the end goal of independence for East Timor is now in sight, but more work needs to be done to achieve that goal.

In particular, he highlighted four major objectives: to consolidate a secure and stable environment; to steer East Timor through successful, peaceful elections; to set the basis for managing public finances and making policy; and to establish the framework for an effective government administration.

He noted the preparations underway for the August 30 elections, and the planning, outlined in the Secretary-General's recent report on East Timor, to scale down the UN military presence in the near future, if stable conditions continue. By October, Vieira de Mello said, the Mission will present plans for a smaller mission, which he said should be funded from assessed contributions.

Vieira de Mello concluded his speech by inviting the members of the Security Council to visit East Timor again, and adding that the United Nations "must remain fully engaged in those early difficult days after the UN flag comes down."

East Timor's Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs, José Ramos Horta, also spoke to the Council.

At 1:15 p.m., the Council suspended its formal meeting on East Timor until 3:30, when it expects to wrap up its discussion and also adopt a Presidential Statement on East Timor.

In other East Timor news, UN Force Commander Lt. Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit extended his condolences and expressed regret over the death of an Indonesian soldier on Saturday at the border separating East Timor and West Timor. The soldier, First Sgt. Lirman Hadimu, was killed when UN troops from the New Zealand contingent fired back after a shot was fired at them by an armed man dressed in civilian clothes. The incident took place along the border, four kilometers southwest of Tilomar. The UN Mission has launched an investigation into the incident

UN COUNCIL TO VOTE ON MONITORING MECHANISM FOR AFGHANISTAN

After its meeting on East Timor, the Council will hold another formal meeting, to vote on a resolution to create a monitoring mechanism for sanctions placed on Afghanistan.

Earlier this morning, the Council held consultations to consider draft resolutions to extend the UN Observer Mission in Georgia and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon by six months each, until the end of next January. It will vote on those two resolutions Tuesday.

ANNAN DEPLORES RECENT MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE

In response to a question on recent violence in the Middle East, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General strongly deplores the latest violent incidents in the occupied Palestinian territory. Those incidents include the death of six Palestinians who were killed today by Israeli forces in the area of the town of Jenin, and the bombings in Jerusalem, as well as the reported Israeli helicopter attack against the Palestinian police headquarters in Gaza City.

The Secretary-General urges all concerned to exercise maximum restraint so that the violence can be brought to an end.

Moreover, these most recent incidents again highlight the urgent need for the resumption of political talks between the parties. In particular, the recommendations contained in the report by a fact-finding committee led by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell must be implemented.

FACT-FINDING MISSION TO STUDY SMALL ARMS IN KENYA

A UN fact-finding mission has begun work in Kenya to determine the scale of the proliferation of small arms in that country, in an initial effort to respond to a request from the Government of Kenya for UN assistance in dealing with the scourge of small arms.

The team, which is led by João Honwana, Chief of the UN Conventional Arms Branch, and also includes officials from the Department of Political Affairs and the UN Development Programme, arrived in Nairobi Sunday and will be there through Friday. The team will meet with Government and non-governmental officials, as well as officials from the region and the local diplomatic community.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

In response to questions, the Spokesman said she had no further information yet on Under-Secretary-General for Management Joseph Connor's investigation into the handling of a videotape made following the kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah last October.

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) reported that the cease-fire is holding and that most of the forces have completed their redeployment as of the end of last week.

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone ( UNAMSIL) noted a mission by Force Commander Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande to Kono and Koinadugu Districts to witness the ongoing disarmament process and to investigate allegations of cease-fire violations.

This afternoon, Israel and El Salvador will sign the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, bringing the number of signatories to 95.

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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