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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-05-30United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSThursday, May 30, 1996This document is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information and is updated every week-day at approximately 6:00 PM. HEADLINES
The Security Council has decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) at the present strength until 30 November 1996. Adopting resolution 1058 (1996) by a vote of fourteen for and one abstention (Russian Federation), the Council expressed the hope that future developments in the region would not undermine confidence or threaten stability in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Council noted the improved security situation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and welcomed the close cooperation between UNPREDEP and relevant bodies in the area. It requested the Secretary- General to review the composition, strength and mandate of UNPREDEP and to report to the Council by 30 September 1996 for its consideration. The Security Council has also decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 30 November 1996. Unanimously adopting resolution 1057 (1996), the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit, at the end of this period, a report on the development in the situation and the measures taken to implement the Council's relevant resolution. In a complementary statement on behalf of the Security Council read by Council President Ambassador Qin Huasun of China, members of the Council concurred with Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali that 'despite the present quiet in the Israel-Syria sector, the situation in the Middle-East continues to be potentially dangerous and is likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle- East problem can be reached.' The "statement of the Secretary-General reflects the view of the Security Council", the Council President added. "The key to the success of this Conference is the Programme of Action", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said today, in his address to the Conference on Refugees and Displaced Persons in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in Geneva. A solid institutional framework; a high degree of preparedness; and international solidarity were some of the factors that "offer the basis for an effective approach to the problems of refugees and migrants, and for ways to prevent further displacement from occurring", he added. Some 9 million people displaced people are facing an uncertain future in the CIS countries as a result of the tremendous geopolitical upheavals that had occurred in that region. Dr. Boutros-Ghali said the situation of the refugees and displaced people was not covered by any international rule, which was crucial, in his view. The Secretary-General said the Conference offered hope "to the 30 million displaced persons - - in numerous parts of the world" who awaited to be helped to take charge of their own destinies. He noted that the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had demonstrated "the kind of innovative international solidarity and commitment" that would serve as a model for the future "for the benefit of all". "Only global action can eradicate the evil of terrorism", Secretary- General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, through a message read by the Acting Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) K.P. Moorhty, told the preparatory meeting for the International Symposium on Terrorism in Cairo today. He said terrorism knew no boundaries and was not an isolated phenomenon but an integral part of illicit activities such as narcotics and drug trafficking and procurement of arms, "despite the political mask terrorists try to wear". The United Nations was thus the only global forum where countries had come together to work against terrorism, he added. To improve the environment in which people live is one of the objectives of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), which opens in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday 3 June. "Large cities are where most of the world's population will live by the beginning of the next century", according to Habitat II's estimates. Half of the world's population lives in big cities at present. By 2025, two-thirds will do so. By raising global awareness of the phenomenon and harnessing requisite resources to support it, Habitat II aims to address attendant problems. The conference in Istanbul, the last global summit of the century, will also address questions raised at previous global United Nations conferences, among them: Habitat I in 1976; the Rio Earth Summit of 1992; and the World Social Summit and the Beijing Women and Development Conference of 1995. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to boost disaster management capabilities of Cambodia, Laos and Mongolia, according to the Agency. The programme will help the three countries meet goals of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000). Cambodia, Laos and Mongolia, often confronted with natural disasters ranging from wildfires to snowstorms, will benefit from the US$317,000, UNDP-assisted programme, which is to help them analyze disaster preparedness needs, train disaster response and prevention personnel, among other related activities. For information purposes only - - not an official record From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |