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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-06-20United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSThursday, June 20, 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
UN Secretary-General Dr Boutros-Ghali announced his intention to seek re- election for a second term. Announcing the Secretary-General's decision, UN Spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi said the Secretary-General submitted his candidacy for a second term in view of the strong encouragement he has received from the majority of the membership of the United Nations, including some members of the Security Council. Meanwhile, the United States said it will not give its support to Dr Boutros-Ghali for another term as UN Secretary-General. The destruction of Iraq's former Biological Warfare Production Facility known as Al Hakam has been completed, a UN Spokesman announced today. UN Spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi said the destruction, under supervision of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) involved the removal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, related components, and research, development and production facilities. An international team took over one month to oversee the careful and rigorous destruction of Al Hakam and associated equipment. Iraq had originally stated that Al Hakam was designed and used only for peaceful purposes, however under pressure of the evidence gathered by UNSCOM, Iraq finally admitted in July of 1995 that AL Hakam was constructed for research, development, production, storage and testing of biological warfare agents. Celebrating 22 years of Africa's commitment to open its doors to refugees, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms Sadako Ogata said Africa made a solemn commitment to open its doors to refugees, not only to those fleeing persecution but also armed conflict, aggression, foreign domination or events disturbing public order. An undertaking, the High Commissioner noted, that has become a model of generosity. Ms Ogata said this years theme for Africa Refugee Day - Save the Environment to Safeguard Asylum - is appropriate. "UNHCR has been making an effort to address environmental problems in communities hosting refugees. Various energy-saving means, such as provision of fuel efficient stoves, have been developed and distributed in refugee camps. Programmes are in place to educate both the local communities and the refugees to understand the importance of preventing damage to the environment," Ms Ogata said. Today marks the end of the 30 day demilitarization period of the United Nations administered region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium, a UN Spokesman said. All heavy weapons have left the area. Small arms were first turned in and then transferred across the international border together with other military material. The Spokesman said the UN Transitional Authority in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) is satisfied with the manner in which the demilitarization was implemented and with the level of cooperation provided by both Croatian and Serbian sides. Some 230 participants from more than 70 countries agreed upon "the necessity and possibility of achieving education for all" and rededicated themselves to this essential task, at the conclusion of a four-day review of what has been achieved since the World Conference on Education for All (EFA), held in Jomtien, Thailand in 1990. The conference, held in Amman, Jordan, issued the "Amman Affirmation" which stressed that education is empowerment and the key to reinforcing democracy, sustainable and human development and to peace founded upon mutual respect and social justice. The conference noted that there has been definite progress in basic education, with increasing enrollments and dropping numbers of out-of- school children, but found that much remained to be done. In a statement issued at the end of the conference, the participants called on countries to assume the responsibility for accelerating progress towards Education For All (EFA), setting firm targets and timetables for achievements."International agencies and donors must also play their full role as partners in the Education For All (EFA) movement, matching national efforts with significantly increased international support, better coordination and greater responsiveness to country priorities," the statement said. Calling upon all partners to both mobilize new resources and learn to use existing resources more effectively, the conference underlined the need for enhanced political will, greater financial and material resources and improved management. The participants found that despite near-universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the child's right to education, over 100 million children continue to be without access to education. "We must respond with new strategies and approaches to bring education within the reach of all, including the poor, the remote and those with special needs," the statement concluded. The future of humanity lies in cultural mixing, dialogue and tolerance, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Director-General, Federico Mayor told representatives of Amerindian communities. Mr Mayor called for building peace through intercultural dialogue and said the suffering of indigenous communities is one of the catastrophes of the last few centuries. Addressing the International Meeting of Amerindian Communities in Paris, Mr Mayor said UNESCO today shares their desire to preserve the vitality of their traditions, their heritage, their culture, and to define the rightful place of this culture in the modern world. "Despite social prejudices, economic structures, educational systems and the workings of a political power system unfavourable to Amerindians, there are encouraging signs that this situation is changing, and that these changes will constitute and consolidate in the near future," Mr Mayor noted. The International Meeting of Amerindian Communities,supported by UNESCO aims at recognition for the moral values of the Amerindian people and is taking place under the auspices of French President Jacques Chirac. The Palestinian question would come under the spotlight when experts from Palestine, Israel, Canada and the United States meet during the annual North American Non-Governmental-Organisation (NGO) Symposium, at the UN Headquarters later this week to consider the theme: "Towards a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine". The Symposium, sponsored by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, seeks to mobilize non- governmental organisation action in support of Palestinian rights and to meet the needs of reconstruction and nation-building during the transitional period, in light of the declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and subsequent agreements signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). A Russian version of the 1995 edition of "Basic Facts about the United Nations" has been issued in Moscow by a Russian publishing house. The 5,000 copy edition marks the first issuance by a Russian commercial publisher of a United Nations publication. The book was produced for, and on behalf of the United Nations in a joint venture between the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) and the publisher. The reference book, issued by the Department of Public Information every two years, provides an overview of the activities and structure of the United Nations and its specialised agencies. The publication is available at the UN bookstores in New York, Geneva and Vienna. Three libraries, located in Austria, India, and Zimbabwe, have been designated United Nations depository libraries, making them part of an international network of 355 libraries in 142 countries that brings United Nations documents and publications to users around the world. The designation of depositories is carried out by the United Nations Publications Board. The degree of development of the requesting libraries and the overall geographic distribution of depository libraries in the countries concerned are among the criteria used. 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 |
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