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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-07-05United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSFriday, July 5, 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
A strong and democratic Russia would tremendously help the efforts of the UN in bringing peace, development and democracy to all parts of the world, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali says in a message to the Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin on his victory in the Russian elections. "With deep satisfaction, I have learned of your victory at the second round of elections. Your leadership ensures that Russia will enjoy stability during a difficult period of transformation," the Secretary-General said. Haiti provides a positive example of what can be achieved when the international community reacts effectively and positively to a crisis situation, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said in a message to the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. "The UN cannot act in isolation in those circumstances and depend on the resolve, support and goodwill of Member States and regional organisations." In a statement delivered by Under-Secretary General for Public Affairs Joseph Verner Reed, the Secretary-General said the increasing complexity of international relations will continue to place a premium on cooperation and coordination at the regional level. "The Caribbean is no exception, that is why the UN attaches the utmost importance to building ever-closer ties with CARICOM," he said. Underscoring the achievements and activities of CARICOM, the Secretary- General said the inauguration in May 1996 of the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians underlines the Community's commitment to increasing regional cooperation where ever possible. "A more flexible mechanism has been introduced, which will enhance existing levels of cooperation and help build a lasting partnership for the benefit of all the peoples of the region," Dr. Boutros-Ghali said. The UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has broken new ground in formulating model provisions to facilitate the use of non- paper- based communications for a wide range of international commercial transactions. The new Model Law on Electronic Data Interchange, adopted at the recently concluded session of UNCITRAL in New York, provides definitions, principles and proposed rules to help avoid discrimination against commercial messages that are communicated electronically. The 36-member Commission devoted several years to drafting and revising a set of basic principles that would be acceptable to the world's major legal systems and which could guide States in enacting suitable laws in this new area. A key provision of the Model Law states that "information shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely on the grounds that it is in the form of a data message. It also helps resolve the extent to which electronic messages can meet a legal requirement that information be provided in "writing". The Mini-Schools programme in Haiti is among the winners of the 1996 United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Literacy Prizes for outstanding work in promoting literacy, notably among women and children. Working in one of the least developed countries, the Mini-Schools Programme, operating in the shanty towns on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, has now opened 175 mini- schools with 900 instructors catering for 25,000 pupils. The project promotes the all-round development of youths regardless of their religion, combining educational activities with vocational training and health and hygiene campaigns. The State Crusade for Adult Education of Mexico, the Culture and Education Department of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and the UNESCO Club Dibwa Dia Ditumba of Zaire also feature among the winners of the US$15,000 award. A new publication, designed to encourage the identification and dissemination of environmentally sound solutions to the handling of municipal solid waste has been issued. The publication, issued by the UN International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), a unit within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), provides developing and transition-economy countries with information on waste reduction, collection and transfer, composting, incineration and landfills. The book also includes an analysis of sound practices of innovative and cost-effective technologies as well as strategic planning of an integrated solid waste management system. 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 |