Visit the International Association for Greek Philosophy (IAGP) Homepage Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-03-31

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 31 March 1997


This 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

  • Security Council decides to extend mandate of UN Verification Mission to Angola until 16 April.
  • Security Council decides to authorise increase in strength of UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina by 186 police and 11 civilian personnel.
  • Security Council welcomes establishment of multinational protection force for Albania.
  • United Nations Secretary-General deplores attack against peaceful demonstrators in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • United Nations Secretary-General to pay official visit to India, Italy and Germany.
  • General Assembly extends mandate of United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala until 31 March 1998.
  • Two warring sides of Zaire agree to talks and cease fire.
  • UN High Commissioner for Refugees says returning boatloads of Albanians to the country is inappropriate way of handling mass outflow of people.
  • Unloading of 13,000 tons of Thai rice ends in Umm Qasr, Iraq.
  • Administrative and Budgetary Committee asks expert body to present eight proposals for scale of assessments after failing to agree on single set of elements.
  • New York City diplomatic parking programme should be delayed, speakers in Host Country Committee say.


The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of UN Verification Mission to Angola (UNAVEM III) until 16 April 1997, and requested the Secretary-General to report by 14 April 1997 on the status of the installation of the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation (GURN).

Unanimously adopting resolution 1102 (1997), the Council called upon both parties, the Government of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), to form the GURN on 11 April 1997, as decided by the Government of Angola and announced by the Joint Commission.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today informed the Security Council that the Angolan Government and UNITA had agreed on a date for establishing the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation - 11 April 1997, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General Fred Eckhard said.

While briefing the Council on the subject of Angola, the Secretary- General said he had convinced UNITA's leader Dr. Jonas Savimbi to send the UNITA members of the Parliament to the capital, Luanda, to sit in a session of the Parliament that he addressed, according to the Spokesman. Some 58 UNITA members came to hear the Secretary-General's address the next day, he added.

Dr. Savimbi also sent a number of ministers, vice-ministers and other UNITA members of the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation, which is to be formed according to the Lusaka Protocols, the Spokesman noted.

The Spokesman said the Secretary-General felt that, while there were still significant aspects of the Peace Agreement to implement, the peace process was back on track.


The Security Council decided today to authorise an increase in the strength of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) by 186 police and 11 civilian personnel, in the light of the recommendation of the Secretary- General concerning the role of the UN International Police Task Force (UN- IPTF) in Brcko contained in his report of 14 March 1997.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1103 (1997), the Council urged Member States, with the support of the Secretary-General, to provide qualified police monitors and other forms of assistance and support to the UN-IPTF and in support of the Peace Agreement.

It also called upon all parties to the Peace Agreement to implement all aspects of that Agreement and to cooperate in full with the UN-IPTF in the conduct of its activities.


Determining that the present crisis in Albania constituted a threat to international peace and security, the Security Council welcomed on 28 March the offer by certain Member States to establish a "temporary and limited multinational protection force" to facilitate the safe and prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance and to help create a secure environment for international organisations in Albania.

Adopting resolution 1101 (1997) by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (China), the Council welcomed the offer made by Italy to take the lead in organising and commanding the force. The Council also decided that the operation would be limited to a period of three months and that the cost would be borne by the participating Member States.

Taking note of the 27 March decision of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to provide the coordinating framework within which other international organisations could play a part, the Council also requested the Member States participating in the multinational force to provide periodic reports at least every two weeks, with the first such report to be made not later than 14 days from 28 March. At the end of the stipulated three-month period, the Council will assess the situation on the basis of those reports.


United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan deplored the attack against peaceful demonstrators in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 30 March, which resulted in at least 16 deaths, according to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General Fred Eckhard.

The Spokesman said Mr. Annan called on the Royal Government of Cambodia to investigate this act of violence and take all appropriate measures to see that such incidents are not repeated. The Secretary- General also called on all sides to exercise restraint and to do their utmost to ensure a political process conducive to the holding of free and fair elections scheduled for 1997 and 1998, according to the Spokesman.


The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will pay an official visit to India from 5 to 8 April, where he will address a meeting of the Non- Aligned Movement, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General said today.

Mr. Annan will then travel to Geneva, where he will chair a meeting of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), the coordinating mechanism for the entire United Nations system, the Spokesman added. He will make an official visit to Italy from 11 to 16 April, and another one to Germany from 16 to 18 April.


The General Assembly has authorised the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), for a further period of one year, until 31 March 1998, to carry out international verification of the peace accords signed between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) in December 1996.

In adopting, without a vote, the resolution on MINUGUA, the Assembly authorised the Secretary-General to commit up to US$ 21 million for the Mission from 1 April to 31 December 1997 and requested him to continue to develop appropriate means to identify resources for the Mission within the limits of the approved budget for the current biennium and to submit a report with the recommendations on the structure and staffing of the Mission after 31 March 1998.


The two sides engaged in the Zairian conflict agreed to talks and to a cease fire at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit recently held in Lome, Togo, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General Fred Eckhard said today, adding that this was a gratifying aspect of the Secretary-General's visit to Africa.

A specific date was impossible to make at the time because of communication problems, although the talks, which will take place in South Africa, are now expected to get underway on 5-6 April, according to the Spokesman. The talks will be led by the Joint UN/OAU negotiator, Mohamed Sahnoun.

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun to move some 17,000 refugees from Lula, which is 7 kilometres from Kisangani, to one of the temporary sites for refugees, 19 kilometres south of Kisangani, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General added.

UNHCR emergency team, together with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have now had access to an estimated 100,000 refugees on the Ubundu/Kisangani access, according to the Spokesman. Three temporary sites have been set up along this route, he said, noting that a train carrying 230 tons of food today made its way to all locations along the route, except Lula.


Patrolling the Adriatic Sea to intercept and return to Albania boatloads of Albanians seeking to flee the country is not an appropriate way of handling a mass outflow of people, given that there may be some individuals who are leaving because of genuine concerns about their physical security and safety, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

Italy has begun - at the request of the Albanian Government - this kind of interdiction, according to the Agency.

"The initial flows of people from Albania appeared to be composed of those who feared persecution or those who fled to escape generalised violence. We agree with the Italian government's assessment that many of those involved in the later exodus may be motivated by the desire to leave Albania for purely economic reasons," UNHCR stated.

UNHCR has shown appreciation for the generous and humanitarian approach that the Italian Government has taken so far.

"While mindful of Italy's response to a pressing Albanian request and of its concern not to be overwhelmed by new arrivals with no protection needs, we are anxious that those who may be in need of temporary refuge should be able to reach safety and have their protection needs assessed," UNHCR noted.


The unloading of 13,000 tons of Thai rice ended today in Umm Qasr, Iraq, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General Fred Eckhard said. More than 350 trucks were used to transport the goods to Government warehouses where their arrival was carefully monitored by mobile teams of observers, he noted.

Another shipment of rice is expected between 10 and 11 April, he said, adding that 14,500 tons were enroute to Iraq by ship.

On 29 March, the last truck transporting 1,500 tons of iodized salt crossed the border from Jordan, this being the second contract approved by the Sanctions Commission that has been completed, the Spokesman noted. In total, as of 30 March, 18,144.9 metric tons of goods have arrived in Iraq, he said.


The General Assembly is to request the Committee on Contributions to present eight proposals for a scale of assessments for the period 1998- 2000. The proposals should be based on a range of elements and criteria contained in previous drafts submitted by Mexico, United Republic of Tanzania, on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, United States, Japan and Canada. The text that is being submitted to the Committee is a compromise document approved without a vote by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

Major points of contention include proposals on whether to set the maximum assessment rate at 20 or 25 per cent of the budget and whether to use statistical base periods of three, six or nine years.

The base period is the number of years used in calculating the national income of States for assessments purposes. It is currently 7.5 years.


A temporary delay in implementation of the New York City Diplomatic Parking Programme was requested by many speakers, as the Committee on Relations with the Host Country considered the plan scheduled to take effect on 1 April.

Speakers noted that the opinion of the United Nations Legal Counsel on the Programme had been issued on 20 March and, while in general the Programme was found acceptable, it indicated several provisions "do not appear to be consistent with international law." Most speakers said the programme should not be implemented as scheduled, allowing time for certain elements to be clarified.

The representative of the United States, Robert Moller, defended the programme and said it could be implemented in a comprehensive manner as scheduled on 1 April. Implementation would allow the diplomatic community to receive the benefits provided in the programme and to assume their responsibilities under local parking laws, said Carolyn Wilson, of the United States.


For information purposes only - - not an official record

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org


United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Back to Top
Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
All Rights Reserved.

HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
undh2html v1.01 run on Tuesday, 1 April 1997 - 1:15:15 UTC