COMMITTEE TEXT SAYS PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IN PLANNING STAGE OF PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS

27 October 1995

Press Release
GA/SPD/67

COMMITTEE TEXT SAYS PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IN PLANNING STAGE OF PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS

19951027 Debate on Work of DPI Concluded; United States Calls for Reform Of Bureaucracy, Others Seek Emphasis on More Technology for Poor Countries

The Secretary-General would be asked to ensure the involvement of the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the planning stage of future peace- keeping and other field missions by the terms of a draft resolution approved this afternoon by the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) as it concluded its consideration of questions on information.

The Committee took that action by approving without a vote, texts submitted by the Committee on Information on "United Nations public information policies and activities" and on "information in service of humanity".

By other terms of the draft on public information policies, the Assembly would consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main body mandated to make recommendations relating to the DPI's work. The Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General to continue the integration of United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) whenever feasible, on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the information functions and autonomy of the centres were not adversely affected.

By the terms of the draft on information in service of humanity, States and specialized agencies would be urged to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the Charter and the principles of freedom of the press and information. States and organizations would also be urged to cooperate to reduce disparities in information flows by increasing assistance for the development of communications infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries. States and organizations would also be urged to ensure journalists the freedom to perform their professional tasks effectively and to condemn resolutely all attacks against them.

Also approved this afternoon was a draft decision by which the Assembly would increase the Information Committee's membership from 88 to 89 members with the appointment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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Several speakers also addressed the Committee on questions of information. The representative of the United States said the United Nations must reinvent its institutions, expertise and resources to meet the challenges of the next 50 years, and the first step was to control its budget and restructure its bureaucracy. The ability of the DPI to perform its core mandate could only be enhanced by focusing its limited resources efficiently.

The representative of Japan said the Secretary-General's report did not adequately evaluate the DPI's efforts, which could be done only through an appropriate examination of their end results. Discussions on the usefulness of the Department's information and materials were often based on needs presented by government representatives, and not necessarily on those of the actual users of United Nations information.

According to the representative of the Philippines, speaking for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, tapping into the vast universe of the Internet, or simply "stepping onto the information highway", was a barrier for some developing countries. For least developed countries, it was a "wall to scale and overcome". He said the concept of a global village was not yet a universal reality because of disparity and imbalance in the flow of information. The Group intended to raise the problem and the still-to-be realized new world information order in every relevant international forum.

The representative of Burundi said his Government was deeply disturbed over a pirate station called "Radio Democracy", which incited ethnic hatred. Burundi needed help from the international community to dismantle stations whose broadcasts threatened reconciliation and stability. He appealed for technical assistance to locate and destroy the "radio that kills".

The representatives of Brazil, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Qatar, Pakistan, Algeria, Libya, Bahamas, Iran, Belarus, Zambia, Tunisia, Burundi, China, Egypt and Sudan also spoke.

The Committee will meet again Monday, 30 October, at 3 p.m. to begin consideration of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Committee Work Programme

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this afternoon to conclude its consideration of questions relating to information, ad to take action on two draft resolutions and a draft decision. It had before it a report of the Committee on Information, as well as the Secretary- General's report covering the activities of the Department of Public Information (DPI) during the period from January through August 1995. (For details see Press Release GA/SPD/65, issued 26 October.)

By the terms of the draft resolution on United Nations public information policies and activities (document A/50/13) the Assembly would consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as the main body mandated to make recommendations relating to the work of DPI. It would request the Secretary-General to ensure DPI's involvement at the planning stage of future peace-keeping and other field missions through inter-departmental consultations and coordination with other departments.

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to increase his efforts for the early resumption of the publication Development Forum, or an alternative system-wide publication. The DPI management would be asked to review its publications and publication proposals to ensure they fulfilled an identifiable need, avoided duplication and were produced in a cost effective manner. The Assembly would reaffirm the importance of the United Nations information centres in disseminating information about the Organization's activities, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition.

The Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General to continue the integration of the information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) whenever feasible, on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the information functions and autonomy of the centres were not adversely affected. The Secretary-General would be called upon to continue to study how to rationalize the equitable disbursement of available resources to all the centres and to report to the Committee on Information at its next session.

The Assembly would welcome the successful conclusion of negotiations on the establishment of an information component in Warsaw; note the progress made towards establishing, within existing resources, an information centre in Bonn; and note the action taken by the Secretary-General regarding the reactivation and enhancement of information centres in Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka and Tehran. It would also take note of the requests of Bulgaria, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti and Slovakia for information centres or information components.

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The Assembly would express its full support to the wide and prompt coverage of United Nations activities through a continuation of United Nations press releases in both working languages of the Secretariat. Member States would be invited to submit to the Secretary-General by 15 March 1996, their observations and suggestions on how to develop further communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries.

By other provisions, the Assembly would call upon DPI to continue cooperation with Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine, and relevant United Nations bodies, to establish and implement information activities for the tenth anniversary in 1996 of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

By a draft resolution on Information in service of humanity, the Assembly would urge States and the specialized agencies to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the Charter and the principles of freedom of the press and information. Among other measures, States and organizations would, in the context of what has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process", ensure the diversity of media sources and their free access to information.

The Assembly would have States and organizations cooperate to reduce disparities in information flows by increasing assistance for the development of communications infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries. States and organizations would also be urged to ensure journalists had the freedom to perform their professional tasks effectively and to condemn resolutely all attacks against them.

By the terms of a draft decision on Increase in the membership of the Committee on Information, the Assembly would increase the Committee's membership from 88 to 89 members with the appointment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Statements

HENRIQUE R. VALLE (Brazil) commended DPI for its innovative approaches to its work as well as the professionalism of its staff. He noted the more sophisticated information capabilities including improved access to the Dag Hammarskjold Library through electronic networks, and to United Nations news and activities through its Bulletin Board. He also noted the "considerable improvement" in both the quality and speed with which the press releases were released. Visitors should meet as few closed doors as possible and guided tours should be presented in the widest possible range of languages. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and DPI had organized regional seminars to promote a pluralistic and varied media, and he hoped the seminar to be held in Sana'a (Yemen), next January would be fruitful.

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He said the information centres played a pivotal role in promoting a positive image of the United Nations and were important in developing countries where, because of insufficient financial resources, the mass media found access to information difficult. Integration of the centres with United Nations field offices must guarantee their functional independence and the integral fulfilment of respective mandates. Publications should be cost effective, timely and issued in response to real needs. The views of Member States should be sought for ways to further international cooperation in communication infrastructure and capabilities.

RONALD ALLAREY (Philippines), speaking for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said that despite shrinking budgetary resources, DPI has been able to perform creditably well. Media coverage of the Organization's fiftieth anniversary brought people closer to the concept of the global village. But the concept was not yet a universal reality because the disparity and imbalance in the flow of information still left much to be desired. While rich and developed countries might suffer from a surplus of information, many developing countries decried the lack of it, due to scant resources and the slow flow of information technology.

He said the Group of 77 and China were determined the raise the problem of the imbalance in the flow of information and the still-to-be realized new world information order in every relevant international forum. It was a vital global concern that intersected almost every issue from sustainable economic and social development and peace-keeping to the environment.

He said tapping into the vast universe of the Internet, or simply "stepping onto the information highway", was a barrier for some developing countries. For least developed countries, it was a "wall to scale and overcome". The information imbalance must be addressed by the provision of more opportunities for the training of journalists in developing and least developed countries. The issue should also be included in relevant North- South dialogue and South-South cooperation for regional exchange of ideas and information. The Group of 77 and China, he went on, attached the greatest importance to development issues and again requested the early resumption of the publication Development Forum or an alternative system-wide publication. There was a need to maintain and strengthen the network of existing information centres; their integration with UNDP field offices should be considered on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the respective host governments.

RI JANG GON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said that this year, information activities in his country had been geared to disseminating the revolutionary achievements of its late President, Kim Il Sung, and the safeguarding of socialist gains under his leadership. It was a common desire of people throughout the world and a historic task to build a free and

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peaceful new world without domination and subordination, aggression and war. Information could play an important role in creating such a peaceful world.

He said it was important for the international community to eliminate imbalance and inequality in information, and to establish a new world information and communications order. Large and modern information technologies were still in the hand of developed countries and served their interests, spreading their doctrines, cultures and even distorted information.

This year, his country had become a full member of the Committee on Information, and that reflected his country's will to give due consideration to information activities.

ABDULLA EBRAHIM AL-HAJ (Qatar) said leaders of the world at the meeting to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary were unanimous on the establishment of justice for all, free from selfish interests, monopoly and domination, and where human rights were respected. The media was an effective tool to establish the necessary atmosphere for cooperation. There was fear of the domination of the information systems of developed countries in view of their technical superiority, causing an imbalance in international information. There were repeated calls for the establishment of a new world information and communication order that would be more just, effective and balanced to promote international peace and understanding.

He said the new world order could not be consolidated without an effective and balanced media. Qatar rejected the distortion of facts which the Gulf region had suffered for a long time. The United Nations had to discharge its task in the formulation of new modern information concepts appropriate for coming challenges. It should take a pioneering step for the establishment of an information system to meet challenges, and formulate a new policy fair to developing countries, which demanded their legitimate rights to defend their cultural identity and to develop.

Qatar appreciated the efforts of DPI and was pleased with the establishment of the office in Sana'a. Information was an important tool to help all peoples obtain their social, cultural and political objectives. There was a need for all countries to have access to information superhighways in a balanced and equitable manner. Freedom of information was a yardstick of all basic freedoms.

WALTER DOUGLAS (United States) said that under the leadership of Assistant Secretary-General Samir Sanbar, DPI had made great strides towards responding to the right of the international public to know about the United Nations and the interest of Member States in a cost-effective and efficient Department. Last Friday, United States Ambassador Madeleine Albright had outlined the direction his Government would like to pursue in reforming the

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United Nations. The goal was to prepare the Organization for the next century and reinvent its institutions, expertise and resources to meet the challenges of the next 50 years.

The first step was to control the budget, and restructure its bureaucracy. Ambassador Albright had pointed out that "the Department of Public Information could be scaled back considerably without harm to the essential mandates of the Organization". The DPI's ability to perform its core mandate could only be enhanced by focusing its limited resources efficiently. His Government could not agree more with Mr. Sanbar's statement yesterday, that "cost-effectiveness has been the key to the strengthening and successful delivery of DPI's information programs".

He said three areas needed to be examined. Firstly, it should be asked whether the information centres informed their audience cost effectively. If not, DPI should consider transferring their functions to local university libraries and private institutions. Secondly, it should be asked how the Dag Hammarskjold Library in New York worked as a resource centre for the Secretariat and the Member States. The DPI could bring in an independent library consultant to examine the Library's structure and objectives and make a blueprint for reform. Thirdly, he asked, did DPI's important moves into computerization mean reduced demand for travel? The Department should examine how to replace a significant amount of its staff travel with the new information technologies.

MUSHTAQ ALI TALPUR (Pakistan) congratulated the Secretary-General and his staff and indeed DPI for the successful conclusion of the United Nations historic fiftieth anniversary commemorative session. He said the end of the cold war and technological advances in communications presented unique opportunities and challenges. Global conflicts were no longer based on ideology, so a similar spirit of understanding should be reflected in the information sector. Both developed and developing countries must engage themselves as partners in the pursuit of a new world information and communication order, which would ensure balance and equity in the field of information and facilitate the transfer of technology and sharing of professional expertise. This would lead to greater harmony and better understanding among nations.

He said DPI should do more to disseminate objective information on human rights violations in different parts of the world including Bosnia, Rwanda and the disputed state of Kashmir. He welcomed the establishment of an inter- departmental working group on media strategies for peace-keeping operations, and called for DPI to provide information on those operations on a more sustained basis.

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Pakistan, he said, was fully supportive of the information centres, which were performing an essential role in the projection of the image and various activities of the United Nations, particularly in the developing countries. The independence of the centres should be guaranteed. With regard to publications, Pakistan deplored the fact that Development Forum was no longer published. The Dag Hammarskjold Library should be strengthened.

FATEH ZEGHIB (Algeria) said institutions must change in order to respond to the new threats to world peace -- poverty, terrorism and threats to the environment. As global technology advanced to the point of effacing borders between countries, there were more than 1,500 assaults on the freedom of the press recorded annually. Journalists were killed to prevent the flow of information.

Noting the situation for journalists in Algeria, he said working there had been classified as a nightmare, an appropriate sentiment to describe not only the situation for journalists but for ordinary people who worked under intolerable daily stress and were targeted by terrorists, for doing such normal things as selling newspapers or sending children to school. "Mad politicians" had "unleashed their doctrines" and made journalists a priority target of terrorists, who justified their action by labelling journalists as the "tool of the regime".

The only compensation to comfort journalists, he said, was that organizations like UNESCO and the journalist unions had supported those working in Algeria. Those killed had pursued a path of independence. Moreover, pro-integration terrorists had not succeeded in emptying the editorial offices. The United Nations must fight the rise in fanaticism and hatred.

The information sector played an increasingly important role, with advances in technology, and should be a tool of all mankind to gain deeper insights and greater understanding. The equitable transfer of technology, must be ensured, because of the vast disparities throughout the world. He welcomed DPI's progress in fulfilling its mandate and its future goals. His Government supported the work of the information centres, which must be given adequate resources.

RABIE BADREDDIN (Libya) said his delegation appreciated the work of DPI and believed it should have the necessary human and financial resources to improve its effectiveness and to promote information structures in developing countries and the establishment of a new world information and communication order.

The world media today lacked objectivity and fairness, and was being used by some countries to spread misinformation and distortion to further

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their political objectives. He said there was an attempt to stick the label of terrorism on Libya; the United States had used the media to convince the world that Libya supported terrorism, and American policies to mislead public opinion continued, with the linking of Libyan citizens to the Pan Am explosion despite unproved allegations.

Libya hoped that DPI would continue providing information on economic and social development, and would mobilize international public opinion on the Organization's priority areas. He welcomed the important role of UNESCO in improving and increasing communications which improved international cooperation and gave all peoples equal opportunity to distribute information. He said Libya called on DPI to establish training programmes for journalists and technicians, and to increase cooperation with the Non-Aligned pool. Information centres should be supported in all ways possible. They should not be integrated with UNDP field offices before consultations were held with host countries.

FREDDIE C. TUCKER (Bahamas) said that as the focal point for information and implementation of information activities within the United Nations system, DPI had the unenviable responsibility of fulfilling the needs of numerous audiences simultaneously, and through diverse media. That was a challenging undertaking.

The Department's dissemination of information to direct users had been enhanced by modern technology, including the use of several networks such as the Internet. The Department should be congratulated on its efforts in that area, which had been one of the more dynamic areas of information in recent years. It would increase DPI's outreach and advocacy to vast potential audiences worldwide.

He said his Government supported the strengthening of the information centres, which had greatly enhanced the information activities of the United Nations, thereby contributing to its positive image. He commended the Department for the efficiency, productivity and excellence of the Caribbean Radio. Radio broadcasting had been identified as one of the most cost- effective and penetrating media available to the Department.

JALAL SAMADI (Iran) said there was a huge information gap between developed and developing countries, and disparities in technology and resources caused the flow of information to remain one-sided. The developed countries enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the gathering and dissemination of information through their technological advantages, particularly in the field of satellite communication, placing the developing nations at a distinct disadvantage and rendering them mere consumers.

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Iran supported the establishment of a new, just and more balanced world information and communication order and believed that the international community should provide financial contributions and technological support for the developing countries, thus enabling them to disseminate and communicate their views to allow for a genuine exchange of information.

While welcoming DPI's technological advances on the information superhighway, he said the United Nations should consider the fact that the ultimate beneficiaries might remain a restricted group of advanced States, since the majority of Member States lacked the needed infrastructure. The promotion of economic development and the eradication of colonialism should be given due attention. The Department's information campaign on decolonization had contributed significantly to the process and should continue. The information centres played an important role in disseminating information, and Iran appreciated the reactivation of the centre in Tehran.

SERGUEY ZVONKO (Belarus) said the manpower and resources spent on keeping the world informed of the noble work of the United Nations would be repaid a hundred times. The international community should keep that in mind when restructuring the main information bodies of the Organization. The DPI had succeeded in promoting international peace, respect for human rights and the environment, and had also done great work in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. The Assistant Secretary-General of Public Information, Samir Sanbar, had also introduced priorities and modern technology to enhance DPI's work.

He said his Government supported DPI's efforts to improve the effectiveness of the information centres, which were an important link between the United Nations and countries in transition, and also promoted a positive image of the Organization's work. Integration of the centres with field offices of the UNDP should be done on a case-by-case basis taking into account the views of the host country.

Information about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was important for his country and the rest of the world, he said, and there would be a week-long programme to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the accident next April. He hoped DPI would make full use of materials his Government would make available for the programme.

SHEILA SHANKAYA (Zambia) said there had been a tremendous increase in information dissemination during the past 50 years between the Organization and its Member States. United Nations information was now easily and quickly available, thanks to the staff of the Department of Public Information, who had not only ensured that the Department was run smoothly but that it was well coordinated to build partnerships with media and other key groups around the world.

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However, with the ever increasing technological advancement in recent years, there was a need for DPI to intensify its efforts to enable developing countries to have appropriate communications technology. Zambia applauded DPI's work with non-governmental organizations through weekly briefings and the NGO Resource Centre.

With 1996 designated as the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, she said, DPI should put more emphasis on information that would enable the international community to deal effectively with this scourge, which had left many developing economies crippled and helpless. She expressed gratitude to DPI for the Lusaka-based information centre. However, the centre had been without a Director for a long time now and the matter should be settled once and for all.

WALID DOUDECH (Tunisia) said international cooperation in technology transfer would help developing countries. The DPI had played an important role in promoting the work of the United Nations, and he praised the efforts of its Assistant Secretary-General Samir Sanbar in developing more effective management tools and providing new technology to help fulfil the Department's goals. The policy of partnership with the media was commendable and would reinforce and improve the work of DPI.

He said that development, especially in Africa, was a priority issue and the DPI's efforts to gain expanded media coverage of development concerns was gratifying. The quarterly publication African Recovery should be issued more frequently. Seminars to focus attention on developing countries were praiseworthy and he welcomed the UNESCO/DPI seminar in Sana'a to promote a pluralist media in the Middle East. Information centres were essential to increase awareness of the United Nations and he praised efforts to streamline the centres and make them more effective; integration with UNDP field offices must be on an ad hoc basis and in cooperation with the host country.

MELCHIADE BUKURU (Burundi) said the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations showed the high level of competence of DPI. The successes of the Organization in recent days could be attributed to a large extent to DPI's ability to get things done. The publication of the current yearbook enabled people to learn about the United Nations accomplishments over the past 50 years, and radio and television products also helped.

To respond to the many challenges facing DPI today, changes had been made and Burundi welcomed changes to make use of electronic technology to reach target groups, which were the "We the peoples of the United Nations". Many parts of the world still had limited technological resources and DPI must continue to try to ensure global access to its products and information activities.

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He said developing countries suffered from a world information order which was imbalanced. Burundi was deeply disturbed over a pirate station called "Radio Democracy", which incited the population to ethnic hatred and uprising against the government. Since Burundi was poor, it was unable to locate the station. It needed the help of the international community to dismantle those stations whose broadcasts were threatening reconciliation and stability. Burundi had already brought the matter before the Security Council urging it to take measures, and appealed to all partners to lend technical assistance to locate and destroy this "radio that kills".

He referred to the positive role of the information centre in Bujumbura and called once again for the restoration of the post of Director.

TOSHIHIRO TAKAHASHI (Japan) said his delegation during the recent session of the Committee on Information had pointed out the need for an effective communication capacity for the United Nations. The value of the Blue Book series had been noted and DPI had been commended on its expanded use of electronic networks. Suggestions were offered as to how the United Nations Library might be used more effectively.

He said he welcomed DPI's role in the formulation of a media strategy for peace-keeping and other field operations, and the establishment of an interdepartmental working group and roster of personnel.

The identity of priority areas on the one hand, and the choice of method to implement policy in those areas on the other, were separate questions, he said. He agreed with comments made by Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union, that the Secretary-General's report did not adequately evaluate the results of DPI's efforts, which could be done only through an appropriate examination of their end results. He pointed out that discussions on the usefulness of DPI information and materials were often based on needs as presented by government representatives, and not necessarily on those expressed by the actual users of United Nations information. He hoped DPI, in describing its activities, would provide some indication of user feedback whenever such information was available.

HE YAFEI (China) thanked DPI for its important contributions to the success and wide publicity of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing this September, and the recent commemoration of the United Nations fiftieth anniversary. In recent years, the Department had played a useful role in informing the international community of United Nations efforts to resolve regional conflicts and maintain international peace.

The integration of public information with peace-keeping operations helped enhance mutual understanding between the people of the countries concerned and the peace-keeping operations. However, it was necessary to

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respect the will of the countries, heed their views and settle differences through consultations free from the imposition of one's will on others. The public information work of the United Nations should serve the general membership rather than a few countries or groups.

While attaching importance to public information in peace-keeping operations, he said the United Nations should voice more support for the establishment of a new type of fair and equitable international economic relations based on equality, mutual benefit and common development. The United Nations should take steps in the field of public information to provide necessary assistance to developing countries in terms of technology, personnel and financial resources. This would enable them to strengthen their information and communications infrastructure and to redress their current unfavourable positions, and so to gradually eliminate the imbalance in the international information system.

MOATAZ ZAHRAN (Egypt) said the United Nations had become increasingly and actively involved in a wide-ranging scope of diverse international affairs, varying from preventive diplomacy to post-conflict peace-keeping and peace enforcement, along with its involvement in social and economic development. He expressed deep satisfaction for DPI's efforts to meet essential requirements aimed at contributing to the success of the United Nations and bringing its message of peace and development to the world. The use of technological innovations, such as on-line access, interactive networks and the Audio Bulletin Board were vivid examples of how it was providing access to United Nations materials for the largest possible audience. The recent use of CD-ROM database programmes via "UNBIS-PLUS" was another positive development towards improved access to the highly efficient Dag Hammarskjold Library.

In the Middle East, the peace process was gradually reshaping the configurations in the whole region, he continued. The Department, through its programmes on Palestine, continued to play an essential role in promoting and generating wider support for the peace process. The information centres and United Nations publications should give more attention to the fields of disarmament, specifically the persisting nuclear problem in the Middle East region, in order to stimulate stronger regional and extraregional awareness of the seriousness of the issue.

HASSANE ADAM OMER (Sudan) commended DPI for publicizing the achievements of the United Nations. The world was undergoing a communication revolution, which had a positive impact in conveying information, but there was a technological gap between developed and developing countries. This meant that States possessing "information power" got their views across, while other parts of the world were still struggling to make their opinions and cultures known. An effort was being made to impose a certain kind of behaviour without

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respect for different cultures. There was a certain type of stereotyping going on. Information focused on shortcomings of developing countries, describing only tragedies. Information no longer sought the truth or the roots of problems.

He said the role of information about the United Nations was important; it should focus on achievements of countries so that the international community was not given disinformation. He hoped United Nations information activities would counteract certain campaigns being waged against some developing countries. If United Nations information services could describe tragedies and try to combat racial discrimination and apartheid, those services should also cover xenophobia and discrimination against migrants and the negative economic impact of structural adjustment programmes.

A distorted picture was given to the world about Sudan, he said. Some non-regional organizations working in the humanitarian area conveyed negative information abroad, and this had distracted them from their humanitarian mission. Sudan was a large country and trusted that the replacement Director at the information centre in Khartoum would be appointed as soon as possible.

Statement by Assistant Secretary-General

Addressing the Committee, SAMIR SANBAR, Assistant Secretary-General for Public Information, said he had listened with interest to the statements, and DPI would be in touch with all delegations to follow up on the points made. The Department was most encouraged by the attitudes expressed by all delegations and would continue an open approach, continue to have cost- effective programme delivery, to sharpen its focus and would do its best to meet the challenges ahead. Public information was a dynamic movement like a heartbeat and should continue.

He said the dedicated staff of DPI would continue to work to meet the challenges. He was proud of what had been achieved, but was the first to admit that much remained to be done. "We have to work together; this is our world, our United Nations, and we need your approval to perform our work and your support to succeed." He looked forward to continuing consultations and to working with delegations throughout the year.

Action on Drafts

Acting without a vote, the Committee then approved a draft resolution on United Nations public information policies and activities and a draft on information in the service of humanity. It also approved, without a vote, a draft decision on increase in the membership of the Committee on Information.

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Statements on Western Sahara

MIMOUNI SOUFIANE (Algeria) said his delegation did not intend to intervene at this juncture, but taking account of what was said this morning by one delegation, he felt compelled to state the facts. The Moroccan delegation went beyond the bounds of common decency. Its "obstinate determination" to get its hands on the list of co-sponsors was not in keeping with the practice of the Committee. It was surprising that the Moroccan delegation focused attention solely on the list of co-sponsors, instead of on the substance of the draft resolution. Algeria was ready to cooperate with the Committee Chairman. The draft resolution on Western Sahara was submitted yesterday, respecting the deadlines, and was now being translated. Algeria was surprised at the behaviour of Morocco to get the list of co-sponsors. The many co-sponsors would see their names on the list. Algeria wished to invite the Committee on Monday to take a look at the substantial list of co-sponsors, to find out that the delegation of Morocco lied. He expressed the hope that discussion on this issue would not be reopened.

EL HASSAN ZAHID (Morocco) said the insults by Algeria were unjustified and would be reported back to authorities. Morocco had been accused of lying and misleading delegations. This morning he had said that one delegation had submitted a draft resolution on the question of Western Sahara around 6 p.m. yesterday. In fact, it was a little after that time, and the draft had been submitted by one single delegation. Morocco wanted the text to be issued under the name of that one delegation. Where was the effort to mislead delegations? This was a fact. He said he rejected the insult and trusted that common decency would be applied to the delegation which had issued it. If there were no co-sponsors, if they felt a draft was in their interest, there was a procedure for that. The co-sponsors would be announced by the Chairman of the Committee.

Yesterday Algeria had said one could not speak about sponsors and co- sponsors, he continued. There was a lack of transparency and consultation. All that was in the text was to encourage the Secretary-General to move ahead with the settlement plan. Morocco was helping the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). There had been a great many insults against Morocco. There was a reference to obstinacy. Morocco was not obstinate. One could not have documents that reflected the will of the international community if they were prepared secretly.

The CHAIRMAN said standard General Assembly procedures were being followed on the issue.

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