DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 30 January 1996
Press Release
DH/2070
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 30 January 1996
19960130 * Secretary-General is concerned at sudden outbreak of tension between Greece and Turkey; urges both sides to exercise restraint and resolve differences peacefully.* Special Representative says institutionalized violence in Haiti largely ended; says violent acts now criminal rather than politically motivated.
* Secretary-General says democratization of international relations one of most fundamental requirements for today's world.
* Special Representative for Afghanistan arrives in Kabul for talks with Government leaders; to meet with faction leaders; some aid reaches besieged capital where conditions still appalling.
* UNICEF's Executive-Director calls for partnership in struggle against "apartheid of gender".
* * *
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is concerned at the sudden outbreak of tension between Greece and Turkey, as a result of incidents in the neighourhood of the uninhabited islet of Imia in the Aegean Sea, a United Nations spokesman said today. The Secretary-General believed the best way to avoid further escalation would be for both sides to avoid public statements which encouraged their citizens to initiate further incidents and to take steps to resolve their differences peacefully. On his instruction, the Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs, Marrack Goulding, met separately with the Charges D'Affairs of both Governments and urged them to exercise restraint.
* * *
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Lakhdar Brahimi, has expressed concern over the recent "flurry of violent events" in the country. However, he told correspondents today, there had been much progress in ending institutionalized violence in Haiti. Although there might be some acts of politically motivated violence there had been a substantial change for the
- 2 - Press Release DH/xxxx xxxxxxxxxxx 1996
better in the past eighteen months. There might not be a difference in the degree of violence, there was a difference in nature and it was now mainly criminal, he said. Haiti was becoming more and more a State ruled by law, which was not the case eighteen months ago, and he had no reason to doubt that trend would continue.
Meanwhile, a member of the United Nations Civilian Police Force (CIVPOL) was killed in Haiti yesterday. United Nations officials said the peace-keeper, who was from Benin, and a colleague were attacked near their car. A suspect who was wounded was being held as investigations began.
* * *
The democratization of international relations was one of the most fundamental requirements for today's world, according to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. In a statement on receiving a "Letter of Peace", the Secretary-General said democratization of international relations should take place not only in bodies like the United Nations, but in all places where authority was exercised globally. The Letter was organized by a coalition of Spanish and Latin-American non-governmental organizations and sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Secretary-General said the Letter was one of the most tangible manifestations of the role that international public opinion could play when mobilized in support of the ideals of the United Nations Charter. Everyone had a duty to push for democratic reforms at the international level, to welcome new protagonists of the global society and foster the birth of a new world community. It was only by mobilizing international public opinion that peace would really make progress, as peace was a culture which must take root in people's hearts.
* * *
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mahmoud Mestiri, arrived in Kabul today and met with the Afghan Minister of Defense, according to a United Nations spokesman. Tomorrow, he will go to Kandahar to meet with leaders of the Taliban, an Afghan faction opposing the Government. Later, he will travel to the north to meet with another principle faction leader.
Meanwhile, the blockade of Kabul had eased slightly, as some humanitarian aid reached the city over the weekend, and another convoy paid a heavy toll to get through today, the spokesman said. However, the relief was not enough to alleviate the appalling conditions under which people were living in the besieged city. This winter was unusually harsh and families were abandoning their children in mosques because they unable to feed them. She said a United Nations appeal for $124 million for humanitarian aid for Afghanistan had received only $26.9 million.
- 3 - Press Release DH/2070 30 January 1996
* * *
The Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, has called for greater cooperation in the struggle against the "apartheid of gender". Addressing the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, yesterday, she said UNICEF was committed to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women -- which is monitored by the 23-member expert Committee. There was ample scope for greater collaboration on the implementation of both Conventions at the national and global level, she said.
The Chairman of the Committee, Ivanka Corti, expert from Italy, said that UNICEF could help publicize the anti-discrimination Convention, which was not very well known. Follow-up to the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women was another opportunity for cooperation. Other experts said UNICEF should help raise awareness of women's rights, as children benefitted from any improvement in the situation of women.
* *** *