DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19960412
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Sylvana Foa, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, at today's noon briefing said the Secretary-General had met this morning with Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos. They discussed Cyprus, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well the overall situation in the region.
During the day, she continued, the Secretary-General had begun consultations with members of the Security Council on the progress of the "oil-for-food" talks between the Iraq and the United Nations delegations. They were reviewing the progress achieved thus far and the obstacles that remained. That was expected to be a long process, but it was moving forward.
Ms. Foa went on to say that there was a lot of bad news from Liberia. Word received from a staff member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) described "absolute anarchy in the streets of Monrovia", with bodies on the street and "wanton looting". The UNHCR office was broken into and looted this morning. The last office still open in Mamba Point, it had been one of the only offices that had not come completely under attack. The staff barely managed to get out before the looters made it in to the office. Threats had been received from armed militia, who had vowed to attack and loot the office before the end of the day.
She said it had been decided that the United Nations operations in Liberia, and particularly in Monrovia, would be consolidated in the Riverview section of the city. All United Nations agencies were trying to get to Riverview. Some of the personnel were still in Mamba Point. There would be a consolidated United Nations presence in Riverview that would consist of 38 United Nations staff members -- 14 from the humanitarian agencies (World Food Programme (WFP), Department of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)); 13 civilians with the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL); 10 UNOMIL military observers and the Mission Commander. In addition, there were still 19 military observers up country in Liberia.
At the time of the briefing, she said that 39 non-essential personnel, who could no longer perform their functions because of the chaos in Monrovia, were being taken out of Riverview under a heavy Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG) escort to a port area, where they were scheduled to board a Dutch ship to leave the region. A significant number of people remained in Mamba Point and no exact figure was available on who had been or would be evacuated. It was anticipated that no one would be left in Mamba Point and the United Nations presence would be consolidated in Riverview.
A report from the WFP said the food situation was growing increasingly critical, with tens of thousands of Liberians now made homeless by the fighting. Street-fighting, sniper fire and the chaotic security situation were still preventing any movement of food to Mamba Point, where an estimated 20,000 Liberians had taken refuge. Another 50,000 to 60,000 people had been made homeless in the capital and were roaming the streets, seeking shelter where possible. The WFP stated that looting had been systematic. Not only United Nations offices and storehouse had been ransacked, but private homes had been stripped of their possessions.
The latest communication from Monrovia said a high-level Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation had arrived and had begun discussions to seek an immediate cease-fire from all the parties, she said. Intermittent fighting continued, but it was not as bad as it had been yesterday. Most of the continued fighting centred around the Barclay Army Barracks where many of the forces of Roosevelt Johnson were located.
Tipping her blue beret to Poland, Ms. Foa announced that the country had become the fifty-third Member State out of 185 to pay in full its 1996 budget assessment of $3,670,995. With that contribution the overall outstanding debts to the United Nations had come down a notch from $2.9 billion to $2.8 billion ($1.1 billion regular budget, $1.7 billion peace-keeping).
Responding to previous questions about letters and checks received by the United Nations, she said lots of letters were received from countries besides the United States, but so far no checks. And she noted that in the checks received from the United States there had been no checks from Alaska. "Alaska are you, there?" she asked. Well over $10,000 in contributions had been received thus far from United States citizens who would like to pay their country's dues, "but we'd like to see something from Alaska".
Ms. Foa had also been asked if all the letters received by the Organization had been "sweetness and light". Were there any nasty letters? She said that her office had gone to the thirty-eighth floor and saved from the shredder one that she particularly liked. It was from "Mr. P.B." in Toledo, Ohio. He addressed his letter to, "Dear Mr. Boutros (squared)," and it said "Ah, you have financial problems -- not even pencils. I feel like crying. At least I'm happy that medieval and exploitative leaders are leading royal lives at the UN while their countrymen are still primitive. So you want contributions. Well, Americans are finally awake, sick and tired of supporting the parasites of the world. Can you blame us? Still I enclose a cent -- one penny -- for you, as I am anxious to support your noble organization." Ms. Foa noted that indeed the letters were not all sweetness and light. "We'll be on the lookout for some of the better ones for you." But the letter had included a penny. "Cost him more in postage" she added.
Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 12 April 1996
The Security Council today, she said, was taking up the Secretary- General's report on Special Representative Chinmaya R. Gharekahn's mission to the Sudan and neighbouring countries, pursuant to resolution 1044 (1996). A draft resolution on the subject was expected. The Council would also be taking up the signing of the "Treaty of Pelindaba" -- the treaty creating an African nuclear-weapon-free zone. A presidential statement should be forthcoming on that issue. In addition, the situation in Liberia would also be considered.
On Monday, 15 April, she said, the Council would hold a formal debate on the situation in the occupied territories in the Middle East. No decision had been made as to whether there would be a presidential statement. That issue would be discussed during today's consultations.
To inquiries about Special Representative for Rwanda, Shahryar Khan, she said that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) had expired on 8 March and the funding would run out 19 or 20 April. That Mission was coming to an end. Marrack Goulding, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, would be in Kigali next week to discuss the status of the office in Rwanda. The Security Council had asked the Secretary-General, in agreement with the Government of Rwanda, to maintain a United Nations office in Rwanda, including a United Nations communication system and a radio station to keep things moving in that country. The status of the office, how it would be manned, and how long it would remain in Rwanda would be among the technical issues discussed.
Basically, UNAMIR was wrapping up its operations, she said. Currently there were still 679 military personnel deployed in Rwanda -- 648 troops from India, Malawi and Zambia; 11 military observers and 20 staff officers. They would be departing between 13 and 18 April, depending on the availability of flights. The Force Commander, Brigadier General Shivar Kumar, would depart on 20 April and visit Headquarters for briefings.
To a query about the "oil-for-food" talks, Ms. Foa said that the talks had always been expected to be a long process. It was not possible to come up with something that technical and complex in a short time. The consultations with Council members would reflect the progress of the talks.
On the situation in Lebanon, she said the Secretary-General had received a briefing this morning on the situation there and he was discussing it with his advisers on a regular basis. He was watching with concern as the entire situation continued to unfold.
Was the United Nations going to take some action on the situation in Lebanon? a correspondent asked. Ms, Foa said the United Nations was very active in the situation. The Council had been briefed this morning on events taking place. * *** *