DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19960620
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Ahmad Fawzi, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, told correspondents at today's noon briefing that the Secretary-General was in Bonn on the second day of his official visit to Germany. This morning with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, he attended a special session of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, presided over by its Chairman, Karl-Heinz Hornhues. The Secretary-General liked to visit the Parliaments wherever he travelled, Mr. Fawzi said.
Speaking for the Committee, Mr. Hornhues said he was very grateful for the Secretary-General's insistence on maintaining a regular dialogue with Parliamentarians, Mr. Fawzi continued. The Secretary-General said that, now more than ever, the United Nations needed the support of the peoples of the world and would continue to open up as much as possible to civil society. This meant the United Nations would open up to new actors on the international stage, including parliamentarians.
The Secretary-General had then turned to the subject of United Nations financial crisis which, Mr. Fawzi said, he did not miss an opportunity to talk about it. He said Germany, the third largest contributor to the regular budget, had been the first country to pay part of its 1996 contribution in January and that its entire assessment had now been paid in full.
Addressing the ongoing reform of the United Nations, the Secretary- General said he would continue to use all available means to achieve the goal of an efficient, effective and professional organization. "This doesn't happen overnight", Mr. Fawzi said. "It takes time." However, the seeds had been sown and would soon bear fruit.
Later in the morning, the Secretary-General met for an hour with the German President Roman Herzog at the Villa Hammerschmidt, Mr. Fawzi said. The President said Germany would continue its efforts to strengthen the United Nations and that the Secretary-General could rely on its support. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for Germany's immense contribution to the Organization.
Later, the Secretary-General inaugurated "Haus Carstanjen", the new United Nations Centre in Bonn, Mr. Fawzi said. He was welcomed by the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Carl Dieter Spranger. In his address, Mr. Spranger said Germany was proud to host two United Nations institutions -- the United Nations Volunteers and the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Those bodies were
focusing on two of the central challenges facing mankind: development cooperation and protection of the environment. Mr. Fawzi noted as well the new United Nations Information Centre in Bonn.
Later, the Secretary-General had participated in a signing ceremony, Mr. Fawzi said. That had involved signing the Transfer Protocol and receiving the documents which gave effect to the Agreement between Germany and the United Nations concerning the headquarters of the United Nations Volunteers. A second ceremony concerned the Climate Change secretariat. Various speeches noted that the headquarters were the first to be opened in Germany. Foreign Minister Kinkel said the new International Law of the Sea Tribunal, established under the Convention on the Law of the Sea, would be opened in Hamburg next October. He expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General for agreeing to participate in the judges' swearing-in ceremony.
The Secretary-General had then delivered a speech marking the inauguration of the common premises of the United Nations Volunteers and the Climate Change secretariat. In the afternoon, the Secretary-General met with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Later, at the invitation of the German Society for Foreign Affairs and the German United Nations Association, he delivered a statement on "the United Nations, looking towards the future".
Turning to the situation in Angola, Mr. Fawzi said the process of forming a new national army had begun yesterday, marking another milestone in implementation of the Lusaka Peace Accords. In the town of Negage former soldiers with the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) were selected for integration with the new army. A group of 30 UNITA officers were also commissioned and formally incorporated into the Angolan armed forces. A total of 50,924 former UNITA soldiers had been quartered to date.
Mr. Fawzi announced that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ayala Lasso was in New York and would meet today with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Marrack Goulding. Also, the text of an agreement on social and economic aspects and the agrarian situation between the Guatemalan Government and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) was issued today as General Assembly document A/50/956.
In the former Yugoslavia, today marked the end of the 30-day demilitarization period in Eastern Slavonia, whereby all military weapons were to be drawn out of the area, Mr. Fawzi said. Any remaining weapons were to be placed under the control of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) or destroyed. In actuality, all weapons had been removed from the region. Tomorrow, the Joint Military Committee would hold its last meeting, to confirm the end of the demilitarized period. The remaining military barracks and other facilities would be taken over by UNTAES.
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A press release on the successful destruction of Iraq's former biological warfare production facility known as "Al Hakam" was available in the Spokesman's office, Mr. Fawzi said. For further information, correspondents should contact Charles Duelfer, Deputy Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission set up under Security Council resolution 687 (1991) in connection with the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, at 963-5541. (See Press Release IK/199.)
Mr. Fawzi said United Nations television had video coverage of the facility's destruction, showing the blowing up of buildings, the crushing of laboratory equipment, and the dumping of growth media. The video also included several interviews. For further information on the footage, correspondents should contact Juan Carlos in the Spokesman's office.
Following the Security Council's virtual lifting of the arms embargo against the former Yugoslavia last week, the Spokesman's office had revised and reissued an informal briefing note on the use of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter, Mr. Fawzi said. A statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata marking African Refugee Day was also available in the Spokesman's Office. Also, the press conference by Rwanda, announced yesterday, would not take place.
A correspondent asked whether the Secretary-General had any comments on press reports concerning his run for re-election and the United States reaction. Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General had replied, "I hope the United States administration will reconsider its decision." "We still have six months to go", he added.
Did the Secretary-General feel his comments over the incident at Qana and the release of the related report had any effect on the United States decision? the correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said he had asked him about that and did not wish to comment one way or the other. A lot of consideration must have gone into the American decision. He could not be certain whether the Qana report had been a factor. The correspondent should ask the Americans.
The report on Qana was another example of the Secretary-General's independence, Mr. Fawzi said. "He stands by his decisions, has done so in the past, and would do so again in the future."
Had Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management Joseph Connor certified to the United States that the United Nations would be able to complete its programme of work under the budget ceiling of $2.6 billion? a correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said he had informed the Membership of the United Nations, including the United States. On many occasions, Mr. Connor had gone to the United States Congress to explain the reforms the United Nations was carrying out under the leadership of the Secretary-General. He
Daily Press Briefing - 4 - 20 June 1996
did not believe Mr. Connor had presented a certificate to the United States that everything would happen under the current mandate.
Would Mr. Fawzi check if Mr. Connor had written a letter last Friday addressed to someone in Washington, perhaps to the Permanent Representative Madeleine Albright, saying the Secretary-General could certify that the budget ceiling would be observed? the correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said he would.
A short while ago, the White House announced that the United States decision to oppose the Secretary-General's re-election was irreversible, a correspondent said. "He's finished, isn't he?" Mr. Fawzi replied "I wouldn't say that." The Secretary-General was still extremely committed to the Organization and was extremely vigorous and dynamic. With strong encouragement from the majority of Member States, the Secretary-General had submitted his candidacy for a second term. Because one State said something did not mean it was the rule of law. The United Nations was a democratic institution and a democratic vote would be exercised by the end of the year. "May the best man win", he said.
The United States had a veto, the correspondent said. So do other members of the Security Council, Mr. Fawzi replied.
Did the Secretary-General have specific backing from China and France to fight in his corner? the correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said that, without being specific, the Secretary-General did have specific backing from Council members and from many other Members of the Organization.
Would the announcement of the Secretary-General's decision to run again have been made yesterday if he had not known about today's New York Times article? a correspondent asked. Had the Secretary-General's hand been forced? Mr. Fawzi said the announcement would not have been made. The Secretary- General had not been campaigning and would not be campaigning. He had been conducting himself very properly, preferring to keep his decision private until the proper time. However, when he was informed that the United States would be going public with its position, he decided to go public with his. Up until now, he had been keeping a low profile on the issue, preferring not to bring it out in the open until it was absolutely necessary.
Responding to another question, he said the United Nations press corps had been the first to know of the Secretary-General's decision. They had been informed before the news was made public anywhere else. He hoped the Spokesman's office would be given credit for that.
Some people think the United Nations will not be able to attain its major goals unless it becomes a democratic, federally empowered, decision- making system, a correspondent said. In view of that, did Mr. Fawzi think that the Secretary-General's comment to the New York Stock Exchange and the United Nations Association that the United Nations was not and should never be
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a world government had anything to do with this morning's news? "No, I do not think so", Mr. Fawzi said. The Secretary-General had been working very hard for the democratization of the United Nations, as well as among and between States. The democratization of international relations was one of his goals.
According to well-placed United States officials, the Secretary-General knew some time ago that Washington was opposed to his candidacy, a correspondent said. In view of that, why had he decided to seek re-election?
Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General had decided to make his intentions known clearly, because he felt he had received strong encouragement from the majority of Member States. He had accomplished a great deal during the past five years, but there was a lot more to do; it could not be achieved in six months or one or two years. A full mandate was needed to reap the rewards of the seeds of reform that were sown during the first mandate.
Mr. Fawzi said he wanted to underline that the Secretary-General had been the greatest reformer in United Nations history. Count the number of reform procedures undertaken in the past three or four years and you will find no other administration had undertaken such massive reforms, he said. "We're talking about downsizing, we're talking about streamlining, which was all done under an American, Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Connor."
Didn't the Secretary-General want to make it clear that if he was forced to, why and who pushed him? a correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi repeated that the Secretary-General was not campaigning, in the political sense of the word -- he was working very hard to achieve the goals of the Organization. He had not wanted to go public until October or November. However, in a way, his hand had been forced. He had to make his intentions clear, since the American administration had chosen to make its opinions public so early in the game.
When was the Secretary-General returning to Headquarters? a correspondent asked. Would he give a press conference? Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General would be attending the Group of Seven summit meeting in Lyon, France, from 27 to 29 June. He would return to New York after the Organization of African Unity Summit, to be held in Cameroon from 7 to 10 July. If correspondents considered that to be too late, Mr. Fawzi would try to set up a teleconference before then.
According to today's New York Times, the Secretary-General had several conversations with United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher, a correspondent said. Had he been told specifically what the United States was unhappy about? Mr. Fawzi said he could not comment on private conversations between the Secretary-General and officials from the United States or any other government. Details of discussions had been reported in the press today. If American officials chose to make them public, that was their business. He was not at liberty to do so. However, the Secretary-General had spoken with Mr. Christopher as recently as a few days ago.
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The secretariat staff perceived the Secretary-General as an old- fashioned, top-down tyrant, and they were not very happy about his decision, a correspondent said. If he received a second term would he listen to the staff and their complaints and let them have a little more say? Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General might not be the greatest communicator in the world, but wherever he went around the world, he always insisted on meeting the United Nations staff. His feelings towards the staff were "extremely warm, extremely close, extremely respectful, full of admiration for their work".
The Secretary-General believed that the Organization did not have anything more precious than its staff, Mr. Fawzi said. "It does not have a treasury, it does not have all the money in the world, nor does it have an army at its disposal. The only asset it has is its staff." The Secretary- General had not missed an opportunity to say so, time and time again. He had spoken to them in the field and at Headquarters, and he had said "you are the most precious asset that we have".
Mr. Fawzi said he wished the Secretary-General had more time to tell the staff at Headquarters what he felt. "I am sure he wishes he had more time to do so as well." Mr. Fawzi said he wanted to underline, very clearly, that the Secretary-General believed in the staff, and that without them, there would be no United Nations. The Blue Helmets were doing a brilliant job, but they were not the only heroes of the Organization. The unknown soldiers were all the civil servants, who were also getting blasted in the newspapers.
It was really disheartening to read lies about the Organization, Mr. Fawzi said. He emphasized that the United Nations was not a tax haven; United Nations civil servants paid taxes like any other citizens, although it might be called staff assessment or something else. "I have read figures that are pure lies in newspapers as respectful as the Washington Times or the European Wall Street Journal, quoting amounts which were pure lies, because their authors had been given the correct figures." The record should be set straight, once and for all.
Could it be said that the Secretary-General had reversed his attitude towards staff? a correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General's attitude towards staff had always been the same, one of respect and appreciation. The correspondent then said he was referring to a New York Times Op Ed piece by the Secretary-General, published when he first took office, in which he described the staff as "good for nothing". Mr. Fawzi said the Secretary-General had not said that. Although other Secretaries-General had used such descriptions about the work being done or not being done in the Organization, the Secretary-General had the highest regard for the United Nations staff.
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It had been reported that the United States decision was irreversible, a correspondent said. If, when the time came, the Americans vetoed the Secretary-General's candidacy was there a system to overrule them? Referring to past procedural practices in the Council, Mr. Fawzi said there had been double vetoes before. There was no simple answer to that. However, he hoped there would be a reconsideration of the United States position. There were still six months to go, and anything could happen in that time.
Was there a remote chance the Secretary-General could change his mind because of the United States opposition? a correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said that, to borrow one of the Secretary-General's own lines, "only stupid people do not change their minds". However, while anything was possible, the Secretary-General had announced his intentions and Mr. Fawzi did not believe there would be a reversal.
Does that mean the United States is stupid, since it has said its decision is irreversible? a correspondent asked. Mr. Fawzi said that was not what it meant. "Don't put words in my mouth, please." He said the Secretary- General was very keen to get on with his work. He did not seek to go around campaigning. There was a lot which needed to be done.
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