DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19970225
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Juan Carlos Brandt, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General, began today's briefing by introducing Alfredo Witschi-Cestari, Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, who would speak on the progress of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan (Mr. Witschi-Cestari's briefing issued separately).
Mr. Brandt said that the United Nations was continuing its efforts to secure the release of the two Action contre la Faim (ACF) workers who were arrested outside the United Nations compound in Kabul on Friday by armed members of the Taliban. Representatives of the French Foreign Ministry visited the two ACF workers, and found them to be in good spirits. They were being fed and appeared to be in good health.
The Head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, Norbert Heinrich Holl, protested the arrest of the two ACF workers yesterday, Mr. Brandt said. Mr. Holl was conducting the negotiations for the release of the ACF staff members.
Mr. Brandt repeated the four points that were being impressed upon the Taliban for the prompt release of the French workers. The first point was that the Taliban's forceful entry into the compound had violated United Nations premises. Second, unless the two workers were released, the Taliban's international standing would be further undermined. Third, the non-governmental organization community, which is currently serving the Afghan people, might be inclined to leave the country. Fourth, the two aid workers committed no offence to justify their arrest and should be released on humanitarian grounds.
A locally recruited staff member of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was murdered last night at her residence in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Brandt said. The incident was reported by Prisca Nyambe, Acting Registrar for the Tribunal. An investigation was being conducted by the Tanzanian police, who indicated that the killing was a criminal act and was not related to the staff member's employment with the Tribunal and did not appear to represent an increased level of threat directed against Tribunal staff members, Mr. Brandt said.
The Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), Catherine Bertini, was reappointed to the position for a term of five years, ending April 2002, Mr. Brandt announced. The Secretary-General made the appointment after consultation with the Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization and the Administrative Council of the World Food Program. Ms. Bertini would be travelling to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 15 March to meet with officials and to assess WFP emergency food distribution activities in the country, Mr. Brandt added. A press release on that was available in the Spokesman's office.
The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Former Yugoslavia, Elisabeth Rhen, had returned from a mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, which had been undertaken February 16 to 22, Mr. Brandt said. Ms. Rhen had given a press conference in Geneva today, and a summary of that was also available in room 378.
The United Nations submitted its first weekly report on the status of the implementation of Security Council resolution 986 ("oil-for-food") to Iraq yesterday, Mr. Brandt said. The United Nations was providing the Government of Iraq with the weekly update on the basis of a recent agreement reached between the Secretary-General and the Permanent Representative of Iraq, Nizar Hamdoon.
According to the report, Mr. Brandt continued, 31 oil contracts were approved as of 21 February, representing a total of 38.4 million barrels. Yesterday, 24 February, 2 additional oil contracts were approved which, brought the total of approved contracts to 33, raising the total volume to approximately 41.2 million barrels. The Iraqi Sanctions Committee approved a total of 8 applications for the sale of humanitarian supplies, with 13 put on hold through 21 February. Proceeds from oil sales totalled $482 million as of noon, 21 February. Since then, $34 million was paid into an escrow account.
As of yesterday, 24 February, total proceeds from oil sales were $518 million, Mr. Brandt said. Several more deposits were expected this week. Total proceeds were expected to reach $594 million by the end of February. Out of the $482 million deposit last Friday, 21 February, $318 million was disbursed for the purchase of humanitarian supplies; $144 million to the United Nations Compensation Funds and the rest to others.
The Security Council was discussing the Secretary-General's report on Somalia today, Mr. Brandt said. Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political Affairs, Lansana Kouyate, briefed the Security Council on recent developments in Somalia.
The Secretary-General yesterday chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee on United Nations Reform, Mr. Brandt said. The first package on United Nations reform measures would be announced by the Secretary-General by the end of March. During the meeting yesterday, the Secretary-General stressed that the Committee's proposals needed to be made on time, so that the announcement deadline could be reached.
The Secretary-General also met yesterday with the Open-Ended High-Level Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations System, Mr. Brandt said. In his remarks before that group, the Secretary-General indicated the establishment of a two-track reform process. The first track involved the managerial initiatives and decisions under his authority that could be undertaken within the first quarter of 1997. The second track would incorporate further measures within his authority that would benefit from consultations and guidance from Member States. The second track would also include proposals and recommendations on the more fundamental issues of reform that could only be decided by governments. That track would culminate in a report that the Secretary-General would submit in July.
The Secretary-General had submitted his report on the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (document S/1997/148) to the Security Council for its consideration, Mr. Brandt said. In his report, the Secretary-General conveyed the view of the Transitional Administrator, Jacques Klein, that 13 April was a realistic and achievable date for the holding of free and fair elections. Failure by the Serb community to participate in the elections would only work against that community's best interests. The Secretary-General called upon residents to carefully consider their options, to follow wise leadership and to take up their future as citizens of the Republic of Croatia. The Secretary-General also noted the need for the Government of Croatia to meet all the preconditions for the elections.
The Secretary-General arrived today in London for a three-day visit, Mr. Brandt said. His meetings there included an audience with Her Majesty the Queen of England, members of the British Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Daily reports of the Secretary-General's activities would, as usual, be made available, Mr. Brandt said. (See Press Release SG/T/2086, issued today.)
Last night, before leaving for London, the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan moved into the Secretary-General's residence, Mr. Brandt said. The first phase of building repairs, involving asbestos abatement, painting, plumbing, upgrading of the electrical system, air-conditioning and elevator repair had been completed on schedule. The second phase of repairs, involving repairs to the roof, repointing of the exterior and replacement of windows, was expected to take place in the spring.
The Secretary-General's residence was built in 1920 as the residence of Ann Morgan, daughter of financier J.P. Morgan, Mr. Brandt said. In 1972, the residence was given to the United Nations Association of the United States of America for use by the Secretary-General. The actual title was transferred to the United Nations the following year. The building was designed by Mott Schmidt, a noted townhouse architect of the time.
During the subsequent question-and-answer session, a correspondent asked if the Taliban had given any indication why they arrested the two French aid workers. Mr. Brandt said that no information had yet been received as to why the workers were detained.
Why was it taking the Secretary-General so long to make a decision about the Rwandan Tribunal? a correspondent asked. Mr. Brandt said an announcement from the Secretary-General was expected tomorrow at the noon briefing. He added that the Secretary-General had met again last night with the Registrar and Deputy Prosecutor of the Rwandan Tribunal.
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