DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Briefing

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, began today's press briefing by announcing that the Secretary-General would be making official visits to Sweden (10 to 12 August), Finland (12 to 14 August), Denmark (1 to 2 September), Norway (2 to 4 September) and Iceland (4 and 5 September).

Today, the Secretary-General was meeting with the Chairmen of the regional groups, as well as the Staff Committee, to brief them the outlines of his reform package, and would be finalizing the details at the end of the day with his senior staff. The document would then go into production. The Spokesman would be briefing correspondents on background late on Monday at a time to be announced.

Mr. Eckhard said that the Security Council was preparing to go into a formal meeting and was expected to issue a draft presidential statement on Sierra Leone. The Council was now expected to take the two Croatia items together and act on each of them on Monday.

He then announced that the report of the joint mission charged with investigating allegations of massacres and other human rights violations occurring in eastern Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) "for which correspondents had been waiting", was at the time of the briefing arriving on the racks. It was document A/51/942.

The Spokesman said that Mohamed Sahnoun, the joint United Nations/Organization of African Unity (OAU) Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, had convinced the two parties in Congo-Brazzaville to sign a formal cease-fire. He had been charged by the International Mediation Commission, chaired by President Omar Bongo of Gabon, to present to Congolese President Pascal Lissouba as well as the former president, Sassou Nguesso, a proposal which would include a cease-fire provision and other political elements. Ambassador Sahnoun was optimistic that the agreement would be signed over the weekend. Meanwhile, he had returned to Libreville last night where the bulk of the political proposal in the draft agreement would be discussed. The two parties were expected to send delegations.

The formation of a National Unified Army in Angola, Mr. Eckhard went on, was completed yesterday, 10 July. A ceremony commemorating that milestone in the peace process took place in Luanda. The armed forces were now one single, national, non-partisan army under the command of the new, unified Government.

He told correspondents that a press release issued in Geneva today had stated that the United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Experts on human rights issues had called for urgent action concerning their colleague Param Cumaraswamy, who faced legal action in Malaysia. The chairman of the meeting of Special Rapporteurs and Experts, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, had written to the

Secretary-General asking for further affirmation of the immunity of Special Rapporteurs. He would have no difficulty getting that from the Secretary- General, who felt very strongly about the matter, Mr. Eckhard noted.

It had also been announced in Geneva that the sixtieth session of the Human Rights Committee would convene on Monday, 14 July, he said, adding that the Committee, which monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, would examine reports from Slovakia, Belarus, France, Congo and India.

Mr. Eckhard announced that Burkina Faso had ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention on 8 July, bringing the number of States parties to 96. Signatories to the Convention numbered 165.

The status of contributions to the Organization was available in the Spokesman's Office, Mr. Eckhard. It showed that at the end of June, $937.2 million had been received for the regular budget. Of that figure, $709.7 million constituted payments against the current year's assessment. Jordan was now paid in full for 1997; its assessed total contributions was $106,508. Seventy-eight Member States were now paid in full.

Mr. Eckhard said that on Monday, 14 July, the Permanent Representative of Belarus, Alyaksandr Sychou, would address a press conference at 10:30 a.m.; and the Vice-Chairmen of the Open-ended High-level Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations System, Prakash Shah (India) and Hans Jacob Bjorn Lian (Norway) would address another at 11 a.m. He reminded correspondents that at the noon briefing the Special Adviser of the Secretary- General on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, would be available to provide a wrap-up on the talks in Troutbeck, New York.

The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) had announced a change in the date for the briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Peace- keeping Bernard Miyet which would be held at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, 21 July.

Referring to a press release issued by the United States Mission today, to the effect that Ambassador Bill Richardson was leading a review of United States policy in Haiti, a correspondent asked if the Ambassador had briefed the Secretary-General.

Mr. Eckhard said that Haiti was one of the subjects discussed the last time the Secretary-General and Ambassador Richardson met on Monday, 7 July, but he had neither seen the press release in question, nor could he say if it had been discussed.

On the meeting between the Secretary-General and the First Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, yesterday, the Spokesman said correspondents had enjoyed a subsequent briefing by the First Prime Minister.

Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 11 July 1997

He had nothing to add to what had been said. He recalled that a number of statements had been issued on behalf of the Secretary-General in the course of the week on the subject of Cambodia.

Asked to specify the position of the United Nations on the case in Malaysia against Mr. Cumaraswamy, the Spokesman said the Special Rapporteur had diplomatic immunity. "There is here a clash between national and international law, and we are hoping that eventually Malaysia will recognize the primacy of international law."

The correspondent noted that the Special Rapporteur had given an interview to a London magazine, on the basis of which two companies were suing for defamation. In such a civil case, did legal immunity still apply to him? Mr. Eckhard said that the matter was "very delicate" and he did not want to say more than was necessary. "Clearly we feel that the immunity applies."

Asked what the United Nations wanted the Malaysian Government to do, he replied that it was to cease the action against Mr. Cumaraswamy, who should not be subject to that legal action in the country. "It is a matter of principle", he said, "we stand on the principle and we feel the principle applies in this case".

The Spokesman was asked to confirm reports that in Iraq, Republican Guards had attacked pilgrims. He answered that he had nothing on the issue at that point, but would check the cables for reports.

A correspondent also wanted to know the "status of the Cyprus talks", but was reminded of the news blackout, which would continue until Monday. The United Nations would then say whatever it had to say through Mr. Cordovez on Monday at the noon briefing.

Further pressed on an assortment of issues relating to the talks, Mr. Eckhard replied: "Monday at noon".

The Spokesman was also asked about the visit of Mary Robinson, the newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He said there was no date yet, but that it would be in the later part of the month.

On Angola, was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Alioune Blondin Beye, having difficulties bringing the two parties together? Mr. Eckhard said he had had no difficulty getting access to the two sides at the highest levels. "He continues to be optimistic that the peace process can move forward and eventually come to a successful conclusion."

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