DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Briefing

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Juan Carlos Brandt, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General, began today's noon briefing by welcoming two distinguished guests to the briefing: Denis Halliday, who was expected on 1 September in Baghdad, to assume his new duties as the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, and Staffan de Mistura, who recently completed his assignment there. (See separate briefing notes.)

Mr. Brandt reminded correspondents that the Secretary-General's investigative team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was having its first meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m., local time, in Kinshasha with the Government's designated counterpart, Etienne Mbaya, Minister for National Reconstruction and Emergency Relief. Following the meeting with Minister Mbaya, the chief of the team, Atsu Koffi Amega, would likely make a statement to the press -- "so tune in for that". He reiterated that the team had started its work, with the operational investigative unit of the team beginning meetings and briefings. More information was expected after tomorrow's meeting.

Mr. Brandt said the Security Council had been holding consultations this morning on Angola, the Central African Republic and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. On Angola, the Council was discussing a draft resolution which, he understood, included some elements of sanctions unless the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) complied fully with the Council demands. The Council was also expected to take note of the first report of the multinational peace-keeping force in the Central African Republic. The item on the Yugoslav International Criminal Tribunal concerned the extension of the terms of office of some of the Judges in order to allow them to complete their cases. He was told that Ismat Kittani, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Somalia, was expected to brief the Council tomorrow morning following his recent trip to the region.

Mr. Brandt noted the availability in the Spokesman's Office of briefing notes by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the attack four days ago by suspected Hutu rebels in Rwanda resulting in 148 deaths. The notes by the UNHCR indicated that small groups of Congolese Tutsi refugees were returning to Mudende camp in the Rwandan province of Gisenyi. Eight workers were picking up remaining, unburied bodies in the camp. The UNHCR was flying five of the most seriously wounded refugees to Kigali today and was also distributing food, blankets, plastic sheets and jerry cans to the survivors. The UNHCR continued to be in contact with officials in Kinshasha on the crisis which threatened the integrity of refugees in the region.

Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 26 August 1997

Concerning the oil-for-food programme, the Associate Spokesman announced the receipt of two more oil contracts, bringing to 29 the total number of contracts received; those contracts so far approved remained at 24. Weekly report #27 on the implementation of the oil-for-food programme was available on the third floor. Last week, 58 sale contracts for humanitarian supplies were approved; two were blocked and four were put on hold.

Mr. Brandt learned from the World Food Programme (WFP) that the Foreign Minister for Australia, Alexander Downer, today announced the donation of approximately $60 million for food aid to the Programme. The donation was in support of WFP's development and relief activities. The Australian announcement came during the visit of Catherine Bertini, the Executive Director of the WFP, to that country.

Turning to yesterday's question regarding access to the optical disk system, Mr. Brandt said that journalists who were duly accredited with the United Nations had access to two dedicated terminals in the United Nations Library, from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. He was told that Library staff was on hand to assist users unfamiliar with the technology. The overall question of access for non-governmental organizations, the press and others was still under consideration.

A press conference sponsored by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was scheduled in room 226 for Thursday, 28 August, at 11:30 a.m., the Associate Spokesman said. The press conference would include a presentation of the turn-of-the-century invention by Nikola Tesla of the remote-controlled robotic boat and its link to the Sojourner Robot, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently landed on Mars. Four speakers were expected, one of them related to the inventor of "this gizmo". Correspondents were invited to attend and ask questions. "I know nothing about this thing, so don't ask me anything", Mr. Brandt said.

To a question concerning famine conditions in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the possible defection to the west of some of the leaders there, Mr. Brandt said that to the second part of the question he had no comment. Concerning the question of famine, he would not be surprised if the money earmarked by the Australian Government to the WFP would be used in "great measure" towards the famine in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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