DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Briefing

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

[Incorporates briefing by Spokesman for General Assembly President]

Juan-Carlos Brandt, Senior Associate Spokesman for the Secretary- General, began today's noon briefing by wishing correspondents a happy St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Mr. Brandt said the Security Council would not be meeting today because of the emergency special session of the General Assembly. The Council had postponed discussion of the Secretary-General's report on Angola until tomorrow. However, there was an informal meeting earlier this morning at 10, under the "Arria Formula" to hear the Foreign Minister of Burundi, Luc Rukingama, on the situation in his country. That informal meeting was facilitated by Gabon, Mr. Brandt added.

He also told correspondents that Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos had appointed three Governors and seven Vice-Governors who were all designated by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The three Governors were for the Uige province in the north, the Lunda Sul province in the diamond-rich northeast, and the Kuando-Kubango province in the southeast.

The Senior Associate Spokesman said the Angolan Government had acted in conformity with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol. The normalization of State administration took place in two locations over the weekend, bringing the total of normalized localities to 266 out of 335 for the first and second phases of the exercise.

On the demobilization of the 1,645 residual forces of UNITA, Mr. Brandt said it had been delayed until 14 March. Even though the Angolan Government legalized UNITA as a political party on 11 March and the two sides agreed on the overall number of the security guards for UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, there were still some differences over the details of the guards. The collection of weapons from the civilian population was yet to begin. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Alioune Blondin Beye, was scheduled to meet with President dos Santos in Luanda and Mr. Savimbi in Andulo today to discuss the remaining issues, he went to say.

Mr. Brandt also informed correspondents that the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Lakhdar Brahimi, would be visiting Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries this weekend. He was expected to stay in the region for approximately three weeks to find ways of reviving the peace process, including a cease-fire, in Afghanistan.

The Senior Associate Spokesman said three more countries have paid their regular budget contributions for this year in full. They were Azerbaijan, with over $600,0000; Belgium, with over $11 million; and Maldives, with just

over $10,000. That brought the total number of countries on the honour roll to 49. On this date last year, 43 Member States had paid.

Mr. Brandt said the Secretary-General had today in Geneva addressed the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and exchanged views with its members. The United Nations had no monopoly on disarmament, he told them. The newly recreated Department of Disarmament Affairs strengthened rather than weakened the work of the Geneva-based Commission on Disarmament. The process must be inclusive. "Let others in", he urged them. The public would not wait -- as the non-governmental organizations-led ban on landmines, concluded in Ottawa, demonstrated, the Secretary-General continued.

Mr. Brandt said the Secretary-General had then attended the launching ceremony of a book, A Peace of Timbuktu, which described the resolution two years ago of an internal conflict in Mali, the demobilization of the rebels and the voluntary burning, in a high bonfire, of their weapons. "The symbolism of that event burns still", the Secretary-General said. Mali had now taken the lead in disarmament in West Africa.

The Senior Associate Spokesman said the Secretary-General had also met with Prime Minister Lionel Jospin of France, and then attended a portion of the morning session of the Commission on Human Rights, at which the Prime Minister spoke.

At midday the Secretary-General joined the Foreign Minister of Spain, Abel Matutes Juan, to inaugurate an exhibition of lithographs donated by King Juan Carlos of Spain dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Senior Associate Spokesman said. The lithographs were on loan from the thirty-eighth floor of New York Headquarters.

"For every barrier art has taken down", the Secretary-General said, "every new perspective art has opened up, human understanding is the richer; and so, therefore, is humanity itself."

"If intolerance is the enemy of art", the Secretary-General continued, "art is the constant combatant of intolerance".

The French Ambassador hosted a lunch for Prime Minster Jospin and the Secretary-General, the Senior Associate Spokesman said.

Mr. Brandt said the Secretary-General had addressed a press conference in Geneva during which he had talked about human rights, stressing that individuals could make a difference. "Human rights is an individual matter. Each of us has to take responsibility; each of us has to be able to speak up. There are moments we need to pause and say `This is enough, I can't take it any more', we shouldn't take it anymore", the Secretary-General explained.

Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 17 March 1998

Continuing, the Secretary-General stressed that "we can all make a difference" and expressed the hope that people would speak out against injustice. "As individuals we have power, and we should use it." He called for getting out the message that human rights were intrinsic, not something a government could give or take away.

The Secretary-General had also emphasized that the United Nations should reach out to the public in the field of disarmament, noting that the ban on landmines had been pressed by non-governmental organizations, grassroots organizations and others. "The days when we thought that we can sit in the United Nations behind glass doors and re-arrange things for people outside are gone", he added.

The Secretary-General said the United Nations would be left behind if it did not work in partnership with people, and said that since the Charter began with the words, "We the peoples" efforts should be made to make that a reality.

On his trip to the Middle East, the Secretary-General said he was going to "listen, learn and reflect with the leaders in the region". Although he said he would do whatever he could to assist the peace process, he stressed that he was not a mediator, saying that "the protagonists have a mediator -- it is the United States". No conflict gained from a multiplicity of mediators, the Secretary-General said.

Mr. Brandt said the Secretary-General was asked about the situation in Kosovo and had said that he was in touch with the key players in the region. The Secretary-General noted that the members of the "Contact Group" were dealing with the matter. The United Nations would support the efforts of the Contact Group and others who had the situation in their hands, he added.

Asked about Angola, the Secretary-General said that efforts were under way to organize a meeting between President dos Santos and UNITA leader, Jonas Savimbi. He expressed the hope that this year, the conditions would be met that would enable the Security Council to lift the sanctions against UNITA.

The Secretary-General was also asked about the forthcoming General Assembly special session on international drug control. He said it would be very important. Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention, would present plans for dealing with the drug issue. The Secretary-General stressed that there were two sides to the issue: supply and demand. He expressed special hope that, in light of the impact of the drug problem on the youth of the world, high-level leaders would attend the special session. He noted that President Jacques Chirac of France and others had pledged to attend, including almost all the Latin American heads of State and Government. He called for a broad approach to the issue.

Daily Press Briefing - 4 - 17 March 1998

Asked about demonstrations that were held outside the Palais des Nations in Geneva in connection with his visit, the Secretary-General said it was a good sign, adding that people had the right to hold demonstrations.

The Secretary-General was asked about the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) for the disarmament of Iraq, and when the sanctions against Iraq would be lifted. He said the recent agreement would allow UNSCOM to continue its inspections. Once those inspections were complete, UNSCOM could report to the Council and the sanctions could then be lifted, he added. He said Scott Ritter had personally told him that the Iraqis had cooperated greatly in the recent successful mission, which had included the Ministry of Defence.

Asked about payment of United States arrears, the Secretary-General said that the issue had been derailed by the unrelated issue of abortion. He noted that not one cent of the money would have gone to abortion. He added that he was encouraged by the response of the Administration during his recent trip to Washington, D.C., noting that President Clinton had been aware that for the United States to lead at the United Nations, it would have to pay its dues.

Asked for his views of the proposed international criminal court, the Secretary-General said he hoped that Member States would work for the court's establishment.

To another question on the peace process in the Middle East, the Secretary-General repeated that he was going to the region to listen.

The Secretary-General was also asked about Africa's role in resolving its crises. He stressed that leaders of the region would be coming together to do just that.

The Senior Associate Spokesman said the full transcript of the press conference would be made available to correspondents. It would also be posted on the United Nations Radio Bulletin Board at 963-3777.

Before leaving for Amman, Jordan, the Secretary-General met initially one-on-one with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. They were subsequently joined by their delegations and discussed Iraq, Kosovo and the Secretary- General's forthcoming visit to the Middle East, Mr. Brandt said. The Secretary-General was probably boarding the plane to Amman at the time of the briefing.

On Iraq, the Senior Associate Spokesman said UNSCOM had informed his office that the technical evaluation meeting between the Commission and Iraqi experts on biological weapons would be held in Vienna from 18 to 27 March. Two other technical evaluation meetings on missile warheads-related issues and chemical weapons, had already taken place in the first week of February. He said UNSCOM Executive Chairman, Richard Butler, had reported the results of

Daily Press Briefing - 5 - 17 March 1998

those meetings to the Security Council. The information was subsequently published as a Security Council document. Mr. Butler was scheduled to visit Iraq from 22 to 26 March, Mr. Brandt added.

On Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette's appointments for the day, the Senior Associate Spokesman said she would meet with the Permanent Representative of Angola, Afonso Van Dunem "Mbinda". She would also meet with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Michael Zammit Cutajar, in the afternoon. Her other meetings were internal.

Mr. Brandt also drew the attention of correspondents to a press release from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The Prosecution would make its final submission on Thursday, 19 March, in the case of former bourgmestre of the commune of Taba in Rwanda, Jean-Paul Akayesu, who was facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Referring to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) briefing notes for today, the Senior Associate Spokesman said there were still no developments in the case of Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR's head of the North Ossetia Office (Russian Federation) who was kidnapped 48 days ago.

Mr. Brandt also announced that the UNHCR had condemned today in Geneva the mortar attack which took place on Sunday, 15 March, on a camp in Thailand, housing Karen refugees from Myanmar. That was the second act of violence against civilians in a week. The camp housed 30,0000 of the 95,000 Karen refugees in western Thailand.

The UNHCR also reported that refugees from Sierra Leone were still arriving in Liberia, indicating that fighting was continuing in Sierra Leone, Mr. Brandt said.

He said since the coup in Sierra Leone last May, the World Food Programme (WFP) had been able to deliver food aid by road to Sierra Leoneans in the towns of Bo and Kenema. Four trucks carrying 65 tons of emergency food supplies -- enough to feed 30,000 people for one week -- had arrived late yesterday in Bo, south-eastern Sierra Leone.

Mr. Brandt then called correspondents' attention to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) media advisory, inviting journalists to an address by Reverend Jesse Jackson, tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Conference Room 4. He said Reverend Jackson would speak on his role and responsibilities as special envoy of the United States President and the United States Secretary of State for the promotion of democracy in Africa. He would also comment on his recent visit to several African countries.

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The Senior Associate Spokesman reminded correspondents about a press conference today by the Foreign Minister of Burundi, Luc Rukingama, at 1:15 p.m. An economist in the Office of the Secretary-General, Georg Kell, would also address the press tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. on the survey of 500 of the world's largest companies' investment plans for East and South-East Asia. At noon, the Director of Freedom of Expression and Democracy Unit of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Alain Modoux, would be at the Spokesman's briefing to present the 1998 World Communication Report.

The Senior Associate Spokesman also seized the opportunity to express sincere wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Cable News Network United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, who underwent surgery for a new kidney last weekend. "I am told he is doing quite well, he is going to need some time to recover fully. All of us are praying for you, Richard. We want to see you back as soon as possible", he said.

Asked if Algeria came up at the Secretary-General's press conference in Geneva, Mr. Brandt said it did and that the Secretary-General said he had already spoken out on Algeria. The Secretary-General said he was in touch with the Government of Algeria and that Algeria had submitted a report to the Commission on Human Rights. The Secretary-General hoped the position of the Government would be more flexible and that they would accept visits by special rapporteurs of the Commission in the future.

A correspondent wanted to know more about a report by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on the financial situation in Haiti, Mr. Brandt said he had not read the report. He said he would look into it and get back to the correspondent on the matter.

Alex Taukatch, spokesman for General Assembly President Hennady Udovenko, said that this morning the Assembly had resumed its tenth emergency special session. In his opening remarks, the President of the General Assembly drew the attention of Member States to some developments since the last meeting of the emergency session in November 1997. Mr. Udovenko pointed in particular to the Conference in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People that had taken place in Brussels in February.

That Conference, the President noted, stressed the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until it was resolved in all its aspects in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Resumption of the tenth emergency special session for the fourth time, Mr. Udovenko went on to say, was bringing once again into sharp focus the issues of settlements, the rights of Palestinian people and of the observance of international humanitarian law.

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Mr. Taukatch said a revised draft resolution was before the Assembly (document A/ES-10/L.4/Rev.1). By that resolution, the Assembly would reiterate once again the failure of the Government of Israel to comply with the provisions of the previous resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency session. It would also reiterate its demands for full and immediate implementation of those demands by Israel, the occupying Power.

The Assembly would also reiterate its recommendation as to the convening of a conference on measures to enforce the Fourth Geneva Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and measures to ensure its respect in accordance with common article 1 of the Convention, Mr. Taukatch said.

He said paragraph 4 of the draft resolution dealt with recommendation to the Government of Switzerland, which was the depository of the Convention, to undertake preparatory steps to implement the recommendation on the convening of the conference. One such preparatory step was a meeting of experts to look into the modalities of convening the conference.

For correspondents who might want to know the changes mentioned in the revised text, Mr. Taukatch said paragraph 7 of the original draft had been dropped and that there were several minor editing changes.

As for the timing of the vote, it was too early to predict since there were 22 speakers on the list, and only the sixth speaker for the day, Colombia, was speaking as at the beginning of the noon briefing. He said the Assembly might go into an afternoon session. Egypt would introduce the draft resolution. Some Member States would speak in explanation of their vote.

For those who loved statistics, Mr. Taukatch gave information on the voting pattern during two previous meetings. He said the vote in November had been 139 in favour, to 3 against, with 13 abstentions. At the July meeting, 131 voted in favour, to 3 against, with 13 abstentions.

He said the President of the General Assembly had announced today that there were 34 Member States in arrears under the terms of Article 19 of the Charter, which was fewer than when the Assembly met in February. There were 39 then. Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turkmenistan had now reduced the amounts owed on their contributions and had the right to vote.

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