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, Senior Associate Spokesman for the Secretary- General, began today's noon briefing by reading the following statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

"The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the latest reports of an intensifying campaign against the unarmed civilian population in Kosovo. He reiterates in the strongest possible terms his condemnation of the atrocities committed by Serbian military and para-military forces. They must not be allowed to repeat the campaign of ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate attacks on civilians that characterized the war in Bosnia. If the world has learned anything from that dark chapter in history, it is that this kind of aggression must be confronted immediately and with determination. The Secretary-General is encouraged by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s resolve to prevent a further escalation of the fighting and reiterates his call for a negotiated settlement that will facilitate a peaceful and democratic future for the people of Kosovo." (See Press Release SG/SM/6583.)

Also on Kosovo, Mr. Brandt said that the Security Council was scheduled to hear a briefing on the humanitarian situation surrounding the latest refugee exodus from that region. From northern Albania, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the influx appeared to be slowing with 400 people crossing overnight. Four UNHCR trucks had delivered bread, ready-to-eat meals, blankets and supplies to the new arrivals in the Tropoje district. A team from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also delivered drugs, medicines, soaps and washing powder, as well as a water purification system. In its Friday briefing in Geneva, the UNHCR had said that many of the estimated 10,000 new arrivals -- mostly women, children and the elderly -- had been housed with local families, but that rehabilitation of public buildings for accommodation was a top priority.

The Security Council was meeting this morning to discuss several items, Mr. Brandt said. It had first taken up Sierra Leone and there appeared to now be consensus on a draft resolution. The Council was expected to adopt it during a formal meeting following its consultations this morning. Following its consideration of Sierra Leone, the Council had received a briefing by Alioune Blondin Beye, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Angola. The Council was currently discussing Angola. The Council President, Antonio Monteiro (Portugal), and Mr. Beye were expected to make remarks and respond to questions at the "stake out" position following the adjournment of the Council's consultations.

Under "Other Matters", the Council was expected to take up Kosovo and India/Pakistan, Mr. Brandt continued. The item relating to Papua New Guinea, which had been mentioned during yesterday's briefing, had been postponed until

11 June. The Council was also expected to take up the question of spare parts for the Iraqi oil industry on 12 June.

Media reports had been received and questions had been posed by correspondents regarding reports that the army of the former Yugoslavia was currently using armoured personnel carriers stolen from United Nations forces. That information was currently being looked into by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Department would be asking both the Dutch Government and the Yugoslav authorities to help investigate reports that seemed to indicate that the army was using vehicles stolen from the Dutch United Nations contingent in Srebenica in 1995.

On Afghanistan, Mr. Brandt said that dozens of villages reeling from Saturday's earthquake in northern Afghanistan remained cut off from the outside world. Bad weather had again prevented helicopters from taking food and tents to the victims today, but the United Nations had managed to fly in an Antonov-12 cargo plane into Faizabad. [It was subsequently announced that the plane had not been able to land due to bad weather.] An update on the situation was available in the Spokesman's Office.

Today in Geneva, the Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Frechette, had accepted the Palais Wilson from the President of Switzerland, Flavio Cotti, at a ceremony held at the Palais Wilson from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. In her remarks, the Deputy-Secretary-General said that by accepting the Palais Wilson, the United Nations was taking the solemn engagement of making out of the Palais a real "Human Rights House", quite appropriately doing so at a time when the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was being celebrated. Copies of the Deputy-Secretary-General's remarks were available as an official United Nations press release in French. An English version would be made available later.

Mr. Brandt went on to say that in his statement at the official ceremony, Mr. Cotti had announced the creation of a corps of Swiss human rights observers. He called it a corps that was able to respond at short notice to the orders of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights or other international organizations, and which could move swiftly to an operational zone in order to set up a human rights field operation. He had also announced a new human rights training programme at the Swiss Centre for Security Police.

Prior to the cutting of the inaugural ribbon by the Deputy Secretary- General, Mr. Cotti, Ms. Frechette and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, as well as prominent human rights activists from around the world, had participated in a discussion at the Palais Wilson on "Human Rights -- an Instrument for Peace". That event had been followed by a press conference. Mr. Brandt reminded correspondents that the Palais Wilson had been the first headquarters for the League of Nations until 1936. The

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press release on the ceremony, the transcript of the press conference and the text of Ms. Frechette's address were available in room 378.

The Associate Spokesman then read the following statement attributable to the Secretary-General:

"The Secretary-General is deeply distressed at the escalation in fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia despite ongoing intensive efforts to mediate the dispute. He had been encouraged by an Ethiopian statement provisionally accepting the proposals put forward by American and Rwandan mediators, as well as by today's Eritrean statement that these proposals are 'not controversial to the Government of Eritrea'. It seems to him that there is much common ground between the two sides to the dispute, and that it is important to build on this.

"The Secretary-General strongly appeals to both sides for an immediate cessation of hostilities so as to give diplomacy a chance to bridge remaining differences and to avoid any further escalation. The Secretary-General especially regrets this turn of events in the relations between two fraternal countries which had, until recently, enjoyed peaceful and good neighbourly relations. The Secretary-General has been in touch with the leaders of the two countries and with other leaders and will continue to do everything he can to help the parties find a peaceful solution to the dispute." (See Press Release SG/SM/6584.)

Mr. Brandt then read the following statement attributable to the Spokesman:

"Pursuant to the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met on 3 June, under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Cyrus Vance. The Greek side was represented by the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Christos Zacharakis. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was represented by Ambassador Ivan Tosevski. The parties continued to exchange views in the context of article 5 of the Interim Accord. They decided to meet again after the summer." (See Press Release SG/SM/6582.)

The United Nations had taken another step today in its campaign to reach out to civil society, Mr. Brandt said. Gillian Martin Sorensen, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, and Sergio Vieira de Mello, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, had been the featured speakers at a United Nations/non-governmental organization conference in London. Also addressing the event were Guy Tousignat, Secretary-General of CARE International, and Nicholas Stockton, Emergencies Director of OXFAM.

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Organized by the United Nations Information Centre in London, the event had drawn more than 300 participants, Mr. Brandt continued. They had discussed human rights, development, the rights of children and older persons, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, among other topics. The overarching theme had been strengthening United Nations-NGO partnerships. Participating United Nations agencies had included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.

Available in the Spokesman's office was the latest status of contributions to the regular budget, international tribunals and peacekeeping operations as at the end of May, Mr. Brandt said. If all of the figures were added up, the United Nations was currently owed over $2.5 billion for past and current dues. A complete country-by-country breakdown was contained in the update.

Next Thursday, 11 June, the International Court of Justice would announce whether or not it had jurisdiction in a case brought by Cameroon against Nigeria in 1994, the Senior Associate Spokesman went on to say. The dispute concerned sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula, which Cameroon claimed was partly occupied by Nigeria's military. Press releases in French and English were available upstairs.

Tomorrow, at 6 p.m., as had been previously announced, the President of the Republic of Korea, Kim Dae Jung, would meet with the Secretary-General in his office, Mr. Brandt said. An information sheet was available from Protocol on the President's visit. There would be a photo opportunity at the Secretariat entrance when the President arrived and was greeted by the Secretary-General, and then another when the two of them met in the Secretary- General's office. Mr. Brandt added that the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) might wish to put together a pool report that could benefit other correspondents.

Mr. Brandt called correspondents attention to a Note to Correspondents, number 5510, dated 2 June, entitled "Media Arrangements for Special Session of General Assembly on World Drug Problem". A great deal of useful information was contained in the note, regarding media accreditation, screening procedures, entrances, the media centre, pool coverage, visual coverage in the General Assembly Hall, tickets for the press to the press gallery and copies of speeches for the press. All delegations were being asked to submit 100 copies of their speeches to the press centre and 100 to the documents counter upstairs -- the Spokesman's Office could not do more than that. Correspondents were advised to read the Note to ensure that they were up to speed with regard to the arrangements.

Another document Mr. Brandt wished to call correspondents' attention to was an Information Circular (ST/IC/1998/43) dealing with the special arrangements for admission to the premises during the upcoming special

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session. On Monday the President of the United States, William Clinton, would be coming to Headquarters, and, as usual, the section of 1st Avenue in front of the United Nations would be closed; there were other restrictions. Correspondents were therefore urged to be in the building as early as possible. The Spokesman's Office would be open as of 7:30 a.m. or 7:45 a.m.

Available upstairs was a press release announcing that the Ugandan Group that lowered the rate of female genital mutilation, and Hugh Wynter, Family Planning Leader in the Caribbean Area, would share the 1998 United Nations Population Award, the Senior Associate Spokesman went on to say. The Ambassador of Guatemala, Chairman of the Award Committee, had announced that each winner would receive a diploma, a gold medal and an equal share of the monetary prize of $25,000.

Mr. Brandt said that today in Moscow, during World Environment Day, at celebrations hosted by the Russian Federation, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Klaus Toepfer, had announced the launching of a new UNEP publication: Guide to Environment and Development Sources of Information on CD-ROM and the Internet. A press release was available in the Spokesman's Office.

Also available upstairs was a very interesting press release dealing with the fact that the insurance industry had suffered from a series of "billion dollar" storms since 1987, Mr. Brandt continued. That had led to a strong increase in claims, reduced availability of insurance coverage and higher premiums. Those were some of the reasons why over 100 insurance executives would meet in Cologne, Germany, from 9 to 10 June, to discuss strategies to deal with the problem, and in particular how to improve environmental reporting standards. The meeting, held in association with UNEP, was hosted by Gerling Global Re, one of the world's leading re-insurance companies.

At 3:15 p.m. today, in room 226, Ambassador Vladislav Jovanovic, Charge d'affaires, of the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, would hold a press conference on recent developments in Kosovo and Metohija, Mr. Brandt said. Mr. Brandt then announced other conferences to be held on Monday, 8 June: at 11:15 a.m., General Barry R. McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; and at 2:30 p.m., Leonel Fernandez Reyna, President, Dominican Republic.

Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director, United Nations International Drug Control Programme, would be at the noon briefing.

A correspondent asked what the Secretary-General had named an aggression in Kosovo. Mr. Brandt said that in his statement the Secretary-General had been clear in his condemnation of attacks on the civilian population and his

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attempt to remind the world of what had happened in the past, and the need for it not to be repeated. He did not go into any other considerations.

What was meant by aggression? the correspondent asked. Did it mean that one country had attacked another country? Responding, Mr. Brandt said, "this kind of 'aggression' refers to the atrocities that are being committed against innocent children, innocent women, innocent elderly people and innocent people in general, who are suffering the consequences of an armed conflict. He is calling attention to the world, at this time, for this to stop, and for other issues related to what we saw some years ago in the former Yugoslavia not to be repeated."

The correspondent then asked for further precision regarding the use of the words "atrocity" and "aggression" in the statement. Mr. Brandt said, "I think we have to be practical here. I think everybody will agree that aggression against innocent civilians is something that needs to be condemned, and needs to have attention called to it, and this is what is happening in that region, and this is why we are making this announcement on the Secretary- General's behalf. I think we are saying, in a loud and clear manner, that this has to stop. The atrocities that are being committed right now, which are reminiscent of atrocities that were committed in the past, should not continue."

As the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) had not yet entered into force, how could anyone justify calling for compliance with it? another correspondent asked. Mr. Brandt said that was something that was up to the different Member States that had not signed the agreement. The important thing was that the "armaments race" that everyone was concerned with did not continue, and that those countries that had not signed the ban, should sign -- including, in this case, India and Pakistan.

The correspondent asked for further clarification regarding the validity of the CTBT. The Senior Associate Spokesman said, "I'm not a lawyer, but you will agree with me that at this time, the CTBT remains the best legal instrument that the international community has with regard to nuclear non- proliferation".

A correspondent asked for more information regarding the armoured personnel carriers. Mr. Brandt said that information had been received rather recently. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations was looking into it. The Spokesman's Office had factual information concerning the theft of vehicles belonging to the United Nations during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. This case concerned vehicles given by the Dutch Battalion to the United Nations that had been stolen. Fourteen vehicles had originally been stolen. A number had been returned by the United Nations Security Forces. It was not sure how many remained. The vehicles that had been observed had been painted dark brown.

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Who had seen the vehicles in Kosovo? a correspondent asked. Mr. Brandt said, "Apparently some colleagues of yours from the broadcast media", he said.

A correspondent asked whether there was any special provision in the law regarding United Nations peacekeeping vehicles that had been stolen. Mr. Brandt said that if a vehicle was stolen, it was against the law. There were many considerations concerning the use of vehicles in situations like the current one. There were also considerations concerning insurance and loss of vehicles. More information could be provided by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations or the Spokesman's Office.

Asked if it could be a matter for the Hague Tribunal to consider, Mr. Brandt said that the international criminal court discussions in Rome would start in a couple of weeks. Possibly they would consider the matter.

A correspondent asked for information on when the Secretary-General intended to submit to the Security Council his report on his good offices mission to Cyprus. The correspondent also asked if Diego Cordovez, Special Representative on Cyprus, had any plans to go to Cyprus. Mr. Brandt said that, if memory served, about a month ago Mr. Cordovez had briefed the Council. Later this month, the Council would take up the subject of Cyprus and it was likely that Mr. Cordovez would be at Headquarters at that time. The Secretary-General's report would be submitted later this month.

Alex Taukatch, spokesman for General Assembly President Hennadiy Udovenko (Ukraine), said that the President was following with deep concern the developments in Kosovo. If there was any further reaction, he would let correspondents know, the spokesman added.

In the meantime, he said Mr. Udovenko was preparing for the special session on Monday, meeting with Secretariat officials and holding consultations with various delegates. At 3 p.m., he would meet with the bureau of the preparatory body for the session, including its Chairman, Ambassador Alvaro de Mendonça e Moura (Portugal).

The special session would begin on Monday at 10 a.m., Mr. Taukatch said. Many questions had been asked regarding the exact time the general debate was expected to begin. It was difficult to say at this point. A number of organizational matters after the session opened had to be run through. Correspondents were referred to document A/S-20/1, containing the agenda for the session -- a helpful document to guide correspondents through the proceedings. The session would be opened by the Chairman of the delegation of the Ukraine. This was because, according to Assembly rules, the chairman of the delegation that had presided over the previous session opened the new session. The session would then have to elect its president. Among other proceedings, there would be a minute of silent prayer and meditation, and the election of the Credentials Committee. There would also be the presentation

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of the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs that had acted as a preparatory body for the session. After that, the President would make an introductory statement, the Secretary-General would speak, and then the general debate would begin. Approximately 45 minutes would be needed for those organizational matters.

Mr. Taukatch again drew correspondents attention to document A/S-20/4, which contained the main documents of the session, as well as the draft decisions that would be adopted on Monday morning.

This was the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, Mr. Taukatch said. Only one other session, out of the 20 before, had been devoted to drugs -- the seventeenth session held eight years ago in February 1990. That session had proclaimed the United Nations Decade against Drug Abuse. "We are still in that decade, running through the year 2000 -- another helpful fact for you", Mr. Taukatch added.

Today was World Environment Day, Mr. Taukatch continued. Mr. Udovenko felt this was a very propitious occasion on which to reflect on the fragile state of the environment. A statement would be issued later.

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