PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIRMAN OF WORKING GROUP ON INFORMATICS ON GLOBAL MEETING OF Y2K COORDINATORS

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIRMAN OF WORKING GROUP ON INFORMATICS ON GLOBAL MEETING OF Y2K COORDINATORS

So much emphasis had been placed on the Y2K threat to the financial sector in the past six months and the previous year that adequate attention had not been paid so far to shipping, health and other high-risk sectors, Ahmad Kamal, Chairman of the United Nations Working Group on Informatics, said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Answering a question from a journalist, Mr. Kamal said that so much consideration had been given to banking and finance, on the one hand, and aviation, on the other, that it could be assumed those sectors knew what had to be done and that they were trying to do it. Enormous work had been done in which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had taken the lead. Nevertheless, despite that high-key effort, the question constantly asked was whether it would be safe to travel at the end of the year. That type of scare had led people to believe they needed to stock up on water, sugar and soap at year's end.

Mr. Kamal, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, was briefing the press on the Second Global Meeting of National Y2K Coordinators, held at United Nations Headquarters this morning. The meeting is organized by the Working Group on Informatics and the International Y2K Cooperation Center. He was accompanied by three of the Center's regional coordinators: Mario Tagarinski (Bulgaria), for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Amable Aguiluz (Philippines), for East Asia and the Pacific; Carlos M. Jarque (Mexico), for Central America and the Caribbean; and Bruce McConnell, Director of the International Y2K Cooperation Center.

Asked how the risk to trade and tourism had been raised in the morning session, Mr. Kamal said tourism had come up because aviation was a suspect sector. There was still much doubt as to whether people should or should not travel at the end of the year. Many countries with relatively warm and attractive climates during winter would be affected by any disruption, or fear of disruption, in December.

On trade, he said that shipping was a key sector generally, particularly the shipping of energy and oil. There may not be so much disruption as there may be perceptions of possible disruptions. That would create a snowball effect, which was what the Global Meeting was trying to avoid through the exchange of information with the public, the press and with other countries, rather than concealing information in order to create competitive edges.

Among the concerns not mentioned previously was funding, he said. Some developing countries and countries in transition would require funding. The World Bank had been brought in to assess what the value of that funding would

be, whether it would be available from existing resources already in the Bank's Trust Fund or whether other countries would have to be brought in. It had been concluded that other countries would have to be brought in.

He told another journalist that there was no estimate for the amount of money developing countries would need to adjust to the Y2K problem. Different figures had been mentioned in the press as to the size of the problem, ranging from $200 billion to $800 billion. The size of the problem did not matter. It existed and, irrespective of its size, it was necessary for everybody to roll up their sleeves and get down to work.

Another correspondent asked what kind of cooperation was being received from countries like the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Cuba, Libya, Iran and others that were cut off from the rest of the world. What was being done to encourage their participation and what were the implications of their non-participation?

Mr. Jarque replied that Cuba had been participating in the Working Group for Central America and the Caribbean. Not only did it attend all the sessions, but it would host the next one, to be held on 22 July. Cuba had been a very keen participant in the whole Y2K process.

Regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mr. Aguiluz said the East Asia and Pacific regional working group would make efforts to interface with that country and to secure all the necessary inputs. Assistance would also be provided, if necessary. The working group would also be working closely with other regional members, specifically the Republic of Korea, which had been very active in Y2K-related problems.

Asked if anything had been mentioned at the morning meeting about the closure of the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal and other maritime commercial choke points, Mr. McConnell said there would be a discussion on maritime aspects during tomorrow's morning meeting at the United Nations Regal Plaza Hotel.

Did the United Nations or regional organizations have any ideas to create "fire brigades" to help countries or regions needing assistance at the end of the year? another correspondent asked.

Mr. McConnell replied that a Y2K Experts Service Volunteer Corps had been established to provide technical assistance to countries that requested it. Eighteen countries had requested and were receiving assistance. In addition, the International Y2K Cooperation Center was working with the United Nations Emergency Response Organization and non-governmental organizations in that area to ensure that their plans included the ability to respond, should there be unforeseen emergencies.

Y2K Press Conference - 3 - 22 June 1999

Another journalists asked why technological disasters had not been addressed. Why had there been a dearth of focus, at both the national and international levels, on potential Chernobyl and Bhopal-type occurrences, as well as those involving pipelines, refineries, dams, hazardous waste sites, nuclear and other weapons systems.

Mr. Tagarinski said that was a most important issue, especially for the energy sector. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Regional Cooperation Centre for East and Central Europe and Central Asia would organize a conference in September focusing on special power plants. Work was being carried out concerning independent assessment of international organizations concerned with that issue.

Concerning nuclear weapons, Mr. McConnell said the International Y2K Cooperation Center did not see nuclear weapons as a high-risk area. They had been pleased to hear today Russia's report that it would complete Y2K testing of its nuclear power plants by 1 September.

Answering a question on food emergencies and threats to the tourism, trade and legal fields, Mr. Kamal said food had been brought up at this morning's session by the Central American and Caribbean countries, many of which were small island States and highly dependent on shipping. Afraid that disruptions may occur in shipping and in food, they were focusing more on problems in those fields than were other regional groups.

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