DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19991013The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Shirley Brownell, Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly, and Manoel de Almeida Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Briefing by Spokeswoman for General Assembly President
Today is World Disaster Reduction Day. In a message to mark the Day, General Assembly President Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia) said this years observance highlights the importance of disaster prevention. Almost daily, he said, we are reminded of the threat of natural hazards. These tragedies capture our imagination and we tend to think of them in terms of the horrors we see on television. But the true extent of their impact lies beyond our daily awareness. They profoundly affect the efforts being made to achieve economic growth and sustainable development, at times, erasing in a flash any progress made.
Despite 10 years of persistent efforts in disaster prevention by the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and its partners, the number and cost of natural disasters continued to rise, he said. But while we cannot stop the forces of nature, we can and must prevent them from turning into major disasters. This means paying much greater attention to the introduction of prevention strategies that reduce the vulnerability of societies and shifting from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention. We need to strengthen and broaden disaster-reduction programmes, including through the transfer of technology, in our efforts to limit the impact and costs of human suffering. As we approach the next century, the President said, it was vital to ensure that the positive results achieved over the Decade were not lost. We must build on the progress made, by acting decisively so that disaster reduction becomes an essential element of international strategies and national development plans. Copies of the text are available in room S-378.
There is no plenary meeting today. The Assembly will hold elections tomorrow morning for five non-permanent members of the Security Council. The candidates are: Mali, Tunisia and Bangladesh for three African and Asian seats; Slovakia and Ukraine for one Eastern European seat; and Jamaica for one Latin American and Caribbean seat. They will fill the seats that will be vacated on 1 January 2000 by Bahrain, Brazil, Gabon, Gambia and Slovenia.
The voting will be by secret ballot. According to rule 83 of the Rules of Procedure, decisions of the General Assembly on important questions, such as the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, shall be by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Rule 93 adds that when a two-thirds majority is required, the balloting shall continue until one candidate secures two thirds of the votes cast.
At a meeting this afternoon, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) will hear 10 more speakers in its continuing general debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items. The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) is not meeting today. Instead, a panel has been convened this morning to discuss the theme Taking Stock of the Reform of the International Financial Architecture. The panel is in support of the Committees consideration of the agenda items 97 (a) and (b), on high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development; and financing for development, including net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries. Discussion of the two items is scheduled for 1 November. The Chairman of the Committee, Roble Olhaye (Djibouti), is chairing the event, and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Nitin Desai, is moderating the panel discussion. The Committees next meeting will be on Friday, when it will take up operational activities for development.
At two meetings today, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) is continuing its general discussion of the items on advancement of women, and implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women. That discussion will conclude tomorrow, to be followed on Friday by discussion of the items on crime prevention and criminal justice, and international drug control.
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) is continuing debate this morning on the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (document A/54/325). Any draft resolutions on this item will be voted upon at the same time that the Committee takes action on drafts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
This afternoon, the Sixth Committee (Legal) takes up the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. The report (document A/54/33) recommends that the Assembly continue to consider the findings of the ad hoc expert group on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of sanctions. A draft resolution, requiring Assembly action, deals with practical ways and means of strengthening the International Court of Justice. Also before the Committee is a report of the Secretary-General on implementing Charter provisions dealing with assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions (document A/54/383).
Copies of the Assembly Presidents appointments for today are available in room S-378 and on the Internet. This afternoon, he will receive a courtesy call from the Permanent Representative of Peru, Fernando Tudela, in his capacity as Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of States.
Briefing by Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General
Good afternoon. Sorry for my delay. I was trying to get some information for you, and telecommunications were difficult. I will start with a note from Georgia.
**United Nations Observers Taken Hostage in Georgia
There has been a hostage-taking incident involving seven personnel from the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). A UNOMIG helicopter on a routine patrol to the Kodori Valley in north- western Georgia was ambushed upon landing. Five military observers -- from Uruguay, Switzerland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Greece -- and also a medical officer from Germany and an interpreter were taken hostage.
We deplore this incident and call on the immediate release of all the hostages.
At this time, the hostages appear to be in good condition. They were taken from the helicopter wearing only their uniforms and their individual rucksacks, and snow has been reported in some areas of the valley.
The Security Council is being briefed on this incident by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi.
The United Nations is in contact with the Georgian authorities.
**Secretary-General Urges Military Leaders To Restore Civilian Rule Following Pakistan Coup
I now have a statement on Pakistan attributable to the Spokesman: The Secretary-General deplores the military coup in Pakistan. Although the intentions of those who perpetrated it are still unclear, the Secretary- General does not believe that coups are the way to solve a country's problems. He urges Pakistan's military leadership to take early measures to restore civilian rule and the constitutional process. The Secretary-General hopes that the current crisis will not exacerbate the already tense situation in the region.
**Special Envoy To Intensify Efforts in Balkans
Before I go on to the Secretary-General's activities in Kosovo, I have another statement here attributable to the Spokesman. It's long, so I will read only part of it. The full text is available in our Office.
The Secretary-General has asked Mr. Carl Bildt of Sweden, his Special Envoy for the Balkans, to intensify his efforts in the region and to represent the United Nations in the work of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe.
An important aspect of Mr. Bildt's work will be to continue advocacy on behalf of the countries in the region not directly involved in, but affected by, the Kosovo crisis. He will consult regularly with the United Nations programmes, funds, offices and agencies involved in the region, as well as the United nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This will ensure that he remains fully informed of perspectives affecting regional stability, including humanitarian, economic and social dimensions.
**Acting Special Representative of UNFICYP Appointed
I also have another fairly long statement of which I will read only part. It confirms the announcement of James Holger, of Chile, as Acting Special Representative and Chief of Mission of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This, as you know, follows the resignation for family reasons of Ann Hercus. Mr. Holger arrived in Cyprus today.
**Secretary-General Visits Kosovo Mission
The Secretary-General left Sarajevo for Pristina, Kosovo, this morning and proceeded directly to UNMIK. He was briefed on the Mission's work by his Special Representative, Bernard Kouchner.
Dr. Kouchner then chaired a meeting of Kosovo political leaders that was also attended by the Commander of KFOR, General Klaus Reinhardt. The Secretary-General referred to his visit four months ago to refugee camps on Kosovo's borders where he witnessed the pain and despair of the people uprooted from their homes by violence. But he warned against the desire for revenge and urged tolerance. He pledged United Nations support for building a pluralistic, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo. He listened attentively as each of the political leaders spoke in support of that same goal.
His meeting included the entire political spectrum in Kosovo, including Serb representation which, as you know, had walked out of a meeting a few weeks ago.
Following that, he met with General Reinhardt, who briefed him on the work of KFOR and its relations with UNMIK.
Hundreds of UNMIK staff turned out to greet the Secretary-General, and he encouraged them in their work and thanked them for their dedication.
He then had lunch with Dr. Kouchner and the heads of the four pillars of UNMIK on the implementation of UNMIK's mandate, in particular, regarding the future administration of Kosovo.
He then travelled to Gracanica, where he met with Bishop Artemije -- who was also present at the earlier meeting -- the spiritual leader of the Serb community in Kosovo.
Afterwards, he returned to Pristina, where he met with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He is now meeting with Aguin Ceku, who is the new head of the Kosovo Protection Corps.
**Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs To Hold Consultations in Myanmar
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Alvaro de Soto, will be in Myanmar starting tomorrow to hold consultations with the Government of Myanmar and others. He is undertaking this mission as the Secretary-General's special envoy, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 53/162 of 9 December 1998. Upon his return, a report will be submitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General on his efforts to assist in the implementation of this resolution.
**UNICEF Calls on Governments To Protect Humanitarian Workers
I would like to bring to your attention a press release by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), calling for a sea-change in the way the international community handles the protection of humanitarian aid workers. The call came one day after the killings in Burundi of the UNICEF Representative and a staff member from the World Food Programme (WFP).
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, pointed out that humanitarian organizations and their staff in the field depend for their physical protection on universal adherence to humanitarian conventions and international law.
She added that hard choices must be made regarding the disarmament of militias and other armed groups around the world, and noted that governments and international bodies that allow these violent groups to flourish, unwittingly contribute to the destruction and loss of life that all too often follow in their wake.
**UNAMET Announces More Roads Safe for Travel in East Timor
After surveys by INTERFET troops, the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) announced that several more of East Timor's roads might be travelled without military escort. In addition to the Dili-Baucau link, which was declared safe last week, the Dili-Liquica, Baucau-Los Palos, Baucau- Viqueque, and Los Palos-Viqueque stretches have all now been rated "green".
In other developments outside Dili, visits by medical teams to the Suai region have revealed a growing need for medicines and other relief supplies. The opening of the Suai airport in order to airlift aid is a priority, and flights are to follow as soon as the security situation allows.
**UNHCR Plans First Land Repatriation to East Timor
This information is in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Timor Emergency Update. This update tells us that the UNHCR is also planning the first land repatriation from West Timor to East Timor in the next few days. One hundred returnees will be escorted to the border from the West Timor town of Atambua by Indonesian troops, where international peacekeeping forces will take charge of the convoy.
Still on the subject of returnees, for the third consecutive day, three flights departed Kupang this Wednesday carrying East Timorese back to Dili. The 289 returnees raised the total since the operation began on 8 October to 1,230 in 13 flights.
**Security Council
The Security Council, as I mentioned earlier, started consultations this morning with a briefing by Mr. Hedi Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, on the situation in Georgia.
It will then take up the Secretary-General's report on the Central African Republic. As you will recall, the Secretary-General's report was transmitted to the Council a few days ago.
**Additional Revenue for Oil-for-Food Programme Approved
The Secretary-General has today sent a letter to the President of the Security Council approving the Government of Iraq's proposed adjustments for using the additional revenue available to the oil-for-food programme in Phase VI.
This follows the adoption last week of resolution 1266, which authorized Iraq to export an additional $3.04 billion worth of oil.
The Executive Director of the Programme, Benon Sevan, has written to the Permanent Representative of Iraq setting out the understanding relating to the Secretary-General's approval.
Copies will be available in the Spokesman's Office shortly.
**International Natural Disaster Reduction Day
As Shirley has mentioned, today is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.
In his message marking this occasion, the Secretary-General points out that some natural disasters are not altogether natural, and that human actions -- such as those giving rise to global warming, deforestation or the destruction of wetlands -- have greatly increased the risk of certain catastrophes. To reduce the effects of natural disasters, he calls for rapid- alert systems accessible to all countries, structures to speed relief efforts, and a culture of prevention to attack the roots of the problem.
Copies of that message are already available on the racks.
**One Mosquito Net for Every African Child, Says UNICEF
We have a second press release from UNICEF that says 60 million African families will be provided with insecticide-treated mosquito nets over the next five years. This is part of a massive effort by development agencies and public/private partnerships to protect the children from often-fatal bouts of malaria.
You can read further details in the UNICEF press release.
**UNITA Sanctions Letter Out Today
Also on the racks today is a letter from Ambassador Robert Fowler of Canada, the Chairman of the Security Council sanctions committee on the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), to the Council President (document S/1999/1048).
It transmits an exchange of letters between Ambassador Fowler and the Managing Director of the De Beers mining company, which has resolved to stop buying diamonds from Angola.
You'll recall that Ambassador Fowler had briefed you on this development last Thursday.
**World Food Day
This Friday is World Food Day. To mark the occasion, there will be a ceremony at the headquarters of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome featuring government officials, celebrities and others who will be speaking in support of this year's theme -- "Youth against Hunger".
We have copies of a press release from FAO in our Office with more details.
**Zimbabwe Signs Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
This morning, Zimbabwe became the 155th country to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Fifty-one countries have ratified the CTBT, including 26 of the 44 States with nuclear facilities that must ratify for the Treaty to enter into force.
**World Food Programme Announces Emergency Relief for Djibouti
The World Food Programme (WFP) today announced an immediate emergency operation to assist drought-affected people in Djibouti.
Approximately 30,000 people will receive food assistance under the new programme.
**International Day for Eradication of Poverty
Finally, there will be a briefing on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, with a focus on women, tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library. You are all invited to attend.
**Secretary-General Expresses Concern over UNITA Allegations against WFP
During the "question-and-answer" session, the Deputy Spokesman received the following statement attributable to the spokesman on the situation in Angola: The Secretary-General wishes to express deep concern and regret over allegations made by UNITA against the World Food Programme (WFP) about the diversion of food and fuel from targeted beneficiaries in Angola to government forces.
The United Nations system is committed to providing life-sustaining humanitarian assistance to all in need, often under dangerous security conditions. This year, seven aid workers have paid with their lives in Angola while assisting vulnerable populations. The United Nations system has taken and will continue to take every possible measure to prevent any loss or diversion of aid.
The Secretary-General urges all parties to the tragic conflict in Angola to ensure full access and security and allow humanitarian organizations to provide assistance where needed throughout the country.
Any questions?
**Questions and Answers
Question: How long will De Soto be in Myanmar?
Answer: A few days. I dont have the exact schedule, but that is what I understand.
Question: Back to the question of De Beers. I noticed in the letter finally released today, De Beers said that it was closing all operations throughout Angola. Is that a problem for the Government of Angola? Has the Sanctions Committee asked that the entire diamond operation be cancelled? I thought it was a sanction against UNITA?
Answer: I would have to refer you to the Sanctions Committee. Those are very specific questions, and as the Sanctions Committee are dealing directly with those issues, they would be better equipped to make that evaluation.
Question: The letter is addressed to the President of the Security Council, correct?
Answer: The issue is being handled by a committee of the Council, the Sanctions Committee on UNITA, and the Chairman of that Committee is the Permanent Representative of Canada, so I would suggest that you contact them directly.
Question: On East Timor, someone at the United Nations, I don't know who, said that there was no evidence of any Indonesian military complicity in the killings; there's no evidence of widespread massacres, and yet there's 400,000 people missing that are assumed to be in the hills. Have these people been seen? How can we assume that they are all in the hills?
Answer: I saw some wire reports on that. I'm trying to get a better understanding of that situation. We evidently have not been all over the territory. As you know, only very recently have more roads been secured, and we need more time in the area to get a better handle on that situation. There are a number of displaced people returning to their villages and towns of origin. I would have a feeling that the word "missing" refers more to returnees and those people in the hills and mountains than to people who are dead or have disappeared. Whatever the statement, we have not, in any case, had the opportunity to explore the entire territory.
Question: The military observers are being held in separatist-held territory, correct?
Answer: All the information is still sketchy, but it seems that they are in the Kodori Valley, but on the Georgian side.
Question: How do you know this, have you had any contact with them yet?
Answer: There is some radio contact, yes.
Question: It's been a tough week for the United Nations, hasn't it?
Answer: Yes. A very sad week. Very sad, indeed. Question: In the wake of all this, do you think there will be any Re-thinking on security of United Nations personnel on missions?
Answer: Maybe. But more important, I believe, is re-thinking by those who control territories about their responsibility towards the people who are there to help their populations. Let's not look at this problem in a different way. There are people that are responsible for what is happening. Some people are responsible to provide security for staff that are guests in their countries and are there to help and or protect populations that are in need. Let's not lose sight of where the problem is.
Question: Can the allegations against UNITA be made available, so we can have a better understanding of the Secretary-General's answer? We are not aware of these allegations.
Answer: We will have to check on that for you. I have not seen the allegation. I don't know where it was made, whether it was in writing or if it was in an interview. If we have it, of course, I will share it with you.
Question: Since you are in contact with the seven hostages in Georgia, are there any negotiations under way?
Answer: I am prepared to tell you that there are talks, but that is all I have to give you for now.
Thank you.
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