DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Briefing

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Security Council Consultations

The Security Council today went into formal session to approve unanimously a resolution on the trial of Sierra Leonean nationals accused of egregious crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to negotiate an agreement with Sierra Leone's Government on an independent special court and to report to the Council within 30 days.

Following that meeting, the Council, in an open session, heard a briefing from Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bernard Miyet on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Miyet told the Council that the United Nations had proceeded to deploy five military liaison officers respectively to the capitals of Ethiopia and Eritrea. That initial step is to pave the way for the deployment, intended by the end of this month, of an initial group of 100 military observers.

Last week, in a report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General recommended that there be a second phase of deployment, in which the Mission would be expanded to 4,200 military personnel, including 220 military observers, three infantry battalions and necessary support units. The Mission, Miyet noted, would divide its operations into three sectors, with headquarters based in Barentu for the western sector, Adigrat for the central sector and Assba in the east.

Following his briefing, the Council proceeded to an open debate on the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which is going on now.

**Kosovo

The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today assumed responsibility for a smelter that has been linked to rising levels of atmospheric lead in northern Mitrovica. Some readings indicated last month that atmospheric lead levels were 200 times the acceptable levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

United Nations administrators, supported by United Nations police and the Kosovo Force (KFOR), took control of the Zvecan smelter this morning, in an effort to safeguard the health of the community after the resumption of the plant's operations in June subjected the population to unprecedented levels of atmospheric lead. The media reported some reaction by the population. We don't have the full details as yet.

Daily Press Briefing - 2 - 14 August 2000

The United Nations Mission informed workers that they would continue to be paid while the plant is retrofitted. An assessment of the cost and duration of the operation to install air pollution control mechanisms at the Zvecan plant is expected in about two weeks.

Bernard Kouchner, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said in a press release available upstairs, "As a doctor, as well as chief administrator of Kosovo, I would be derelict if I let this threat to the health of children and pregnant women continue for one more day."

The United Nations also took action to improve management of northern Kosovo's Trepeca complex, of which the smelter is a part. On Sunday, the United Nations concluded agreement with a multinational consortium to assess the viability of the entire Trepeca complex, and UNMIK will take remedial action for the environment. Sixteen million dollars have been raised for this effort so far.

On Saturday, Kouchner announced that after consultations with the Secretary-General, municipal elections will be held in Kosovo on 28 October. This Wednesday, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold a lottery to confirm the order in which political parties, coalitions and citizens' initiatives will be placed on the ballot.

More information is contained in a press release and the briefing notes from Pristina which are available in the Spokesman's Office.

**Afghanistan

The Secretary-General's Personal Representative in Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, will conclude a round of talks with Afghanistan's neighbouring Governments tomorrow in Iran. Starting at the end of July, he visited the capitals of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

In the course of his visits, Vendrell discussed possible ways to address the conflict in Afghanistan, and the Governments reiterated their full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative. We have an information note in the Spokesman's Office with more details on Mr. Vendrell's talks.

**Conference on IDPs in Central Africa

The Subregional Conference on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Central Africa opened today in Bujumbura, Burundi. The objective of this United Nations-sponsored conference is to sensitize and seek assistance from the international community for the ever-growing problem of refugees and internally displaced people in this subregion.

The conference will cover, among many other topics, the cause and consequences of the massive displacement of people as well as problems specific to women and children refugees in the region. It will conclude on 16 August.

A complete press release on this event is available upstairs.

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**East Timor

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor has started charging electricity fees to large commercial customers in East Timor for the first time. The charges will apply to hotels, restaurants, shops, offices, ports, airports, United Nations premises and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In a visit today to one of the electric plants in Dili, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, said that they would charge domestic customers only after a review was conducted to confirm their ability to pay.

Before the violence in September 1999 in East Timor there were 60 power stations in the country. Currently, only 30 are working. The other 30 were seriously damaged or burnt to the ground.

We have more details on this and other notes from East Timor in the briefing from Dili.

**Energy and Natural Resources Committee Begins Work Today

Today in Conference Room 6, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development began its second session, electing Christian Katsande of Zimbabwe as its chair for the current session. Starting this afternoon, the Committee will hold parallel meetings of its two sub-groups, on energy and water, which are to last through this week. The Committee's current session will last through 25 August.

**World Food Programme Sends Aid to Chechnya

The World Food Programme (WFP), working through two NGOs, today dispatched desperately needed food assistance to some 35,000 people facing starvation amid the long-running military conflict. The food will be distributed among 31,000 internally displaced people. The recipients are elderly, ill and handicapped Chechens, along with single mothers with children.

**Payments

Today we received another payment to the regular budget. Sudan becomes the 108th Member State to pay its dues in full by making a payment of just over $73,000.

**Questions and Answers

Question: Who is going to head the mission to Sierra Leone to negotiate the tribunal?

Deputy Spokesman: I do not have names of members of missions as yet. Some weeks ago, an officer from our Legal Counsel's Office went to Sierra Leone, but I do not have details on a forthcoming mission, nor who would be part of it.

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Question: The resolution mentions sending a team. Does that mean that the Secretary-General would be doing that?

Deputy Spokesman: I am not confirming that. I am saying that if it happens, I do not have names. What I did say was that a mission had been to the country during the last few weeks.

Question: Has there been any progress on the proposal to increase the troop strength for the mission in Sierra Leone?

Deputy Spokesman: There is a resolution that would be required for an expansion of the size of the force, and the Council has been discussing that.

Question: Do you have any figures on people who have recently come to demobilization camps?

Deputy Spokesman: I do not have those figures. We would have to look into it.

Question: Has any report been issued since the new head of the Office for Internal Oversight Services was appointed six months ago?

Deputy Spokesman: The Department continues to work on matters that had been started under the previous Under-Secretary-General. The reports have their regular schedule, which I do not have with me. The Department certainly would be reporting as scheduled and required.

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