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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-04-10United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSWednesday, 10 April 1996This document is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information and is updated every week-day at approximately 6:00 PM. HEADLINES
Chernobyl was the worst disaster in the history of nuclear power generation. It has displaced thousands of people and severely affected the social fibre of the affected States, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said in a message to the four-day International Conference on "One decade after Chernobyl" in Vienna. In his message delivered by Hans Blix, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Secretary-General said radioactive contamination continued to affect vast populations in the region. More than 300 children have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In addition, the fertility rate has declined while the mortality rate has increased. The lack of funds has affected several programmes geared at mitigating the consequences of the accident, Dr. Boutros-Ghali said. He hoped the Conference would facilitate a common understanding of the Chernobyl accident. Foreign intervention in Afghanistan is thwarting international efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict in that country, several speakers have told the Security Council during two meetings on the Afghan situation. Support was expressed for an international conference to address the problem of political and military interference, including the flow of arms into Afghanistan and prevent the conflict from affecting other regions of the world. A few speakers noted that due to its instability, the country had become a breeding ground for international terrorism and a source of illicit narcotics. During the discussions, a call was made for Afghan factions to reconciliate their differences and to cooperate with United Nations efforts to end the on-going fighting. In addition, many representatives supported the Secretary-General's proposal for the establishment of a fully representative, broad-based "authoritative council", through a peaceful dialogue among the Afghans. They believed it was the most appropriate way to achieve a lasting settlement. The situation in Monrovia, Liberia, is reported to be quite tense, according to UN Spokesman Sylvanna Foa. Even though a tentative ceasefire was reached yesterday, not all forces were abiding by it, she added. The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) has increased its strength in Monrovia and has created a buffer between the fighting factions, Ms. Foa said. In addition, no United Nations personnel had been evacuated and there were no plans to do so. All of the UN staff had been accounted for and were safe. However, the looting of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) continued. Several vehicles and communications equipment had already been lost. The World Food Programme (WFP) had not succeeded in its attempt to take supplies to the Mamba check point due to the heavy fire, Ms. Foa said. There were about 15,000 to 20,000 Liberians held up both in the United States and UN compounds at Mamba point who badly needed food and water. The elections in Sierra Leone, held in February and March have been a "United Nations success story", Chairman of the Electoral Commission, James Jonah, said today at Headquarters. He added that Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has made the promotion of democracy in the world - particularly in Africa - a priority of his mandate. Mr. Jonah said that it was not easy to transform a military regime into a democratic one. In spite of that, the diplomatic pressure applied by the Security Council and the Secretary-General had helped tremendously in the Electorial Commission. In addition, he attributed the electoral success to the determination for democracy of the people of Sierra Leone. They preferred a government of their choice which would be accountable. Prior to the elections, many in the international community had not believed in the possibility of holding elections in the midst of a civil war, Mr. Jonah said. For that reason, it had been difficult to get donor support. The outcome of the elections surprised many Governments, he added. The United Nations fact-finding mission to Nigeria has concluded its visit to Ogoniland and to other cities in the northern, eastern and western parts of that country, UN spokesman Sylvanna Foa said today. The mission arrived in that country on 20 March and was addressing two issues, the trial and execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa; and the Nigerian Government's plans to restore democratic rule. The mission would conclude by 12 April and it would then report to the Secretary-General, she added. For information purposes only - - not an official record From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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