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United Nations Daily Highlights 96-07-19United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSFriday, July 19, 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
United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was deeply saddened to learn of the death of 107 Sudanese refugees in separate attacks from 12- 14 July 1996 on the Acholi-pii refugee camp near Kitgum in Northern Uganda, UN Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said today. The victims of these deplorable attacks were mostly women and children, he added. The attackers looted and burned the refugees' huts and trucks belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP), and a WFP driver is reported missing, according to the Spokesman. He noted that the Secretary-General has condemned "these wanton acts of murder and destruction, and calls upon the Government of the Uganda to reinforce measures to ensure the safety and protection of Sudanese refugees in the area". Dr. Boutros-Ghali hopes that all impediments to the humanitarian relief work in southern Sudan will be removed as a matter of urgency so that the Sudanese population affected by the ongoing war is not forced to leave the country, the Spokesman added. "The Olympic Games can be a positive catalyst for international understanding and reconciliation," a UN Spokesman said today. In that spirit, the Secretary-General urges all parties to conflicts around the world to respect the United Nations call for the observation of an Olympic Truce and suspend all hostilities for the duration of the Twenty- Sixth Olympiad, he added. The Spokesman noted that the Olympic Games reminded us all of the enduring Olympic ideals of sporting excellence and the highest standards of fair play in international competition. There are 50 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 50 crises around the world, Yasushi Akashi, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, today told the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), according to UN Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi. The Under-Secretary-General said an estimated 110 million land-mines continue to maim and kill and impede the process of rehabilitation and recovery. He reminded the Council that the international community spent almost $6 billion to address humanitarian problems last year. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs provided assistance to 55 Member States, in response to natural disasters, he noted. The General Assembly would adopt a draft United Nations declaration on corruption and bribery in transnational commercial activities, by the terms of a draft resolution introduced yesterday, as the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) continued its general segment. In eight articles, the draft declaration, among other provisions, calls for criminal penalties for bribery or the solicitation of bribes; business codes of conduct prohibiting bribery; government procurement procedures to improve transparency; and accurate records of payments for transnational commercial activities. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has adopted, without a vote, several texts recommended by United Nations regional commissions, as it concluded its consideration of those bodies. On the recommendation of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Council decided to amend ESCAP's terms of reference so that, among others, references to "Hong Kong" would be changed to "Hong Kong, China", effective 1 July 1997. The Council also approved the holding of the twenty-seventh session of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) in Aruba in 1998. Adopting a resolution on the future directions of the work of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Council endorsed the new orientations for the Commission outlined in the document entitled "Serving Africa better: strategic directions for the Economic Commission for Africa". Radovan Karadzic, an indicted war criminal, is no longer President of Republika Srpska, according to a UN Radio report from Zagreb. UN Radio states that the breakthrough is a result of constant pressure from the international community for Karadzic to step down. However, Alex Ivanko, Spokesman for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), said, "we believe that -- justice has not been served". He noted that the relinquishing of all positions of power was just another step on the road that must quickly lead Karadzic to the Hague. "Only the Hague can ensure justice", he added. The Hague is the seat of the International Criminal Tribunal, where those indicted for war crimes are to stand trial. Sports helps young people to stay away from drugs - that is the central message of an international photo exhibit, to be displayed in the Olympic Village for the entire duration of the Olympic Games, according to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). UNDCP says the exhibit, produced by the United Nations, was launched jointly with the International Olympic Committee in Rome last year. It is part of a global campaign on "Sports against Drugs" and has also been shown in Vienna and New York, says UNDCP. To show their support for the campaign, several prominent athletes have signed a declaration pledging to alert young people of the dangers of substance abuse. The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has today issued a set of six commemorative stamps and three souvenir sheets on the theme "Sports and the environment", to coincide with the Centennial Olympic Games being held at Atlanta, Georgia, from 19 July to 4 August. UNPA says both the stamps and the souvenir sheets are based on paintings created by Leroy Neiman of the United States, especially for UNPA. The stamps come in denominations of US$0.32, US$0.50; SwF0.70, SwF1.10; S6 and S7, while the souvenir sheets are available in denominations of US$0.82, SwF1.80 and S13. To provide first-day cancellations of the souvenir sheets and commemorative stamps in United States denominations, the United States Government has amended the Headquarters Agreement so that the Headquarters district will include, for one day only, 19 July, the United States Post Office at Atlanta, Georgia, UNPA states. 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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