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United Nations Daily Highlights, 96-12-23United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSMonday, 23 December 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
The Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), for a further period ending on 30 June 1997. Unanimously adopting resolution 1092 (1996) on Monday, the Council deplored the violent incidents of August, September and October this year which resulted in the tragic deaths of three Greek Cypriot civilians and one member of the Turkish Cypriot security forces, as well as injuries to civilians and UNFICYP personnel. The Council in particular, deplored the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the Turkish/Turkish Cypriot side, as well as the largely passive role played by the Cypriot police in response to civilian demonstrations. The Council emphasized the responsibility of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties to maintain law and order, and demanded that they prevent unauthorized incursions into the buffer zone. It called on the parties to accept as a package, without delay or preconditions, the reciprocal measures proposed by UNFICYP, among them, to extend the 1989 unmanning agreement to other areas where the two sides remain in close proximity to each other; to prohibit loaded weapons along the cease-fire lines; and to adopt a code of conduct, based on the concept of minimal force and proportional response, to be followed by troops on both sides along the cease-fire lines. The Council further called upon the military authorities on both sides to clear all minefields and booby-trapped areas inside the buffer zone without further delay; to cease military construction in the immediate vicinity of the buffer zone and to refrain from any military exercises along the buffer zone. The President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Razali Ismail of Malaysia says it is with a sense of accomplishment that he views the just concluded General Assembly segment. In an interview with UN Radio he says, it is especially so when one considers the great deal of work completed without any serious overflow of time. He cited among the major accomplishments of the Assembly, the appointment of a new Secretary-General and the passing of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Nevertheless, Ambassador Razali says while the CTBT is extremely important, it is not the kind of CTBT that some members of the international community would have liked to see happen. "It still very much keeps with the nuclear weapons States the monopoly of having those weapons and there are no clear steps that could taken later towards dismantling what they have or taking the political decision to give up the idea of having nuclear weapons. I don't think the world is any safer until and unless the people who have nuclear weapons clearly make the philosophical commitment to give up those weapons and until they do that there will be others who will try to be a nuclear weapon power also," the Assembly President said. Members of the Security Council have agreed with the Secretary- General's report calling for the appointment of another special envoy for the Great Lakes region. Council President Francesco Paulo Fulci of Italy made the disclosure to UN correspondents shortly after consultations Monday. The members of the Council also agreed that in the light of the new situation in the region, the functions of the multi-national force will come to an end. "The general feeling is that in the next few months, the Council should take a more comprehensive and more integrated approach to the issue. Suggestions were made in increasing the involvement in the debate of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) and other humanitarian organizations. And, finally, the members of the Council shared the view that genocide cannot remain unpunished and expressed their strong support for the International Tribunal for Rwanda", the Council President said. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has welcomed the signing of the water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh, according to a statement issued by his Spokesman. In the statement, Friday, the Secretary-General warmly welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral treaty in New Delhi on 12 December by which the Governments of India and Bangladesh agreed to the sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters at the Farakka Barrage. Dr. Boutros-Ghali paid tribute to the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on their statesmanship, and the spirit of friendship and good neighbourliness that they have displayed in signing this important treaty. The Secretary-General expressed his sincere hope that the treaty will be implemented in the spirit in which it was concluded to the benefit of the peoples of the two countries. Leading women scientists and technologists from Asia and the Pacific have agreed to form a regional network to lend their expertise to help women living in poverty. Priority areas identified by the group include aquaculture, seed technologies, information management and economic empowerment. The Director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP)'s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific said the next step will be to enlarge the group to cover more countries. The group is so far made up of women from China, Fiji, India, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has joined the UN inter-agency appeal for just under $50 million for Somalia. A report released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said funds are necessary to avoid a renewed humanitarian crisis. UNDP's Resident Representative in Somalia said that the cost of operating in Somalia may be high, but he warned that the cost of abandoning emergency areas would be even higher. UNDP is supporting community-based development and rehabilitation programs in Somalia and is also helping build up local government bodies in the absence of a national government. The $46 million would help strengthen and expand community development schemes now underway and retrain demobilized soldiers. The 1996 UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) Prize for Human Rights Education will be awarded on 8 January to Jean Bertrand Aristide, former president of Haiti, for his "exceptional engagement in favour of human rights in democracy in Haiti, and to encourage him to continue this task, notably through the Aristide Foundation for Democracy." Mr. Aristide was President of Haiti from 1990 to 1996. Following a military coup in 1991, he went into exile. According to UNESCO, nevertheless, he managed to engage his country on the path to democracy. In January 1996, free and peaceful presidential and legislative elections were held and for the first time in the history of Haiti, one democratically elected president succeeded another. Mr. Aristide also created the Aristide Foundation for Democracy, which encourages the democratic participation of all sectors of Haitian society, including the poorest. 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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