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UN Newsletter 5 April, 1997 Volume 52 Number 14 m UN Secretary-General Visits India

Mr. , the Secretary-General of the , is arriving today in India on a visit which will last until the morning of 8 April. During his visit, the Secretary-General will call on the President, the Prime Minister, Ministers of External Affairs and Finance and other officials of India. Mr. Annan will also attend the opening session of the XII Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement and deliver his address. The Secretary-General's visit, coming only three months after his assumption of office, is not his first arrival to India. In January 1996, as then the Under-Secretary-Gencral for Peace-keeping Operations, Mr. Annan attended the Asia-Pacific Regional Training Work- shop on UN Peace-Keeping Operations in New Delhi, jointly organized by the UN and the Indian Ministry of Defence (UN NL published his keynote address at that meeting in its Vol 51, No. 4 of 27 January 1996). Considering the active role that India has been playing in the United Nations ever since its inception, the Secretary-General will have an interesting and enriching exchange of views with India's officials on the future shape and role of the UN, particularly in the light of the ongoing process of UN reform. The Secretary-General is arriving with his wife, Mrs. Nane Annan, and his party will include Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General and Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General Fred Eckhard, Spokesman. • World-Wide Radio Broadcast by UN Secretary-General In a live world-wide radio broadcast "I believe that the Third World has Regarding the creation of a rapid de- on 2 April, United Nations Secretary-Gen- legitimate claim to be represented on the ployment force, Mr. Annan noted that, ide- eral Kofi Annan discussed international de- Council at the permanent level," he noted ally, it would be good to have a capacity velopments and global issues with in response to a question on India's claim that could be deployed promptly. "It often journalists from radio networks in five for permanent membership of the Security takes three to four months to deploy the continents. Questions included the reform Council. "I do agree with you that India is force, and during that period lots of of the Security Council, the Zairian crisis, one of the countries that should be con- harm can be done and lots of lives can be the UN High Commissioner for Refugees sidered, but it is an issue for the member- lost, as we saw in Rwanda, but the (UNHCR) mandate and the creation of a ship to decide at large." membership is not ready for a standing UN rapid deployment force, among others. army. So what we have decided to do is to On the issue of the Zairian crisis, Mr. establish what we call Stand-by Forces Ar- In the question-and-answer show, the Annan said he had discussed the alleged rangement. Through this arrangement we Secretary-General was asked if veto right Angolan involvement with both President have approached eighty states and asked should be withheld from developing coun- Dos Santos and Dr. Jonas Savimbi. "They them to indicate what they would do in tries. Mr. Annan said the Security Council both indicated to me that they were not in- times of crisis, if they were to be reflected the geopolitical realities of 1945 volved and that they were equally concerned approached," he said. "In times of crisis and it was about time its composition and about developments in Zaire and its possi- we can have a clear idea of who will do membership were brought in line with to- ble impact on the whole region if the crisis what." day's realities. The current proposals that were to get out of hand. I have indicated to the General Assembly President, Ambas- them how dangerous it would be if they UN Secretary-General answered sador Razali Ismail of Malaysia has put for- and other governments in the region were to questions from foreign affairs corre- ward indicate the creation of five additional get involved in the conflict in Zaire," he said. spondents and editors at radio stations in permanent member seats, he noted. Australia, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, the In regard to UNHCR mandate and its Netherlands, South Africa and the United "There is a proposal on the table that performance in Zaire, the Secretary-General States. The one- hour programme was organ- the five new permanent Members should said the UNHCR policy of not forcing refu- ised by United Nations Radio with the par- not be given a veto power, that steins from gees to go back was right. "I do not think ticipation of the following: Australia Broad- the fact that there are large numbers of the mandate of UNHCR should be amended casting Corporation (ABC), Sydney. All Member States who believe that the veto to force refugees back home if they think India Radio (AIR), New Delhi; Channel is somewhat anachronistic, and therefore to their lives are in danger or they would lose Africa, Johannesburg; , create additional Members with vetoes would their lives or freedom if they would go Cologne, Germany; Kenya Broadcasting be contradictory," Mr. Annan said, point- back," he stated. "When it became possi- Corporation (KBC), Nairobi; Radio Neth- ing out that he did not know whether or ble for refugees to go back to Rwanda, erlands, Hilversum; Japan Broadcasting not the three seats being offered to the Third UNHCR was there to help and to negotiate Corporation (NHK), Tokyo; and the Voice of World would also have a veto power. with the governments the right conditions." America (VOA), Washington, D.C. g

Reproduction of Newsletter Material is welcome; please credit U.N. Newsletter-Editor 5 April, 1997s World Health Day: 7 April

Message from the UN Secretary-General "On 7 April each year, the World alone, about 30 new and highly infectious WHO has unique expertise and expe- Health Organization (WHO) celebrates diseases have been identified, among them rience in coordinating international surveil- World Health Day, which marks the oc- Ebola and HTV/A1DS. Old diseases that once lance and monitoring systems for infectious casion when, in 1948, the WHO constitu- seemed under control — such as diphtheria diseases, and in helping countries improve tion came into force. and tuberculosis — are making a deadly their capacities for detecting and respond- This year, the theme of World Health comeback, increasingly resistant to drugs ing to disease threats. WHO, recognizing Day is "Emerging Infectious Diseases: Glo- that once cured us of their effects. the scale and urgency of threats to public bal Alert, Global Response." During the 1990s, emerging and re- health, has taken effective steps to counter Today, thanks to a world-wide effort emerging infectious diseases have become them, ranging from improving the availabil- led by WHO and involving many nations, a global public health concern. The ity of vaccines and drugs to filling gaps in international organizations — particularly globalization of trade, changes in ecology national and international surveillance and those of the — and climate, and mass movements of peo- monitoring networks. nongovernmental organizations and others, ple, whether tourists, business travellers, On World Health Day 1997, WHO is tremendous progress has been made in con- migrants or refugees, are creating new op- sounding a global alert and calling for a glo- trolling some of the most terrible diseases portunities for the spread of infections. bal response to the challenge of emerging facing humankind. Smallpox has been Haphazard and uncontrolled urbanization in and re-emerging infectious diseases. Infec- eradicated. Other diseases are targeted many countries forces people to live in tious diseases affect everyone. There can for eradication in the near future. Poliomy- unhygienic and overcrowded conditions. be no clearer example of the interdepend- elitis and leprosy are being wiped out stead- Persistent poverty exposes hundreds of mil- ence of nations than the risks posed by ily. The United Nations and WHO can be lions of people to the threat of infection the spread of infectious diseases. We need proud of these achievements. through lack of access to clean water and to show international solidarity by meeting But we must not be complacent. Infec- adequate sanitation. In many countries, this challenge with united, coordinated ac- tious diseases are the leading cause of death social and economic crises, as well as tion." in the world. New diseases with no known civil strife, have led to the collapse of na- cure continue to emerge. In the past 20 years tional health systems. Kofi A. Annan • Message from Director-General of WHO "Until quite recently there was a wide- tection against many infectious diseases are resistance, may go unnoticed until it is too spread feeling that the struggle against in- becoming less and less useful as resistance late. A recent striking example is the hu- fectious diseases was almost won. The to them spreads. In addition, fewer new an- man immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which means of controlling most of them seemed tibiotics are being produced, owing partly was recognized only after it had already in- either available or discoverable without to the high costs of development and licens- fected large numbers of people in many undue difficulty. Spectacular progress has ing. As the treatment of communicable dis- countries. If diseases of epidemic potential indeed been made: smallpox has been eases becomes less effective, more people are detected early enough, epidemics and eradicated and six other diseases will be need hospitalization, illnesses last longer, pandemics can be prevented in some cases, eradicated or eliminated soon. But tragi- treatment costs more and absenteeism from in others minimized. cally, with optimism came a false sense of school and work increases. For these very pressing reasons, the security, which has helped many diseases There are many reasons for the appear- theme "Emerging Infectious Diseases - to spread with alarming rapidity. ance of new diseases and the resurgence of Global alert, Global response" has been Major diseases such as malaria and tu- communicable diseases once thought to be chosen for World Health Day 1997. It is berculosis are making a deadly comeback well under control. These include the rapid my hope that, by using World Health Day in many parts of the world. At the same increase in international air travel and the as a catalyst, countries will be able to take time, diseases such as plague, diphtheria, growth of mega-cities with high population a realistic look at these problems and con- dengue, meningococcal meningitis, yellow densities and inadequate safe water and centrate on rebuilding the foundations of fever, and cholera have reappeared as pub- sanitation. The risk of foodbome diseases disease surveillance and disease control. lic health threats in many countries, after has been heightened by the globalization Both the public and the private sectors must many years of decline. of trade and changes in the production, han- be encouraged to research and develop bet- dling and processing of food. Environmen- In addition, previously unknown in- ter techniques for surveillance and control, tal factors can lead to the exposure of hu- fectious diseases are emerging at an unprec- and new antibiotics to replace those which mans to previously unknown diseases. For edented rate, hi the last 20 years, more than are no longer effective. example, man is destroying forests and 30 new and highly infectious diseases have We have to face the fact that infectious moving into previously remote animal and been identified. They include the virulent diseases are a common threat which de- insect habitats which carry high risks of Ebola-type haemorrhagic fever, HIV/AIDS mands urgent attention, especially at a time exposure to disease. and hepatitis C. For many of these diseases when people all over the world are being Meanwhile, in rich and poor countries there is no treatment, cure or vaccine. brought closer together by international alike, resources for public health are being Antibiotic resistance is another impor- travel and trade. Communicable diseases reduced as limited funds are spent on other tant threat to human health which has respect no frontiers. We must work together priorities. As a result, the appearance of emerged during the last 20 years. Drugs globally to control them." new diseases, the re-emergence of known which once could be counted on for pro- disease, or the development of antibiotic Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima • ?April, 1997

Sec-Gen Addresses Special Work of the International Afghanistan Session of OAU Seabed Authority Secretary-General Kofi Annan has United Nations Secretary-General Kofi The Assembly of the International proposed convening a meeting of con- Annan has urged the warring parties in east- Seabed Authority, meeting at Kingston, Ja- cerned countries on the situation in Afghani- stan. The aim of the meeting will be to reas- ern Zaire to move to the negotiating table. maica, has agreed to defer, until August, sess the Afghan situation following recent Addressing a special summit of the discussions on a draft protocol on the le- Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in political and military developments and to Lome, Togo on 26 March, Mr. Annan said gal privileges and immunities of the Au- discuss how best to promote a negotiated Zaire must now move forward on a clear thority. The decision followed extensive settlement of the conflict, including rein- path towards lasting peace and reconstruc- consultations held since 17 March. forcing the United Nations peacemaking tion based on democracy, the rule of law and Outlining the reasons for the defer- efforts. respect for . "I urge the parties to move to the ne- ment, the President of the Assembly, S. In a report on the situation in Afghani- gotiating table," he said in his statement to Amos Wako of Kenya said that there were stan, the Secretary-General also took note the OAU Central Organ for Conflict Resolu- differing views on the need for a protocol, of proposals that an intra-Afghan meeting tion Summit. "In this regard I am encour- arising from what some delegates saw as among the warring parties be held outside aged by the recent declaration of Presi- the duplication in that document of some Afghanistan in order to provide an opportu- dent Mobutu calling for a cease-fire and provisions already addressed in the 1982 nity for them to talk to each other in a secure dialogue, as well as the decision by the United Nations Convention on the Law of environment. Alliance of democratic Forces to declare a According to the Secretary-General, the temporary cease-fire in the region of the Sea. situation in Afghanistan remains precarious Kisangani." Earlier, the Council of the Interna- and, success in the United Nations peace The Secretary-General assured the tional Seabed Authority decided to recom- Summit that the United Nations, through efforts remains elusive. He said the mili- mend to the Authority's Assembly that it the efforts of the Joint UN/OAU Special tary situation is dangerously fluid and may Representative, would continue to press the approve a relationship agreement between soon deteriorate further with the onset of the two sides in the Zairian conflict to accept the Authority and the United Nations. spring thaw. total cessation of hostilities and commence Under the agreement, the United Nations The Secretary-General stated that the negotiations. recognises the Authority as an autonomous United Nations and its Member States had He said the Organisation will continue international organisation through which to increase efforts to address the Afghan the contingency planning for a possible States parties to the 1982 United Nations question before the situation deteriorated still United Nations monitoring mechanism Convention on the Law of the Sea would further. designed to help monitor cessation of hos- tilities and for the implementation of the organise and control activities in the * * * peace plan. "Should such a monitoring seabed area beyond the limits of na- Meanwhile, the Executive Director of mechanism be established, African States tional jurisdiction. the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol and the OAU will have to play an impor- The Council also began discussing Bellamy, said that the exclusion of girls tant part in it. We would welcome any another agreement, reached in negotia- and women from the public sphere in Af- proposal from your Central Organ towards ghanistan had disastrous consequences for that end," he stated. • tions between the Government of Ja- maica and the Authority, concerning the the entire nation. Since their military victo- Authority's headquarters in Jamaica. Fol- ries in the summer of 1995, the Taliban mili- Razali: Security Council tants, known for their ultra-conservative in- lowing an exchange of views, the Council terpretation of Islam, have barred girls and Reform Not "Magic Formula" agreed that informal discussions would women teachers from the classroom and ruled General Assembly President Ambassa- take place early next week on some is- that women may not work. dor Razali Ismail of Malaysia said his re- sues raised by India, the Russian Federa- Schools have just opened throughout cent proposal to the Working Group on Se- tion, Tunisia and the United Kingdom. curity Council reform was not a magic for- Afghanistan after the winter recess - - but mula. In an interview with United Nations there were no girls in sight. "Not only are Radio, Ambassador Ismail said the time has The Legal and Technical Commis- they shut out of educational opportunities, but they are denied the right to contribute come to move from the phase of open dis- sion of the Council of the International to their families' welfare and the country's cussion to a new phase of looking at spe- Seabed Authority says considerable economy," Ms. Bellamy said. cific proposals and deciding. He added that progress has been made on a code for every aspect of Council reform had been mining in the international seabed. The The Taliban have used the argument that there are not sufficient funds to provide for repeatedly gone over during the past three drafting of a mining code for the deep girls' education. But according to UNICEF's and half years. seabed is high on the agenda of the current Executive Director, the real economic issue "There are so many things that are not session of the Authority. is that the exclusion of girls from schools right about this present Security Council. No and women from the workforce is seriously magic formula will be able to remove every The regulations will lay down the undermining the economic and social de- aspect of imbalance, anomalies, inequities terms under which States and mining velopment prospects of Afghanistan. that are in the Council at this moment," he companies, including the mining arm of said. the Authority, will be able to carry out In recent weeks, humanitarian or- prospecting and exploration in the seabed ganisations had expressed cautious opti- The Assembly President said the ten area beyond the limits of national jurisdic- mism at an apparent softening of the non-permanent members of the Council are tion. Taliban position on girls' education, accord- in most cases prevented from fully discharg- ing to UNICEF. Last month, at a meeting in ing their responsibilities, and the pressure In a brief discussion, the Indonesian Kabul between the Minister of Education exerted by the five permanent members of representative said that in view of the and United Nations' representatives, an the Council, collectively or individually, was imbalance of membership on the Commis- agreement was reached to allow girls up to immense. "So we've got skewed decision- sion there should be exhaustive discussions nine years old to attend school. Days later, making processes and the veto had been on the draft regulations to ensure that however, the Minister reversed his posi- done at will as it were on a unilateral, the interests of the Authority were repre- tion, leaving girls and women teachers ex- national basis," he added. • sented. • cluded from schools. • 5 April, 1997

Angola Albania MINUGUA United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Determining that the present crisis in The General Assembly has authorised Annan has told the Security Council that he Albania constituted a threat to international the renewal of the mandate of the United was confident that it would be possible to peace and security, the Security Council Nations Human Rights Mission in Guate- welcomed on 28 March the offer by certain establish the Government of Unity and Na- mala (MINUGUA), for a further period of tional Reconciliation in Angola in the near Member States to establish a "temporary and limited multinational protection force" one year, until 31 March 1998, to carry future. to facilitate the safe and prompt delivery of out international verification of the peace In his report to the Council on the humanitarian assistance and to help cre- accords signed between the Government United Nations Angola Verification Mission ate a secure environment for international of Guatemala and the Unidad (UNAVEM IE), Mr. Annan said final and organisations in Albania. Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca courageous steps needed to be taken by the Adopting resolution 1101 (1997) by (URNG) in December 1996. two parties and their leaders in order to a vote of 14 in favour to none against, In adopting, without a vote, the reso- complete the peace process. with 1 abstention (China), the Council wel- comed the offer made by Italy to take the lution on MINUGUA, the Assembly au- Even though there had been little lead in organising and commanding the thorised the Secretary-General to commit progress towards the implementation of the force. The Council also decided that the up to US$21 million for the Mission from remaining aspects of the Lusaka Protocol operation would be limited to a period of 1 April to 31 December 1997 and requested over the past six weeks, the Secretary-Gen- three months and that the cost would be borne him to continue to develop appropriate means eral felt that his visit to Angola and, in by the participating Member States. to identify resources for the Mission within particular, the meetings he had held with Taking note of the 27 March decision the limits of the approved budget for the of the Organisation for Security and Coop- the leaders of the two parties, gave rise to current biennium and to submit a report expectations that new vigour could be in- eration in Europe (OSCE) to provide the with the recommendations on the struc- jected into the peace process. coordinating framework within which other international organisations could play a part, ture and staffing of the Mission after 31 The Secretary-General recommended the Council also requested the Member March 1998. • to the Council that, "given the uncer- States participating in the multinational tainty concerning the exact date for the force to provide periodic reports at least UNEKOM inauguration of the Government of Unity every two weeks, with the first such report In a report on the UN Iraq-Kuwait and National Reconciliation, the mandate to be made not later than 14 days from 28 Observation Mission (UNIKOM), the of UNAVEM m be extended for two weeks March. At the end of the stipulated three- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi only, until 15 April." month period, the Council will assess the Annan recommends that the Mission be * * * situation on the basis of those reports. • maintained. Mr. Annan notes that Following the Sec-Gen's report, the Cambodia UNIKOM continues to monitor the de- Security Council on 31 March decided to militarised zone and the Khawr Abd Allah, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi extend the mandate of UN Verification and, through its vigilance, has contributed Annan deplored the attack against peaceful Mission to Angola (UNAVEM HI) until demonstrators in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to stability and calm along the Iraq-Kuwait 16 April 1997, and requested the Secre- on 30 March, which resulted in at least 16 border. tary-General to report by 14 April 1997 on "In conclusion I wish to pay tribute to deaths. the status of the installation of the Govern- the Force Commander and to the men and ment of National Unity and Reconciliation Mr. Annan called on the Royal Gov- women under his command for the manner (GURN). ernment of Cambodia to investigate this act in which they have carried out their task. Unanimously adopting resolution 1102 of violence and take all appropriate meas- Their discipline and bearing have been of a (1997), the Council called upon both par- ures to see that such incidents are not re- higher order, reflecting credit on themselves, ties, the Government of Angola and the peated. The Secretary-General also called on their countries and the United Nations," the National Union for the Total Independence all sides to exercise restraint and to do Secretary-General says. • of Angola (UNITA), to form the GURN on their utmost to ensure a political process 11 April 1997, as decided by the Govern- conducive to the holding of free and fair UNOMIL Extended ment of Angola and announced by the Joint elections scheduled for 1997 and 1998. • The Security Council has decided to Commission. extend the mandate of the United Nations United Nations Secretary-General Kofi UNMIBH Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) Annan informed the Security Council that The Security Council on 31 March for 3 months until 30 June 1997. Unani- the Angolan Government and UNITA had decided to authorise an increase in the agreed on a date for establishing the Gov- mously adopting resolution 1100 (1997) on strength of the UN Mission in Bosnia and ernment of National Unity and Reconcilia- 27 March, the Council expressed its con- Herzegovina (UNMIBH) by 186 police and tion - 11 April 1997. cern at the delay in the installation of 11 civilian personnel, in the light of the While briefing the Council on the the new independent Elections Commis- recommendation of the Secretary-General subject of Angola, the Secretary-General sion and the reconstituted Supreme Court, concerning the role of the UN International said he had convinced UNITA's leader Dr. and urged that they be installed immediately. Police Task Force (UN-IPTF) in Brcko con- Jonas Savimbi to send the UNITA members The Council stressed the importance of the Parliament to the capital, Luanda, to tained in his report of 14 March 1997. of close contacts and enhanced coordina- sit in a session of the Parliament that he Unanimously adopting resolution 1103 tion between UNOMIL and the Economic addressed. Some 58 UNITA members came (1997), the Council urged Member States, Community of West African States Moni- to hear the Secretary-General's address the with the support of the Secretary-General, toring Observer Group (ECOMOG), at next day, he added. to provide qualified police monitors and all levels, and in particular, the impor- Dr. Savimbi also sent a number of other forms of assistance and support to tance of ECOMOG to continue to provide ministers, vice-ministers and other UNITA the UN-IPTF and in support of the Peace effective security for international personnel members of the Government of National Agreement. during the election process. Unity and Reconciliation, which is to be It also stressed the importance of formed according to the Lusaka Protocols. It also called upon all parties to the respect for human rights in Liberia, espe- Peace Agreement to implement all aspects The Secretary-General felt that, while cially during the period leading up to of that Agreement and to cooperate in full there were still significant aspects of the the elections. The Council also urged all with the UN-IPTF in the conduct of its ac- Peace Agreement to implement, the peace Liberian parties to cooperate with the peace tivities. • process was back on track. • process. • frftpril, 1997 Rwandan Refugees Iraq Scale of Assessments The United Nations High Commis- The unloading of 13,000 tons of Thai The General Assembly is to request sioner for Refugees on 26 March appealed rice ended on 31 March in Umm Qasr, Iraq, the Committee on Contributions to present for safe passage of tens of thousands of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General eight proposals for a scale of assessments refugees seeking to return to Rwanda after Fred Eckhardsaid. More than 3 50 trucks for the period 1998-2000. The proposals a five-month odyssey in the war-torn rain were used to transport the goods to Gov- should be based on a range of elements forest of eastern Zaire. ernment warehouses where their arrival and criteria contained in previous drafts submitted by Mexico, United Republic of The refugees are scattered along a 95- was carefully monitored by mobile teams Tanzania, on behalf of the Group of 77 of observers, he noted. km route from the outskirts of Ubundu to developing countries and China, United Kisangani, logistics hub of humanitarian Another shipment of rice is expected States, Japan and Canada. The text that is operations in eastern Zaire. Some 10,000 - between 10 and 11 April, he said, adding being submitted to the Committee is a com- 15,000 of the refugees are encamped 7 kilo- that 14,500 tons were enroute to Iraq by promise document approved without a vote metres south of Kisangani. ship. by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Soldiers of the Alliance of Democratic On 29 March, the last truck trans- Budgetary). Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire porting 1,500 tons of iodized salt crossed Major points of contention include (ADFL) have refused them entry into the the border from Jordan, this being the sec- proposals on whether to set the maximum city, the UNHCR said, adding that Alliance ond contract approved by the Sanctions wants the refugees to go back to Ubundu. assessment rate at 20 or 25 per cent of the Commission that has been completed, the budget and whether to use statistical base "These refugees have gone through a Spokesman noted, hi total, as of 30 March, periods of three, six or nine years. terrible ordeal since they were forced to 18,144.9 metric tons of goods have ar- leave the camps at the outbreak of fighting rived in Iraq, he said. • The base period is the number of years in October in eastern Zaire," High Com- used in calculating the national income of missioner Sadako Ogata said in a state- UN Appeal for Sierra Leone States for assessments purposes. It is cur- ment issued in Geneva. "They are mal- rently 7.5 years. | The United Nations on 1 April ap- nourished, traumatised and stricken with diseases. They have told us they want to pealed for US$ 68.2 million to address Project LINK: World end their agony and return to Rwanda," she the humanitarian needs in Sierra Leone fol- Economy Assessment added. lowing five years of civil conflict, which formally ended with the signing of the The Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Noting that the leadership of the Alli- ance said on several occasions that they were Abidjan peace accord on 30 November Short- and Medium-term Prospects of the prepared to open humanitarian corridors to 1996. The overall improvement in the World Economy Project LINK reviewed permit the refugees to return safely to security climate, combined with efforts on 25 March the economic situation and Rwanda, Ms. Ogata said she hoped a safe made by the Government of Sierra prospects for Europe, North America, Ja- and appropriate place would be found to Leone, United Nations agencies and pan and the economies in transition. The accommodate the refugees until they are fit nongovernmental organisations to promote Expert Group is meeting at United Nations enough to make the 400-kilometre journey the advantages of timely resettlement, Headquarters in New York. to Rwanda. • has resulted in the return of approximately Project LINK, whose meeting is be- Zaire 517,000 of the estimated 1.6 million dis- ing sponsored by the Department for Eco- placed people to their areas of origin. nomic and Social Information and Policy UN High Commissioner for Refugees The humanitarian programme re- Analysis (DESIPA), is an international (UNHCR) field officers are describing the flected in the Appeal, for the period from economic research network of more than situation in Zaire as "catastrophic" and call- March 1997 through February 1998, is 70 economists led by Nobel Laureate Law- ing for immediate action to be taken to designed to promote the consolidation of rence R. Klein of the University of Penn- stabilise the situation. "We are currently peace and to assist the affected popula- sylvania, USA. working to prevent the refugees being tion in attaining higher levels of self-suf- Forecasts of economic growth and pushed further back, to offer them assist- ance where they are and to push forward ficiency. Accordingly, food aid will be budget deficits for western European coun- with plans for their repatriation," UNHCR provided to sustain people displaced or tries presented at the meeting indicate that said in a statement. impoverished by the war, to facilitate their expected stronger growth will allow a ma- return to their communities and to support jority of countries to meet the Maastricht According to UNHCR, while workers them while they strive to produce their criteria for monetary union in 1997, the were cleaning up Lula, outside of own sustenance. judgement year for entering the single Eu- Kisangani, they found 50 bodies in the re- mains of the makeshift huts. The agency The Appeal covers programmes of the ropean currency area at the start of 1999. also indicates that pushing the refugees back (WFP), the UN The main exceptions are Germany, all the way to Ubundu is not only inhumane, Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN De- which is projected to meet the criteria in but will also make it logistically impracti- velopment Programme (UNDP), the UN 1998, and Italy, which is projected to have cal to reach them. Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), a fiscal deficit in 1998 slightly in excess UNHCR field officers report that there UN Volunteers (UNV), the World Health of the stated Maastricht standard of 3 were very few children under five years of Organisation (WHO), the Food and Ag- percent of a country's gross domestic prod- age among the refugees. Most of these riculture Organisation of the United Na- uct. young children did not survive the ordeal tions (FAO) and the Department of Hu- Participants noted that despite a pro- of the long march the refugees went through manitarian Affairs (DHA). The appeal also gressive recovery in the area, at a rate of the last five months. UNHCR says now the contains annexes reflecting the activities about 2.5 per cent a year, and despite agency is practically racing against time to and requirements in 1997 of the Interna- progress towards meeting the Maastricht prevent deaths among the survivors. tional Committee of the Red Cross (US$ Treaty criteria, continued fiscal retrench- UNHCR needs full humanitarian ac- 16.4) and of the International Federation ment constrains the economic outlook and cess to all refugee sites in order to assist of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies the employment situation in many Euro- and safely repatriate them. • (US$1.9).B pean countries. • Volume 52 Number 14 Regd. No. 953/57/REGD. No. DL-14016/?^

FAO Signs New Technical ESCAP: 50 Years of The UN Correspondents Cooperation Programme to Achievement Association 1997 Prize for Assist Fishermen in Andhra The UN Economic and Social Commis- UN Coverage sion for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) re- FAO signed on 21st March 1997 a Tech- cently observed its fiftieth anniversary focus- UNCA hereby informs journalists nical Cooperation Programme with the Gov- ing on the theme "50 Years of Achievement." that the deadline for its third annual prize ernment of India to aid fishermen affected From an initial membership of 10 coun- for best media coverage of the United Na- by the Andhra Pradesh Cyclone of Novem- tries, ESCAP has grown to a membership tions and its Agencies is 31 August, 1997. ber 1996. of 60 States and associate member coun- The award is open to journalists any- The eastern coast of India with its shal- tries, representing some60 per cent ofthe where in the world, in any media, for the low continental shelf is cyclone prone dur- world's population,or3.5 billion people. ing the N.E. monsoon months of October and "Asia, and East Asia in particular, has best story, programme, or series covering become one of the areas with the most dy- the UN and its agencies, published be- November every year. However improved radio communication facilities and a chain namic and fastest growing economy in the tween July 1996 and July 1997. The of cyclone shelters (partly funded by the world," said China's Vice Premier and For- eign Minister Qian Qichen in his keynote judges will be looking for entries with EEC) have drastically reduced the loss of impact, insight and originality, and will address to the Shanghai Symposium to Com- human life in onshore habitations. The fisher memorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of ESCAP, take into account the courage and assidu- folk of the coast have remained very vulner- held from 18 to 20 March. ity of the journalist. Investigative work able. Many of their small crafts - canoes, Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary will be welcome. catamarans and mechanised boats - lack ra- of ESCAP, said "progress, however, The $1000 prize will be given at dio facilities. In the Andhra cyclone of No- remains uneven among the countries of the UNCA's annual dinner at the UN in Octo- vember 1996 as many as 1,675 fisherfolk lost region." • ber, and the costs of the prize winner's trip their lives, the majority being women and children engaged in shrimp seed collection to New York will be met by the Associa- UNCTAD Findings in the mangrove lagoons of the Godavari tion if necessary. Delta; 2,400 boats were also destroyed. Developing countries may be well ad- Entrants should send two copies each The FAO Technical Cooperation Pro- vised in taking a pragmatic, rather than ideo- of their entry or entries to 1997 Award, gramme aims at providing life saving appli- logical, approach to capital-account regula- UNCA, UN Building, New York, NY ances and out-board motors to tion and liberalisation in order to avoid coun- 10017, USA. Bhairavapalem and Balustippa villages near terproductive effects on exchange rates, the UNCA, founded in 1948, represents Kakinada which were the worst affected. In current-account balance and the domestic the press corps at the UN Headquarters. addition the Government has proposed a ra- financial system, according to the findings The inaugural UNCA prize was presented dio communication station at Kakinada for of a series of research papers prepared for in 1995 to CNN's Ted Turner. In 1996 it warning fishing villages and boats at sea of the Inter-governmental Group of Twenty impending tropical storms. The FAO Tech- Four (G-24). was won by the International Broadcast- nical Programme aims at providing effective ing Trust, producers of the BBC series The papers were recently published sea safety programmes and improved train- by the United Nations Conference on Trade "Under the Blue Flag." ing approaches for safety at sea for small and and Development (UNCTAD), in prepara- For further details write to the Di- isolated fishing communities. This is ex- tion for the IMF/World Bank meetings to rector, UNIC, 55 Lodi Estate, New pected to substantially enhance national ca- be held in Washington D.C.. from 28 to 29 Delhi-110003. -011-4620293. • pacities for future sea safety programmes. April. FAO will be deputing one of its The publication states that a com- UNESCO's IPDC Project international consultants for this plete opening up of the capital account The Intergovernmental Council of programme which has an overall cost of US$ carries very significant risks for UNESCO's International Programme for the 3,16,000. • . macroeconomic stability in developing coun- Development of Communication (IPDC) has UNESCO-Smithsonian- tries. approved US$2 million in assistance for 36 Columbia University to It argues that the International Mon- new training and infrastructure projects etary Fund (IMF) should not require all its world-wide with the aim of reducing the gap Collaborate members to introduce full convertibility to between industrialised and developing coun- the capital account, but should take an ac- The United Nations Educational, tries in the field of communication and in- tive role in international capital market sur- formation. Scientific and Cultural Organisation veillance and the provision of liquidity where The projects selected prioritise the (UNESCO) and two UniteH States based necessary. Least Developed Countries with a special institutions - the Smithsonian Institution According to the publication there has emphasis on Africa. In Africa, IPDC will and Columbia University - have agreed to been a surge of private capital flows to de- be backing two regional and inter-regional collaborate in research, training and veloping countries, during the first half of projects and nine national projects cover- outreach activities to encourage economic the 1990s, mainly in Asia and Latin ing a wide range of activities. development consistent with preserving the America, but also to some countries in Part of the approved projects include environment and bio-diversity. According to sub-Saharan Africa. upgrading for the the computer in- UNESCO, an important component of this Such flows were partly attracted by frastructure of the Pan African News collaborative work will be to develop factors unrelated to economic fundamen- Agency, which is slated to be privatised; and projects involving North-South environmen- tals and often contribute little to invest- supporting journalists training at the West ment and growth. At the same time they tal and economic policies. African Newsmedia and Development Cen- can lead to currency appreciations, create tre, based in Cotonou in Benin. The collaboration brings together the serious conflicts with monetary policy objec- Since its creation in 1980 to bridge Smithsonian's expertise in the biologica' tives and increase the fragility of the do- the gap between the developed and devel- sciences, Columbia University's strengths ir mestic financial system, the publication oping nations in the field of communica- the social sciences and UNESCO's practi- notes. tion, the IPDC has channelled USS74 mil- cal expertise gained from its Man and Bio- The papers included in the new vol- lion to some 600 projects in over 100 coun- sphere (MAB) programme's global network •ume, like those in the seven volumes al- tries. Since 1992, the Council has been giv- of more than 300 biospheres reserves, ac- ready published since 1992, were prepared ing priority to private media projects in a cording to Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, Adviser to for the G-24 as part of an UNCTAD re- bid to enhance media pluralism and inde- the Smithsonian on bio-diversity and envi- search project coordinated by Professor Gerry pendence. | ronmental affairs. • Helleiner. • Printed at Jan Vikas Press, 1808 Kotla Mubarakpur, New DeIhi-110 003 Ph.: 4616092 for United Nations Information Centre, 55, Lodi Estate, New Delhi-110 003.