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PRESS BRIEFING
21 AUGUST 2001
(Near Verbatim)
MR. PATRICK COKER- ACTING UNAMSIL SPOKESMAN AND
MAJOR MOHAMMED YERIMA- UNAMSIL MILITARY SPOKESMAN
UN SECRETARY - GENERAL SAYS DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES MUST PREVAIL BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday said that genuine adherence to democratic principles must guide both national and international organizations if all people were to prosper in today's interlinked world.
Addressing a conference attended by some 400 participants in Oslo at the start of his official visit to Norway, Mr. Annan said: "Whether we are operating at the national or global level, in a globalizing world more than ever before our touchstone must be the will of the people."
The Secretary-General highlighted the many advantages of democratic governance within States, while pointing out that it was "just as important" internationally. He observed that despite significant advances, "democracy at the global level is far from what it could be." The United Nations, for example, could be more democratic if the Security Council were reformed and made more representative of the UN membership as a whole. Recognizing that the Member States must decide this matter, he noted, "Sadly, while almost all of them agree on the need for reform, agreement on the details remains elusive."
Looking beyond the Security Council, Mr. Annan pointed out that decisions affecting billions of people were taken in other institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and the "Group of Eight" countries. "We would live in a better and fairer world - indeed, a more democratic world - if, in all those places, greater weight were given to the views and interests of the poor, who form a substantial majority of the human race," he said.
The Secretary-General lauded the Organization of African Unity (OAU) for taking the "courageous stand" of declaring that its summit meetings will no longer admit leaders who have come to power by unconstitutional means. "I look forward to the day when the General Assembly of the United Nations follows this fine example, for I have no doubt that its authority will be greatly strengthened when all the governments represented in it are themselves, clearly and unmistakably, representative of the peoples of the world," he said.
The conference, convened under the theme "the challenges of democratic governance in a globalizing world," was opened by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and chaired by Foreign Minister Torbjorn Jagland. Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General held separate discussions with both of those officials, among other high-level contacts.
RECORD NUMBER OF CHILDREN TO BE DELEGATES AT UPCOMING UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SESSION
More than 100 children will serve as delegates at next month's landmark United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, the first time such large numbers of young people will actively participate in deliberations at a major United Nations conference, officials announced yesterday, 20 August.
"It may seem like common sense to invite young people to a conference completely dedicated to their well-being. But this is a radical change for such high-level meetings," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the secretariat for the Special Session. "Children will literally be rubbing shoulders with presidents and prime ministers. They will have a chance to voice their concerns and influence the debate."
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT RELEASED
A report by the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on the relationship between disarmament and development has just been released. Since 1987, the General Assembly has annually requested the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, which was held at United Nations Headquarters in September 1987. Part of the action programme emphasized the need to strengthen the central role of the United Nations and its appropriate organs in the field of disarmament and development in promoting an interrelated perspective of these issues with the overall objective of promoting international peace and security.
****(Copies of the report are available for pick-up from the Public Information Section). ****
DISARMAMENT STARTS IN KOINADUGU DISTRICT
The disarmament process in Koinadugu District started today with forty-five Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants disarming in Makakura, about nine kilometers from the town of Kabala. The CDF also handed over thirty-nine ex-child combatants to CARITAS-Makeni child protection agency.
In a symbolic ceremony witnessed by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) responsible for Operations and Management, Behrooz Sadry, the Chief Military Observer of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, Maj-Gen. Athar Ali, representatives from the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration and other senior UNAMSIL officials, an AK-47 rifle was disabled and destroyed.
The combatants brought in small arms such as self-loading rifles, FNs and a rocket launcher. All the weapons handed over were destroyed at the reception centre and the combatants taken to a demobilization camp in Kabala.
The disarmament process in the districts of Moyamba and Koinadugu continues until 31 August 2001.
NIGERIAN BATTALION 7 WELCOMES UNITED STATES ARMY COMMANDER
UNAMSIL NIBATT 7 peacekeepers yesterday, welcomed the United States Deputy Commander, European Command, Gen. C.W. Fulford to their headquarters at Makeni. The visit was to emphasis the commitment of the United States to the peace process in Sierra Leone. In his brief, the Commanding Officer - Lieutenant Colonel James Oladipo gave an account of the Battalion activities in Makeni. ( Makeni is the Headquarters of the Revolutionary United Front -RUF.) In his address to the peacekeepers, General Fulford expressed his delight at the performance of the Battalion in the discharge of UNAMSIL's mandate, which includes assistance to the Government and people of Sierra Leone in providing security and re-establishing control in their area of responsibility. He further reiterated the U.S. Government's commitment to training troops from some West African countries serving in UNAMSIL so that they will perform their peacekeeping duties more effectively. Accompanying Gen Fulford were UNAMSIL's Acting Force Commander Maj General Martin Agwai and the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone - Mr Joseph Melrose.
Earlier, the Acting Force Commander received Gen. Fulford and the American Ambassador to Sierra Leone in his office and he briefed them about activities of UNAMSIL including the current deployment through the country and the progress in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme. He thereafter congratulated UNAMSIL for their hard work in maintaining the momentum of progress in the peace process.
You will recall that NIBATT 7 was one of the Battalions trained by the United States for peacekeeping duties in Sierra Leone.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: What is the update on RUF disarmament in the Koinadugu district?
A: As I speak to you we believe disarmament in Fadugu - Koinadugu district, where UNAMSIL set up a reception center for the RUF, is ongoing. But as soon as I have the figures of disarmed combatants, I would inform you.
Q: Can you confirm news reports of US-trained Senegalese troops joining UNAMSIL?
A: We have not received any official information on their participation in UNAMSIL at this moment. We will inform you when we have information.
Q: Can you tell us the circumstances surrounding RUF Spokesman, Gibril Massaquoi's attempted arrest by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP)?
A: I cannot tell you, as UNAMSIL was not informed about the attempted arrest.
Q: Is the RUF commander Brig. Morris Kallon- who allegedly shot dead another RUF commander- in the custody of UNAMSIL?
A: Brig. Morris Kallon is with UNAMSIL.
Q: Was UNAMSIL involved in the search that was conduct at Gibril Massaquoi's residence by the SLP?
A: No, UNAMSIL was not involved.
Q: Recently, the RUF wrote a letter to the Special Representative of Secretary-General, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, demanding the release of RUF detainees. What is UNAMSIL's position on this?
A: UNAMSIL has tasked the Human rights officers to look into the issues raised in the letter.
*********** For additional information, contact UNAMSIL Public Information Office: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Tel: 232-22-273-183/4/5 Fax: 232-22-273-189
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