| United Nations | A/50/1 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
22 August 1995
ORIGINAL: ARABIC/CHINESE
ENGLISH/FRENCH/
RUSSIAN/SPANISH
Fiftieth session
Report of the
Secretary-General
on the work of the
Organization
August 1995
Contents
Paragraphs
Page
I.
Introduction
1 - 27
1
II.
Coordinating a comprehensive strategy
28 - 179
5
A. Organs of the United Nations
28 - 151
5
B. Ensuring an adequate financial base
152 - 158
21
C. The fiftieth anniversary
159 - 167
22
D. United Nations University
168 - 179
23
III.
The foundations of peace: development, humanitarian action and human rights
180 - 580
27
A. Implementing "An Agenda for Development"
180 - 189
27
B. Global development activities
190 - 284
28
C. Operational activities for development
285 - 387
40
D. Regional development activities
388 - 468
53
E. The humanitarian imperative
469 - 532
62
F. Protection and resettlement of refugees
533 - 554
71
G. Protection and promotion of human rights
555 - 580
74
IV.
Expanding preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution
581 - 988
79
A. Implementing "An Agenda for Peace"
581 - 589
79
B. Preventive diplomacy and peacemaking
590 - 596
80
C. Peace-keeping in a changing context
597 - 612
81
D. Current activities in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-
keeping
613 - 834
84
E. Major comprehensive efforts
835 - 929
110
F. Cooperation with regional organizations
930 - 946
122
G. Disarmament
947 - 957
125
H. Post-conflict peace-building
958 - 988
126
V.
Conclusion
989 - 1006
131
Contents (continued)
List of figures
Page
1.
General Assembly resolutions and agenda items, 1989-1995, as at 10 August
1995
6
2.
Participation of Heads of State and Government in the general debate of the
General Assembly, 1989-1994
7
3.
Security Council: formal meetings and consultations of the whole, 1988-
1995, as at 17 August 1995
8
4.
Security Council: resolutions and presidential statements, 1988-1995, as at
17 August 1995
8
5.
Security Council: resolutions adopted since 1946, as at 10 August 1995
9
6.
Status of contributions (peace-keeping and regular budget), 1989-1995, as
at 10 August 1995
21
7.
Revised appropriations for the biennium 1994-1995
22
8.
Voluntary contributions to the United Nations Development Programme (core
and non-core), 1989-1995
44
9.
Summary of financial activities: funds and trust funds administered by the
United Nations Development Programme, 1990-1994
44
10.
Cost-sharing activities of the United Nations Development Programme, 1992-
1995
45
11.
Income of the United Nations Children's Fund, 1990-1994
46
12.
Voluntary contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (core and
non-core), 1990-1994
48
13.
World Food Programme expenditure, 1990-1994
49
14.
Regional commissions: revised appropriations for the biennium 1994-1995
53
15.
United Nations consolidated inter-agency humanitarian assistance appeals,
1992-1995
64
16.
Civilian personnel in peace-keeping missions, 1994 and 1995
82
17.
Total fatalities in peace-keeping operations, 1988-1995, as at 17 August
1995
83
18.
Fatalities of United Nations civilian personnel, 1992-1994
84
19.
Requests from Member States for electoral assistance: annual number
received and accepted since 1989
127
List of tables
1.
Natural disasters: casualties, damage and contributions
65
2.
Peace-keeping troops, military observers and civilian police in peace-
keeping operations on 31 July 1995
82
Map
Peace-keeping operations as at 31 July 1995
85
I
Introduction
1. Few events in recent history have generated as much confidence in the
future and such high hopes for a better world as the fall of the Berlin
Wall some five years ago, symbolizing as it did the end of the cold war.
The spectre of global nuclear cataclysm, which has haunted humanity since
the dawn of the nuclear age, has receded, and in its place has emerged the
promise of an era of international peace freeing the energies of nations to
work together towards economic and social progress for the whole of
humankind.
2. At the time, there was a widespread belief that when no longer
fuelled by military assistance provided by rival major Powers, the many
regional conflicts flaring in different parts of the world could be quickly
extinguished. The global economy was expected to derive significant benefit
from a huge "peace dividend" accruing as a result of the abandonment of the
costly arms race. It was hoped that an important share of those resources
would be invested in poor countries starved of capital and skills and thus
help to accelerate economic growth and development world wide.
3. Sadly, the record of world affairs over the past few years has
largely belied those optimistic expectations. Many old conflicts continue
to defy the efforts of the international community to bring about a
settlement and new wars have continued to erupt, almost all of them within
States. Most disappointingly, the total volume of assistance to developing
countries has not only failed to show growth but has, in fact, declined.
4. The fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations is therefore not only
a time to review the Organization's first half century and prepare it for
its second: it is also an occasion to address ways to regain the momentum
in world affairs that appeared so dramatically at the outset of this
decade.
5. In the same manner as my first three annual reports to the General
Assembly, my fourth report endeavours to place in focus the efforts of the
Organization to respond effectively to the multitude of new demands and
problems resulting from the dramatic changes engendered by the end of the
cold war. Those efforts relate both to the long-term goals embodied in the
Charter of the United Nations now apparently more accessible as a result
of the sea change in international relations and to the immediate tasks
arising from the outbreak of new conflicts in different parts of the world
and the resulting increase in demand for the Organization's preventive,
peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building services.
6. Addressing the implications for the Organization of the massive
increase in the number and complexity of peace-keeping operations, and
their profoundly changed nature, I pointed, in my previous annual report,
to the widespread misperception of the United Nations as an organization
dedicated primarily to peace-keeping. I underscored that, in the midst of
its efforts to contain and resolve immediate conflicts by peace-keeping and
other means, the United Nations remained determined to pay more attention
to the foundations of peace, not least those lying in the realm of economic
and social development.
7. During the past year acute armed conflicts have continued to place
heavy demands on the Organization's financial and human resources and to
dominate public perception of the United Nations role and effectiveness.
The problems presented by conflicts such as those in the former Yugoslavia,
Afghanistan, Liberia, Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia are in many ways
unprecedented. More often than not the mandates and resources provided to
the Organization to deal with them have proven to be inadequate to address
effectively the complex tasks at hand. When journeying into uncharted
territory with less than adequate means, set-backs are unavoidable. But
these must not be allowed to become a source of disillusionment or to
overshadow the successes that, notwithstanding formidable challenges, have
been achieved by peace operations in various parts of the world, from
Cambodia to Mozambique to El Salvador to Angola. Nor must adversity be
allowed to weaken our resolve to carry forward efforts to save human lives
and prevent larger conflicts, for which the United Nations remains an
irreplaceable instrument. On the contrary, the set-backs suffered in the
quest for peace and security must reinforce our determination to take the
hard decisions required and seek continuously to develop improved
approaches as a means of enhancing our capacity and effectiveness. With
these objectives in mind, I issued, in January 1995, a Supplement to "An
Agenda for Peace" (A/50/60-S/1995/1), which has been the subject of a
presidential statement in the Security Council and is now being studied by
the General Assembly. The experience of the past several months has given
added force to the recommendations in the Supplement.
8. While the issues before the international community in this regard
require careful and urgent attention, it is also extremely important that
the difficulties encountered in peace-keeping operations, significant and
disturbing as they may be, should not divert attention from other
dimensions of the work of the Organization, which, though less visible, are
equally essential and serve to lay the economic and social foundation for
lasting peace.
9. In the domain of economic and social development, as in the area of
peace-keeping, the international context within which the United Nations
operates and the challenges that it faces have greatly changed. In the
economic and social fields, as in the political, many areas of great
concern remain where the United Nations has not, as yet, proved equal to
the challenge. The situation of the least developed countries and of many
parts of Africa remains critical. At the same time, the effort of the
United Nations in support of development is vast and rich with distinct
accomplishments. As such, it deserves better recognition and enhanced
political and public support.
10. At both the practical and the conceptual levels, the period covered
by the present report has been marked by notable advances in the
Organization's capacity to guide the response of the international
community to global change and to the new forms of economic and social
problems facing the world.
11. I attach great importance, in this regard, to the ongoing
discussions within the framework of the General Assembly on "An Agenda for
Development". The first report on the subject, which I presented to the
Assembly in May 1994 (A/48/935), was followed by hearings and submissions
by a variety of sources and was then drawn upon in a large number of
statements made during the general debate at the forty-ninth session of the
General Assembly. In that light, I submitted to the Assembly, in November
1994, a set of recommendations aimed at giving practical force to the
emerging consensus on the priorities and dimensions of development
(A/49/665). Such consensus is being further advanced through the working
group that is preparing the further consideration of the matter at the
fiftieth session of the General Assembly.
12. In the same context, I have been particularly encouraged by the
support that the role of the United Nations in the economic and social
fields and the current work on the elaboration of "An Agenda for
Development" have received at the annual summit meeting of Heads of State
and Government of the seven major industrialized nations. The communiqu_
issued at Halifax in June 1995 (A/50/254-S/1995/501, annex I) specifically
declared the readiness of the Group of Seven to work with others in order
to set out a fresh approach to international cooperation and to define the
particular contribution expected of United Nations bodies.
13. At the same time, the ongoing series of global conferences on key
issues of development was carried forward with the World Summit for Social
Development, held in March 1995, at Copenhagen. On that occasion a start
was made towards combined and effective action across borders to address
poverty, unemployment and social disintegration. In Beijing, where the
Fourth World Conference on Women will be held this September, the world
will act upon the newly achieved recognition that the advancement of women
is fundamentally critical to the solution of many of the world's most
pressing social, economic and political problems. These conferences will be
followed next year by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II) and the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
14. A sustained, coordinated follow-up to those conferences, together
with a renewed effort in support of African development, has been the main
focus of extensive consultations I have held during the year with the heads
of the Bretton Woods institutions and the executive heads of the other
agencies represented in the Administrative Committee on Coordination. These
are covered in the section of the report dealing with the work of the
Secretariat, as well as in the chapter of the report dealing with
development, humanitarian action and human rights as the foundations of
peace, chapter III.
15. During the period covered by the present report, I have continued to
emphasize the essential linkages between the political and development
missions of the United Nations and to advance a comprehensive vision of the
role of the Organization where the advancement of human rights and
democracy are essential elements of both of those missions.
16. In parallel with the efforts to enhance the Organization's capacity
in the field of peace and security and to introduce an improved conceptual
framework for pursuing the Organization's development mission, reforms in
the structures and methods of work of the Organization are gaining
momentum.
17. To this end, I have put forward a management plan designed to create
a mission-driven and result-oriented organization. In carrying out the
plan, the achievement of five objectives is fundamental:
(a) Better management of human resources, together with improvement in
staff member capabilities and accomplishments;
(b) Better management of the Organization's programme, from the
identification of strategic priorities, through the budgetary process by
which resources are allocated to achieve those priorities and finally
through a performance measurement system by which programme managers are
held accountable for achieving the strategic priorities;
(c) Better information with which to manage, and its timely
availability;
(d) Better management of technology and extension of its availability
throughout the Organization;
(e) Better management of the Organization's cost structure and an
enhanced programme for promoting efficiency and cost effectiveness.
18. Reforming the United Nations into a simpler, more focused and more
integrated organization, capable of pursuing the different aspects of its
mission in a mutually reinforcing way and in the most efficient manner
possible, has continued to be a key objective of my efforts during the past
year, as it has been since I took office in January 1992. As described in
the report, the past 12 months have seen further tangible progress towards
streamlining operations, strengthening accountability, tightening personnel
and management standards, and eliminating waste and redundancy. I am, in
this context, deeply committed to continuing to reduce the budget further
while improving the quality of service to Member States.
19. In pursuing those efforts, I am keenly aware that Secretariat
reform, to be truly effective, must be part of a larger restructuring
effort including the intergovernmental machinery to adapt the Organization
as a whole to the demands of the post-cold-war era. Such a process requires
the determination and full commitment of all Member States.
20. A crucial component of that larger reform process should be the
achievement of a more dynamic relationship among the main intergovernmental
organs the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and
Social Council. I hope that the account of developments in the work of
those organs in chapter II of the present report will prove helpful in
considering what adjustments and further improvements can be introduced in
this regard.
21. Within the realm of activities covered by the Economic and Social
Council, further steps to ensure more coherent management of operational
activities carried out under the aegis of the various programmes and funds
of the United Nations, as well as improved coordination of the humanitarian
activities carried out by various parts of the Organization, are other
essential elements of reform requiring renewed attention at the
intergovernmental level.
22. In the same context, I am firmly convinced that no reform effort can
succeed without addressing the basic issue of providing the Organization
with a more adequate and reliable financial base. This issue is developed
in chapter II of the present report, where I endeavour to highlight the
seriousness of the financial crisis facing the Organization. The difficult
financial situation is compounded by the continuing late payment of
contributions by many Governments. It is increasingly proving to be the
most serious obstacle to the effective management of the Organization. I
therefore particularly appreciate the serious effort under way in the High-
level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the
Organization, established during the forty-ninth session of the General
Assembly, to devise constructive and long-lasting solutions in this crucial
area.
23. Two other, related dimensions of the ongoing reform effort need to
be highlighted and are given prominence in the present report.
24. One relates to the expansion in the depth and coverage of the
assistance provided by the Organization to Member States in the process of
democratization. Requests for electoral assistance continue to grow. Beyond
this type of assistance, there is a growing demand for United Nations
support in preparing the social, as well as institutional, ground in which
democracy can take root. I hope that the development of a comprehensive
approach to the role of the United Nations in these areas will be further
advanced at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly, in the light of
the report on the subject I have submitted pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 49/30 of 7 December 1994 (A/50/332).
25. The past year has also deepened awareness that the efforts of States
to democratize will have an increased likelihood of success when
democratization extends to the international arena. The United Nations
progressive opening to civil society is an important part of this process.
Also in this respect, the global conferences held by the United Nations in
recent years are making a crucial contribution. By bringing together State
as well as non-State actors they are serving to create strong, world-wide
issue-based constituencies around key dimensions of development. The
democratic nature of this conference series contributes immensely to the
legitimacy and effectiveness of the programmes of action being adopted.
26. Indeed, the new world environment clearly demands more systematic
cooperation between the United Nations and all other actors engaged in
promoting political and economic security at all levels, whether they be
regional or subregional organizations (progress in cooperation with these
entities is covered in chapter IV of the present report), or non-State
actors such as citizen groups, grass-roots movements and non-governmental
organizations of all types. The strengthening of coordination and
cooperation between these actors and the various elements of the United
Nations system can serve only to enhance effectiveness in fulfilling the
goals of the Charter. It also serves to reinforce democratic principles in
world affairs and in the emerging international system.
27. I have sought in this report to provide a clear and comprehensive
account of the work of the Organization as it helps Member States to make
the transition to a new international era. I firmly believe that success in
this great task requires nothing less than the full participation of all
concerned not only the United Nations and its Member States, but
individuals, the private sector, the academic community and non-
governmental, regional and international organizations. It is to inspire
the widest reflection upon and assessment of the only world Organization at
our disposal, and in accordance with Article 98 of the Charter of the
United Nations, that I submit the present annual report.
II
Coordinating a comprehensive strategy
A. Organs of the United Nations
28. While pursuing an extremely heavy work schedule, the organs of the
United Nations have consolidated reforms in their work programmes during
this year, allowing for greater gains in efficiency.
1. General Assembly
29. During its forty-ninth session, the General Assembly has continued
to focus on issues related to the maintenance of peace and security,
economic and social development and strengthening and reform of the United
Nations to enhance its ability to fulfil the goals of the Charter in a
world that has changed dramatically since the Charter was drafted.
30. By comparison with 20 years ago, there has been a shift of emphasis.
The Assembly now devotes somewhat less attention than it did then to the
main regional conflicts, several of which have fortunately been resolved
during the last decade, and devotes more time to economic and social
matters and to a number of generic questions of primordial importance for
the effective functioning of the Organization, notably a cluster of
financial issues. These arise from the failure of Member States to pay
their assessed contributions in full and on time and from the enormous
expansion in the cost of peace-keeping, which has risen from about $626
million per annum in 1986 to about $3.6 billion in 1995.
31. The Organization now faces a very serious financial situation. In a
statement to the Assembly on 12 October 1994, I drew attention to this,
emphasizing that it had become an urgent political question. I was
gratified by the Assembly's subsequent decision to establish a high-level
working group and to entrust to it the consideration of additional measures
to ensure a sound and viable financial basis for the Organization. That
working group has worked intensively during 1995. I addressed it on 22 June
and sought its urgent assistance in averting a serious financial crisis. In
parallel, the Assembly established another working group of experts on the
principle of capacity to pay.
32. An index of the severity of the current problems is that the
Organization as at January 1995 owed some $850 million to Governments who
have contributed troops and equipment to peace-keeping operations. This
debt represents an involuntary loan to the Organization by Member States
who have in addition accepted the risk of exposing their young men and
women to the perils of peace-keeping. This is manifestly unjust.
33. Another index is the number of Member States whose arrears exceed
the contributions due for the last two years and who are therefore, under
Article 19 of the Charter, unable to vote in the General Assembly. As at
mid-August, they numbered 17, nearly 10 per cent of the membership. A
number of other Member States have indicated to the President of the
Assembly that they are not able to meet their obligations under Article 17
and will therefore also soon lose their right to vote.
34. As regards the financing of peace-keeping, the General Assembly
reaffirmed at its forty-ninth session that the costs of peace-keeping are
the collective responsibility of all Member States in accordance with
Article 17 of the Charter. The Assembly also adopted procedures to
strengthen the administrative and budgetary aspects of peace-keeping,
including the establishment of a financial year for each peace-keeping
operation starting on 1 July and a request to the Secretary-General to
submit twice a year, for the Assembly's information, a table summarizing
the proposed budgetary requirements of each operation.
35. Development continued to receive special attention from the General
Assembly, emphasizing that the importance of this aspect of the
Organization's activities should not be overshadowed by the intense public
interest in its peace-keeping activities. The holding of three important
United Nations conferences during a period of 12 months (on population and
development in Cairo in September 1994, on social development in Copenhagen
in March 1995 and on women in Beijing in September 1995) was evidence of
the importance that Member States attach to the Organization's role in the
economic and social fields.
36. On 6 May 1994, I published "An Agenda for Development" (A/48/935).
In response the General Assembly established an ad hoc open-ended working
group to elaborate further an action-oriented, comprehensive agenda that
would take into account reports and recommendations presented by the
Secretary-General, the work of the Economic and Social Council, views
expressed in the Assembly itself and a number of other views and proposals.
37. The question of enlargement of the Security Council attracted
intense interest throughout the period under review, as a possible means of
making more efficient and democratic the work of the Organization in the
field of peace and security. In September 1994 the General Assembly
reviewed the progress report of the Open-ended Working Group on the
Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of
the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council, and
decided that the Working Group should continue its work and submit a report
before the end of the forty-ninth session. The Working Group has held 21
meetings and a number of informal consultations and has addressed two
clusters of issues, the first covering the size and composition of the
Council, including permanent, non-permanent and new categories of
membership, and the second the Council's working methods and procedures,
its efficiency and effectiveness, and its relationship with other United
Nations organs.
38. The Assembly has increasingly adopted the informal, open-ended
working group as an effective instrument in seeking solutions to major
problems relating to the efficient working of the Organization. These
bodies, each comprising the entire membership, have been instrumental in
allowing a concentrated and issue-specific exchange of views on Security
Council reform, "An Agenda for Peace", "An Agenda for Development", the
financial situation of the United Nations and, most recently, the
strengthening of the United Nations system. The activities of these working
groups, their interrelated mandates, the depth and complexity of their
deliberations and the frequency of their meetings pose a challenge to the
capacity of the Secretariat to provide the required substantive and
technical support from within already scarce resources.
39. The agenda for the forty-ninth session comprised 164 items, a
reduction from 180 items in the previous session (see fig. 1). This results
from the consolidation of related items and the decision to discuss some of
them only every second or third year. Further rationalization seems
possible. Broadly worded agenda items allow flexibility to examine several
topics or aspects of a question under a single item. Areas where this
possibility could be explored are disarmament (18 items on the agenda of
the forty-ninth session), cooperation between the United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations (5), decolonization (5), and the financing
of peace-keeping operations (19). There are also 10 items that have not
been considered at all for several years.
40. An issue closely related to the number of items on the agenda is the
number and periodicity of reports requested by the Assembly. In addition to
the reports of principal organs and their subsidiary bodies, over 200
reports of the Secretary-General were issued at the forty-ninth session,
not including several reports of special rapporteurs and of the Office of
Internal Oversight Services. The difficulties and expense involved in
producing so many reports in a timely manner are evident, given the
frequency with which the Assembly and other principal and subsidiary organs
now meet. Streamlining and cost-cutting efforts cannot ultimately succeed
unless the number of reports requested is significantly reduced.
41. During the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, its General
Committee and its Main Committees held 377 meetings, as compared with a
total of 401 during the forty-eighth session and 426 during the forty-
seventh session. The Main Committees held 237 informal meetings and
consultations, a decrease from the 285 held during the forty-eighth
session. Meetings held by working groups increased to 141 from the previous
session's 86. The Assembly has so far adopted 324 resolutions during its
forty-ninth session, compared with 333 during the forty-eighth session.
Some 79 per cent were adopted without a vote or by consensus, as compared
with 81 per cent at the previous session. The number of Heads of State and
Government who participated in the general debate of the Assembly fell from
51 (28 per cent) of the membership to 45 (24 per cent) at the forty-ninth
session (see fig. 2).
2. Security Council
42. During the period under review, the Security Council has continued
to meet, on an almost daily basis, to review the issues on its agenda, to
warn about the threats to peace around the world, to call on antagonists to
restrain their ardour for combat, to take various types of action to
control and resolve conflicts, and to muster regional and international
support for those measures (see fig. 3). Towards these objectives, the
Security Council has demonstrated a determination to unify its ranks in
order to address more effectively the various complex issues that confront
it today. One of the Council's greatest contributions has been its patient
and deliberate search for consensus within its own ranks. This positive
trend has enabled Council members to approach the issues on its agenda with
a greater degree of harmony and cohesion (see figs. 4 and 5).
43. The main focus of the Security Council's concern has been the former
Yugoslavia and central Africa. In the former Yugoslavia the Council
endeavoured to defuse the conflicts, prevent their further spread and
mitigate their impact on civilian populations. To that end, it addressed
many issues, including the changing peace-keeping role of the United
Nations, humanitarian emergencies, mass violations of human rights and the
difficult issues arising from the use of United Nations troops to protect
humanitarian relief deliveries. The Council also offered active support to
efforts by interested Member States, in particular those comprising the
Contact Group, as well as the International Conference on the Former
Yugoslavia, to bring about negotiated solutions to the conflicts in the
region. The Council continued to make active use of mandatory sanctions as
a means of achieving the above purposes. The Council's determination to
ensure the resolution of the crises in a comprehensive way, as well as to
strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional
organizations, in particular the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), still offers the best hope of bringing to an
end the human tragedy in the former Yugoslavia.
44. At the beginning of the period under review, the Security Council
had authorized the deployment of six major peace-keeping operations in
Africa, more than in any other continent. Four of them remain, the one in
Mozambique having completed its mandate with conspicuous success and the
one in Somalia having been withdrawn after it had succeeded in its
humanitarian efforts but had been denied the necessary cooperation of the
Somali parties with efforts to promote national reconciliation. In addition
to the four remaining peace-keeping operations, in Angola, Liberia, Rwanda
and Western Sahara, the Council has been concerned with peace-making
efforts in other African countries, especially Burundi and Sierra Leone.
During the period under review the Council dispatched an unprecedented
number of missions, all of them to African destinations: Burundi (twice),
Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia and Western Sahara. The conflicts in Africa,
like those in the former Yugoslavia, are primarily internal, but they have
major implications for the security of the subregions concerned. As in the
former Yugoslavia, they have disastrous humanitarian consequences, and the
Council has had to devote as much attention to alleviating the misery of
the civilian populations affected as to efforts to control and resolve the
conflicts. Cooperation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and
with subregional organizations in Africa has been an important feature of
the Security Council's efforts.
45. Seven sanctions regimes remain in effect and generate much work for
the Council. In order to ensure the adequate servicing of the various
sanctions committees and the expeditious processing by the Secretariat of
applications for humanitarian supplies, I have reinforced the unit
responsible in the Department of Political Affairs. For their part, the
sanctions committees, drawing on their own experience, have initiated
measures to streamline their working procedures and to ensure greater
transparency in the conduct of their work in conformity with a set of
measures decided by the Security Council (see S/1995/234).
46. Cooperation on sanctions with regional organizations has been
important, with special reference to the contributions of the Organization
of American States (OAS) in Haiti and of EU and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the former Yugoslavia. The
temporary assignment of liaison officers from the EU/OSCE Sanctions
Assistance Missions Communications Centre has provided the Secretariat and
the relevant committees with customs expertise and with advice on the
practical implementation and monitoring of sanctions. Member States could
further assist the efforts of the committees and the Secretariat by
screening more effectively their nationals' applications to the committees
and by cooperating in further streamlining of the committees' procedures.
47. In order to ensure that sanctions remain a credible instrument for
promoting international peace and security, Member States will need to
address a range of problems encountered in the implementation of sanctions.
Recommendations in this regard were put forward in my Supplement to "An
Agenda for Peace" (A/50/60-S/1995/1).
48. The Security Council's methods of work received consideration during
an extensive debate on the annual report of the Council to the General
Assembly at its forty-ninth session. Member States exchanged views on a
broad range of issues related to the functioning of the Council. The
Council made known its intention, as part of its efforts to improve the
flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the
Council and other Member States, to have increased recourse to open
meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a
subject, on a case-by-case basis. The Council has already initiated the
holding of orientation debates. Briefings by the President of the Security
Council for States non-members of the Council have become
institutionalized.
49. In the face of persisting conflict in Africa, Europe and elsewhere,
the Security Council has demonstrated that it remains committed to the
goals of strengthening peaceful and cooperative relations between Member
States and helping communities within States to live peacefully with one
another, to rebuild and to work towards stable and productive societies.
50. It must be emphasized, however, that only if the decisions of the
Security Council enjoy the full support of the international community, and
only if the parties to the conflict carry out those decisions in full, can
the Council fulfil its responsibilities under the Charter to maintain and
consolidate international peace and security.
3. Economic and Social Council
51. The Economic and Social Council held its substantive session from 26
June to 28 July 1995 in Geneva. The Council's high-level segment dealt with
one of the most pressing issues on the international agenda: the
development of Africa. A spirit of partnership prevailed during the debate
in the Council and conclusions were reached on conflict-prevention and
resolution, natural disasters, external debt, resource flows, trade,
capacity-building, agriculture and food security, and other areas. The
segment was attended by a large number of ministers and other high-level
representatives. One day was devoted to a policy dialogue with Mr. Michel
Camdessus, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr.
James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, Mr. Renato Ruggiero,
Director-General of the World Trade Organization and Mr. Carlos Fortin,
Officer-in-Charge of UNCTAD, on major issues in the world economy.
52. The Council's coordination segment addressed the coordinated follow-
up and implementation of the results of major recent international
conferences in the economic, social and related fields. The agreed
conclusions envisage the integrated consideration by the General Assembly
of themes common to those conferences with a view to promoting better
coherence and integrated policy guidance. This may involve measures to
improve the coherence of the work of the relevant Main Committees of the
Assembly. The Council, for its part, decided to carry out an annual review
of cross-cutting themes common to major international conferences and to
take action to ensure the necessary coordination of agendas and work
programmes of the functional commissions involved in the follow-up to the
various international conferences. Attention was also given to measures for
the strengthening of inter-agency coordination at the regional and country
levels, and to the role of the resident coordinators in facilitating
national reporting on progress achieved in the follow-up to global
conferences. The Council invited the Administrative Committee on
Coordination to bring system-wide coordination issues to the attention of
the Council and to make recommendations thereon. Implementation of the
agreed conclusions will enhance complementarity and coherence between the
Council and the General Assembly, including their subsidiary bodies, as
well as interaction between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods
institutions and the World Trade Organization. The complementary steps
initiated by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to pursue
conference agendas within a common framework will promote unity of purpose
and action in the United Nations system as a whole.
53. The operational activities segment began to exercise its new mandate
to provide policy guidance to the United Nations funds and programmes. The
guidance provided covers priorities in budget allocations, improved
coherence in country programmes and improved cost-effectiveness of
administrative services, including the possible use of common
administrative services at the field level. The Council reaffirmed the need
to increase substantially the availability of resources allocated to
operational activities for development on a predictable, continuous and
assured basis commensurate with the needs of developing countries.
54. In line with these conclusions and in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 47/199 of 22 December 1992, I will submit to the
Assembly a range of specific recommendations, in the context of the
triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities, on further
steps to strengthen the role of the Economic and Social Council in this
field and on important subjects such as improved substantive operational
coordination at the country level, increasing the predictability and levels
of resources, strengthening of the resident coordinator system and a
variety of programme tools such as the country strategy note, the programme
approach and national execution.
55. The Council initiated a review of arrangements for consultations
with non-governmental organizations. By its resolution 1993/80, the Council
established the Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for
Consultations with non-governmental organizations. A primary objective is
to update and introduce coherence in the rules governing the participation
of non-governmental organizations in international conferences convened by
the United Nations. The Council requested the Working Group to examine ways
and means of improving practical arrangements for the work of the Committee
on Non-Governmental Organizations and the Non-Governmental Organizations
Unit of the Secretariat.
56. The Working Group held its first substantive session from 20 to 24
June 1994. An inter-sessional meeting took place on 7 and 8 November 1994.
Its second substantive session was held from 8 to 12, 26 and 31 May 1995.
At its substantive session, the Economic and Social Council approved the
recommendation of the Working Group that its mandate be extended for one
year and that its final report be presented to the Council at its
substantive session of 1996.
57. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1994/24, a
Committee of Co-Sponsoring Organizations was constituted by the heads of
the six co-sponsors of the joint programme on HIV/AIDS (the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank), known as
UNAIDS. As the United Nations system's main advocate for the global
response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS has three mutually reinforcing
roles: to provide globally relevant policy on HIV/AIDS and promote
international best practice and research; to provide technical support for
an expanded response to HIV/AIDS, particularly in developing countries; and
to advocate a comprehensive, multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS, well-
resourced and strategically, ethically and technically sound.
58. At its second meeting, on 12 December 1994, the Committee of Co-
Sponsoring Organizations unanimously recommended Dr. Peter Piot as director
of the UNAIDS programme and the Secretary-General appointed Dr. Piot as
Executive Director for a period of three years starting on 1 January 1995.
On 5 May, the Economic and Social Council decided on the regional
distribution of seats for 22 Member States to be represented on the
Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS. It decided that each of the six co-
sponsoring organizations, as well as five non-governmental organizations,
would participate in the work of the Board. The Board held its first
meeting on 13 and 14 July at Geneva.
59. The Commission for Social Development began its consideration of
arrangements for the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development's
Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action at its
34th session, held in New York from 10 to 20 April 1995. The Economic and
Social Council concluded that the scope and methods of work of the
Commission should be adapted to enable it to play a more effective role in
promoting an integrated approach to social development in the aftermath of
the World Summit. It decided that the Commission should hold a special
session in 1996 to review from this perspective its mandate, terms of
reference and scope of work, elaborate a multi-year programme of work and
make recommendations to the Council on the frequency of the Commission's
meetings.
60. During its session the Commission also heard the first report of Mr.
Bengt Lindqvist, the Special Rapporteur on the Monitoring of the Standard
Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.
The Commission also started preparations for the International Year of
Older Persons, to be observed in 1999, and advanced the preparations of a
world programme of action for youth, to be adopted by the General Assembly
during its fiftieth session.
61. The Commission on Sustainable Development held its third session,
including its high-level segment, in New York from 11 to 28 April 1995.
More than 40 ministers attended, holding portfolios such as the
environment, forestry, agriculture, tourism, development and finance.
Fifty-five Governments submitted national reports on their activities in
support of sustainable development by the twenty-first century. The session
included panel discussions between senior officials from Governments,
international financial institutions, United Nations agencies and
programmes, the business community and non-governmental organizations. Two
days were dedicated to the sharing of national experiences in implementing
Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development in June 1992 and a "Day of Local Authorities" examined grass-
roots efforts to achieve sustainable development. These initiatives
received welcome support from the large number of non-governmental
organizations attending the session, who see in the Commission a
transparent and participatory mechanism for addressing sustainable
development concerns, including those at the national and community levels.
The Commission agreed to establish an intergovernmental panel to formulate
by 1997 coordinated proposals for action with regard to the management,
conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest. The
Commission also endorsed work programmes on consumption and production
patterns, the elaboration of sustainable development indicators and the
transfer of environmentally sound technology.
62. The concluding high-level segment (26-28 April) of the Commission
addressed challenges on the path towards the full implementation of Agenda
21. The Chairman's summary noted that the insufficiency of the financial
resources available to support national efforts, particularly in developing
countries and economies in transition, remains a continuing constraint to
achieving sustainable development.
63. The Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy
for Development, a subsidiary expert body of the Economic and Social
Council, held a special session on rural development from 6 to 17 February.
It proposed a strategy that would include development of national
sustainable energy action programmes for agricultural and rural
development; priority for rural energy development; capacity-building in
rural energy development; new directions in management and institutional
arrangements; new financial and investment arrangements; accelerated
development and implementation of new technologies; new international
actions for rural energy development; and strengthening of sustainable
energy activities within the United Nations system. The Commission on
Sustainable Development agreed at its April 1995 session to encourage
Governments to integrate renewable forms of energy into their national
strategies for sustainable and rural development. It urged Governments to
support efforts of interested developing countries towards the sustainable
use of an appropriate mix of fossil and renewable sources of energy for
rural communities.
64. The Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality,
Development and Peace is intended to coalesce reflection about the
advancement of women and propose new directions into the twenty-first
century. During the autumn of 1994 regional preparatory meetings were held
in four regions, a number of expert group meetings on specific themes were
organized and informal consultations were held with Member States on the
draft of the platform for action. From 16 March to 7 April, the Commission
on the Status of Women, acting as preparatory committee for the Conference,
met and continued negotiations on the platform for action. Subsequent to
the session, the focus shifted to promoting participation by Governments
and non-governmental organizations in the Conference, ensuring public
information about it and supporting the intergovernmental negotiation
process. From 31 July to 4 August, informal consultations were convened by
the chairperson of the Commission to continue negotiations. The Conference
preparations have involved the largest number of non-governmental
organizations ever accredited for a United Nations conference and a major
effort has been made to facilitate their participation in the process.
65. The Division for the Advancement of Women completed, as conference
documents, two major studies, one entitled "Women in a Changing Global
Economy: The 1994 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development", and
the second a review and appraisal of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies
for the Advancement of Women. In-depth studies of women and education and
training, women in international decision-making and women in economic
decision-making were also completed. Steps have been taken to ensure that
the relevant human rights mechanisms of the United Nations regularly
address violations of the rights of women, including gender-specific
abuses, through provision of gender-based information to treaty bodies,
work on the development of an optional protocol to the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and work on
guidelines for integrating gender into human rights monitoring.
66. The issue of how best to ensure advancement of women in the work of
the Secretariat and the United Nations system as a whole is one of the
major areas central to the Conference and its follow-up. The institutional
mechanisms for this are being reviewed internally and by Governments of
Member States.
4. Trusteeship Council
67. In 1994, with the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement for the
last Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and Palau's admission as the
185th Member of the United Nations, the Trusteeship Council completed the
task entrusted to it under the Charter with respect to the 11 Territories
that had been placed under the Trusteeship System. The other 10, the
majority of them in Africa and the Pacific, had already attained
independence, either as separate States or by joining neighbouring States.
The Trusteeship Council thereupon amended its rules of procedure and will
in future meet only as and where occasion may require.
68. In a letter dated 2 June 1995 addressed to me (A/50/142), the
Permanent Representative of Malta requested, on behalf of his Government,
that the General Assembly include an item entitled "Review of the role of
the Trusteeship Council" in the provisional agenda of its fiftieth session.
The Government of Malta would like the Assembly to consider transforming
the Council's role so that, in addition to its role under the Charter, the
Council would hold in trust for humanity its common heritage and common
concerns.
69. In my 1994 annual report on the work of the Organization, I
recommended that the General Assembly proceed with steps to eliminate the
organ, in accordance with Article 108 of the Charter. I regret that no
decision to abolish the Trusteeship Council has been taken.
5. International Court of Justice
70. The International Court of Justice at The Hague is the principal
judicial organ of the United Nations and, as such, holds important
responsibilities in the settlement of disputes of a legal nature.
71. In 1994-1995, the Court continued to have a record number of 13
cases before it. Eleven were contentious cases in which the parties were
States from different parts of the world. Two were requests for an advisory
opinion, one submitted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the other
by the General Assembly.
72. In the period under review, judgments have been given in two cases,
in one of which hearings were held. In a third case, hearings have been
postponed. In other cases a great number of pleadings have been filed
within the prescribed time-limits. One contentious case and one request for
an advisory opinion were brought before the Court.
73. The hearings in the case concerning the Aerial Incident of 3 July
1988 (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America), scheduled to
take place in September, were postponed sine die at the joint request of
the two parties.
74. Written comments were filed by several States by 20 June 1995, the
time-limit fixed by the President of the Court by an Order of 20 June 1994
on written statements submitted in connection with the request by WHO for
an advisory opinion on the Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear
Weapons in Armed Conflict. The written proceedings are thus closed.
75. In December 1994, the General Assembly laid before the Court a
request for an advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of
Nuclear Weapons. In February 1995, an Order was made fixing two time-
limits, one within which written statements relating to the question might
be submitted to the Court by States entitled to appear before the Court and
by the United Nations, and one within which States and organizations having
presented written statements might present written comments on the other
written statements. Written statements have been filed by a number of
States. Written comments are expected by 20 September 1995.
76. Public sittings for the purpose of hearing oral statements or
comments will open on 30 October 1995. These oral proceedings will cover
the requests for advisory opinion submitted by WHO and the General
Assembly.
77. As each of the parties in the case concerning the Gab _kovo-
Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia) had filed a counter-memorial within
the prescribed time-limit of December 1994, the President of the Court,
also in December, made an Order fixing the time-limit for the filing of a
reply by each of the parties. Each party having filed its reply within the
prescribed time-limit, the written proceedings are now closed.
78. In the case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial
Questions between Qatar and Bahrain (Qatar v. Bahrain), the Court, in July
1994, had delivered a judgment in which it found that the exchange of
letters of December 1987 between the King of Saudi Arabia and the Amirs of
Qatar and Bahrain, and the minutes signed at Doha on 25 December 1990, were
international agreements creating rights and obligations for the parties,
and that, by the terms of those agreements, the parties had undertaken to
submit to it the whole of the dispute. The Court fixed 30 November 1994 as
the time-limit within which the parties were jointly or separately to take
action to that end and reserved any other matters for subsequent decision.
79. In February 1995, the Court delivered a judgment by which it found
that it had jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the dispute between Qatar and
Bahrain that had been submitted to it; that it was seized of the whole of
the dispute; and that the application of Qatar as formulated on 30 November
1994 was admissible. In April the Court issued an Order fixing a time-limit
for the filing by each of the parties of a memorial on the merits.
80. Hearings in the case concerning East Timor (Portugal v. Australia)
were held in January and February 1995. On 30 June, the Court delivered its
judgment, by which it found that it could not, in the absence of the
consent of Indonesia, adjudicate upon the dispute referred to it by
Portugal concerning a treaty of December 1989 between Australia and
Indonesia on exploitation of the continental shelf of the so-called Timor
Gap'.
81. In the case concerning Application of the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina
v. Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)) the President of the Court, in
March, made an Order extending the time-limit for the filing of the
counter-memorial of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Yugoslavia (Serbia
and Montenegro) filed preliminary objections in June 1995 relating to
admissibility and jurisdiction. In July 1995, the President of the Court
made an Order fixing the time-limit for the filing by Bosnia and
Herzegovina of observations on the preliminary objections, proceedings on
the merits having been suspended by operation of the rules of court.
82. In the cases concerning Questions of Interpretation and Application
of the 1971 Montreal Convention arising from the Aerial Incident at
Lockerbie (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. United Kingdom) and Questions of
Interpretation and Application of the 1971 Montreal Convention arising from
the Aerial Incident at Lockerbie (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. United States
of America) the respondent States filed preliminary objections to the
jurisdiction of the Court on 16 and 20 June respectively.
83. On 28 March 1995, Spain instituted proceedings against Canada with
respect to a dispute relating to the Canadian Coastal Fisheries Protection
Act, as amended on 12 May 1994, and to the rules of application of that
Act, as well as to certain measures taken on the basis of that legislation,
more particularly the boarding on the high seas, on 9 March, of a fishing
boat, the Estai, sailing under the Spanish flag. Taking into account the
agreement concerning the procedure reached between the parties at a meeting
with the President of the Court, held on 27 April, the President, by an
Order of 2 May, decided that the written proceedings should first be
addressed to the question of the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the
dispute and fixed time-limits for the filing of the memorial of Spain and
the counter-memorial of Canada.
84. By a letter dated 9 August, the Government of New Zealand gave the
Court formal advance notice of its intention to bring France before the
Court in connection with the French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
85. Because of the new cases mentioned above, the Court's docket has
remained well-filled. Besides the cases referred to, the following were on
the Court's list during the period under review:
(a) Maritime Delimitation between Guinea-Bissau and Senegal (Guinea-
Bissau v. Senegal);
(b) Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of
America);
(c) Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v.
Nigeria).
86. Following the death, on 28 September 1994, of Mr. Nikolai K.
Tarassov (Russian Federation), Mr. Vladlen S. Vereshchetin (Russian
Federation) was elected to fill the resulting vacancy on 26 January 1995.
The vacancy created by the death, on 24 February, of Mr. Roberto Ago
(Italy) was filled by the election, on 21 June, of Mr. Luigi Ferrari Bravo
(Italy). The vacancy created by the resignation, as at 10 July, of Sir
Robert Yewdall Jennings (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland) was filled by the election, on 12 July, of Mrs. Rosalyn Higgins
(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
6. Secretariat
87. The purpose of my management plan is to create a mission-driven and
result-oriented Organization, with specific goals of enhanced performance,
better productivity and increased cost-effectiveness. The foundation of the
management plan is the new system of accountability and responsibility that
I have established. The system is designed to create a new management
culture, assisting and supporting programme managers in achieving the
strategic objectives of the Organization and in executing legislative
mandates. In effect, the new system of accountability and responsibility
empowers managers with the freedom to manage streamlining administrative
procedures, introducing considerable decentralization and delegation,
allowing greater flexibility in the management of resources and encouraging
greater innovation and initiative.
88. The first of the five major objectives is better management of human
resources, together with improvement in staff capabilities and
accomplishments. An entirely new strategy for human resources was
introduced in the Organization and subsequently endorsed by the General
Assembly at its forty-ninth session. The implementation of the system will
modernize and reform the management of human resources. Among the
components of this new system is a new work planning and performance
appraisal system, which is based on staff/management-agreed work outputs
and performance measurements.
89. The strategy is based on the need to access the continuously
changing and evolving role of the Organization and the requirement to
respond progressively to changing needs with a breadth and depth of skills.
The strategy involves a concerted effort to provide career training that
meets changing staff needs. There is also the need, as a management tool,
for active implementation of an attrition programme. An early separation
programme for staff at various levels in both the Professional and General
Service categories will contribute to an adaptable staff with a varied
skills mix, leading to greater effectiveness and efficiency in the context
of constantly changing demands on the Secretariat. Lastly, a total remake
of the adjudication process has begun, replacing litigation of
staff/management issues with an informal dispute-reconciliation process or
timely and time-saving arbitral disposition.
90. Vigorous efforts are being made by the Office of Human Resources
Management to integrate goals and targets for improvement in the status of
women into the overall strategy. The adoption of a pro-active, more people-
centred human resource strategy has been conducive to achieving this goal.
The percentage of women in posts subject to geographical distribution is
continually rising and at the end of July 1995 stood at 33.6 per cent up
from 32.6 per cent, at the end of June 1994. During the same period 51.42
per cent of all promotions were those of women.
91. The second objective is better management of the Organization's
programme from the identification of strategic priorities, through the
budgetary process by which resources are allocated to achieve those
priorities and through a performance measurement system by which programme
managers are held accountable for achieving the strategic priorities.
Clearer lines of responsibility and greater managerial accountability
characterize the new format for the medium-term plan, the Organization's
basic strategic document. The new format of the medium-term plan provides
for clearly defined objectives and emphasizes full congruence between the
identified programmes and the departments responsible for their
implementation. The process of managerial responsibility and accountability
has been considerably tightened through improved linkage between
programmes, budgets and performance measurement. Financial congruence has
been achieved at each step in planning and execution. Member States will
now be able to tell what is to be done, who is responsible for doing it and
what is accomplished.
92. Third is better information with which to manage and its timely
availability. Work continued in 1994 and 1995 on the development of the
Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), which aims at modernizing
and enhancing the internal flow and use of management information in such
areas as human resources, finance, accounts and procurement. The IMIS
project represents an ambitious effort to make good, through one massive
effort, 30 years of neglect in upgrading existing electronic data-
processing systems. The system is a revolutionary step towards the
electronic integration of all of the offices of the Organization performing
administrative tasks regardless of location. The first two releases of the
system, the human resource components, were fully and successfully
implemented at Headquarters. The other releases accounts, finance and
procurement - will be gradually phased in during the next year, with the
whole system operational world wide by the end of 1997.
93. Fourth is management of technology and extension of its availability
throughout the Organization. Technology, with its potential for improved
services and greater cost-effectiveness, will also facilitate the role of
Conference Services. Technological advances in communication and
networking, text-processing, desk-top publishing, translation and document
tracking have provided savings. Further expansion of the United Nations
telecommunication network will produce additional savings for the United
Nations system as a whole. The optical disk system, now being expanded to
accommodate increasing user demand, offers easy, high-speed electronic
access to United Nations documents. The development of remote translation
and text-processing techniques has brought down the cost of holding
meetings away from established headquarters by reducing the staff required
on-site. As a result, the number of staff who travelled to the Cairo
Conference was significantly reduced from that of previous conferences, and
no translators will be going to the Beijing Conference.
94. The fifth objective is better management of the Organization's cost
structure and an enhanced programme for cost-effectiveness. The budget
process is being used to drive the Organization to a higher level of
efficiency. The proposed 1996-1997 programme budget is smaller than the
budget for the biennium 1994-1995. The proposals include the abolition of
201 posts, offset in part by the proposed creation of 66 new posts in
priority areas of peace-keeping, international and regional cooperation for
development, drug control, crime prevention, population, human rights and
humanitarian affairs and internal oversight. The aggregate reduced spending
will be achieved through more cost-effective ways of implementing mandates,
rationalizing work programmes and technological innovations. The proposed
reductions were achieved without curtailment of mandated activities. At the
same time, efficiency gains of $35 million have been proposed throughout
the Secretariat without compromising the quality of programme outputs.
95. Identifying efficiency gains is now a key component of management
planning. The first phase of this programme has concentrated on the
simplification of existing procedures: redefining work programmes,
improving productivity, substituting lower cost alternatives, streamlining
staff requirements and reducing overheads.
96. The next phase will concentrate on the elimination of duplication
and overlap in programme delivery and the elimination of programmes without
a mandate and programmes that do not return adequate value to Member
States.
97. An efficiency board, chaired by the Under-Secretary-General for
Administration and Management, Mr. Joseph Connor, will identify during the
next biennium further significant opportunities for cost containment beyond
those proposed in the 1996-1997 budget. These will include removing
overregulating procedures in the personnel, finance and purchasing areas,
eliminating duplicate efforts between Headquarters and other duty stations,
and studying "outsourcing" alternatives.
98. Procedures are being revised for better transparency and fairness of
procurement efforts. Some steps already taken, or in the initial phase,
include the extension of basic professional procurement training; revised
delegation of procurement authority for peace-keeping missions; institution
of global system/blanket contracts; review and updating of the vendor
roster; and establishment of the office of ombudsman, to which all vendors
may address complaints.
99. In its first year of operations, the Office of Internal Oversight
Services, headed by Under-Secretary-General Mr. Karl-Theodor Paschke, has
provided the United Nations with oversight coverage, promoting effective
and efficient programme management. The Office also finds and reports on
instances of waste, fraud and mismanagement. I look forward to the findings
and conclusions of the first annual report of the Office, to be submitted
to the General Assembly in September 1995.
100. The Office of Legal Affairs, headed by Mr. Hans Corell, has been
heavily involved in legal work related to the continued expansion and
diversification of the activities of the Security Council, ranging from the
establishment of a new international criminal tribunal to establishing new
peace-keeping missions and winding down others.
101. During the period under review, the Office was involved in current
operations such as those in Angola, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mozambique,
Rwanda, Somalia, Tajikistan, Western Sahara and the former Yugoslavia.
Legal officers from the Office have served as legal advisers in a number of
those operations.
102. The Office of Legal Affairs is involved in the implementation of
various aspects of Security Council decisions. It has assisted in the
drafting and interpretation of status-of-forces agreements and status-of-
mission agreements and given advice to operational departments. The Office
has developed modalities and instruments for the procurement of necessary
systems, facilities, equipment and services required for peace-keeping and
other activities. Particular attention was given to the rights of
contractors and to third-party claims arising out of Chapter VII
operations.
103. Novel issues of international humanitarian law have arisen during
the period under review. The Office has provided advice and opinions in
relation to the detention of United Nations personnel in Bosnia and the
treatment of Bosnian prisoners by United Nations forces. The progress
towards a referendum in Western Sahara has required legal assistance in the
preparation of a code of conduct for the referendum campaign.
104. The Office of Legal Affairs advised on the question of setting up
an international judicial commission to investigate the Burundi coup d'_tat
of 1993 and on the proposed establishment of a commission of inquiry or
truth in Burundi. The Office assisted in the drafting of the terms of
reference of the International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the
events at Kibeho, Rwanda.
105. The Office contributed to filling a gap in United Nations practice,
highlighted following a United Nations inquiry into a 1993 massacre of
civilians in Liberia, by preparing a set of guidelines for United Nations
investigations into allegations of massacres. The Secretary-General has
approved the guidelines for publication and circulation.
106. The establishment by the Security Council of international
tribunals dealing with serious violations of international humanitarian law
in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda raises difficult and complex legal
issues. The Office of Legal Affairs is providing legal and administrative
support to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
The Office played a central role in launching the International Criminal
Tribunal for Rwanda by providing advice on the drafting of the statute and
rules of procedure and evidence and by providing the initial budget for the
administrative and financial support from Headquarters, coordinating a
technical mission to the field in order to negotiate a headquarters and
lease agreement for its premises and preparing reports on the seat of the
Tribunal.
107. At its past session, the General Assembly established an ad hoc
committee open to all States to review substantive and administrative
issues arising out of the draft statute for an international criminal court
elaborated by the International Law Commission. The ad hoc committee held a
first series of meetings in April 1995 focusing on the following subjects:
establishment and composition of the Court, applicable law and
jurisdiction, exercise of jurisdiction, methods of proceedings (due
process), relationship between States parties and the Court, and budget and
administration. While progress has been made in the consideration of these
issues, the ad hoc committee agreed to hold a second series of meetings
from 14 to 25 August. Its report will be before the General Assembly at its
forthcoming fiftieth session.
108. The continuation of economic sanctions and other measures against
Iraq, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya requires monitoring and assistance by the Office and
advice to the various sanctions committees. In the case of Iraq, the Office
advises on the scope of mandates under relevant Security Council
resolutions, such as those concerning compensation to Iraqi farmers
relocated from Kuwait and the return of Kuwaiti property. The Office is
supporting the work of the Compensation Commission, which has been carrying
out an impressive amount of work in processing claims, and will soon
examine the more complex and larger claims of corporations and Governments.
109. The Office of Legal Affairs is ensuring consistency in the
implementation of General Assembly decisions on the participation of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and its status
throughout the United Nations system. The question lies at the intersection
between international law and United Nations political decisions on
sensitive issues.
110. The Office of Legal Affairs was responsible for the organization
and agenda of the United Nations Congress on Public International Law, held
from 13 to 17 March in New York, under the general theme "Towards the
Twenty-First Century: International Law as a Language for International
Relations". Some 571 scholars and professionals from 126 countries attended
the event, which marked the mid-point of the United Nations Decade of
International Law. International lawyers exchanged views on such issues as
the progressive development of international law and its codification;
research, education and training in international law; and the challenges
expected in the twenty-first century.
111. The Office of Legal Affairs provides advice relating to the
technical aspects of treaties and treaty law. The information in the
Multilateral Treaties deposited with the Secretary-General is
electronically updated daily. Outdated and disparate laws governing
international trade pose an obstacle to the maintenance and expansion of
trade links. The success of economic and social reforms currently under way
in many States depends on the adoption of adequate laws that facilitate
international trade. The Office of Legal Affairs is assisting the United
Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to elaborate
modern and harmonized trade laws as well as non-legislative texts aimed at
facilitating international trade. Issues recently addressed are the draft
convention on independent bank guarantees and stand-by letters of credit,
and the use of electronic data interchange in international trade.
112. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea calls for the
establishment of three new institutions subsequent to the entry into force
of the Convention: the International Seabed Authority, the International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf. The Office of Legal Affairs convened and serviced the
first and second parts of the first session of the Assembly of the
International Seabed Authority, held from 16 to 18 November 1994 and from
27 February to 17 March 1995, respectively, at Kingston. The third and
final part of the Assembly was held also at Kingston from 7 to 18 August.
113. Pursuant to the mandate provided by the General Assembly in its
resolution 49/28 of 6 December 1994, the Office of Legal Affairs convened
the first part and serviced the first and second parts of the Meeting of
States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, held
in November 1994 and May 1995 in New York, relating to the organization of
the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The Meeting agreed on
the approach to be taken in the establishment of the Tribunal and its
initial functions. The Office is involved in the preparation of the draft
budget, which will be submitted to the next Meeting of States Parties, to
be held from 27 November to 1 December 1995 in New York.
114. The Office of Legal Affairs is carrying out preparatory work
regarding the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Following
the 1993 findings of an ad hoc group of experts that examined the relevant
provisions of the Convention on the definition of the continental shelf,
the Office prepared background notes, initiated cooperative arrangements
with competent international organizations and is in the process of
convening a group of experts to deal with the composition and work
programme of the Commission, scheduled to meet from 11 to 14 September in
New York.
115. The United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks concluded its substantive work on 4 August with the
consensus adoption of an Agreement for the Implementation of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to
the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks. The Conference decided to hold a formal signature
ceremony on 4 December. The Office of Legal Affairs convened and serviced
the fifth and sixth sessions of the Conference, from 27 March to 12 April
and from 24 July to 4 August, respectively, in New York.
116. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 49/28, the Office of Legal
Affairs is strengthening the system for the collection, compilation and
dissemination of information on the law of the sea and developing an
integrated database on legislation and marine policy, as well as
establishing a system for notifying Member States and relevant
international organizations of information submitted by States and
intergovernmental bodies.
117. The Department of Public Information, headed by Mr. Samir Sanbar,
is seeking to surmount resource constraints by engaging in closer
professional cooperation with other bodies of the United Nations system,
especially UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA.
118. A coordinated and unified public information strategy aimed at
increasing public understanding and support for the United Nations has
become of crucial importance for the Organization's peace-keeping and other
political missions. The Department of Public Information has formed an
interdepartmental working group consisting of those departments playing a
leading role in such field operations with a view to developing practical
proposals for informational projects.
119. To convey an accurately balanced view of United Nations activities,
the Department has made a special effort to highlight economic and social
development activities and issues, in particular the recent major United
Nations conferences held in Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing, and the
forthcoming Habitat II Conference in Istanbul. Focal points have been
established within the Department for each conference to design, in
cooperation with the substantive departments concerned, public information
strategies and programmes that are budgeted jointly. Assessment of post-
conference feedback has shown the value of this multifaceted approach to
the promotion of international conferences.
120. A major new activity of the Department's publishing programme is
the Secretary-General's Blue Books Series. The Series describes the role
the United Nations has played in some of the pivotal peace operations and
other international issues of our time. Each volume in the Series
encapsulates in an overview provided by the Secretary-General how the
United Nations marshalled international forces, opinion or consensus to
achieve objectives in such areas as the struggle against apartheid, the
drive to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the promotion of
human rights. Blue Books on peace operations in Cambodia, El Salvador and
Mozambique have been published. The United Nations and Women was published
in August 1995 and made available for the Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing. Some 17 titles are currently planned for publication.
121. The Department's dissemination of information to direct users and
redisseminators has been enhanced by modern technology and techniques,
including the use of several electronic networks. On the Internet, for
example, can be found the Department's database containing important United
Nations documentation and publications. These materials reach their
audiences in electronic form at enormous speed and are accessed by an
average of 16,000 users daily. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary
of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations at San Francisco on 26
June 1995, the Department launched the "UN Home Page" on the World Wide
Web. This pilot project provides instantaneous information to Internet
users in a multimedia service format consisting of text, graphics and
sound. Examples of its contents include basic information about the United
Nations and its history, press releases, documents, publications and
photos, as well as pictorial highlights of the guided tour of Headquarters.
To make documentation accessible to a wider audience, the United Nations
Bibliographic Information System (UNBIS Plus) has been produced on CD-ROM.
122. Radio is one of the most cost-effective and penetrating media
available to the Department, which is improving access by United Nations
Radio to airwaves worldwide. Currently, 29 programmes in 15 languages are
being sent to broadcasters in over 180 countries. The Department also
operates an electronic radio news service in English, French and Spanish
that facilitates access by broadcasters to news programmes updated twice
daily and is accessible through regular telephone lines.
123. The Department continues with the help of new technologies to reach
its goals to explore the huge potential represented by television
audiences. For instance, the Department transmitted "Year in Review" via
satellite to broadcasters around the world in the six official languages.
The programme was received and retransmitted by major broadcasters in over
24 countries, representing a total potential audience of over 360 million
television households. This satellite transmission proved to be an
extremely quick and cost-effective distribution channel and represented the
largest audience ever reached by the programme.
124. In connection with the fiftieth anniversary, the Department
initiated a major campaign of television spots. A series of 40 "UN Minutes"
were produced, charting the history and accomplishments of the
Organization. In addition, a series of "Question and Answer" quiz
announcements were made. These television spots have been aired on both
domestic and international Cable News Network channels, and by Time Warner
Cable Company on many channels in the New York area. The Department thus
obtained several million dollars worth of free air time donated by these
two companies alone.
125. Responsibility for the Department's global outreach activities is
assumed in large part by the network of information centres and services
located in 68 countries around the world. They perform both a passive
information role in dealing with a mounting volume of inquiries and
requests for information, and an active role in engaging in a wide variety
of contacts in pursuance of their mandate. As an example of the latter
role, the centres have been the catalyst for the creation of approximately
80 national committees for the observance of the fiftieth anniversary.
126. The United Nations Office at Geneva, under its Director-General,
Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, continues to provide administrative and logistical
support to Geneva-based United Nations programmes and activities in human
rights, humanitarian operations, trade and development, as well as major
environment, disarmament and security-related matters.
127. There is a growing demand from Member States to visit the United
Nations Office at Geneva to establish or explore further cooperation
between their countries and Geneva-based specialized agencies and
programmes. Seven official visits were organized for that purpose and
included the Heads of State or Government of Guatemala, Italy, Kazakstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Slovenia and Tunisia. These exchanges are a major
factor in consolidating the Office's role in the region and beyond.
128. Activities with regional organizations increased throughout the
year. A number of tripartite meetings took place with the participation of
the Council of Europe, OSCE and the United Nations, represented by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Centre for Human
Rights. During the course of the year, the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) was also associated with the meetings, which dealt with
humanitarian issues in Europe.
129. Dialogue with Member States of the region contributed to the
organizing of national committees for the United Nations fiftieth
anniversary, important activities at the national level and joint projects
included in the Geneva programme for the fiftieth anniversary. In that
respect, cooperation with the host country and Geneva authorities,
including major building projects to meet the needs of the United Nations
Office at Geneva, was particularly fruitful.
130. The United Nations Office at Geneva continues to host an
increasingly large number of meetings. From September 1994 to March 1995,
1,775 meetings were serviced with interpretation (including 154 meetings
outside Geneva) and 2,455 without interpretation (including 105 meetings
outside Geneva). During the period from April to August 1995, 1,354
meetings are planned to be held with interpretation (including 148 meetings
outside Geneva) and 1,760 without interpretation (including 68 meetings
outside Geneva).
131. In addition to servicing the Office's established bodies, the
Palais des Nations hosted a number of important political or peace-keeping-
related meetings, such as the International Conference on the Former
Yugoslavia, the Compensation Commission, the meetings of the
Georgia/Abkhazia parties and the Commission of Experts on Rwanda. The
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations and the Centre for
Science and Technology for Development were transferred to Geneva in
1993/94, and the Commission on Transnational Corporations and the
Commission on Science and Technology for Development held regular sessions
producing important documentation. The increasing activities of the Centre
for Human Rights will give rise to new committees and/or working groups,
which will meet at the United Nations Office at Geneva. These developments
will require careful management of the allocation of facilities.
132. The Office has been involved in United Nations work on the
International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia; the Georgia/Abkhazia
conflict; the meetings between Portugal and Indonesia concerning East Timor
under the good offices of the Secretary-General; the talks on Yemen; and
discussions on biological, conventional and nuclear weapons. The Office has
also been involved with the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), UNCTAD
and the United Nations Compensation Commission, and has provided support
for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United
Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR), round tables organized by
the Department for Humanitarian Affairs for a number of countries in Africa
and Asia, and working groups of the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR).
133. During this period the round table set up by the Director-General,
with the participation of senior and staff representatives of all Geneva-
based organs and programmes, made recommendations aimed at strengthening
and simplifying security arrangements, as well as achieving a larger degree
of control over documentation, with the ultimate goal of sizeably reducing
its volume.
134. The Office has conducted two main studies aimed at identifying
areas of duplication and overlap in the administrative sector within the
Office, as well as between the Office and various United Nations entities
and programmes located at Geneva. The first phase of a management study led
to a greater delegation of authority between Headquarters and Geneva in the
personnel and budget/finance fields. Such delegation will not only sizeably
reduce duplication and overlap, but will also allow for more timely
processing of administrative actions at Geneva. The next phase of the
management study will finalize administrative arrangements at Geneva and
determine the relationship between the various entities. The second study,
a work-flow analysis conducted in the context of the future introduction of
IMIS at Geneva, has just been completed. By the end of the year, the
reorganization will be almost completed, permitting the Office to respond
more efficiently to the increasing demands placed upon it by Member States
of the region and the Organization as a whole.
135. Also located at Geneva, the United Nations Institute for Training
and Research (UNITAR) has completed its restructuring process as requested
by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/227 of 8 April 1993. This year
UNITAR completed a training programme in international affairs management,
including peacemaking and preventive diplomacy, environmental law and
policy, and a fellowship in international law. In addition, the UNITAR
training programme for the management of economic and social development
has been reorganized. The aim of the programme now is to upgrade the
professional skills of human resources in specific fields and to put the
UNITAR training initiative at the service of multilateral and bilateral
cooperation agencies, in particular the secretariats of organizations in
charge of facilitating the implementation of international legal
instruments. The coming years are likely to see a consolidation of UNITAR
training and capacity-building activities, while research programmes are
progressively discontinued. It is hoped that Member States will ensure the
long-term continuity of the Institute.
136. The United Nations Office at Vienna, headed by the Director-
General, Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli, provides administrative support to the
United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control and other United Nations
activities based at Vienna, serves functions related to crime prevention
and cooperation in space activities, and is an important meeting place and
support centre for peace-keeping operations. From 1 July 1994 to 1 July
1995, a total of 2,209 meetings were planned and serviced at Vienna.
137. Beginning 1 April 1995, after extensive negotiations, the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations
Office at Vienna merged conference planning, coordinating and language and
servicing capabilities to form a Unified Conference Service under the
Office's management. A number of seminars, training courses and technical
cooperation projects have taken place; others are being planned or are
being implemented.
138. The Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of the United
Nations Office at Vienna has promoted international cooperation in crime
prevention and criminal justice and provided assistance to Member States on
problems of both national and transnational crime. The Office organized the
International Conference on Preventing and Controlling Money Laundering and
the Use of the Proceeds of Crime: A Global Approach (Courmayeur, Italy, 18-
20 June 1994), the World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational
Crime (Naples, Italy, 21-23 November 1994) and the Ninth United Nations
Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (Cairo,
29 April-8 May 1995).
139. The World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime
adopted the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against
Organized Transnational Crime, approved by the General Assembly in its
resolution 49/159 of 23 December 1994. In the Declaration, Heads of States
and Government, ministers responsible for criminal justice systems and
other high-level representatives of Governments expressed their resolve to
protect their societies from organized crime through effective legislative
measures and operational instruments. The Global Action Plan emphasized
that the United Nations should facilitate the provision of technical
cooperation, including the systematic exchange of experience and expertise,
by drafting legislation, providing special training for criminal justice
officials and gathering, analysing and exchanging information.
140. The Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and
the Treatment of Offenders found that new forms and dimensions of crime and
the links among criminal organizations threatened the security and
stability of States and made global action imperative. The Congress
discussed four substantive topics and held six demonstration and research
workshops that permitted a more technical consideration of priority issues
of direct concern to Member States. The discussion on combating corruption
involving public officials attracted considerable attention and a number of
recommendations were proposed. The plenary meeting on technical cooperation
assessed the progress achieved and problems encountered in operational
activities. Member States, in particular developing countries and countries
in transition, discussed their needs for assistance from the United Nations
and the international community.
141. The work of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch was
oriented towards operational activities and technical assistance, in
particular for developing countries and countries in transition. The Branch
focused its efforts on the promotion of effective and fair criminal justice
systems based on the rule of law, taking account of United Nations norms,
standards and model treaties. It provided assistance to Member States, upon
request, in legislative and criminal justice reform, the elaboration and
implementation of criminal codes and international treaties, the planning
and formulation of national criminal justice policies and strategies, and
the establishment of information networks and databases. The programme also
contributed to peace-keeping and peacemaking missions of the United Nations
by assisting in building legal and criminal justice infrastructures, and
providing support to the missions and countries concerned. Two
interregional advisers provided advisory services to various countries,
carried out needs assessment missions and developed project proposals.
142. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the body
responsible for policy guidance in this field, meets annually at Vienna. At
its fourth session, held from 30 May to 9 June 1995, the Commission
addressed the conclusions and recommendations of the Ninth United Nations
Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, as well
as of the World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime. It
recommended follow-up measures to the conclusions of the Congress and to
the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan adopted by the
Conference. All recommendations of the Commission were approved by the
Economic and Social Council during its substantive session, held at Geneva
from 26 June to 28 July 1995.
143. The Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch cooperated closely
with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the Centre
for Human Rights. The Branch also undertook cooperation and coordination
activities with the interregional, regional and associated institutes in
the field of crime prevention and criminal justice and with
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in areas of mutual
concern.
144. The Office for Outer Space Affairs, which relocated to the United
Nations Office at Vienna in October 1993, implemented its multisectoral
programme with political, legal, scientific and technical assistance
components. Through its Programme on Space Applications, the Office
organized and conducted workshops, training courses and symposia on various
aspects of space science and technology and their applications for economic
and social development. The Office continued its service as the substantive
secretariat for the General Assembly's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space, its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and its Legal
Subcommittee, as well as their subsidiary bodies.
145. Further progress was made on the Office's initiative to establish
regional centres for space science and technology education in the
developing countries. Those centres will provide individuals from
developing countries with education and training in space-related
disciplines and applications. In 1994, the Office decided to establish a
centre, which will be co-hosted by Brazil and Mexico, for the Latin
American and Caribbean region, and to establish the first node of the
centre for the Asia and Pacific region in India. It is expected that 1995
will yield firm agreements on the location of the centres in the Middle
East and Africa. The Office in 1994 expanded its Space Information Service
to include a limited computer database capability as well as a gateway, or
"home page", on the Internet. The home page provides basic data on the
space-related activities of the United Nations and is the first step in the
development of the broad information system mandated by the General
Assembly. The Office has initiated plans to provide support for the
preparatory work in intergovernmental committees concerning the convening
of a third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses
of Outer Space.
146. The Administrative Committee on Coordination, comprising the
executive heads of the specialized agencies, including the Bretton Woods
institutions, as well as all United Nations programmes under the
chairmanship of the Secretary-General, provides the main instrument to
establish an effective system of inter-agency cooperation and coordination
within the United Nations system. In line with the objectives that have
guided the recent restructuring of its machinery, the Committee's capacity
to identify the main policy issues facing the international community and
to promote and organize joint initiatives and responses towards common
objectives has been progressively strengthened. The improvements the
Secretary-General seeks to introduce within the United Nations, at both the
policy and management levels, must be pursued as an integral part of a
broader effort to adapt priorities and methods of work to changing
requirements at the level of the system as a whole. Thus, at its past two
sessions, the Committee pursued its consideration of policies that could
lead to a more effective division of labour and to greater complementarity
of action within the United Nations system. The Committee devoted
particular attention to building and strengthening cooperative arrangements
between the Bretton Woods institutions and United Nations funds, programmes
and other specialized agencies. In the same context, particular attention
was given by the Committee to ways and means of enhancing the capacity of
the resident coordinator system to promote effective coordination among all
economic and social actors at the country level in support of national
development efforts. The achievement of greater complementarity between the
country strategy notes, launched by the General Assembly, and the policy
framework papers, under the aegis of the Bretton Woods institutions, was
viewed as a key objective to those ends.
147. At the global level, the Committee's efforts to promote a
coordinated follow-up to the results of major conferences on interrelated
development issues are helping to promote a more effective division of
labour within the system, drawing on the new policy insights, priorities
and commitments generated by those conferences. The continuing discussions
in the Committee on the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development and its consideration, at its session in
February 1995, of issues relating to international drug abuse control have
helped equally to promote a more effective distribution of responsibilities
and mutually reinforcing activities by the organizations of the United
Nations system in addressing emerging global priorities.
148. African economic recovery and development was a major focus of
attention at the last two sessions of the Committee. While United Nations
organizations individually and collectively have placed high priority on
the development of Africa, the current level of effort does not match the
scale of economic and social problems confronting the region. The Committee
concluded that a much higher level of commitment and resources at all
levels was necessary to overcome the crisis facing many countries of the
continent. As Chairman of the Committee, the Secretary-General called for a
renewed joint effort to develop further practical initiatives with clear
targets. The Committee agreed to establish a high-level steering committee
to present a set of concrete recommendations for approval at its next
session. The broad programme areas identified for this purpose include
availability and management of water; sustainable food security; human
development and capacity-building; and the follow-up to the World Summit
for Social Development, with special emphasis on poverty alleviation. The
steering committee also focuses on the consideration of means to enhance
political and financial support for African development. Its initial work
was drawn upon in preparing for the high-level segment of the Economic and
Social Council devoted to African development.
149. Regarding management issues, members of the Committee reaffirmed
their strong commitment to ensuring the advancement of the status of women
throughout the United Nations system. It was generally agreed that
management commitment at the highest levels was crucial to the achievement
of gender equality. The Committee identified specific measures to increase
the flexibility with which the United Nations system deals with women
candidates; to remove obstacles to their recruitment, retention in service,
promotion and mobility; and to create a supportive environment.
150. The Committee also addressed issues affecting the security and
safety of United Nations staff, as well as questions relating to
improvements in conditions of service. A special meeting in June of the
Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions, in which most senior
agency officials responsible for administration and management
participated, pursued ways to enhance management effectiveness throughout
the system.
151. In February 1995, all Committee members, and a number of
distinguished personalities who have led independent reviews on ways to
strengthen the United Nations system, met at Vienna at a Forum on the
Future of the United Nations. The Forum addressed the changing requirements
for global and regional governance arising from the emerging new political
and economic framework and their implications for the Organization; new
approaches to the financing of the United Nations system; the implications
of the changing role of the system for the international civil service; and
the public image of the United Nations, in particular the challenge of
mobilizing and focusing the attention of the media on the Organization's
economic and social work.
B. Ensuring an adequate financial base
152. The United Nations financial crisis continues to deepen because of
the delays with which Member States have paid their assessed contributions,
both for the regular budget and for peace-keeping operations. As at 10
August 1995, unpaid assessed contributions totalled $3.9 billion: $858.2
million for the regular budget (of which $456.1 million relates to the
current year (1995) and $402.1 million relates to prior years) and $3
billion for peace-keeping operations, current and prior shortfalls taken
together (see fig. 6).
153. The United Nations is able to continue its peace-keeping operations
only because the payment of bills and reimbursements to troop-contributors
are being delayed. By the end of the year, unpaid reimbursements to troop
contributors and payments owed for contingent-owned equipment are estimated
to reach the $1 billion mark. This situation cannot continue. Troop-
contributors have expressed their difficulty with continuing participation
in peace-keeping operations if they are not paid on time.
154. Many Member States have made serious efforts to expedite payment of
their assessments but without substantial additional major contributions
before the end of the year, the cash balance of the United Nations will be
dangerously low. This difficult financial situation, in particular when
compounded by the continued unpredictability of the receipt of
contributions, has a direct impact on the efficiency of the Organization
and makes it more and more difficult to manage it effectively.
155. Along with these cash difficulties, the Organization has also been
facing another serious problem as a result of the growing practice on the
part of the General Assembly of authorizing spending on additional or new
activities without providing corresponding resources through assessments on
Member States. This has further exacerbated the already difficult financial
situation since the only way to provide funding for those activities is to
borrow from accounts with cash resources, without any assurance that those
accounts will be replenished in order to implement activities for which
Member States had initially provided resources.
156. Unless the receipt of unpaid assessments dramatically improves,
there will be no choice but to reduce spending further, focusing on those
activities for which no assessments have been approved. Activities for
which assessments have been approved, but have chronically not been paid by
Member States, may have to be curtailed.
157. Notwithstanding these financial problems, efforts are continuing to
make the Organization more efficient and more effective in carrying out the
many tasks entrusted to it. In formulating the proposed programme budget
for the biennium 1996-1997, particular emphasis has been placed on
management improvements, which have resulted in savings without affecting
the delivery of mandated activities. On that basis, a budget has been
proposed for the next biennium in the amount of $2,510 million (at current
rates before re-costing) for approval by the General Assembly this year.
This represents a reduction of $109 million, or 4.2 per cent, less what was
appropriated for 1994-1995 (see fig. 7). The implementation of the 1996-
1997 programme budget, once approved by the General Assembly, should not
suffer from the same financial uncertainties that the Organization has been
experiencing.
158. The objective of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the
Financial Situation of the Organization, which was established by the
General Assembly and began meeting in January 1995, is to bring about
constructive and positive changes to provide the Organization with a long
sought-after solid financial base.
C. The fiftieth anniversary
159. During the past year, much of the work of the Preparatory Committee
for the Fiftieth Anniversary has focused on the preparations for the
Special Commemorative Meeting of the Assembly on the occasion of the
fiftieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Charter of the United
Nations, to be held at United Nations Headquarters from 22 to 24 October
1995. The Committee has also continued to monitor the progress of the
commemorative programme being undertaken by the Fiftieth Anniversary
Secretariat. The Committee is expected to conclude its work by adopting, in
early September, as part of its report to the General Assembly, a
declaration in support of the Organization on its fiftieth anniversary.
160. The Fiftieth Anniversary Secretariat, headed by Ms. Gillian Martin
Sorensen, has continued to develop and implement an ambitious global
commemorative programme of activities and products. The goals identified
for the fiftieth anniversary are to promote a more balanced image of the
United Nations; to enlarge its constituency of support, especially among
youth and non-traditional audiences; to improve worldwide education about
the work of the Organization; and to mobilize public support in favour of
the United Nations to position it to meet ever-growing demands. In line
with these objectives, the Fiftieth Anniversary Secretariat has developed
and implemented projects in key programme areas, among which education and
communication have been given priority.
161. Educational activities include the development of educational kits
for primary, intermediate and secondary schools and their distribution in
all six official languages. Substantial funds have been made available for
free distribution in developing countries and translation into additional
languages as part of a "Global Teach-In" (a day or a week designated for
teaching about the United Nations). In cooperation with UNESCO, workshops
on the kits and the Global Teach-In have been conducted at several
international education conferences. Other cooperative projects with
specialized agencies and programmes have focused on youth and teachers. A
"Passport to the Future" has been designed to sign on millions of young
persons, between the ages of 7 and 14, as "global citizens". The Passport
encourages them to demonstrate their concern for a better future by
becoming involved in some of the world's most pressing challenges the
environment, human rights and peace by participating in their local
community.
162. Communications activities have included an international public
service campaign through video, radio and print, in the six official
languages. The campaign is designed to inform the public of the many
achievements of the United Nations system, such as those in the areas of
democratization and decolonization, women and development, environment,
health, refugees, peace-keeping and food security. The videos, which were
produced by directors from eight geographic regions, are appearing
worldwide on television and airlines and in schools. The print and radio
campaign is being distributed to broadcasters and publications in all
Member States. A multimedia exhibit has been provided to Headquarters and
regional offices and to headquarters of specialized agencies. Publications
include a pictorial history of the United Nations, Visions Fifty Years of
the United Nations, and a book on the United Nations written by young
people for young people, entitled A World in our Hands.
163. Emphasis in all programme activity has been on achieving broad
participation. As the Fiftieth Anniversary Secretariat was not in a
position to implement and publicize all of the activities in each Member
State, considerable efforts have been made to encourage and provide support
to the fiftieth anniversary committees formed by Member States, local
United Nations offices and non-governmental organizations in their
implementation of these and other activities. In all, 145 countries have
established national committees and are carrying out an impressive array of
local commemorative events. The Fiftieth Anniversary Secretariat continues
to work in close cooperation with them, providing information materials,
guiding and supporting the development of activities at both the local and
country levels, and recommending specific activities to complement those
being implemented at the global level. Over 40 Member States are honouring
the United Nations with commemorative coins and virtually every postal
administration is issuing commemorative stamps honouring the Organization.
164. The Secretariat has also worked with many cities including the
cities that host our Headquarters offices in development of appropriate
commemorations, including conferences and colloquiums, concerts, art
exhibits and other cultural and popular events. One among many was the
myriad of activities organized at San Francisco to commemorate the fiftieth
anniversary of the signing of the Charter.
165. In addition to the public service announcement campaign, the
Fiftieth Anniversary Secretariat has continued to develop a wide range of
information products, which are being distributed widely to national
committees, United Nations information centres, United Nations field
offices, permanent missions, United Nations associations, academic groups
and international news media, as well as the general public. These products
include the UN50 newsletter, an updated press kit, a 16-page information
brochure on the fiftieth anniversary, information about the anniversary
available through the computer network and a number of information
brochures published jointly with the Department of Public Information,
along with audio and video compilations.
166. Overall the funds required for developing the commemorative
programme were secured from private sector support from global sponsors of
the fiftieth anniversary as well as from project sponsors. Royalties from
the coin programme are providing substantial revenue for educational and
communications activities. Additional revenue has been derived from a
commemorative watch.
167. United Nations associations and other nongovernmental organizations
have supported the fiftieth anniversary effort to broaden public
understanding of the work and continued relevance of the United Nations
through, among other things, education programmes, conferences and
activities aimed at young people, such as art projects, essay competitions
and model United Nations programmes. In addition, many of these
organizations, especially United Nations associations, actively participate
as members of the national committees established for the fiftieth
anniversary to arrange commemorative programmes within the Member States.
Furthermore, in the context of the Special Commemorative Meeting of the
General Assembly for the Fiftieth Anniversary, there are plans to organize
a one-day non-governmental organization programme in mid-October to examine
the role of non-governmental organizations in the work of the United
Nations.
D. United Nations University (UNU)
168. The Governing Council of the United Nations University (UNU) held
its forty-first session from late November to early December 1994 at Accra.
The Council considered proposals to further enhance the effectiveness of
the University, led by Rector Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, and to strengthen
the University's role and impact in United Nations research initiatives and
activities. Several proposals for new academic initiatives were approved by
the Council. Among them, the Council decided to establish the UNU
International Leadership Academy, which will operate at Amman, with
financial support from the Government of Jordan.
169. The Director-General of UNESCO and the Secretary-General appointed
new members of the Council to replace 11 members whose six-year term of
office came to an end on 31 May 1995.
170. The year 1995 marks the twentieth anniversary of the initiation of
UNU academic activities. It is also the sixth and final year of the UNU
research, training and dissemination activities carried out under the
second medium-term perspective (1990-1995). The process of preparing the
University's third medium-term perspective (1996-2001) for the next six
years has accordingly been set in motion. To that end, the University
prepared a mission statement as a step towards sharpening the focus of its
institutional goals as an international educational institution and
autonomous entity of the United Nations in a rapidly evolving global
environment.
171. At its forty-first session, the Council endorsed an institutional
strategy paper setting out the programmatic development goals to take the
University into the twenty-first century. In addition, the Council
considered the appraisal report of an internal assessment group of the
Council. The report called for the University to take a leading
coordinating role in United Nations research initiatives and activities and
to act to enhance the overall coherence of the University's academic
programme. The assessment underlined the need for a better integration of
UNU research, training and fellowship initiatives and for more effective
dissemination of UNU publications. Another major recommendation of the
report was the further strengthening of the UNU Centre in its key function
as a coordinating mechanism of University academic programmes and research
and training centres and programmes. The Council requested that the
essential components of the assessment report and the institutional
strategy paper and mission statement be integrated as a further step in the
process of developing the University's third medium-term perspective.
172. During the period from 1 September 1994 to 10 August 1995, 72 UNU
academic meetings were held worldwide. As at 10 August 1995, 58 UNU post-
graduate trainees were enrolled in training programmes at cooperating
institutions around the world. The areas of training include food and
nutrition, geothermal energy, remote sensing, biotechnology and micro-
informatics. In 1994, 57 per cent of the training was done at institutions
in developing countries and 43 per cent at institutions in industrialized
countries. More than 1,340 fellows from over 100 countries have been
trained by the University since 1976; an additional 2,300 persons have
received training in UNU workshops and seminars. To date, more than 300
books, 5 scientific journals and numerous research papers and studies have
been produced from UNU research.
173. Research continued to be carried out within the five programme
areas identified by the UNU second medium-term perspective: universal human
values and global responsibilities; new directions for the world economy;
sustaining global life-support systems; advances in science and technology;
and population dynamics and human welfare.
174. The University has made progress in the implementation of its
programme on environmentally sustainable development (UNU Agenda 21), which
places particular emphasis on human development and capacity-building in
developing countries. A series of post-graduate education and capacity-
building activities on environmental management has been initiated in
Tokyo, together with collaborating institutions in India and Thailand.
175. The University also launched a major new long-term research effort
that brings together private companies, industrial policy-makers and
researchers to pursue the achievement of technological breakthroughs that
will facilitate manufacturing without any form of waste, the so-called Zero
Emissions Research Initiative. To mobilize support and to exchange
information on the design and implementation of this global
multidisciplinary research programme, the University organized the first
World Congress on Zero Emissions at its headquarters in Tokyo in early
April 1995. The World Congress was the first multi-point Internet video
conference undertaken from Japan, linking scholars and government and
business leaders in Asia, Europe and North America and allowing access to
an extended audience in some 100 countries.
176. To further the development of long-term initiatives related to the
work of the United Nations, the Rector convened a special advisory team to
assist in preparing a "UNU Agenda for Peace, Security and Global
Governance". The advisory team suggested a five-year programme focusing on
such topics as ethics, democracy and governance, human rights, adjudicatory
tools of governance and mechanisms for peace and collective security. These
mechanisms include preventive diplomacy, collective security schemes,
peace-keeping, post-conflict measures and disarmament. The programme is
currently being implemented.
177. The University continues to strengthen its interaction with the
United Nations system and is making an intensive and concerted effort to
ensure that the results of its work feed into the deliberations and
operational activities of the United Nations. The University prepared
policy papers for presentation at the International Conference on
Population and Development and the World Summit for Social Development
preparatory process. Substantive contributions are being planned or are in
progress with respect to the Fourth World Conference on Women, Habitat II
and the ninth session of UNCTAD. The University has also intensified its
research efforts in support of the United Nations Secretariat through
studies on mine clearance technology, peace-keeping in Africa and regional
security questions in Latin America.
178. The University has produced a number of policy-oriented studies,
including "The Fragile Tropics of Latin America: Sustainable Management of
Changing Environments"; "International Waters in the Middle East: From
Euphrates-Tigris to Nile"; "Managing Water for Peace in the Middle East:
Alternative Strategies"; "Hydropolitics Along the Jordan River: Scarce
Water and Its Impact on the Arab-Israeli Conflict"; "Sustainable Management
of Soil Resources in the Humid Tropics"; "Ocean Governance: Sustainable
Development of the Seas"; "Steering Business Toward Sustainability";
"Culture, Development and Democracy: The Role of the Intellectual"; "Global
Transformation: Challenges to the State System"; "State, Society and the
United Nations System: Changing Perspectives on Multilateralism"; "The
United Nations System: The Policies of Member States"; "Arms Reduction:
Economic Implications in the Post-Cold-War Era"; "Mega-City Growth and the
Future"; "Global Employment: An International Investigation into the Future
of Work"; and "The Evolving New Global Environment for the Development
Process".
179. From 1 September 1994 to 10 August 1995, UNU received some $19.9
million in endowment fund, operating and specific programme contributions.
Nevertheless, the University faces continued resource constraints brought
on by lower investment income from its endowment fund and increased
competition for limited resources. Mobilization of operational
contributions and of untied or unearmarked funding has become increasingly
difficult in the last decade.
III
The foundations of peace: development, humanitarian action and human
rights
A. Implementing "An Agenda for Development"
180. Three years ago, at its forty-seventh session, the General Assembly
set in motion the process of formulating an Agenda for Development. Since
then, considerable effort has been devoted both at the intergovernmental
level and by the Secretariat to its elaboration.
181. In November 1994, in a report to the General Assembly (A/49/665), I
presented four principal recommendations on "An Agenda for Development" for
the consideration of Member States at the forty-ninth session of the
General Assembly.
182. These were: (a) that development should be recognized as the
foremost and most far-reaching task of our time; (b) that while it must be
seen in its many dimensions in the contexts of peace, the economy,
environmental protection, social justice and democracy development at its
core must be about improvement of human well-being, the removal of poverty,
hunger, disease and ignorance, ensuring productive employment and the
satisfaction of priority needs of all people in a way that can be sustained
over future generations; (c) that the emerging consensus on the priority
and dimensions of development should find expression in a new framework for
international cooperation; and (d) that within this new framework for
development cooperation, the United Nations must play a major role in both
policy leadership and operations.
183. I further outlined the need for a new framework for world
development cooperation that requires supporting actions at the national
and international levels and a strong and effective multilateral system, at
the centre of which would be the United Nations, with its unmatched global
network at all levels. The United Nations can promote awareness, build
consensus and inform policy in every dimension affecting development and
can help rationalize and harmonize the multiplicity of public and private
efforts world wide. An important element in the new framework should be
improved cooperation between the United Nations, its specialized agencies
and the Bretton Woods institutions.
184. The General Assembly has primary responsibility to bring together
all these aspects in an Agenda for Development. The aim should be to
provide consistent policy guidance that would contribute to greater
coherence and integration of the development work of the United Nations
system. This implies strengthening the capacity of the Assembly to provide
such harmonized policy guidance by a careful review of the working methods
of its Second and Third Committees, so that the debates in those Committees
could be sharply focused on key policy issues and their mutual
complementarities enhanced. Secondly, a revitalized Economic and Social
Council could greatly assist the Assembly by bringing to its attention
recommendations leading to the adoption of harmonized and integrated
policies. The relationship between those central bodies and the Bretton
Woods institutions, on the one hand, and the funds and programmes and
specialized agencies, on the other, could be built around shared objectives
and a common purpose leading to closer cooperation and joint actions at the
country level.
185. Recent pronouncements of the summit meeting of seven major
industrialized countries, which was held at Halifax, Canada, in June 1995,
as well as of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the
Non-Aligned Countries held at Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1995, signify a
resolute willingness on the part of the international community at the
political level to see a strong United Nations system working in unison for
the realization of internationally agreed goals and objectives. Efforts to
make United Nations operational activities more efficient and effective
begin with the identification of those areas where it has special assets
and strengths that can support the process of development. Given shared
vision and a common purpose, coordination and integration in the
Organization's operational activities can be ensured.
186. This issue was considered during the coordination segment of the
Economic and Social Council in July 1995. At my request, the Administrator
of UNDP, who assists the Secretary-General in ensuring policy coherence and
the coordination of operational activities for development, initiated a
process of consultation among senior United Nations officials on
coordination mechanisms that can be instituted on conference follow-up at
the inter-agency level, thus mobilizing the United Nations system as a
whole through thematic inter-agency task forces at the national, regional
and headquarters levels.
187. During the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, Member
States decided to establish an open-ended working group to elaborate
further an action-oriented comprehensive agenda for development, taking
into account the reports and recommendations presented by the Secretary-
General pursuant to Assembly resolutions 47/181 of 22 December 1992 and
48/166 of 21 December 1993, the outcome of the high-level segment of the
1994 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, the views
expressed by representatives in the high-level debate held during the
forty-ninth session of the Assembly, as well as the summary of the World
Hearings on Development and proposals presented by Member States and other
parties.
188. The Working Group was required to submit a report on the progress
of its work to the General Assembly before the conclusion of its fiftieth
session. A compendium containing the goals, targets and commitments of
major United Nations conferences held and agreements signed since 1990, as
well as an assessment of the status of their implementation, was submitted
by the Secretariat to the Working Group following its first session. That
document was a complement to the background information already identified
in Assembly resolution 49/126 of 19 December 1994.
189. At the Working Group's second session, held from 15 to 26 May 1995,
Governments presented their views on the structure and content of the
Agenda for Development during the formal meetings, which were preceded and
followed by inter-sessional consultations. The Working Group reached a
consensus on the structure of the Agenda and defined modalities for
developing its text during the third and final session, yet to be held. A
tentative comprehensive structure was adopted, consisting of three
chapters, the first devoted to setting goals and objectives; the second
representing the bulk of the Agenda, providing a policy framework and
identifying priority actions for development, together with means of
implementation; and the third dealing with institutional issues and follow-
up.
B. Global development activities
1. Secretariat departments at Headquarters
190. The Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development,
headed by Mr. Nitin Desai, provides support for the central coordinating
and policy-making functions vested in the Economic and Social Council and
its subsidiary bodies, as well as for the Second and Third Committees of
the General Assembly. Ensuring the integration of economic, social and
environmental concerns in policy development and implementation is a
crucial objective underlying the structure and mandate of the Department.
191. The World Summit for Social Development was convened by the General
Assembly at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995 to address the urgent and
universal need to eradicate poverty, expand productive employment, reduce
unemployment and enhance social integration. The Summit provided an impetus
for the world's Governments to give priority to the social aspects of
global development and the social impact of international relations, while
reaffirming their commitment to individual, family and community well-being
as the fundamental concern of their policies.
192. The Summit was the largest gathering ever of Heads of State and
Government: in all, 187 countries participated in the deliberations, which
produced the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of
Action, and 117 of them were represented by Heads of State or Government.
In addition, 2,315 delegates representing 811 non-governmental
organizations joined the meeting, demonstrating eloquently the vitality and
diversity of people's initiatives and establishing the foundation for a
renewed and strengthened partnership between Governments and the actors of
civil society. The preparations for the Summit and the actions initiated in
pursuance of its mandate have brought into play virtually the entire
spectrum of departments, agencies, programmes and offices of the United
Nations system and fostered coordination between them and with Member
States and non-governmental organizations.
193. The observance of the International Year for the Eradication of
Poverty (1996) will provide an excellent opportunity for the implementation
of the commitments made at Copenhagen. Countries are invited to elaborate
specific targets during the Year and to prepare national strategies for the
struggle against poverty.
194. The International Year of the Family (1994) has led to a remarkable
evolution of the political approach to the family as an object and agent of
social policy throughout the world. A greater recognition has been accorded
at the global, national and individual levels to the importance of
supporting families and bringing about positive changes in the family as an
integral part of the efforts to achieve peace, human rights, democracy,
sustainable development and social progress, as well as lasting progress on
behalf of women, children and other traditionally less advantaged members
of society. A large number of local, national and international activities
in support of the family were arranged by Governments in more than 150
countries and by various non-governmental, community and intergovernmental
organizations in observance of the Year. Those efforts were effectively
augmented by supportive action of 34 bodies and agencies of the United
Nations, including the regional commissions.
195. The International Conference on Families, held in October 1994 during
the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, marked the first occasion
on which the Assembly devoted a discussion exclusively to the family. The
Conference itself conveyed the growing conviction that it is in the best
interests of individuals and societies to promote democratic families and
family-friendly societies. I will submit to the Assembly at its fiftieth
session a detailed report on the observance of the International Year of
the Family, along with specific proposals on its long-term follow-up.
196. The High-level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development, which was
set up following the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, held in June 1992, to provide independent advice to the
Secretary-General on environment and development matters, held its third
session from 17 to 21 October 1994. The Board examined four issues: (a)
sustainable food security for a growing world population; (b) the need for
mutual reinforcement between international trade and environment policies;
(c) value-based education for sustainability; and (d) ways of forging new
alliances for sustainable development. The Vice-Chairperson of the Board
apprised the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its third session,
of the conclusions reached in its deliberations and on its discussions with
me. The Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development of the
Administrative Committee on Coordination met in February and July 1995. The
Inter-Agency Committee has received strong support from Member States,
which have expressed their particular appreciation for the fact that the
follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development bring together
the entire system in a coordinated and cooperative manner.
197. Since the adoption of the Barbados Declaration and Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in
May 1994, efforts have intensified to follow up on the work programme
regarding the specific economic, social and environmental concerns of those
States. There is increasing interest among the organizations of the system,
including the regional commissions, as well as a number of concerned non-
governmental organizations, in joint and coordinated activities in this
regard. In May 1995, the Department organized a meeting of those
organizations and representatives of the Alliance of Small Island States to
discuss the status of implementation of the Barbados agreements. The
achievement of the goals set out in those agreements, as with Agenda 21
itself, continues to be impeded by financial constraints, as well as by
difficulties in the effective transfer of technology for sustainable
development.
198. The Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and Least
Developed Countries, as requested by the Secretary-General's Panel of High-
level Personalities on African Development, organized a high-level
brainstorming workshop on non-governmental organizations and African
development on 16 and 17 January 1995. The Office prepared a pamphlet on
the conclusions and recommendations of the Panel, as requested by the
General Assembly in its resolution 48/214 of 23 December 1993. In addition
to disseminating information to countries and organizations, the Office
coordinated activities related to the United Nations New Agenda for the
Development of Africa in the 1990s, adopted by the General Assembly in its
resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, including the sixth meeting of the
Working Group of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Africa's
Critical Economic Situation, Recovery and Development.
199. My report on the development of Africa, including the
implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of
Africa in the 1990s, prepared for the 1995 high-level segment of the
Economic and Social Council, identifies key policy issues critical to
African development and offers concrete recommendations on what African
countries and the international community can do to improve the lives of
the people of Africa. It also analyses the progress made and difficulties
encountered in the implementation of the New Agenda.
200. The Office of the Special Coordinator provided substantive
assistance to donor and African countries in the negotiations on the
establishment of a diversification facility in the African Development
Bank, which led to General Assembly resolution 49/142 of 23 December 1994,
requesting those States participating in the African Development Fund to
consider making an initial adequate contribution to finance the preparatory
phase of commodity diversification projects and programmes in African
countries. The Office organized regular briefings on areas of concern and,
together with UNDP and the Governments of Japan and Indonesia, organized
the Asia-Africa Forum at Bandung, Indonesia, in December 1994, as a follow-
up to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The Office
also organized, together with the Department for Development Support and
Management Services and UNDP, an international workshop on informal sector
development in Africa at United Nations Headquarters. The Office
participated in a number of intergovernmental and other meetings, including
those of OAU.
201. The Interim Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification
opened the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly
in Africa, for signature in Paris on 14 and 15 October 1994. As at July
1995, the number of signatories had reached 106 and 2 countries had
ratified the Convention. Consistent with General Assembly resolution 49/234
of 23 December 1994, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the
Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in
those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa, held its sixth session in New York, from 9 to 19
January 1995, and adopted a work programme for the interim period leading
to the first session of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held
within 12 months of the entry into force of the Convention. The
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee established two working groups to
lay the groundwork for the first session of implementation of the
resolution on urgent action for Africa, through the exchange of information
and the review of progress made thereon, and through the promotion of
action in other regions. It initiated this phase of its work at its seventh
session, held at Nairobi from 7 to 18 August 1995.
202. "Awareness days" are being held in 20 affected countries in the
various subregions of Africa to sensitize key actors at the local level and
to enable them to participate fully in the Convention's implementation.
Seminars are also being held at the subregional level in southern, eastern
and western Africa to facilitate the preparation of relevant action
programmes. A number of activities were held in various countries in
observance of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June,
pursuant to General Assembly resolution 49/115 of 19 December 1994,
including seminars, exhibitions and the launching of publications.
203. The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was convened from 28 March
to 7 April 1995 at Berlin. The meeting aimed at setting in motion the
processes needed to promote the effective implementation of the Convention
only four years after multilateral negotiations were first launched on the
issue of global warming and its impact on the climate. It is to the credit
of the international community that the Conference of the Parties, fully
aware of the contribution that the implementation of the Convention can
make towards sustainable development, has agreed by consensus to forge
ahead with concrete efforts aimed at bringing emissions of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere within safe limits.
204. The Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy
Analysis, headed by Mr. Jean-Claude Milleron, is the principal unit in the
United Nations for the generation and elaboration of economic, demographic,
social and environmental data and the analysis of national and regional
development policies and trends. It also provides technical support to
projects in statistics and population undertaken by developing countries.
205. A cornerstone of the Department is its wide-ranging programme of
statistical publications, which continued during the year. In addition to
the Statistical Yearbook, other annual reference volumes published included
the Demographic Yearbook, Industrial Commodity Statistics Yearbook,
National Accounts Yearbook and Energy Statistics Yearbook. Publications
with a more frequent periodicity included the Monthly Bulletin of
Statistics, Commodity Trade Statistics and the Population and Vital
Statistics Report. As part of its contribution to the Fourth World
Conference on Women, the Department completed the 1995 edition of The
World's Women: Trends and Statistics. This second edition, which was a
collaborative effort among 12 United Nations offices and agencies, not only
presents an array of new data, but also underlines the work that still must
be done to develop gender statistics that are comprehensive and of adequate
quality.
206. The year has seen further progress by the Department in the
development and implementation of new statistical concepts and
methodologies in other areas. The 1993 System of National Accounts was the
result of collaboration between the United Nations, EU, IMF, the World Bank
and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Since
the adoption of the System, the Department has been working in close
cooperation with the regional commissions and other international
organizations on its implementation in selected developing countries.
During the past year, the Department conducted seminars on the 1993 System
of National Accounts in concept and practice, and on the use of the System
of National Accounts for transition economy countries.
207. The Department, in cooperation with international organizations and
countries, has completed a draft revision of the international concepts and
definitions for international trade statistics. In addition, the
Statistical Commission, at its twenty-eighth session, held in New York from
27 February to 3 March, approved an international compilation of
environmental indicators that will be assembled by the Department. Close
collaboration with the Commission on Sustainable Development and its
secretariat will ensure comparability with its programme on indicators of
sustainable development. In the area of integrated environmental and
economic accounting, the framework developed by the Department is now being
tested through several country projects with the support of United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and UNDP. The Statistical Commission also
designated the period 1995-2004 as the 2000 World Population and Housing
Census Decade. In this area, the Department continued its work on civil
registration and vital statistics.
208. The work of the Department in the area of population was given
fresh impetus towards the end of 1994 with the success of the International
Conference on Population and Development, held at Cairo from 5 to 13
September 1994. The Department, in cooperation with UNFPA undertook
substantive preparations for the Conference. Following the Conference, the
General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/128 of 19 December 1994,
that the revitalized Commission on Population and Development should be
charged with monitoring, reviewing and assessing the implementation of the
Programme of Action adopted at Cairo. The Department provides the
secretariat for the Commission. At its twenty-eighth session, from 21
February to 2 March, the Commission affirmed the Department as the body
with competence to cover the monitoring and appraisal of the broad range of
areas covered by the Programme of Action. The Department was also charged
by the Secretary-General with the preparation of the report on
international migration and development called for by the General Assembly
in its resolution 49/127 of 19 December 1994. The report, which was
submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its 1995 substantive
session, not only addressed the substantive issues involved but also
included aspects related to the objectives and modalities for the convening
of the United Nations Conference on Migration and Development.
209. The Department completed its 1994 revision of World Population
Prospects, the official United Nations population figures for all countries
of the world. Reflecting the high international standing of these data, the
World Bank announced that henceforth it would rely exclusively on the
United Nations for population statistics. Studies in the field of
population by the Department address such subjects as contraception,
women's education and fertility behaviour, abortion, urbanization,
population policy, international migration policies, the status of female
migrants and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Much of the work undertaken in the
course of these studies contributed to the deliberations on the Cairo
Programme of Action.
210. As a further dimension of its responsibility for monitoring the world
economic and social situations, the Department produced the World Economic
and Social Survey 1995. In addition to an analysis of the world economic
situation and its short-term prospects and discussions of major global
policy issues, the Survey examined some longer-term dimensions of economic
and social changes in the world. As part of the continuing effort to
improve the Survey, the 1995 edition devoted greater attention to a
discussion of economic and social policies around the world. In a parallel
effort to provide both the academic community and the general public with
information on issues that would form the backdrop to the World Summit for
Social Development, the Department published The World Social Situation in
the l990s prior to the Summit.
211. The Department carried out development projections and perspective
studies under Project LINK, an international economic research network of
more than 70 country teams. During the past year, the Department convened
two meetings of this network one in Salamanca, Spain, and the other in
New York to assist in the preparation of short-term economic forecasts
for the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. As part of
its longer-term analysis, the Department prepared an update of the "Overall
socio-economic perspective of the world economy beyond the year 2000" for
the General Assembly at its fiftieth session. The Department has continued
its work on the debt crisis, sources of finance for development, coercive
economic measures and economic assistance to countries affected by
sanctions imposed by the Security Council. It has produced reports on each
of these subjects for the Assembly at its fiftieth session.
212. As mandated by the General Assembly in response to the new
development thinking that has evolved in recent years, the Department has
been expanding its research and analysis on micro-economic issues, focusing
on ways in which increased reliance on market forces can contribute to the
attainment of development objectives. This work has included studies
relating to employment, technology and the use of market-based mechanisms
both to meet environmental objectives and to provide public services. The
Department has continued to provide operational and technical assistance to
developing countries and economies in transition, primarily in the areas of
population and statistics and mostly with financing provided by UNDP and
UNFPA. Such arrangements applied to more than 100 technical cooperation
projects over the past year, with additional assistance on such matters as
country strategy notes being provided through resident coordinators on a
pro bono basis.
213. The Department has sustained its efforts to provide information and
analysis through means other than official documents and publications. In
order to promote exchanges with others with shared interests, the
Department convenes seminars, issues a series of working papers and
continues to increase its dissemination of information by electronic means.
In 1995 the United Nations Statistical Yearbook was again issued on CD-ROM,
as well as in its traditional paper form. Version III of Women's Indicators
and Statistics Database (Wistat) was similarly made available in CD-ROM
format, while Statbase Locator (an inventory of international computerized
databases) was released on diskette. In addition, selected information from
the 1994 revisions of World Population Prospects and World Urbanization
Prospects released during the year is available on-line to users of the
Internet, through the Department's Population Information Network, which
was used extensively during the International Conference on Population and
Development. All the official documents of the Conference, as well as the
statements made in the plenary, were made available on the Network, which
handled more than 28,000 requests while the Conference was taking place.
214. As part of its effort to improve the availability of economic and
social information, the Department, in cooperation with the regional
commissions, continues to work on a new system that will encompass the
collection, processing, storage, exchange and dissemination of economic and
social information. Entitled the United Nations Economic and Social
Information System, phase II of the project commenced in 1995 and focuses
on implementing the System's core components in selected pilot areas, such
as national accounts and the development of prototype techniques.
215. The Department for Development Support and Management Services,
headed by Mr. Chaozhu Ji, is responsible for providing technical assistance
to developing countries and economies in transition in the broad fields of
integrated development and public management, thereby assisting Governments
in establishing an enabling environment for development.
216. In the planning and management of mineral resources, the Department
organized international round-table conferences on foreign investment in
exploration and mining in India and Pakistan in 1994. These were to
familiarize foreign investors with the new mining policies and regulations
in those countries, to encourage investment in development of the mineral
sector, to acquaint better the Governments with the mining industry's
expectations and with the elements of a successful mining investment
promotion drive, and thus to arrive at mutually satisfactory and rewarding
policies for mining investments. The conferences culminated in concrete
joint venture investments in both countries. The Department has also
prepared the Environmental Guidelines for Mining Operations in response to
the need stressed in Agenda 21 for the adoption of environmental guidelines
for natural resource development.
217. The water resource activities at the individual country level have
been extended into subregional and regional initiatives through the use of
joint programming with the regional economic commissions. This work has
brought the added benefit of preparing the ground for several recently
launched Global Environment Facility initiatives in international waters
and the Okavango and Lake Chad basins. The detailed implementation
experience has also provided the empirical basis for the ongoing global
freshwater assessment initiated at the request of the Commission on
Sustainable Development.
218. Information exchange dealing with both mineral and water resources
is facilitated by the substantive services the Department provides to the
Committee on Natural Resources. Dissemination of ideas is also fostered by
the Natural Resources Forum, the quarterly technical journal produced by
the Department.
219. The Department is collaborating with the African Energy Programme
of the African Development Bank in a wide-ranging effort to address the
serious problems within the African energy sector. In 1994 the Department
undertook a study of energy institutions in 17 African countries to
characterize better the strengths and weaknesses of the sector at the
country, subregional and regional levels. A key recommendation that emerged
from the exercise was that an African energy unit should be established,
based within the African Development Bank and supported by OAU, the
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Department for Development
Support and Management Services. A programme of action is now being
elaborated in conjunction with the African Energy Programme of the African
Development Bank.
220. The Department executed a $7 million project in Zimbabwe funded by
the Global Environment Facility, which provides a model for other countries
with sufficient solar energy. The project addresses the issue of global
warming by providing a sustainable model of solar electricity dissemination
in Zimbabwe's rural areas where an expanded commercial market is being
developed for affordable domestic solar electric lighting systems through
the provision of low-interest financing from existing institutions to allow
householders to purchase home solar systems.
221. The United Nations International Conference on Coal Methane
Development and Utilization will be held in Beijing in October 1995. A
primary objective of the Conference is to assist Governments in developing
a legal and regulatory context for the promotion of domestic coal-bed
methane resources. The Conference will review the status and potential of
ongoing coal-bed methane recovery projects in China. Coal mines in that
country characteristically have high seepage rates of methane gas, with
consequent danger of atmospheric pollution and a grave risk to the safety
of miners and the productivity of the mines. To help address this problem,
the United Nations is assisting China through a $10 million programme
designed for recovery of coal-bed methane prior to, during and after mining
operations. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and executed by the
Department for Development Support and Management Services, the programme
addresses all types of gas recovery and the feasibility of various options
for gas utilization. Another project is developing the geothermal resources
of the Tibet region, with $3 million in trust funds contributed by the
Government of Italy. This project is leading to institution-building and
human resource training both in China, during the execution of the project,
and overseas. The project is also oriented towards important investments to
be realized in the near future.
222. Under the joint programming exercise, initiated in June 1994, pilot
projects implemented by the Department together with the regional
commissions include a geothermal project in conjunction with the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a capacity-building
project in central Asian countries to deal with transboundary management of
water resources and a small-scale mining proposal from ECA designed to
train artisanal miners.
223. The Department has taken several steps to strengthen support to
Governments in the area of social development policy and poverty
alleviation, consistent with priorities enunciated at the World Summit for
Social Development. Africa is an area of particular concern. To limit the
potential for negative effects of national economic adjustment programmes
on vulnerable groups and on delivery of services in social sectors like
health and education, the Department has developed a system for monitoring
the social effects of such programmes. This has been introduced in projects
in Algeria, Cameroon, C_te d'Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal and Tunisia. In June
1995, the Department collaborated with the Department for Policy
Coordination and Sustainable Development and UNDP to organize a workshop at
Headquarters on the development of Africa's informal sector. Experts from
Governments, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations
and academic institutions discussed experiences and perspectives.
224. In the fields of public administration and finance, the Department
is assisting Governments in developing administrative and managerial
systems at the central and local levels, in strengthening financial
management capabilities, in undertaking public enterprise reform and
encouragement of private enterprise and in improving related informational
technology. For example, in Viet Nam, the Department is currently providing
technical services to the Government's comprehensive public administration
programme and in particular to the component on improvement of civil
service management.
225. The Department has completed the establishment of a computerized
information system to assist key agencies of government. This public sector
planning and management information system facilitates econometric
analysis, national budget preparation and modelling, the preparation of
debt programmes and investment programme planning and monitoring. The
system has already been demonstrated in several countries and is ready for
installation upon request.
226. Laying the groundwork for a session of the General Assembly on
making Governments work better was the focus of a meeting of more than 50
experts world wide organized by the Department from 31 July to 11 August at
Headquarters. The themes for the experts' discussions included policy
development, administrative restructuring, civil service reform, the role
of public administration in promoting social development, financial
management, post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of government
machinery, public/private sector interaction and the role of public
administration in the management of development programmes. Recommendations
from the meeting will be reviewed at a resumed session of the Economic and
Social Council later this year.
227. The outbreak of localized conflicts throughout the world has
highlighted the interdependence and interaction between peace and
improvement of the human condition, as today Governments must often begin
to reconstruct their human and administrative infrastructures even before
conflict has ceased. The Department's work in assisting Rwanda to restore
its technical, human and institutional capacities and rehabilitate its
judicial system, in strengthening Yemen's water and sanitation facilities,
in preparing a reconstruction and development plan for Bosnia and
Herzegovina and in providing support to the rejuvenation of Haiti's public
administration these are all examples of this recognition being acted
upon by the United Nations.
228. To help stimulate a better exchange of ideas on post-conflict
reconstruction strategies, the Department organized a colloquium in June in
Austria, with support from the Government of Austria and in cooperation
with the Austrian Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution. This informal
gathering brought together representatives from several Governments, plus a
number of United Nations departments and agencies, non-governmental
organizations and academic institutions. The conclusions of the meeting and
other documentation, including an inventory of possible post-conflict
peace-building activities, have been published.
229. In the area of cartography, the Department continues to implement
the recommendations presented by the Thirteenth United Nations Regional
Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific, which requested the
United Nations to support surveying, mapping and charting activities in the
Asia and Pacific region and to facilitate the participation of the least
developed countries and the small island developing States of the region in
the work of the Conference.
2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
230. The work of UNCTAD, under the Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Carlos Fortin,
was dominated during the past year by the forty-first session of the Trade
and Development Board and its subsidiary bodies, and the United Nations
International Symposium on Trade Efficiency, as well as by the preparatory
process for the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development. I have proposed for approval by the General Assembly the
appointment of Mr. Rubens Ricupero as Secretary-General of UNCTAD. His
appointment would be effective as at 15 September 1995.
231. During this period, the Trade and Development Board undertook a
preliminary analysis and assessment of the final act of the Uruguay Round
of multilateral trade negotiations. The States members of UNCTAD recognized
the important role it could play in the post-Uruguay Round period in
enhancing the ability of developing countries to take maximum advantage of
these new opportunities and in recommending measures to mitigate the
consequences on countries that could be adversely affected. The respective
roles and functions of UNCTAD and the World Trade Organization have been
more clearly delineated.
232. UNCTAD also started implementation of the decisions taken during
the mid-term review of the Cartagena Commitment in May 1994. The
commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of UNCTAD at the first part of
the Board's forty-first session in September was the occasion for States
members to reaffirm their full support to the organization and to look to
its future orientation. Finally, the preparatory process for the ninth
session of the Conference, to be held in the spring of 1996, started in a
spirit of cooperation and with the conviction that the Conference should
address in an innovative and action-oriented way the economic issues facing
the international community.
233. The Trade and Development Board, at the first part of its forty-
first session, in September 1994, adopted a declaration in which States
members reaffirmed their commitment to the primary development objectives
of UNCTAD and undertook to reinforce their political support for the
organization and for its important role in strengthening the global
Partnership for Development by addressing the economic and development
problems of all countries, in particular the developing countries.
234. The Board's discussion on interdependence was based on the Trade
and Development Report 1994. The Board reviewed the east Asian growth and
development experience and concluded that there was a wide variety of
experience in east Asia: while in some fast-growing economies the policy
regime had been more liberal, several Governments had successfully played
active and interventionist roles.
235. The Board concluded its policy review of technical cooperation
activities of UNCTAD by noting that the agency's technical cooperation was
greatly valued by developing countries and countries in transition and had
also attracted increasing support in the last few years from donor
countries and institutions. Accordingly, the Board emphasized the need to
strengthen UNCTAD technical cooperation.
236. At the second part of its forty-first session, in March 1995, the
Board endorsed agreed conclusions on trade policies, structural adjustment
and economic reform, and on the UNCTAD contribution to the implementation
of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the
1990s. The Board also agreed on preparatory action for a high-level
intergovernmental meeting to be held in September to undertake a mid-term
review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the 1990s. It also carried out a policy review of
the work of UNCTAD on sustainable development. On trade policies,
structural adjustment and economic reform, a broad convergence emerged on a
number of conclusions. The Board concluded that Governments should take a
positive approach to structural adjustment. A policy framework favourable
to structural adjustment could facilitate the comprehensive and effective
implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements, lower resistance to further
liberalization and better prepare economies for future negotiations on
improving market access.
237. On preparations for the ninth session of the Conference, the Board
reached agreement on the provisional agenda for the Conference. The theme
of the ninth session will be promoting growth and sustainable development
in a globalizing and liberalizing world economy. The Government of South
Africa announced its decision to make an offer, in principle, to host the
Conference. States members underlined the importance of holding the session
in Africa and expressed their full support for South Africa as the host
country.
238. The United Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency, was
held at Columbus, Ohio, from 17 to 21 October 1994. More than 2,000
decision makers from both the public and private sectors participated in
the Symposium and in the other parallel events: the Global Executive Trade
Summit, the Global Summit for Mayors and the World Trade Efficiency and
Technology Exhibition. The Symposium was chaired by the Secretary of
Commerce of the United States of America. The unprecedented involvement of
the private sector and of local governments made the Symposium a unique
forum for bringing practical solutions to some of the problems encountered
in international trade. The Symposium adopted the Columbus Ministerial
Declaration and launched the Global Trade Point Network. Together, these
documents constitute a blueprint for efficient international trade in the
next century.
239. The Standing Committee on Commodities held its third session from
31 October to 4 November 1994. In its agreed conclusions, the Committee
requested UNCTAD to continue its analysis of ways to improve the
competitiveness of natural products, giving priority to the theoretical and
practical aspects of the internalization of ecological externalities.
UNCTAD held a number of commodity-related meetings under its auspices. In
January 1994, the fourth session of the United Nations Conference on
Tropical Timber adopted the International Tropical Timber Agreement and as
at 31 December 1994, 12 States had signed the new Agreement and one had
become formally party to it, although conditions for its entry into force
are not yet met. At the end of the second session of the United Nations
Conference on Natural Rubber, in October 1994, 53 out of the 67 articles
for a successor agreement had been cleared in principle. The Conference
resumed its work, under UNCTAD auspices, at a third session, in February
1995, where 31 countries, representing nearly 90 per cent of world trade in
natural rubber, adopted the 1995 International Natural Rubber Agreement
aimed at stabilizing prices. The new Agreement was opened for signature at
United Nations Headquarters on 1 April 1995. Other commodity-related
meetings held under UNCTAD auspices dealt with iron ore and tungsten.
240. The Standing Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing
Countries held its second session from 14 to 18 November 1994. The
Committee endorsed a set of recommendations aimed at fostering economic
cooperation among developing countries. Furthermore, it concluded, inter
alia, that developing countries should adopt strategies that combine trade
liberalization with other measures in the areas of production, investment,
transport and communications, marketing and distribution and trade
information. Special attention should be given to measures for increasing
the effectiveness of trade liberalization regimes in regional integration
arrangements and for increasing South-South trade.
241. At the end of the thirteenth session of the Intergovernmental Group
of Experts on Restrictive Business Practices, held from 24 to 28 October
1994, competition experts launched the preparatory process for the Third
United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of
Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of
Restrictive Business Practices, which is scheduled to take place in
November 1995. The main document prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat dealt
with the role of competition policy in economic reforms in developing and
other countries. The Intergovernmental Group held its fourteenth session
from 6 to 10 March 1995. Anti-trust experts made a number of proposals for
strengthening multilateral cooperation in the area of competition laws and
policies.
242. The three new ad hoc working groups, established in accordance with
a decision of the Board taken at the resumed second part of its fortieth
session, in May 1994, commenced their work. The Ad Hoc Working Group on
Trade, Environment and Development held its first session from 28 November
to 2 December 1994. The Working Group examined international cooperation on
eco-labelling and eco-certification programmes, and market opportunities
for environmentally friendly products. The session emphasized the
importance of improved transparency in eco-labelling and the need for
developing countries to be more closely associated with the elaboration of
environmental criteria having an impact on trade and development.
243. The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Role of Enterprises in Development
held its first session from 3 to 7 April 1995, focusing upon the
development of small and medium-sized enterprises. The Working Group
examined the role of the State in creating an enabling environment for the
promotion of entrepreneurship, as well as the viable development of
enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
244. The Commission on International Investment and Transnational
Corporations held its twenty-first session from 24 to 28 April, its first
session in its new role as a subsidiary body of the Trade and Development
Board. The Commission examined recent trends in foreign direct investment
and exchanged experiences on ways of attracting such investment.
245. In 1994, UNCTAD expenditure on technical cooperation amounted to
some $22 million. The largest single source of funds continues to be UNDP,
although the trend observed in recent years towards increased contributions
by other donors has continued. As part of the programme, UNCTAD provided
support to a number of countries in assessing the results of the Uruguay
Round, and in preparing themselves for new issues subject to negotiations
in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization.
Continued assistance was provided in several aspects of trade policies,
including competition policy, the linkage between trade and the
environment, and the utilization of the generalized system of preferences.
Several new packages under the UNCTAD training programme TRAINFORTRADE were
developed and delivered. In the area of commodities, particular attention
was devoted to the use of risk-management instruments.
246. With the transfer to UNCTAD of the United Nations activities
related to transnational corporations and to science and technology, the
corresponding technical cooperation programmes, including advisory services
on foreign investment, have become an integral part of UNCTAD technical
cooperation. The UNCTAD software for management and analysis of debt was
enhanced and installed in a number of countries. UNCTAD has also continued
to provide support to countries in the areas of shipping, port management
(notably in Somalia) and cargo tracking, with the training aspects being
undertaken in most cases through the TRAINMAR programme. The largest single
programme undertaken by UNCTAD is that on customs modernization and
computerization, known as ASYCUDA. In line with the process leading to and
following up after the World Symposium on Trade Efficiency, support and
advice were given to a number of countries in the establishment of trade
points.
247. At its tenth executive session, held on 4 May, the Trade and
Development Board agreed that appropriate exploratory work should be
undertaken on such new and emerging issues on the international trade
agenda within the preparatory process for the ninth session of UNCTAD.
Three categories of issues were identified. The first consists of issues
that give rise to demands for domestic policy harmonization. Among those
issues are investment and competition policies and labour standards. The
second category includes issues that reflect concern about the lack of
coherence among global policy objectives. The third consists of issues
affecting the ability of countries, especially the least developed
countries and others with weak economies, to pursue national goals
effectively.
248. The Commission on Science and Technology for Development held its
second session from 15 to 24 May. (The Commission, a subsidiary body of the
Economic and Social Council, now meets at Geneva as a result of the
designation of UNCTAD as the United Nations focal point for science and
technology-related activities.) Topics considered by the Commission at that
session included the use of science and technology to help meet basic needs
of low-income populations, improving women's access to science and
technology, and the use of science and technology towards sustainable land-
management practices. The Commission decided to focus its work programme
for the next two years on recent developments in information technologies
and their implications for economic growth, social cohesion, cultural
values and society as a whole.
249. The Standing Committee on Developing Services Sectors: Shipping
held its third session from 6 to 9 June to examine progress in policy
reforms for enhancing competitive services in the fields of shipping, ports
and multimodal transport in developing countries and countries in
transition. In particular, support was pledged by major donors for the
TRAINMAR programme, through which UNCTAD enhances the management capacities
of developing countries in the field of shipping, ports and multimodal
transport. The role of UNCTAD in the development of the advanced cargo
information system was also praised. As this was the last session of the
Committee before the ninth session of UNCTAD, the Committee reviewed work
carried out since 1992. It established a set of complementary activities to
be taken up by UNCTAD during the period leading up to the ninth session and
suggested issues for further deliberation at that session.
250. The Ad Hoc Working Group on Trade, Environment and Development held
its second session from 6 to 9 June, to examine the effects of
environmental policies on market access and competitiveness. The UNCTAD
secretariat was requested to outline positive measures that could be used
as alternatives to trade-related measures for environmental protection for
consideration at the next meeting of the Working Group, to be held in
October.
251. The Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation held its third
session from 12 to 16 June to identify national and international measures
to alleviate poverty through international trade and official development
assistance. As this was the last session of the Committee before the ninth
session of UNCTAD, the meeting reviewed the work carried out since 1992 by
the Committee and suggested that the ninth session should consider whether
the present form of intergovernmental machinery for addressing poverty
alleviation in UNCTAD was the appropriate one or whether some alternative
arrangement could be envisaged. Poverty and increased marginalization will
feature high on the agenda of the ninth session.
252. In cooperation with UNDP and the United Nations regional economic
commissions, UNCTAD organized the Symposium for Land-locked and Transit
Developing countries from 14 to 16 June, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 48/169 of 21 December 1993. The objectives of the Symposium were
to analyse weaknesses in the operational, administrative, regulatory and
institutional framework that is currently in place in the transit sector
and to propose the future course of action at the national, bilateral,
subregional and international levels. Participating countries agreed to
develop a global framework for cooperation on transit transport with the
support of the international community. UNCTAD has been requested to
convene transit corridor-specific consultative groups that will identify
priority areas for action at the national and subregional level and will
establish the framework for the implementation of agreed measures. At a
meeting of governmental experts from land-locked and transit developing
countries, held from 19 to 22 June, the recommendations of the Symposium
were widely endorsed.
253. The Standing Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing
Countries held its third session from 19 to 23 June to discuss ways to
enlarge and deepen monetary, financial, investment and enterprise
cooperation. The agreed conclusions contain suggestions for strengthening
financial and monetary cooperation among developing countries, as well as
at the level of investment and business.
3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
254. UNEP, headed by Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, is pursuing
implementation of the environmental dimension of Agenda 21, adopted by the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992.
255. At its seventeenth session, in May 1994, the Governing Council of
UNEP recognized the need for a fundamental change in the Programme's focus
and priorities, and its relationship with other collaborators, in order to
address the changed international environmental agenda emerging from the
Conference.
256. In addition to implementing a work programme for 1994-1995 based on
a Corporate Programme Framework, UNEP held, between October 1994 and
February 1995, extensive consultations with Governments and high-level
advisors to develop a refocused programme, based on an integrated approach,
for its biennium 1996-1997.
257. The new integrated programme for 1996-1997 as approved by the
eighteenth session of the Governing Council of UNEP addresses four
principal environmental challenges: (a) sustainable management and use of
natural resources; (b) sustainable production and consumption; (c) a better
environment for environmental health and well-being; and (d) globalization
trends and the environment.
258. UNEP collaboration with UNDP has been advanced with the signing of
two agreements, one on international information exchange and another on a
new partnership for combating desertification. In March, UNEP and the
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources signed
a partnership agreement to strengthen their long-standing world-wide
cooperation in resource conservation and sustainable development. The
agreement will facilitate collaboration at the regional level, thereby
increasing the capability of UNEP and the International Union to respond to
geographically diverse environmental concerns.
259. A major recent development during the period under review has been
the operationalization of the restructured Global Environment Facility,
which is implemented jointly by UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank. Within the
Global Environment Facility, UNEP will catalyse the development of
scientific and technical analysis, and promote and implement environmental
management.
260. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel was constituted by the
Executive Director in April. UNEP has also worked in conjunction with other
major groups in the areas of chemicals, refugees, agricultural development
and environmental technology.
261. UNEP, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO),
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO,
UNIDO and OECD, established the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound
Management of Chemicals to increase coordination and information exchange
on chemicals and chemical wastes. Additionally, UNEP, with the active
collaboration of the private chemical industry sector, has issued the Code
of Ethics in the International Trade in Chemicals. UNEP was asked to
increase its role in managing toxic chemicals and to further the
development of international environmental law. Moreover, the Governing
Council of the United Nations Environment Programme authorized the
Executive Director to begin negotiations, in cooperation with FAO, on the
development of a prior informed consent convention relating to the
international trade of certain hazardous chemicals. UNEP also participated
in a regional seminar at San Salvador in May on the implementation in
Central America and the Caribbean of the Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which
generated valuable discussion on how to incorporate cleaner production
activities in the proposed subregional centres for training and technology
transfer under the Basel Convention.
262. In collaboration with the United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements (Habitat), UNEP assisted Rwanda to address the issue of
environmental damage caused by civil war and the massive movement of
refugees.
263. UNEP has joined the World Bank, FAO and UNDP in supporting the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research in its efforts to
confront the new challenges of sustainable agricultural development. UNEP
is taking part in the development of a multilateral system on plant genetic
resources. As a co-sponsor of the Consultative Group, UNEP has been
requested to provide information on the negotiating process leading to the
second conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
264. The UNEP Environment Technology Centre became operational in
September 1994. Located in Osaka and Shiga prefectures in Japan, the Centre
is engaged in assisting developing countries in the transfer of technology
to solve urban environmental problems and issues relating to management of
freshwater lakes and reservoir basins. After the earthquake in Kobe, the
Centre responded by providing staff to assist emergency medical teams.
265. The first UNEP International Seminar on Gender and Environment,
held in April 1995, called for shared responsibility between women and men
in achieving sustainable development and provided material for the
development of a policy statement to the Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing.
266. UNEP offered to provide the secretariat for the proposed global
programme of action to protect the marine environment from land-based
activities. The programme was reviewed by a meeting of government experts
held in March. The meeting recognized the need to reduce and eliminate
pollution by persistent organic pollutants. The final document of the draft
global programme is to be presented for adoption at an intergovernmental
meeting in October and November.
267. The work of UNEP with the commercial and investment banking sector
since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992
has resulted in a new alliance with major insurance companies. In March
1995, UNEP announced the forging of a new partnership at its Advisory Group
Meeting on Commercial Banks and the Environment, with a view to continuing
to foster responsible sustainable development policies and practices in the
banking sector. UNEP signed an agreement with the International Olympic
Committee to promote environmental protection in international sports
competitions. Together with the Foundation for International Environmental
Law and Development, UNEP convened a first meeting on liability and
compensation in London, gathering experts from the United Nations,
Governments and the academic community.
268. UNEP provides scientific and administrative support to the
secretariats of environmental conventions. The Lusaka Agreement on
Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna
and Flora, which aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate illegal
international trafficking in African wildlife, was concluded in September
1994 by six eastern and southern African countries. The United Nations
International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa, provides for a substantive role for UNEP in awareness-raising and
the formulation and implementation of programmes to combat desertification.
The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity, held in November and December 1994, chose UNEP to
host the permanent secretariat of the Convention. UNEP has initiated a
programme to promote the safe use of biotechnology throughout the world as
one of its responses to Agenda 21. Under the auspices of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, a Timber
Working Group was established in March to study how the Convention should
be involved in the protection of timber species.
269. The first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change was held in March and April. UNEP believes
that a strong climate research base is needed to ensure the Convention's
success and to this end has been playing a central role with the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in collaboration with FAO, the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council of
Scientific Unions. Over 300 experts from countries that have ratified the
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to the Vienna
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer made significant progress
in proposing possible amendments and adjustments to the international
treaty during a one-week session at Nairobi from 8 to 12 May. It was the
second time since its inception in 1987 that the Montreal Protocol had been
reviewed, demonstrating the determination of the world community to find
solutions to many ozone-related issues that should be resolved by the
December 1995 meeting at Vienna of the parties to the Protocol. Final
recommendations will be made at a meeting at Geneva from 28 August to 1
September 1995, at which proposed amendments and adjustments to the
Protocol will be considered, including advanced phase-out of methyl bromide
and a revised phase-out schedule for chlorofluorocarbons and halons by the
developing countries. Meanwhile, the multilateral fund for the
implementation of the Montreal Protocol has disbursed $303 million to
finance about 830 projects in 81 developing countries.
270. An intergovernmental agreement aimed at conserving the migratory
waterbirds of Africa and Eurasia was adopted in June at The Hague at a
meeting held under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals. This new agreement covers more than 150
species of birds that are ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least
part of their annual cycle. The coastal States of the Mediterranean Action
Plan the oldest and strongest of the UNEP regional seas programmes
adopted a cross-sectoral approach to environmental protection and
development of the Mediterranean basin at the Ninth Ordinary Meeting of the
Contracting Parties to the Convention, held from 9 to 10 June at Barcelona.
The scope and geographical coverage of the revised Convention and Action
Plan were also expanded to ensure the integration between the marine
environment, the coastal areas and the associated coastal watersheds,
including water resources, and soil, forest and plant coverage.
271. The Executive Director of UNEP is chairing the Working Group on
Sustainable Freshwater Resources for Africa within the Secretary-General's
Special Initiative on Africa. A draft report was submitted to the meeting
of the Group held in July at Geneva for the purpose of promoting dialogue
and collaborative management of water resources among riparian States
sharing international water resources. To that end UNEP has been
implementing a series of new projects in integrated management of water
resources. In June a meeting of experts was held on a diagnostic study for
the Nile basin as the first phase in the development of a comprehensive
management plan for the basin.
272. At the first meeting of the Environmental Emergencies Advisory
Group, held in January, experts from 24 countries commended the work of the
Joint UNEP/Department of Humanitarian Affairs Environment Unit, which was
established in 1994 and has since carried out a number of emergency
assessments of the oil spills in Arctic Russia.
273. UNEP efforts to link environmental and economic concerns are
gaining momentum. At a workshop convened by UNEP and the World Bank in
March, international experts urged the leading financial institutions to
incorporate social and environmental objectives in their structural
adjustment programmes. Another workshop was held in March to review the
environmental impact of trade policies. UNEP has agreed to take a leading
role in the development of methodologies for sustainability indicators. In
a workshop hosted by the Philippines in May and June, government
representatives from 33 countries, agencies, development banks and
industries developed a framework for the sustainable management of reefs as
outlined in the International Coral Reef Initiative: the UNEP regional seas
programme was recognized as an appropriate vehicle for that effort. The
implementation of Agenda 21 was reviewed in Paris in June by UNEP and 50
major international and national industry associations. This annual
consultative meeting of UNEP facilitated information exchange among
industries on the activities they have undertaken to promote sustainable
production and consumption patterns world wide.
274. From May to June in Mexico City, 50 experts in urban and
environmental management from Latin America analysed major problems
hindering the efforts of the region's mega-cities towards sustainability.
The result was a document prepared in collaboration with UNEP that will be
presented at the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II) to be held at Istanbul in June 1996.
275. The Governing Council of UNEP held its eighteenth session at
Nairobi, from 15 to 26 May, adopting a record number of 64 decisions, all
by consensus. A programme activity budget of $90-105 million was approved
for the next biennium. UNEP celebrated World Environment Day on 5 June with
the theme, "We the Peoples, United for the Global Environment", in South
Africa, with the participation and support of the President of the Republic
of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela.
276. The demands placed on UNEP after the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development in 1992 have not been met with any significant
increase in financial resources to the Programme. The further expected
reduction of the voluntary contributions to the Environment Fund of UNEP
and the unpredictability of payments constitute principal constraints for
the future of the Programme and its capability to provide an effective
service to the international community.
4. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
277. At a time when approximately one quarter of the world's population
is either inadequately housed or is homeless, the growing global shelter
crisis resulting from uncontrolled urbanization and rural poverty is
imparting new urgency to the mandate of the United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements (Habitat), under the direction of Mr. Wally N'Dow.
278. To address these far-reaching challenges, the Centre has embarked
on a number of major initiatives. Central to these are preparations now
under way for the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II), also known as the "City Summit". Through its declaration of
principles and commitments and its global plan of action, Habitat II is
expected to reaffirm the importance of human settlements in national and
international development policies and strategies.
279. The recently concluded second session of the Preparatory Committee
of the Conference mobilized those whose collaboration is essential to the
forging of new partnerships for managing the urban environment: national
Governments, local authorities and their international associations,
private sector enterprises, civic groups and non-governmental and
community-based organizations. Through a series of regional meetings,
supported and/or organized by the regional economic commissions, countries
are now taking stock and identifying common concerns with respect to their
regions.
280. Preparations have begun on several Habitat II-related conferences,
including the International Conference on Best Practices in Improving the
Living Environment, to be convened in Dubai in November. Organizations and
agencies of the United Nations system, as well as professional associations
and research institutions, are collaborating with the Centre in sponsoring
an extensive series of workshops, seminars, colloquiums and round tables
related to the Conference's two main themes: adequate shelter for all and
sustainable human settlement development in an urbanizing world.
281. The Centre continues to monitor and coordinate the implementation
of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, which will also be
reviewed by Habitat II in 1996. Technical assistance activities geared to
that end were undertaken by the Centre in 91 countries over the reporting
period, especially in the areas of urban management, environmental planning
and management, disaster mitigation and reconstruction, housing policy and
urban poverty reduction. Significant interregional programmes are currently
being implemented, in urban management, sustainable cities and the housing
and urban indicators programme. Among the major reconstruction projects
under way in 1995 were those in Afghanistan and in Rwanda.
282. Capacity-building activities were expanded in the countries in
transition of eastern and central Europe and the countries of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Progress was achieved in
introducing gender issues in human settlement-related training programmes.
New initiatives have been launched with UNEP and WHO to promote
environmental health in human settlements and work is proceeding on the
second Global Report on Human Settlements, which will be launched at
Habitat II.
283. Africa is an important focus of the Centre's activities. Over the
reporting period, new responsibilities have been entrusted to the Centre by
the Inter-Agency Task Force for the United Nations New Agenda for the
Development of Africa in the 1990s. The Centre will be the associate lead
agency responsible for urban management and human settlement programmes and
policies and for the continuum from relief to development.
284. Securing adequate levels of funding to carry out its expanding
mandate and role within the development agenda of the United Nations,
including support for Habitat II, is one of the most important challenges
facing the Centre. The urgent need for United Nations and bilateral donor
emergency assistance to redress the effects of civil wars and natural
disasters has resulted in continuing reductions in the level of funding
available for the Centre's development cooperation activities of a longer-
term nature.
C. Operational activities for development
1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
285. As the principal arm of the United Nations for the funding and
coordination of technical assistance and development, UNDP, under its
Administrator, Mr. James Gustave Speth, has contributed to the development
debate at both the conceptual and operational levels internationally and
in the countries it serves.
286. To strengthen its own capacity to give policy guidance and support
in priority areas, UNDP restructured its Bureau for Policy and Programme
Support to include four thematic divisions, on social development and
poverty elimination, management development and governance, sustainable
energy and environment, and science and technology.
287. Path-breaking legislation on the future of UNDP and on the
successor programming arrangements for the next period was approved by the
Executive Board of UNDP and UNFPA in June. The decision on the future of
UNDP continued the process of redefining its role. The Board recognized
poverty elimination as the overriding priority in UNDP programmes and urged
concentration on areas where UNDP has demonstrable comparative advantages,
in particular in capacity-building.
288. The Board's decision on successor programming arrangements
constituted a major turning-point for UNDP, replacing the programming
system that had been in effect since the "consensus" decision of 1970. The
new system is intended to provide greater flexibility in the assignment of
resources, as well as greater incentives for the formulation of focused,
high-impact and high-leverage programmes to promote sustainable human
development.
289. At the conceptual level, the Human Development Report, a report to
UNDP, prepared by a team of independent development experts, has
contributed to the international development debate. The 1995 Report
focuses on gender issues and on valuing women's work as a contribution to
the Fourth World Conference on Women.
290. Several Governments have requested assistance in the preparation of
their own national human development reports, based on the methodologies
used in the Human Development Report. National reports have been published
in 9 countries in all regions in 1994 and 1995 and are in preparation in
close to 40 more, including several in central and eastern Europe and CIS.
In other countries, such as Botswana, Egypt and Bolivia, exercises based on
the human development methodology for the collection of disaggre-gated data
have been conducted. Overall, the reports and data collection exercises
help to identify groups excluded from the benefits of development, whether
for reasons of poverty, gender or geographic location, and to propose
environmentally sound strategies for their inclusion.
291. The national long-term perspective studies programme, introduced in
1991, has helped African countries define national priorities to guide
their development over a 25-year "futures" horizon. By 1994, the programme
was active in 11 countries.
292. UNDP has assisted many programme countries in the preparation of
their positions at global forums. Through the resident coordinator system,
UNDP has contributed at the national level to preparations for the Fourth
World Conference on Women. Several dozen reports on the status of women
were prepared for the Conference, most of them based on gender analysis and
the collection of disaggregated data. UNDP facilitated dialogue in each
country among the organizations of Government, the United Nations and civil
society. UNDP is now integrating the broader concept of gender in the
programming process. For example, in 1993, the Government of Turkey, with
support from UNDP, launched a programme for the enhancement of women's
participation in the nation's development. Training was conducted on such
topics as women and employment, women and entrepreneurship, and women and
violence. UNDP is also cooperating with UNCHS in the preparations for
Habitat II.
293. In 1994, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank
and Governments of the region, UNDP co-sponsored development-related
preparations for the Summit of the Americas, which mapped out areas for
enhanced regional cooperation and development and for movement towards
greater participation in development planning and management. In the Asia
and Pacific region, UNDP sponsored a regional meeting of development
ministers at Kuala Lumpur to facilitate dialogue on strategies for
collaboration and for development in the region. It was also heavily
involved in the preparations for the International Convention to Combat
Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, assisting with both the preparation of country positions and the
conventions themselves.
294. UNDP experience shows that concepts can only be developed and
tested against operational activities. In January 1995, in order to serve
development professionals, UNDP pulled together national experience in 13
monographs in the UNDP Series on Sustainable Human Development: Country
Strategies for Social Development. The series was launched during the
preparatory process for the World Summit for Social Development.
295. Inter-agency Cooperation has been furthered by widening the
resident coordinator pool to encompass candidates from the joint
consultative group on policy agencies as well as from the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United
Nations Secretariat. Since January 1994, a total of six resident
coordinators have so far been selected from the United Nations, UNICEF, the
World Food Programme (WFP), UNIDO and UNCTAD. It is hoped that this will
lead to greater understanding of the priorities of different agencies and
an enhanced sense of ownership of the resident coordinator system on the
part of the agencies.
296. In many countries, resident coordinators have established sectoral
subcommittees led by the relevant United Nations agency representative to
ensure coordination at the sectoral level. Joint training of United Nations
agency representatives and resident coordinators at the ILO Turin Centre
has been stepped up. A total of 13 workshops had been held by April 1995,
with 63 staff from UNDP and 305 staff from other United Nations agencies
being trained. To give further support to inter-agency coordination, UNDP
has established an Inter-Agency Coordination and External Policy Office
within a restructured Bureau for Resources and External Affairs.
297. Considerable success has been achieved in increasing the clarity of
respective roles within the United Nations system. A statement of
principles was signed with UNEP outlining respective roles and an intention
to collaborate between the two organizations. A statement of principles was
also signed with FAO on food security, a central aspect of sustainable
human development in many countries. The high-level task force between UNDP
and the World Bank was revitalized, resulting in the negotiation of a
revised statement of principles for collaboration between the two agencies,
in particular in the areas of forestry and poverty alleviation. Joint
programming in select countries is expected to begin in the coming year.
Finally, discussions are taking place between UNDP and UNHCR on the
collaborative efforts to reintegrate populations displaced by war.
298. The Administrator of UNDP established a task force under the
chairmanship of the Associate Administrator for further strengthening the
role of the regional economic commissions. Mechanisms are being established
with collaboration between UNDP and the commissions for coordinating
United Nations activities at the regional and subregional levels.
299. UNDP has improved its support to the round-table process in order
to achieve more regular meetings and a sharper focus on policy and resource
mobilization. The 1994 round table for the Gambia raised $400 million. Four
others were organized in Africa in 1994 (Central African Republic, Guinea-
Bissau, Mali and Seychelles). The two organized in Asia, for the Lao
People's Democratic Republic and Maldives, raised $500 million and $100
million respectively. The 1995 round table for Rwanda raised $587 million.
300. UNDP is playing a more active role in consultative group meetings,
focusing on capacity for sustainable human development. At the consultative
group for the Philippines, the UNDP-sponsored Philippine Human Development
Report 1994 served as a principal reference for the agenda item on
sustainable development.
301. In March, the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and
Programme of Action adopted by the World Summit for Social Development
called on UNDP to organize United Nations system efforts towards capacity-
building at the local, national and regional levels. In April, the
Administrator sent a detailed proposal for UNDP follow-up strategy to all
133 country offices. In June, the Executive Board of UNDP adopted key
decisions on following up the Summit and mandated poverty elimination as
its overriding priority within the framework of the goals and priority
areas agreed to the previous year in support of sustainable human
development. The Administrator has asked the UNDP country offices to
consult with national counterparts on how the United Nations system can
best assist each country in implementing the recommendations of the Summit,
in particular in developing national strategies and programmes for poverty
elimination. Other areas include the macroeconomic framework for a greater
emphasis on poverty reduction; social sector policy and planning; systems
to assist vulnerable groups; and poverty definitions, indicators and
assessments. UNDP has set up a rapid response system to provide information
required for Summit follow-up and to support shifts in programme emphasis.
302. Poverty elimination, as addressed by the Copenhagen Declaration and
Programme of Action, requires participation and empowerment of people at
all levels. This requires effective outreach mechanisms that make use of
local government, institutions of civil society such as village and
community groups and institutions of traditional government, national and
international non-governmental organizations, United Nations Volunteer
specialists and United Nations specialized agencies. Most importantly, it
involves empowerment of target communities in the identification and
communication of their own needs and in the management of the
implementation of projects and programmes geared to eliminating critical
constraints to their development. During 1994 and 1995, the United Nations
Capital Development Fund provided local development funds in addition to
larger-scale infrastructure and credit facilities. These funds involve the
community, whether through community groups or local government bodies, in
establishing priorities and in implementing micro-scale infrastructure
projects.
303. To target those who are marginalized in economic or social terms
but nevertheless have the potential for productive livelihood requires pro-
poor macro-policies geared to build on the productivity of the poor. Many
UNDP-supported programmes and projects, as in Sri Lanka and Uganda, have
demonstrated how to bring participation, employment and empowerment to poor
people. In recognition of the importance of rural agriculture in the
alleviation of poverty, employment creation, the preservation of the
environment and bringing women into the mainstream of economic development,
guidelines for UNDP, government and other development practitioners,
entitled "Sustainable Human Development and Agriculture", have been
produced and now serve as a basic reference for programming in UNDP.
304. UNDP took several initiatives in 1994 to promote greater
participation by the potential actors and beneficiaries of development. The
Conference on Peace and Development, held in Honduras in October 1994,
represented the climax of effort by the countries of the region to build
consensus on the issues of peace and democratization in Central America.
The Conference brought together representatives of Governments, the private
sector, cooperatives, trade unions, indigenous communities, universities,
regional organizations and the donor community, thus institutionalizing the
dialogue with civil society.
305. Employment generation requires deepening collaboration between UNDP
and ILO to identify market demand systematically and to create economically
viable jobs that foster sustainable livelihoods. For example, in Ethiopia,
the Government has formulated a national programme on human resource
development and utilization that looks at both the supply and demand for
human resources. The employment and livelihoods subprogramme has set a
target of creating 24,000 additional jobs per year over five years and
focuses on areas such as the informal sector, promotion of small and
medium-scale enterprises, agricultural wage employment and rural on- and
off-farm employment.
306. Protection and regeneration of the environment has been advanced by
UNDP for national capacity-building in the follow-up and implementation of
Agenda 21 and the Montreal Protocol. China has developed, with UNDP support
and with the involvement of over 50 government agencies, research
institutes and public organizations, an Agenda 21 strategy. UNDP helped to
organize a donor conference during which the Government presented 62 high-
priority projects covering such areas as sustainable agriculture; cleaner
production; clean energy; conservation and sustainable use of natural
resources; pollution control; population growth; and an improvement in the
status of people's health, education and general welfare.
307. To meet the growing demand for national capacity to manage complex
environmental concerns, a new Division for Sustainable Energy and
Environment was established in August 1994 within the Bureau for Programme
and Policy Support. It will further support efforts to incorporate
environmental concerns at the earliest possible stages of economic
decision-making and promote the full implementation of Agenda 21.
308. A new initiative for sustainable energy is being formulated to
support programme formulation and to provide for greater access to improved
energy technology. UNDP, along with UNEP, UNIDO and the World Bank, are the
four implementing agencies assisting some 31 developing countries to
eliminate ozone-depleting substances in a programme financed by the
multilateral fund under the Montreal Protocol. As at 31 December 1994,
total approved budgets amounted to $79.61 million. Eleven country
programmes have been approved with UNDP as lead agency and 19 capacity-
building (institution-strengthening) projects are under way. Out of a total
of 97 projects completed, 20 involve technology transfer investment
projects, which have phased out 1,455 tons of ozone-depleting substances.
309. The governance issues concerning the Global Environment Facility
have been resolved and the Facility's Instrument has been approved,
delineating the roles of UNEP, UNDP and the World Bank. By December 1994,
the UNDP Global Environment Facility pilot phase portfolio consisted of 55
technical assistance projects and 28 pre-investment feasibility studies. In
1995, UNDP launched the post-pilot phase, with 20 projects. As the
Programme's main effort to implement Agenda 21, Capacity 21 completed its
first full year of operation in 1994, with a solid portfolio of national
programmes in all regions. By August 1995, the environmental management
guidelines training workshop, a major capacity-building initiative, had
been held in 122 countries, involving 3,600 participants.
310. UNDP is supporting public sector reform in many countries. In Viet
Nam, UNDP is helping with reform of the legal, financial and monetary
systems, with particular emphasis on social adjustment concerns. It has
been assigned the main responsibility for support to the Government in the
coordination and management of external cooperation resources. Similar
activities are under way in Lebanon, Peru and Zambia. In March, a regional
meeting of Latin American and eastern European experts was held in
Argentina to discuss how prudent use of regulation, competition and social
safety nets can be combined to ensure that privatization contributes to
sustainable human development.
311. During 1994, the United Nations Capital Development Fund began
working with UNDP units dealing with governance in selected developing
countries. The aim is to promote decentralization by attracting technical
cooperation to the local level and providing the capital assistance
necessary for newly established local authorities to gain experience in
administering development programmes.
312. Collaborating closely with the Electoral Assistance Division of the
Secretariat, UNDP has responded to an increasing number of country requests
relating to the introduction or enhancement of the electoral process,
including, in Africa, Chad, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Togo and Uganda,
and, in Latin America, Brazil and Mexico. United Nations Volunteer
specialists served as electoral observers and facilitators in Mozambique
and South Africa. Other UNDP-supported initiatives have aimed to ensure
access to due process and acquired rights. For instance, an international
ombudsman workshop was held in the Russian Federation as part of the
democracy, governance and participation programme for the States of eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union.
313. UNDP is attempting to promote sustainable development even in the
midst of internal conflict situations. The importance of ensuring that
humanitarian relief is linked to sustainable human development is widely
accepted as a prerequisite for countries to resume progress and rebuild
capacity as soon as possible. A case in point is Somalia, where despite the
difficult security situation, UNDP managed to continue an active rural
rehabilitation programme in some parts of the country.
314. In 1994-1995, UNDP substantively enhanced its assistance in two
situations in particular. Firstly, resources for the UNDP programme of
assistance to the Palestinian people doubled to $25 million between 1993
and 1994. Secondly, the Government of South Africa and UNDP concluded
negotiations and signed the Basic Standard Agreement in October 1994 during
the visit of President Nelson Mandela to Headquarters during the general
debate of the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session.
315. In other institutional developments, UNDP has become the first
United Nations organization to be accepted as a member of the Society for
Worldwide Inter-Bank Financial Telecommunications, a financial
communications system using leased lines owned by banks. This has improved
cash management capabilities while achieving savings of $250,000 per year
in general operating expenditures and reductions in staff costs.
316. The year 1994 was the mid-point of the current fifth indicative
planning figure cycle (1992-1996), and 16 mid-term reviews were completed.
It was found that fifth-cycle country programmes were essentially
strategic, aimed at a limited number of major national or regional
development objectives. As such, they are distinctly more focused than in
previous cycles. They aim to reduce the number of individual projects and,
as called for in General Assembly resolution 44/211 of 22 December 1989, to
move towards the programme approach under national execution, with strong
emphasis on national ownership and commitment. For example, in the Lao
People's Democratic Republic, individual projects have been reduced from 50
to 15 and in the regional programme for Asia and the Pacific from 350 to
80. National ownership is being reinforced, with an increase in the rate of
national execution from 34 per cent of approvals in 1991 to 53 per cent in
1994.
317. In 1994, voluntary contributions by member countries to UNDP core
resources amounted to $917.57 million (see fig. 8). Contributions to non-
core resources, including UNDP-administered funds, trust funds, cost-
sharing arrangements and government cash counterpart contributions, raised
the total funds administered by UNDP to over $1.8 billion (see fig. 9).
There has been a continued rise in funds received through cost-sharing
arrangements, with cost-sharing contributions increasing by 58.7 per cent
in 1994 (see fig. 10). Total field programme expenditures for technical
cooperation activities in 1994 amounted to approximately $1,036.50 million.
318. It became clear in 1994 that the UNDP biennial budget would have to
be reduced further to keep administrative costs in line with declining core
programme resources. This is in spite of the fact that between the biennial
budgets for 1992-1993 and 1994-1995 a total of $53.6 million was cut from
the administrative budget. Cuts have been made primarily by reducing staff
positions both at headquarters (26 per cent) and at the country level (8
per cent).
319. The stagnation of UNDP core resources since 1992 and the current
uncertain outlook reflect the global situation with regard to development
cooperation. It is a cause for concern that notwithstanding the substantial
adjustments undertaken in response to the changed conditions of the post-
cold-war era, the resource base for UNDP has been seriously eroded. The
1995 contributions to the central resources of UNDP are expected to amount
to approximately $937 million. This is much lower than the originally
projected level under Governing Council decision 90/34, which, on the basis
of resources of $1 billion, called for an 8 per cent annual increase during
the fifth programming cycle (1992-1996). Viewed in the context of that
decision, the shortfall for the cycle would amount to approximately
$1.4 billion. For this reason, the Executive Board of UNDP decided to
reduce national indicative planning figures by 30 per cent from their
original levels.
320. Tragically, 17 UNDP staff members lost their lives in 1994 while
serving the cause of development.
2. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
321. Ms. Carol Bellamy was appointed the fourth Executive Director of
UNICEF, succeeding Mr. James P. Grant, who had led the Organization for 15
years until his death in January 1995. The new Executive Director has
indicated that improving the financial management and administrative and
programme systems of UNICEF and ensuring more effective and efficient
programme delivery will allow UNICEF to move into the next century (see
fig. 11).
322. 1995 is the mid-point of the decade-long strategy of the World
Summit for Children to meet global objectives for the welfare of children.
The international community's goals and objectives for children and the
broad outline of a global strategy have been set for the remainder of the
decade by the World Summit for Children and by the imperatives of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child. The International Conference on
Population and Development and the World Summit for Social Development have
reiterated the commitment of the international community to these goals.
The Fourth World Conference on Women, to be held at Beijing in September
1995, can be expected to take these commitments a stage further, with a
heightened emphasis on the need for gender equity and equality and for
special attention to the girl-child.
323. The progress report presented to the UNICEF Executive Board on
follow-up to the World Summit for Children noted that impressive progress
was under way and that the majority of developing countries were on track
to achieve a majority of the goals.
324. In 1994, UNICEF supported programmes in 149 countries 46 in
Africa, 37 in Latin America and the Caribbean (including 10 Caribbean
island countries), 34 in Asia (including 13 Pacific island countries), 14
in the Middle East and North Africa and 18 in central and eastern Europe,
the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States. The total
programme expenditure reached $801 million. The third issue of The Progress
of Nations, released in June 1995, provided up-to-date data on indicators
for monitoring progress towards the goals, ranking countries according to
their results.
325. UNICEF is addressing the main causes of child mortality, with a
focus on prevention, including immunization and the prevention and
treatment of the major killers acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal
diseases and malaria in areas of high endemicity. Immunization coverage was
sustained globally at the 80 per cent level, but the regional average in
Africa remained significantly lower, as it did in 1993. The Bamako
Initiative, as a strategy for strengthening local primary health care
systems, expanded to 33 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Global
and country-level activities continued to achieve goals for the year 2000
of universal iodization of salt and vitamin A distribution to all
vulnerable people.
326. Most countries in East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East
achieved the mid-decade goal of universal access to primary education.
However, more than one half of developing countries, including high-
population countries in South Asia and Africa, still have to make major
strides before all their children can be provided adequate opportunities
for basic education. Girls' primary education was the dominant component of
UNICEF support for education in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the
Middle East and North Africa.
327. UNICEF assisted some 100 countries in achieving their water supply
and sanitation goals and worked to refine strategies that emphasize
sustainability and maximize health and socio-economic benefits. Progress
was made in gaining acceptance of the women's equality and empowerment
framework, as well as the life-cycle approach, as tools for promoting
gender-balanced programmes for children and development.
328. UNICEF is committed to mainstream development programming,
particularly as related to activities in basic social services. While
pursuing these long-term development efforts, UNICEF was also called upon
to play an active role in responding to many emergencies in which women and
children were the hardest-hit victims. Approximately 25 per cent of
UNICEF's programme expenditure in 1994 was devoted to providing life-saving
essential services for children and women in emergencies.
329. In the former Yugoslavia, UNICEF was charged with a mandate to
provide relief assistance in situations of great insecurity for its own
staff. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Tajikistan, UNICEF helped to
address the special needs of refugee populations and internally displaced
people through the re-establishment of the cold chain, the provision of
basic vaccines and health supplies, and support for educational systems.
330. UNICEF continues to pay special attention to Africa and other least
developed countries. Despite the continuing and threatening emergencies in
certain parts of sub-Saharan Africa, there are many positive developments
that go almost unnoticed. In the areas of special action for children, 25
of the 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have either increased or
sustained the immunization levels of 75 per cent or higher reached in 1990;
the usage rate of oral rehydration therapy has now reached 50 per cent;
salt iodization measures are being implemented in 28 of the 39 countries
affected by iodine deficiency disorders; and guinea worm disease is well on
the way to being eliminated from most of Africa.
331. Africa remains the continent with the greatest needs. UNICEF
devotes some 38 per cent of its financial and human resources to sub-
Saharan Africa. It helps build capacities and empower communities and
families. In countries emerging from disasters, programmes will aim at
strengthening local capacity, solidarity and coping mechanisms, which could
become the embryo of new societies. At the national level, UNICEF is
strengthening its ability to support Governments in policy development
affecting children and in mobilizing resources for children. At the same
time, UNICEF is participating actively in a United Nations-wide initiative
for Africa, working to strengthen country-level collaboration towards all
the elements of sustainable human development, poverty reduction and
accelerated economic growth.
332. Unaccompanied children and internally displaced people were a major
challenge for UNICEF in Rwanda, where an unprecedented relief effort was
mounted to protect refugees from the rapid spread of disease and famine. In
Angola, Burundi and Somalia, UNICEF continued to provide assistance in the
areas of health, education and water supply and sanitation. In Mozambique,
under a national plan of reconstruction, UNICEF reoriented its emergency
activities towards rebuilding basic services for health, water supply and
sanitation and education. In Liberia and Sierra Leone, despite facing an
increasingly difficult situation, UNICEF continued to provide essential
emergency services. Trauma counselling and physical rehabilitation for
handicapped children were priorities, as were programmes for violently
abused women and girls and vocational training for child soldiers.
333. The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been embraced by more
States than any other human rights treaty in history. By August 1995, 177
parties had ratified the Convention, with only 17 countries needed to
attain the goal of universal ratification by the end of 1995.
334. At its forty-ninth session, the General Assembly discussed for the
first time the issue of children's rights and adopted resolutions on the
protection of children affected by armed conflicts; the need to adopt
efficient international measures for the prevention and eradication of the
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; implementation
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the plight of street
children (resolutions 49/209 to 49/212, all of 23 December 1994). UNICEF
was asked to play an active role in support of those resolutions.
Furthermore, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights, has
been assisting the Committee on the Rights of the Child in monitoring
implementation of the Convention. UNICEF is supporting the comprehensive
study of the impact of armed conflict on children in response to General
Assembly resolution 48/157 of 20 December 1993.
335. The World Summit for Social Development has provided new impetus to
the work of UNICEF on behalf of children within the United Nations system,
setting that work within a wider international effort towards poverty
eradication and social development. After two years of systematic
mobilization and persistent technical refinement in which UNICEF played an
active role along with UNDP and UNFPA, the "20/20" initiative was adopted
at the World Summit for Social Development as a legitimate and useful
instrument for guiding, assessing and monitoring overall official
development assistance and national budgetary allocations to basic social
programmes.
3. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
336. During 1994, UNFPA, directed by Dr. Nafis Sadik, supported
population programmes in 137 countries and territories. The Fund operates
field offices, each headed by a country director, in 60 of those countries.
The year 1994 will be remembered as the year the international community
changed the way it looks at population issues. That change in perception
actually evolved over two decades and culminated in the adoption of the
Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and
Development, held at Cairo in September of that year.
337. The Programme of Action was the product of more than three years of
intense deliberation and negotiation between Governments, non-governmental
organizations, community leaders, technical experts and interested
individuals. The Programme of Action goes beyond mere numbers and
demographic targets and places human beings and their well-being at the
centre of all population and sustainable development activities. It also
sets out quantitative and qualitative goals and objectives to be reached by
all countries by the year 2015: to provide universal access to reproductive
health and family planning services; to reduce infant, child and maternal
mortality; and to provide access to primary education for all girls and
boys.
338. The Conference, and the Programme of Action it produced, spawned a
series of internal and external assessments of UNFPA. For example, each
UNFPA geographical division conducted internal reviews of existing policies
and programmes and convened regional meetings to consider the implications
of the Conference for their respective regions.
339. UNFPA held a series of joint workshops with partner agencies in the
United Nations development system to examine how best to translate the
recommendations of the Programme of Action into actions at the country and
local levels. These workshops focused on the key areas of the Fund's
programme reproductive health and family planning (with WHO);
information, education and communication (with UNESCO and WHO); and
population data, policy and research (with ILO) and involved advisers
from the UNFPA technical support services/country support team system,
including technical support services specialists from the respective United
Nations agencies and organizations. These regional and technical
consultations helped UNFPA assess the policy and programme implications of
the Conference for the future work of UNFPA.
340. The programme priorities and future directions of UNFPA in the
light of the Conference were considered by the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board
at its annual session in June 1995. The Executive Board, in its decision
95/15, supported the broad outline of the future programme of assistance of
UNFPA, which must be implemented in full accordance with the Programme of
Action of the Conference, and endorsed the Fund's core programme areas of
reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health,
population and development strategies, and advocacy. The Board also
recommended, in its decision 95/20, that the Economic and Social Council
and the General Assembly endorse the agreement between UNDP and UNFPA to
designate UNFPA resident country directors as UNFPA representatives.
341. On 19 December 1994, the General Assembly adopted resolution
49/128, entitled "Report of the International Conference on Population and
Development", in which it emphasized the importance of continued and
enhanced cooperation and coordination by all relevant organs, organizations
and programmes of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies,
and requested them to take appropriate measures to ensure the full and
effective implementation of the Programme of Action. In resolution 49/128,
the Assembly decided that the Population Commission should be renamed the
Commission on Population and Development and that it should meet on an
annual basis beginning in 1996.
342. On behalf of the Secretary-General and at the request of the
Administrator of UNDP, the Executive Director of UNFPA convened in December
1994 the first meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Implementation
of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population
and Development. The meeting, attended by 12 United Nations organizations,
worked to establish a common framework for follow-up to the Conference and
other conferences in the social sector. The Task Force decided to use
working groups to develop operational guidelines for use by resident
coordinators to promote inter-agency collaboration at the country level in
the following areas: (a) a common data system at the national level in the
field of health, notably in the areas of infant, child and maternal
mortality; (b) basic education, with special attention to gender
disparities; (c) policy-related issues, including the drafting of a common
advocacy statement on social issues; (d) women's empowerment; and (e)
reproductive health.
343. To achieve the goals of the Conference, it is necessary to mobilize
resources from Governments and non-governmental organizations. At the
request of the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of UNFPA convened
a consultation on resource mobilization on 20 January 1995. The
participants suggested using existing mechanisms at the country level, such
as the resident coordinator system, the World Bank consultative groups, and
UNDP round tables, for the purpose of mobilizing country-specific
resources. It was agreed that global consultation on this topic should be
convened periodically, preferably at the time of the annual sessions of the
Commission on Population and Development.
344. In conjunction with the International Conference on Population and
Development and the World Summit for Social Development, UNFPA organized
two international parliamentarian meetings, dealing specifically with
population issues relevant to the themes of the conferences. Moreover,
UNFPA established an NGO Advisory Committee to advise on how to make better
use of and interact more effectively with non-governmental organizations
and the private sector.
345. In 1994, UNFPA organized programme review and strategy development
exercises in nine countries, providing useful inputs to the formulation of
the country strategy notes. By the end of 1994, UNFPA had undertaken a
total of 76 such exercises.
346. The Executive Board of UNFPA, in its decision 94/25, encouraged
UNFPA, given the situation in Rwanda, to support, on an exceptional basis,
in appropriate ways and in collaboration with other relief agencies,
emergency assistance to the people of Rwanda from the population programme
resources of the third UNFPA country programme for Rwanda. Subsequently,
UNFPA approved a project in Rwanda for emergency/rehabilitation assistance
to the national maternal and child health and family planning programme,
with UNICEF and UNFPA as executing agencies, and two emergency assistance
projects to meet the reproductive health needs of Rwandan refugees in
Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania. The projects in Burundi and
the United Republic of Tanzania, which were formulated in collaboration
with UNHCR, UNICEF, the African Medical and Research Foundation and local
non-governmental organizations, are progressing reasonably well. The
Executive Board, in its decision 95/14, approved the continued
implementation of decision 94/25, allowing for flexibility in sectoral
expenditure of resources from the third UNFPA country programme for Rwanda
and for overall expenditures of up to $7.8 million.
347. At the global level, UNFPA continued to support the Special
Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human
Reproduction of WHO. UNFPA also participated in the United Nations Joint
and Co-sponsored Programme on HIV/AIDS. The Fund's Global Initiative on
Contraceptive Requirements and Logistics Management Needs in Developing
Countries in the 1990s, co-funded by a number of multilateral and bilateral
donors and non-governmental organizations, organized in-depth studies on
contraceptive requirements in Brazil, Bangladesh and Egypt, generating
interest by several other countries with regard to contraceptive
requirements. The Global Initiative also produced technical reports and
organized consultative meetings and workshops.
348. The income of the Fund in 1994 was $265.3 million, compared to a
1993 income of $219.6 million, an increase of 20.8 per cent (see fig. 12).
Total expenditures for projects, from regular resources, increased from
$134.3 million in 1993 to $204.1 million in 1994, an increase of $67.1
million, or 50 per cent. Expenditures for reproductive health and family
planning programmes increased by 46 per cent, from $68.7 million in 1993 to
$100.1 million in 1994, and accounted for nearly half of all of the Fund's
project expenditures. Expenditures for information, education and
communication activities increased by 80 per cent, from $21.3 million in
1993 to $38.3 million in 1994, and accounted for 19 per cent of total
project expenditures. The remaining expenditures were divided among basic
data collection (6.6 per cent); population dynamics (5.7 per cent);
formulation, implementation and evaluation of population policies (8.1 per
cent); multisectoral activities (5.5 per cent) and special programmes (5.4
per cent).
349. In 1994, the Asia and the Pacific region received 31.5 per cent of
UNFPA programme allocations, the sub-Saharan Africa region received 31.1
per cent, the Latin America and Caribbean region 13.5 per cent and the Arab
States and Europe 11.5 per cent. Support for interregional and global
programmes amounted to 12.4 per cent of allocations.The Fund continued to
concentrate over 71 per cent of its resources in countries most in need of
assistance in the population field and notably in the poorest developing
countries. In 1994, there were 58 priority countries for UNFPA assistance:
32 in sub-Saharan Africa, 17 in Asia and the Pacific, 5 in Latin America
and the Caribbean and 4 in the Arab States.
4. World Food Programme (WFP)
350. Directed by Ms. Catherine Bertini, WFP, the food aid arm of the
United Nations system, remains on the front line of the United Nations
battle against hunger and poverty. WFP concentrates its efforts on the
neediest people in the neediest countries of the world.
351. In 1994, food assistance provided by WFP reached 57 million poor
and hungry people. Eighty-two per cent of total WFP resources went to low
income food deficit countries; the share to least developed countries was
52 per cent. Such resources support both relief and development.
352. On the development side, WFP food aid has been an effective means
of transferring income to the poor and encouraging collective action in
poor communities. Currently, some 225 development projects with an
aggregate commitment of $2.6 billion are being supported in over 80
developing countries (see fig. 13).
353. On the emergency side, WFP responds to food shortages by relying on
its network of country offices and on its expertise in transport, logistics
and procurement. During 1994, WFP provided relief assistance at a value of
over $1 billion to the victims of man-made and natural disasters in over 40
countries.
354. In 1994, WFP managed $1.5 billion of resources in food
commodities and cash in support of the hungry and poor throughout the
developing world. Over 32 million victims of man-made and natural disasters
benefited from WFP assistance in 1994. Some 16 million people participated
in food-for-work projects in support of agricultural and rural development.
Over 8 million people received supplementary feeding through WFP-assisted
education, training, health and nutrition projects.
355. About 80 per cent of WFP relief assistance in 1994 was provided to
victims of disasters coming out of civil strife or cross-border wars some
8.5 million refugees and 16.5 million internally displaced people,
representing 50 per cent of the world's population of those two groups.
More than 7 million people were victims of drought and other natural
disasters. Some 64 per cent of total WFP relief operations were in support
of needy people in Africa. The single biggest operation was in Burundi and
Rwanda, costing $242 million, or 22 per cent of total relief expenditures.
This operation, associated with tragic loss of life on a massive scale,
continues to be an urgent focus of attention for the United Nations today,
not only in Burundi and Rwanda but also in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and
Zaire. The Liberia regional programme, costing $96 million, provided
assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Liberia and in four
neighbouring countries involved in the crisis.
356. Elsewhere in the world, major emergencies faced by WFP included the
former Yugoslavia, where people continued to face food shortages and real
poverty as a result of unresolved conflicts. WFP operations in that region
amounted to $149 million. Afghanistan represents another country that is
still in a state of chronic food insecurity in the absence of peace. The
WFP regional operations in support of Afghan refugees and displaced people
cost $95 million in 1994.
357. The number, scale and duration of emergencies and disasters,
particularly those caused by armed conflict, have escalated alarmingly in
recent years. In 1994, two out of three tons of WFP-provided food aid were
distributed as relief assistance, and only one ton was used in support of
development projects. Five years ago it was the reverse. With fewer
resources for development, "silent" emergencies, in which people live in
abject poverty and chronic food insecurity, can quickly turn into acute
emergencies. Relief assistance alone does not change the vulnerability of
poor people to the next emergency. WFP is therefore making a deliberate
effort to identify ways to increase the linkages between its relief and
development assistance by integrating disaster mitigation elements into
development projects, developing capacity-building elements into relief
operations, and strengthening disaster preparedness through vulnerability
mapping, better early warning and institutional development.
358. The Programme's approach to reducing problems associated with
humanitarian emergencies is to collaborate in efforts aimed at prevention
rather than cure. Wherever possible, food aid is used to support
development goals. Africa and Asia continue to receive the largest shares
of WFP development assistance 40 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively.
However, WFP development resources continue to decline in both absolute and
relative terms with respect to emergency operations. Of the target of $1.5
billion for WFP regular development resources for the biennium 1993-1994
(approved by the Economic and Social Council and the FAO Council, and
endorsed by the General Assembly and the FAO Conference) only two thirds
was realized. As a result, the implementation of projects was often
delayed. Moreover, WFP has been unable to support all approved projects at
the level originally planned, as donors have increasingly tied and
designated their development funds.
359. Food purchases have increased significantly during the last five
years. In 1994, WFP purchased a record 1.4 million tons of food, almost
half of all the commodities distributed by the Programme. Sixty per cent of
the food commodities were bought in developing countries, maintaining the
Programme's position as the largest contributor to South-South trade in the
United Nations system.
360. WFP cooperates with other multilateral, bilateral and non-
governmental organizations at all stages of its activities. In 1994,
significant progress was made in ensuring greater collaboration in relief
operations. Joint assessments of refugee food needs (with UNHCR) and
emergency needs (with FAO) continued to be an essential part of the work of
WFP. WFP-assisted development projects in 17 countries benefited from
collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD). WFP signed a first memorandum of understanding on joint working
arrangements for emergency relief operations with a major international
non-governmental organization and will seek to conclude similar agreements
with other non-governmental organizations in the future.
361. The approach of WFP has been notably strengthened by the adoption
of principles and guidelines for a country-based programme, which includes
resourcing levels, and a criteria for project approval. Resource
arrangements are being addressed to improve predictability, accountability
and transparency, as well as actual resource levels. The General
Regulations of the Programme are being amended in the light of General
Assembly resolutions 47/199 of 22 December 1992 and 48/162 of 20 December
1993.
5. United Nations International Drug Control Programme
362. During the reporting period, the United Nations International Drug
Control Programme, headed by Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli, continued to carry out
its activities on the basis of a three-tiered strategy articulated at the
country, regional, and global levels.
363. At the country level, the Programme elaborated guidelines to assist
Governments in the preparation of national drug control master plans, that
is, national agendas that address both illicit demand and illicit supply
reduction. Support by the Programme led to the development of master plans
in 14 countries and territories in the Carib-bean. Master plan assistance
was also provided to Algeria, Guatemala, Namibia, Pakistan, the United Arab
Emirates and Viet Nam. The Programme assisted the Government of Colombia in
developing drug control components within that country's 10-year National
Alternative Development Plan, to become effective on 1 January 1996.
364. In 1994, the Programme funded a comprehensive ground survey of the
extent of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. The results to be
confirmed in a 1995 survey reveal a dry opium production volume
substantially in excess of previous estimates of 2,000 metric tons; based
on the revised estimates, Afghanistan would be the world's largest illicit
producer of opium.
365. At the regional level, the Programme held in South Africa in
November 1994 a regional workshop aimed at strengthening judiciary
cooperation against drug trafficking in southern Africa. Governments in the
region adopted a communiqu_ against corruption and a plan of action
comprising measures to strengthen drug trafficking interdiction in the
subregion.
366. In May 1995, at Beijing, the first ministerial meeting took place
between the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, China and Thailand,
all of which are parties to the memorandum of understanding on control of
illicit drugs in South-East Asia. The meeting approved the accession of
Cambodia and Viet Nam to the memorandum of understanding and endorsed an
Action Plan on subregional cooperation in drug control matters. In China,
law enforcement capabilities in Yunnan Province were strengthened with
equipment from the Programme and training needs were identified. Law
enforcement officers in the border areas of China and Myanmar launched the
establishment of an information exchange system. After the signing of a
regional memorandum of understanding in 1994, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile,
Peru and the Programme developed an action agenda for implementation in
1995-1997 emphasizing law enforcement and harmonization of demand reduction
techniques.
367. By 30 June 1995, the Baltic States, 9 Central European countries
and 12 countries of CIS had received legal assistance from the Programme.
The central Asian republics have emerged as a high priority for the
Programme, and accordingly a multisectoral subregional programme, requiring
support from the international community, has been developed.
368. In 1994-1995, the Programme continued its series of demand
reduction expert forums, with technical consultations held in Brazil, the
Bahamas, Cameroon, India and Morocco. In the context of the United Nations
Decade against Drug Abuse, a World Forum on the Role of Non-Governmental
Organizations in Drug Demand Reduction was held at Bangkok in December 1994
with participants from 115 countries. The Forum resulted in a declaration
that reinforces the partnership between the United Nations and non-
governmental organizations in demand reduction.
369. In April 1995, the Programme helped organize in Brazil the Second
International Private Sector Conference on Drugs in the Workplace and the
Community, with one result being the identification of essential elements
of corporate policy needed for drug abuse prevention. In February 1995, the
Programme and the International Olympic Committee signed a cooperation
agreement to promote sports in the prevention of drug abuse.
370. At the global level, the Programme conducted research and
synthesized the results into technical information and research papers. In
order to address complex issues in drug control, the Programme prepared
studies on the present status of knowledge on the illicit drug industry and
the economic and social impact of drug abuse and control, as well as an
interim report on the economic and social consequences of drug abuse,
presented to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its thirty-eighth session,
in March 1995.
371. The Programme's laboratory continued to expand its Quality
Assurance Programme, aimed at assisting laboratories to develop effective
laboratory practices in the analysis of drug-related matters. Eighty
laboratories world wide are participating in the International Proficiency
Testing Scheme, which assesses the performance of laboratories and enhances
output accuracy.
372. One of the major issues addressed by the Commission on Narcotic
Drugs in 1994 and 1995 was the implementation of General Assembly
resolution 48/12 of 28 October 1993 on measures to strengthen international
cooperation against the illicit production, sale, demand, traffic and
distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and related
activities. The Executive Director of the Programme convened two meetings
in 1994 of an intergovernmental advisory group and produced a report which
was examined by the Commission at its thirty-eighth session. That report
included specific recommendations on ways to strengthen international
action in drug control. The Commission, in its resolution 13 (XXXVIII),
invited States to consider the recommendations; it also requested the
Executive Director to further refine them in the light of States' comments
for submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session.
373. In response to General Assembly resolution 48/12, the International
Narcotics Control Board, an independent treaty organ, outlined its
assessment and major findings with respect to the drug control treaties in
its report for 1994. The Board also issued a special supplement on the
effectiveness of the treaties, highlighting areas in need of strengthening.
374. In September 1994 and February 1995, at the request of the
Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Programme convened a working group on
maritime cooperation to further international cooperation in combating
illicit drug traffic by sea. The recommendations and principles adopted by
the working group and endorsed by the Commission represent a milestone in
efforts to contain the problem of illicit drug shipments that traverse
international waters.
375. Also in February 1995, the Administrative Committee on Coordination
held a high-level meeting at Vienna that addressed system-wide cooperation
in drug control. The meeting resulted in recognition of the need for United
Nations programmes, funds and agencies to incorporate drug control
components into their programmes and broad support for the leadership role
of the Programme in drug control coordination.
376. The total budget of the Programme for 1994-1995 amounted to $205
million, of which approximately 93 per cent was funded from voluntary
contributions. The main share of these resources, $162 million, was used
for over 300 operational activities in 50 countries, aimed at countering
illicit drug production, trafficking and consumption. In view of the
continuous rise in drug-related problems throughout the world and the trend
of dwindling resources available for drug control, I urge Member States to
provide the political and financial support needed to pursue international
priorities in drug control.
6. Technical cooperation programmes of the United Nations secretariat
377. The focal point at United Nations Headquarters for technical
cooperation for development efforts of developing countries and countries
in transition is the Department for Development Support and Management
Services. Total project expenditures for the Department in 1994
approximated $101 million for close to 1,044 projects in over a dozen
sectors. Of that amount, UNDP funded about $51 million. The Department
disbursed 44 per cent of its expenditures in Africa. In order to carry out
its projects, over the past year the Department fielded over 900
international experts and consultants to work in collaboration with
national personnel. The Department calls on a world wide roster of over
4,330 consultants, 2,350 consulting companies and 6,330 suppliers of
equipment. The Department also helps Governments to identify, select and
purchase the most appropriate services and equipment for their development
projects and supports capacity-building for work in those areas. Training
is a vital component of such activities; in 1994, training placements were
made for some 2,500 persons from over 130 countries.
378. With the approval of the General Assembly, the Secretariat has
proceeded with the decentralization to the regional commissions of staff
and resources in the fields of natural resources and energy. These
activities are managed by the Management Board of the United Nations
Technical Cooperation Programme in Natural Resources and Energy, chaired by
the Under-Secretary-General of the Department for Development Support and
Management Services, with the participation of the regional commissions.
This coordinating body has enhanced the responsiveness and effectiveness of
assistance provided by the Organization in these areas.
379. Considerable progress has been made in forging closer links
between the Department and UNDP. This strengthened cooperation has resulted
in an increased role by the Department in "upstream" advice in development
planning and management and in technical backstopping activities at the
programme and project levels.
7. United Nations Office for Project Services
380. The United Nations Office for Project Services, formerly a part of
UNDP, was established, with the approval of the General Assembly, on 1
January 1995. Consistent with my overall plan for the restructuring of the
Secretariat, I proposed to separate the Office for Project Services from
UNDP with the objective of strengthening the operational activities of the
United Nations system for development. Within this framework, the Office
for Project Services is now the principal entity in the United Nations
system furnishing project management, implementation and support services.
381. The Office for Project Services is headed by the Executive
Director, Mr. Reinhart Helmke, who reports to me through the Management
Coordination Committee, as well as to the Executive Board of UNDP and
UNFPA.
382. The Management Coordination Committee, comprising the Administrator
of UNDP as chairman, the Under-Secretary-General for Administration and
Management, the Under-Secretary-General for Development Support and
Management Services and the Executive Director of the Office, has met twice
during the reporting period to deliberate on a number of important policy
and coordination issues relating to Office operations.
383. The Committee reviewed the business plan of the Office, its new
financial regulations, its relationship with UNDP and the Department for
Development Support and Management Services, operational follow-up
activities relating to the World Summit for Social Development, held in
1994, and a set of strategic policy guidelines defining the scope of
activities of the Office, including client partnerships and principal areas
of concentration. Four main areas of concentration were identified for
activities of the Office: executing development projects, coordinating
rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, managing environmental
programmes and administering development loans. The proposed new financial
regulations for the Office were approved by the Executive Board at the
beginning of 1995, affording a new framework from which businesslike
management practices can be instituted.
384. The portfolio of projects of the Office has grown consistently over
the past 20 years, reaching more than $1 billion in 1994. Delivery in 1994
stood at $403.1 million, up 5.3 per cent from 1993. The number of projects
in the portfolio also increased to nearly 1,900, as compared with roughly
1,700 during the previous year. In 1994, activities where the country
portfolio was in excess of $10 million were under way in more than 20
countries.
385. In addition to implementing projects on behalf of United Nations
agencies and programmes, the Office also administers management service
agreements (MSAs) on behalf of multilateral development banks, bilateral
donors and recipient Governments. Against a portfolio budget of $639
million, services provided under MSA arrangements totalled $142 million in
1994. Expenditures incurred by the Office during that year under the Global
Environment Facility and the Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention for
the Protection of the Ozone Layer amounted to more than $30 million.
386. In view of the experience it has acquired in managing post-conflict
rehabilitation since the late 1980s, the demand for the services of the
Office in designing and implementing comprehensive and integrated recovery
programmes is increasing. The applicability of the lessons learned in the
Horn of Africa, in Central America and in Asia are now being tested, for
the first time, in eastern Europe (Ukraine) and in central Asia
(Tajikistan).
387. In keeping with its field orientation and in order to render its
services more efficient, the Office has decentralized a number of
functions. In addition to the Management Support Unit established in
Central America in 1993, the Office has set up a post in Kuala Lumpur, from
which it manages programmes in South-East Asia.
D. Regional development activities
388. The regional commissions were established by the General Assembly
to serve as the main regional centres for economic and social development.
They operate at a level between global United Nations entities and country
operations. As such, the regional commissions promote regional initiatives
and strategies, contribute to in-depth studies of various issues and
support intergovernmental initiatives to elaborate norms, standards and
legal instruments. In addition, regional commissions are a forum for
dialogue for subregional groupings and help prepare regional positions to
world conferences and summit meetings held by the United Nations (see fig.
14).
1. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
389. Assisting Member States in Africa to reinforce promising trends and
overcome the obstacles to accelerated growth and socio-economic development
has defined the analytical, advocacy and advisory work of ECA under its
Executive Secretary, Mr. K. Y. Amoako. This provided the backdrop to the
thirtieth session of the Commission, held from 24 April to 3 May 1995, the
theme of which was "promoting accelerated growth and sustainable
development in Africa through the building of critical capacities". At that
session the Commission reviewed progress in the elaboration of the
Framework Agenda for Building and Utilizing Critical Capacities in Africa
and directed that the Framework Agenda be completed before the next
session, in 1996.
390. The session also adopted a declaration on external debt of African
countries which called for improvement in the Naples Terms, including an 80
per cent reduction in the total non-concessional debt of African countries,
and urged the cancellation of concessional debt rescheduled in the Paris
Club. It adopted a special memorandum on the mid-term global review of the
implementation of the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for
the 1990s scheduled for September 1995. The session noted with satisfaction
the commitment of African countries to carry out necessary reforms to
attract private investment, and invited all African countries and their
development partners to participate in the regional forum on private
investment which will be held in early 1996 at Accra.
391. At the same session the Commission strongly endorsed the need to
promote food security and self-sufficiency in Africa. In this regard, the
Commission called on Member States to create a macroeconomic environment
conducive to the development of the food and agricultural sector and
requested relevant United Nations agencies to strengthen programmes
designed to promote food security and self-sufficiency in Africa.
392. With the coming into force in May 1994 of the Abuja Treaty
establishing the African Economic Community, the Commission intensified its
efforts in support of the implementation of the Treaty. Together with the
Organization of African Unity and the African Development Bank its
partners in a Joint Secretariat the Commission participated in setting up
a committee to formulate proposals for resource mobilization in support of
the African Economic Community and formulating a framework for a working
relationship between the subregional economic communities and the Joint
Secretariat. Furthermore, the Commission undertook studies on the
rationalization and harmonization of regional economic groups in West and
Central Africa in the context of the establishment of the West African
Economic and Monetary Union and the Central African Economic and Monetary
Union.
393. The Second United Nations Transport and Communications Decade for
Africa aims at facilitating development of transport and communications in
Africa. A mid-term evaluation report of the Decade programme was examined
by the Tenth Meeting of African Ministers of Transport and Communications
held in May 1995. The main recommendations from the evaluation were that
the programmes should be streamlined, resource mobilization efforts for
Decade projects should be intensified and the beneficiaries of the Decade
programme should assume ownership. The Commission implemented four
important projects in the transport and communication sectors: human
resource and institution development in transport and communications; a
transport database; the reactivation of the Trans-African Highway Bureau;
and the Yamoussoukro Declaration on a new air transport policy for Africa.
394. With a view to assisting Member States in formulating policies and
strategies for sustainable development of natural resources, the Commission
published a document entitled "Policies and strategies for the development
and utilization of natural resources and energy in Africa". The Commission
also organized, in collaboration with the World Meteorological
Organization, an international conference entitled "Water Resources: Policy
and Assessment", held at Addis Ababa from 20 to 25 March 1995. The
Conference articulated a strategy to rehabilitate, build or adopt the
institutional financial manpower and technological capacity of countries to
assess water resources needs for socio-economic development.
395. In response to the decisions of Member States expressed at the
Regional Ministerial Conference on Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, the Commission undertook two studies on prospects for
increased production and intra-African trade in copper and copper-based
products and prospects for increased production and intra-African trade in
aluminium commodities and metal products. The studies have been well
received by Governments, private companies and entrepreneurs, as well as
regional and subregional organizations.
396. The Commission continued its efforts to promote the development of
scientific and technological capacities. It thus conducted studies on
incentives for development and the application of science and technology,
indicators for science and technology in Africa and foreign direct
investment as a vehicle for science and technology development.
Furthermore, the Commission, in collaboration with OAU, organized a round
table on the science and technology protocol of the African Economic
Community from 21 to 27 September 1994.
397. In the context of the implementation of the Second Industrial
Development Decade for Africa, the Commission assisted Member States in the
formulation of appropriate industrial policies and effective implementation
of industrial programmes. The twelfth meeting of the Conference of African
Ministers of Industry at Gaborone in June 1995 examined, among other
things, the progress made by African countries in the implementation of
their national and subregional programmes for the Decade and the role of
the private sector in the implementation of the goals of the Decade.
398. The Commission has launched a new series entitled the Human
Development in Africa Report. The 1995 edition of the report was devoted to
the themes of "Goals of the child", "Health for all" and "Basic education
for all". The Commission has intensified its activities in assistance to
Member States in integrating population development factors into socio-
economic development programmes and policies; preparation of studies and/or
workshops on family planning and reproductive health, fertility and
mortality; and the implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration on
Population, Family and Sustainable Development and the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development.
399. The sixteenth meeting of the African Regional Coordinating
Committee for the Integration of Women in Development was held from 20 to
22 April 1995 at Addis Ababa. It endorsed the African Platform for Action
for Women adopted at the Fifth African Regional Conference on Women held at
Dakar in November 1994. The African Platform for Action is the region's
common position for the Fourth World Conference on Women. At the same time,
the Commission continued its efforts related to the establishment of an
African women's bank by convening an Ad Hoc Group Meeting in August 1994 to
examine the feasibility of the creation of the bank. Entrepreneurs from
some African countries have indicated their willingness to promote the
bank. At its 1995 session, the Conference of Ministers requested further
studies to clarify certain issues concerning the establishment of the bank.
The Commis-sion's operational role in the advancement of women was matched
by the deepening of its analytical work on women's issues in Africa. For
example, the Commission's Economic and Social Survey of Africa 1995
features a special study on gender disparities in formal education in
Africa.
400. The Commission, in collaboration with the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT), UNCTAD and OAU, organized in Tunisia in October
1994 the International Conference to Assess the Impact of the Uruguay Round
on African Economies. The aim of this Conference was to evaluate the
technical requirements of African countries in adapting to the post-Uruguay
Round international trade environment.
401. During the period from December 1994 to June 1995, the Commission
fielded over 65 short-term technical advisory missions. The main
institutional vehicle for providing these advisory services is the ECA
Multidisciplinary Regional Advisory Group. ECA rendered assistance to some
Member States in the area of environmental management. It fielded advisory
missions to Eritrea on protection of the marine environment and to
Seychelles on water and environment. The Commission collaborated with UNEP
in the preparation of studies on the contribution of the coastal/marine
sector to the gross national product in the Gambia and the United Republic
of Tanzania.
402. The Commission has provided assistance to Member States in areas of
public sector management, including development of indicators for public
enterprise performance; strengthening of national statistical institutions;
establishing information management systems; and agricultural management
and policy planning. In Eritrea, for example, ECA has provided technical
assistance for public enterprise reform and management, and assisted in
establishing a national development information system and network linking
various departments of the Government. In Angola, ECA is evaluating the
development priority areas to form the basis of a policy framework for its
technical assistance to the country's socio-economic development.
403. Reflecting the diversity of requests for its support, the
Multidisciplinary Regional Advisory Group also provided technical
assistance to universities or institutes in some Member States. These
included the Institute for Diplomacy and International Studies at the
University of Nairobi, the International Relations Institute of Cameroon
and the University of Ghana, Legon. Technical assistance to these
institutions included short-term training and assistance in the
establishment of new centres within these institutions. Advisory services
were also rendered to intergovernmental, regional and subregional
organizations and institutions. These included the subregional economic
groupings, the ECA-sponsored institutions, the Intergovernmental Authority
on Drought and Development and the Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and
Development Centre. During the period under review, the Commission had a
total of 115 projects, of which 44 were terminated and 71 remained under
implementation. A total amount of $5,606,603 was made available to the
Commission under extrabudgetary resources for the implementation of the
projects.
2. Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
404. The aim of ECE is to further harmonize policies, norms and
practices among the countries of the region and to strengthen their
integration and cooperation.
405. Under the direction of Mr. Yves Berthelot, the Commission achieves
this aim through policy analysis and dialogue on macroeconomic and sectoral
issues; the elaboration of conventions, norms and standards; and a newly
developed programme of assistance to the transition process.
406. ECE has continued to accord priority to the protection of the
environment and the promotion of sustainable development, in particular in
a transboundary context. Since 1979, ECE member countries have worked
energetically to take up the environmental challenges of the region. In
particular, the Commission has elaborated nine international, legally
binding instruments on air pollution, environmental impact assessment,
industrial accidents and transboundary waters.
407. Preparations are under way for two new protocols on persistent
organic pollutants and on heavy metals to the 1979 Convention on Long-range
Transboundary Air Pollution. These legal instruments constitute a unique
legal framework for meeting environmental challenges. In order to make the
conventions and protocols fully operational region wide, the Commission, in
its decision G(50), called upon all its member States which had not already
done so, to consider the earliest possible ratification of, or accession
to, these instruments.
408. The Committee on Environmental Policy, with the assistance of its
Working Group of Senior Governmental Officials on Environment for Europe,
the central coordinating body for the Environment for Europe process,
advanced in the preparations for the Sofia Ministerial Conference on
Environment for Europe, to be held in October 1995. Among the main issues
to be considered by the Conference are the follow-up to the 1993
Environmental Action Plan for Central and Eastern Europe, the assessment of
the state of the environment for Europe and financing environmental
improvements.
409. The Committee on Environmental Policy, in cooperation with OECD,
has made progress in extending the OECD country environmental performance
reviews to central and eastern Europe. The first two joint pilot reviews of
Poland and Bulgaria have already taken place. The third review in
cooperation with OECD will take place in Belarus next year. As part of its
own environmental performance review programme the Commission has
undertaken a review of the situation in Estonia, to be concluded by the end
of 1995 and published in early 1996.
410. During the past year, the Committee on Human Settlements continued
its preparatory work for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II). The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Conference was held
and a task force was established to assist the Committee in carrying out
the preparatory work. An analytical report was prepared containing an
overview of human settlements development in the ECE region and was
submitted to the Preparatory Committee for Habitat II.
411. During the past year, the ECE Inland Transport Committee has
continued to serve as a forum for cooperation in the field of transport.
The Committee finalized and adopted two new legal instruments, bringing
their total number to 50, and adopted amendments to a number of existing
ones. Significant progress was made in the pre-paration of the European
Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance.
412. Moreover, the Inland Transport Committee progressed in the
establishment of international norms and standards for the construction of
road vehicles, covering active and passive safety, environmental protection
and energy consumption. The Committee has also paid special attention to
activities in relation to road safety under the recently revised Vienna
Convention on Road Signs and Signals and other related legal instruments.
The second Road Safety Week was organized under the auspices of ECE from 27
March to 2 April 1995 and aimed at waging simultaneous campaigns addressed
to young road users in each ECE member State. Substantive progress was also
made in the elaboration of international norms and standards for the
transport of dangerous goods by road and inland waterways and in their
harmonization with those concerning the transport of such goods by rail,
sea and air. The Committee acted on the basis of the recommendations
developed by the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods,
a subsidiary committee of the Economic and Social Council.
413. The Inland Transport Committee finalized the customs container pool
convention and prepared a draft convention on international customs transit
procedures for the carriage of goods by rail. It was decided to undertake
the revision of the Customs Convention on the International Transport of
Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) in view of the current
problems in its implementation. A report on the facilitation of border
crossing in international rail transport was prepared. A programme of
action in the area of inland transport, aimed at assisting the countries of
central and eastern Europe in their transitions to market economies, is
being implemented.
414. Work has progressed as a follow-up to the decision taken by the
Commission at its forty-ninth session, in April 1994, to convene a Regional
Conference on Transport and the Environment in 1996. The Preparatory
Committee for the Conference has thus far held five meetings and achieved
agreement on a text of draft guidelines for a common strategy on transport
and the environment.
415. The integrated presentation of international statistical work in
the ECE region has been expanded beyond the statistical work of ECE, the
European Communities and OECD to include statistical activities in the
region undertaken by the Statistical Division and the Population Division
of the United Nations Secretariat, the specialized agencies, the Council of
Europe, CIS and other international organizations.
416. ECE supports a trade facilitation programme through its Working
Party on Facilitation of International Trade Procedures. Considerable
progress was made in the development of the United Nations Electronic Data
Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT) messages.
Members of the Working Party and the secretariat participated in the United
Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency held at Columbus, Ohio,
in October 1994. A Compendium of Trade Facilitation Recommendations was
developed. A memorandum of understanding between ECE, the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) was developed and approved in order to better define
the division of responsibilities between these organizations.
417. The Guide on the Adaptation of Real Property Law of Countries in
Transition prepared under the auspices of the Working Party on
International Contract Practices in Industry, was also well received. In
the field of trade and investment promotion the secretariat continued to
publish quarterly the East-West Investment News and to update its database
on foreign direct investment projects and supporting legislation in
countries in transition.
418. The economic analysis conducted by ECE and published in the
Economic Bulletin for Europe, and the Economic Survey of Europe in 1994-
1995 provides in-depth analysis of current economic developments in Europe,
the States of the former Soviet Union, and North America. Special emphasis
is given in both publications to developments in the transition economies
of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and to their progress in
creating market economies. This year's Economic Bulletin pays special
attention to the foreign trade and payments of the transition economies and
to the level of external support they have been receiving. The latest
Survey, in addition to a detailed review of macroeconomic developments,
contains an assessment of the reform process over the last five years and a
review of international migration in eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of
Independent States.
419. Under the second phase of the Energy Efficiency 2000 project, ECE
has continued to assist countries in transition to develop their capacity
to enhance energy efficiency and to implement energy efficiency standards
and labelling.
420. In collaboration with national Governments, local institutions and
UNDP, ECE has also formulated projects for enhancing energy efficiency in
the context of programmes of conversion of military bases and manufacturing
facilities to peaceful purposes in central and eastern Europe.
421. The Gas Centre was established in 1994, supported by financial
contributions from major European and North American Governments and gas
companies. A major regional initiative, the Gas Centre brings together
almost all of the key natural gas market players in the Commission. It has
already been successful in opening dialogue among the private and public
gas companies and the Governments in the region.
422. The Working Party on Engineering Industries and Automation prepared
and published two studies entitled "World engineering industries and
automation performance and prospects, 1993-1995" and "World industrial
robots: statistics 1983-1993 and forecasts to 1997". The engineering
industries continued to influence the restructuring of industry and, in
particular, the process of investment and privatization. In this respect,
special emphasis was given to the creation of small and medium-sized
enterprises in economies in transition. At its fiftieth session, the
Commission recognized the publication Rehabilitation Engineering as an ECE
contribution to the World Summit for Social Development.
423. The Working Party on the Chemical Industry discussed the policy-
oriented issues currently facing the chemical industry and stressed the
importance of the work related to sustainable development and, in
particular, the Chemical Industry Sustainable Economic and Ecological
Development (CHEMISEED) programme. Fifteen member countries identified 40
sites polluted by chemicals for the pilot project demonstrating
environmental clean-up procedures.
424. The Working Party on Steel strengthened its regional programme on
metallurgy and ecology through: the organization of a Seminar on the Steel
Industry and Recycling; the addition to the work programme of a Seminar on
Processing, Utilization and Disposal of Waste in the Steel Industry; a
bibliography of environmental publications in the steel sector; and
activities aimed at the harmonization of regulations on environmental
protection. The Global Study on the Steel Industry in Europe was prepared
in cooperation with the European Commission, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank and the International
Iron and Steel Institute. The study also served as the basis for the
examination of the restructuring of steel industries in the economies in
transition.
425. The Working Party on Standardization Policies reviewed developments
in the fields of coordination, harmonization, conformity assessment and
metrology at the international, regional and national levels and paid
particular attention to assistance to the countries in transition with a
view to adapting existing structures to market conditions and to assisting
newly independent States to build adequate institutions. At its forty-ninth
session, the Commission adopted the recommendation on the meteorological
assurance of testing proposed by the Working Party as separate decision
H(49).
426. In the light of the decision taken by the FAO Council in June 1994
concerning the restructuring of FAO, and in particular the increased
decentralization to the regional and subregional offices, the joint ECE/FAO
Agriculture and Timber Division was dismantled in 1995. In accordance with
the decision of the Commission at its fiftieth session, in April 1995,
interim arrangements have been made to ensure the continuation of the
ECE/FAO joint activities on agriculture and the environment and on the
economic analysis of the agri-food sector. The Commission will consider a
proposal of the Executive Secretary to merge the ECE Committee on
Agriculture with the FAO European Commission on Agriculture.
427. The ECE regional advisory services programme has elaborated a
national plan of assistance to the Republic of Georgia. The first phase is
scheduled to be implemented before the end of July 1995. The experience of
this plan will be evaluated and applied to other cases of high priority.
3. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
428. The period covered by this report was marked by a certain
turbulence in economic performance in Latin America and the Caribbean. This
context, in turn, was reflected in the activities of ECLAC, headed by Mr.
Gert Rosenthal, which tries to respond to both long-term and emerging
development issues in the region.
429. In the past year, the ECLAC secretariat, which includes the Latin
American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES)
and the Latin American Demographic Centre (CELADE), focused on a number of
development issues concerned with medium-term growth (macroeconomic
management, innovation, enhancing savings and channelling them to
productive investment) and intraregional economic cooperation. In addition,
the secretariat was involved in numerous regional preparatory activities
for global events, particularly the World Summit for Social Development and
the Fourth World Conference on Women.
430. At the time of writing the present report, ECLAC was undertaking a
major mid-decade evaluation of the strategies of adjustment, stabilization
and structural reforms pursued by the region. The exercise is expected to
be particularly timely in the face of recent events affecting some Latin
American economies. The document is planned to be reviewed by the member
Governments during the forthcoming session of the Commission to be held at
San Jos_, Costa Rica, in April 1996.
431. ECLAC continued to be a meeting place for officials. In addition to
some 35 seminars held during the past 13 months, the secretariat prepared
and held the sixth session of the Regional Conference on the Integration of
Women into the Economic and Social Development of Latin America and the
Caribbean, held at Mar del Plata, Argentina, from 25 to 29 September 1994.
The secretariat played a similar role in the twenty-first meeting of
Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on the Integration of Women
into the Economic and Social Development of Latin America and the
Caribbean, held at Santiago, Chile, on 3 and 4 July 1995. Support was
provided to the third Regional Meeting of Ministers and High-level
Authorities of the Housing and Urban Development Sector in Latin America
and the Caribbean, held at Quito, Ecuador, from 16 to 18 November 1994.
432. ECLAC has been actively involved in the follow-up activities to
Agenda 21, most notably in those dealing with environmentally sustainable
management of natural resources and various sectors of activity, and the
development of statistics and environmental accounts. The extensive list of
publications and research works include a study on water resources
management in Latin America and the Caribbean from the perspective of
programme 21, and a study entitled "Hazardous products and wastes: impact
of transboundary movements towards the Latin American and Caribbean region
and possibilities for preventing and controlling it". The Commission made
relevant contributions to the preparatory work of the World Summit for
Social Development through the formulation of poverty reduction strategies
within the context of its major statement on changing production patterns
with social equity. Among the publications most recently issued are:
Proposals for a modern social policy to foster social development and
Educational inequalities: problems and policies. Work is ongoing on a
project that explores the relationships between this statement and the
promotion of economic, social and cultural rights in the region.
433. ECLAC has also continued to perform its established role of
monitoring the economic and social performance of the region. To the
Commission's list of traditional annual publications that fulfil this
function the Preliminary Overview of the Economy of Latin America and the
Caribbean, the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean and the
Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean the Social
Panorama of Latin America has now been added in keeping with the increased
level of recognition that the matter is gaining in the region. Work
continued on the setting up of the Short-term Indicators Database, the
incorporation of new international statistical classifications and the
development of a data bank on the external debt of Latin American
countries. In addition, assistance was provided to Latin American countries
in implementing the new System of National Accounts.
434. The Executive Secretary participated in the Meeting of Heads of
State of the R_o Group (September 1994), the Hemispheric Summit of Heads of
State (December 1994) and the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and
Government (July 1995).
4. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
435. Against the backdrop of the sustained dynamism of the Asia-Pacific
region, ESCAP, headed by Mr. Adrianus Mooy, has continued to focus
attention on enhancing economic growth and social development among the
countries of the region.
436. In that connection, at its fifty-first session, concluded on 1 May
1995 at Bangkok, the Commission decided to hold a ministerial conference on
regional economic cooperation and directed the secretariat to initiate
necessary preparations.
437. The Commission also placed emphasis on promotion of subregional
economic cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment. A
second consultative meeting among executive heads of subregional
organizations and ESCAP was hosted by the secretariat of the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Jakarta in January 1995.
438. The Commission emphasized the pivotal role of industrial and
technological development in sustaining the growth momentum in the region.
The Commission's work in this area was guided by several mandates and
directives as enshrined in the Seoul Plan of Action for Promoting and
Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Technology-led Industrialization in
Asia and the Pacific, the Action Programme for Regional Economic
Cooperation in Investment-related Technology Transfer, the Beijing
Declaration on Regional Economic Cooperation and the Delhi Declaration on
Strengthening Regional Economic Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific towards
the Twenty-first Century.
439. Another important development has been the fifteenth session of the
Standing Committee of the Bangkok Agreement, held at Bangkok in February
1995, which decided to launch the third round of negotiations, with a
mandate to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers and to explore the
possibility of including the services sector in due course.
440. The Commission endorsed the Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action
for the Advancement of Women in Asia and the Pacific adopted at the Second
Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development, held at
Jakarta in June 1994. The Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action served as
the regional input to the draft global platform of action for adoption by
the forthcoming Fourth World Conference on Women. Following the Ministerial
Conference, regional meetings of coordinating bodies of non-governmental
organizations and national machineries for the advancement of women were
convened to accelerate implementation of the Plan of Action.
441. An Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the
World Summit for Social Development was organized at Manila in October
1994, at which the Manila Declaration and Agenda for Action for Social
Development in the ESCAP region were adopted. As part of the preparatory
activities, a symposium of non-governmental organizations was convened by
ESCAP prior to the Ministerial Conference.
442. The Commission's initiatives with regard to its declaration of the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, continued to
generate significant activities at national and regional levels aimed at
improving the status and participation of disabled persons. To date, 30
members and associate members have signed the Proclamation on the Full
Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and
Pacific Region.
443. The Commission continued to support national efforts and activities
to promote participatory human settlements development. Preparatory work
has begun for convening an Asia-Pacific Urban Forum in 1995 which will
serve as a key preparatory activity to the second United Nations Conference
on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in 1996. The Commission is also working
closely with the Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management
of Human Settlements (CITYNET) and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights
to assist member countries in addressing urban poverty issues, particularly
as they relate to low-income housing and settlements improvement.
444. In implementing the Bali Declaration on Population and Sustainable
Development and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development, various inter-country research projects and
training courses were conducted; technical assistance was also provided
relating to such areas as family planning, population ageing, migration and
urbanization, the role and status of women and demographic analysis.
Activities of the Asia-Pacific Population Information Network (POPIN)
focused on upgrading technical skills in database development and improving
population information management and sharing.
445. Under the theme of environment and sustainable development, the
Commission focused attention on the preparations for the Ministerial-level
Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, which
will be organized by ESCAP at Bangkok in November 1995 and the prevention
of desertification including preparation of the Regional Implementation
Annex for Asia to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
in those Counties Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
particularly in Africa.
446. Under the theme of transport and communications, the Commission
pursued its activities related to the implementation of the Asian Land
Transport Infrastructure Development Programme, comprising the Asian
Highway and Trans-Asian Railway projects. Current activities under this
project include a study on developing land transport linkages of
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with seaports of the Islamic
Republic of Iran and Pakistan in the south and China in the east; a study
on the development of a highway network in Asian republics; a Trans-Asian
Railway route requirements study; and implementation of ESCAP resolution
48/11 on road and rail transport modes in relation to facilitation
measures.
447. Following the theme topic of the fiftieth session of the Commission
"Infrastructure development as key to economic growth and regional economic
cooperation", and Commission resolution 50/2 on the "Action plan on
infrastructure development in Asia and the Pacific", the Commission at its
fifty-first session adopted the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure
Development in Asia and the Pacific. The Commission decided to convene a
ministerial conference on infrastructure in 1996 to launch the New Delhi
action plan and to review phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific.
448. Special efforts were made to improve policies for tourism
development, taking into consideration the socio-economic and environmental
impact of tourism. Studies on the cultural and environmental impact of
tourism provided policy recommendations for the cultural and environmental
management of tourism development. ESCAP convened the first meeting of the
Working Group on the Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Sector in April 1995.
449. The statistics subprogramme of the Commission focused on promoting
the improvement of capabilities of national statistical offices in the
region for timely and accurate collection and dissemination of statistics
needed for development planning and decision-making. Technical meetings
were organized to support country work in the implementation of the 1993
System of National Accounts (SNA), in statistics on gender issues and in
environment statistics and environmental and resource accounting.
Assistance was also provided through advisory services, including those in
population statistics, data-processing and national accounts.
450. The Commission's reaffirmation of its predominant role in promoting
regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific was manifested in the decision
by the Russian Federation to seek a revision in its status in order to
become a regional member. The application of the Russian Federation was
unanimously endorsed by the Commission, which recommended a resolution on
the matter for submission to the substantive session of 1995 of the
Economic and Social Council.
451. To meet the need for an integrated and effective approach to
development at the regional level, an inter-agency meeting on strengthening
coordination at the regional level was convened by ESCAP in May 1994. This
meeting established the Regional Inter-agency Committee for Asia and the
Pacific under the chairmanship of the Executive Secretary of ESCAP. The
first meeting of the Committee was concluded at Bangkok in June 1995.
5. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
452. The impact of international and regional issues does not only
concern the political environment, but also affects the whole economic and
social fabric in ESCWA countries. Thus, ESCWA, headed by Mr. Hazem El-
Beblawi, undertook multidisciplinary coverage of work programme components,
combining them in a few compact areas. Thus, the Commission's work
programme was formulated around five themes featuring interrelated
activities.
453. Under the first thematic subprogramme, Management of natural
resources and environment, issues concerning the assessment and proper
management of land, water and energy resources were addressed, as well as
environmental degradation resulting from inadequate management of these
resources.
454. In the field of environment, ESCWA participated in several meetings
and workshops such as the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab
Ministers Responsible for Environment. A report was completed on progress
made in the ESCWA plan to implement Agenda 21 in the region which was
presented to the Commission at its eighteenth session, in May 1995, as well
as to the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Economic and Social
Council. Furthermore, ESCWA, in its capacity as a member of the Executive
Committee of the Joint Committee on Environment and Development in the Arab
Region, participated in its fifth meeting at Cairo in July 1995. The
meeting discussed the implementation of the decisions of the second meeting
of the Joint Committee and preparations for a meeting on biodiversity in
the Arab region. The meeting also included discussions on two technical
reports on the establishment of an integrated environmental information
network in the Arab region.
455. A report was prepared by ESCWA on activities related to the
protection of the ozone layer, while issues pertaining to resource
conservation were addressed through studies on wildlife conservation for
sustainable development in the Arab countries and the assessment of the
fisheries sector in the United Arab Emirates. In the field of water
resources, ESCWA organized a meeting at Amman from 12 to 14 September 1994
of the Inter-agency Task Force on modalities of cooperation and
coordination among United Nations specialized agencies and Arab regional
agencies involved in various water-related activities. The meeting
recommended that ESCWA serve as the secretariat for the Inter-agency Task
Force. A long-term project on the assessment of water resources using
remote-sensing techniques is under way.
456. The second thematic subprogramme, Improvement of the quality of
life, includes activities to provide support for ESCWA member States in
preparing, at the national and regional levels, for world conferences and
meetings. Reports were submitted to the Commission at its eighteenth
session on all preparatory and follow-up activities for meetings and
conferences such as the International Conference on Population and
Development, the International Year of the Family, the World Summit for
Social Development, the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II) and the Fourth World Conference on Women.
457. The Commission participated in the preparatory committee for the
World Summit for Social Development and in the Summit itself. It also
participated in the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of
Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Cairo from 29 April to 8 May
1995. Other major activities included the preparation of the Arab
Declaration for Social Development, which was presented to the Council of
Arab Ministers for Social Affairs, the launching of a social development
database, the preparation of a project document on human development in the
Arab States and a workshop on sustainable human development experiences,
held at Cairo from 14 to 19 May 1995. ESCWA also undertook a study on the
impact of the recent crisis on the social situation in the ESCWA region,
which analyzed the socio-economic impact of crises in the region, with
particular emphasis on population migration, the quality of life and
vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. ESCWA organized, in this context, a
seminar entitled "The Role of the Family in Integrating Disabled Women into
Society", at Amman from 16 to 18 October 1994.
458. In the area of women and development, ESCWA organized the Arab
Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth World Conference on Women,
which was held at Amman from 6 to 10 November 1994 and was attended by 420
participants representing all Arab countries. The meeting reviewed the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women and the ESCWA Strategy for Arab Women to the Year
2005. The meeting also finalized the Regional Plan of Action for the
Advancement of Arab Women. ESCWA also organized a meeting on the Arab
family in a changing society at Abu Dhabi in December 1994, in the context
of preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women. Other activities
within this framework included national workshops in nine ESCWA countries
to review the national plans of action in the light of national reports on
the situation of women. Information on women's issues was addressed through
a publication on Arab women in ESCWA member States. This publication
includes statistics, indicators and trends. A database on statistics on
women was also launched.
459. In the field of rural development, two long-term rural community
development projects are being implemented in Egypt and the Syrian Arab
Republic. ESCWA continued to issue its annual publication Agriculture and
Development in Western Asia (No. 16, December 1994); and it prepared a
National Farm Data Handbook for the Syrian Arab Republic. Other
publications issued by the secretariat include: Land and Water Policies in
the Near East Region; Marketing of Agricultural Products in Lebanon;
Evaluation of Agricultural Policies in the Syrian Arab Republic: Policy
Analysis Matrix Approach; Prospective Development of the Agricultural
Institutions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and Rehabilitation of
Veterinary Services.
460. Information on human settlements issues was disseminated through
the publication of a newsletter jointly published by ESCWA, the United
Nations Centre for Human Settlements and the League of Arab States. ESCWA
participated in preparatory meetings for Habitat II and convened at Amman,
in March 1995, a regional preparatory meeting for the Conference.
461. In the area of industrial development, ESCWA completed a
publication entitled Proceedings of the Expert Group Meeting on the
Creation of Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Opportunities for Small and
Medium-scale Industrial Investments. In preparation for the Fourth World
Conference on Women, the Commission issued a publication entitled
Participation of Women in Manufacturing: Patterns, Determinants and
Analysis. Several training-of-trainers workshops on how to start a business
in war-torn areas were held in Bethlehem, Gaza, Nablus and Beirut.
Moreover, a pilot workshop on upgrading entrepreneurial skills of managers
of small and medium enterprises under changing conditions, was held at
Amman in September 1994. A study was completed entitled "Impact of the
single European market on the industrial sector in the ESCWA region"; and
two project documents were completed for the establishment of business
incubators in the occupied Palestinian territories.
462. The third thematic subprogramme, Economic development and
cooperation, involved activities dealing with such central issues as
promoting economic and technical cooperation and integration among ESCWA
countries, promoting coordinated regional strategies, training officials in
developing national capabilities in managerial skills, and reviewing and
analysing economic performance, policies and strategies.
463. The Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the ESCWA Region,
1993 was issued in November 1994. The Survey for 1994 was completed in July
1995. Within the same context, a study was completed on "Review of
developments and issues in the external trade and payments situation of
countries of Western Asia", which included a chapter on the implications of
the Uruguay Round on development in the region. A study was also completed
entitled "Review of developments and trends in the mone-tary and financial
sectors in the economies of the ESCWA region".
464. The proceedings of four workshops/conferences were published,
namely: the Western Asia workshop on strategies for accelerating the
development of civil registration and vital statistics system; the Second
Arab Conference on Perspectives of Modern Biotechnology; the workshop on
the implication of the new advanced materials technologies for the
economies of the ESCWA countries; and the workshop on the integration of
science and technology in the development planning and management process
in the ESCWA region.
465. In the area of transport and communications, a report was submitted
to the Commission at its eighteenth session on the "Follow-up action of the
implementation of the Transport and Communications Decade, second phase:
1992-1996". Furthermore, studies were completed on "Development of free
zones in Western Asia"; "Development of the telecommunications sector in
the ESCWA region"; and "Present status, development trends and future
prospects of telecommunications in the ESCWA region"; and the ESCWA
Transport Bulletin for 1994 (No. 5) was issued. Additionally, the ESCWA
secretariat conducted an expert group meeting on the Development of a
Multimodal Transport Chain in Western Asia, held at Amman from 24 to 27
April 1995.
466. In the field of statistics, ESCWA continued the development and
maintenance of databases on energy and industry. A workshop on the
implementation of the 1993 System of National Accounts was held at Amman
from 12 to 19 December 1994 and another workshop on industrial statistics
took place at Damascus from 26 November to 6 December 1994. Training was
also provided on the use of statistical computer packages, geographical
information systems and the application of the International Comparisons
Programme.
467. The fourth thematic subprogramme, Regional development and global
changes, encompassed activities dealing with exogenous factors and global
changes affecting the region. The major activity under this subprogramme is
an ongoing multidisciplinary study on the impact of the single European
market on different sectors in the ESCWA region.
468. Issues concerning Palestine, the Middle East peace process and the
least developed member States were the focal points for the fifth thematic
subprogramme, Special programmes and issues. In its studies, the
Agriculture Section covered the rehabilitation of the fisheries sector in
the Gaza Strip and of veterinary services in the occupied territories. In
addition, a proposed action programme for the restructuring of Palestinian
agricultural public institutions was also prepared. The Industry Section
undertook workshops on the development of small enterprises in the occupied
Palestinian territories.
E. The humanitarian imperative
469. This past year has seen a frightening persistence and intensity of
conflicts that affect an unprecedented number of innocent civilians. The
reality of contemporary warfare is that more than 90 per cent of casualties
are non-combatants who are often deliberately targeted because of their
ethnic or religious affiliation. As a consequence, victims continued to
flee their homes and communities in staggering numbers in 1995, reaching a
global total of some 25 million refugees. A still larger number of persons
havebeen displacedorare directlyaffected bywarfarewithin theirowncountries.
470. Increasingly, humanitarian organizations are compelled to operate
in war-torn societies where conflicting parties are often openly
contemptuous of fundamental humanitarian norms. In such circumstances, a
major challenge is the need to safeguard the well-being of civilians while
providing assistance in a manner consistent with humanitarian principles.
471. In addition, the international community is faced with the paradox
of needing ever larger resources to address the immediate survival needs of
victims, while simultaneously recognizing that such action may deflect
attention and support from initiatives essential to undoing the root causes
of vulnerability and strife. Faced with these conflicting trends,
humanitarian organizations have been reassessing the processes that shape
the nature and impact of their interventions.
472. Recent experience illustrates the importance of a well-organized
and adequately resourced mechanism for coordination, both within the multi-
actor humanitarian arena and with other elements of the international
system involved in crisis management and pre-emptive action. This is
particularly evident in rapid and simultaneous mass population movements,
where it is often difficult to move quickly enough to mobilize and deploy
resources in a manner that will prevent avoidable deaths. However,
notwithstanding the importance of support from the international community,
it is the people of the country directly affected who are primarily
responsible for their own recovery and that of their communities.
473. The volatile context within which humanitarian assistance is
provided is a major determinant in the overall capacity of the United
Nations system to pre-empt and respond to crises in a manner that minimizes
avoidable suffering.
474. The scale and depth of suffering in conflict situations confronting
the international community today is too often a consequence of a disregard
for fundamental humanitarian principles. In many instances, the suffering
endured by civilians is not an incidental element of political and military
strategies but constitutes its major objective. The conflicts in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Rwanda are alarming examples of what occurs when civilians
are subjected to the full brutality of contemporary warfare and gross
violations of human rights. Determination must be shown to enforce the rule
of law and to hold accountable those who are responsible for heinous
crimes.
475. The limited means of humanitarian organizations to provide
protection is particularly glaring in conflict settings and in situations
characterized by extreme violations of human rights. The Rwandan experience
illustrates the way in which the capacity of the United Nations to provide
protection and assistance is undermined when inputs and distribution
mechanisms are used for purposes that are inimical to humanitarian
objectives. Finding the means to reach those in need without entrenching
the power of abusive elements is one of the most difficult challenges
facing the humanitarian community in recent times.
476. The indifference of warring parties for even the most basic
humanitarian principles has continued to make conditions under which relief
workers must operate extremely dangerous. As the number of conflicts
increases so too does the number of practitioners who have been killed or
wounded, sometimes deliberately, while carrying our their humanitarian
tasks. Frequent disruption and diversion of emergency relief supplies have
occurred. Access has on many occasions had to be negotiated. Dependence on
the agreement of armed groups often makes the provision of humanitarian
assistance tenuous and subject to unacceptable conditions. If this trend
continues, it could undermine the capacity of the agencies to carry out
humanitarian work. Safeguarding both the concept and the reality of
"humanitarian space" remains one of the most significant challenges facing
the humanitarian community.
477. Another major obstacle facing humanitarian organizations is the
absence of sufficient political will and support for action to address the
underlying causes of crises. The provision of humanitarian assistance in a
vacuum is tantamount to managing only the symptoms of a crisis. Experience
shows that, in most instances, the effectiveness of humanitarian endeavour
in conflict settings is predicated to a considerable extent on successful
action by the international community to resolve the problems that provoked
the crisis.
478. In some situations, such as in Angola and Mozambique, a determined
effort has been made to stop the fighting and to consolidate the peace. In
other settings, such as Haiti, assertive action has been taken to end
oppression and the potential for violent conflict. This is in dramatic
contrast to other settings, such as the Sudan, where conflict has
smouldered for 28 of the last 39 years. In Burundi and Liberia, a volatile
mix of circumstances points to the need for action to strengthen the push
for peace.
479. The humanitarian agenda is often shaped by political attitudes to
particular crises, strategic interests in specific areas and the attention
span of the media. Such factors, which are for the most part beyond the
control of humanitarian organizations, contribute strongly to the low level
of attention and support provided to victims of "silent" emergencies.
Ideally, and in a more humane world, assistance would be provided according
to need and the core principle of impartiality would have greater relevance
when responding to emergencies.
480. Other factors that have an impact on the effectiveness of relief
and protection organizations include the relationship between the level of
resources and attention devoted to the prevention of, preparedness for and
recovery from disasters and the amount of resources required to meet the
daily needs of people in camp situations (see fig. 15). Rwanda is but one
example of current trends. Some $1 billion was spent in the first six
months of the crisis. Most of this was used for the immediate survival
needs of the millions who were uprooted and displaced in 1994. Although
resources were requested at an early stage for confidence-building measures
to facilitate and encourage the return of those who had fled and for action
focused on the problem of genocide, only a minuscule amount has been made
available for activities essential to ameliorating and resolving the
underlying cause of the cyclical strife that now characterizes Rwanda and
other parts of the Great Lakes region.
481. However, some vital progress has been made both in responding
rapidly and effectively to the needs of victims and in generating a more
cohesive approach within the United Nations system. The Inter-Agency
Standing Committee has played an incisive role, having on many occasions
enabled consensus and decisions on pressing country-specific issues to be
arrived at quickly and with immediate impact. Its uniqueness and success
stem in part from the presence of, and close working relations with,
certain major umbrella non-governmental organizations. In 1994, the
Committee agreed on a number of measures for strengthening field
coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies, in
particular in the pre-emergency and initial response phases. A set of
guidelines relating to the humanitarian mandate as well as the appointment
of and terms of reference for humanitarian coordinators were approved and
the Emergency Relief Coordinator was also designated as the focal point for
internally displaced persons. Most importantly, procedures for the most
expeditious agreement on the division of labour between agencies have also
been approved by the Committee.
482. Within the Secretariat, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the
Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peace-keeping
Operations have established a mechanism for the joint analysis of early
warning of a looming crisis, within a broader framework for the
coordination of operational planning and implementation among the three
departments. Among the United Nations agencies also, agreement as to the
responsibility and criteria for "sounding the alarm" in impending crises
has enabled appropriate preventive and preparedness actions (such as
contingency planning measures, primarily at the in-country level) to be
initiated.
483. Timing is also critical in the fielding of humanitarian assistance
operations. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs has established a Rapid
Response Unit to field experienced personnel to work with the United
Nations resident or humanitarian coordinator and to build up systematic
support for field-level coordination activities. At Kigali in April 1994,
the United Nations advance humanitarian team, staffed by United Nations
agency representatives and Department of Humanitarian Affairs personnel,
re-established a United Nations humanitarian presence during a very
difficult period and was able to lay the groundwork for the expansion of
humanitarian activities as the situation permitted. In Haiti, a combined
Department of Humanitarian Affairs/UNDP team was deployed to support the
United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance in the immediate
aftermath of the United Nations action of September 1994. During the crisis
in Chechnya, Department of Humanitarian Affairs staff were dispatched to
neighbouring republics, where they worked closely with UNHCR and United
Nations agency representatives in addressing the needs of internally
displaced persons.
484. The Central Emergency Revolving Fund has consistently proved its
value in facilitating both a rapid and joint response by United Nations
agencies to fast-breaking emergencies. Delays in its reimbursement have,
however, offset its usefulness on a number of occasions. The past year also
saw the first use of the interest on the Fund to support immediate
coordination arrangements in the field, with the establishment of the
United Nations Rwanda Emergency Office at Kigali.
485. With a growing number of major emergencies of all varieties
requiring international assistance, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs,
led by Under-Secretary-General Peter Hansen, has continued to strengthen
its coordination support capacity and to act as a focal point for the
development of new initiatives taken jointly by the international emergency
response community towards the improved effectiveness of international
relief operations. Activities since my last report include the expansion of
the number of countries participating with members in the United Nations
Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team, including six disaster-prone
developing countries from the Latin American region, and the development of
guidelines and standards for the assessment of international relief
requirements in multisectoral emergencies and for the mobilization of
resources, the rapid initiation and support of field coordination, the
exchange of know-how and techniques, and the development of standard
operational procedures in the deployment of international response teams.
486. In this endeavour, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs has
worked closely with and supported the activities of international networks
of emergency teams such as the International Search and Rescue Advisory
Group and the Standing Coordinating Group on the Use of Military and Civil
Defence Assets in Disaster Relief. With regard to the provision of
specialized human, technical and logistical resources to support the
coordination of international relief operations, the Department has
initiated memoranda of understanding with Governments and organizations to
allow it expeditious access to their emergency relief capacities. This
forward-looking, systematic approach used by the Department has proved its
worth in a number of sudden-onset emergencies during the year.
487. Natural disaster reduction remains a core activity of humanitarian
assistance, which tackles the root causes of disasters, and an essential
ingredient of rehabilitation and reconstruction planning. The Under-
Secretary-General has, therefore, brought together the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs' Disaster Mitigation Branch and the secretariat for
the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction under the umbrella
of a Disaster Reduction Division. Thus the Department is able to serve all
aspects of natural disaster reduction at all levels within the framework of
a coherent United Nations strategy (see table 1).
Table 1
Natural disasters: casualties, damage and contributions
1992 1993 1994
Number of disasters 45 68 75
Number of dead 6 971 13 542 7 572
Number of missing 258 1 631 1 989
Amount of damagea 2.06 15.80 9.00
Contributions reported to DHAb 257.4 77.5 114.0
Contributions channelled through DHAb 3.73 4.23 7.50
________________________
a Billions of United States dollars.
b Millions of United States dollars.
488. Between May 1994 and July 1995, the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs launched 27 appeals for international assistance on behalf of
countries affected by natural, technological or environmental disasters. It
coordinated international assistance following more than 85 disasters in 50
countries. Some 243 situation reports were issued on the consequences of
those disasters, to which the international community reported
contributions amounting to more than $115 million, $6.3 million of which
were channelled through the Department. During the same period, the
Department arranged 38 relief flights from its emergency stockpile at Pisa,
Italy, in response to the immediate requirements of those affected by
disaster.
489. However, while much vital progress has been made in augmenting the
capacity of humanitarian agencies to respond quickly and coherently to the
immediate needs of victims of all kinds of emergencies, the task of
assisting countries to emerge from crises continues to pose significant
challenges. This is particularly evident in situations of systemic
breakdown when the task of rebuilding civil society is dependent on the
commitment of the international community to address the underlying cause
of crises. The ability of aid agencies to support a recovery process is, of
course, largely determined by the extent to which affected communities
engage in activities geared to making the transition from dependency on
relief to sustainable development.
490. As is now widely acknowledged, the relationship between relief and
development, particularly in conflict settings, is complex and needs
constantly to be assessed to ensure that interventions are mutually
reinforcing. In many instances, gains made by the humanitarian community in
stabilizing a situation are not accompanied by the inputs necessary to
nurture a recovery process. Indeed, protracted crises often experience
funding shortfalls, thereby negating tenuous advances in the reduction of
vulnerabilities of either a social, economic or political nature. The
tragic experiences of people in Liberia, Rwanda and the Sudan illustrate
the need for sustained and concerted action focused on breaking the dynamic
of violence.
491. On a more positive note the experiences of Haiti and Mozambique
during this past year demonstrate the advantages of assertive action that
actively nurtures the quest for peace. Likewise, the opportunity to
consolidate the long-awaited peace in Angola must be fully exploited and
necessary support provided for vital rehabilitation and reconstruction
activities. As in other post-cease-fire situations, it is important that
the international community maintain the momentum for peace; too often,
critical activities, including de-mining and the homeward return of
refugees, the displaced and former combatants, are jeopardized because of
insufficient support for programmes that are essential for the
revitalization of community life. Aware of the challenges confronting war-
torn societies, humanitarian and development staff of the United Nations
system are currently reviewing mechanisms to ensure that their respective
funding and operational activities are complementary and enhance peace-
building initiatives.
1. Cooperation with regional arrangements or agencies
492. In the field of natural disaster reduction, the primary function of
the Department of Humanitarian Affairs is to promote new initiatives. This
includes project activities in 28 of the more disaster-prone developing
countries, including 11 new ones during the year under review.
493. The main objectives have been to establish and apply the most
effective methods for hazard and risk assessment, to promote wider
interchange of knowledge and systematic application of appropriate
technology, to carry out more active pooling, analysis and dissemination of
early warnings, and to stimulate the development of scenario-specific
disaster mitigation and preparedness plans with emphasis on maximizing the
use of local resources and community involvement, while providing access to
external expertise where essential. A special focus has been placed on
Africa, where three subregional seminars have stimulated new national
initiatives in disaster reduction. In Latin America and the Caribbean, new
projects have been formulated for five countries and comprehensive
programmes continue in four others. For Asia, projects are continuing or
are in the process of formulation for six countries, including a new four-
year programme encompassing the South Pacific island States, which has been
widely sponsored and warmly welcomed by the participating countries and
regional agencies. Attention is also being given to the eastern European,
Middle East and CIS countries, with projects launched or in process of
formulation in five States. The above activities have been carried out in
close cooperation with UNDP and UNEP to promote the inclusion of
development and environment issues wherever applicable. Eleven other
international agencies and more than 30 non-governmental organizations have
been associated.
494. In the framework of the Department for Humanitarian Affair's
project on the use of military and civil defence assets in disaster relief,
arrangements have continued for strengthening cooperation between the
Department of Humanitarian Affairs and NATO, the Western European Union
(WEU) and the Inter-American Defense Board. Within the provisions of the
Oslo Guidelines, mechanisms for such cooperation are being tested and
improved through joint training, contingency planning and field exercises.
Regional cooperation was tested in particular during an exercise hosted by
the Russian Federation focusing on international assistance following a
simulated major nuclear power plant accident. Standing operating procedures
for the use of military and civil defence assets in disaster relief are
being refined to enhance the humanitarian aspects of the NATO Partnership
for Peace programme. The EU Humanitarian Office, a member of the Standing
Coordinating Group, has funded the activities of the project related to
relief air operations and to regional cooperation in Africa and Asia.
495. UNDP and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs have established a
Joint Environment Unit that strengthens the international capacity to
respond to environmental aspects of disasters, while making the most
effective use of limited resources. The Unit represents a practical synergy
between the two organizations that ensures a targeted and comprehensive
approach to the growing problem of environmental emergencies while at the
same time avoiding duplication of effort. As such, the Joint Environment
Unit is fully integrated into the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. UNEP
provides staff and funding for the project, while the Department provides
access to resources, expertise in disaster management and procedures for
effective mobilization and coordination of relief.
496. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs also continues to work
closely with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, with which
the Department has an agreement for early warning and exchange of
information when disaster strikes.
2. Proactive humanitarian action
497. Part of the Department of Humanitarian Affair's core coordination
function involves participation in the planning and execution of
"proactive" humanitarian action, though this term carries different meaning
when applied to the onset of complex crises, on the one hand, or natural
disasters, on the other. Examples of humanitarian activities that might
prevent or reduce the scale of suffering include the provision of
assistance that could pre-empt mass population movements or support that
facilitates the reintegration of demobilized soldiers. Prevention of
natural disasters might involve the strengthening of structures against
earthquakes or the resettlement of populations away from flood zones or
earthquake fault lines.
498. A functioning early warning system is critically important for the
timely planning and implementation of pre-emptive action. The Humanitarian
Early Warning System has been created to provide up-to-date warnings of
country crisis situations through analysis of its database, drawing upon
the various early warning mechanisms of other United Nations agencies as
well as non-United Nations information sources. The system is made up of a
database that includes both statistical and other country-specific
information, graphically presented trend evaluation and an analysis process
that examines statistical and event information. The System completed its
prototype in January 1995 and has expanded its country coverage as well as
its depth of information on each country. It became fully operational in
July.
499. In the field of natural disasters, activities generated by the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction are focused
specifically on preventive measures. The momentum created by the World
Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, held at Yokohama in May 1994, has
been successfully sustained by means of a participatory and continuous
dialogue of traditional and new partners within the International Framework
of Action. Consequently, the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World:
Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation, in
particular its Plan of Action has been transformed into a comprehensive and
structured sequence of sectoral and cross-sectoral activities at all
levels. During the second half of the International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction, and commensurate with the proposals of the World
Conference, emphasis is being shifted to concrete activities at the country
and local levels. In order to maintain this broad-based inter-agency
approach, the Inter-Agency Steering Committee has been extended until the
end of the Decade.
500. Also in line with the Yokohama Strategy, the interdependency of
natural disaster reduction, environmental protection and sustainable
development is being reflected through improved cooperation between the
International Framework and the major development activities inside and
outside the United Nations system. Thus the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs is acting, through the International Decade for Natural Disaster
Relief secretariat, as task manager for natural disasters for the
Commission on Sustainable Development. The process that has been outlined
for the remaining years of the Decade will provide the opportunity to
present its closing event with sound proposals for the full integration of
disaster reduction into national planning and international development
cooperation. It reflects the challenging objectives that have been laid out
by the "Agenda for Development" (A/48/935).
3. Relief operations
501. The four major operations during the past year have taken place in
Chechnya, Ukraine (Chernobyl), Kenya and the Sudan.
Chechnya
502. Following a request from the Russian Federation for international
assistance for persons displaced from Chechnya to the neighbouring federal
republics of Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Daghestan, last January I
authorized a United Nations inter-agency mission to the region. This
resulted in the issue of a "flash appeal" in February to mobilize immediate
resources for the emergency needs of 220,000 people. Subsequently, the
United Nations consolidated appeal for persons displaced as a result of the
emergency situation in Chechnya, Russian Federation, covering the period
from 1 January to 30 June 1995, was launched at Geneva in March. Because of
the continuing crisis, the appeal was updated in June and its coverage was
extended by six months to the end of 1995.
503. The extended United Nations humanitarian programme now covers the
emergency needs of the 118,000 internally displaced persons identified as
being the most vulnerable and seeks donor support for financial coverage of
the 30 per cent shortfall of the total $25 million needed to allow relevant
agencies to complete emergency assistance projects, as originally
envisaged. Activities being implemented include assistance in areas such as
shelter, water and sanitation, food, health and care for children in
especially difficult circumstances. A high level of inter-agency
cooperation has been achieved through a triangular structure among agencies
operating in the field, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Moscow and the
headquarters of the United Nations agencies, the International Organization
for Migration (IOM) and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. However,
the situation affecting refugees and internally displaced persons in the
three republics is still precarious. While the majority of those affected
have sought shelter with host families, this additional burden has placed
severe pressure on already meagre resources. Overcrowding has stretched the
social services available to persons in the region. Food and medicines are
in short supply and the onset of winter weather will result in additional
hardships for the victims of the conflict unless urgent preventive action
is taken. In particular, additional funding support is urgently required in
order for agencies to stockpile contingency food supplies for the winter
months.
504. At the end of June, peace negotiations between the Russian
authorities and the Chechen delegation commenced at Grozny under the
auspices of OSCE. A cease-fire came into effect on 2 July.
Chernobyl
505. While the tenth anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant is approaching, the extent of its impact on the
populations of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine is only now
being fully realized. Over 300 children now suffer from thyroid cancer, a
disease practically non-existent in children before the accident, and
hundreds of thousands live in constant fear of still unknown effects the
accident may have on their long-term health. The fertility rate, especially
in Belarus, has declined dramatically, while the morbidity and mortality
rates have increased. This trend is unlikely to reach its peak until well
into the next decade.
506. In September 1994, the United Nations Coordinator on International
Cooperation on Chernobyl convened an expanded meeting of the quadripartite
committee for coordination on Chernobyl. The meeting assessed the results
of ongoing United Nations activities relating to Chernobyl and discussed
the need for initiatives to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the
accident in April 1986 and, in that connection, to draw attention to the
continued need for funding of programmes to overcome the effects of the
Chernobyl accident.
507. Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl continue their
efforts to bring Chernobyl projects to fruition, but the lack of funds has
brought several programmes to a halt. Particularly affected is the
International Programme on Health Effects of the Chernobyl Accident under
the auspices of WHO. Although generous financial support by a handful of
countries allowed the full and rapid implementation of the priority
activities, there are now no resources to maintain the programme and
initiate much-needed follow-up activities that have a direct impact on the
health of the affected population.
508. In November 1994, nine community centres (three each in Belarus,
the Russian Federation and Ukraine) were officially opened, marking the
completion of phase I of the UNESCO programme to overcome the psychological
effects of the accident. However, the implementation of phase II of the
project, as well as other related projects, will depend on the possibility
of raising additional funds. The FAO/ International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) joint division completed successful projects on the use of radio-
caesium binders to reduce contamination of milk and on the cultivation of
rape-seed on contaminated soils. As a result of the projects, large areas
that were hitherto regarded as unsafe can now be used for agricultural
production. In 1995, IAEA also began, in cooperation with the French
Institut de Protection et de Suret_ nucl_aire, a project on environmental
impact assessment.
509. Plans are now under way for events to commemorate the tenth
anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. WHO will arrange a conference at
Geneva in November on the health aspects of the accident, the United
Nations will participate in a conference to be arranged at Minsk by the
Government of Belarus and EU, while IAEA will arrange a summing-up
conference at Vienna from 8 to 12 April 1996. A further meeting of the
quadripartite committee will be held in the autumn of 1995 and will have as
its main objective to identify those projects which remain of vital
importance to the affected population and to agree on ways to ensure their
funding.
Kenya
510. The United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for Kenya
launched in February 1994 covered the period from January to December of
that year, targeting a population of 1,620,000. Donor response totalled
$54,860,331, an amount equal to almost 57 per cent of the total requested
in the appeal. The food situation remains mixed, as agricultural conditions
in some regions have improved while others remain uncertain. Aggregate
production in 1994/95 is provisionally estimated at close to 3.5 million
tons, almost 1 million tons above the previous year's reduced level. Good
rains and high world prices for coffee are helping to maintain recovery in
agriculture. Over 200,000 Somali refugees remain in Kenya, adding some
strain to the food situation and increasing tension at border areas.
Political tensions continue, as do both ethnic tensions in the Rift Valley
and violence in Mombasa between Islamic groups.
The Sudan
511. The Secretary-General's report of 12 September 1994 on emergency
assistance to the Sudan (A/49/376) stated that, despite progress made in
the Sudan relief operation and Operation Lifeline Sudan, considerable needs
still remained to be addressed, and the international community was urged
to respond generously to the emer-gency needs and recovery of the country.
In January 1995, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs issued the 1995
United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Sudan, in which
United Nations agencies requested $101.1 million to meet the urgent
humanitarian needs of 4.25 million people.
512. The donor response to the yearly United Nations consolidated
appeals between 1992 and 1994 has generally been quite positive: in 1992 it
was 73 per cent of the amount requested. In 1993, however, it was 64 per
cent, but although there were considerable delays in the donor response to
the 1994 appeal, at the close of the year approximately 85 per cent had
been received. Such fluctuations have serious ramifications for programme
effectiveness.
513. Regrettably, the early part of 1995 showed only limited
contributions to the appeal, so that by mid-July a considerable shortfall
in donor response (less than 27 per cent of total requirements) was
seriously compromising the United Nations ability to provide the urgently
needed humanitarian assistance. This is all the more alarming as the
shortfall occurred after increased cooperation during the previous two
years with both the Government of the Sudan and the southern factions, as
well as the improved cereal harvest in 1994, had permitted the United
Nations to scale down its funding requirements by 45 per cent of the prior
year's revised figure.
514. Since the launching of the 1995 appeal, Operation Lifeline Sudan
activities have been hampered by renewed fighting, in particular in the
provinces of Equatoria, Upper Nile, Junglei and northern Bahr El-Ghazal,
where tens of thousands of persons have been dispossessed and dispersed.
Renewed hostilities, combined with a lack of donor funding, have greatly
reduced the effect of improved food production and forced people to abandon
their homes and fields. In total, the United Nations estimates that there
are just under 1.2 million internally displaced persons in the Sudan. The
conflict has also forced the evacuation of relief workers from numerous
localities, while in already three instances this year, relief workers have
been kidnapped and held for periods ranging from a few days to almost two
months. In another case an armed attack on a United Nations barge convoy
disrupted a highly successful and cooperative logistics operation. With
respect to other components of the Operation Lifeline Sudan logistics plan,
operations remain dependent on air transport as the Operation has not
received agreement on the use of road corridors. Moreover, both financial
constraints and a recent increase in the denial of air access have cut into
the Operation's effectiveness. Further affecting the United Nations and
non-governmental organizations' capacity to respond were the various
incidents of misuse, misappropriation and looting of food and other relief
supplies, which continue despite agreements to the contrary, although
improved monitoring and coordination mechanisms have reduced the overall
number of incidents since last year.
515. Positive developments registered before the mid-year mark related
notably to the two-month cease-fire between the Government and rebel
factions mediated by the former United States President Jimmy Carter in
consultation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and
Development, under whose aegis peace efforts have been organized since late
1993. Despite sporadic fighting, United Nations agencies were able to take
advantage of opportunities for accelerating primary health care programmes
during this initial period as well as during a subsequent two-month
extension. Further efforts to renew the cease-fire in late July did not
meet with success.
516. Since 1989, when Operation Lifeline Sudan began as a short-term
programme to deliver food and other life-saving provisions, it has
developed considerably. While still providing food aid and basic health
care to reduce mortality and morbidity among the affected population, the
Operation now implements a much broader programme that extends to household
food security, water and sanitation, basic shelter, food for work in
support of agricultural production and health sector rehabilitation,
primary education, support to psychologically traumatized children,
capacity-building and promotion of humanitarian principles.
517. With increased access to a war-affected population of approximately
4.25 million throughout the country, Operation Lifeline Sudan reaches more
people than ever before. Originally serving some 8 sites in southern Sudan,
its operations have since come to include as many as 104 locations. This
has been due in large part to greater flexibility shown by all the
concerned parties.
518. It will be recalled from last year's report that the
Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development had by March 1994
assumed a separate, though complementary, role in the regional peace
process by facilitating negotiations on humanitarian access and related
issues organized by the United Nations with the Government and the
principal southern factions. Subsequent to agreements reached in March and
May 1994, fixing modalities for humanitarian access across lines of
conflict was identified as the priority for further negotiations. As no
progress has been achieved during the intervening period, preliminary
discussions intended to permit a resumption of tripartite talks were
undertaken with the parties at Khartoum and Nairobi in late July and early
August by the United Nations Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for the
Sudan, at which the question of operational modalities for international
non-governmental organizations working out of Khartoum was discussed and
all parties encouraged to work closely with the United Nations Special
Envoy and senior Operation Lifeline Sudan personnel at Khartoum and Nairobi
to secure an improved basis for progress.
519. With some exceptions, notably the suspension of an international
non-governmental organization from the Operation owing to a breach of
operational procedures, as well as the need to agree on guidelines for non-
governmental organizations working out of Khartoum, cooperation among
national, United Nations and non-governmental organizations working in the
Sudan remains excellent. As in the past, the Operation provides the
framework for the humanitarian efforts of 30 international non-governmental
organizations working in the region. While the Nairobi office has
established letters of understanding with non-governmental organizations,
which reflect the ground rules for Operation Lifeline Sudan operations,
UNICEF Khartoum has sought to support government counterparts and local
non-governmental organizations in relief and rehabilitation initiatives.
Special efforts have been made to promote an improved framework for
international non-governmental organizations to operate from Khartoum,
including in the displaced person camps and the transitional zones.
However, the continued strict controls on access and movement of the
international non-governmental organizations in Khartoum have hampered
attempts to bring to bear the comparative advantages they can offer.
520. While the number of approximately 1.2 million beneficiaries
identified as requiring emergency food aid in 1995 is a significant
reduction compared with the needs of 1994, insecurity continues to plague
the food delivery systems. In addition, whereas carry-over food stocks from
1994 were sufficient to cover most of the emergency food aid needs for
1995, international assistance to support monitoring, operational support
costs and special transport costs had received less than 30 per cent of
required donor support by July, causing the World Food Programme (WFP) to
scale back monitoring activities by 50 per cent. Despite these constraints,
by the end of July over half of the estimated 109,398 tons of food needs
for 1995 had been transported by WFP and partner non-governmental
organizations to areas in need.
521. For Operation Lifeline Sudan non-food assistance out of Khartoum
and all operations in the southern sector out of Nairobi, UNICEF has a lead
responsibility. Overall 4.25 million people have been targeted for 1995, of
whom 2.7 million are accessed from Khartoum and 1.7 million from Nairobi.
522. In May 1995, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs organized a
consultation of key donors and aid organizations at Geneva to review
funding status and programme implementation, the status of recommendations
made by donors in 1994 and the timetable for a comprehensive review of
Operation Lifeline Sudan.
523. A detailed critical review of the Operation is planned for later
this year. As its main objectives, the review will analyse the Operation,
its appropriateness in achieving maximum access to populations in need and
in ensuring respect for fundamental humanitarian principles; assess the
effectiveness of its coordination structures, in particular the
relationship among the United Nations, donors, non-governmental
organizations and Sudanese counterparts; and assess efficiency, identifying
constraints and achievements.
524. In the first half of 1994 alone, some 96,000 tons of emergency food
aid were delivered to affected areas of the Sudan by WFP and international
relief agencies, in a major initiative that benefited substantial numbers
of the affected population and not least the 500,000 persons who were then
on the verge of starvation. In the latter part of the year WFP continued
those efforts and expanded, in particular, its surface delivery capacity in
southern Sudan.
4. Relief operations in the Near East (UNRWA)
525. The activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), headed by Commissioner-General
Ilter T_rkmen, focused during the reporting year on providing constructive
support to the Middle East peace process.
526. The Agency took immediate steps to develop an effective working
relationship with the Palestinian Authority and to meet the Authority's
requests for assistance to the fullest extent possible. On 24 June 1994, an
exchange of letters took place between the Commissioner-General of UNRWA
and the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the
purpose of facilitating the continued provision of UNRWA services to
Palestine refugees in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
On an ad hoc basis UNRWA provided land and buildings, temporary shelter and
emergency humanitarian aid to assist the Authority in establishing its
operations in the Jericho area. UNRWA actively pursued coordination of its
services with those provided by the Authority, developing effective
relations with it in the education, health and relief and social service
sectors. The Agency also played an active role in multilateral forums
established to support the peace process, such as the multilateral working
group on refugees, as part of the United Nations delegation.
527. Within the context of developments in the peace process, UNRWA
began the process of relocating its headquarters from Vienna to Gaza by the
end of 1995. The relocation should serve to demonstrate the commitment of
the United Nations to the peace process, underline its confidence in the
Palestinian Authority and contribute to the economic development of the
Gaza Strip.
528. UNRWA developed a detailed budget and action plan for the move,
including the design of a new headquarters building in Gaza. As at May
1995, the Agency was taking the necessary steps to obtain the $13.5 million
in funding needed for the move and to meet the schedule for the move.
529. At my request, UNRWA undertook to administer the payment of the
salaries of 9,000 members of the Palestinian Police Force from funds
contributed by donors. The technical mechanism underlying the effort was
established in a memorandum of understanding signed by UNRWA and the
Palestinian Police Force in September 1994. From that date until March 1995
a total of $29.8 million was disbursed in the operation, in which UNRWA
worked closely with the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in
the Occupied Territories. In its resolution 49/210 of 13 April 1995, the
General Assembly requested UNRWA to continue to facilitate the payment of
Palestinian Police Force salaries until the end of 1995.
530. In September 1994, UNRWA launched the second phase of its Peace
Implementation Programme with the objective of providing continuing
infrastructure development and job creation to Palestine refugees
throughout the Middle East. Funded projects included construction of
schools, health clinics, women's programme centres and sewerage and
drainage works, as well as renovation of shelters. Besides improving living
conditions for refugees, related projects created an estimated 5,500 jobs
over an average four-month period in Gaza alone. The programme met with a
positive response on the part of donors, receiving a total of $109 million
in funding as at May 1995. The Agency's project for a 232-bed general
hospital in Gaza, begun in October 1993, continued during the reporting
year. The hospital is due to be completed in early 1996 and recruitment of
senior staff is under way.
531. While taking on new roles and responsibilities in response to
changing conditions, UNRWA continued to fulfil its basic mission of
providing essential health, education and relief and social services to 3.1
million Palestine refugees located in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab
Republic and the West Bank and Gaza. Some 410,000 elementary and
preparatory school pupils were enrolled in the Agency's 643 schools during
the academic year 1994/95. The Agency handled nearly 6.5 million patient
visits during 1994 through its network of 122 health centres and health
points. Over 168,000 of the neediest Palestine refugees received special
assistance from the Agency during the year, including food rations, shelter
rehabilitation and subsidized medical care. Additional facilities and
services provided on an ongoing basis through the Agency's core programmes
included vocational training, graduate scholarships, family planning
services, special infant care, community rehabilitation centres, women's
programme centres and income-generation schemes.
532. UNRWA's regular and emergency cash budget for the biennium 1994-
1995 was $570 million. The Agency ended 1994 with an actual funding
shortfall of $7 million. Because of the deficit the Agency was forced to
carry over the austerity measures imposed in 1993 in response to an earlier
deficit, which included a salary freeze, a reduction in administrative
costs and cuts in the budgets for additional teacher posts, hospitalization
and medical supplies. An informal meeting of UNRWA's major donors and host
Governments held at Amman in March 1995 resulted in pledges that helped to
reduce the projected deficit for 1995. At the Amman meeting the donors
reiterated their commitment to the continued provision of UNRWA services
and approved a five-year planning horizon proposed by the Agency.
F. Protection and resettlement of refugees
533. The core functions of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), headed by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, are those
assigned by its 1950 statute: providing international protection to
refugees and seeking permanent solutions to their problems. As part of its
duty to ensure that voluntary repatriation schemes are sustainable, UNHCR
has also become involved in assisting and protecting returnees in their
home countries. In recent years, the General Assembly and the Secretary-
General have called with increasing frequency on UNHCR to protect or assist
particular groups of internally displaced people who have not crossed an
international border but are in a refugee-like situation inside their
countries of origin, as well as other populations affected by conflict.
534. The genocide in Rwanda and the flight last year of over 2 million
Rwandan nationals into neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes region of
Africa was one of the darkest episodes in recent history and one that posed
an unprecedented challenge for UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies. Other
regions, including the former Yugoslavia, south-west Asia, the Horn of
Africa and parts of western Africa have also continued to suffer from
massive population displacements, while a major new crisis erupted in the
northern Caucasus in December 1994.
535. Although the refugee population worldwide had decreased to 14.5
million by the beginning of this year because of repatriation solutions in
various parts of the world, the total number of people of concern to UNHCR
had risen to some 27.4 million. This included 5.4 million internally
displaced persons, 3.5 million others of humanitarian concern,
predominantly populations affected by conflict, and some 4 million
returnees requiring assistance to re-establish sustainable reintegration in
their countries of origin. In 1994, UNHCR provided material assistance to a
total of 17.6 million people, as compared to 13.8 million in 1993. This
included 8.9 million in Africa, 5 million in Asia, 3.5 million in Europe
and 115,000 in Latin America.
536. The present period of volatility and readjustment in world affairs
has been characterized by increasing levels of human displacement. In the
face of this reality, UNHCR has continued to hone its emergency response
capacity and to pursue preventive and solution-oriented approaches. It has
aimed to assure a high level of emergency preparedness, to provide
assistance and protection in such a way as to avert, where possible, the
occurrence of new refugee flows and to promote concerted efforts to achieve
durable solutions, notably voluntary repatriation. In so doing, it has
collaborated increasingly closely with political, peace-keeping and
development initiatives and organs of the United Nations, with other
intergovernmental and regional bodies and with a wide range of non-
governmental organizations.
1. Emergency response
537. As a result of its efforts since 1991, UNHCR's standby capacity has
achieved a high level of preparedness in terms of both personnel and
stockpiles of emergency relief supplies that it can deploy rapidly in an
emergency. During 1994 and the first half of 1995 alone, its emergency
response teams were deployed to 17 operations around the world.
538. While continuing to take the lead in the international response to
refugee emergencies, UNHCR has endeavoured to ensure the effectiveness of
its interventions and the durability of results by building partnerships
with other United Nations agencies and by coordinating its activities in
complex emergency situations with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.
In its emergency operations in the former Yugoslavia, the Great Lakes
region and other parts of Africa, and the central Asian republics, UNHCR
has continued to strengthen its collaboration with United Nations agencies
and programmes, in particular WFP, UNICEF, WHO and the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), in activities such as food aid, immunization and
health care, water supply and sanitation, mother and child medical care,
family planning and education.
539. Faced in the Great Lakes region with the most severe refugee
emergency in recent history, the Office was again obliged to innovate. With
its own staff resources heavily committed in the region and elsewhere, it
appealed to donor Governments to assume an operational role by providing
self-contained services in a number of critical assistance sectors through
the deployment of resources drawn largely from their military and civil
defence establishments. The use of these so-called "service packages" in
the Rwanda emergency has demonstrated how, under certain conditions, unique
military skills or assets can support UNHCR emergency relief activities.
The positive impact of service packages in responding to the critical
conditions that characterized the massive exodus of Rwandans has led UNHCR
into a process of consultation with Governments and the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs on how, when necessary and appropriate, this mechanism
can best be used.
2. The search for solutions
540. Over 2 million refugees returned to their countries of origin in
1994, most notably to Mozambique, Afghanistan and Myanmar. Return movements
have continued in 1995, with prospects also opening up for the large-scale
return of some 300,000 refugees to Angola. Solutions have continued to be
consolidated in several other regions, especially in Central America, where
the process launched by the International Conference on Central American
Refugees was brought formally to a close in June 1994 and a framework
agreed for the post-Conference period, and in south-east Asia with the
agreement of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on
Indo-Chinese Refugees to aim for the completion of activities under the
comprehensive plan of action by the end of 1995.
541. Solutions to complex, refugee-producing emergencies require
concerted efforts whereby humanitarian activities are complemented by both
political initiatives to resolve conflict and development efforts to ensure
a sustainable livelihood for the most severely affected areas and people.
542. In many areas of the world, UNHCR works increasingly closely with
peace-keeping or peacemaking initiatives undertaken by the United Nations.
It has continued to work with the United Nations peace-keeping operation in
the former Yugoslavia where, as lead agency for the provision of
humanitarian assistance, it has brought urgently needed assistance to over
2 million victims of war. Elsewhere, be it in Angola, Liberia, the Great
Lakes region, the Horn of Africa, Guatemala, the Caucasus or central Asia,
it has worked either within the framework of or in tandem with United
Nations efforts at conflict resolution.
543. In its search for solutions to the problems of refugees and other
displaced persons of concern to it, UNHCR has also placed considerable
emphasis on developing closer collaboration with regional bodies. A
regional conference was hosted jointly by UNHCR and OAU at Bujumbura in
February this year to ensure a concerted approach to the crisis in the
Great Lakes region. Working relationships have also been enhanced with
other regional bodies, as, for example, in Georgia, where UNHCR and OSCE
cooperate closely on efforts to resolve the Abkhazia and South Ossetia
conflicts. Similar collaboration has been taking place in Nagorny Karabakh
and Chechnya.
544. UNHCR continues to attach great importance not only to conflict-
resolution initiatives, but also to achieving a better interface between
relief, rehabilitation and development. In the experience of the Office,
the implementation of the concept of a continuum from relief to development
should, on the one hand, enable humanitarian assistance to promote viable
reintegration of displaced people into a process of social and economic
recovery and, on the other, bring development endeavours closer to people-
centred concerns and aspirations. Without this, solutions to humanitarian
crises may regress into new, divisive communal problems.
545. UNHCR has thus continued to reinforce its community-based approach
to reintegration assistance through the implementation of quick impact
projects and has pursued discussions with other departments and agencies,
notably the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and UNDP, on how
institutional gaps can be bridged to ensure a meaningful continuum from
relief to development. It has also sought to strengthen its relationship
with the financial institutions, notably the World Bank. UNHCR efforts to
support reconciliation and rehabilitation in post-conflict societies have
been evident in the case of Mozambique, where its strategy for the
reintegration of the 1.6 million refugees who have returned since the
signing of the Peace Agreement aims, with the endorsement of the Government
and major donors, at establishing linkages to longer-term development
programmes.
3. Preventing refugee crises
546. Recognizing that, without effective preventive action, problems of
human displacement will continue to spread, the Office has strengthened its
institution-building and training activities in various parts of the world.
In addition, UNHCR and IOM have continued their collaboration in mass
information campaigns targeted, in particular, at potential migrants from
the Russian Federation and other countries of CIS.
547. The scale of actual and potential problems of displacement in the
former Soviet Union has led to an important initiative, which seeks to
address current problems of displacement and prevent their proliferation.
Further to General Assembly resolution 49/173 of 23 December 1994, UNHCR is
engaged in preparations for a conference that will establish a programme of
action to address the problems of refugees, returnees and displaced persons
in the CIS countries and relevant neighbouring States. It is expected that
the programme of action will include measures to prevent unnecessary
movements and address the consequences of past, present and future
displacements.
548. Most frequently, however, the efforts of the Office have come into
play in situations where large-scale human displacement has already
occurred. In such situations, UNHCR has continued to promote and
participate in strategies that may help contain fragile situations. It has
attempted to address or attenuate, wherever possible, the causes of refugee
flows or, failing that, to reduce the necessity for affected populations or
individuals to seek asylum across international borders. As part of these
efforts, UNHCR has, at my request, continued or expanded its involvement in
assisting and seeking solutions for groups of the internally displaced. In
addition to its programme of humanitarian assistance for over 1.5 million
internally displaced persons in the former Yugoslavia, UNHCR has, for
example, been engaged in activities on behalf of substantial numbers of
internally displaced in Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Afghanistan,
the Caucasus and the Russian Federation. These activities are frequently
carried out in cooperation with other concerned United Nations bodies in
the context of comprehensive approaches to displacement and conflict
resolution.
4. Protecting the victims
549. The scale of recent humanitarian crises has drawn renewed attention
to the protection needs of victims of persecution and conflict. Among the
challenges that have come to the fore are the provision of international
protection to those seeking asylum from internal conflict, the often
compelling protection needs of the internally displaced, the need to ensure
the security and rights of the inhabitants of refugee camps and the need to
restore effective national protection for those who have returned to
fragile situations in their home countries. The importance of UNHCR's
protection role has thus remained primordial in all phases of its
activities, be it in responding to emergencies or in pursuing and
consolidating solutions.
550. In the contemporary situation, large numbers of people in need of
international protection have been forced to flee their countries because
of situations of conflict. In view of political initiatives undertaken by
the international community to resolve such situations, certain asylum
countries have resorted with increasing frequency to providing temporary
protection rather than making formal determinations of refugee status under
the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. UNHCR, together
with States, has been exploring this concept, notably in relation to those
who have fled the former Yugoslavia, in an effort to ensure that
international protection continues to be granted to all who need it.
551. One premise upon which temporary protection is based is the
expectation of resolving, within a reasonable period, the underlying cause
of the outflow. UNHCR has insisted that temporary protection must not be
unduly protracted before more permanent status is granted to the victims in
situations where the grounds for flight have not been resolved. In
addition, UNHCR has emphasized that the beneficiaries of temporary
protection are, in many cases, refugees within the meaning of the 1951
Convention.
552. As the Rwanda crisis has recently demonstrated, mass flight from
situations of inter-communal conflict can lead to the politicization of
refugee camps and to attendant abuses of human rights. UNHCR has
endeavoured to ensure that the security and human rights of refugees,
including their right freely to decide to return home, are protected in
such situations. In response to security problems in Rwandan refugee camps
in Zaire and following close consultations with the Secretary-General,
measures were taken by UNHCR to improve law and order and prevent
intimidation and violence against refugees and candidates for voluntary
repatriation through the deployment of Zairian forces, monitored by an
international security liaison group.
553. The protection responsibilities of UNHCR also include protecting
the human rights of returnees and other displaced persons of concern to the
Office. UNHCR has thus continued to play a role in monitoring the situation
of returnees and ensuring that national protection is restored. Recent
experience in Central America has been particularly encouraging in this
respect. The international colloquium held in Costa Rica in December 1994
to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration adopted
the San Jos_ Declaration on Refugees and Displaced Persons, which addresses
the key issue of harmonizing legal criteria and procedures to consolidate
the durable solutions of voluntary repatriation and local integration.
554. In pursuing its preventive and solution-oriented activities, UNHCR
has welcomed United Nations efforts to establish a more effective
operational capacity in the field of human rights, be it through
intensified human rights field operations or through the establishment of
international tribunals to prosecute the perpetrators of grave violations
of human rights and humanitarian law. UNHCR has sought to strengthen
collaboration with human rights treaty bodies and other human rights
mechanisms, and has sought to establish active collaboration with the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, especially at the level
of field operations. Ongoing contacts with human rights working groups,
rapporteurs, experts and monitors are also an integral part of the approach
of UNHCR to link human rights concerns with the protection of refugees.
G. Protection and promotion of human rights
555. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Jos_
Ayalo Lasso, is the United Nations official with principal responsibility
for the Organization's human rights activities and, with the Centre for
Human Rights, forms a unity of action. The staff of the Centre provides
support for the activities of the High Commissioner and the various
programmes, procedures and organs of the human rights programme.
1. New directions for the human rights programme
556. Over the last 12 months, the Organization's human rights work has
taken action in response to the need, as seen by Governments and United
Nations organs, to reach out and apply abstract human rights principles in
concrete situations. A growing number of countries have requested advisory
services and technical cooperation in building up national human rights
infrastructures. In the last year well over 100 human rights technical
cooperation projects have been implemented in some 50 countries. In order
to assist in carrying out human rights technical cooperation programmes and
at the request of Governments concerned, the United Nations has established
human rights field presences in Burundi, Cambodia, Guatemala, Malawi and
Rwanda. This represents a new departure in delivering human rights
assistance. The human rights officers involved seek, through training, law
reform, education and information, to contribute to building the structures
of a society respectful of human rights and to prevent violations. Their
very presence has proved to be a confidence-building measure for fragile
societies.
557. The committees established by human rights treaties are also
focusing their recommendations on ways the United Nations can help States
live up to their human rights obligations. Further, the committees
themselves are undertaking field missions to understand better the
conditions in which human rights must be protected, to try to defuse
situations of tension and to help develop concrete solutions to problems.
They are also increasingly active in the field of early warning and
preventive action.
558. Monitoring human rights violations on the ground in order to
provide accurate information to the international community and to
contribute to bringing serious situations to an end is another area in
which our activities have grown. In 1993, the first monitors were sent to
the field and today more than 120 human rights monitors are to be found in
the territory of the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda. Further, and
following a resolution of the Commission on Human Rights, agreement has
been reached to send two monitors to Zaire. The role of monitors is not
only to report on violations, but also to be active agents of prevention.
2. Activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
559. The activities of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have
opened new domains for United Nations action to promote human rights and
have given direction and provided initiative throughout the human rights
programme. Strengthening international cooperation for human rights has
been a main theme. In visits to over 30 States on all continents, the High
Commissioner has sought to reinforce commitment to international and
national protection of human rights through discussion with government
officials, members of parliament and the judiciary. The High Commissioner
has sought to strengthen the role of civil society in protecting human
rights through contacts with non-governmental organizations, the academic
community, the press and the public. These missions include appeals for
ratification of treaties, for cooperation with all United Nations human
rights mechanisms, inclusion of United Nations standards in national law
and the establishment of national institutions to protect human rights.
Human rights problems are dealt with frankly and appropriate actions
suggested, including the revision of laws, release of detainees and
adoption of other measures.
560. The High Commissioner's efforts to strengthen international
cooperation extend also to cooperation with United Nations agencies and
programmes, international and regional organizations and with international
and national non-governmental organizations. The High Commissioner has met
with regional human rights organizations in Europe and the Americas, and he
has drawn the attention of high-level international development and
financial meetings to the need to support human rights activities.
561. An important aspect of the High Commissioner's activities is to
help ensure that the human rights perspective is included in international
conferences and that the high level of existing United Nations human rights
standards is maintained. The High Commissioner took initiatives in this
regard in relation to the World Summit for Social Development and the
Fourth World Conference on Women. With regard to the latter, the High
Commissioner has given particular attention to encouraging the inclusion of
all aspects of the equal status and human rights of women and the girl
child in its deliberations.
562. The High Commissioner has also continued his activities aimed at
responding to serious situations of violations and at preventing violations
from developing or becoming widespread. The High Commissioner has continued
to strengthen the activities of his offices in Burundi and Rwanda, has
dispatched a high-level personal representative to visit the Russian
Federation, including Chechnya, and has appointed a personal representative
to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the
Former Yugoslavia to deal with human rights issues.
563. Preventing violations often goes hand in hand with providing
advisory services and technical cooperation in human rights. In this
connection the High Commissioner has established a special programme to
promote and support national human rights institutions. Other areas of
activity are combating all forms of discrimination, including racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance;
promoting the equal status and rights of women; the rights of the child;
and the rights of minorities and indigenous people. Of special importance
is the responsibility given to the High Commissioner by the General
Assembly to coordinate the implementation of the plan of action of the
United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education. The High Commissioner
places importance on promoting the right to development and cultural,
economic and social rights. A strategy for the implementation of the right
to development and protection of cultural, economic and social rights is
being developed to identify, in cooperation with relevant agencies, treaty-
based bodies and experts, ways of improving the implementation of those
rights.
3. International human rights treaty system
564. Some progress has been made in ratifications within the
international human rights treaty system. As at 15 July 1995, 176 States
had accepted to ensure and respect the wide range of basic human rights
laid down in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This means that the
rights of more than 90 per cent of the children in the world today are
protected by the Convention. This is in itself a notable achievement; every
effort should be made to gain universal ratification by the end of 1995.
Ratification of other treaties has not progressed so rapidly: as at 15
July, 132 States were party to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights; 130 to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights; 145 to the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and 140 to the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Only 90 States
had ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment and only 4 had ratified the International
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families.
565. In September 1994, I wrote to all Member States urging ratification
of outstanding human rights treaties. In February 1995, I wrote to Heads of
State or Government appealing for ratification of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child. I am pleased with the numerous positive responses and
I have asked the High Commissioner for Human Rights to follow up on my
letters and to offer assistance where required. Nevertheless, new efforts
must be made to achieve universal ratification of these important
instruments.
566. At the heart of the international human rights treaty system are
the six expert committees charged with monitoring respect for human rights
as laid down in the respective treaties: the Human Rights Committee; the
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Committee on the
Rights of the Child; the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination; the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women; and the Committee against Torture. Together, they review the human
rights situation in some 60 countries a year. The committees and their
members represent a precious source of information and expertise.
567. The committees have been improving their methods of work, providing
more focused recommendations and carrying out field missions with
increasing frequency. Three objectives are shaping their work: increased
interaction and participation of the specialized agencies and non-
governmental organizations; the establishment of closer connections between
the findings of the treaty body concerned and the programme of advisory
services and technical cooperation; and the establishment by treaty bodies
of procedures aimed at preventing human rights violations and preventing
existing problems from escalating into conflicts.
568. In connection with situations that require special or urgent
action, the committees have requested special reports on an urgent basis
(former Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haiti, Iraq, Peru,
etc.), undertook good offices missions (Belgrade, Kosovo) or carried out
technical assistance missions (Croatia, Guatemala, Panama). Special appeals
have also been issued with regard to Indonesia, concerning East Timor and
Pakistan.
569. In June I met, for the first time, with the chairpersons of all six
treaty-based bodies. The discussion focused on the role of those bodies in
early warning and preventive action, on the greatly increased capacity of
those bodies to monitor accurately the human rights situation in a wide
range of countries and the assistance those bodies needed from the
Secretariat to carry out those expanded responsibilities successfully. I
expressed my full support for their important activities and my personal
commitment to securing universal ratification of human rights treaties. I
look forward to closer cooperation with the treaty bodies in the future.
4. Activities of the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary
bodies
570. The Commission on Human Rights is a unique world forum for the
public discussion of important human rights issues between Governments,
international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Over the
years the Commission has created numerous human rights fact-finding
mechanisms charged with reporting on various human rights situations or
types of serious violations, dealing with individual appeals and making
suggestions for action to improve respect for human rights. The human
rights situation in 12 countries is under review by these procedures. In
addition, 14 thematic mandates have been established dealing with
particularly serious violations, wherever they may occur, running from
arbitrary executions, torture, disappearances, exploitation and sale of
children, to violence against women and racism, racial discrimination and
xenophobia. This year saw the appointment of a special rapporteur on
Burundi and one on the adverse effects on human rights of the illicit
movement and dumping of toxic waste and dangerous products. Each year
thousands of urgent individual cases are transmitted to Governments and
some 40 field missions are carried out. In May a special meeting on these
procedures took place to improve their operation, to seek ways of
integrating women's human rights into their work and to decide on their
contribution to the Fourth World Conference on Women.
571. The Commission on Human Rights, through various working groups,
also pursued the adoption of a declaration on the rights and
responsibilities of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote
and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms; a
draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment concerning visits to prisons
or places of detention; and a draft optional protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflicts. Work
is also under way on guidelines for a possible optional protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography, as well as the basic measures needed
for the prevention and eradication of those practices.
572. The Commission has given close attention to the equal status and
human rights of women. The Commission's Special Rapporteur on violence
against women, its causes and consequences, submitted her preliminary
report to the Commission at its last session. The document deals with the
different forms of violence that occur in the family and the community and
are perpetrated or condoned by the State, and sets out the framework for
the future work of the Special Rapporteur. The Special Rapporteur has also
been actively involved in the integration of women's rights into the
mainstream of United Nations activities in the field of human rights, as
called for in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The High
Commissioner and the Centre for Human Rights have been helping to focus the
attention of the various human rights organs and bodies on the human rights
input to the Fourth World Conference on Women and on the preparation of
parallel human rights activities.
573. The United Nations has continued to work for the protection of the
rights of indigenous people. The Working Group on Indigenous Populations is
the main forum for interaction between human rights experts, Governments
and representatives of indigenous people; some 400 representatives of
indigenous people take part each year. The General Assembly has proclaimed
the period 1995-2004 as the International Decade of the World's Indigenous
People and the Commission on Human Rights is studying the draft declaration
on the rights of indigenous people. Work continues towards the
establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people, as called for by
the Vienna Declaration.
574. Minorities are another especially vulnerable group often needing
international action to help protect their rights. A new body, the Working
Group on Minorities, has been set up with a wide mandate aimed at promoting
respect for the 1992 Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to
National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and examining
possible solutions to problems involving minorities. Further, the General
Assembly has asked the High Commissioner to promote the implementation of
the principles contained in that Declaration.
575. The programme of action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and
Racial Discrimination is a key element in promoting equality. The General
Assembly has recommended that various measures and actions be taken on the
national, regional and international levels. High priority is to be given
to providing assistance and relief to victims of racism and all forms of
racial discrimination. The possibility of convening a world conference on
the elimination of racism, racial and ethnic discrimination, xenophobia and
other related contemporary forms of intolerance is being studied.
5. Advisory services and technical cooperation
576. The World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna in June 1993,
gave heightened emphasis to the need for the international community to
respond to the requests of States for technical cooperation to strengthen
the institutions of human rights and human rights practices. The concrete
response to this is to be found in the programme of technical cooperation
in the field of human rights implemented by the Centre for Human Rights.
The programme supports a wide range of projects aimed at, among other
things, developing national plans of action for human rights, providing
assistance in drafting constitutional provisions relating to human rights,
reforming legislation, human rights aspects of elections, prison reform,
developing and strengthening national institutions, strengthening the
judiciary, training judges, prosecutors and lawyers in human rights, and
training police and the armed forces. Technical cooperation projects also
support regional human rights institutions such as the African Commission
on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Centre for Democracy and Human
Rights Studies and the Arab Institute for Human Rights. Many of these
activities are financed through the United Nations voluntary fund for
technical cooperation in the field of human rights under the guidance of
its board of trustees, composed of eminent international experts.
577. The preventive capacities of this programme have grown in
importance. Contributions have been made during the past year to support
the peace process in Palestine through the training of the Palestinian
Police Force, to strengthening the human rights structures in the Caucasus
(Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia), to the peace-keeping operation in
Mozambique through human rights training for the ONUMOZ civilian police
component and in the former Yugoslavia through training for UNPROFOR
officials and the national police of the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia. Assistance continues in Cambodia and in Rwanda and Burundi.
6. Early warning mechanism
578. The Centre for Human Rights has increasingly brought its human
rights expertise to bear on various activities dealing with early warning
or with information relating to emergency situations. The Centre has
participated in the Administrative Committee on Coordination Working Group
on Early Warning of New Flows of Refugees and Displaced Persons and its
subgroup on indicators. The Centre has also contributed to the development
of the set of indicators for the Humanitarian Early Warning System led by
the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and to the framework for
coordination project for planning and implementation of complex operations
in the field. The Centre is also an active participant in the relief net
project coordinated by the Department and contributed to the May 1995
meeting on early warning activities related to the CIS region.
579. During the last year the United Nations faced a major challenge in
responding to the increasingly varied demands for action made upon it by
Governments and United Nations bodies. Initial difficulties encountered in
fielding complex human rights missions have now been overcome and the High
Commissioner is seeking the cooperation of countries in building a solid
basis for future action in the following areas: (a) logistical assistance
capacity on a standby basis to provide material, communications and other
support needed to contribute to emergency or preventive field missions; (b)
the establishment and maintenance of an international roster of specialized
staff to be available at short notice for human rights field missions
(investigation teams, human rights field officers, legal experts, etc.);
and (c) increased contributions to the voluntary fund for technical
cooperation in order to cover the financial needs of advisory service field
missions and assistance.
580. Other action must be envisaged to enable the human rights programme
to respond to the new demands of the Vienna Declaration, the High
Commissioner's mandate and other decisions of policy-making bodies. The
structure of
the programme and of the supporting secretariat is being carefully reviewed
in order to rationalize the work programme and to provide the substantive
and technical support needed by the programme.
IV
Expanding preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution
A. Implementing "An Agenda for Peace"
581. In response to my report entitled "An Agenda for Peace", the
General Assembly adopted resolutions 47/120 A and B on 18 December 1992 and
20 September 1993, respectively. In the first resolution the Assembly gave
me a clear mandate to pursue preventive diplomacy and to strengthen the
Secretariat's capacity in an early-warning mechanism, in particular
collection and analysis of information, for situations likely to endanger
international peace and security. The Security Council has also held a
number of meetings to examine specific proposals made in "An Agenda for
Peace", and the President of the Council has issued some 10 statements or
letters as part of the review process.
582. On 3 January 1995, I issued a position paper entitled "Supplement
to An Agenda for Peace'" (A/50/60-S/1995/1), in which I set forth
additional recommendations, highlighting the areas where unforeseen, or
only partly foreseen, difficulties had arisen and where there is a need for
Member States to take the "hard decisions" noted in my 1992 report
(A/47/277-S/24111). I also drew conclusions with regard to the crucial
distinction between peace-keeping and enforcement action, as well as to the
circumstances in which military force is a useful tool of diplomacy and
those in which it is counterproductive.
583. In response to the Supplement, and after intensive discussions on
18 and 19 January 1995, the Security Council issued a presidential
statement (S/PRST/1995/9) in support of that position paper. The Council
welcomed and shared the priority I had given to action to prevent conflict.
Furthermore, it encouraged all Member States to make the fullest possible
use of instruments of preventive action, including the good offices of the
Secretary-General, the dispatch of special envoys and the deployment, with
the consent as appropriate of the host country or countries, of small field
missions for preventive diplomacy and peacemaking. Among other things, the
Security Council hoped that the General Assembly, as well as other
organizations and entities, would accord the Supplement a high degree of
priority. It is encouraging to see that the lessons of contemporary peace-
keeping have begun to appear not only in United Nations documents but in
the training manuals of a number of Member States as well.
584. In the General Assembly, the Informal Open-ended Working Group on
An Agenda for Peace continued its work during 1995 on issues contained in
"An Agenda for Peace" and the Supplement.
585. Encouraged by such interest and in the belief that it is evidently
better to prevent conflicts through early warning, quiet diplomacy and, in
some cases, preventive deployment, than to undertake major politico-
military efforts to resolve conflicts after they have broken out, I intend
to redouble my efforts to perform the task entrusted to me under the
Charter. If the United Nations is to play a timely and constructive role in
averting or mitigating the destructive effects of complex crises, it is
essential that the various elements of the Organization have an early,
common view of the nature of the problem and the options for preventive
action. In the Supplement, I noted that the multifunctional nature of both
peace-keeping and peace-building had made it necessary to improve
coordination within the Secretariat, so that the relevant departments
function as an integrated whole under my authority and control.
586. It is in this context that, following an initiative of the
Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the three substantive departments of
the Secretariat, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the Department of
Political Affairs and the Department of Peace-keeping Operations, have
developed a flow-chart of actions information sharing, consultations and
joint action for the coordination of their respective activities in the
planning and implementing of complex operations in the field. This
mechanism, known as the "Framework for coordination", covers the
departments' activities during routine monitoring and early-warning
analysis, assessment of options for preventive action where possible, fact-
finding, planning and implementation of field operations, and conduct of
evaluations or lessons-learned exercises.
587. An important element of the Framework for Coordination is the
provision for staff-level consultations by the three departments, as well
as the United Nations Development Programme, the Commission on Human
Rights, the Department of Public Information and other parts of the
Organization, to undertake joint analyses of early-warning information from
a variety of sources, and to formulate joint recommendations for possible
preventive measures. The individual departments particularly the
Department of Political Affairs will retain the authority to implement
preventive action, under my direction.
588. To ensure continuous consultation between the Secretary-General and
the Security Council and to assist the latter in being informed about the
latest developments, particularly in the area of peace-keeping operations,
I have appointed one of my Special Advisers, Mr. Chinmaya Gharekhan, as my
personal representative to the Council. Troop-contributing Governments are
also understandably anxious to be kept fully informed. Therefore, I have
endeavoured to meet their concerns by providing the Governments with
regular briefings and by engaging them in dialogue about the conduct of the
operation in question. Members of the Security Council have been included
in such meetings, which the Council recently decided to formalize. It is
important, however, that this reform should not lead to any blurring of the
three distinct areas of authority, which include overall political
direction that belongs to the Security Council; executive direction and
command for which the Secretary-General is responsible; and command in the
field, which I entrust to the chief of mission.
589. All the efforts of the Security Council, the General Assembly and
the Secretariat to control and resolve conflicts need the cooperation and
support of other players on the international stage. Chapter VIII of the
Charter defines the role that regional organizations can play in the
maintenance of peace and security. Forms of cooperation between the United
Nations and regional organizations include consultations, diplomatic
support, operational support, co-deployment and joint operations. While the
capacity of regional organizations for peacemaking and peace-keeping varies
considerably, none has yet developed the capacity and experience the United
Nations has in those fields. The United Nations is ready to help them when
requested to do so and when resources are sufficient. To advance these
efforts, I intend to hold another high-level meeting with regional
arrangements and organizations as a follow-up to the meeting I convened on
1 August 1994.
B. Preventive diplomacy and peacemaking
590. It has become clear that preventive diplomacy is only one of a
class of actions that can be taken to prevent disputes from turning into
armed conflict. Others in this class are preventive deployment of military
and/or police personnel; preventive humanitarian action, for example, to
manage and resolve a refugee situation in a sensitive frontier area; and
preventive peace-building, which itself comprises an extensive menu of
possible actions in the political, economic and social fields, applicable
especially to possible internal conflicts.
591. All these preventive actions share the following characteristics:
they all depend on early warning that the risk of conflict exists; they
require information about the causes and likely nature of the potential
conflict so that the appropriate preventive action can be identified; and
they require the consent of the party or parties within whose jurisdiction
the preventive action is to take place.
592. The element of timing is crucial. The potential conflict should be
ripe for the preventive action proposed. Timing is also an important
consideration in peacemaking and peace-keeping. The prevention, control and
resolution of a conflict is like the prevention, control and cure of
disease. If treatment is prescribed at the wrong moment in the evolution of
a disease, the patient does not improve, and the credibility of both the
treatment and the physician who prescribed it is compromised.
593. The term "peacemaking", as used by the United Nations, refers to
the use of diplomatic means to persuade parties in conflict to cease
hostilities and negotiate a peaceful settlement of their dispute. All the
types of action that can be used for preventive purposes, such as
diplomatic peace-keeping, humanitarian aid and peace-building, have their
role in creating conditions for successful peacemaking, and implementing
and consolidating the negotiated settlement for peace.
594. The primary responsibility for preventive action and peacemaking
rests with the Department of Political Affairs, headed by Under-Secretary-
General Marrack Goulding. The Department was created in 1992 to consolidate
the political work of the Secretariat in a single department. There is,
however, a distinction to be made between the Department's roles in these
two fields. In the preventive field, its role is to identify the action
required, with execution being entrusted to the specialist department or
other agency concerned. In the peacemaking field, its role generally
includes execution as well.
595. The Department of Political Affairs has five main responsibilities
in support of preventive action and peacemaking. First, it must monitor,
analyse and assess political developments throughout the world. Next, the
Department identifies potential or actual conflicts in whose control and
resolution the United Nations can play a useful role. It then prepares
recommendations to the Secretary-General about appropriate actions in such
cases. Fourth, the Department executes the approved policy when it is of a
diplomatic nature. Finally, it assists the Secretary-General in carrying
out political activities decided by him and/or mandated by the General
Assembly and the Security Council in the areas of preventive diplomacy,
peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building, including arms control and
disarmament.
596. The Centre for Disarmament Affairs, an integral part of the
Department of Political Affairs, provides advice, analysis and assessment
on all disarmament matters and carries out the responsibilities entrusted
to the Secretariat in this field. The Electoral Assistance Division,
another integral part of the Department, provides services requested by
Member States in the electoral field. The Department also provides
secretariat services to the General Assembly, the Security Council and
their various subsidiary organs.
C. Peace-keeping in a changing context
597. United Nations peace-keeping remained a dynamic and demanding
activity, responding to continuing turbulence in relations between States
as well as to armed conflict within State borders. Certain peace-keeping
missions were brought to a successful conclusion and new missions were
established by the Security Council, while the status of existing
operations ranged from relative stability to high danger. In the face of
these challenges, the Organization continued to encounter grave
difficulties in obtaining resources from Member States, in both specialized
and properly equipped military units and adequate financing. At the end of
July 1995, approximately 65,000 military personnel, 1,700 civilian police
and 6,000 civilian personnel were deployed in 16 United Nations peace-
keeping operations, with an aggregate annual budget of approximately $3.6
billion (see table 2).
598. In Haiti, the suspended United Nations Mission was redeployed after
a multinational force established stable and secure conditions. Likewise,
in Angola, an effectively suspended United Nations peace-keeping operation,
the United Nations Angola Verification Mission, has been newly deployed
after the Angolan parties, following prolonged negotiations under United
Nations auspices, finalized an agreement to bring the interrupted peace
process back on course. In Tajikistan, a small United Nations Mission of
Observers was deployed in support of a negotiating process under United
Nations auspices, with the goal of national reconciliation and the
promotion of democracy. Two major missions, in Mozambique and in El
Salvador, were steered to a commendably successful conclusion, both
culminating in elections monitored by the United Nations and the
establishment of elected Governments, with the promise of the consolidation
of stability in both countries. In contrast, the United Nations Operation
in Somalia II, long plagued by interminable hostility between clan leaders
who often turned upon the mission itself, was terminated, with a residual
good offices mission being maintained to assist in the search for political
compromise. Although the ambitious goal of reconstructing a stable Somali
State was not achieved, the mission's principal objectives of ending the
dire conditions of famine and of restoring some stability to most of the
country were secured.
Table 2
Peace-keeping toops, military observers and civilian police in peace-
keeping operations on 31 July 1995
Troops Observers Police Total
UNTSO 220 220
UNMOGIP 40 40
UNFICYP 1 163 35 1 200
UNDOF 1 063 1 036
UNIFIL 4 963 4 963
UNIKOM 859 243 1 102
UNAVEM 3 014 333 207 3 554
MINURSO 48 236 113 397
UNCRO 13 683 347 435 14 465
UNPROFOR 27 738 288 18 28 044
UNPREDEP 1 107 25 26 1 158
UNOMIG 134 134
UNMIH 5 850 841 6 691
UNOMIL 7 62 69
UNAMIR 3 792 306 59 4 157
UNMOT 39 39
Total 63 262 2 273 1 734 67 269
599. In recent years, the practice of peace-keeping, developed during
the cold war and based on the consent and cooperation of the parties and
impartiality of United Nations forces, with resort to arms only in self-
defence, has proved most effective in multidimensional operations where the
parties not only entered into negotiated agreements but demonstrated the
political will to achieve the goals established. However, where the climate
was one of hostility and obstruction instead of cooperation and political
will, peace-keeping came under heavy strains and pressures. This has been
the experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the United Nations itself
came under armed attack. While efforts to achieve a political agreement
between the parties remained futile, the determination to press for
military advantage undermined laboriously negotiated cease-fires, and the
force of events on the ground drove the United Nations into situations in
which mandates assigning peace-keeping tasks simultaneously with limited
enforcement actions proved contradictory and ineffective. The Bosnian
Serbs' use of military force to obtain their objectives demonstrated the
perilous balance to be maintained by the international community between
the limits of a mandate defined in response to a particular situation and
the larger objective of realizing the purposes of the Charter. This has
compelled renewed reflection on the instruments available to the
international community in its efforts to maintain international peace and
security.
600. The limits of peace-keeping in ongoing hostilities starkly
highlighted by the distressing course of events in the former Yugoslavia
have become clearer, as the Organization has come to realize that a mix of
peace-keeping and enforcement is not the answer to a lack of consent and
cooperation by the parties to the conflict. The United Nations can be only
as effective as its Member States may allow it to be. The option of
withdrawal raises the question of whether the international community can
simply leave the afflicted populations to their fate. The Organization has
been confronted with this issue with increasing frequency, not only in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, Angola and
elsewhere.
601. The international community's response to these situations was
varied. In some cases, it became necessary to rethink and readjust the
measures taken. Such, often difficult, readjustment can be minimized if
mandates given the Organization establish well-defined, achievable
objectives and have the necessary political and material backing of Member
States. Especially in instances where the Security Council authorizes the
use of force even to a limited extent, under Chapter VII of the Charter,
the composition, equipment and logistic support of such an operation must
be commensurate with the task.
602. Peace-keeping missions have multiplied in number and complexity in
recent years. United Nations personnel in much larger numbers are now
involved in a wider spectrum of operations ranging from the monitoring of
traditional cease-fires to the task of armed protection of humanitarian
convoys, and from the control of buffer zones to assistance in the
implementation of peace settlements. As expectations rise and more missions
are deployed, the United Nations is finding it increasingly difficult to
keep up with fast-moving situations. Delays resulting from factors such as
procedures and readiness have meant that local situations could get worse
while the Organization prepares forces for deployment.
603. The Stand-by Forces Planning Team, established by the Secretary-
General, developed the stand-by arrangements system in 1993, and the
process to institutionalize it in the Secretariat began in May 1994. The
mandate of the Secretariat vis-_-vis stand-by arrangements is to maintain a
system of stand-by resources, able to be deployed as a whole or in parts,
anywhere in the world, at the Secretary-General's request, with agreed
response times, for United Nations duties, as mandated by the Security
Council. The system calls for Member States to provide the Secretariat with
detailed information regarding probable contributions (military, civilian
police and civilian specialists) to peace-keeping operations. The
information provided by participating Member States includes such data as
response times, capabilities, air and sealift volumetrics as well as
indications regarding equipment requirements.
604. The aim of the initiative is to reduce mounting times for new or
expanding peace-keeping and enhancing efficiency and coordination at the
Secretariat and mission levels. The stand-by arrangements system is based
on conditional offers by Member States of specified resources which could
be made available within agreed response times for United Nations peace-
keeping operations. These resources can be military individuals or
formations, civilian police, specialized personnel (civilian and military)
and services, as well as material and equipment.
605. The resources remain on "stand-by" in their home country, where
training prepares them to fulfil specific tasks or functions in accordance
with United Nations guidelines. Stand-by resources would be used for peace-
keeping operations mandated by the Security Council and should not be
confused with peace-enforcement units, which are described in "An Agenda
for Peace" (A/47/277-S/24111) as forces meant to respond to "outright
aggression, imminent or actual". In these arrangements, Member States
retain full responsibility for stand-by resources as long as they remain in
their home country. During the period of their assignment to peace-keeping
operations, personnel made available by participating Member States would
remain in their national service but would be under command of the United
Nations.
606. To ensure its effectiveness, the stand-by arrangements system
relies on detailed volumetric information on resources specified in each of
the stand-by arrangements. By maintaining a comprehensive database of the
volumetrics, the Secretariat will be in a better position to assess
detailed requirements. Secretariat planners will know well in advance what
movement provisions are required and what items should be procured if
deficiencies exist. In addition, procurement activities can be pre-planned,
thereby reducing costs.
607. So far 46 Member States have confirmed their participation in
stand-by arrangements and 13 are in the process of finalizing their offer.
The commitments made to date do not, however, cover the whole spectrum of
resources required to mount and execute future peace-keeping operations
adequately. Deficiencies still exist in critical areas such as
communications, multi-role logistics, health services, supply, engineering
and transportation.
608. The Stand-by Arrangements Management Team is currently manned by
one United Nations-contracted military officer and three others on loan
from Governments. In addition, the team is temporarily assisted by four
officers from other teams within the Mission Planning Service of the
Department of Peace-keeping Operations.
609. Potentially, the stand-by arrangements system will offer an
effective means of rapidly deploying needed resources to new or current
peace-keeping missions. If these arrangements are fully built up, the
Secretariat would be in a better position to meet current challenges. The
system's success is totally dependent on the support and participation of
Member States, since even under the stand-by arrangements Member States
will retain the right to deploy the agreed units in a particular operation.
610. The daunting experiences in United Nations peace-keeping in the
turbulence following the end of the cold war turbulence also have
confronted the Organization with problems on a more practical level. The
difficulties in securing resources have led to unacceptable delays in
deployment of peace-keeping forces in emergency situations that cannot
afford delay. In the Supplement to "An Agenda for Peace", I urged that
serious thought be given to the idea of a rapid reaction force to provide
the Security Council with a strategic reserve for deployment in emergencies
requiring the immediate presence of peace-keeping troops. The system of
stand-by arrangements does not so far ensure the reliability and speed of
response which is required in such emergencies. It is essential that the
necessary capabilities are reliably available when they are needed and can
be deployed with the speed dictated by the situation. It is evident that
Member States possess such capabilities; what is needed is the will to make
them available for the execution of Security Council mandates.
611. The work of peace has never been without risk, but today United
Nations personnel are routinely required to face dangers to their life and
health in the course of unpredictable and risky operations in hostile
environments (see fig. 16). This is demonstrated by the unfortunate fact
that there have been 456 fatalities in peace-keeping missions between 1991
and 1995 as compared to 398 between 1948 and 1990 (see fig. 17).
Particularly disturbing is the tendency by some to ignore the international
status of United Nations personnel and to attack peace-keepers as they
carry out their duties mandated by the Security Council (see fig. 18). The
Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted
by the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session is of crucial
importance, and I urge Governments to take the necessary action to ensure
that the Convention enters into force as soon as possible.
612. There is an increasing awareness among Member States that public
information, both internationally and in the mission area, is critical to
the success of peace-keeping operations. In the planning of recent major
operations, therefore, the requirements for an information capacity were
examined at an early stage and the resources required were included in the
proposed budget.
D. Current activities in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-
keeping
1. Afghanistan
613. During the period under review the Special Mission established in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/208 continued its work under
the leadership of Mr. Mahmoud Mestiri. Also in January 1995, the Office of
the Secretary-General in Afghanistan (OSGA) was established in Jalalabad,
until conditions could permit it to return to Kabul.
614. I visited Pakistan from 6 to 8 September 1994 and was briefed by
Mr. Mestiri on his intensive consultations in previous weeks about
transitional arrangements which would lead to a cease-fire and the
convening of a Loya Jirga (Grand National Assembly). I also met separately
with various representatives of the party leaders and with independent
Afghans. Mindful of the strong desire of the Afghan people for peace, I
instructed Mr. Mestiri to continue his endeavours.
615. On Mr. Mestiri's initiative, an advisory group of recognized and
respected independent Afghan personalities from within and outside the
country met at Quetta for 19 days starting on 29 September 1994 to advise
the United Nations in its efforts to achieve progress. Their
recommendations for an early transfer of power to a fully representative
Authoritative Council, a country-wide cease-fire, a security force for
Kabul and the subsequent establishment of a transitional government or the
convening of a Loya Jirga were endorsed by the Security Council in November
and subsequently by the General Assembly in December. In October, President
Burhanuddin Rabbani had made a conditional offer to transfer power and
Afghanistan gave its support to the United Nations peace proposals in a
statement issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (S/1994/1227, annex).
616. Mr. Mestiri returned to the region on 29 December 1994 and focused
his efforts on the early transfer of power to the Authoritative Council.
During January 1995, negotiations on its membership were held with all the
major leaders, including President Rabbani, who reiterated his readiness to
step down on 20 February when the Council was to be set up.
617. The military successes of the Taliban, a newly established armed
force, delayed the setting up of the Council in Kabul. Efforts were made to
include this group in the Council but it declined to participate in the
process directly. The convening of the Authoritative Council was postponed
to 21 March while a committee of four personalities worked to reconcile the
areas of divergence. Its proposal that the Council be composed of two
representatives from each of Afghanistan's 32 provinces, plus 15 or 20
representatives nominated by the United Nations to achieve the necessary
ethnic and political balance, was accepted by some, but not all, of the
parties.
618. As the date for the transfer of power drew closer, changes in the
political and military situation began to accelerate. On 6 March, intensive
fighting erupted in Kabul and adjacent areas between the forces of General
Massoud and those of Mr. Mazari (Hezb-i-Wahdat), and then between those of
General Massoud and the Taliban. The renewed fighting resulted in a virtual
stalemate in the peace process. No nomination for the Authoritative Council
had been received by mid-April, when Mr. Mestiri departed from the area.
619. In June, I called Mr. Mestiri to New York and, after discussing the
new situation with him, decided that the United Nations should immediately
resume its efforts towards peace in Afghanistan. On my instructions, Mr.
Mestiri visited the region between 18 July and 1 August in order to
reassess the prevailing situation. During his visit, he exchanged views
with key Afghan leaders and senior officials of the neighbouring countries
on ways in which the United Nations could assist the peace process. His
interlocutors included President Rabbani, General Dostum, Mr. Ismael Khan
and leaders of the Taliban.
620. I received Mr. Mestiri's report on the latest round of his
activities in early August and agreed with him that he should assume
residence inside Afghanistan and pursue his efforts to obtain the agreement
of all concerned to the modalities for the transition to a broad-based and
widely accepted Government. I also decided to enhance the Special Mission
and OSGA by stationing additional political affairs officers in the
country.
621. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) continued to coordinate the humanitarian
programme throughout the country. A consolidated appeal, seeking $106
million to cover humanitarian needs for a 12-month period, was issued in
October 1994. The main targets of the appeal were the emergency in Kabul,
the needs of the internally displaced and support for voluntary
repatriation of refugees from neighbouring countries. The total cash and
in-kind contributions received during 1994 by United Nations agencies and
non-governmental organizations for activities outlined in the approach are
estimated at $85 million. As a result of a mid-term review that was carried
out early in 1995, a general consensus has emerged among all humanitarian
partners concerned over the need for a new consolidated appeal covering the
period from October 1995 to September 1996. The appeal will include
projects covering the provision of emergency relief to vulnerable groups in
urban and rural areas, including internally displaced persons and
returnees. Emergency rehabilitation projects targeting communities made
vulnerable by loss of livelihood, basic services or shelter will also be
incorporated.
622. When I met the leaders of all the main Afghan factions in Islamabad
in September 1994, I urged them to lift the blockade of Kabul, which had
prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid to the city since late June. As
a result, convoys carrying over 1,500 tons of urgently needed supplies
reached Kabul in December. After fighting ended in the city, regular United
Nations convoys carrying relief supplies reached the city as of mid-March.
Refugees and displaced people also began to return. However, much of the
southern part of the city is completely devastated. Mines and unexploded
ordnance present a constant danger, and little clean water is available.
United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations are working
together to address these most urgent humanitarian needs, providing food,
shelter, sanitation and health care.
623. Throughout 1994, internally displaced persons from Kabul continued
to arrive in Jalalabad. By January 1995, almost 300,000 persons were living
in camps assisted by the United Nations, the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) and non-governmental organizations. As a result of
coordinated efforts, the health and nutritional status of camp residents
improved dramatically.
624. Joint United Nations interventions in the humani-tarian field
include a mass immunization campaign, organized by the World Health
Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, in collaboration with
the Ministry of Public Health and non-governmental organizations. The first
round took place in November 1994. Following an appeal by the United
Nations, a complete cease-fire prevailed for the week of the campaign. The
second and third rounds took place in April and May 1995.
2. Baltic States
625. In accordance with the agreements between the parties concerned,
the Russian Federation withdrew its troops from the territory of Estonia
and Latvia by 31 August 1994. In a letter addressed to me on 26 August 1994
(A/49/344-S/1994/1008), the Permanent Representative of the Russian
Federation confirmed the guarantees that the Russian Federation gave to the
Latvian side that the Agreement concerning the legal status of the Skrunda
radar station during the period of its temporary operation and dismantling
would not be used to carry out acts directed against the sovereignty and
security interests of Latvia.
626. At the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, it was
generally recognized that completion of the withdrawal of foreign armed
forces from the territory of the Baltic States would contribute to
enhancing stability in Europe and developing better relations between the
Baltic States and the Russian Federation. The General Assembly thus
concluded its consideration of this item.
3. Bougainville
627. I welcomed the establishment of a Bougainville Transitional
Government in April of this year. I am pleased to note that, following the
signing of the agreement reached at the Bougainville Peace Conference at
Arawa last October, and following the talks held by my Special Envoy in
August 1994 and January 1995 with the leaders of Papua New Guinea and
Solomon Islands, and with representatives of all Bougainvillian groups in
pursuance of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/81 of 9 March 1994,
there has been a marked improvement in the political and human rights
situation on the Island.
628. Convinced that reconstruction and rehabilitation are essential for
the strengthening of the peace process, I dispatched a United Nations
inter-agency mission to Papua New Guinea in April-May 1995. The Mission has
prepared a development programme for the reconstruction and rehabilitation
of Bougainville.
629. In accordance with the mandate entrusted to me by Commission on
Human Rights resolution 1995/65, I will continue to lend my good offices to
the peace process now under way in Bougainville.
4. Burundi
630. The threatening situation in Burundi has been a major preoccupation
throughout the period under review. I visited the country on 16 and 17 July
1995. Since his appointment in November 1993, my Special Representative for
Burundi, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has actively promoted national
reconciliation in the country through his contacts with all parties
concerned.
631. On 10 September 1994, all the parties reached agreement on a system
of power-sharing and later signed a Convention of Government, with the sole
exception of the Parti pour le redressement national (PARENA), headed by
former President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza. On 30 September 1994, the National
Assembly elected Mr. Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, a Hutu, as the new President
of the Republic of Burundi. Mr. Anatole Kanyenkiko, a Tutsi, was
reconfirmed as Prime Minister on 3 October 1994, and five days later a new
coalition Government, representing 7 of the 13 political parties, was sworn
in.
632. In my report to the Security Council of 11 October 1994
(S/1994/1152), I noted that although the situation had stabilized somewhat
with the election of a new President, it still remained precarious. The
international community should therefore continue to encourage the moderate
forces in Burundi.
633. Throughout the period under review, the Security Council repeatedly
deplored the attempts of extremist elements to destabilize the situation
further and called upon all parties to respect and implement fully the
provisions of the Convention of Government. The Council dispatched a fact-
finding mission, the second in six months, to Bujumbura on 10 and 11
February 1995. The mission recommended, inter alia, the establishment of an
international commission of inquiry into the October 1993 coup attempt and
the massacres that followed, a substantial increase in the number of
Organization of African Unity military observers, the strengthening of the
office of my Special Representative and the deployment of United Nations
human rights monitors throughout the country (S/1995/163).
634. In a presidential statement of 29 March 1995 (S/PRST/1995/13), the
Security Council requested me to report on the steps to be taken to
establish the commission of inquiry recommended by its mission which had
visited Burundi the previous month. After considering various options, I
concluded that it was necessary to explore the possibility of establishing
a commission on the truth for Burundi similar to the one that had worked in
El Salvador. I appointed a Special Envoy, Mr. Pedro Nikken, to visit
Burundi for two weeks starting 26 June 1995. His mission was to determine
whether the appropriate national entities in Burundi were prepared to set
up a commission on the truth. The Council also reaffirmed its support for a
regional conference on peace, stability and security and called with great
urgency upon the countries of the region to convene such a conference. My
Special Envoy visited Bujumbura from 28 June to 9 July 1995. In his report,
he concluded that neither a commission on the truth nor an international
commission of judicial inquiry would be an adequate response to the need to
put an end to impunity in Burundi. However, an international commission of
inquiry could be viable and useful. I reported to the Council on 28 July
(S/1995/631) with recommendations for the establishment of such a
commission.
635. The Conference on Assistance to Refugees, Returnees and Displaced
Persons in the Great Lakes Region, organized by the Organization of African
Unity and UNHCR, took place as scheduled at Bujumbura from 12 to 17
February 1995, in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 49/7 of 25
October 1994. The Conference adopted a plan of action and decided to ask
UNDP to organize a round table to assist the countries affected by the
Rwandan and Burundian refugees. Preparatory meetings for holding the round
table are scheduled to take place from September to December 1995.
636. On 15 February, the Union pour le progr_s national (UPRONA), the
main opposition party, forced the resignation of Prime Minister Kanyenkiko.
Five days later, Mr. Antoine Nduwayo was appointed Prime Minister. On 10
March, a new 25-member coalition Government was appointed. The security
situation nevertheless remained fragile. Violence did not subside, despite
a reconciliation and pacification campaign launched by the Government in
April 1995, and it continued to affect parts of the country. Two problems,
in particular, were potentially explosive: the sudden influx of Hutu
refugees who left the Kibeho camp for displaced persons in Rwanda and
crossed the northern border of Burundi (27,000 as of 12 May 1995) and the
question of a shipment of small arms and ammunition ordered by Burundi from
China in 1992, but blocked in Dar es Salaam by the authorities of the
United Republic of Tanzania.
637. A fresh outbreak of violence in Bujumbura in June 1995 led to the
announcement by President Ntibantunganya of new security measures but they
were rejected by the Parliament with the Front pour la d_mocratie au
Burundi (FRODEBU) majority voting against them. The same month, arrest
warrants were issued against two Hutu extremist leaders former Minister
of the Interior Leonard Nyagoma and his top adviser, Mr. Christian
Sendegeya, who had sought refuge in Zaire. The situation was further
aggravated by the unexpected resignation of the Tutsi Minister for Foreign
Affairs. On 6 July 1995, Mr. Paul Munyambari, a Hutu (FRODEBU), was
appointed Foreign Minister in his place. Preparations for the national
debate, which is tentatively scheduled for November or December 1995, are
under way.
638. During his visit to Burundi from 29 to 31 March 1995, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights received support from the
President of Burundi for the expansion of the office of the High
Commissioner in Bujumbura, opened since 15 June 1994. On 4 May, the
Economic and Social Council appointed Mr. Paulo Pinheiro (Brazil) Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi. Mr. Pinheiro paid
his first visit to the country from 21 June to 2 July.
639. On the humanitarian front, the violence in Burundi severely
affected the northern provinces. Populations have continued to flee to the
United Republic of Tanzania and Zaire. The reduction in the availability of
food resources to meet regional needs has forced the World Food Programme
to cease distributions among the displaced populations while continuing to
serve refugees. This has led to the exacerbation of ethnic tensions within
the northern regions.
640. The fact that the humanitarian needs which surfaced after the
events in October 1993 in Burundi were largely met by September/October
1994 seems to account for the general consensus within the relief community
in Burundi that the humanitarian crisis is past. However, although an
emergency does not exist at present, there remain reasons for concern about
the future. Health and educational services are continuously perturbed by
ethnic turmoil, forcing the international community to set up parallel
administrative structures. Dwindling international emergency resources and
the absence of follow-up development assistance pose questions about the
Government's capacity to take over the provision of basic services.
641. The United Nations Development Programme is actively involved in
assisting the Government in its transition from a relief-assisted State to
one which may lead a recovery effort. A 15-month continuum programme of
close to $3.4 million was initiated to help elaborate sectorial strategies.
In addition, a number of conferences attract donor support.
642. The World Health Organization is implementing a four-pronged
assistance effort, totalling nearly $3.9 million. The efforts are focused
on strengthening the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network,
assisting in the prevention and control of communicable diseases and
epidemics, supporting the provision of health services to the most affected
provinces, and aiding in the prevention and control of sexually transmitted
diseases.
643. The efforts of UNICEF are geared towards reinforcing the existing
health network as well as the integration of preventive and curative
services of health and nutrition, the provision of water supply and
environmental sanitation, supporting basic education and peace education,
and giving assistance to 8,000 unaccompanied children. Over $10 million has
been contributed for these efforts.
644. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has
concentrated its efforts on providing displaced persons, returnees and
refugees with agricultural tool kits and seeds. In addition, the
organization is involved in reforestation and stockbreeding. A total of $12
million has been allocated for these tasks.
645. In addition to providing assistance to approximately 200,000
refugees, UNHCR has been assisting 220,000 returnees and displaced persons
and 5,000 urban poor. UNHCR also provides secondary school and higher
education, and implements repatriation operations of former refugees from
and to Rwanda. Approximately $30 million has been raised for the
accomplishment of these tasks.
646. WFP continues to assist the internally displaced persons and
returnees as well as 200,000 Rwandan refugees in Burundi, and 150,000
Rwandan and Burundian refugees in Zaire. The reduction in regional food
availability has led WFP to implement an accelerated reintegration
programme for the internally displaced.
5. Cambodia
647. In April 1995, the Royal Government of Cambodia agreed to my
decision that the term of my Representative in Cambodia, whom I had
appointed following the termination of the mandate of the United Nations
Military Liaison Team in May 1994, be extended by six months and that he
should be assisted during this period by one military adviser. In
accordance with his mandate, my Representative has maintained close liaison
with the host Government, as well as with United Nations programmes and
agencies operating in the country.
648. The broad cooperation between the Government, the United Nations
and the international community has brought further progress to the country
during the past year. The generous pledges made at the third meeting of the
International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC) are clear
evidence of the sustained commitment of the international community to
assist the Government in its endeavours to establish a peaceful, democratic
and prosperous State.
649. Discussions in May 1995 between my Special Envoy, Under-Secretary-
General Marrack Goulding, and the Cambodian Government led to an agreement
to introduce measures to improve communication between the United Nations
Centre for Human Rights in Phnom Penh and the Government, and for the
office to continue to function with its existing mandate. At that time I
issued a personal appeal to Member States for contributions to the Trust
Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia. I repeat this
appeal now.
6. Cyprus
650. During the past year, my mission of good offices proceeded within
the overall framework set out by the Security Council in resolution 939
(1994): to continue to work for progress on both the substance of the
Cyprus problem and the implementation of the package of confidence-building
measures that had been the focus of efforts during the previous period.
651. After my Special Representative, Mr. Joe Clark, visited the region
in September 1994 for meetings with the Cypriot parties and the Governments
of Greece and Turkey, he reported to me that matters were close to an
impasse. The Greek Cypriot leader continued to insist on progress on an
overall solution, while the Turkish Cypriot leader placed priority on the
early implementation of the confidence-building measures. In response, I
wrote to each of the community leaders on 10 October 1994, informing them
that I had requested my Deputy Special Representative to invite them to
join him for a number of informal consultations. These consultations were
to explore, in a concrete manner, ways in which the implementation of the
confidence-building measures and the long-contemplated overall settlement
of the Cyprus problem might be advanced.
652. Both leaders accepted this invitation, meeting five times between
18 and 31 October 1994. They discussed the essential elements of a
federation in Cyprus as well as the implementation of the confidence-
building measures, exploring a broad range of ideas pertaining to political
equality, sovereignty, membership in the European Union, aspects of the
federal constitutional arrangements, security and demilitarization,
displaced persons, property claims and territorial adjustments, as well as
modalities for the early establishment of the federation and implementation
of the confidence-building measures. The ideas broached under these
headings offered ways of satisfying in an equitable manner what have
consistently been the most deeply held concerns and interests of each
community.
653. In November and December 1994, I met separately with each of the
Cypriot leaders to hear their views on the informal meetings. I told them
that given the necessary political will, the elements discussed during
their meetings offered the possibility of a significant step forward both
on the substance of the Cyprus question and on the confidence-building
measures. I also strongly encouraged the Turkish Cypriot leader to respond
in a commensurate manner to the ideas that had been broached. I instructed
my Representatives to pursue their contacts with the parties in order to
establish the basis for a further discussion of these issues. To this end,
Mr. Clark travelled to the region in March and May 1995.
654. The continuing support of the members of the Security Council for
the efforts of my mission of good offices has been particularly
encouraging. But I regret that, in spite of the presence on the negotiating
table of almost all elements required for a just and lasting settlement,
the negotiating process again appears to be blocked.
655. The United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has
continued to carry out effectively its mandate despite the reduction of its
strength by nearly half over the past couple of years. The two sides have
generally exercised restraint in the past year. However, the continuing
quiet should not obscure the fact that there is merely a cease-fire not
peace on the island. I continue to be concerned by the excessive level of
foreign troops and of armament in Cyprus, and the rate at which these are
being strengthened. The two sides have not yet agreed, in accordance with
the proposed package of confidence-building measures, to extend without
delay the 1989 unmanning agreement to all parts of the buffer zone where
their forces remain in close proximity to each other. The Security
Council's repeated call for a significant reduction in the number of
foreign troops and in defence spending should be heeded by all concerned. I
again urge both sides to take reciprocal measures to lower the tension,
including mutual commitments, through UNFICYP, not to deploy along the
cease-fire lines live ammunition or weapons other than those that are hand-
held and to prohibit firing of weapons within sight or hearing of the
buffer zone.
7. East Timor
656. I have continued to provide my good offices in the search for a
just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the question
of East Timor. During the period under review, I held two more rounds of
talks at Geneva, on 9 January and 8 July 1995, with the Foreign Ministers
of Indonesia and Portugal. These talks identified a number of substantive
issues for further discussions and explored possible avenues towards a
solution.
657. During my visit to Indonesia in April, I had very useful
discussions with President Suharto. I have had equally valuable meetings
with President Mario Soares when I visited Portugal at the end of August. I
also dispatched a mission to Portugal, Indonesia and East Timor in December
1994 to consult with the two Governments and a broad range of East Timorese
personalities on a series of ideas to help move the process forward.
658. With the support of the two Ministers, I took the initiative to
facilitate and offer necessary arrangements for the convening of an all-
inclusive intra-East Timorese dialogue. The dialogue does not address the
political status of East Timor or represent a second negotiating track.
Instead, it is intended to be a forum for free and informal discussions
among the East Timorese on practical ideas aimed at creating an atmosphere
conducive to the achievement of a solution to the question. The first
meeting of the dialogue was convened at Burg Schlaining, Austria, from 2 to
5 June 1995, and was attended by 30 East Timorese of all shades of
political opinion. In a positive atmosphere, the delegates reached a
declaration by consensus and produced a number of useful ideas that I
examined in July with the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Portugal. The
participants voiced their desire to have further meetings of this kind in
the future. I share this view and intend to pursue this matter with the two
parties.
659. While deep differences remain between the two sides on the core
issue of the status of the Territory, I am convinced that a solution can be
found through patient dialogue. I am encouraged in this belief by the
willingness of the two sides to continue the dialogue and to seek a lasting
solution. I am also heartened by the desire expressed by the East Timorese,
recently manifested at the first session of the dialogue, to contribute to
the peace process. The next ministerial meeting will take place in London
in January 1996.
8. El Salvador
660. With the assistance of the United Nations, El Salvador continued
its progress from a violent and closed society towards one in which
democratic order, the rule of law and respect for human rights are being
established. However, as in previous years, significant progress in the
implementation of outstanding elements of the peace accords was not without
problems or delay. These included the full deployment of the National Civil
Police and the completion of the demobilization of the National Police; the
reform of the judicial and electoral systems; the transfer of land to
former combatants; and the conclusion of reintegration programmes for them.
On 31 October 1994, I reported to the Security Council that I deemed it
necessary to recommend that the mandate of the United Nations Observer
Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) be extended until 30 April 1995.
661. The Government of President Armando Calder_n Sol and the Frente
Farabundo Mart_ para la Liberaci_n Nacional (FMLN) have continued to
express their determination, e.g., in a joint declaration signed on 4
October 1994, to see the peace accords promptly implemented for the benefit
of all Salvadorans. Specifically in the latter part of the year,
implementation of the outstanding points assumed a more rapid pace. For
example, the long-delayed demobilization of the National Police was
formally effected on 31 December 1994. In the early months of 1995,
however, the land programme slowed and some worrisome indicators emerged.
662. In the light of these developments, I informed the President of the
Security Council on 6 February 1995 of my intention to set up in El
Salvador, following the expiration of the mandate of ONUSAL, a small team
of United Nations officials to provide good offices and verify
implementation of the outstanding provisions of the peace accords. The
team, which would be established for an initial period of six months, would
also provide me with a continuing flow of information, thus allowing me to
keep the Council informed of further developments. On 17 February, the
Council welcomed my proposal, and preparations began for the team's
deployment.
663. At the beginning of April 1995, I made a visit to El Salvador, the
third occasion on which I had done so as Secretary-General. Although I
stressed that the primary responsibility for the process lay with
Salvadorans, I assured the Government and people of El Salvador that the
commitment of the United Nations remained, despite the withdrawal of
ONUSAL.
664. On 27 April 1995, the parties to the Chapultepec Peace Agreement
signed a programme of work for the completion of all outstanding points in
the peace accords. On the following day the Security Council adopted
resolution 991 (1995), formally marking the end of the mandate of ONUSAL.
The new United Nations Mission in El Salvador (MINUSAL), led by Mr. Enrique
ter Horst, my Special Representative, began its work as planned on 1 May
1995. With its staff partly funded by voluntary contributions, MINUSAL
represents a much reduced United Nations presence, but one that confirms
the Organization's ongoing support for peace-building in El Salvador.
665. The Programme of Work had divided the remaining accords into six
areas (public security, land transfer, human settlements, reinsertion
programmes, Fund for the Protection of the Wounded and Disabled and
legislative reforms) and established dates by which specific provisions in
each area must be completed. Monthly updates on its progress, which I
circulated informally to members of the Security Council, revealed the
continuing determination of the parties to the peace accords to bring them
to completion. Progress was made in all areas, with the Government's
deposit of ratification of international human rights instruments with the
United Nations Secretariat and the secretariat of the Organization of
American States and its recognition of the jurisdiction of the Inter-
American Court of Human Rights particularly to be welcomed.
666. However, by early August 1995 it was clear that significant delays
had occurred in the land transfer programme (which reached the 60 per cent
target set for 30 April 1995 only in the first week of July), in the design
of a "special regime" for rural human settlements, in the strengthening of
the National Civil Police and in the implementation of the judicial reforms
recommended by the Commission on the Truth. With a little under three
months before the expiration of its term, MINUSAL continued to exercise its
good offices and verification responsibilities in favour of one final
effort to bring these outstanding elements of the peace accords to
conclusion.
9. Georgia/Abkhazia
667. My Special Envoy for Georgia, Mr. Edouard Brunner, supported by the
Russian Federation as facilitator and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe as participant, has continued his efforts to achieve
a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, particularly in identifying a
political status for Abkhazia acceptable to both the Georgian and Abkhaz
sides. He has visited the region and chaired several rounds of negotiations
and expert talks. I visited the Republic of Georgia from 31 October to 2
November 1994 in order to explore with the Head of State, Mr. Eduard
Shevardnadze, and other Georgian Government officials how the political
process could be advanced. I have also offered to assist by meeting either
separately or jointly with the leaders of the two sides. The Russian
Federation, acting in its capacity as facilitator, made intensive efforts
in 1995 to reach agreement on a draft protocol that might provide the basis
for a Georgian-Abkhaz settlement. Unfortunately, all these efforts have
resulted in little political progress to date.
668. A significant gap remains between the two sides regarding the
political status of Abkhazia within the territorial integrity of Georgia.
Abkhazia's Constitution, which was promulgated by the Supreme Soviet of
Abkhazia on 26 November 1994, declares Abkhazia to be a "sovereign
democratic State ...". Such constitutional arrangements are unacceptable to
the Georgian side, which insists on preserving its territorial integrity.
The Government of Georgia proposes to establish a federation for Georgia
within which Abkhazia would be granted a wide degree of autonomy.
669. Assuming that it is possible to find agreement on a draft protocol
now under discussion, a prolonged period of detailed negotiations will have
to follow in order to agree on ways to implement a settlement. Such
negotiations will require continuous attention in situ. I have therefore
decided to appoint a deputy to my Special Envoy, who will be resident in
the area and thus able to provide a continuous presence at a senior
political level. Following the precedent of other operations, such as those
in Cyprus and Tajikistan, the Deputy will also be the head of the United
Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). In carrying out the tasks of
political contact and negotiation, the Deputy will divide his time between
Tbilisi and Sukhumi and will travel as necessary to Moscow for direct
consultations with the Russian authorities.
670. UNOMIG has been fulfilling the tasks mandated by the Security
Council in resolution 937 (1994) of 21 July 1994. It maintains its
headquarters at Sukhumi, but because of the unavailability of suitable
accommodation in that city, part of the Mission's headquarters staff is now
stationed in Pitsunda. The Mission also has a liaison office in Tbilisi and
three sector headquarters at Sukhimi, Gali and Zugdidi. In addition,
UNOMIG has six team site bases: three in the Gali region, two in the
Zugdidi region and one in the Kodori Valley.
671. The Government of Georgia and the Abkhaz authorities have largely
complied with the agreement of 14 May 1994 on a cease-fire and separation
of forces. All armed forces have been withdrawn from the security zone,
although a few pieces of non-operational heavy military equipment remain in
the restricted weapons zone.
672. The situation in the security and restricted weapons zones,
especially in the Gali region, has been tense. One of the most pressing
problems in the security zone has been the presence on both sides of
unauthorized weapons among the population, and among some of the Abkhaz
militia, as well as the Georgian police. In addition, armed elements beyond
the control of either the Government of Georgia or the Abkhaz authorities
have been responsible for criminal activities in the Gali region. The
situation in the Kodori Valley, which had been tense towards the end of
1994, has now calmed down. The relations on the ground between the Abkhaz
and the Svan have been satisfactory, with a slow but steady build-up of
mutual confidence.
673. UNOMIG has reported that the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) peace-keeping force has been conducting its operations within the
framework of the agreement of May 1994, and any variation from the tasks
set out in the agreement has been made in consultation with the parties.
Cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peace-keeping force has been very
productive. Cooperation between UNOMIG and the Government of Georgia and
the Abkhaz authorities has also been satisfactory. Through its liaison
office in Tbilisi, UNOMIG has been cooperating with OSCE.
674. In pursuance of paragraph 10 of Security Council resolution 937
(1994), I have established a voluntary fund for contributions in support of
the implementation of the agreement of 14 May 1994 for humanitarian aspects
including demining, as specified by the donors, which will facilitate the
implementation of UNOMIG's mandate. One pledge has been made so far.
675. At independence, the people of Georgia had one of the highest
standards of living among the republics of the former Soviet Union. Today,
the country is racked by political instability, civil strife on two fronts
and the displacement of some 270,000 people. Lack of foreign exchange for
essential inputs, such as fuel, and hyper-inflation have devastated the
economy. Agricultural production contracted in 1994 for the fourth year in
succession. In the break-away region of Abkhazia, some 75 per cent of the
original inhabitants have reportedly fled civil conflict into other parts
of Georgia and the area remains the scene of extensive destruction. In some
areas, large numbers of mines have been laid and roads are impassable.
676. Of all the difficulties currently facing Georgia, the most
immediate are the scarcity of basic foods and the critical energy supply
situation. After several years of huge budget deficits, the Government
lacks the resources to ensure the continued provision of basic social
services. Many primary health-care units and hospitals are unable to
function because of shortages of medicines and equipment. Health care is
now almost entirely dependent on international humanitarian assistance.
677. In addition, large numbers of orphans, abandoned children and
people in need of special education are currently living in extremely poor
circumstances because of reduced government spending. Most lack adequate
food, bedding, warm clothes and learning materials. As in the neighbouring
Caucasus republics, textbooks and school materials are in short supply and
many school buildings urgently need rehabilitation.
678. There has also been little progress in the return of refugees and
displaced persons to Abkhazia. Though voluntary repatriation under UNHCR
auspices commenced in mid-October 1994, movement as at December 1994 of a
mere 311 persons out of an estimated total 250,000 refugees and displaced
persons has been very disappointing. Since the end of November 1994, formal
repatriation has virtually halted, and the Quadripartite Commission has not
met since 16 February 1995. About 20,000 persons have returned
spontaneously to the Gali district.
679. The Abkhaz side continues to object to the large-scale and speedy
return of refugees and displaced persons. Its offer of 17 April 1995 to
repatriate 200 persons a week and to be more flexible with regard to those
refugees and displaced persons returning spontaneously does not meet UNHCR
requirements for a meaningful timetable. The continued delay in resettling
internally displaced persons to Abkhazia has placed a heavy burden on the
economy of Georgia, weakening its capacity to recover and exacerbating
social and political tensions. The Abkhaz side continues to link progress
on the question of refugees to progress on political issues. The
authorities are withholding thousands of other applications and have
refused to process further requests owing to a stalling of the peace
negotiations on both sides.
680. As part of its efforts to move from a centrally planned to a market
economy, the Georgian Government is taking steps towards economic reform.
The task of transferring the State-run economy into private hands is
daunting and has, in itself, inflicted severe social and economic hardship.
In 1994, subsidies for important staples were progressively removed,
resulting in price increases. Further liberalization of prices for most
commodities will be progressively instituted during 1995. Although the
minimum wage and pensions have also been increased, these reforms cannot
keep pace with rising inflation.
681. In the light of these problems, the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs led an inter-agency mission to Georgia in February 1995, for the
second consecutive year, to assess the needs of the country and formulate
an inter-agency consolidated appeal for the Caucasus, including Georgia,
and covering the period from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. That appeal was
launched at Geneva on 23 March 1995. Activities covered in the appeal
include relief projects to be undertaken by United Nations
agencies/programmes and non-governmental organizations in the food, non-
food, shelter and health sectors, as well as projects aimed at
strengthening the country's self-reliance in a post-emergency phase.
682. On 19 May 1995, the Quadripartite Commission convened in Moscow to
explore once again the possibilities for resuming the voluntary
repatriation programme under the auspices of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Representatives of UNHCR presented
a concrete timetable for such returns, under which the displaced population
from the Gali district would have returned before the end of 1995. Despite
strenuous efforts to obtain a more flexible response, the Abkhaz side
maintained its previous position of April 1995 of allowing only 200 persons
per week to return. This continues to be unacceptable to the other parties.
683. Minor improvements to security conditions in the Gali district have
resulted in increased daily movements back and forth across the Inguri
River by displaced persons, primarily to the lower security zone, to work
in the fields, trade or repair houses. Some of these persons have decided
to stay in the Gali district as long as security does not again
deteriorate. The size of the semi-resident population is estimated at
25,000 to 35,000 persons. However, large numbers continue to live in
difficult circumstances, placing great strain on the Georgian economy, on
human relations and on local services. In these circumstances, the level of
frustration and distress is very high, leading to calls for mass
spontaneous repatriation.
684. As of July 1995, $9.4 million, representing 25.7 per cent of
funding requirements for Georgia, had been contributed to the appeal, as
reported to the Department of Humanitarian Affairs by agencies making the
appeal. A mid-term review of the appeal will be launched in late August
1995, to review both the implementation of the projects presented in the
appeal and the funding situation, and to present plans for the continuation
of activities until the end of the appeal period.
10. Guatemala
685. During the reporting period, negotiations between the Government of
Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) have
continued under the auspices of the United Nations. While advances in the
process have been uneven, the establishment of the United Nations Mission
for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments
of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala (MINUGUA) and
the signing of the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples
are encouraging development.
686. Taking into account progress made during the first half of 1994 as
well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/58, I recommended to the
General Assembly in my report of 18 August 1994 (A/48/985) the earliest
establishment of a human rights verification mission in Guatemala. On 19
September 1994, by resolution 48/267, the Assembly established MINUGUA for
an initial period of six months, and I appointed Mr. Leonardo Franco as the
Mission's Director. MINUGUA was officially inaugurated in November 1994.
With eight regional offices, five subregional offices and an authorized
strength of 245 international staff, the Mission represents a significant
effort by the United Nations in human rights verification and institution-
building. It is also the most tangible result so far of the talks between
the Government of Guatemala and URNG.
687. After the signing of five agreements between January and June 1994,
the pace of the negotiations slowed down during the last six months of the
year. On 28 December 1994, I expressed my concern to the General Assembly
and the Security Council and stated that the time-frame originally foreseen
for the conclusion of a peace agreement would have to be revised. In
addition, I wrote to the parties to ask them to renew their commitment to
the process and to indicate the steps they would be prepared to take to
allow it to regain momentum.
688. As a result of initiatives by the Secretariat, the parties agreed
in February 1995 to several proposals aimed at facilitating the
continuation of the talks, including a new time-frame. On that basis, I
informed the General Assembly and the Security Council that conditions
existed for further United Nations involvement in the peace process.
Negotiations were resumed soon thereafter and the landmark Agreement on
Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples was signed at Mexico City on 31
March 1995. Immediately afterwards, preparatory work began for the
negotiation of the next item of the agenda socio-economic aspects and the
agrarian situation.
689. On 1 March 1995, I transmitted to the General Assembly the first
report of the Director of MINUGUA (A/49/856 and Corr.1, annex), in which he
acknowledged the cooperation received from the parties, the international
community and the agencies of the United Nations system. With regard to
MINUGUA's verification mandate, the Director confirmed the existence of a
pattern of serious human rights abuses and widespread impunity in
Guatemala. He also summarized MINUGUA's institution- building activities,
aimed at strengthening those national institutions responsible for the
protection of human rights. On 31 March 1995, the Assembly renewed
MINUGUA's mandate for a further six months.
690. In April, I visited Guatemala to review the work of MINUGUA and
progress in the peace process. I congratulated the parties on their
achievements so far, in particular the Agreement on Identity and Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, but I stressed that their continued commitment,
perseverance and political will were essential if the process was to
succeed. I emphasized that the efforts of the Guatemalans towards national
reconciliation would be backed by the international community with the
United Nations as its instrument. As a follow-up to my visit, I appointed
Mr. Gilberto Schlittler as my Special Envoy for the Guatemala Peace
Process.
691. On 29 June, I transmitted to the General Assembly the second report
of the Director of MINUGUA on human rights (A/49/929). The Director
concluded that progress achieved since the installation of the Mission,
while insufficient, demonstrated that with political will from the parties
and commitment on the part of society as a whole, it was possible to
improve the situation of human rights in Guatemala.
692. Currently, the parties are negotiating on several items, including
the socio-economic aspects and the agrarian situation. Several items remain
to be considered, namely, the strengthening of civilian power and role of
the army in a democratic society, the reintegration of URNG into political
life, a definitive cease-fire, constitutional reforms and the electoral
regime and, lastly, a schedule for implementation, enforcement and
verification.
693. Guatemala is now in the first stages of an electoral campaign
leading to presidential elections scheduled for November 1995. The
timetable I proposed in February 1995 partly intended to ensure that
electoral considerations would not affect the negotiations. It now appears,
however, that the negotiations and the electoral process will overlap in
time. This complex situation notwithstanding, I hope that the parties will
be able to proceed steadily towards the signing of a final peace agreement,
as early as possible in 1996.
11. India and Pakistan
694. Since 1949, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been deployed to monitor the cease-fire in Jammu and
Kashmir. India and Pakistan have affirmed their commitment to respect the
cease-fire line and to resolve the issue peacefully in accordance with the
Simla Agreement of 1972. The increasing reports of incidents of violence in
Jammu and Kashmir have further aggravated relations between the two
countries. These developments highlight the urgency of seeking a political
solution through a meaningful dialogue. In this connection, I have
maintained contacts with both Governments and visited the two countries in
September 1994. I reiterated to them my readiness, should they so wish, to
render whatever assistance may be needed to facilitate their search for a
lasting solution.
12. Iraq-Kuwait
695. During the past year, I have continued to stress to Iraqi
representatives the importance of Iraq's cooperation in implementing all of
its obligations as expressed in the resolutions of the Security Council.
696. Further significant progress was made by the United Nations Special
Commission (UNSCOM), headed by Mr. Rolf Ekeus, and the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) Action Team in the implementation of section C of
Security Council resolution 687 (1991), concerning the elimination of
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and long-range missile capabilities.
They completed the process of establishing a system to monitor Iraq's dual-
purpose industries (i.e., those that have non-proscribed uses but which
could be used to acquire banned weapons capabilities) aimed at monitoring
Iraq's compliance with its obligations not to reacquire such banned
capabilities. This system became operational in April 1995.
697. Further refining of the system will continue as UNSCOM and IAEA
gain experience in operating it, but all the elements of the system are now
in place. Some 120 remote-controlled monitoring cameras have been installed
at over 28 sites and linked in real time to the Baghdad Monitoring and
Verification Centre. Twenty or so automated chemical air samplers have been
installed at sites, and a highly sensitive chemical laboratory has been
installed in the Centre to analyse these samples. The Centre also has a
biological preparation room to prepare and package biological samples for
shipment to laboratories in other countries. Communications have been
upgraded to perform the new tasks associated with ongoing monitoring and
verification.
698. Resident teams of inspectors in each of the weapons disciplines are
now operating full-time out of the Centre. Their activities are
supplemented by aerial inspection and surveys conducted using a high-
altitude surveillance aircraft provided by the United States. These aerial
assets remain key to the ability of UNSCOM and IAEA to fulfil their
mandates as they provide the initial survey capability to identify sites
which might need to be inspected and ensure the ability to conduct short-
notice inspections of sites as necessary.
699. Efforts continue to elucidate and hence account for all elements of
Iraq's past banned weapons capabilities. Much progress has been made in
this regard but major issues remain in the biological area.
700. UNSCOM and IAEA also, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution
715 (1991), submitted in May 1994 a proposal for an export/import
monitoring mechanism which would require that all exports be notified by
both Iraq and the Governments of the exporters to a joint unit to be
established in New York by UNSCOM and the IAEA Action Team.
701. I wish to express my appreciation to those Governments that
contributed to UNSCOM operations, and in particular to the Government of
Germany, which generously provided the Special Commission with air support
in the form of both C-160 transport aircraft and CH-53G helicopters.
702. In November 1994, the Government of Iraq took an important step
forward by affirming its recognition of the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and political independence of Kuwait. The United Nations Iraq-
Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) has continued to operate within the
demilitarized zone established on both sides of the border between Iraq and
Kuwait. In December 1994, Iraq formally recognized the international border
demarcated by the United Nations in 1993. The situation has been calm in
the Mission's area of responsibility.
703. The United Nations Coordinator for the return of property from Iraq
to Kuwait has continued to facilitate the hand-over of property. In
September 1994, Iraq informed me that once a damaged C-130 aircraft had
been dismantled and returned, it would have "nothing else whatever to
return". Kuwait responded by transmitting to me what it described as "an
indicative but far from exhaustive list" of Kuwaiti property that had yet
to be returned. It has also stressed the importance it attaches to the
return of irreplaceable archives.
704. In January 1995, Kuwait transmitted a list of military equipment
belonging to the Ministry of Defence that it claimed was still in the
possession of Iraq. Arrangements were made for the hand-over, which began
on 22 April 1995 and continued into July 1995. On many of the hand-over
documents signed by the parties, Kuwait complained of the state of
disrepair of the items returned while Iraq, for its part, noted that the
vehicles had been "brought as is from Kuwait". Kuwait also noted that of
120 armoured personnel carriers handed over, only 33 were found to belong
to Kuwait.
705. Among a number of urgent humanitarian issues to which the situation
between Iraq and Kuwait has given rise is the fate of over 600 Kuwaiti and
third-country nationals who are still missing in Iraq. I have urged Iraq to
cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross so that a full
accounting may be achieved.
706. The suffering of the Iraqi civilian population is also of
considerable concern to me. On a number of occasions I have urged Iraqi
officials to accept the Security Council's "oil for food" formula described
in resolutions 706 (1991) and 712 (1991). I believe the Council's latest
offer in resolution 986 (1995) addresses the humanitarian needs of the
Iraqi people while taking into account a number of concerns Iraq had
previously expressed over resolutions 706 (1991) and 712 (1991). I can
only regret that Iraq has not yet accepted this temporary humanitarian
measure, which would indeed be an important step towards overcoming the
crisis which exists between Iraq and the international community.
707. I have made every effort to comply with Security Council resolution
778 (1992), of 2 October 1992, in which the Council requested me to
ascertain the whereabouts and amounts of assets related to Iraqi petroleum
and petroleum products which could be deposited to the escrow account, as
well as the existence of any Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products that
could be sold. I regret to note that no further funds have been deposited
into the account as a result of my effort to seek information on such
assets directly from Governments with jurisdiction over relevant petroleum
companies and their subsidiaries. As at 1 August 1995, $365.5 million,
representing voluntary contributions and Iraqi petroleum assets, had been
deposited into the escrow account since the adoption of resolution 778
(1992).
708. The United Nations recognizes Iraq's obligation to pay compensation
to the victims of its aggression. The Commission established to administer
the United Nations Compensation Fund, provided for in paragraph 18 of
Security Council resolution 687 (1991), has held four regular sessions
since August 1994. During that period, its Governing Council has approved
the reports and recommendations of Panels of Commissioners and issued
decisions for three instalments of category "A" (departure) claims; two
instalments of category "B" (serious personal injury and death) claims; and
one instalment of category "C" (individual losses up to $100,000) claims.
In issuing its decisions, the Governing Council awarded over $1.3 billion
in compensation to 354,920 successful claimants.
709. Unfortunately, with the exception of approximately $2.7 million
paid to the first 670 successful claimants in category "B" in May 1994, and
approximately $8.1 million to be paid to 2,562 category "B" claimants in
1995, depending on the availability of funds, the remaining awards of the
Compensation Commission have gone unpaid owing to the lack of sufficient
resources in the Compensation Fund.
710. During 1994, the lack of adequate funding affected all sectors
covered by the United Nations Inter-Agency Humanitarian Programme. In terms
of food assistance, the bulk of donations was earmarked for the "Autonomous
Region" (Governorates of Erbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniyah). According to
reports of the World Food Programme, approximately 70 per cent of food
requirements had been met in the north and only 40 per cent in the centre
and south. As a result of lack of resources, a substantial amount of the
food destined for the centre and south was covered by counterpart matching
funds from the United Nations escrow account.
711. Health conditions have continued to deteriorate throughout the
country because of shortages of essential drugs and medical supplies. The
situation is further aggravated by the inadequate supply of potable water
and poor sanitation facilities, as essential equipment and spare parts are
lacking to rehabilitate the water, sewage and electricity supply systems.
712. With respect to security, since early December 1994, armed
conflicts between members of the two major political parties have been
reported in the northern governorates of Erbil and Suleimaniyah. Moreover,
the recent Turkish military operations on the Turkish/Iraq border, and in
particular near Zakho (Dohuk Governorate), resulted in restrictions on the
movements of humanitarian aid workers and relief commodities.
713. By the end of April 1995, the strength of the United Nations Guards
Contingent in Iraq had been reduced from a high of over 500 in 1991 to 50
guards, the majority deployed in the "Autonomous Region" for the protection
of humanitarian personnel. As a result of recent donor contributions
received in support of the Guards Contingent, arrangements are under way
for the assignment of an additional 100 guards during the summer of 1995.
In a tense and volatile environment such as Northern Iraq, the continued
presence of the Guards Contingent is required to protect United Nations and
non-governmental organization personnel as well as assets and operations
linked with the United Nations Inter-Agency Humanitarian Programme.
714. Under the previous appeal (covering the period from 1 April 1994 to
31 March 1995), the United Nations Inter-Agency Humanitarian Programme
continued to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable population
groups throughout the country. Projects implemented by United Nations
agencies and programmes and humanitarian non-governmental organizations
covered all the priority sectors included in the appeal, with particular
emphasis on food, health, water and sanitation, agriculture, shelter and
rural integration, and education. Response to the previous appeal was
inadequate, with approximately 51 per cent ($146 million) of overall
Programme requirements ($288.5 million) covered by allocations of voluntary
contributions, "matching" funds from the United Nations escrow account, and
by carry-over from the previous phase. From this amount, funding for United
Nations-directed humanitarian activities amounted to $92.5 million, while
contributions made available to humanitarian non-governmental organizations
and other direct/bilateral programmes amounted to $53.5 million.
715. On 21 March 1995 at Geneva, during a donor consultation meeting for
Iraq, the United Nations launched a consolidated inter-agency humanitarian
appeal for Iraq covering the period from April 1995 to March 1996. The
Programme, which calls for a total of $183.3 million, is designed to
address only the most essential needs to sustain relief and rehabilitation
activities as well as to prevent a further deterioration of the conditions
affecting the most vulnerable population groups throughout the country.
Since April 1995, approximately $27 million (representing voluntary
contributions and "matching" funds from the United Nations escrow account)
has been pledged/received in support of United Nations-directed activities
in Iraq. In addition, a number of direct contributions have been made in
support of humanitarian non-governmental organizations and bilateral
programmes in northern Iraq.
716. Under the current appeal, humanitarian needs continue to increase
in practically all sectors covered by the Programme, in particular in the
nutrition and health sectors. By all accounts, children are increasingly
dying of ailments linked to malnutrition and lack of adequate medical care.
The World Health Organization reports a rise in tuberculosis and an acute
shortage of essential drugs and medical equipment in hospitals. At least 4
million people are in need of food assistance and hunger threatens the
lives of over 1 million among them. As of June 1995, because of rapidly
depleted food stocks in the "Autonomous Region", the World Food Programme
decided to reduce food distributions from 350,000 to only 300,000 people.
In the Centre and south, from a targeted 550,000 case-load, WFP was able to
continue feeding only some 60,000 vulnerable people in social institutions.
The support of the international community is urgently required to cover
outstanding needs for the procurement and warehousing of food, medicines
and shelter materials before the onset of winter.
13. Korean peninsula
717. I have continued to follow closely developments in the Korean
peninsula. I am pleased to note that, in implementation of the October 1994
Framework Agreement between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and
the United States of America, the two countries reached agreement in June
on the provision of two light-water reactors to the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea and that discussions are in progress on the question of
safe storage of the spent fuel removed from that country's reactors. In
addition, trade and communications barriers between the two countries have
been lowered, and liaison offices in the respective capitals are expected
to open in the near future.
718. Hopefully, progress in these areas will contribute to steady
improvement of the situation on the Korean peninsula, especially through
the re-establishment of the North-South dialogue. I remain ready to provide
any good offices which the parties might find useful. I plan to visit the
Republic of Korea in September 1995 and intend to go to the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea in the first half of 1996 on a mission of
goodwill.
14. Liberia
719. The United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) was
established under Security Council resolution 856 (1993) of 10 August 1993
to work with the Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) in the implementation of the Cotonou Peace
Agreement signed between the Liberian parties on 25 July 1993. However,
delays and obstacles created by different Liberian factions with respect to
the Agreement necessitated a range of subsequent agreements between the
factions, and the work of UNOMIL had to continue far beyond the original
time-frame of the Security Council resolution.
720. Initial progress was made under the Cotonou Peace Agreement and
this encouraged the Security Council, by its resolution 911 (1994) of 21
April 1994, to extend the mandate of UNOMIL until 22 October 1994, with the
expectation that the Mission would be terminated in December 1994.
Subsequently, the situation in Liberia took a negative turn as fighting
intensified between factions and the whole peace process came to a
standstill.
721. My Special Envoy, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, visited Liberia from 16 to
26 August 1994 in order to assist me in determining options for the United
Nations in facilitating the peace process. Shortly thereafter, the Chairman
of ECOWAS, President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, convened a meeting of the
factions at Akosombo, Ghana, on 7 September to review the delays in
implementing the peace process. This meeting resulted in the signing at
Akosombo, on 12 September, of a supplementary agreement to the Cotonou
Peace Agreement.
722. The conclusion of the Akosombo Agreement coincided with an upsurge
of fighting in Liberia and, on 9 September, 43 unarmed United Nations
military observers and six non-governmental organization personnel were
detained. By 18 September, they had all been released or otherwise found
their way to safety. In September 1994, with the breakdown in the cease-
fire, and the fact that the security of unarmed military observers could
not be assured, I restricted UNOMIL military operations to the greater
Monrovia area and reduced the Mission's military component from its
authorized strength of 368 to approximately 90 observers.
723. In mid-November, I sent a high-level mission, led by the Assistant
Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to the region to consult with the
Chairman of ECOWAS and the heads of ECOWAS States on how best to revive the
peace process. Soon thereafter, the Chairman of ECOWAS carried out further
consultations with the Liberian parties and interest groups, which led to
the signing of a further agreement at Accra on 21 December 1994.
724. The Accra Agreement, unlike the Akosombo Agreement, was signed by
all the Liberian factions and attempted to clarify the Akosombo Agreement.
Other than a new cease-fire which came into effect on 28 December 1994, the
factions failed to implement all the other major elements of the Accra
Agreement, including the decision to form a new Council of State. The
cease-fire, while re-established on 28 December, again broke down in early
February 1995.
725. On 28 December, my new Special Representative for Liberia, Mr.
Anthony Nyakyi (United Republic of Tanzania), took up his office in
Monrovia. Since then Mr. Nyakyi has been consulting the Liberian factions,
the Chairman of ECOWAS, as well as the Heads of State of ECOWAS, with a
view to facilitating the search for a peaceful solution to the continuing
hostilities.
726. In its resolution 972 (1995) of 13 January 1995, the Security
Council expressed deep concern over the Liberian situation. It also
expressed the hope that a summit of the ECOWAS States would be convened to
harmonize their policies on Liberia, in particular the application of the
arms embargo imposed by the Security Council in resolution 788 (1992). On
11 March 1995, President Rawlings of Ghana and I agreed at a meeting in
Copenhagen that, subject to the concurrence of the Nigerian Head of State,
a summit of the ECOWAS Committee of Nine would be held at Abuja.
727. In my ninth progress report to the Security Council of 24 February
1995 (S/1995/158), I conveyed specific options to the Council, including
the provision of necessary resources to ECOMOG if the Liberian factions
would demonstrate readiness to implement the Accra Agreement. I express my
appreciation to the countries contributing troops to ECOMOG; they have made
enormous sacrifices since the operation was launched in 1990.
728. On 13 April 1995, the Security Council adopted resolution 985
(1995) extending the mandate of UNOMIL until 30 June 1995. Following
extensive consultations between the Chairman of ECOWAS and the West African
Heads of State and several contacts between the Chairman and myself, the
third meeting of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Committee of
Nine on Liberia was held at Abuja from 17 to 20 May 1995. The Heads of
State of C_te d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra
Leone and Togo attended the meeting. Burkina Faso and Guinea were
represented by their Foreign Ministers. The Senior Minister at the
Presidency for Governmental Affairs and National Defence of Benin and the
Minister of African Economic Integration of Senegal also attended. My
Special Envoy, Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, and my Special Representative for
Liberia, Mr. Anthony Nyakyi, were also present, as were the Eminent Person
for Liberia of the Organization of African Unity, Reverend Canaan Banana,
and the Special Envoy for Liberia of the United States of America, Mr. Dane
Smith.
729. Delegations were sent by the following Liberian parties: the Armed
Forces of Liberia (AFL), the Lofa Defense Force (LDF), the Liberia National
Conference (LNC), the Liberian Peace Council (LPC), the National Patriotic
Front of Liberia (NPFL), the Central Revolutionary Council of the National
Patriotic Front of Liberia (CRC-NPFL), Alhaji Kromah's wing of the United
Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-K) and General
Roosevelt Johnson's wing of ULIMO (ULIMO-J). Mr. David Kpomakpor, the
current Chairman of the Council of State, participated in the meeting.
Delegations of all the Liberian factions except NPFL were headed by their
respective leaders. At the invitation of the Government of Nigeria, Mr.
Charles Taylor, the leader of NPFL and the only Liberian faction leader who
did not attend the ECOWAS summit, travelled to Abuja on 2 June for
consultations with Nigerian officials. On 10 June 1995, I submitted my
eleventh progress report on UNOMIL to the Security Council (S/1995/473). By
unanimously adopting resolution 1001 (1995) on 30 June 1995, the Council
extended the mandate of UNOMIL until 15 September 1995 and declared that
unless serious and substantial progress was made towards a peaceful
settlement, the Mission would not be renewed after that date. The Council
urged the Liberian parties to use the Mission's extension to implement the
peace process envisaged in the Akosombo and Accra agreements of 1994,
particularly their provisions on the installation of the Council of State;
the re-establishment of a comprehensive and effective cease-fire; the
disengagement of all forces; and the creation of a timetable for the
implementation of disarmament agreements.
730. My Special Representative conveyed to the Liberian factions the
contents of Security Council resolution 1001 (1995) and urged them to
abandon their selfish, narrow interests and agree on positive urgent steps
to bring peace to their country. The Liberian factions also held a
consultative meeting, with the exception of NPFL, on 19 July which was
attended by my Special Representative and the representatives of OAU and
ECOWAS.
731. The eighteenth summit meeting of ECOWAS was held at Accra on 28 and
29 July 1995, and was attended by the Heads of State of Benin, C_te
d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and the Niger. In his report to the
Committee of Nine, the Chairman of ECOWAS (the President of Ghana) pointed
out that positive developments, which he characterized as confidence-
building measures, had taken place since the last Abuja summit. He also
referred to the recent Monrovia consultative meetings and deplored the fact
that, despite all efforts made, some of the outstanding issues remained
unresolved. He referred to Security Council resolution 1001 (1995) and
explained the final deadline set by the Council. He called on the United
Nations to continue assisting the peace process.
732. The Liberian factional leaders agreed on 19 August 1995 to end
hostilities and to hold elections within a year. The cease-fire in Liberia
came into force on 26 August 1995.
733. In the context of Security Council resolution 1001 (1995), if
serious and substantial progress is achieved by 15 September, it was agreed
that the Council would consider restoring UNOMIL to its full strength, with
appropriate adjustment of its mandate and its relationship with ECOMOG,
including matters relating to post-conflict peace-building in Liberia. In
this regard, the swearing in of a Council of State for Liberia on 1
September 1995 gives rise to hopes for a new momentum for peace. The
assistance of the international community will be crucial in this regard.
734. On 15 January 1995, I launched the United Nations consolidated
inter-agency appeal for Liberia. The appeal sought $65 million required by
United Nations agencies and programmes to meet the life-saving needs of the
1.8 million Liberians affected by the war. As at 10 August, the
international donors' community had contributed 71 per cent of the funds
requested.
735. United Nations humanitarian agencies and programmes, in cooperation
with non-governmental organizations, have developed agreed protocols for
carrying out relief work in Liberia. Guided by these principles, the
humanitarian assistance community will continue to work with my Special
Representative to gain access to as many war-affected civilians as
possible.
15. The Middle East
736. In the course of the past year, significant results were achieved
in the Middle East peace process, signalling the parties' continued
commitment to proceed on the road to peace. An outstanding achievement was
the conclusion, on 26 October 1994, of the historic Treaty of Peace between
the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. I warmly welcome
this momentous agreement, which ended a decades-long state of war.
737. Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) continued
the implementation of their Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, signed on 13 September 1993. By December 1994, the
Palestinian Authority, which had been established in May in most of the
Gaza Strip and the Jericho area, was given responsibility for health,
education, social welfare, tourism and direct taxation in the other areas
of the West Bank. Israel and the PLO are at present negotiating the
redeployment of Israeli military forces in the West Bank and the holding of
elections for the Palestinian Council; interim understandings on an
agreement have been reached by leaders on both sides.
738. Meanwhile, multilateral negotiations on Middle East regional issues
have proceeded, creating a network of common projects among countries in
the region. The United Nations participates actively in the multilateral
negotiations as a full extraregional participant.
739. Hope has been generated by these encouraging signs that progress
can be accelerated in the Israeli-Lebanese and Israeli-Syrian negotiations
leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425
(1978).
740. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been complicated and set
back, on more than one occasion, by terrorist attacks from enemies of peace
in which dozens of civilians have been killed and wounded. I have condemned
these incidents and I am encouraged by the determination of Israeli and
Palestinian leaders to continue the peace process.
741. In addition, concern in the international community has been
generated by the Government of Israel's decisions to expropriate land and
expand settlements in the occupied territories. The subject was taken up in
deliberations in the Security Council at its formal meetings on 28 February
1995 and 12 May 1995.
742. The peace process needs broad public support and without a visible
improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinians this support will
remain fragile. In this connection, I have to draw attention to the
damaging effects which closures of the occupied territories by Israel have
had on the nascent Palestinian economy.
743. In its efforts to support the Arab-Israeli peace process, the
United Nations has placed special emphasis on sustainable economic and
social development in the occupied territories. The United Nations Special
Coordinator, Mr. Terje Rod Larsen, has been active in strengthening local
coordination between agencies and programmes of the United Nations system,
the Bretton Woods institutions and the donor community. He works in close
cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Economic
Council for Development and Reconstruction. The first results of the
international assistance efforts are already visible, especially in
institution-building and the infrastructure.
744. In southern Lebanon hostilities have continued at a high level
between Israeli forces and armed elements that have proclaimed their
resistance to Israeli occupation. On several occasions civilian targets on
both sides came under attack. I have called for restraint and urged the
parties to refrain from attacking civilians.
745. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has sought to
limit the conflict and to protect inhabitants from violence. In resolution
1006 (1995) of 28 July 1995, the Security Council reaffirmed the mandate of
UNIFIL as defined in its resolution 425 (1978) and subsequent resolutions,
to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore international peace
and security, and assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return
of its effective authority in the area. Although UNIFIL has not been able
to make visible progress towards these objectives, it has contributed to
stability in the area and afforded a measure of protection to the
population of southern Lebanon. On the basis of the request for my good
offices regarding the detainees held in Khiam jail in the area controlled
by the Israel Defence Forces in southern Lebanon, I have authorized the
appropriate contacts in that regard.
746. In July 1994, I initiated a study to determine how UNIFIL could
perform its essential functions with reduced strength in view of the long-
term problem of the shortfall in its assessed contributions. By its
resolution 1006 (1995), the Security Council approved my proposal for a
streamlining, which will result in a 10 per cent reduction of the Force's
strength and direct savings of $10 million a year. This will not affect
UNIFIL's operational capacity.
747. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) continued
to supervise the area of separation between the Israeli and Syrian forces
and the areas of limitation of armaments and forces provided for in the
disengagement agreement of 1974. With the cooperation of both sides, UNDOF
has discharged its tasks effectively and its area of operation has been
quiet.
748. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which is
the oldest existing peace-keeping operation, has continued to assist UNDOF
and UNIFIL in carrying out their tasks and has maintained its presence in
Egypt. A streamlining undertaken by UNTSO is under way and will result in a
20 per cent reduction of its strength and corresponding savings in
expenditures.
16. Mozambique
749. Over a three-day period from 27 to 29 October 1994, Mozambique
conducted, with the assistance and support of the United Nations, the first
free and fair multi-party elections in the country's history. The elections
brought together in an open democratic contest the ruling Frente de
Liberta_ o de Mo_ambique (FRELIMO) and the Resist_ncia Nacional Mo_ambicana
(RENAMO), the country's two major political parties and former foes.
Immediately after the results of the election were announced, my Special
Representative declared the elections free and fair, based on reports from
United Nations observers. This was fully supported by the Security Council.
This was a welcome change from a long-running conflict that had claimed the
lives of tens of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and
destroyed much of Mozambique's economic and social infrastructure. The
elections were the culmination of a major success story in United Nations
peacemaking, peace-keeping, and humanitarian and electoral assistance.
750. The mandate entrusted to the United Nations Operation in Mozambique
(ONUMOZ) by the Security Council in resolution 797 (1992) of 16 December
1992 was to verify and monitor the implementation of the General Peace
Agreement, signed by the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO at Rome on 4
October 1992. The peace accords required the United Nations to supervise
the cease-fire between the two parties, provide security for key transport
corridors, monitor a comprehensive disarmament and demobilization
programme, coordinate and monitor humanitarian assistance operations
throughout the country, and provide assistance and verification for
national elections. ONUMOZ subsequently undertook a number of additional
tasks at the request of the parties.
751. One of the most important aspects of the operation was the emphasis
it placed on peace-building. ONUMOZ's unprecedented endeavours in this
regard were concentrated not only in its oversight of the electoral process
but also in the channelling of special trust funds to strengthen the
organizational capacity of parties contesting the election. This was
particularly important in regard to RENAMO. The transformation of a
guerrilla force into a political entity with a stake in the democratic
process is one of the most significant legacies of the United Nations
operation.
752. The final meeting of the Supervisory and Monitoring Commission
established under the Rome Agreement was held on 6 December 1994. At that
meeting, final reports were submitted by the Chairmen of the Cease-fire
Commission, the Commission for the Formation of the Mozambican Defence
Force, the Commission for Reintegration, the National Police Affairs
Commission and the National Information Commission. My Special
Representative, Mr. Aldo Ajello, handed these reports over to Mr. Joaquim
Alberto Chissano, the President-elect. Subsequently, the new Assembly of
the Republic was installed on 8 December, and the newly-elected President
of Mozambique was inaugurated the next day; he appointed his Government on
16 December. In accordance with paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution
797 (1992), these events marked the expiry of the political mandate of
ONUMOZ, and my Special Representative left Mozambique on 13 December 1994.
753. The withdrawal of the military, police and civilian components of
the Mission proceeded according to plan, beginning on 15 November 1994. A
limited force of four infantry companies and medical personnel, a skeleton
headquarters staff, demining personnel and a small number of military
observers were retained to assist in residual operations and the
liquidation phase of the Mission. With the official closure of ONUMOZ at
the end of January 1995, a small number of United Nations civilian
logisticians remained in Mozambique to deal with outstanding financial,
legal and logistic issues.
754. When the last ONUMOZ contingents departed from Mozambique in
January 1995, they had overseen a remarkable transformation in the country,
from the ravages of civil war to the implementation of democratic
government and the creation of a peaceful environment in which economic
activity could once again flourish. The strong commitment of the major
participants to peace, along with firm support from the international
community, were important prerequisites that enabled the United Nations to
help bring about this transition. In this regard, neighbouring States
played a vital role; first, in bringing the major participants to the
negotiating table, and then in helping to sustain the peace process under
ONUMOZ.
755. Although both the General Peace Agreement and the ONUMOZ mandate
were successfully implemented, a number of concerns requiring further
action remained at the time of the Mission's withdrawal. These included, on
the security front, the continuing need to train and equip the new
integrated armed forces and to upgrade the police in accordance with
Security Council resolution 898 (1994) of 23 February 1994, while attending
to the collection and disposal of outstanding caches of weapons. Mozambique
also needed to strengthen its democratic institutions and to promote
economic and social reconstruction so that peace, democracy and development
could be sustained. While the last United Nations peace-keeping forces left
Mozambique in January 1995, their colleagues from the development arm of
the Organization remained behind to assist Mozambique in consolidating a
peaceful and stable future.
756. I should like to express my appreciation to the international
community and to those programmes and organizations, whose financial and
technical assistance to the Mozambican authorities made it possible to hold
the elections in an exemplary manner. There is agreement among the
international community that ONUMOZ was a success. Key factors that
contributed to this result include: the political will of the Mozambican
people and their leaders, demonstrated by their strong commitment to peace
and national reconciliation; the clarity of the ONUMOZ mandate and the
consistent support provided by the Security Council; and the international
community's strong political, financial and technical support of the peace
process.
757. The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Assistance Coordination
(UNOHAC) was made the humanitarian component of ONUMOZ by the Security
Council in resolution 797 (1992). In the transition from war to
reconciliation to peace, UNOHAC and its humanitarian assistance partners
addressed the emergency needs of between 4 and 5 million internally
displaced persons, 1.5 million returning refugees and some 90,000
demobilized soldiers. Effective and coordinated humanitarian assistance
activities helped to create conditions that allowed civilians affected by
the war to begin rebuilding their lives. The success of the Consolidated
Humanitarian Programme, developed by UNOHAC and its partners, received
tremendous support from the international community, which contributed more
than 82 per cent of the approximately $775 million required for execution
of the Programme.
758. As the mandate of ONUMOZ neared termination in late 1994, UNOHAC
focused its activities on ensuring completion of projects where possible,
and on finalizing arrangements with humanitarian assistance partners in-
country for the transfer of a number of responsibilities that would
continue beyond the life of the peace-keeping operation.
759. One such hand-over involved the Trust Fund for Humanitarian
Activities in Mozambique, established by the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs to provide financial support for the implementation of 26 projects
which were to be fully implemented only after the expiration of the ONUMOZ
mandate on 15 November 1994. The Trust Fund financed a variety of critical
activities within the Programme, including demobilization and reintegration
of demobilized soldiers, emergency supply of non-food relief items,
provision of seeds for the family sector, multisectoral area-based
activities, and demining. In order to ensure effective continuation of
these projects, the Department has passed responsibilities for trust fund
project-monitoring and coordination to the office of the United Nations
Development Programme in Maputo.
760. The area of demining also required carefully planned transition
arrangements. The accelerated demining programme was designed by the
Department of Humanitarian Affairs and UNOHAC to ensure that Mozambique
would be provided with an indigenous demining capacity. The Department and
UNDP agreed that at the expiration of the ONUMOZ mandate, UNDP would assume
responsibility for the financial management of resources that are or will
be made available for the implementation of the programme, while policy
guidance and technical support for the programme would continue to be
provided by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.
761. The accelerated demining programme has established a Mozambican
demining organization of 10 platoons (450 deminers), 15 supervisors, four
survey teams, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, demining instructors,
and the headquarters and support staff to manage the instructors and the
organization. In total, 500 Mozambicans are employed by the programme.
Since the commencement of demining operations in September 1994, 5,000
anti- personnel mines and some 400,000 square metres of land have been
cleared. The emphasis of the programme is on training in order fully to
develop local mine-clearance capability, resulting in a sustainable
Mozambican entity able to address Mozambique's long-term mine-clearance
problems.
17. Myanmar
762. In keeping with the good offices mandate I received from the
General Assembly and from the Commission on Human Rights, I have
established a dialogue with the Government of Myanmar in order to address
various issues of concern to the international community, in particular
with respect to the process of democratization and national reconciliation
in that country. During the period under review, my Representatives have
held several rounds of talks in New York and Yangon with Secretary 1 of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council, the Minister for Foreign Affairs
and other authorities of the Government. In the talks, a series of ideas
were discussed, which, if implemented, would assist in moving the process
forward.
763. I welcome the Government's decision to lift the restrictions
imposed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to release a number of other political
prisoners, including several leading members of the National League for
Democracy. I look forward to further steps to speed up the return of multi-
party democracy in Myanmar. I will report to the General Assembly at its
fiftieth session on the progress of those discussions, which are being
continued on my behalf at Yangon in August by the Assistant Secretary-
General for Political Affairs.
18. Nagorny Karabakh
764. The conflict over the region of Nagorny Karabakh, which involves
Armenia and Azerbaijan, remains unresolved, but the situation on the ground
in and around Nagorny Karabakh has not deteriorated in the past 12 months.
The cease-fire agreed to on 12 May 1994 through the mediation of the
Russian Federation has been observed to a large extent and no additional
territory has been occupied.
765. The members of the Security Council have continued to support the
peacemaking efforts of OSCE, which decided at its summit meeting at
Budapest on 6 December 1994 to establish a co-chairmanship for its OSCE
Minsk Conference and, inter alia, to conduct speedy negotiations for the
conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict
that would permit the convening of the Minsk Conference and make it
possible to deploy a multinational OSCE peace-keeping force in the region.
766. In its presidential statement of 26 April 1995 (S/PRST/1995/21),
the Security Council reiterated its support for the efforts of the Co-
Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Conference and, inter alia, strongly urged the
parties to conduct negotiations constructively without preconditions or
procedural obstacles and to refrain from any actions that might undermine
the peace process. Furthermore, the Council stressed that the parties to
the conflict themselves bore the main responsibility for reaching a
peaceful settlement.
767. I remain prepared to provide my full support for the efforts of
OSCE. To that end, the United Nations Secretariat has had a number of
consultations with the OSCE High-level Planning Group to extend technical
advice and expertise in the field of peace-keeping. I am also fully
prepared, if so requested, to lend my good offices to the OSCE-led
political process towards reaching a comprehensive settlement of the
conflict.
768. During my visit to Baku and Yerevan in October/November last year,
the first such visit of a Secretary-General to the newly independent
transcaucasian nations, I was able to obtain a first-hand assessment of the
very serious effects of this conflict, in particular in its humanitarian
dimension, on both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
769. Active humanitarian programmes coordinated by the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs are being implemented in both countries. Activities of
the 1995-1996 humanitarian programmes, as presented in the United Nations
consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Caucasus (1 April 1995-31 March
1996) include relief projects in the food, non-food, shelter, education and
health sectors, as well as capacity-building and projects addressing the
transition from emergency assistance to development. As at 31 July 1995,
37.4 per cent ($10.5 million) of funding had been received for the Armenia
component of the appeal and only 37 per cent ($12.8 million) of
requirements pledged for humanitarian activities in Azerbaijan. It is
anticipated that the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons
in both Azerbaijan and Armenia, who are among the most vulnerable members
of the population, will continue to require humanitarian assistance in the
foreseeable future. I requested Under-Secretary-General Aldo Ajello to
undertake a mission of goodwill to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
19. Republic of Moldova
770. I visited the Republic of Moldova on 4 November 1994 to discuss
rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the severe droughts, hurricanes
and floods that hit the country in mid-1994. At its forty-eighth session,
the General Assembly, upon appeal by President Mircea Ion Snegur, adopted a
resolution on 14 September calling upon the Secretary-General, in
cooperation with the relevant organs and organizations of the United
Nations system, to assist in the rehabilitation efforts of the Government.
771. On 21 October 1994, the Republic of Moldova and the Russian
Federation signed the agreement on the withdrawal of the Russian
Federation's 14th army from the Trans-Dnestr region. Both countries have
agreed that the withdrawal should be synchronized with a political
settlement of the Dnestr conflict. The withdrawal is anticipated to take
place within three years.
772. Following an earlier parliamentary decision, a large majority of
ethnically-mixed districts taking part in the referendum held on 5 March
1995 decided to join the Gagauz autonomous region within the Republic of
Moldova.
773. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has
been taking the leading role on issues concerning the Republic of Moldova
since the OSCE mission was established in that country on 27 April 1993.
20. Sierra Leone
774. In December 1994, in response to a formal request from Captain
Valentine Strasser, Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, I
dispatched an exploratory mission to that country to facilitate
negotiations between the Government and the forces known as the
Revolutionary United Front. That mission reported to me on the serious
consequences of the three-year conflict in Sierra Leone. A significant
percentage of the population had taken refuge in neighbouring countries or
been internally displaced and most of the country's infrastructure had been
destroyed. If the conflict continued, it would further complicate the
problem of bringing peace to Liberia and could have a more general
destabilizing effect in the region. On the basis of the mission's findings,
I decided to appoint a Special Envoy for Sierra Leone, Mr. Berhanu Dinka,
to help the parties to work towards a negotiated settlement.
775. In April and May 1995, Captain Strasser announced that to restore
democracy he would set up a national reconciliation conference to prepare
for a return to civilian rule in 1996 and that a three-year ban on
political parties was being rescinded. He called on the Revolutionary
United Front to renounce its armed struggle and to join the electoral
process, declaring that the Government was ready to enter into a cease-fire
in order to negotiate peace without preconditions. However, the Front
spurned the offer to end the armed struggle, stressing that dialogue was
conditional on the withdrawal of foreign troops fighting alongside Sierra
Leonean armed forces. Notwithstanding these difficulties, my Special Envoy
is continuing his efforts to help bring about a settlement of the conflict.
776. On 26 May, I congratulated the Head of State of Sierra Leone on the
democratic initiatives announced on 27 April, in particular the lifting of
the ban on political parties. On 22 June, the National Provisional Ruling
Council issued a decree barring for the next 10 years 57 persons, including
presidents, vice-presidents, ministers, ministers of State and deputy
ministers, from holding any public office or holding office in any
corporation in which the State held a financial interest, from being
elected president of the Republic or member of parliament, or from being
elected to or holding office in any local body. According to the
Government, the ban was based on the findings of two commissions of
inquiry.
777. On 20 July, seven prospective political parties jointly petitioned
the Head of State to repeal restrictive elements of the decree lifting the
ban on political parties. Further complicating matters, on 25 July the
Sierra Leone Bar Association refused to attend the National Consultative
Conference on Elections (15-17 August), linking its refusal to participate
to the decree banning 57 persons from holding political office and
restrictions placed on political parties by the Government.
778. It is widely recognized that the conflict in Sierra Leone cannot be
resolved through military means. It is important therefore for the
Revolutionary United Front to respond positively to the Government's offer
to negotiate a settlement of the conflict. The sixty-second ordinary
session of the Council of Ministers of OAU adopted a resolution expressing
concern over the worsening conflict. I call upon the international
community to support the United Nations efforts to ensure that peace and
democracy prevail in Sierra Leone.
779. Following a series of rebel attacks that began late in 1994,
thousands of Sierra Leoneans were forced to leave their homes and thousands
more sought asylum in neighbouring States. As a result, the total number of
internally displaced persons in Sierra Leone is estimated at over 500,000
persons. They are concentrated in and around Freetown, as well as in a
number of towns in eastern and central Sierra Leone, including Bo, Kenema,
Makeni, Segbwema and Daru. In Freetown, it is estimated that the influx has
swollen the population threefold, to 1.5 million persons. The overall
result of these developments is characterized by, among other things,
overcrowding in a small number of areas, acute shortages of basic survival
requirements and the breakdown of overburdened infrastructure.
780. In response to these developments, the Inter-Agency Standing
Committee (IASC) took up the question of Sierra Leone at a meeting in
February. The Standing Committee is composed of the executive heads of the
United Nations humanitarian organizations as well as ICRC, the
International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies,
IOM and the non-governmental consortia International Council of Voluntary
Agencies, Interaction and the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response.
As a result of the discussions held, the working group of the Inter-Agency
Standing Committee was charged with developing the terms of reference for
an inter-agency appeal for resources required by United Nations
organizations to meet emergency needs. The result was the United Nations
inter-agency appeal for new refugee flows and populations affected by the
humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone. From March to December 1995, the
appeal sought $14.6 million to respond to the unmet needs of internally
displaced persons within Sierra Leone, as well as those of the new outflow
of Sierra Leonean refugees who had recently fled to the Forecariah region
of Guinea. There has not yet been any response to the appeal.
781. As well as being limited by resource mobilization difficulties,
humanitarian assistance efforts have been hindered by the prevailing
security situation, which led to a withdrawal of United Nations
international staff to Freetown in late January 1995. However, humanitarian
activities continue on a smaller scale, with the involvement of national
staff and the utilization of innovative implementation methods.
782. The office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator has developed
an emergency information management system to ensure that United Nations
organizations respond to the humanitarian crisis in Sierra Leone in a
coordinated and complementary manner. The system will gather and analyse
data required by the relief community to develop and target programmes for
affected populations.
783. At its meeting on 2 June, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
further decided to pursue these efforts by dispatching an inter-agency
mission to assess the coordination of humanitarian assistance activities in
Sierra Leone. The mission, led by a representative of the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs, recommended a strengthening of the capacity of the
United Nations to support the Government's efforts to coordinate the
emergency relief response in Sierra Leone. Actions have been taken to
implement this recommendation through the placement of experienced
personnel within the office of the Resident Coordinator.
21. Somalia
784. During the 12 months since my last report, it has become evident
that the humanitarian tragedy in Somalia has been overcome, thanks to the
international humanitarian assistance supported by the United Nations
Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II). This achievement contrasts sharply with
the lack of tangible progress in national political reconciliation, for
which the responsibility must be borne by the Somali leaders and people.
Because of the deteriorating security situation in the country, including
attacks and harassment directed against UNOSOM II and other international
personnel, and because of the lack of cooperation from the Somali leaders
concerned, the continued presence of UNOSOM II became increasingly
questioned.
785. On 14 October 1994, I reported to the Security Council
(S/1994/1166) that the Somali leaders still had not carried out commitments
entered into under the Addis Ababa Agreement and the Nairobi Declaration.
The UNOSOM goal of assisting the process of political reconciliation was
becoming ever more elusive, while the burden and cost of maintaining a high
level of troops were proving increasingly difficult for Member States to
justify. The presence of UNOSOM II troops was having a limited impact on
the peace process and on security in the face of continuing inter-clan
fighting and banditry.
786. I therefore recommended that if the Security Council maintained its
previous decision to end the mission in March 1995 and to withdraw all
UNOSOM II forces and assets, it should extend the mission's mandate until
31 March 1995 to allow the time required to ensure a secure and orderly
withdrawal. At the same time, I stressed that the withdrawal of UNOSOM II
would not mean United Nations abandonment of Somalia. However, although
humanitarian organizations were committed to continuing their work in
Somalia, they could continue doing so only in a secure environment for
which Somali leaders would bear the ultimate responsibility. The United
Nations would also remain ready to assist the Somali parties in the process
of national reconciliation.
787. On 26 and 27 October 1994, before taking a decision on the
withdrawal of UNOSOM II, the Council sent a mission to Somalia to convey
its views directly to the Somali leaders. The mission concluded that 31
March 1995 was the appropriate date for the end of the mandate of UNOSOM
II. None of the Somali factions, humanitarian agencies or non-governmental
organizations had requested a longer extension.
788. On 1 November, the United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance
(USC/SNA), led by General Mohamed Farah Aidid, and other factions convened
a unilateral national reconciliation conference in south Mogadishu. This
was against the advice and warning of the Security Council mission and my
Special Representative, who had warned that the convening of such a
conference before the question of participation in it was resolved would be
a recipe for continued strife.
789. On 4 November, by its resolution 954 (1994), the Council extended
the mandate of UNOSOM II for a final period until 31 March 1995. On 10
November, I transmitted to the Council a statement by the Inter-Agency
Standing Committee reaffirming the commitment of the humanitarian agencies
to continue their emergency and rehabilitation work in Somalia after the
expiration of the UNOSOM mandate. The President of the Security Council, on
behalf of the Council's members, wrote to me on 7 December welcoming the
commitment of the agencies. The Council also encouraged me to play a
facilitating or moderating role in Somalia after March 1995 if the Somali
parties were willing to cooperate.
790. Prior to the withdrawal of UNOSOM II, General Aidid and Mr. Ali
Mahdi signed a peace agreement on behalf of the SNA and the Somali
Salvation Alliance (SSA), respectively. In February they also signed three
other agreements to manage the operations of the Mogadishu airport and
seaport by a joint committee. The Mogadishu seaport was reopened to
civilian traffic on 9 March. I was encouraged by the signing of these
agreements, which helped to avert fighting over the facilities.
791. The withdrawal of the 15,000 United Nations troops, as well as
civilian personnel, facilities and property from Somalia, began in November
1994. In response to my request, seven Member States joined forces in
providing support and security for the withdrawal. To that end they
established a combined task force, "United Shield", composed of France,
India, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and the United States of America, under US command. I
announced on 2 March that the withdrawal had been completed in a safe and
orderly manner, ahead of schedule and virtually without a problem. I again
emphasized that the United Nations effort could continue and that the
United Nations would not abandon Somalia.
792. On 28 March, I submitted to the Security Council a general
assessment of the United Nations achievements in political, humanitarian,
military and security matters and the police and justice programme. I
recalled that, in late 1992, some 3,000 Somalis had been dying daily of
starvation; that tragedy had been ended by the international relief effort.
However, the endeavour to achieve political reconciliation had not
succeeded because of the lack of political will among the Somali leaders.
The international community could only facilitate, encourage and assist the
process; it could neither impose peace nor coerce unwilling parties into
accepting it.
793. In a presidential statement of 6 April (S/PRST/1995/15), the
Council supported my view that Somalia should not be abandoned by the
United Nations and welcomed my intention to maintain a small political
mission, should the Somali parties so wish, to assist them in achieving
national reconciliation. However, the SNA, then headed by General Aidid,
expressed objection to a United Nations political presence and role in
Somalia, although a wide range of Somali leaders representing the main
factions, including a wing of the USC/SNA, had called for such a presence.
In view of these divisions among the Somali parties, I have concluded that,
for the time being, a political office, headed by Mr. Abdul Hamid Kabia,
should monitor the situation from Nairobi. It is my intention to relocate
the political office to Mogadishu when the necessary conditions exist,
including adequate security. The President of the Security Council conveyed
to me in his letter of 2 June (S/1995/452) the agreement of the members of
the Council with my decision.
794. On 15 June, General Aidid was named "interim president" by his
supporters. Following his announcement of a unilateral "government",
General Aidid made an attempt to claim Somalia's seat at the OAU summit
meeting, but OAU refused to recognize his "government" and decided to keep
Somalia's seat open until a generally accepted government was formed. OAU
urged the Somali leaders urgently to promote dialogue to ensure the
formation of a broad-based national authority.
795. I remain convinced that a durable political settlement through
national reconciliation is an indispensable prerequisite for the re-
establishment of government, restoration of law and order, and
rehabilitation and reconstruction in Somalia, and that the attainment of
national reconciliation for the sake of the common good is well within the
power of the Somali leaders. It is my hope that they will find the strength
and the courage to pursue a more productive peace process in the coming
weeks.
796. Coordination of the United Nations humanitarian assistance
programme was, until December 1994, the sole responsibility of the Division
for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of UNOSOM, which was headed by a
Humanitarian Coordinator. The Division's tasks included fielding
humanitarian affairs officers throughout the country, coordinating inter-
agency assessment missions, providing funding for small-scale projects,
assisting with emergencies, building essential structures such as schools
and clinics, digging wells, facilitating the protection of humanitarian
relief convoys, providing logistical support to humanitarian partners,
holding security briefings and information-sharing meetings with United
Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, and providing support
to local bodies such as district and regional councils.
797. In October 1994, when it became apparent that the UNOSOM mandate
would not be extended and the Division would be dismantled, the agencies
established a United Nations Coordination Team, chaired by the Resident
Representative of UNDP (who was later appointed United Nations Humanitarian
Coordinator) and composed of representatives of United Nations agencies and
IOM, to manage the transition to a post-UNOSOM period and to ensure the
continued coordination of the United Nations humanitarian assistance
programme. The Coordination Team works in close cooperation with both
international and Somalia non-governmental organization consortia. It also
works to support the coordination efforts of the Somalia Aid Coordination
Body, a consortium of donor Governments, United Nations agencies and
organizations, and international non-governmental organizations.
798. In 1994, no consolidated inter-agency appeal for Somalia was
issued. Instead, United Nations agencies presented their requirements and
plans for that year through a document prepared for the Fourth Humanitarian
Coordination Meeting, held at Addis Ababa from 29 November to 1 December
1993. Consequently, in 1994 there was no systematic tracking of
contributions received by various agencies for Somalia as is ordinarily
done by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs under the procedures adopted
for consolidated inter-agency appeals. The agencies nevertheless reported
that their programmes were relatively well funded, although implementation
was hindered by security conditions in the country.
799. Despite the absence of political progress in Somalia, significant
gains have been made on the humanitarian front over the past year. Agencies
and organizations have focused their efforts on community-based community
initiatives, providing support to capacity-building programmes while
assisting local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the
areas of relief and initial rehabilitation. Direct support was provided in
the form of supplies, training and management services. Food-for-work
schemes replaced free food distributions as the preferred mode of
delivering food assistance, while agricultural assistance took the form of
targeted initiatives rather than the large-scale distributions of seeds and
tools undertaken in previous years.
800. It was possible in 1994 to undertake modest rehabilitation
activities in areas where relative security existed. In other areas,
however, incidences of kidnapping of humanitarian aid workers occurred,
while operations continued to be vulnerable to frequent labour disputes and
subjected to unrealistic demands for the payment of security services. The
humanitarian agencies expect that for the foreseeable future they will
continue to operate against a background of uncertainty. The United Nations
agencies nevertheless believe that they can, with the direct support of the
Somali people and their leaders, collectively assist Somalia to progress
into a new era of rehabilitation, recovery and development.
801. In view of this, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs launched a
consolidated inter-agency appeal for Somalia, covering a period of six
months beginning in January 1995. The organizations participating in the
appeal requested a total of $70.3 million for their activities during the
first half of 1995.
802. To date the consolidated inter-agency appeal for Somalia has
received under 20 per cent of the resources requested. It is essential that
funding for the humanitarian relief and rehabilitation programmes be
provided to ensure that progress made by the United Nations agencies,
international organizations and national and international non-governmental
organizations over the past three years is not reversed.
22. Tajikistan
803. The situation in Tajikistan, particularly on its border with
Afghanistan, has remained unstable during the past year. My Special Envoy,
Mr. Ramiro P_riz-Ball_n, continues his efforts to mediate a political
dialogue between the Government of Tajikistan and the opposition to achieve
progress towards national reconciliation.
804. High-level inter-Tajik consultations, held at Tehran in September
1994, resulted in the signing of an Agreement on a Temporary Cease-fire and
the Cessation of Other Hostile Acts on the Tajik-Afghan Border and within
the Country. The two parties also agreed on important confidence-building
measures, including the exchange of prisoners and prisoners of war. The
parties also agreed to establish a joint commission consisting of
representatives of the Government and the opposition. They requested the
Security Council to assist the work of the Joint Commission by providing
political good offices and dispatching United Nations military observers.
805. In my report to the Security Council dated 27 September 1994
(S/1994/1102), I recommended, as a provisional measure, the strengthening
of the group of United Nations officials in Tajikistan with up to 15
military observers drawn from existing peace-keeping operations, pending a
decision by the Council to establish a new United Nations observer mission
in Tajikistan. The cease-fire came into effect on 20 October following the
deployment of 15 military observers. A technical survey mission was
immediately sent to the country to assess the modalities for establishing a
future observer mission.
806. The third round of inter-Tajik talks took place at Islamabad from
20 October to 1 November. The parties succeeded in extending the Agreement
for another three months, until 6 February 1995, and also signed the
protocol on the Joint Commission to monitor the implementation of the 17
September cease-fire agreement. On 30 November, I submitted a report to the
Security Council recommending a possible United Nations peace-keeping
operation in that country (S/1994/1363). On 16 December, the Council, by
its resolution 968 (1994), welcomed the extension of the cease-fire
agreement by the Tajik parties and decided to establish the United Nations
Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) in accordance with the plan
outlined in my report.
807. Despite the agreement reached in Islamabad to hold the fourth round
of inter-Tajik talks in Moscow in December 1994, the negotiating process
was at a stalemate. In order to revitalize it, my Special Envoy undertook
consultations with the Government of Tajikistan, leaders of the opposition
and certain Governments in the region in December. In January 1995, a
United Nations team held consultations at Tehran with the Tajik opposition
leaders and high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
808. The fourth round of inter-Tajik talks remained blocked as a result
of conditions put forward by the opposition and by the plans of the
Government to hold parliamentary elections in February. However, at the end
of January, President Emomali Rakhmonov and Mr. Akhbar Turajonzodah, of the
Tajik opposition delegation, informed me of their decision to extend the
cease-fire agreement until 6 March 1995. In a report dated 4 February
(S/1995/105), I informed the Security Council that the Tajik parties had
complied only in part with the provisions of Security Council resolution
968 (1994).
809. At the end of February, I asked Under-Secretary-General Aldo Ajello
to hold consultations with the Tajik parties and some Governments in the
region in order to reach agreement on the agenda, time and venue for the
fourth round of inter-Tajik talks. He obtained the agreement of the parties
to extend the cease-fire agreement until 26 April 1995 and made some
progress in addressing the conditions stipulated by the opposition for the
resumption of inter-Tajik talks.
810. My Special Envoy held new consultations with the Tajik parties and
the Governments in the region, which resulted in high-level inter-Tajik
consultations in Moscow from 19 to 26 April. The two sides agreed on the
agenda and dates for the fourth round of inter-Tajik talks at Almaty, the
extension of the cease-fire for another month and important additions to
the cease-fire agreement and the protocol on the Joint Commission.
811. The fourth round of talks took place at Almaty from 22 May to 1
June. They followed the high-level consultations at Kabul from 17 to 19 May
between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Abdullo Nuri,
leader of the opposition Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan, under
Afghan auspices, where it was decided to extend the cease-fire agreement
for a further three months, until 26 August.
812. As I reported to the Security Council on 10 June (S/1995/472), at
the Almaty talks the parties for the first time held an in-depth discussion
of the fundamental institutional issues and the consolidation of the
statehood of Tajikistan, as set forth in the first round of talks in Moscow
in April 1994; however, they were unable to reach any decisions on those
issues. The parties welcomed the decision of the Kabul summit meeting to
extend the Tehran cease-fire agreement until 26 August and decided to
implement a number of confidence-building measures by 20 July and to
request the continuation of the good offices of my Special Envoy.
813. In its resolution 999 (1995), the Security Council welcomed these
decisions, called for the achievement of substantive progress on the
fundamental political and institutional issues, and sought the convening of
a further round of talks. It encouraged the dialogue between the President
of Tajikistan and the leader of the Islamic Revival Movement of Tajikistan,
and urged the substantial extension of the cease-fire agreement. The
Council also called for discussions with the Afghan authorities on the
possible deployment of a number of United Nations personnel inside
Afghanistan.
814. In accordance with this, I dispatched my Special Envoy on 31 July
to hold consultations in the region with the Tajik parties and with some
Governments in order to create the conditions for a second summit meeting
between President Rakhmonov and Mr. Nuri. At that meeting, to be held as
soon as possible, it is hoped to obtain agreement on a set of general
principles for a comprehensive political solution to be negotiated during
the next stage.
815. The small United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan has
played an important role in containing the conflict. It has provided
essential support to the Joint Commission set up by the parties as the main
instrument for maintaining the cease-fire and it has been instrumental in
containing local conflicts.
816. The establishment of UNMOT and the extension of its mandate last
June for another six months were subject to the proviso that the Tehran
cease-fire agreement of 17 September 1994 remain in force and the parties
continue to be committed to an effective cease-fire, national
reconciliation and the promotion of democracy. The Security Council thus
underlined the primary responsibility of the parties themselves for
composing their differences. It is to be hoped that they will use well the
goodwill and support of interested Governments and the international
community as a whole in order to make decisive progress towards that goal.
817. While improvements in the overall stability of conflict-affected
areas of Tajikistan in 1994 led to the return of more than 90 per cent of
former refugees and internally displaced persons and to substantial
progress in their reintegration, the country continues to face critical
difficulties in conditions of tremendous economic hardship, especially in
the most affected communities of the Khatlon region in the south-west,
Gorno-Badakshan in the east and parts of the Garm Valley. Emergency food
aid is a major source of nutrition for many of the most vulnerable. Many
health centres have been destroyed; functioning ones lack basic equipment
and drugs are often unavailable. Schools and hospitals lack water and
sanitation facilities and many schools are not operating, which threatens
to erode the high levels of literacy of past decades. Shortages of fuel
have severely affected the country's production capacity. Inadequate
employment opportunities compound the existing deep clan and regional
divisions.
818. During 1994, the humanitarian community endeavoured to address the
most pressing needs. Over 60 per cent of funding requested in the
Department of Humanitarian Affairs' 1994 consolidated inter-agency appeal
for Tajikistan ($42.5 million) was pledged or contributed. Humanitarian
assistance also included capacity- and confidence-building activities,
targeting areas of return of former refugees and internally displaced
people.
819. The last mission to the country led by the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs took place in October 1994. The mission held extensive
consultations with the United Nations and non-governmental organization
community to prepare proposals for humanitarian activities in 1995. The
subsequent consolidated inter-agency appeal for Tajikistan (1 January-31
December 1995) was launched on 6 December 1994 and officially presented to
donors on 23 March 1995 at Geneva. The appeal seeks to meet the most urgent
humanitarian needs in-country (estimated at some $37.3 million) of some
600,000 people, who have been most affected by conflict, population
movements and the deterioration of the economic, health and social
infrastructures. By 31 March, $9.9 million, representing 53.4 per cent of
funding requirements, had been contributed, as reported to the Department
of Humanitarian Affairs by agencies making the appeal.
820. The current appeal aims to provide emergency food aid, as well as
assistance in the health and education sectors. This assistance, provided
in consultation with the humanitarian community, national and district
authorities, targets the most vulnerable, including pensioners, invalids
and widows with children, and returned and displaced people. Emphasis in
the 1995 humanitarian programme is also on information management and
capacity-building, with programmes aiming to assist in the training of
health workers, community development, capacity- and confidence-building,
and self-reliance activities. The appeal also covers a number of non-
governmental organization initiatives in addition to United Nations
agencies and programmes, and is the result of efforts to enhance
coordination and cooperation among humanitarian partners in the field.
While substantial humanitarian needs remain, support to Tajikistan will
focus increasingly on rehabilitation and economic development. United
Nations agencies and programmes are thus phasing down relief activities and
promoting development-oriented projects.
23. Western Sahara
821. The referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western
Sahara, to be conducted by the United Nations in cooperation with OAU,
should have taken place in January 1992. However, major differences in the
interpretation of the main provisions of the settlement plan resulted in
delays. None the less, agreement was reached on the interpretation of the
criteria for eligibility to vote, which enabled the United Nations Mission
for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to commence the
identification and registration of potential voters on 28 August 1994. Also
according to the plan, the cease-fire has been in effect since 6 September
1991.
822. During my visit to the mission area in late November 1994, the
parties Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberaci_n de Saguia el-
Hamra y de R_o de Oro (Frente POLISARIO) assured me of their commitment
to the settlement plan. The two neighbouring countries, Algeria and
Mauritania, also continued to support it firmly.
823. In my report to the Security Council of 14 December (S/1994/1420),
I noted that, given the large number of applications received, the only way
to complete the identification and registration process within a reasonable
time-frame would be through a major reinforcement of personnel and other
resources. In its resolution 973 (1995) of 13 January, the Council approved
my recommendation to expand MINURSO and requested me to report by 31 March
to confirm 1 June 1995 as the date for the start of the transitional
period. The Council also decided to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 31
May 1995.
824. On 30 March, I informed the Council that, while the rate of
identification and registration was increasing steadily, the progress
achieved as at that date did not permit me to recommend 1 June 1995 as the
start of the transitional period. I explained that problems relating, in
particular, to the timely availability of tribal leaders had caused
interruptions in the identification operation. At the same time, some
progress had been achieved in the implementation of other aspects of the
Settlement Plan. I concluded that, if the parties made it possible to raise
the rate of identification to 25,000 per month, and if they cooperated in
resolving expeditiously the remaining issues in the Settlement Plan, it
might be possible for the transitional period to begin in August 1995 and
to hold the referendum in January 1996.
825. In a presidential statement of 12 April (S/PRST/1995/17), the
Security Council called upon both parties to cooperate fully with the
United Nations to ensure prompt and full implementation of all aspects of
the Settlement Plan. The Council hoped to see continuous and rapid progress
by the time of my next report, in May 1995.
826. In that report (S/1995/404), I recommended that the mandate of
MINURSO be extended for a period of four months. Following my report, the
Security Council decided by its resolution 995 (1995) of 26 May to extend
the mandate of MINURSO for only one month and to send a mission to the
region in order to accelerate the implementation of the Settlement Plan.
The Mission held consultations with senior government officials at Rabat,
Algiers and Nouakchott and with the POLISARIO leadership at Tindouf, and
visited MINURSO headquarters at Laayoune.
827. In its report presented to the Council on 20 June (S/1995/498), the
Mission indicated that, given the complexity of the tasks to be performed,
the continuing delays caused by the two parties and the constraints imposed
by the limited resources and local conditions, there was a real risk that
the identification process might be extended beyond the time previously
envisaged and that the referendum might not be held in January 1996.
828. On 23 June, the Frente POLISARIO announced its decision to suspend
its participation in the identification operation, because of the
sentencing to 15-20 years in prison, by a Moroccan military tribunal, of
eight Saharan civilians who had participated in a demonstration at Laayoune
and because of the Moroccan authorities' declared intention to have 100,000
applicants residing in Morocco take part in the voter identification
operation. Following POLISARIO's decision, the Prime Minister and Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Morocco addressed a letter dated 26 June to the
President of the Security Council. In the letter, he claimed that the
Frente POLISARIO was displaying bad faith, said that its decision could
have most serious consequences and requested the Security Council to take
all the necessary steps to ensure the resumption of the process with a view
to holding the referendum on schedule.
829. On 12 July, the Frente POLISARIO informed the President of the
Security Council that it had decided to continue to participate in the
identification process. In announcing its decision, POLISARIO cited efforts
made by certain States Members of the Security Council to induce Morocco to
reconsider the sentences imposed on the Saharan civilians, the adoption of
Security Council resolution 1002 (1995) and the positive discussion at the
thirty-first session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of
OAU. On 27 July, the identification process resumed in the identification
centres in Western Sahara and the Tindouf area. As at mid-August 1995, some
50,000 persons had been identified by MINURSO.
830. On 30 June, the Security Council adopted resolution 1002 (1995), by
which it extended the mandate of MINURSO until 30 September 1995. The
Council also expected, based on the report I would present by 10 September
on the progress achieved, to confirm 15 November as the start of the
transitional period, to allow the referendum to take place in early 1996.
24. Yemen
831. Over the past year, Yemen has continued its efforts to recover from
the devastation of the civil war. In its resolution 931 (1994), the
Security Council requested me and my Special Envoy to examine appropriate
ways to facilitate the aim of political dialogue directed towards the
restoration of peace and stability in the country. I continue to believe
that political reconciliation is an indispensable step to ensure the
stability of Yemen. I thus applaud the amnesty granted by the Government to
most of those who fled the country at the conclusion of the war.
832. The continued implementation of the commitments pledged by the
Government to ensure democratic order, political pluralism, freedom of
opinion and the press and respect for human rights, and to develop close
cooperative relations with its neighbours will indeed contribute to the
restoration of stability. Earlier this year, the Foreign Minister
reiterated to me that Yemen was willing to reach a negotiated settlement of
its territorial dispute with Saudi Arabia on the basis of the norms and
principles of international law and in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations. Progress in this area will testify to the strength of that
commitment and will add to security and stability in the area.
833. In August 1994, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs launched a
consolidated inter-agency appeal focusing on the most urgent humanitarian
requirements through February 1995, totalling some $21.7 million. The
priority sectors covered in the appeal were health, water and sanitation,
emergency food aid, agriculture and fisheries, education and limited mine
clearance. Response from the donor community has been extremely
disappointing, with only $3.3 million (15 per cent of the overall
requirements) received to date, mainly for health and food supply projects.
834. Land-mines pose a continuing threat to the lives and the livelihood
of civilians in the south and have hampered efforts of health
rehabilitation and restoration of agricultural production in affected
areas. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs, however, received limited
funding ($150,000) from a mine-clearance trust fund to undertake a land-
mine assistance project in the Aden region. The project began in late
February 1995 and aims to provide technical advice to the government
authorities. Two international land-mine specialists were recruited by the
Department of Humanitarian Affairs for the purpose.
E. Major comprehensive efforts
1. Angola
835. During the past year, significant progress has been achieved in the
search for peace in Angola. After protracted negotiations, the Lusaka
Protocol was signed and the United Nations Angola Verification Mission
(UNAVEM III) was established to facilitate the implementation of its
provisions. A cease-fire has been generally holding throughout the country
and has opened access to all regions for the delivery of humanitarian
relief assistance.
836. At the Lusaka peace talks, the most contentious issue was the
question of national reconciliation, which included the allocation of posts
at the national, provincial and local levels to the members of the Uni o
Nacional para a Independ_ncia Total de Angola (UNITA). In May 1994, the
Government accepted a set of proposals on this issue put forward by the
United Nations and the three observer States to the Angolan peace process
Portugal, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. After
lengthy discussions and the intervention of a number of African leaders,
including President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, UNITA finally accepted
the proposals in September.
837. The way was thus paved for the signing of the Lusaka Protocol in
the Zambian capital on 20 November 1994 and for the cease-fire that came
into force two days later. President Jos_ Eduardo dos Santos and several
other Heads of State, foreign ministers and dignitaries attended the
ceremony.
838. In my report to the Security Council of 1 February (S/1995/97), I
recommended the establishment of a new United Nations peace-keeping
operation in Angola to assist the Government and UNITA in implementing the
Lusaka Protocol. In particular, I recommended that UNAVEM III be composed
of political, military, police and, in future, electoral components. The
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit, which has been operational since
March 1993, would continue to serve as a coordinating body for all
humanitarian operations under the authority of my Special Representative.
The main features of the new United Nations mandate would include to assist
in the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol by providing good offices and
mediation to the parties; to supervise, verify and, if necessary, control
the disengagement of forces and to monitor the cease-fire; to assist in the
establishment of quartering areas and to verify and monitor the withdrawal,
quartering and demobilization of UNITA forces; to verify the movement of
the Angolan Armed Forces to barracks; to verify and monitor the completion
of the formation of a new armed force and the free circulation of people
and goods. Other aspects of the proposed mandate were to monitor the
activities of the Angolan National Police and the quartering of the Rapid
Reaction Police, and to coordinate and support humanitarian activities
linked directly to the peace process.
839. Having considered my report, the Security Council adopted
resolution 976 (1995) on 8 February, authorizing the establishment of
UNAVEM III with an initial mandate until 8 August 1995 and with an
authorized strength of 7,000 military personnel, in addition to 350
military observers and 260 police observers, as well as an appropriate
number of international and local staff. The Council decided that the
deployment of the infantry units would take place gradually and only if the
parties complied with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol.
840. The Joint Commission, chaired by my Special Representative for
Angola, Mr. Alioune Blondin Beye, and comprising the representatives of
both parties and the three observer States, was established at Luanda soon
after the signing of the Lusaka Protocol. It is the body responsible for
the implementation of the Protocol and has met in regular and extraordinary
sessions on numerous occasions at Luanda and outside the Angolan capital.
841. Owing to some initial difficulties and delays in implementation of
the Protocol, I dispatched my Special Adviser, Mr. Ismat Kittani, to
register my concern with the parties and to assess conditions for the
deployment of peace-keepers. The peace process subsequently regained
momentum in mid-April. Although a number of incidents, unauthorized
movements of troops and other cease-fire violations have occurred, the
general trend has been towards a progressive decrease of such violations.
Two meetings between the Chiefs of General Staff from the Government and
UNITA, held in January and in February, also helped to consolidate the
cease-fire and strengthen the peace process. Under the supervision of
UNAVEM III, progress has been achieved in the disengagement of forces. In
an especially positive development, the President of the Republic of
Angola, Mr. Jos_ Eduardo dos Santos, and Mr. Jonas Savimbi, President of
UNITA, met at Lusaka on 6 May in the presence of my Special Representative.
This meeting gave a new and important impetus to the peace process and the
parties took further concrete steps to consolidate the progress achieved.
In June and July, the parties reached agreement on several important issues
and approved an accelerated timetable for the implementation of the Lusaka
Protocol.
842. Following this encouraging development, I visited Angola from 14 to
16 July to give additional impetus to the peace process. I had extensive
meetings with President dos Santos, and met with Mr. Savimbi in his
headquarters in the central part of Angola. Both the Government and UNITA
emphasized the crucial role of the United Nations in the settlement of the
Angolan conflict and stressed their commitment to the implementation of the
Lusaka Protocol. I also reviewed the performance of United Nations troops
in several regions of Angola. Several issues were resolved following my
visit. The National Assembly created two vice-presidential posts, one of
which is to be filled by Mr. Savimbi. The parties have decided that the
future strength of the Angolan Armed Forces would be 90,000 soldiers and
they have made progress on the modalities for the incorporation of UNITA
troops, 74,000 of whom would be ground troops. The national armed forces
would also comprise air and naval forces of 11,000 and 5,000 personnel,
respectively. President dos Santos and Mr. Savimbi held a second meeting,
on 10 August in Gabon, to address outstanding questions.
843. United Nations military and police observers have been deployed to
nearly 60 locations throughout the country and their presence has increased
United Nations verification capabilities, as well as its ability to provide
good offices on the ground.
844. The deployment of UNAVEM infantry and support units has reached an
advanced stage, with some 3,500 troops present in the country, including
three infantry battalions. Full deployment of the contingents is expected
in September/October. The United Nations has made strenuous efforts to
ensure that mine verification and clearance of major deployment routes and
quartering sites is carried out in order to begin early preparations for
the quartering of UNITA troops and for the withdrawal of the Angolan Rapid
Reaction Police and regular troops to barracks.
845. The civilian police component of UNAVEM has proved to be
indispensable in enabling the United Nations to monitor and verify the
neutrality of the national police. In addition, a United Nations human
rights unit has contributed to the civil education campaign and to
confidence-building among the Angolan population. The Government of Angola
and the United Nations have agreed to establish an independent United
Nations radio station in Angola, as recommended in my report of 1 February
and endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 976 (1995), which
would broadcast information programmes on the role of the United Nations in
Angola and on the peace process. Equipment for the United Nations radio
station is expected to arrive in Angola in September and UNAVEM is holding
discussions with the Angolan authorities regarding the allocation of
broadcasting frequencies. In the meantime, UNAVEM has been given access to
the government radio and is broadcasting its programmes on it.
846. On 8 August, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNAVEM
for an additional six months, but expressed concern at the pace of
implementation of the Lusaka Protocol and strongly urged the parties to
accelerate the peace process. In the meantime, the General Assembly
approved some $150 million for the UNAVEM budget for 1995.
847. Improvements in the security situation and the consolidation of the
cease-fire have enabled the United Nations and international and local non-
governmental organizations to extend their humanitarian relief activities
to all regions of the country. Since the signing of the Lusaka Protocol,
humanitarian agencies have reoriented their programmes to support the peace
process in three realms of activity: relief and resettlement;
demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; and action related
to land-mines. It is estimated that over 3 million Angolans are receiving
food aid or other types of relief assistance. These activities are directed
inside Angola by the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit, affiliated
with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.
848. The long-term prospects for peace depend in large part on the
successful demobilization and reintegration into civilian life of those
combatants who are not retained in the Angolan armed forces. Preparations
are under way for the quartering and disarmament of UNITA soldiers under
United Nations supervision and control. Humanitarian agencies will provide
basic services to the soldiers in the quartering sites and organize
programmes to facilitate their return to civilian society. The Department
of Humanitarian Affairs has appealed to the international community for
$102 million to support the demobilization and reintegration process over a
period of approximately two years.
849. The intensive mine pollution in Angola seriously hinders the
movement of goods and people as well as the resumption of economic
activity. The problem is being addressed through a coordinated programme of
mine survey and clearance, mine-awareness training for civilians and the
training of Angolan technicians and managers.
850. Despite some progress on the humanitarian front, the economic and
social situation in Angola continues to be extremely precarious. As in
other peace-keeping operations, I have attached particular importance to
these aspects of the situation in Angola. As the peace process advances,
the focus of United Nations assistance is gradually shifting from emergency
relief activities to rehabilitation of the country's war-wracked economic
and social infrastructure, and to development. With support from UNDP and
the Secretariat, the Government of Angola has organized a round table for
rehabilitation and community development to be held in September.
851. By providing humanitarian and development assistance, the
international community can ease Angola's transition from war to
sustainable peace. The Angolan people and their institutions, however,
remain the primary agents of the necessary social, psychological and
economic transformations.
2. Haiti
Restoration of democracy
852. The goal of restoring democracy in Haiti was significantly advanced
by the return, in October 1994, of the legally and democratically elected
President of the Republic of Haiti, Reverend Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who
had been forced into exile by a military coup in September 1991.
853. Pursuant to Security Council resolution 940 (1994) of 31 July 1994,
the Multinational Force, led by the United States of America, started
operation in Haiti on 19 September 1994. After the departure from the
country of the military leadership, President Aristide returned to Port-au-
Prince on 15 October. On the same day, the Security Council adopted
resolution 948 (1994), effectively lifting all sanctions imposed against
Haiti.
854. On 23 September, I appointed Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi as my new Special
Representative for Haiti to replace Mr. Dante Caputo, whose resignation I
had received with regret four days earlier. I also sent a small advance
team to Haiti to assess requirements and prepare for the deployment of the
United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), as well as to monitor the
operations of the Multinational Force.
855. On 25 October, President Aristide designated Mr. Smarck Michel as
Prime Minister. The new Government took office on 8 November. Seven days
later, I paid a visit to Haiti and assured President Aristide that the
United Nations, in collaboration with OAS, would continue to assist the
Government of Haiti in achieving a lasting transition to democracy.
856. Upon my return to Headquarters on 21 November, I reported to the
Security Council. Responding to my recommendation, by its resolution 964
(1994) the Council authorized an expansion of the advance team to up to 500
members for the transition period.
857. In my report to the Security Council on 17 January 1995, I noted
that, following the arrival of the Multinational Force and the subsequent
disintegration of the Haitian Armed Forces (FADH), politically motivated
violence and human rights abuses had decreased and Haitians were enjoying
fundamental rights. At the same time, however, the collapse of the FADH had
created a security void that contributed to an increased level of crime in
the country.
858. The Security Council considered my report, the statement of 15
January by the commander of the Multinational Force and the accompanying
recommendations of the States participating in the Force regarding the
establishment of a secure and stable environment in Haiti. The Council
determined that, as required by resolution 940 (1994), a secure and stable
environment appropriate to the deployment of UNMIH existed in Haiti and it
authorized me to recruit and deploy military contingents, civilian police
and other personnel sufficient to allow UNMIH to assume the full range of
its functions. The full transfer of responsibility from the Multinational
Force to UNMIH was to be completed by 31 March and the mandate of UNMIH was
extended for a period of six months until 31 July 1995. The Council also
authorized the deployment of up to 6,000 troops and 900 civilian police
observers.
859. On 13 April, I submitted a progress report on the deployment of
UNMIH, informing the Council that the official ceremony of transfer of
responsibilities from the Multinational Force to UNMIH had successfully
taken place, as scheduled, on 31 March. My second visit to Haiti, on that
occasion, provided a good opportunity to observe the beginning of the
operation of UNMIH and to exchange views with the President of Haiti on the
political and security situation in the country. The issue of security
remained central to the entire United Nations operation, in particular at
the time of elections. Legislative and local elections were held on 25 June
under generally secure conditions. However, the elections were marked by
organizational flaws and a partial rerun was held on 13 August. The second
phase of the election is scheduled to be held in September.
860. On 31 July, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNMIH to
the end of February 1996. The Mission continues to assist the Haitian
authorities in maintaining a stable and secure environment and in
protecting humanitarian convoys. UNMIH also provides the Haitian
Provisional Electoral Council with logistical and financial assistance and
its civilian police component guides the work of the Interim Public
Security Force and trains the Haitian National Police on the job.
Human rights
861. A core group of the International Civilian Mission in Haiti
(MICIVIH) had returned to Haiti on 22 October 1994. In my report to the
General Assembly on the situation of democracy and human rights in Haiti of
23 November 1994 (A/49/689), I proposed that MICIVIH should also contribute
to the strengthening of democratic institutions.
862. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/27 of 5 December 1994 on
the situation of democracy and human rights in Haiti, requested the speedy
return of all members of MICIVIH to Haiti. At present, the United Nations
component has approximately 110 members. The Mission made a major
contribution to the improvement of respect for human rights in Haiti, both
during the military rule and since the restoration of the constitutional
order last October. On 12 July, following my report of 29 June (A/49/926)
and consultations with the Government of Haiti and the Secretary-General of
OAS, the General Assembly extended the mandate of the United Nations
component of MICIVIH until 7 February 1996.
863. MICIVIH continued to give priority to the monitoring and promotion
of respect for human rights in Haiti. During the preparation of elections,
the Mission facilitated and monitored respect for the freedom of expression
and association as well as investigating allegations of intimidation and
violence. Both UNMIH and MICIVIH worked closely with an OAS electoral
observation mission set up in May 1995. UNMIH helped to ensure that the
legislative and local elections on 25 June, while marred by organizational
problems, took place in a secure environment, and MICIVIH staff assisted
the electoral observation mission in the performance of its tasks. In its
report on the 25 June elections, released by the Secretary-General of OAS
on 13 July, the observation mission concluded that the elections had
established a foundation that, although shaky, provided the basis for
further positive progress towards the continuing evolution of an
increasingly peaceful democracy in Haiti.
Development
864. After the events of September 1991, United Nations agencies and the
international community provided humanitarian assistance to Haiti to
address the most pressing basic needs. The main sectors targeted for
intervention under the humanitarian assistance programme to alleviate the
situation of the poorest sectors of the population were health care,
nutrition, water supply and sanitation, and agriculture. To allow for the
continuation of the humanitarian programmes during the embargo, a
humanitarian fuel supply programme was undertaken. A total of 3,632,277
gallons of fuel was distributed among the non-governmental organizations
and other institutions involved in humanitarian aid.
865. With the return of constitutional government in October 1994 and
the restoration of democracy after years of political instability and
deteriorated socio-economic conditions, reorienting Haiti towards the path
of economic development will be a daunting task. After a thorough review of
the ongoing humanitarian activities, it was deemed necessary to find a new
approach in order gradually to phase out the emphasis on strictly
humanitarian relief, while facilitating the initiation of longer-term
reconstruction initiatives.
866. An appeal for a six-month transitional period was launched on 6
December 1994 simultaneously in Port-au-Prince and Washington, D.C., by the
Government of Haiti, the United Nations and OAS. The activities presented
in the appeal reflected urgent needs that could be implemented rapidly and
be of immediate positive impact. They were also intended to be sustainable
in order to facilitate a smooth transition to medium- and long-term
reconstruction and development efforts. The appeal requested $78 million to
meet the needs for continued humanitarian and reconstruction assistance
during Haiti's critical transition periods. As at 10 August, 54.1 per cent
of the appeal target, or some $50.8 million, had been either received or
pledged.
867. In 1995, cooperation between the Government and its development
partners has moved from emergency and ad hoc initiatives to more
strategically planned public works and employment-creation projects,
leading, in particular, to major agreements with EU, the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank in July
1995. UNDP activities centre on governance, economic growth and poverty
eradication, and the Programme has also provided seed money for certain
initiatives by donor countries. In order to coordinate development
activities with the peace-keeping mission of UNMIH in a manner consistent
with its mandate, my Deputy Special Representative has been concurrently
appointed Resident Representative of UNDP.
Natural disasters
868. On 13 November 1994, Tropical Storm Gordon caused heavy rains and
floods that devastated sections of Port-au-Prince as well as the southern
part of the country. The death toll was estimated at 1,122, and some 1.5
million people were affected. Altogether, 8,600 families became homeless
and 61,500 were in need of emergency relief. Destruction of infrastructure,
agricultural land and property was extensive and included 11,402 houses
partially damaged and 3,905 completely destroyed.
869. Following the appeal for international assistance by the Government
of Haiti, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator called on the United
Nations Management Disaster Team to join the relief effort undertaken in
support of the affected populations. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs
sent a three-person team from United Nations Disaster Assessment and
Coordination to strengthen the Humanitarian Coordinator's efforts to
bolster the capacity of the special task force established by the Prime
Minister.
870. In response to the emergency situation, the international
community's cash contributions amounted to $8.6 million, of which United
Nations contributions amounted to some $500,000. Relief items were received
from the Department of Humanitarian Affairs warehouse at Pisa, Italy, as
well as from the Governments of France, Japan and Mexico.
3. Rwanda
871. Since my last annual report on the work of the Organization, the
situation in Rwanda has shown signs of gradual normalization, continuing a
process that started with the end of the genocide and civil war and the
establishment of the present Government on 19 July 1994. With the
completion of the withdrawal of the French-led Operation Turquoise from
south-west Rwanda on 21 August 1994, the United Nations Assistance Mission
for Rwanda (UNAMIR) assumed full responsibility for the former humanitarian
protection zone prior to a gradual take-over by the new Rwandan civilian
administration.
872. In my reports to the Security Council on UNAMIR, I have emphasized
that while the situation in Rwanda has to some extent stabilized, a number
of serious obstacles remain to be overcome. Continued problems in
repatriation, reconciliation and reconstruction efforts have triggered
frustration in Rwanda, which, in turn, has contributed to the deterioration
of security and affected relations between UNAMIR and the Rwandan
authorities. The Government of Rwanda expressed the wish that, at an
appropriate time, UNAMIR's mandate and its possible phase-out from Rwanda
should be discussed. However, I urged the Government to continue to extend
the necessary cooperation without which the Mission could not carry out its
tasks, while requesting my Special Representative, Mr. Shaharyar Khan, to
consider, in consultation with the Government, adjustments to UNAMIR's
mandate.
873. Following those consultations, I recommended that the mandate of
UNAMIR, which was due to expire on 9 June 1995, be renewed for another
period of six months and its focus shifted from a peace-keeping to a
confidence-building role. In its resolution 997 (1995), the Security
Council extended the mandate and authorized a reduction of its force level
to 2,330 troops within three months and to 1,800 troops within four months.
The mandate is to end in December 1995, with all troops withdrawn. Since
the adoption of UNAMIR's new mandate, relations between UNAMIR and the
Rwandan authorities have improved. UNAMIR is helping them to promote
national reconciliation, the return of refugees and the setting up of a
national police force. It is also responsible for the protection of
humanitarian organizations, human rights observers and members of the
International Tribunal for Rwanda. In my report of 4 June, I described
Rwanda as relatively stable and largely at peace, with some utility
services back in operation, schools reopened and the economy and
agriculture showing signs of revival.
874. Three major factors have nevertheless complicated international
efforts to help the Government to restore normal conditions in Rwanda.
Firstly, there has been the delay in bringing to justice individuals
implicated in the 1994 genocide. In October 1994, the Independent
Commission of Experts concluded that acts of mass extermination against
Tutsi groups had been perpetrated in a planned and systematic way by
certain Hutu elements and that this constituted genocide under the United
Nations Convention on Genocide.
875. On 8 November, the Security Council, in its resolution 955 (1994),
decided to establish a tribunal to prosecute persons responsible for
genocide and other such violations committed between 1 January and 31
December 1994. Mr. Richard J. Goldstone was appointed Prosecutor and the
Prosecutor's Office, headed by the Deputy Prosecutor, Mr. Honor_
Rakotomana, was to be established at Kigali. Under his supervision, the
investigation of some 400 identified suspects, among them leaders of the
former regime and principal planners of the genocide, who sought refuge in
neighbouring countries, is being conducted in and outside Rwanda.
876. In its resolution 977 (1995), the Security Council determined that
the seat of the Tribunal should be established at Arusha, United Republic
of Tanzania. Since the Tribunal shares a common appeals chamber with the
International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the General Assembly has
appointed only six judges for the Tribunal: Mr. Lennart Aspegren (Sweden),
Mr. La_ty Kama (Senegal), Mr. T. H. Khan (Bangladesh), Mr. Yakov A.
Ostrovsky (Russian Federation), Ms. Navanethem Pillay (South Africa) and
Mr. Willam H. Sekule (United Republic of Tanzania). Their first plenary
session was held at The Hague from 26 to 30 June 1995. During the session,
the judges adopted the rules of procedure and evidence of the Tribunal and
elected a President (Mr. Kama) and a Vice-President (Mr. Ostrovsky). The
judges will assume their functions with the commencement of trial
proceedings. The Tribunal is expected to process the first indictments in
the second half of this year; however, the justice system as a whole is not
yet operational and is in urgent need of support. It will be difficult to
achieve national reconciliation and a meaningful political dialogue if
justice in the wake of the horrific events of the summer of 1994 is not
seen to be done.
877. In July 1994, an estimated 1.2 million Rwandan refugees arrived in
the Kivu provinces of Zaire following the April-July civil war in Rwanda.
The presence of such a large number of refugees in Zaire, and its impact on
the security and economy of the country, was one of the main subjects of
the discussion I held with Prime Minister Kengo Wa Dondo during his visit
to Headquarters on 15 December. At that time, the Prime Minister requested
me to appoint a "special representative for Rwanda in Zaire". It was agreed
that a civilian UNAMIR liaison office should be established at Kinshasa to
facilitate communication between my Special Representative for Rwanda and
the Government of Zaire. The Prime Minister offered to provide 1,500 troops
for a proposed United Nations force to ensure security in the refugee
camps. The Government of Zaire cited the presence of the Rwandan refugees
as one of the factors that had contributed to the postponement of the first
multi-party parliamentary and presidential elections and to the extension
for two more years of the transitional period in Zaire until 10 July 1997.
878. On 27 January 1995, the Government of Zaire and the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees signed an aide-m_moire outlining specific
measures to improve security in the camps. Under the agreement, the
Government of Zaire agreed to deploy a contingent of 1,500 military and
police personnel the Zairian Camp Security Contingent to provide
security in the camps. The measures included the prevention of violence,
escort of repatriation convoys and maintenance of law and order, especially
at food distribution centres.
879. Some 1,513 Zairian Camp Security troops and more than 38 members of
the UNHCR civilian Security Liaison Group are now deployed in refugee
camps. Their deployment has greatly improved security conditions. However,
rumours about military training of elements of the former Government's army
have persisted in some camps. Thus, in furtherance of Security Council
resolution 997 (1995), I sent a Special Envoy, Mr. Aldo Ajello, to the
region to discuss the issue with all countries concerned and to explore the
possibility of deploying military observers, in particular in the airfield
of eastern Zaire, to monitor the alleged flow of arms. From 20 to 28 June,
my Envoy visited Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Uganda and the United Republic of
Tanzania. On 9 July, I reported to the Security Council that some countries
of the region were opposed to the deployment of United Nations military
observers on their territory. However, Zaire reiterated that it would
welcome an international commission of inquiry, under United Nations
auspices, to investigate allegations of arms deliveries to the former
Rwandese Government Forces. For its part, the Government of Rwanda has
reiterated its determination to promote the earliest return of the refugees
and has stated its readiness for dialogue with those of them who were
implicated in the genocide.
880. The second complicating factor is that national reconciliation can
hardly become a reality without the safe return of the refugees and
internally displaced persons not implicated in acts of genocide. For that
purpose, the assistance of the international community will be needed to
build up structures for the resettlement of the refugees and internally
displaced persons and their reintegration into society. However, efforts in
this direction have been jeopardized by the continuing military activities
of members of the former Rwandese Government Forces in refugee camps in
neighbouring countries, including the launching of organized incursions
into Rwanda. The Government is concerned that the elements abroad of the
former Rwandese Government Forces receive training and arms deliveries,
whereas Rwanda is still subject to an arms embargo.
881. Given the serious lack of security in the refugee camps outside
Rwanda, I authorized United Nations participation in a joint working group
with Zairian authorities to improve the situation. Following consultations
with the Secretariat and UNHCR, I emphasized in a report to the Security
Council (S/1994/1308) that any operation to achieve the repatriation of
refugees and the improvement of security in the camps was futile without
parallel efforts to promote national reconciliation and reconstruction. On
1 February 1995, I informed the Security Council that on 27 January UNHCR
had concluded an agreement with the Government of Zaire for the deployment
of 1,500 security personnel, as well as a UNHCR liaison support group, to
camps in eastern Zaire to maintain law and order, to prevent intimidation
of refugees by elements opposed to their repatriation and to protect
returnees and relief workers. However, while the situation has improved,
the problem is far from solved.
882. The Government made it clear that it wished to close down the camps
of internally displaced persons for reasons of security, in particular
those in Kibeho, Ndago, Kamana and Munini. At the insistence of UNAMIR,
which opposed the closing of the camps by force, the Government agreed to
postpone such action. However, on 18 April the Government decided to close
Kibeho camp, an action that led to panic, a stampede and indiscriminate
firing at displaced persons, resulting in the killing of a large number. I
immediately expressed my horror at this deplorable incident and sent a
Special Envoy to Kigali. In the aftermath, most displaced persons were
repatriated to their communes with the help of UNAMIR and UNHCR. In its
report (S/1995/411), the independent International Commission of Inquiry
created to investigate the circumstances and causes of the Kibeho tragedy
concluded that it was neither premeditated nor an accident that could not
have been prevented. The speedy establishment of the Commission and the
steps it has taken to penalize the military personnel involved have
mitigated some of the tragedy's adverse effects.
883. Thirdly, there has been frustration at the slow pace of delivery of
international economic and reconstruction assistance to Rwanda, including
aid pledged at the UNDP round table of January 1995. Of $714 million
pledged, only $69 million has been disbursed and of this $26 million has
been absorbed by debt-servicing costs. With regard to the Rwanda portion of
the United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Rwanda crisis,
launched in February this year, out of the $219,490,162 requested for
Rwanda, only 50 per cent has been funded. For the subregion, under 60 per
cent of the total $586,778,007 required for programmes in the neighbouring
countries has so far been received.
884. Although the international donor community made generous pledges to
the Government of Rwanda's rehabilitation and reconstruction programme, the
slow process in turning them into actual support has frustrated the
Government. I have repeatedly invited Member States and other potential
donors to contribute to the trust fund for Rwanda, which could serve as a
useful channel for contributions to meet the immediate needs of the
Government and people of Rwanda. To date, $6,536,911 has been contributed.
I also continue to believe that the early implementation of some of the key
recommendations of the OAU/UNHCR Regional Conference on Assistance to
Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in the Great Lakes Region, held
at Bujumbura from 15 to 17 February, would ease the tremendous humanitarian
crisis in the region. I appealed to all Member States to act in accordance
with the Conference's recommendations.
885. In this sense, the experience of Rwanda casts a revealing light on
some of the problems that a peace-keeping operation is bound to meet when
operating in such difficult circumstances. A new integrated approach,
enlisting and combining all the resources of the United Nations family, is
urgently needed.
886. Only a small proportion of the Rwandan people who fled their
country at different times have returned to Rwanda this year and of those
who have the vast majority come from those living in Uganda since the early
1960s. Among the refugees who fled in 1994, enthusiasm for repatriation has
waned since March, especially in the Goma area and in northern Burundi.
This is a result both of intimidation in the refugee camps and of the high
number of security incidents inside Rwanda, including the assassinations of
the Prefect of Butare and the head of medical services in the Gisenyi area.
The rate of arrests of suspected participants in genocide and strong
speeches by some Rwandan authorities have also had a negative impact on
repatriation. Despite these set-backs, UNHCR continues to prepare for
larger-scale repatriation in the months ahead. In addition to monitoring
returnees, UNHCR is trying to organize, in cooperation with the Government
of Rwanda, confidence-building visits by refugee groups from camps in
Burundi to their home communes.
887. The Government also has to address the social impact of large
numbers of people returning to their homes. In this respect, it should not
be forgotten that much of the Rwandan population is still traumatized by
the events of 1994. It is thus hardly surprising that serious problems have
occurred between the survivors of the genocide and those who are now
returning from camps for displaced persons or refugees. Disputes concern
the genocide, illegal occupancy of land and property and the settling of
old scores and grudges. Since February, commune committees, comprising
representatives of local authorities and human rights field officers, are
being formed to address issues such as security and arrest procedures.
888. The combination of ethnic polarization in Burundi and Rwanda,
massive circulation of arms, porous borders and transborder movements of
refugees threaten, at best, to keep the subregion perpetually unstable and,
at worst, to ignite a large-scale regional conflict. I will therefore
intensify my efforts towards a broader international initiative for a long-
term solution to the problems in the Great Lakes region, especially by the
early convening of a regional conference on security, stability and
development.
889. Food shortages within the region have also occurred and WFP and
UNHCR have alerted the international community to the need to cover the
shortages, which threaten more than 3 million Rwandan and Burundian
refugees and internally displaced persons. Rations in some refugee camps
have had to be reduced by as much as half. Inside Rwanda itself, the
United Nations and non-governmental organizations have contributed
significantly to the present harvest by providing seeds, tools and seed
protection programmes. A seed multiplication programme, financed by the
World Bank, has been initiated and FAO has been instrumental in the
establishment of a consortium of donors for the agricultural sector.
890. UNICEF has reopened a number of nutritional centres, distributed
equipment to non-governmental organizations and delivered supplementary
food and material to unaccompanied children centres. With the assistance of
UNICEF, ICRC, UNHCR and the Save the Children Fund-UK, 41,800 separated
Rwandan children have been registered in Rwanda, Goma, Bukavu and Ngara,
out of an estimated total of 95,000. Thanks to these efforts, at least
3,000 children have been reunited with their families. There is evidence
that up to one fifth of all unaccompanied minors can be reunited with their
families.
891. UNICEF and the Ministry of Justice have reached an agreement to
move an estimated 400 children accused of genocide from prisons to a
separate location. In addition, a special division for imprisoned children
and women has been created within the Ministry of Justice. Five experienced
lawyers have been recruited to act as defence counsels for the children.
Regarding the demobilization of child soldiers, UNICEF and the Ministry of
Defence have identified a location where the education and skills training
of up to 4,000 child soldiers will soon begin.
892. Much progress has been made in the health conditions of the Rwandan
population. WHO has assisted the Ministry of Health with training
programmes to enable the national programme of diarrhoeal diseases and
acute respiratory infections control to be re-launched and is supporting
the Ministry in the production of the national health policy document.
Training programmes have also been undertaken on the national health
information system, with an emphasis on epidemiological surveillance. With
the help of UNICEF and others, more than 100 of the 280 pre-war vaccination
centres have reopened in Rwanda; supplies and equipment have been ordered
for the remainder. A vaccination campaign against measles has also been
launched in Kigali. Some progress has also been made in the rehabilitation
of the country's water infrastructure and electric grid line.
893. Joint UNESCO and UNICEF efforts have continued to improve access to
education. Some 1,800 teacher emergency packages, supplying basic classroom
resources and an emergency curriculum to over 140,000 primary school
children, were distributed inside Rwanda in February. This brings the
number of such packages distributed so far to over 7,000, servicing at
least 560,000 children.
894. As well as continuing its project for emergency assistance to the
national maternal and child health/family planning programme, UNFPA is
helping the Government to elaborate an integrated maternal and child
health/family planning training programme, which incorporates maternal and
child health/family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and safe motherhood. WHO
has also supported the national AIDS programme through the strengthening of
managerial capabilities at central and regional levels.
895. In July, I visited Rwanda in order to observe at first hand the
progress made and the challenges that remain. In my most recent report on
UNAMIR, dated 8 August, I stressed that the achievement of genuine national
reconciliation was an essential element in establishing lasting peace in
Rwanda. The Government of Rwanda must take determined measures to that end
and representatives of all sectors of Rwandan society should begin talks to
reach an agreement on a constitutional and political structure necessary to
achieve lasting stability. The international community also has an
important role to play in the process of Rwanda's reconstruction and
reconciliation. While the economic situation has marginally improved, the
Government will not be able to cope with the mounting pressures from
returning refugees, the rehabilitation of all sectors and tensions from
neighbouring countries. The seriousness of the present situation and the
growing probability that it will deteriorate further requires urgent and
concerted action on the part of the international community. During my
visit to the subregion, there was clear consensus among government leaders
that instability in any State in the area could have a dramatic effect on
all its neighbours. On 16 August, the Security Council unanimously adopted
resolution 1011 (1995). In that resolution, the Council, inter alia,
lifted for the period of one year, until 1 September 1996, the restrictions
on the sale or supply of arms and related mat_riel to the Government of
Rwanda. Such restrictions remain in force, however, with respect to non-
government forces in Rwanda and in neighbouring States. On 1 September
1996, the restrictions imposed by the Council in paragraph 13 of its
resolution 918 (1994) shall terminate, unless it decides otherwise after
its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the matter.
4. The former Yugoslavia
896. The Organization's continuing efforts in the former Yugoslavia
remain focused on a multiplicity of mandated responsibilities that span
humanitarian, military and political tasks in an environment characterized
by vicious cycles of cease-fire violations, human rights infringements,
physical destruction and death.
897. Unceasing conflicts, entrenched hostilities, violation of
agreements and a genuine lack of commitment and good faith have become the
hallmarks of this crisis. Taken together, these factors give the impression
either that not enough is being done to find a peaceful resolution or that
fundamental questions and issues that divide the parties are
insurmountable. For too long, from the start of military confrontation in
1991 until the time of writing, all efforts aimed at reaching a negotiated
and peaceful solution to the conflicts and outstanding issues have been in
vain. The Organization and agencies within its common system that have
programmes in the area are, however, continuing to devote the highest
priority to bringing peace to the region and alleviating the suffering
brought about by the conflict.
Preventive diplomacy and preventive deployment
898. The presence of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force
(UNPREDEP) continues to make an important contribution to stability in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. However, as stated in my report last
year, internal differences that could lead to political instability remain
a cause for concern. Regarding the dispute between Greece and the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, my Special Envoy, Mr. Cyrus Vance, has
continued his efforts pursuant to Security Council resolution 845 (1993).
899. On 7 November 1994, Mr. Vance and I met with President Kiro
Gligorov at Geneva following the elections in his country. I urged him to
give favourable consideration to a number of proposals for resolving the
dispute. On 6 February 1995, Mr. Vance began a series of parallel meetings
with the parties with a view to convening direct negotiations. During the
meetings both parties took a serious and constructive approach that could
in time lead to direct talks. In a subsequent meeting with President
Gligorov at Copenhagen on 10 March, I urged him to facilitate a face-to-
face meeting with the other side. Between March and June, Mr. Vance
continued his meetings with the two sides. When I visited Greece in July, I
urged the Greek leaders to respond favourably to his proposals.
Peacemaking and peace-keeping
900. The International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia continues to
provide a permanent forum for the negotiation of a comprehensive political
solution to the problems in the former Yugoslavia. Its Steering Committee
is co-chaired by Mr. Thorvald Stoltenberg, representing the United Nations,
and the former Swedish premier Mr. Carl Bildt, who was appointed by EU on 9
June following the resignation of Lord David Owen in May. My Special
Representative, Mr. Yasushi Akashi, as well as the States members of the
Contact Group, have continued their efforts to advance the peace process.
At an EU summit meeting at Cannes, France, in June, European leaders
determined that diplomacy should be the main tool for achieving several
primary objectives, including the lifting of the siege of Sarajevo;
resumption of a dialogue between the parties on the basis of the Contact
Group Plan; establishment of a new four-month cease-fire; re-establishment
of a dialogue between the Government of Croatia and the Krajina Serbs; and
mutual recognition by the former Yugoslav republics.
901. Under the auspices of the Co-Chairmen of the International
Conference on the Former Yugoslavia and the Ambassadors of the Russian
Federation and the United States of America to Croatia, the Government of
Croatia and the local Serb authorities in Croatia concluded, on 2 December
1994, an Economic Agreement. That Agreement was seen as a major confidence-
building measure towards the restoration of normal economic activities in
Croatia. With continued adherence to the cease-fire agreement of 29 March
1994, it seemed that both sides had embarked on a course of normalizing
their relationship by pursuing a number of tangible and mutually beneficial
economic improvements, such as the opening of the Zagreb-Belgrade highway
through Sector West, opening the Adriatic oil pipeline, rehabilitating and
reconnecting the electricity grid and exploring the reopening of railway
connections.
902. On 12 January 1995, I received a letter from the President of the
Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, informing me of his Government's
decision not to agree to a further extension of the mandate of the United
Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) beyond 31 March. While the Government
of Croatia's frustration was understandable, its decision to insist on the
withdrawal of UNPROFOR from Croatia renewed mistrust and created new
tensions, as a result of which cooperation on further elements of the
Economic Agreement petered out.
903. Diplomatic efforts by the international community, Mr. Stoltenberg
and my Special Representative eventually won acceptance of the continuation
of the United Nations peace-keeping presence in Croatia, albeit with
revised tasks and a reduced troop strength of 8,750. At the end of March,
the Security Council in its resolution 981 (1995) established the United
Nations Confidence Restoration Operation, to be known as UNCRO, which was
to implement a number of core tasks that were defined in consultations
between Mr. Stoltenberg and the parties. The elements of UNPROFOR stationed
in Croatia were to be converted into UNCRO by the end of June 1995. At the
same time separate forces were created for Bosnia and Herzegovina
(retaining the name UNPROFOR) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(UNPREDEP). Overall command and control of all these forces was to be
exercised by my Special Representative and the Force Commander from United
Nations Peace Forces Headquarters (UNPF-HQ) at Zagreb.
904. On 1 May, the Croatian army and police undertook an offensive
against Sector West from both directions on the Zagreb-Belgrade highway
with some 2,500 troops, heavy equipment and air support. UNPROFOR, whose
mandate was to monitor the cease-fire arrangements agreed in March 1994,
was powerless to prevent an offensive on that scale. However, UNPROFOR and
other international agencies were able to keep the international community
at least partially informed and to discourage violence against the Serb
population, though abuses undoubtedly occurred during the early stages of
the conflict. More than 10,000 Serb civilians crossed into Serb-controlled
areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Subsequently, UNPROFOR and UNHCR helped
those remaining Serb civilians who so wished to leave Sector West in a
protected and orderly manner. Although the Government of Croatia declared
its intention to respect fully the human rights of the remaining Serb
population, it was not able to create confidence among the Serbs that it
was in their interests to remain in Croatia. The mistrust created by the
Croatian operation against Sector West further undermined efforts to resume
negotiations towards a peaceful settlement in Croatia.
905. Following the take-over of Sector West by the Croatian army,
tensions in the UNCRO area of operations remained high, preventing the
deployment of the Operation as originally envisaged in Security Council
resolutions 981 (1995), 982 (1995) and 990 (1995). On 19 July, the Krajina
Serb army and the forces loyal to Mr. Fikaret Abdi launched offensives
against the Bosnian Army V Corps in the Biha pocket. Croatia almost
immediately warned that the displacement of the population of Biha would
be considered a serious threat to its security and stability. The
Presidents of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Split
Declaration on 22 July, which committed the Government of Croatia to assist
Bosnian forces militarily in the Biha pocket. Within Croatia, the Croatian
army continued a major build-up of troops around Sectors North and South in
apparent preparation for a major military offensive aimed at re-
establishing Croatian control in those areas.
906. Intensive efforts to defuse the crisis and restart political
negotiations were undertaken by the United Nations as well by Member
States. My Special Representative met with President Tudjman to forestall a
looming military confrontation. He also met with local Serb leaders at
Knin. On 3 August, at Geneva, Mr. Stoltenberg chaired a meeting of the
representatives of the Government of Croatia and the Croatian Serbs and
presented the two sides with a paper covering seven points of contention.
The Croatian Serb side was inclined to accept the paper as a useful basis
for progress, subject to clearance by its political leadership, but the
Government indicated that the paper did not address its fundamental concern
that the Krajina Serbs should be reintegrated under the Croatian
Constitution and laws. On the evening of 3 August, I telephoned President
Tudjman and urged the utmost restraint.
907. On 4 August, the Croatian army launched a major offensive, which
was largely completed a few days later. I immediately issued a statement
expressing my regret at the outbreak of hostilities in Croatia, and urged
the parties to respect international humanitarian law and the human rights
of the affected population. At the start of the action, a significant
number of United Nations observation posts were overrun by the Croatian
army and some were deliberately fired upon. Some United Nations troops were
used as human shields by Croatian army units as they conducted their
attacks. Vigorous protests have been launched against these incidents by
the United Nations and the troop-contributing Governments concerned. In the
period following the Croatian military actions, the United Nations has
concentrated on dealing with the humanitarian crisis brought about by the
massive displacement of people and on maintaining contacts that would
permit political negotiations to be resumed. Thus my Special Representative
on 6 August concluded a nine-point agreement with the Croatian authorities
allowing the United Nations, and other international organizations, to cope
with the major humanitarian difficulties and to monitor the human rights
situation on the ground. Mr. Stoltenberg was also in active contact with
the authorities at Zagreb and Belgrade. These events had obvious
implications for the future role of UNCRO in that, with the collapse of the
armed forces of the Krajina Serbs, there was no longer a requirement,
except in Sector East, to monitor or control the confrontation line, zone
of separation, weapons storage sites and areas of limitations established
by the cease-fire agreement of 29 March 1994. On 23 August, I recommended
to the Security Council an immediate start to the repatriation of all UNCRO
troops, except the two battalions in Sector East, with the aim of reducing
troop strength to below 2,500 by mid-November 1995.
908. For the most part, developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the
past year have been equally discouraging. In the autumn of 1994, military
activity assumed unacceptably high levels, in particular in the Biha area
and around Sarajevo. The overall situation reached a crisis point when
Bosnian Serb infantry entered the designated safe area of Biha to repulse
an offensive launched from the Biha pocket in October by the Bosnian army.
Following air attacks by Krajina Serbs into the Biha pocket on 18 and 19
November 1994 and NATO air strikes against the Udbina airfield in Sector
South in Croatia and on Bosnian Serb missile sites on 21 and 23 November,
respectively, the situation sharply worsened. Some 250 UNPROFOR personnel
were confined to the weapon collection points around Sarajevo and 26 United
Nations military observers were detained in their quarters. The situation
improved when, following former United States President Jimmy Carter's
visit in late December, my Special Representative was able to secure a
cessation-of-hostilities agreement, which came into effect on 1 January
1995.
909. Although the cessation of hostilities had been agreed for four
months, fighting in the Biha area never ceased, and those elements of the
agreement which could have secured a more stable cease-fire, such as the
creation of buffer zones and the interpositioning of UNPROFOR troops along
the confrontation line, could not be implemented for lack of cooperation by
the parties. In March 1995, the Government, in the first large-scale
violation of the cease-fire agreement outside the Biha area, launched
offensive operations at Mount Vla i , near Travnik, and the Majevica Hills
near Tuzla. When efforts to extend the cessation-of-hostilities agreement
beyond 1 May failed, the situation in and around Sarajevo began to
deteriorate rapidly. The humanitarian airlift into Sarajevo airport has
been blocked by the Bosnian Serbs from 8 April to the time of writing;
sniping and exchanges of artillery fire have increased to levels not
experienced since the establishment of the heavy weapons exclusion zone in
February 1994.
910. On 25 May, as a result of the failure of the Bosnian Serbs to
respect the deadline for the return of heavy weapons, an air strike was
launched against an ammunition dump near Pale, with another against the
same target the following day as a result of continuing non-compliance. The
Bosnian Serbs shelled all safe areas except epa, and 70 civilians were
killed and over 130 injured as a result of a rocket attack on Tuzla. The
Bosnian Serbs surrounded UNPROFOR personnel in weapon collection points and
detained 199, many of them under humiliating circumstances.
911. As the crisis heightened, NATO, on 29 June, approved a plan to send
up to 60,000 troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina to cover the withdrawal of
United Nations peace-keepers, should the need arise. United Nations-
designated safe areas came under sustained attack from Bosnian Serb forces
and Srebrenica was overrun on 11 July. The Security Council on 12 July
demanded the withdrawal of the Bosnian Serb forces from Srebrenica but this
demand was ignored. The Bosnian Serb army detained UNPROFOR troops from the
Netherlands and by 14 July had evicted thousands of Muslim refugees from
Srebrenica, while detaining Muslim men, whose fate is still unknown. The
violations of international humanitarian law that appear to have been
committed in the wake of the fall of Srebrenica and epa are a matter of
utmost concern, and it is imperative that access be given to permit full
international investigation of these allegations. The degrading and cruel
treatment of the civilian population has been strongly, and justifiably,
condemned. epa then came under attack and also fell to Bosnian Serb
forces. In the epa enclave, both sides threatened to kill UNPROFOR troops
from Ukraine the Bosnian Serbs if NATO air strikes were used against
them, and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina if NATO air assets were
not used. On 20 July, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement
condemning humanitarian abuses in epa by the Bosnian Serb army. During
this period the United Nations devoted all energies to dealing with the
monumental humanitarian consequences of the fall of the two enclaves.
Efforts to account for the missing and gain access to the detainees are
continuing.
912. These dramatic developments and threats against the remaining safe
areas were discussed at a conference in London on 21 July, which I attended
along with leaders of the Contact Group and representatives of troop-
contributing countries. The London conference considered measures,
including air power, to deter further attacks on the safe areas. On 26
July, NATO approved plans for employing air power should Bosnian Serbs
threaten or attack Gora de. Following intensive discussions between NATO
and the United Nations, appropriate procedures were agreed for this
purpose, and I have delegated authority for launching air strikes in the
region to the UNPF Force Commander.
913. The crisis situation that began to develop in May once again
highlighted the vulnerability of UNPROFOR as a lightly armed, widely
dispersed peace-keeping force. I therefore appreciated the offer made by
France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland to make available to UNPROFOR some 12,500 additional
troops as a rapid reaction capability in order to improve the Force's
security and thus its ability to implement the mandate given to it by the
Security Council. Difficulties raised by the Governments of Croatia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina have delayed the entry into operation of the rapid
reaction capability.
914. The five-member Contact Group continued its efforts to arrive at a
political solution to the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but little
progress was made in convincing the Bosnian Serb party to accept the
territorial map for an overall settlement, despite the support of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). The latter has
continued to minimize its relations with the Bosnian Serb leaders, and the
monitor mission of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia,
established in September 1994, has maintained its monitoring of the closure
of the 300-mile border with Bosnian Serb-controlled territory.
915. The dramatic developments that are taking place as this report is
being finalized at the end of August provide, at long last, reason to hope
that there may be worthwhile progress towards a political settlement. It is
regrettable that in order to achieve peace the international community has
had to resort to using force, but the warning that was given following the
London Conference of 21 July was clear and unmistakable. After so many
disappointments in past years of tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this
new opportunity for political negotiation must not be wasted.
916. I am well aware that the patience, resources and will of Member
States to resolve the crises in the former Yugoslavia have been sorely
tested. Nevertheless, I remain convinced that only a negotiated
comprehensive settlement will lead to an enduring peace. Part of that
settlement must include arrangements for arms limitations and confidence-
building measures that will prevent further outbreaks of conflict in the
Balkans. There must also be an extensive plan for reconstruction and
rehabilitation in the region as a whole. There will therefore be a
continuing need for the international community to remain committed and
involved.
Human rights
917. In August 1992, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
convened, for the first time ever in its history, in a special session to
consider the human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia. The
Commission requested its chairman to appoint a special rapporteur to
investigate the human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia, in
particular within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
918. The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki (who resigned on 27
July 1995), submitted regular reports during this past year to the
Commission on Human Rights and to the General Assembly. The Commission
requested the Secretary-General to make those reports available to the
Security Council and to the International Conference on the Former
Yugoslavia. In 17 reports, the Special Rapporteur assessed the human rights
situation in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and
Montenegro). In each of the reports, he presented a number of
recommendations for action by the international community and various
parties in the region.
919. With regard to the areas under the control of the de facto Bosnian
Serb authorities, the Special Rapporteur drew attention to the ongoing
practice of ethnic cleansing and the widespread violation of the human
rights of peoples living in those areas, including Bosnian Serbs who were
perceived as disloyal by the de facto authorities. There has also been a
continuation of military attacks on civilians and interference with the
delivery of humanitarian aid by Bosnian Serb forces in areas throughout
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Special Rapporteur vigorously condemned all
such violations of human rights and called for the prosecution of the
perpetrators by the International Tribunal.
920. In addition, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution
1994/75 in which it requested me to report to the Commission on the
situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my report, I
addressed the issue of the actions taken by the Special Rapporteur, the
situation concerning the voluntary return of displaced persons, the problem
of disappearances and actions taken by the Commission of Experts
established pursuant to Security Council resolution 780 (1992), the
International Tribunal, the International Conference on the Former
Yugoslavia, UNPROFOR and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights.
921. In November 1994, the International Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia confirmed the first indictment against a Bosnian Serb, Mr.
Dragan Nikoli , on charges of gross violations of the Geneva Conventions,
the laws and customs of war and crimes against humanity. Soon thereafter, a
formal request was issued to the Government of Germany for the deferral of
the Tadi case, involving charges of genocide, ethnic cleansing, rape and
murder of civilians and prisoners of war. Proceedings for the transfer of
the case from the German courts were completed a few months later and the
first hearing of the Tadi case was held on 26 April 1995.
922. The Tribunal confirmed two more indictments in February 1995,
bringing the total number accused to 22. Requests for their arrest and
surrender to the Tribunal have been sent to the authorities of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Serb administration at Pale. Except for Mr. Tadi ,
however, who was transferred to the Tribunal by Germany, the remaining 21
accused are still at large.
923. In May, the Tribunal issued a formal request to the Government of
Bosnia and Herzegovina for the deferral of its investigation and criminal
proceedings in respect of crimes committed against the civilian population
in the La va river valley, where Bosnian Croat forces have allegedly
committed mass killings of Bosnian civilians. The Tribunal issued another
request for deferral of investigation proceedings to the Government with
respect to the Bosnian Serb leadership at Pale. The latter investigation
focuses on the question of possible responsibility of the Serb leaders for
genocide, murder, rape, torture and forced transfer of population from
large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 21 to 25 July the Tribunal
handed down five indictments covering 24 people.
924. The March 1994 Washington Agreement that led to the establishment
of the Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the introduction of the
Contact Group Plan in May 1994 and the Agreement on Cessation of
Hostilities signed at the end of the year brought a period of stability to
Sarajevo and improved freedom of movement. These developments, while not
fundamentally changing the situation, made it possible gradually to reduce
the number of beneficiaries needing international assistance to some 2.1
million persons, of whom 1.4 million were in Bosnia and Herzegovina. United
Nations humanitarian agencies could then concentrate more on displaced
persons and the most vulnerable groups.
925. With the exception of Biha , overall access for humanitarian
assistance was successful, at least during the period from June 1994 to
March 1995, with UNHCR being able to exceed its monthly target in Sarajevo
and elsewhere in central Bosnia. It was possible to bring winterization
items and fuel to Sarajevo and the eastern enclaves. Arrangements were also
made with FAO for the distribution of much-needed seeds and fertilizers
throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
926. Overall security rapidly deteriorated in March 1995, making
movements of humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult. The airlift to
Sarajevo came to a halt on 8 April and with the escalation of the conflict
from late May, land convoys became unpredictable and vulnerable. For the
first time, signs of malnutrition and exhaustion were visible in Biha and
in the eastern enclaves.
927. The dramatic escalation of the conflict in June, July and August
led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the
former Yugoslavia. With the Croat authorities regaining control of western
Slavonia in June, thousands of Serbs were displaced to north-west Bosnia.
Following the fall of Srebrenica in mid-July, some 30,000 people were
compelled to flee. At the beginning of August, thousands of men from
Srebrenica still remained unaccounted for. Some 4,350 people were evacuated
from epa in late July. A Bosnian Croat offensive on Glamoc and Grahovo led
to the displacement of some 13,000 Serbs in the Banja Luka area.
928. The retaking of the Krajina by the Croat authorities in early
August led to an exodus of some 150,000 people to north-west Bosnia and to
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. UNHCR, in cooperation with other
humanitarian partners, mounted a major assistance effort to meet the needs
generated by this emergency. The departing Krajina Serbs suffered
widespread maltreatment, injuries and some deaths at the hands of Croatian
troops and civilians, and UNCRO personnel reported much looting and burning
of houses. UNHCR made efforts to monitor the situation of those Krajina
Serbs remaining and to ensure the right to return of those who fled. UNHCR
and other humanitarian agencies have continued to given assistance in
Croatia and in western Bosnia, despite pressures for their departure, all
too often through acts of violence. The practice of forced labour, often on
front lines, is of great concern, and this situation has been exacerbated
by renewed tensions and the recent influx of Serb refugees from western
Slavonia and the Krajina, which has resulted in the Banja Luka region in
worsening treatment and evictions of Muslims and Croats in retaliation.
929. In general, forced population movements, either associated with
ethnic cleansing or leading to the same result, have been of great concern
to UNHCR during the period. UNHCR has actively intervened against forced
mobilization of refugees. The United Nations revised consolidated inter-
agency appeal for the former Yugoslavia covering January-December 1995 was
issued on 2 June by nine United Nations agencies, for a total of $470
million for humanitarian operations. The UNHCR component is $172 million to
cover the cost of humanitarian aid for an estimated total of 2,109,500
beneficiaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(Serbia and Montenegro). Contributions as at 1 August 1995 were $1.36
million.
F. Cooperation with regional organizations
930. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations
must constantly adapt to an ever-changing world situation. The Charter
itself anticipated this need for flexibility by not giving a precise
definition of regional arrangements and organizations, thus enabling
diverse organizations and structures to contribute, together with the
United Nations, to the maintenance of peace and security.
931. The growing interaction between the United Nations and regional
organizations has its origins in Chapter VIII of the Charter. With this
objective in mind, the Secretary-General met in August 1994 with the heads
of several regional organizations with which the United Nations had
recently cooperated in peacemaking and peace-keeping efforts. In the
January 1995 Supplement to "An Agenda for Peace" (A/50/60-S/1995/1), a
typology of current modal-ities for cooperation between the United Nations
and regional organizations was set forth.
932. Currently, such cooperation takes five different forms. Firstly,
there is consultation, which is practised on a regular basis and, in some
cases, is governed by formal agreements. Secondly, there is diplomatic
support, by which a regional organization can participate in United Nations
peacemaking activities through diplomatic efforts of its own. For instance,
OSCE provides technical input on constitutional issues relating to
Abkhazia. Conversely, the United Nations can support a regional
organization in its efforts, as it does for OSCE over Nagorny Karabakh.
Thirdly, the United Nations and regional organizations can engage in
operational support. A recent example is the provision by NATO of air
support to UNPROFOR in the former Yugoslavia. Fourthly, there is co-
deployment: United Nations field missions have been deployed in conjunction
with the Economic Community of West African States (ECWAS) in Liberia and
with CIS in Georgia. Finally, there can be joint operations, such as the
current human rights mission of the United Nations and the OAS in Haiti.
933. However, given the diversification of the forms of cooperation
being established between regional organizations and the United Nations,
the basic principles of the Charter should be borne in mind. Article 24
confers on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance
of peace and Article 52 stipulates that the action of regional
organizations must in all cases remain consistent with that principle.
934. The modalities of this cooperation must be refined and adapted to
the diversity of local situations. The range of procedures that can be
employed is wide and varied, but they all have the same advantage: they
facilitate the Security Council's work and delegate responsibility to the
concerned States and organizations of the region concerned, thereby
promoting the democratization of international relations.
935. In this regard the recent adoption by the General Assembly in its
resolution 49/57 of 9 December 1994 of the Declaration on the Enhancement
of Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional Arrangements or
Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security encourages
regional arrangements and agencies to consider ways and means to promote
closer cooperation and coordination with the United Nations, in particular
in the fields of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and post-conflict peace-
building, and, where appropriate, peace-keeping.
1. Cooperation with the Organization of American States
936. Relations between the United Nations and OAS have been strengthened
since the adoption of resolution 49/5 on 21 October 1994. OAS Secretary-
General C_sar Gaviria visited the United Nations soon after assuming office
in October 1994, and as recommended in resolution 49/5, a general meeting
between representatives of the two Organizations was held in New York on 17
and 18 April 1995. OAS Secretary-General Gaviria and I opened the meeting
and signed an agreement of cooperation between our two secretariats. The
agreement provides for regular consultation, participation in each other's
meetings when matters of common interest are on the agenda and exchange of
in-formation. The agreement also foresees appropriate measures to ensure
effective cooperation and liaison between the two Organizations.
937. The general meeting adopted a set of conclusions and
recommendations, mainly on economic and social issues. Reflecting new
dimensions in relations between the two Organizations, the meeting adopted
recommendations in the areas of preventive diplomacy, promotion of
democracy and human rights, and humanitarian issues. It was agreed that the
frequency of general meetings should be reviewed and that a more flexible
format for consultations on cooperation between the two organizations
should be considered. The United Nations Secretariat was represented at the
twenty-fifth regular session of the General Assembly of OAS, held in Haiti
from 5 to 9 June 1995, at which two resolutions on cooperation between the
United Nations and OAS were adopted.
938. The United Nations and OAS have continued their close cooperation
in Haiti within the framework of MICIVIH. On 12 July 1995, the United
Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 49/27 B, which extended the
mandate of MICIVIH to 7 February 1996. The United Nations has also
supported the OAS electoral observer mission in Haiti.
2. Cooperation with the Organization of African Unity
939. The United Nations and OAU have continued their efforts to
strengthen and broaden their cooperation. In the economic and social
fields, they coordinated their activities and initiatives on the
preparation and outcome of international conferences, including those on
population, social development and women. They also cooperated on the
United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and
Agenda 21 to harmonize positions and to facilitate the implementation of
programmes on which agreement has been reached.
940. Cooperation between the two Organizations in the areas of
preventive diplomacy and peacemaking has made progress. I have maintained
close contact with the Secretary-General of OAU to exchange views on how
best to contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflicts in Africa.
In Burundi, Liberia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, the two Organizations
continue to consult and cooperate in the search for peace and
reconciliation. In Western Sahara, OAU is cooperating closely with the
United Nations in the process leading to the referendum. I have also met
and exchanged views with representatives of the countries that are members
of the central organ of the OAU mechanism for conflict prevention,
management and resolution. On 17 and 18 July 1995, I met at Addis Ababa
with the current Chairman of OAU, President Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, and
the Secretary-General of OAU, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, and discussed with
them ways and means of strengthening further the cooperation between the
two Organizations.
941. The secretariats of the United Nations system and OAU are scheduled
to meet at Addis Ababa from 6 to 10 November 1995 to work out the details
of the programme of cooperation between the two Organizations for 1996 and
beyond. High on the agenda of the meeting is cooperation in the prevention
and management of conflicts and in democratic transition in Africa.
3. Cooperation with the Caribbean Community
942. Since 1985, the United Nations has been represented at meetings of
Heads of Government of CARICOM. In July 1994, the Heads of Government,
meeting at the CARICOM Summit, requested their Secretary-General to pursue
efforts to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations. In November
1994, I met in Jamaica with a number of CARICOM Heads of Government and
with its Secretary-General on the situation in Haiti and on matters of
regional cooperation. I expressed my appreciation for the special role the
Community continues to play in the restoration of democracy in Haiti and
their contribution of military and police personnel to the United Nations
Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), as well as their contributions to the joint
United Nations/OAS International Civilian Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH).
943. On 20 December 1994, the General Assembly adopted resolution 49/141
on cooperation between the United Nations and CARICOM. In January 1995, the
Community and ECLAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation.
This will offer opportunities to advance cooperation between the two
organizations in a number of areas of critical importance. The Secretary-
General of CARICOM participated in the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts
on South-South Cooperation at United Nations Headquarters from 31 July to 4
August 1995.
4. Cooperation in the European area
944. During the past year, the United Nations has continued to
strengthen its cooperation with European regional organizations. In
December 1994, I attended the summit meeting of OSCE at Budapest. The
United Nations and OSCE had previously agreed upon a practical division of
labour concerning activities in the European continent and under this
framework each Organization has provided support to the efforts of the
other. OSCE has assisted the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General in
negotiations he has arranged relating to the situation in Abkhazia,
Georgia, while the United Nations has given technical advice and guidance
to OSCE regarding an OSCE peace-keeping force being organized for possible
deployment in Nagorny Karabakh. Cooperation between the two Organizations
has also been extended to a variety of other fields, such as election
monitoring. Other Europe-based organizations with which the United Nations
has had substantive cooperation in the past year include EU, the Council
for Europe, NATO, in the context of military operations in the former
Yugoslavia, and CIS, with which the United Nations Observer Mission in
Georgia (UNOMIG) works closely in Abkhazia.
5. Cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic Conference
945. In the context of ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation with
regional organizations, the General Assembly in its resolution 49/15 of 15
November 1994 welcomed the decision of the secretariats of the United
Nations and OIC to develop mechanisms of cooperation in the political
field. Consultations to that end have been initiated between the two
secretariats over the past year. The two Organizations have also had
increased consultations during the past year with regard to a number of
important regional political issues such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan,
Somalia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The recent accordance of observer
status to OIC in the United Nations-sponsored inter-Tajik talks reflects
the increasing interaction between the two Organizations in the political
field. The Coordination Meeting of the Focal Points of the United Nations
system and OIC and its Specialized Institutions, which took place at Geneva
in June, also adopted a number of important decisions to consolidate and
rationalize cooperation between the two Organizations in nine mutually
agreed priority areas of cooperation.
6. Cooperation with the League of Arab States
946. Areas of cooperation between the United Nations and LAS also
continued to be consolidated, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 49/14
of 15 November 1994. The general meeting on cooperation between the
representatives of the secretariats of the two bodies, held at Vienna from
19 to 21 July, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the United
Nations and LAS, provided an opportunity for the follow-up of multilateral
proposals aimed at strengthening cooperation to promote social and economic
development and the exchange of views in the fields of preventive action
and mine clearance. The United Nations continued to cooperate with LAS on
the question of Somalia. LAS, jointly with OAU and OIC, held a meeting on
Somalia at Cairo on 22 and 23 February 1995 at which the United Nations
participated as an observer. The partic-ipating organizations agreed to
continue to undertake joint efforts to assist national reconciliation in
Somalia.
G. Disarmament
947. Since my previous report on the work of the Organization it has
become increasingly evident that the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and the availability of their basic components constitute a
growing threat to international peace and security. The hypothesis that
terrorists, with no territory to defend and unafraid of sacrificing
themselves, could develop and use weapons of mass destruction is a
frightening prospect, which is already affecting the security perceptions
of many people throughout the world. Therefore, a coordinated response of
the international community to those threats and to the destabilizing
effects caused by the unrestrained flow of conventional weapons, remains a
high priority. Within the context of preventing the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime
achieved in 1995 by the Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an appropriate
answer and should be accompanied as soon as possible by the entry into
force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, as well as by the establishment of
a regime for the verification of compliance with the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.
948. While the Review and Extension Conference of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty was a major focus of disarmament efforts in 1995, the international
community has undertaken other disarmament initiatives to deal with the
destabilizing effects and unconscionable waste of resources caused by the
unrestrained flow of conventional weapons. The progress achieved, as far as
the review process of the Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the
Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively
Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects is concerned, in assuring the
full protection of civilians from the indiscriminate effects of anti-
personnel land-mines and working towards their eventual elimination
constitutes a step in the right direction. Furthermore, transparency
measures, such as the Register of Conventional Arms, must be streng-thened,
and confidence-building and disarmament initiatives at the regional level
should be developed further, in particular with reference to illicit
traffic in light conventional weapons.
949. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty now has 178 States parties,
commanding virtually universal adherence. The indefinite extension of the
Treaty, decided upon at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, as well
as the other commitments made by the States parties reflected in the
documents of the Conference, have strengthened the nuclear non-
proliferation regime and will make a substantial contribution to the
maintenance of international peace and security. I expressed gratification
at the success of the Conference and recommended that the States parties
continue to work in a spirit of cooperation and pursue the elimination of
nuclear weapons as the ultimate goal of the non-proliferation process.
950. There have been advances in other areas of nuclear disarmament. The
negotiations on a comprehensive test-ban treaty have made progress at the
Conference on Disarmament at Geneva and strengthened determination to
resolve technical issues could bring the negotiations to a successful
conclusion no later than 1996. The negotiating mandate was agreed upon at
the Conference on Disarmament on a treaty banning the production of fissile
material and this should enable the Conference to begin the negotiations
expeditiously and bring them to an early and successful conclusion. Other
encouraging steps are Security Council resolution 984 (1995) and the
declarations by the nuclear-weapon States concerning both negative and
positive security assurances. Proposals aimed at transforming these
unilateral declarations into a legally binding treaty obligation would
contribute considerably to further progress in this area.
951. The general strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime
is matched and reinforced by the remarkable results achieved so far by the
United States of America, the Russian Federation and the other European
countries in post-cold-war security arrangements. The elimination of
intermediate-range nuclear forces in Europe under the Treaty between the
United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the
Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, the
reduction of nuclear strategic warheads in operational deployment resulting
from the START process, the continuing successful implementation of the
Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the ongoing security
dialogue within the OSCE framework form the basis of a cooperative security
system that in some measure could transcend the narrow limits of the
European region. In Europe, the newly emerging cooperative security system
is the product of negotiations based on consensus and cooperation.
Significant initiatives for security dialogues are also being promoted in
Asia, in Africa and in Latin America. Further enhancement of those
initiatives would be an important step towards the strengthening of
international peace and security at the regional level.
952. While progress in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons is
encouraged, concerns about the safety and security of fissile material have
increased. The smuggling of nuclear material is no longer only a fear but a
frightening reality. Stronger global and national measures are needed to
deal with illicit trafficking and to guarantee the secure disposal and
storage of such material. Particularly important is universal recognition
that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards are an integral
part of the international non-proliferation regime and that the Agency
plays an indispensable role in ensuring the implementation of the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
953. The Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America
and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) and the South Pacific Nuclear Free
Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga) are essential building blocks to progress
towards nuclear-free regions elsewhere in the world, in particular in the
Middle East and Asia, which would include in their scope all weapons of
mass destruction. There has also been progress on the treaty establishing a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa.
954. There has been a steady increase in the number of ratifications of
the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, which has now reached 27 States
parties. In discharging my responsibility as depositary to the Convention,
I have written to all Member States urging ratification and entry into
force of the Convention at the earliest possible date. In connection with
the Convention on Biological Weapons, efforts of States parties are under
way to strengthen the Convention by developing a legally binding
verification protocol. The frightful consequences for humankind of
biological warfare, or terrorism, must be avoided at all costs.
955. Measures to prevent proliferation of weapons should be fashioned to
avoid any obstruction to the development process of countries. Developing
countries need unimpeded access to technology and agreement is needed on
appropriate controls concerning technology transfers, including
transparency measures, that would be universal and non-discriminatory in
nature.
956. The urgent problem of the proliferation of conventional weapons
also demands the continuing attention of the international community.
Unrestrained and illegal arms transfers have resulted in suffering and
misery for hundreds of thousands of people particularly in the developing
world. At the global level continued support by Member States for the
Register of Conventional Arms is essential. Reports to the Register
indicate a degree of openness and transparency with regard to legitimate
arms transfers for defensive purposes. Such openness will promote
confidence and encourage responsible conduct in the transfer of major
conventional weapon systems. Initiatives and ideas from regions and
subregions, in particular Africa, Asia and Latin America, can enhance the
global Register with complementary confidence- and security-building
measures.
957. At the regional and subregional level, in particular in the
developing world, direct action is needed to deal with the flourishing
illicit traffic in light weapons, which is destabilizing the security of a
number of countries. With the support of seven Member States in the Sahara-
Sahel region, I dispatched an advisory mission with a view to assisting
those States in their efforts to combat and stem the illicit flow of light
weapons within and across their borders. More resources must be invested if
there is to be any prospect of success.
H. Post-conflict peace-building
Strategies
958. An International Colloquium on Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Strategies was convened on 23 and 24 June at the Austrian Centre for Peace
and Conflict Resolution at Stadt Schlaining, Austria. It was attended by 58
participants from United Nations political, humanitarian and development
entities, specialized agencies, the Bretton Woods institutions, donor
countries, non-governmental organizations as well as representatives from
war-torn societies. The meeting was organized by the Department for
Development Support and Management Services, in cooperation with the
Austrian Centre, and supported by the Government of Austria as a
contribution to the definition of the role of the United Nations in the
next half century as part of the fiftieth anniversary activities. The
Department for Development Support and Management Services contributed a
paper setting out a strategic programme for reconstruction and development.
959. The idea for the meeting stemmed from the Supplement to the
Secretary-General's "An Agenda for Peace" (A/50/60-S/1995/1), which
stresses the need for integrated action between United Nations
organizations, the parties to the conflict and other institutions prepared
to assist in the reconstruction of a country; its purpose was to identify
the practical and institutional issues that must be addressed to bring this
concept to reality.
960. The main topic of post-conflict reconstruction was addressed under
four headings: strategic issues, needs and capabilities, an integrated
post-conflict reconstruction framework and mobilization of resources.
Because of the interrelationship between these four topics, the themes
recurred throughout the deliberations and there was considerable cross-
fertilization of ideas. The meeting was an example of the coming together
of various organizations, within and outside the United Nations system, all
with a common interest in a topic that is of increasing concern to the
international community. It is hoped that the ideas and recommendations
presented in the report will serve as a basis for a clear definition of the
role of the United Nations in post-conflict reconstruction, and for
establishing arrangements that will ensure a swift, effective and
integrated response to such situations by the United Nations system.
961. Issues falling within the four categories of post-conflict peace-
building discussed at the Colloquium have been addressed elsewhere in this
report; here I will focus on two specific concerns: electoral assistance
and mine clearance.
Electoral assistance
962. In the period from July 1994 to 10 August 1995, the United Nations
received 19 new requests for electoral assistance, from Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, the Congo, C_te d'Ivoire, Fiji, Gabon,
the Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, the Niger, Sao Tome and
Principe, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda and the United
Republic of Tanzania. In the case of the Congo, assistance could not be
provided owing to lack of lead time. In addition to these new requests,
assistance was also provided in 13 cases, to Brazil, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique,
the Netherlands Antilles, Sierra Leone and MINURSO, in response to requests
received prior to July 1994 (see fig. 19).
963. Since July 1994, 30 States and United Nations missions have
received or will soon receive some form of electoral assistance from the
United Nations system. The type of electoral assistance provided has varied
according to the requests received and the resources available. Following
the guidelines provided to Member States (see A/49/675 and Corr.1, annex
III), verification of electoral processes was conducted in Mozambique and
plans for a verification mission in Liberia are currently on hold. The
coordination and support approach was used in the cases of Armenia and
Benin, and follow and report/observation was used in Guinea, Kyrgyzstan,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Sao Tome and Principe.
Technical assistance, the most frequently provided form of electoral
assistance, was given to Brazil, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti,
Honduras, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, the Niger, Sierra
Leone and Uganda. A total of 11 needs assessment missions were also
conducted during this period.
964. Since the creation of the Electoral Assistance Division in 1992,
the United Nations has been involved in the electoral processes of 61
Member States and some States have requested electoral assistance more than
once. United Nations electoral assistance this past year in Mozambique and
Armenia illustrates the process in action.
965. In Mozambique, the United Nations provided technical assistance and
a verification mission for the first multi-party elections, held in October
1994. In accordance with the terms of the General Peace Agreement signed at
Rome on 4 October 1992, ONUMOZ, through its electoral component, monitored
the conduct of the entire electoral process. The Electoral Division of
ONUMOZ fielded 148 electoral officers throughout the country to monitor
voter registration, civic education, political campaigns, political party
access to as well as impartiality of the media, polling, vote counting and
tabulation of the vote at provincial counting centres. On the election days
ONUMOZ deployed 2,300 international observers.
966. The United Nations also provided technical assistance to Mozambique
through a UNDP project implemented by the Department for Development
Support and Management Services. The project coordinated international
financial and material support and provided technical assistance throughout
the entire process in the areas of organization, training, civic education,
jurisprudence, social communication and financial management. This
assistance entailed management, coordination and monitoring of a $64.5
million budget made up of contributions from 17 countries and international
institutions. Technical assistance included the training of 2,600 electoral
officers at the national, provincial and district levels, 8,000 census
agents, 1,600 civic education agents and 52,000 polling officers. In
addition to a 12-person UNDP advisory team to the National Election
Commission, 3 to 5 United Nations Volunteers were assigned to each of the
11 electoral constituencies and worked closely with the provincial and
district electoral authorities.
967. In addition to the ONUMOZ electoral verification mandate, a United
Nations trust fund for assistance to registered political parties was
established to assist all political parties not signatories to the General
Peace Agreement to prepare for the elections. The electoral component of
ONUMOZ also designed a programme to enhance national observation. The
programme provided training, transportation and subsidies for nearly 35,000
party agents to monitor the elections. A parallel programme funded by the
United Nations trust fund provided computer training to 78 representatives
from all political parties to enable them to monitor the processing of the
vote at the provincial and national levels.
968. Armenia requested electoral assistance from the United Nations in
January 1995 in connection with the elections to the National Assembly to
be held in July 1995. In February, an officer from the Electoral Assistance
Division conducted a needs assessment mission and returned in April to
establish a joint operation coordinating unit together with a
representative of OSCE. The purpose of the joint operation was to
coordinate and support the activities of the international observers.
Members of the joint operation were stationed in three regional offices for
a period of six weeks in order to follow the pre-election process,
including the registration of candidates, the electoral campaign, and poll
preparations. On election day, 5 July, the joint operation deployed over 90
observers throughout the country to observe the conduct of the elections.
Observers visited more than 300 precinct electoral committees, starting
from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes at the precinct
level. The group of observers represented 18 Governments and several
governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Mine clearance
969. The ever-growing problem of uncleared land-mines continues to pose
a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions, devastating vast amounts of
territory, possibly for decades. Despite the increased efforts of the
international community, more than 20 times more mines are being laid than
removed. Within the United Nations system, the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs has intensified its activities as focal point for the coordination
of land-mine assistance programmes. Since its establishment in early 1992,
the Department has been involved in the formulation and implementation of
mine-assistance programmes. Pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 48/7
of 19 October 1993 and 49/215 of 23 December 1994, the Department has been
convening interdepartmental/inter-agency consultations on land-mine policy
to examine all aspects of United Nations involvement in mine-related
activities and to develop standard United Nations policy concerning the
institutional aspects that need to be addressed in an integrated United
Nations land-mine operation. The United Nations approach has been to focus
on the creation of a national indigenous mine-clearance capacity, including
appropriate arrangements to enable continuity of national mine-clearance
efforts, as normalization of conditions in a country progresses.
970. During the past year, the United Nations engaged in the
implementation and/or development of demining activities in nine countries.
Programmes differ in structure, size and arrangements for funding and
implementation.
971. Afghanistan is the most mature of the United Nations programmes,
having been in operation for six years. There are currently almost 3,000
deminers working in the field. Over the past five years, the Programme has
cleared a total of 54 square kilometres of high-priority area and destroyed
over 110,000 mines and 215,000 unexploded devices. Approximately 2.5
million people received mine-awareness briefings.
972. Angola is probably the most mine-affected country in the world and,
together with the implementation of the peace-keeping operation, a mine-
action programme has been launched in cooperation between the United
Nations, the parties to the Lusaka Protocol and non-governmental
organizations. The Central Mine Action Office has been established as part
of the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Angola and is mandated
to create an indigenous mine-clearance capacity. The Office is responsible
for the implementation of the mine-action plan and coordinates all mine-
related activities. UNAVEM III, in conjunction with the Office, is in the
process of establishing a mine-clearance training school, which will form
the core of the Angolan mine-action programme.
973. In Cambodia, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (a governmental
entity with technical advice provided through a UNDP project), has been
coordinating all clearance activities. Over the past year, the Centre's
1,556 staff have continued to survey, mark and clear minefields, and teach
mine awareness. Since the commencement of operations, 16,436,971 square
metres of land have been cleared, with 423,708 unexploded devices and
61,787 mines destroyed.
974. In June 1995, a United Nations demining expert undertook a mission
to Chad on behalf of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs to evaluate the
land-mine problem in the Tibesti region.
975. Mine-clearance activities in Mozambique involve both the United
Nations own programme, the accelerated demining programme and non-
governmental organizations and companies funded by the United Nations or by
donors. The accelerated demining programme consists of 500 Mozambican
deminers who were trained, equipped and deployed by the United Nations.
976. The use of mines in the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, is
extensive. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs has sent an assessment
mission to the area and has suggested activities to reduce the number of
land-mine accidents. Approval from the Abkhaz authorities is required
before a programme can be started.
977. The problem of land-mines and unexploded ordnance in Rwanda has
resulted in large numbers of accidents. Both the Department of Peace-
keeping Operations and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs have assessed
the situation and a plan has been developed. Action is of course dependent
upon the approval of the Government.
978. In Somalia, a limited demining programme implemented by local
Somali entities worked well until the security situation prevented follow-
up to clearance activities in the field.
979. In Yemen, the United Nations is providing expert technical
assistance to the Government on mine-clearance and mapping methods.
980. The continuing conflict in the former Yugoslavia has prevented the
development of a humanitarian demining programme. However, United Nations
peace-keeping forces and other United Nations agencies have engaged in
mine-clearance activities as part of their attempts to carry out their
mandates.
981. At Headquarters, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, pursuant
to General Assembly resolution 49/215, established the Mine Clearance and
Policy Unit to further strengthen support functions to demining operations.
To facilitate the planning, implementation and support of mine-clearance
programmes and policies, the Unit is developing a database containing
information about the world-wide land-mine situation. Country-specific
data, as well as general programme and financial data, are maintained in
the database, which serves as a central repository of information for
Member States, United Nations departments and agencies, and other
interested parties.
982. On 30 November 1994, I established a voluntary trust fund for
assistance in mine clearance. The fund's purpose is to provide special
resources for mine-clearance programmes, including mine-awareness training
and surveys, and to contract mine-clearance activities in situations where
other funding is not immediately available. Some examples of the types of
activities that could be funded from the trust fund include, but are not
limited to assessment missions, provision of seed money, emergency mine
clearance, projects where other sources of funding are not readily
available, consciousness-raising and enhancing Headquarters support for
mine-clearance programmes in the field, including through the improvement
of the central land-mine database.
983. In accordance with the recommendations contained in the Secretary-
General's report on assistance in mine clearance (A/49/357 and Add.1), the
Mine Clearance and Policy Unit began the process of creating a United
Nations demining stand-by capacity in order to expedite the provision of
expert personnel, specialized equipment and facilities to United Nations
mine-action programmes. These in-kind contributions have been a vital
component of United Nations mine-action programmes. The establishment of a
standby capacity is intended to institutionalize this support.
984. From 5 to 7 July 1995, I convened an international meeting on mine
clearance at the Palais des Nations at Geneva. The objective of the meeting
was to enhance international awareness of the land-mine problem in all its
dimensions, to seek further political and financial support for United
Nations mine-action activities and to increase international cooperation in
this field. It consisted of three elements: a high-level segment devoted to
statements by Governments and organizations, which also provided the
opportunity to announce pledges to the voluntary trust fund for assistance
in mine clearance and the United Nations demining stand-by capacity; nine
panels of experts that discussed various aspects of the land-mine problem;
and an exhibition focusing on the impact of land-mines on affected
populations and international efforts to address the problem.
985. The international meeting was attended by representatives of 97
Governments and more than 60 organizations, bringing together 800
participants. Contributions in the amount of $22 million were announced
towards the voluntary trust fund and 23 countries indicated contributions
to the United Nations stand-by capacity totalling $7 million.
986. All delegations referred to the magnitude of the global land-mine
crisis, which continues to deteriorate, and emphasized the need for urgent
and effective measures to reverse the trend. Many delegations and
organizations called for a total ban on land-mines; most delegations
stressed the need to strengthen the provisions of the Convention on
Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons
Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate
Effects.
987. There are still only 49 States parties to the Convention and its
protocols, which include the protocol placing prohibitions and restrictions
on the use of land-mines. The Convention needs to be strengthened to make
its provisions applicable to both internal and international conflicts. It
is in internal conflicts that the indiscriminate use of mines has caused
the most suffering and misery to civilian populations. The 1995 Review
Conference provides an opportunity to strengthen the Convention and its
land-mine protocol. Looking at the magnitude of the problem, States parties
should seriously consider a total ban on anti-personnel land-mines.
988. A revitalized Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters is developing
ideas for the better integration of disarmament-related security measures
with development in countries emerging from inter- or intra-State conflict.
The Board is preparing for the Secretary-General's review a study entitled
"Some thoughts on the development of the disarmament agenda at the end of
the century", which should be relevant to the proposed fourth special
session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament.
V
Conclusion
989. From the deep-rooted and far-reaching United Nations work for
economic, social and humanitarian progress to the immediate and often
urgent efforts to prevent, contain and resolve conflicts, what emerges from
the pages of this report is an image of a multifaceted and ever-evolving
organization an organization responding flexibly to global change and to
the changing needs of the international community.
990. There are signs that the massive educational effort under way at
all levels of national and international society in this fiftieth
anniversary year is helping to create a welcome realism about the role of
the United Nations in world affairs today, as well as a renewed sense of
commitment to fulfil the original promise set down in the Charter 50 years
ago.
991. Major aspects of this landmark year are still to come, including
the Special Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly, to be held at
Headquarters from 22 to 24 October 1995, and the commemoration in London in
January 1996 of the first session of the General Assembly. None the less,
it is already evident that this anniversary has created a spirit and a
momentum that go well beyond the commemoration and celebration expected at
such a point in time. Virtually every dimension of the United Nations has
been energized. New realities are being used as the basis for reassessment
and redesign. Successes are being built upon. A new spirit of cooperation
at every level and on virtually every issue is within the grasp of a wider
contingent of committed people than ever before.
992. It is vital, therefore, that the spirit of the fiftieth anniversary
be carried forward in all these respects. Most fundamentally it will be
important to continue the major efforts launched this year with the
objective of enabling the United Nations as an institution to become more
intellectually creative, more financially stable, more managerially
effective and more responsive to all sectors of society.
993. The fiftieth year has also generated criticism of the Organization,
and this is serving to make the United Nations healthier and stronger.
Shortcomings of the Organization itself, inadequate mandates, insufficient
financial and material resources, the failure of Member States to fulfil
their obligations or take on new responsibilities all have on occasion
been catalysts for criticism. However, the ultimate source of today's
criticism can be found in the impact of globalization on the Organization
and its Member States: as the United Nations is being asked to take on more
duties and expand its activities, it is to be expected that the level of
criticism should intensify. At the same time, globalization can work
against the will to increase involvement, feeding fear and isolationism;
criticisms born of these sentiments can create dangerous misperceptions.
994. Healthy criticism is an indispensable form of participation in and
support for the United Nations in its effort to revitalize the
international system. This report is itself an effort at transparency,
revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of the Organization to the
widest possible audience. The continuing calls for reform, and the reforms
already enacted and under way, testify to the recognition by far more
people than ever before that the United Nations is a truly indispensable
element in world affairs and that if it did not now exist, it would be
impossible to create it under present conditions. Thus the legacy of 1945
must be cherished and carried forward. In parallel, techniques that have
succeeded must be transformed to meet the challenges of a new era.
995. Reflection and reform are not new to this Organization. As
envisioned by the founders, the United Nations has evolved over time and
adapted to new conditions, all the while in pursuit of a better life for
all individuals and a better world for humanity as a whole. The fiftieth
anniversary year, however, by arriving at such a critical juncture in the
history of international relations, offers an unprecedented opportunity for
change. As Secretary-General, I have from the outset been deeply committed
to and concerned with reform. Looking back over the past three and a half
years of effort for change and the substantial managerial steps taken
during the period covered by this report, I believe that a continuing need
exists for further, substantial reforms in the period ahead.
996. The communiqu_ issued by the Heads of State and Government of seven
major industrialized nations and the President of the European Commission
following their twenty-first annual economic summit meeting at Halifax
provided suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of the
United Nations system in the economic, social and environmental fields and
in the humanitarian area. The Halifax participants expressed their
intention to utilize the gathering of Heads of State and Government in New
York from 22 to 24 October 1995 for the observance of the fiftieth
anniversary of the United Nations as an occasion to advance a consensus on
ways tohelp theUnited Nationssystem toface thechallenges ofthe nextcentury.
997. Throughout this fiftieth anniversary year, serious consideration
has been given to the future role and responsibilities of the United
Nations by conferences, workshops and study programmes held at every level
and in every part of the world. Two independent commissions have issued
reports: "The United Nations in its Second Half-Century", produced by an
independent working group under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Richard von
Weizs_cker and Mr. Moeen Qureshi, sponsored at my request by the Ford
Foundation and facilitated by Yale University; and "Our Global
Neighbourhood", produced by the Commission on Global Governance under the
co-chairmanship of Mr. Ingvar Carlsson and Mr. Shridath Ramphal. The South
Center also has been active in reviewing various aspects of reform.
998. These projects and commitments deserve appreciation and serious
consideration by the international community. Discussions have taken place
regarding the establishment of an open-ended high-level working group of
the General Assembly that would undertake a thorough review of all relevant
United Nations materials, Member States' submissions and independent
studies and reports relating to the revitalization, strengthening and
reform of the United Nations system.
999. The days, weeks and months covered in this report have been filled
with discouraging developments. But from a larger, longer-term point of
view, there are many signs that progress is being made, giving cause for
confidence that, over time, success is entirely possible. Never before have
so many courageous and committed people been involved in world betterment.
Never before have nations recognized so clearly that their fate is bound up
with each other. And never before has it been so undeniable that mutually
beneficial international institutions of cooperation with the United
Nations foremost among them are a vital global necessity.
1000. It is therefore imperative to remain focused on the reality of
movement towards long-term achievement and not to permit dismay over
immediate difficulties to weaken the positive momentum that has been
achieved.
1001. There are three immediate problems, however, that must concern us
deeply, for if they are not effectively addressed they can irreparably
damage the United Nations as a mechanism for progress.
1002. First, the safety and integrity of United Nations personnel in the
field must be respected. When lightly armed peace-keepers or unarmed aid
workers on a humanitarian mission are threatened, taken hostage, harmed or
even killed, the world must act to prevent such intolerable behaviour. The
credibility of all United Nations peace operations is at stake; to preserve
it, personnel must be protected as they carry out the duties the
international community has sent them to accomplish.
1003. Secondly, the financial situation of the Organization must be placed
on an adequate and sustainable footing. Calls for ever-greater United
Nations effectiveness under conditions of financial penury make no sense.
It is as though the town fire department were being dispatched to put out
fires raging in several places at once while a collection was being taken
to raise money for the fire-fighting equipment. The deterioration of the
Organization's financial position must be reversed.
1004. And, lastly, funds for development are drying up. This is a
consequence of the end of the cold-war contest, of the competing demands of
peace-keeping and development for scarce resources, and of donor fatigue
over the time and difficulty of creating progress on the ground. The
willingness to spend money to try to contain conflicts around the world,
while necessary and admirable, is not enough. Unless development is funded
as well, the world can expect only the continuation of cycles marked by the
alternation of terrible strife, uneasy stand-off and strife once again. To
break this downward spiral, sustainable human development must be
instituted everywhere. A new vision of development, and a universal
commitment to it, is indispensable for the world progress all peoples seek.
1005. During the past year we have seen far too many innocent civilians,
especially women and children, losing their lives or being condemned to
carry on under appalling conditions. We continue to witness scenes of
refugees deprived of their most basic rights and struggling desperately to
survive. And hundreds of millions of people live in poverty so dire as to
render them incapable of taking effective action to improve their own
condition. Thus the existence of a true international community has yet to
be demonstrated. Nothing could do more to bring such an instrument of human
solidarity into being than a commitment undertaken now to ensure that all
the poor countries of the world are set firmly on the path of development
as we enter the next century. Such an achievement would bring an end to
degradation and despair for a huge proportion of our fellow human beings
and would represent one of history's most dramatic chapters of progress.
1006. We have before us an opportunity to combine the ongoing, incremental
process of reform with a comprehensive vision of the future. The legacy of
the founders at this half-century mark should be our inspiration as we step
forward with pride to meet this challenge. Together we can bring the world
of the Charter to the world of today.