Press Briefing Notes, 24 March 1999

Jose Luis Diaz, Media and Information Officer for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told correspondents at a noon press briefing that the Commission on Human Rights had met this morning to listen to a number of dignitaries, including the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the Minister for Human Rights of Gabon and the Minister of State for Human Rights of Ireland. At the moment, the Commission was listening to the Vice-president of the Council of State and Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Carlos Lage.

This morning the Commission had also heard from the High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, who, citing what had occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said humanitarian action could not substitute for timely and firm action at the political level. The situation in Kosovo clearly showed the link between the work of the Commission and concrete situations of displacements caused by massive violations of human rights and humanitarian law.

Also this morning, the Commission had continued to discuss the question of the right to self determination. Under this item, delegates heard the introduction of the latest report by Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries. Mr Bernales spoke of the involvement of companies like Executive Outcomes and Sandline International in the conflicts in Sierra Leone and Angola. The Rapporteur also pointed to the apparent involvement of Liberia in financing mercenaries headed by an Israeli ex-colonel named Yair Klein. The mercenaries had allegedly advised rebels involved in the recent offensive on Freetown. Mr. Bernales would be at the noon briefing here tomorrow.

The proceedings of the Seminar on Islamic Perspectives on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held on 9-10 November 1998 were out now (HR/IP/SEM/1999/1, in two parts), he said. There was a limited number of copies available at the documents counter at door 40.

This afternoon, the Commission would begin discussing preparations for the World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination of 2001, he continued. The High Commissioner would open the debate and call for nominations for the chairmanship of the sessional working group that would be charged with the question. That group would meet at least until 26 March.

The Commission today received reports on the situation in Iraq, Equatorial Guinea and the former Yugoslavia, as well as on violence against women and the role of the Office of the High Commissioner in assisting Cambodia (documents E/CN/4/1999/37, E/CN/4/1999/41, E/CN/4/1999/42, E/CN/4/1999/68/Add.3, E/CN/4/1999/100, respectively).

Regarding the possible bombing of Kosovo, Mr. Diaz said the High Commissioner was following the situation with concern. One would have to see what would happen tonight. All UN staff, including the human rights monitors, had been evacuated from Kosovo.

Had the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees been evacuated from Kosovo? a correspondent asked. Mr. Diaz said all UN staff had been evacuated from the province in accordance with security precautions under "Phase V" as declared by the UN in New York.

Did the evacuation include Belgrade? he was asked. Mr. Diaz said Belgrade was under "Phase IV", which meant that only the most essential UN staff could remain. Given the serious human rights situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Office of the High Commissioner would seek to maintain a presence in Belgrade.

Was a statement expected from Mrs. Robinson about the decision concerning General Pinochet later today?

Mr. Diaz said this was another matter the High Commissioner was following closely. There could be a statement later in the day.

Asked whether there would be a press briefing after the meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zeming and UN heads of agencies on Friday, Mr. Diaz said none was planned by the Office of the High Commissioner.

Was there any initiative from Russia at the Commission concerning the expected bombing of Kosovo? asked a correspondent. Mr Diaz replied that there was none."We will have to watch ... for that".