Press Briefing by OHCHR, 24 April 1998

Geneva, 24 April 1998


John Mills, media officer for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the High Commissioner was pleased to announce the confirmation of the appointment of Waly Bacre Ndiaye, currently Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, as Director of her office in New York as of 1 June.

The High Commissioner had issued a statement yesterday evening on her concern regarding the planned executions in Rwanda. She was going at the weekend to Morocco where she would speak at the first meeting of Mediterranean human rights institutions. She would meet with King Hassan II and also have meetings with senior officials. She would be returning on Wednesday evening.

Turning to the Commission, Mr. Mills said the work at the Commissino this morning would consist of the adoption of resolutions on international cooperation and on Burundi. There would also be a Chairman's statement on East Timor; a resolution from the Chairman on the issue of resources for the Office of the High Commissioner; and a statement from the Chairman for decision by the Commission regarding the procedure for review of the mechanisms and for a new agenda for the Commission. The High Commissioner would speak at the end of the session, followed by representatives of regional groups and then the Chairman.

A correspondent thanked Mr. Mills and his colleague, Sophie Zaouche, for their assistance during the Commission.

Asked whether Mr. Ndiaye would continue to be Special Rapporteur, Mr. Mills said one of the conditions for being Special Rapporteur was that one not be a UN official. Mr. Ndiaye would be stepping down as Special Rapporteur shortly before taking up his new post. The Chairman of the Commission would have to find a successor, and also name other Special Rapporteurs established at this session. That issue would be on the agenda of the Commission's bureau at its meeting next week.

In response to a request, Mr. Mills said he would ensure copies of the the Chairman's statement on East Timor would be available to correspondents without delay.