I.P.O. ANNUAL REPORT 1992

Vienna, 3 December 1992/P/K/13704c

To mark the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the I.P.O., President Koechler hosted a reception in Mexico City and gave a special lecture on "Democracy and the New World Order - The United Nations Organization in the Present International System" (10 November 1992). The event was co-sponsored by the Mexican Institute for Development and moderated by Ambassador Dr. Arturo Muñoz Ledo, member of the Executive Board of I. P.O. It was followed by a press conference. Professor Koechler also appeared as special guest in the popular radio talk show "Crossfire" and in a special news programmed. The event was well covered in the Mexican media. The full text of Professor Koechler's speech has been published in the newspaper "Excelsior".

During his visit to Mexico, the President of the I.P.O. held consultations with the Chairman of the Social -Democratic Party, Dr. Luis Sanchez-Aguilar, and with Ambassador Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, member of the Mexican Senate, former Minister of Labour and Representative of Mexico to the United Nations.

GOLDEN HONORARY MEDAL OF THE I.P.O.

On the occasion of the20th anniversary of the I.P.O., Dr. Robert W. Thabit, Permanent Representative of the I.P.O. to the United Nations Headquarters, has been awarded the Golden Honorary Medal. President Koechler presented the medal at a formal dinner at the Plaza Hotel in New York (5 November 1992). The ceremony was attended by Heads of Permanent Missions to the United Nations, among them the Dean of Arab Ambassadors, and by Mr. A. R. Abby Farah, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations for Special Political Questions.

CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS

In connection with the I.P.O.'s 1991 Conference on A More Democratic United Nations (CAMDUN-2), President Koechler on 17 October 1991 received a special message from the United Nations stating that the Secretary-General greatly appreciates the proposals presented by the participants of CAMDUN-2 and that copies of the Concluding Statement have been circulated to the concerned offices of the United Nations Secretariat for study and consideration.

On 6 February 1992 the President of the I.P.O. addressed a Memorandum to the President of the Security Council of the United Nations concerning the dispute between Libya and members of the Security Council over the inquiries into the bombings of civilian airliners. The Memorandum has been circulated as an official document of the General Assembly (Forty-sixth session, Agenda item 125, Doc. A/46/886) and of the Security Council (Forty-seventh year, Doc. S/23641) (25 February 1992).

President Koechler paid several information and consultation visits to the United Nations Headquarters in New York (3-6 February, 24 and 31 August, 5 November 1992) in order to discuss issues of mutual interest. He met, among others, with Mr. Farouk Mawlawi, Chief of the NGO Section, United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI), with the Acting Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Ambassador Isaac E. Ayewah, and with the Permanent Representative of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Mahmoud Abul Nasr.

In a message of 26 June 1992 sent on behalf of Secretary - General Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the I.P.O., it was stated: "We are all at the United Nations encouraged by the interest shown in our work and your organization's desire to further the goals of the world body ... and look forward to their continuing interest and support."

NEW PUBLICATIONS

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the I.P.O., a comprehensive information brochure "International Progress Organization - 1972-1992" has been published (ISBN 3-900704-12-0).

On the same occasion, the I.P.O. furthermore co-published - with the Association for Sciences and Politics the brochure "Demokratie und Neue Weltordnung" [Democracy and New World Order] (ISBN 3- 900719 03- 9).

PEACE AWARD PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE I.P.O.

In connection with the Centenary Celebrations of the International Peace Bureau (IPB), President Koechler has been awarded with the Peace Medal of the IPB. The medal was presented by Monsignor Bruce Kent, President of IPB, and by Mr. Michel Peristerakis, Vice-President, at a ceremony held at Pantios University in Athens/Greece (21 February 1992). Other recipients of the medal were the Honourable Ramsey Clark (USA), Ms. Melina Mercouri (Greece), and Ms. Lisbet Palme (Sweden).

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

On 23 May 1992 the I.P.O. convened an international meeting of legal experts in Geneva on U.N. Sanctions against Libya. The experts adopted a Declaration which has been endorsed by over 100 eminent legal scholars worldwide and which has been submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Among the participants of the meeting were Dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, former Prime Minister of Malta, and Professor Dr. Erik Suy of Belgium, former Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Among the endorsers were Mr. Amar Bentoumi, Secretary-General of the International Association of Democratic Jurists, Mr. Evangelos Maheras, President of the World Peace Council, Professor Dr. Hans R. Klecatsky, former Minister of Justice of Austria, and Professor Dr. Giovanni Russo Spenna, Member of the Italian Parliament.

The I.P.O. made special presentations on the agenda item "Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief" in the plenary session on 7 February 1992 and on agenda items 10 and 11 (administration of justice, independence and impartiality of the judiciary) in the Sub-Commission on 19 August 1992. The I.P.O. furthermore made presentations on the human rights situation in ex-Yugoslavia, in particular in Bosnia - Herzegovina, in the Special Sessions of the Human Rights Commission (on 13 August and 1 December 1992), and raised the issue of Croatian prisoners of war in the session of the Sub-Commission (14 August 1992).

The President furthermore exchanged messages with the Secretary - General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr. Hamid Algabid, concerning the convening of an international conference on the protection and safeguarding of the fundamental rights of the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

As a consultative organization of the United Nations and Unesco, the I.P.O. is participating in the preparations for the World Conference on Human Rights to be held in Vienna in June 1993. The President of the I.P.O. on 7 August 1992 has sent a special message to the Secretary - General of the Conference, Mr. Antoine Blanca. The I.P.O. will particularly offer its expertise in regard to the human rights situation in Palestine, to the philosophical foundations of human rights and to the interrelation between human rights and democracy. The I.P.O. has participated in preparatory meetings in Geneva and Tunis (regional preparatory meeting for Africa). In a message of 17 August 1992 the Coordinator of the World Conference on Human Rights, Mr. John Pace has expressed the U. N.'s appreciation for the support by the I.P.O..

DISCUSSION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER

The President of the I.P.O. gave a lecture on "The New World Order and the U.N. System" at a symposion jointly organized by the Harvard Club of Austria and the US. Embassy in Vienna (21 May 1992). Among the panelists were US. Ambassador to Austria, Roy M. Huffington, Professor Dr. Anton Pelinka (University of Innsbruck), and Professor Dr. Tony Judt (New York University).

President Koechler furthermore delivered the inaugural address at the "Green Dialogue for an Alternative World Order" which was held in Sirte, Libya, from 12 to 14 June 1992. He also acted as President of that international conference with participants from all continents.

At the initiative of I.PO.'s Alternate Representative to the United Nations Headquarters, Mr. Matthew Wolf, a symposion on "International Human Rights and the New World Order," was held by the Loyola Public Interest Law Group at the Loyola University College of Law (New Orleans/ USA, 7 November 1992) with panelists from the USA, Russia and Tibet. Professor Koechler presented a paper about the role of the United Nations in regard to the international protection of human rights.

The President of the I.P.O. further gave lectures on "The New World Order: Power Politics versus International Law" (University of Vienna, 25 June 1992), "The Middle East and the New World Order" (Salzburg/Austria, 12 May 1992), and on "Democracy and the New World Order" (Hanover/Germany, 19 October 1992). He furthermore gave an exclusive interview to the German newspaper "Sächsische Zeitung" (Dresden) on "The United Nations between Military and Civilian World Order" which was published on 3 January 1992. Another exclusive interview on the implications of this topic for the Arab world was granted by President Koechler to the official Syrian newspaper "Tishreen" (Damascus) which was published on 28 January 1992.

MEDITERRANEAN PEACE COMMITTEE

The President of the I.P.O. participated in the special session of the Mediterranean Peace Committee in Damascus (18 -19 January 1992). Furthermore, a delegation of the I.P.O. consisting of President Hans Koechler, Dr. Gudrun Grabher (Ms.), Dr. Alam Mokdum, and Mr. Walter Erdelitsch participated in the international symposion "Peace in the Mediterranean" which was convened in Athens by the Greek Independent Peace Movement (AKE) and by the International Peace Bureau under the chairmanship of Mr. Michel Peristerakis (27-28 June 1992).

SPECIAL CONSULTATION MEETINGS OF THE PRESIDENT

On 17 July 1992 Professor Koechler met in Vienna with Mr. Faruk Kaddoumi, Head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

On 19 November 1992 Professor Koechler received in Vienna Mr. Sri Lal Caldera, the I.P.O.'s Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, in order to discuss I.P.O's activities in Asia.

On 7 February 1992 Professor Koechler paid a visit to the Central College of the University of Iowa (Pella/USA) in order to discuss the internship programmed with the I.P.O. He met, among others, with the President and the Academic Dean of Central College. The visit took place at the initiative of Mr. Brent Maner, conference co-ordinator of the I.P.O. for the CAMDUN-project.

Professor Koechler made an information and consultation visit to Washington DC (27-30 August 1992) in order to discuss issues of the New World Order with American legislators. He met with members and senior staff of the Senate and the House of Representatives, in particular with Congressmen Henry Gonzalez, Chairman of the House Banking Committee, Craig Washington and Donald Payne of the Congressional Black Caucus. Consultations were also held with experts of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.


NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES

At its regular session on 27 November 1992 the Executive Board has designated new permanent representatives to the United Nations Office at Vienna: Mr. Farid Hanna (Permanent Representative), Dr. Alam Mokdum (Alternate Representative). The terms of office of other representatives have been renewed.

At its session on 27 November 1992 the Executive Board has admitted new members from Austria, Chad, Denmark, Mexico, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey and the USA.

ASIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE

According to a decision of the Executive Board, the I.P.O. will participate in the Asian Youth Conference which is to be held in Colombo/Sri Lanka in October 1993. Co-sponsors will be the Youth Foundation of Sri Lanka and the United Nations Youth and Students Organization. The convenor will be Mr. Sri Lal Caldera, the I.P.O.'s Resident Representative in Sri Lanka. Youth delegations from all Asian countries as well as from Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, the U.K., Germany, France and Sweden are expected to participate.