On Holiday Travel: 4/15/07

Friday, April 20, 2007

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM DEADLOCK MEANS TRANSITION STAGE MAY BE NEEDED - REPORT

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM DEADLOCK MEANS TRANSITION STAGE MAY BE NEEDED – REPORT
New York, Apr 20 2007 8:00PM
The world's countries remain so divided on the details of Security Council reform – from the question of expansion to the use of the veto to the categories of membership – that a transitional stage of reform may be necessary to break the deadlock, according to a new report canvassing the different positions of United Nations Member States on the issue.

The report, presented yesterday to General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, states that a "significant number of Member States tend to agree that their ideal solution may not be possible at this stage, and believe that it may be more reasonable to consider the best possible solution for now."

It calls on nations to "explore new and emerging ideas concerning a transitional approach" to Council reform, in which there would be an intermediate arrangement ending with a mandatory review at a pre-determined date to decide if that arrangement should continue.

Member States would not have to give up their original position pending the mandatory review, the report says, proposing four possibilities for an intermediate category of Council seats.

The report was carried out by five facilitators – the permanent representatives to the UN of Tunisia, Cyprus, Croatia, Chile and the Netherlands – who conducted three months of intensive consultations with other Member States.

It found overwhelming support for Council reform, an issue first introduced in the agenda of the General Assembly in 1979, with the status quo unacceptable to most States.

But the positions of the major interest groups or blocs of nations, "well-known to the membership for some time, are not likely to be fully realized at this stage," and therefore countries should be flexible and willing to seek a viable compromise.

The report examines several key issues: categories of membership; the question of the veto, currently held by the five permanent members; the question of regional representation; the size of an enlarged Council; and the relationship between the Council and the Assembly.

Accepting the report, Sheikha Haya said she shared the facilitators' view "that there is a path forward that Member States can build on, taking advantage of the current momentum" for reform.

She called on Member States to pay particular attention to the report's section entitled "Notions on the Way Forward," which outlines options not just for actual reform but for also advancing the debate first.

The report stresses that enlargement and working methods must be dealt with together, but adds that efforts to improve the Council's working methods must continue regardless of what happens on the enlargement question.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE POLICE TO SERVE WITH UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DR CONGO

CÔTE D'IVOIRE POLICE TO SERVE WITH UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DR CONGO
New York, Apr 20 2007 8:00PM
Eight police officers selected by the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI) will serve with the world body's peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC), it was announced today.

"Côte d'Ivoire has for some time been a contributing country of troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions," said the Officer-in-charge of UNOCI Abou Moussa during a ceremony at the mission's Headquarters in Abidjan, where he helped distribute UN berets to the new police, who are the latest Ivorians to serve with the world body in other hotspots.

Mr. Moussa called on the current batch of officers to offer their experience to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to bring honour to their own country at a time when "Côte d'Ivoire enters a new phase in the peace and reconciliation process."
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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UN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ARM PROVIDES OVER $100 MILLION TO FIGHT POVERTY WORLDWIDE

UN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ARM PROVIDES OVER $100 MILLION TO FIGHT POVERTY WORLDWIDE
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/25.htm">IFAD) announced today that it will provide over $100 million to combat rural poverty in eight developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

IFAD's Executive Board, which met at the agency's headquarters in Rome from 17 to 18 April, decided the money – $63.5 million in loans and $59.2 million in grants – is earmarked for Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Syria.

The grants also include almost $10 million for seven international centres conducting research in agriculture and providing training and technical assistance.

The recipient countries will each use the money to improve the lives of the rural poor.

For example, in Burundi, a grant of almost $14 million will fund a project to rebuild the central African nation's livestock sector which was almost destroyed by 12 years of civil war. By increasing access to technology, veterinary services and markets, this scheme will allow poor people in rural areas to improve the value of their products and improve the livestock industry. Farmers in the country will also benefit from training and research provided by new field schools.

Meanwhile in Cambodia, a $9.5 million grant will finance a plan to increase the access of 26,000 households to advanced crop and livestock technology.

In Syria, over $20 million will be provided in loans to meet the challenges posed by a growing population on the available natural resources. The scheme will improve irrigation systems and foster the growth of small businesses, including sheep and goat rearing, rural transportation services and small-scale trading.

Under a new framework, countries determined to least be able to repay debt will receive 100 per cent grant assistance from IFAD, while those with medium debt sustainability will receive 50 per cent grant and 50 per cent loan assistance from the agency.

"This new framework means that a poor country's opportunity to reduce poverty will no longer be linked to its debt situation," said Gary Howe, IFAD Senior Director. "This is of particular importance for development in Africa."
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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EATING SEAFOOD, GUILT FREE: UN AGENCY TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES TO CERTIFY FISH

EATING SEAFOOD, GUILT FREE: UN AGENCY TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES TO CERTIFY FISH
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
As the world consumes more seafood, with an increasing proportion of it farmed in captivity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) today announced that it is working to create a new international standard to certify the safety and harvesting of fish.

Currently, almost half of all seafood eaten is farmed in captivity by humans instead of being raised in the wild, prompting questions about whether what is eaten is safe and whether it was produced without hurting the environment.

A certification system that is uniform across the world could verify that seafood has been harvested in a way that is healthy, socially responsible and environmentally-conscious, and to this end, FAO is mounting the effort to create a standardized framework.

"Establishing transparent, fair and reliable certification schemes is not at all straightforward," said Lahsen Ababouch of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.

Without one global standard, both consumers and producers are tasked with deciding which certification method to trust. As the number of so-called standards increase, consumers could become confused and lose confidence in the entire certification system.

"Who sets the standards? Can producers be sure they are grounded in good science? Are the out of reach of poor farmers in the developing world?" he asked. "To what extent should private-sector standards supplement governmental consumer protection policies, and how can the two be reconciled?"

Such issues, FAO said, could potentially be resolved with the creation of a uniform certification system. To this end, the agency, in collaboration with the non-governmental organization (NGO) Network for Aquaculture Centres in the Asia Pacific, has been conferring with certification organizations, producers, processors and consumer groups to establish global guidelines for the creation of a new system.

"The idea is to bring together a broad group of all the different people involved in the industry, look at what's already being done in terms of certification, and come up with an overarching framework that can help put aquaculture certification schemes on the same page," Rohana Subasinghe of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department said.

"That will help ensure that certification standards, wherever they are being applied, are credible, trustworthy, and fair and will give producers clear goals to shoot for."

While the guidelines to be set up will not be standards in and of themselves, they will help to regulate the raising of seafood by Governments, NGOs or private companies, Mr. Subasinghe added.

The first discussion among the various participants was held recently in Bangkok, bringing together 72 different groups from 20 countries.

"There was wide consensus on the roadmap that is being proposed, that certification schemes should address four main areas: food safety and quality, social impacts of fish farming on local communities, environmental issues and economic feasibility," Mr. Ababouch said.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place later this year in Brazil, after which FAO and its partners will draft guidelines to be presented to Governments at the UN Agency's Subcommittee on Aquaculture meeting to be held in November 2008 in Chile.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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NORTH-SOUTH PEACE DEAL IN SUDAN HAS REACHED 'DELICATE STAGE' - SECRETARY-GENERAL

NORTH-SOUTH PEACE DEAL IN SUDAN HAS REACHED 'DELICATE STAGE' – SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
The comprehensive peace agreement ending the long-running civil war between north and south in Sudan has reached a delicate stage, with the full and verified redeployment this year of both sides' forces critical to the deal's chances of long-term success, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/213">report.

Mr. Ban calls on the Sudanese Government and the former southern rebels, known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), to do everything within their power to redeploy forces as required and to work towards the holding of free and fair mid-term elections in 2009.

In his report to the Security Council, Mr. Ban says the comprehensive peace agreement – struck in January 2005 – is now at a stage "at which either the point of departure or the destination could easily be lost."

The international community's attention has been partly diverted by the Darfur conflict in Sudan's west, and "continued mistrust and a still considerable number of spoilers" have also hampered progress, Mr. Ban finds.

The peace deal sets out specific timelines for Sudanese armed forces and SPLA units to redeploy from various areas in the south, either through the actual movement of those forces, their transfer into so-called Joint Integrated Units bringing together the former opponents, or outright demobilization.

But the report notes that progress has been spotty, with rapid improvements in some areas and little change in others, such as Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. The situation has been further complicated by attempts to integrate other armed groups in the south.

Mr. Ban says both sides "must now devote considerable attention" to the redeployment verification process.

"If and when disagreements emerge, they will need to be handled and resolved through the pertinent institutions without jeopardizing overall progress or compromising the integrity of the process," he writes.

The Secretary-General stresses that any stalemate "remains a lose-lose scenario. The full and irreversible implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is the only viable strategy for the Sudan and its peoples."

The Security Council is expected to discuss Mr. Ban's latest report during a meeting at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO TO EMBARK ON WEEKLONG TRIP TO AFRICA

MIGIRO TO EMBARK ON WEEKLONG TRIP TO AFRICA
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will depart this weekend for a weeklong trip to Africa, where she will visit the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it was announced today.

On the first leg of her trip, Ms. Migiro will go to the capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville, where she will attend an annual meeting with the regional management team of the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/;jsessionid=a6ugeHCfFdTf">UNDP), spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

The UNDP meeting will focus on Africa's development agenda in a UN system that is undergoing reform.

While in the country, Ms. Migiro will also meet with Government officials.

She will then travel to the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to visit the UN peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, there.

Ms. Migiro, who is originally from neighbouring Tanzania, will also hold a meeting with President Joseph Kabila, among other Government officials.

She is scheduled to wrap up her trip and return to New York at the end of next week.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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EUROPEAN UNION INCREASES CONTRIBUTION TO UN AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

EUROPEAN UNION INCREASES CONTRIBUTION TO UN AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees and the European Union signed an agreement today paving the way for the EU to contribute 66 million to help pay salaries for teachers, doctors, social workers and others as part of the relief effort.

The agreement means essential services to Palestinians can be maintained, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/index.html">UNRWA) said in a <"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2007/EC_sigining_20Apr07.pdf">press release from Jerusalem.

Today's signing, at Qalandia camp in the West Bank, is the first instalment of a four-year deal in which the EU has promised to give UNRWA 264 million by 2010. This year's amount represents an increase of more than 1.5 million over 2006.

Filippo Grandi, Deputy Commissioner of UNRWA, thanked the EU for its contribution and for its ongoing support of the agency.

"The past year has been a period of great need throughout the Palestine refugee community, and the support you have shown today is a symbol of your interest and concern," Mr. Grandi said.

Created in 1949, UNRWA provides education, health care, social services and emergency aid to an estimated 4.4 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE CHIEF TRAVELS TO SUDAN TO SPOTLIGHT PROBLEMS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF COUNTRY

UN REFUGEE CHIEF TRAVELS TO SUDAN TO SPOTLIGHT PROBLEMS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF COUNTRY
New York, Apr 20 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations refugee chief heads to Sudan next week to discuss the western war-torn region of Darfur, home to a swelling population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Chadian refugees, and to also spotlight the forgotten situation in the country's east, where Eritreans and Ethiopians have been living in camps for almost 40 years.

António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR), is scheduled to arrive in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Monday, the agency's spokesperson Ron Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46288dfb5.html">told reporters today in Geneva. Mr. Guterres is expected to hold talks with senior Sudanese Government officials, including Foreign Minister Lam Akol, as well as UN staff.

The trip, the second to Sudan by Mr. Guterres, will take place as the UN system has asked UNHCR to expand its operations in Darfur, where clashes between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups have killed more than 200,000 people since 2003 and displaced another 2 million from their homes.

On Tuesday Mr. Guterres is slated to head to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, to meet IDPs, local authorities, African Union (AU) officials and staff from UN partner agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

West Darfur, one of three states comprising the vast Darfur region, is home to an estimated 700,000 IDPs, and UNHCR currently has access to about 500,000. Some 25,000 refugees from neighbouring Chad are also living in areas adjacent to the border.

Mr. Redmond said Mr. Guterres is set to then travel to eastern Sudan's Kassala state on Thursday to visit Kilo 26 and Wad Sherife, two camps for Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees.

Eastern Sudan is home to about 136,000 refugees and there have been camps in that part of the country since 1968, but the situation there is largely forgotten because of the better known refugee situations of Darfur and southern Sudan.

Mr. Redmond said UNHCR is shifting its activities in eastern Sudan from providing assistance to devising durable solutions, focusing on local integration as voluntary repatriation is not currently an option. Resettlement is also being considered for special cases.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN SOMALI CAPITAL IMPEDES ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED - UN

INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN SOMALI CAPITAL IMPEDES ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED – UN
New York, Apr 20 2007 6:00PM
United Nations agencies today said their efforts to deliver aid are being thwarted by the deteriorating security situation in Somalia, where hundreds of thousands of people affected by violence in and around the capital city of Mogadishu face a dire humanitarian situation.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA) says that access to areas around Mogadishu and key airstrips in southern and central Somalia is essential to deliver much-needed supplies such as food and water to avert a crisis.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4628f5c64.html">UNHCR) estimates that 213,000 people have fled fighting in the capital in recent months, while the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that hospitals are overflowing with casualties and health clinics are facing a rising number of cases of acute water diarrhoea.

"We have heard the appeal of Somali civil society to the humanitarian community for more help and we continue to respond, as far as we are able, with supplies and technical support," said Christian Balslev-Olesen, Somalia Representative for <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF.

"But our access is limited," he added. "And so we reiterate our call to all parties involved in the conflict to do everything within their power to allow us to reach those who need our assistance the most."

In December, 2006, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country.

OCHA reported that new bureaucratic rules imposed by the TFG as well as lack of access to stocks in Mogadishu are impeding aid delivery.

"UNICEF warehouses in the capital containing relief supplies cannot be reached due to conflict in the area and the use of Mogadishu airport to bring in further supplies carries its own security risks," Mr. Balslev-Olesen said.

The UN refugee agency today said that it is rushing aid to thousands who have fled Mogadishu amid the recent outbreak of fighting.

UNHCR began distributing supplies yesterday to 40,000 displaced people who have fled Mogadishu since February and are currently residing in the small town of Afgooye, 30 kilometres west of the capital, the agency's spokesperson Ron Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46288dfa2.html">told reporters in Geneva.

There was also an explosion yesterday on the main road linking Afgooye – which shelters one fifth of the 213,000 Somalis who are believed to have fled the capital – and Mogadishu, isolating the small town.

"There are concerns that with this vital road now cut off, aid agencies will have an even harder time trying to bring supplies from warehouses in Mogadishu for distribution to thousands of displaced people in Afgooye and surrounding areas," Mr. Redmond said.

On its first day of distribution in Afgooye, UNHCR and its Somali non-governmental organization (NGO) partners reached 1,500 families or roughly 9,000 people, all of whom were living outdoors, either under trees or out in the open. By this morning, many had erected makeshift shelters with the plastic sheeting they received yesterday.

The agency hopes to reach an additional 500 families or 3,000 people living outdoors.

The coming rainy season makes providing shelter for families currently living under trees – who are exposed to the scorching sun, heavy rains and chilly nights – all the more critical. UNHCR is also delivering sleeping mats and mosquito nets to the displaced.

This weekend, distribution will continue from stocks that have been flown in from emergency stockpiles in Dubai, including blankets, more plastic sheeting, jerry cans and kitchen sets for almost 20,000 people.

"UNHCR plans to airlift more relief supplies from Dubai next week, and to distribute them in Afgooye," Mr. Redmond said, adding that these additional supplies will cover 15,000 people.

On Wednesday, UNHCR sent two truckloads of much-needed relief and medical supplies for Dobley, a small town on the 18 kilometres from Somalia's border with Kenya. The town is struggling to cope with the recent arrival of 4,000 displaced people as well as with an outbreak of diarrhoea which has killed six children.

By yesterday afternoon, supplies had been distributed at an isolation camp the community had set up on the town's outskirts to curb the spread of the disease, and NGOs report that 50 people have been hospitalized in the makeshift hospital.

"Because of security concerns, the UN is unable to work in these parts of Somalia and is providing assistance through Somali NGOs," Mr. Redmond noted.

The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) and other NGOs have delivered over 40,000 metric tones of food to the displaced, among other vulnerable people, since the beginning of the year, and aims to distribute an additional 13,500 tonnes in the next three months.

To meet the needs of Somalis, UN agencies and its partners have appealed for $262 million. So far, 34 per cent of that has been contributed with donors giving $88 million.

Meanwhile, in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/204">report, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Somalia must seize the opportunity to consolidate peace after 16 years of instability.

"While the challenges are considerable, there are political, humanitarian and regional security imperatives that can assist the Somali people in recovering from years of statelessness and to avoid a slide back into chaos and more violence," Mr. Ban says in the report.

Although it is imperative that fighting cease immediately, a military solution to the current violence raging in Mogadishu would be "counterproductive" since it would foster resentment among various clans and communities while impeding the reconciliation process that is currently underway, the report notes.

Mr. Ban urges the international community to provide political, technical and financial support to the nascent national reconciliation congress, which could potentially "play an important role in the broader process of addressing the past and building the future."

He says the UN must cooperate closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional organization that has been involved in efforts to stabilize Somalia, along with the African Union (AU) and the League of Arab States.

The report also suggests that the Security Council approve of planning for a potential peacekeeping operation for the war-ravaged country, examining the funds necessary and seeking firm pledges from countries to send troops and police.

Mr. Ban underscores that the primary responsibility for securing a lasting peace lies with Somalis who must overcome their differences and allow for an all-inclusive peace process. To this end, he says that recovery and reconstruction efforts are key to fostering reconciliation and rebuilding to make a significant impact on the lives of the people.

He appeals to donors to support emergency relief operations, and stresses the importance of maintaining a safe space in which humanitarian workers can provide the necessary assistance.

Mr. Ban cites the "massive and systemic" human rights violations which have occurred in the east African country which have been reported by several independent UN experts since 1991, and encourages their recommendations to be folded into national efforts in this area.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED INTERNATIONAL COMPACT FOR IRAQ SET FOR LAUNCH NEXT MONTH

UN-BACKED INTERNATIONAL COMPACT FOR IRAQ SET FOR LAUNCH NEXT MONTH
New York, Apr 20 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations-sponsored International Compact for Iraq (ICI), which seeks to consolidate peace in the war-torn country and pursue political, economic and social development over the next five years, will be launched in Egypt early next month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last night.

Speaking to reporters in Bern, Switzerland, during a joint press conference with that country's President Micheline Calmy-Rey, Mr. Ban said he and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would attend the launch in Sharm el-Sheikh on 3 May.

The launch marks the culmination of a preparatory process that began last July and was initiated by the Iraqi Government to establish a new partnership with the international community.

The Compact is a five-year national plan that includes benchmarks and mutual commitments from both Iraq and the international community, all with the aim of helping Iraq on the path towards peace, sound governance and economic reconstruction.

The UN – through its Special Adviser on the ICI and Other Political Issues, Ibrahim Gambari – and Iraq have been co-chairs of the preparatory process, which has also had the support of the World Bank.

After his talks in Bern, Mr. Ban headed to Geneva today, where he attended his first meeting of the Chief Executives Board (CEB), which brings together top officials from across the UN system.

During the opening session of the two-day meeting, participants discussed system-wide coherence across the UN and how to better coordinate their efforts to achieve "aid for trade," a strategy to enable developing countries to take a greater role in the international trade system.

Mr. Ban also spoke with UN staff at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, and attended a working breakfast with the State Council of Geneva, where he voiced appreciation for the city and region's commitment to the UN by hosting so many international organizations and civil servants and their families.

On Sunday the Secretary-General is scheduled to wrap up the Swiss leg of his four-nation official trip, before heading to Doha, Qatar, for the Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade. His last stop will be the Syrian capital, Damascus, where meetings with senior Government officials, including President Bashar Assad, are expected.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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WESTERN SAHARA: UN ENVOY SEES 'WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY' TO BREAK IMPASSE

WESTERN SAHARA: UN ENVOY SEES 'WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY' TO BREAK IMPASSE
New York, Apr 20 2007 5:00PM
Acknowledging that Morocco and the Polisario Front have "irreconcilable views" on the future of Western Sahara, a senior United Nations envoy today said talks between the parties offer a chance to break through their long-standing dispute.

"The fact that the parties are willing to negotiate, even with the limitations that it entails, is going to be a window of opportunity," Peter van Walsum, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, told reporters in New York after briefing the Security Council, which is considering the fate of the UN mission there, known by its French acronym MINURSO.

"The window of opportunity is very small. It can easily be closed in the process. It can only become smaller if the parties begin by focusing on their irreconcilable views as to the desired final arrangement, but it can also be made larger if we can encourage the parties to initially focus on the negotiating process," Mr. van Walsum said.

In his latest report on the issue, now being considered by the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommends that the 15-member body call upon the parties "to enter into negotiations without preconditions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara."

Mr. van Walsum voiced hope that the Council would act on the Secretary-General's recommendation, and that the parties "will accept that call from the Security Council and will be willing to enter into negotiations."

Describing the fundamental differences separating the sides, he said: "Morocco wants Western Sahara to be an autonomous region under Moroccan sovereignty and Polisario wants Western Sahara to be an independent State."

He acknowledged that these positions are at odds. "Those demands are mutually exclusive; they are irreconcilable."

Reviewing the history of international efforts to address the issue, he said the period from 1991 – when a ceasefire was concluded and a Settlement Plan reached – until 2004 was marked by the search "for a mechanism to make a referendum possible."

In 2004, "this changed completely when Morocco said they could not under any circumstances accept a referendum with independence as an option," while Polisario "had and still does insist that a referendum without the option of independence is not a real referendum."

Both sides have recently put forward proposals on the issue, and Mr. Van Walsum welcomed this development. "I take personally a quite positive view in this matter because even if the proposals are still very far apart – I would say still irreconcilable – the interesting new phenomenon is that both parties are prepared to enter into direct negotiations with each other, under UN auspices."

The possibility of talks, he said, offers the chance for a breakthrough.

In his report to the Council, Mr. Ban also recommends a six-month extension of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which was established in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and organize the planned referendum on self-determination. It has been renewed in subsequent resolutions of the Security Council.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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ALMOST 4 MILLION IRAQI CHILDREN TARGETED IN UN-BACKED IMMUNIZATION SCHEME

ALMOST 4 MILLION IRAQI CHILDREN TARGETED IN UN-BACKED IMMUNIZATION SCHEME
New York, Apr 20 2007 4:00PM
In one of the biggest humanitarian operations in Iraq in the last two years, a wave of 8,000 vaccinators will canvass the country starting this Sunday to prevent a possible outbreak of measles among Iraqi children, including the many who have not received their routine immunization as a result of violence, the United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) said today.

"One million Iraqi children now have no protection against measles, as a result of insecurity and falling immunization rates," said UNICEF Special Representative for Iraq Roger Wright. "This vaccine will certainly save many young lives and we are calling on everyone in Iraq to ensure vaccinators reach children safely over the next two weeks."

The ambitious immunization drive will last for two weeks and aim to bring the measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) combined vaccine to as many of the 3.9 million Iraqi child aged between one and five years old as possible, the agency said in a <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39422.html">news release issued in Amman, the Jordanian capital.

Although measles can be deadly to children, preventing it is easy through immunization. With support from UNICEF and the UN World Health Organization (WHO), Iraq's Ministry of Health is organizing the MMR campaign as part of a long-term plan to eliminate measles.

"Insecurity in Iraq has increased the risk of a widespread measles epidemic that could claim the lives of up to 10 per cent of infected children," said Naeema Al-Ghasser, WHO Representative for Iraq, adding that all young children in the country must be immunized, even if they have had the vaccine before.

For the campaign, WHO helped to train the vaccinators and provided critical technical advice, while UNICEF contracted over 2,000 vehicles to transport the vaccinators, provided safety boxes to dispose of syringes, and engaged the support of Iraq's community leaders.

Against the backdrop of heavy fighting in parts of Iraq, the agency has raised concern about secure access to children stranded in the most violent parts of Baghdad, Diyala and Anbar, as well as children who have been displaced because of insecurity. They said special plans are being made to deliver the vaccine to these populations, where the risk from measles is also highest.

Dr. Al-Ghasser praised the dedication and courage of all involved in the campaign. "The unflagging determination of Iraq's health workers and many local volunteers to deliver this important vaccine is both admirable and heartening."

UNICEF said earlier this week that it urgently needs an initial $20 million to provide humanitarian aid for Iraq's children, of which only 11 per cent has been received to date.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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UN LEGAL CHIEF CALLS ON LEBANESE LEADERS TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR TRIBUNAL

UN LEGAL CHIEF CALLS ON LEBANESE LEADERS TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR TRIBUNAL
New York, Apr 20 2007 4:00PM
It is time for Lebanon's key political forces to not just express their support for the establishment of a tribunal to try the suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, but to demonstrate it, the United Nations Legal Counsel said today as he called on all sides to seek a solution to their impasse on the issue.

Nicolas Michel completed his meetings during his five-day visit to Lebanon by holding another round of talks today with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists.

Mr. Michel has noted that all of his interlocutors during his visit to Lebanon, from Mr. Siniora and Mr. Berri to President Emile Lahoud and other parliamentarians and political figures, have indicated their support for the tribunal to be established.

Now is the time for those figures and their parties to demonstrate that support, he said, adding that such an outcome is possible only if the parties resume their dialogue.

Mr. Michel was dispatched to Beirut by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to offer legal assistance to the Lebanese as they work towards parliamentary ratification of the agreement on setting up the tribunal, a necessary step for the tribunal to enter into force. Yet Lebanon's parliamentary forces have been deadlocked on the issue and there has been no vote yet.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting today with Mr. Siniora, Mr. Michel said he hoped the parties would continue to seek a solution to their impasse and he urged them to do so.

The planned tribunal will be of "an international character" to deal with the assassination of Mr. Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut in February 2005.

Once it is formally established, it will be up to the tribunal to determine whether other political killings in Lebanon since October 2004 were connected to Mr. Hariri's assassination and could therefore be dealt with by the tribunal.

In April 2005 the Security Council set up the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon's own inquiry into the Hariri assassination was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack. Its mandate runs out next year.

Serge Brammertz, the current head of the IIIC, told the Council last September that evidence obtained so far suggests that a young, male suicide bomber, probably non-Lebanese, detonated up to 1,800 kilograms of explosives inside a van to assassinate Mr. Hariri.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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DPR KOREA: UN-BACKED VACCINATION DRIVE PROTECTS MORE THAN 16 MILLION PEOPLE

DPR KOREA: UN-BACKED VACCINATION DRIVE PROTECTS MORE THAN 16 MILLION PEOPLE
New York, Apr 20 2007 4:00PM
In what is considered one of the fastest responses to a major outbreak of measles, 16 million children and adults in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have now been immunized against the disease, less than two months after the Government asked for assistance, the United Nations said today.

The massive nationwide immunization campaign was organized in two phases by DPRK's Ministry of Public Health, with support and funding from the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39421.html">UNICEF), the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

In the first phase, more than 6 million children, aged six months to 15 years, were vaccinated last month, some of them within just three days of the arrival of the vaccines in the capital of Pyongyang. The second phase from April 9 to 11 targeted more than 10 million children and adults aged from 16 to 45.

In addition to a shot of the measles vaccine, all participants were given a dose of vitamin A which is essential for immune system function and the survival, growth and development of children.

"UNICEF was able to respond rapidly to the outbreak thanks to the quick mobilization of the network of health care providers in the country and due to the immediate support from the Central Emergency Relief Fund [CERF]," said Gopalan Balagopal, the agency's Representative in DPRK, referring to a UN financing mechanism set up to address urgent situations.

"Our direct observation of the second phase confirmed that the immunization campaign was extremely well organized by Ministry of Public Health and the local authorities and as a result coverage was extremely high," said Tej Walia, WHO Representative to DPRK.

The first measles cases in over a decade in DPRK appeared in November 2006. By this February, over 3,600 people in 30 of the country's 204 counties had been affected, and two adults and two infants died.

Measles is spread by respiratory transmission and is highly contagious – up to 90 per cent of people without immunity sharing a house with an infected person will catch it.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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BRUTAL KILLINGS IN NEPAL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, UN HUMAN RIGHTS ARM SAYS

BRUTAL KILLINGS IN NEPAL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, UN HUMAN RIGHTS ARM SAYS
New York, Apr 20 2007 3:00PM
In findings released today, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that brutal killings of 27 people during clashes between political parties in Nepal last month could have been prevented by stronger law enforcement, and called on the Government to bolster systems to protect its citizens.

The agency's report comes after the agency's teams interviewed over 170 eyewitnesses, including human rights defenders, journalists, medical personnel, Government officials, security forces, representatives from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Madheshi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) representatives and people detained by police.

On 21 March, 27 people, including four women and one 17-year-old girl, were killed and many more injured at the Rice Mill field in Gaur, central Nepal, when violence broke out at a rally between the MPRF and the Maoists. A dozen young men destroyed the Maoists' stage, and in retaliation, their supporters charged the MPRF stage. After initially fleeing, MPRF supporters turned on the outnumbered Maoists.

Most of those killed were Maoists, and all but one were killed by weapons crafted from bamboo.

OHCHR's findings show that MPRF supporters were prepared for a confrontation, as many – including young children – at the gathering were armed and knew the weapons could be lethal.

MPRF "leaders must unequivocally renounce any use of violence and take all steps in their power to prevent supporters, however loosely associated with the Forum, from carrying weapons and using violence," the Office said in a press release.

OHCHR questioned the Maoists' "provocative" decision to stage a rally at the same time and location as the MPRF. The Maoists also brought at least one weapon and socket bomb to the event, and the Office said that this is in violation of the respect for the right to life, freedom of expression and assembly. <"http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/index.htm">OHCHR called on the party to tell their supporters not to disrupt activities by other organizations with differing political opinions.

In contravention of international child rights standards, both parties exposed children under the age of 18 to harm by allowing them to attend their rallies, resulting in one girl's death. OHCHR urged the groups to ensure that young people are not present at political rallies where violence could potentially break out.

"There can be no doubt that most, if not all, of the killings in Gaur could have been prevented," the Office said. "The incidents highlighted once more the weaknesses of law enforcement agencies who, aware of the potential for clashes and other violence, were grossly ill-prepared to ensure effective crowd control."

Authorities not only failed to prevent violence from happening in the first place by convincing organizers to postpone or change the date of the rallies, but being grossly ill-prepared to control crowds, they also did not stem the violence when it erupted, protect those under attack and carry out any arrests.

OHCHR said that this incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen and reform law enforcement in Nepal. Although the country's Home Minister announced that local authorities and security forces had been given instructions to use all legal means to deal with armed groups and acts of violence, the Office believes that more immediate additional measures – including local and national-level law enforcement coordination – are necessary to protect the people.

In addition, OHCHR noted that reports that several or all of the females killed were raped or sexually mutilated have been unsubstantiated, and voiced concern that the spread of such uncorroborated information only serves to further anguish victims' relatives.

Lastly, the Office called on the Government to provide a secure environment in which the rights of life, freedom of expression and assembly are protected.

"The Gaur incidents have demonstrated the fragility of respect for those rights and the capacity of the State to protect them," OHCHR said.

Elections are scheduled for later this year in the impoverished country, where over 10 years of civil war killed around 15,000 people and displaced more than 100,000 others.

OHCHR stated that the all involved in consolidating the peace and the impending elections, especially the Government, must ensure that the events of 21 March are not repeated.

In a related development, a delegation from Nepal – comprising Government representatives, senior political leaders, members of the country's Interim Legislature and civil society figures – will visit UN Headquarters in New York from 23 to 25 April.

"This is an important visit that affords the delegation and the United Nations to interact at a critical juncture of the peace process in Nepal and the United Nations' support for it through <"http://www.un.org.np/unmin.php">UNMIN [the UN Political Mission in Nepal]," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson, Michele Montas.

The aim of the trip is to bolster the country' relationship with the UN and other international organizations which are supporting the Comprehensive Peace Accord, which brought an end to the civil war.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON DISPATCHES POST-COUP FACT-FINDING MISSION TO FIJI

BAN KI-MOON DISPATCHES POST-COUP FACT-FINDING MISSION TO FIJI
New York, Apr 20 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is sending a fact-finding mission comprising political, electoral, human rights and development experts to Fiji next week to assess the situation in the Pacific island nation in the wake of last December's coup d'état.

Mr. Ban is dispatching the mission in response to the Security Council's call for the restoration of democracy and a peaceful resolution of political tensions, his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2529">statement issued today at UN Headquarters in New York.

The aim of the mission, which is scheduled to arrive in Fiji on Sunday, "is to gain a first-hand assessment of the situation in Fiji through broad consultations with the interim authorities, representatives of all political parties and civil society," the statement added.

The team is also slated to hold talks with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the resident diplomatic community in the capital, Suva.

Led by Jehangir Khan of the UN Department of Political Affairs, the mission will include electoral and political experts, as well as representatives from the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/">UNDP) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR).

The mission comes after the Secretary-General, the Security Council and other UN officials condemned the military coup on 5 December last year and urged that a peaceful restoration of the democratically elected government take place as soon as possible. Fiji has had four coups since 1987.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN SOMALI CAPITAL IMPEDES ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED - UN

INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN SOMALI CAPITAL IMPEDES ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED – UN
New York, Apr 20 2007 11:00AM
Despite their eagerness to help those who have been affected and displaced by violence in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, United Nations agencies today said their efforts are thwarted by the worsening security situation.

"We have heard the appeal of Somali civil society to the humanitarian community for more help and we continue to respond, as far as we are able, with supplies and technical support," said, Christian Balslev-Olesen, Somalia Representative for the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-72FGCQ?OpenDocument">UNICEF).

Since the end of last year, violence in the capital has increased since the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 213,000 people have fled fighting in the capital thus far, while UNICEF reports that hospitals are overflowing with casualties and health clinics are facing a rising number of cases of acute water diarrhoea.

<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46288dfa2.html">UNHCR today said that it is rushing aid to thousands who have fled Somalia's capital Mogadishu amid the recent outbreak of fighting.

The agency began distributing supplies yesterday to 40,000 displaced people who have fled Mogadishu since February and are currently residing in the small town of Afgooye, 30 kilometres west of the capital, UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

The agency hopes to reach an additional 500 families or 3,000 people living outdoors.

"UNHCR plans to airlift more relief supplies from Dubai next week, and to distribute them in Afgooye," Mr. Redmond said, adding that these additional supplies will cover 15,000 people.

"Because of security concerns, the UN is unable to work in these parts of Somalia and is providing assistance through Somali NGOs," Mr. Redmond noted.
2007-04-20 00:00:00.000

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Thursday, April 19, 2007

ROAD CRASHES ARE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE - UN REPORT

ROAD CRASHES ARE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE – UN REPORT
New York, Apr 19 2007 7:00PM
Road traffic crashes have become the leading cause of death among young people, with nearly 400,000 people between the ages of 10 and 24 killed around the world each year and millions of others disabled or injured, usually in crashes that are entirely preventable, the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr17/en/index.html">WHO) warns in a new report.

The report, released on Tuesday in Geneva, shows that the overwhelming majority of deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa and the Middle East the worst-affected regions. Males are at much greater risk than females and people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are also more likely to be injured or killed.

The number of deaths and injuries will rise significantly unless more comprehensive action is taken around the world, WHO warned, with traffic accidents already estimated to cost $518 billion in material, health and other costs.

The report, <i>Youth and Road Safety</i>, projects that for some poorer countries, the cost of road crashes is equivalent to 1-1.5 per cent of gross national product (GNP) – or more than the total amount they receive annually in development aid.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said the lack of road safety has been an "important obstacle" to child health and development.

"Our children and young adults are among the most vulnerable," Dr. Chan said. "Road traffic crashes are not 'accidents.' We need to challenge the notion that they are unavoidable and make room for a proactive, preventive approach."

Most crashes are predictable and preventable, often involving a child playing on the street, an inexperienced motorcyclist or a young passenger on public transport.

Many countries have been able to cut their death tolls in recent years, the report notes, by introducing measures such as the compulsory use of seat belts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints, and by restricting the blood alcohol limits for young drivers and creating safe areas for children to play away from roadways.

The report has been launched of the first UN Global Road Safety Week, which kicks off on Monday to promote greater awareness of the dangers on roads. A two-day World Youth Assembly involving more than 100 delegates will be staged in Geneva so that young people can share experiences and plan projects to encourage more awareness about the issue.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UN SECURITY OFFICIAL IN TIMOR-LESTE PRAISES POLICE EFFORTS IN RECENT ELECTIONS

UN SECURITY OFFICIAL IN TIMOR-LESTE PRAISES POLICE EFFORTS IN RECENT ELECTIONS
New York, Apr 19 2007 7:00PM
The senior United Nations law and order official in Timor-Leste today travelled outside the capital to meet with police as part of efforts to consolidate stability in the wake of elections and ahead of the next round of polls.

"Smooth elections do not come naturally or accidentally but because of your hard work," said Eric Tank, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Security Sector Support and Rule of Law, addressing representatives from the UN Police and their Timorese counterparts in Liquica district.

"We depend on your continued assistance to ensure that the upcoming elections remain free of violence," Mr. Tan said.

Earlier this month, Timor-Leste held its first elections since gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002, and a run-off between the two leading presidential candidates is scheduled for 9 May.

Mr. Tan urged officers to be on the alert for incidents of intimidation ahead of the polls. "Voting is the right of every individual," he said, adding, "intimidation is an offence that could lead to arrest."

Above all, he said the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) must ensure that no such incidents occur within their ranks.

In addition to the 9 May presidential run-off, parliamentary elections are scheduled for later this year.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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PALESTINIANS HARMED BY FISHING RESTRICTIONS OFF GAZA, SAY UN AID OFFICIALS

PALESTINIANS HARMED BY FISHING RESTRICTIONS OFF GAZA, SAY UN AID OFFICIALS
New York, Apr 19 2007 6:00PM
Israeli restrictions on where Palestinian fishermen can work in the waters off the Gaza Strip are hurting more than 40,000 people who depend on the industry as their main source of income, the United Nations humanitarian arm warned today.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called for an immediate easing of the restrictions given that April is the start of the annual high season, when fish migrate from the Nile Delta region in Egypt to Turkish waters across the Mediterranean Sea.

Under current restrictions, Palestinians are allowed to fish only up to six nautical miles off the Gaza coast, whereas a deal in 2002 between the UN and Israel allowed for fishing up to 12 miles off the coast and the Oslo Accords of 1993 gave fishing rights for up to 20 miles.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have said the restrictions are necessary to prevent Palestinians smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip.

Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, described the relaxation of restrictions as critical.

"Being confined so close to shore has meant poor catches for Gazan fishermen in terms of fish size, value and quantity," she said, adding that fish stocks have depleted because many natural breeding grounds are close to shore.

Many of the Israeli restrictions seem to be imposed arbitrarily, OCHA said in a press release, with fishing allowed in some locations but not others, and on some days but not others. It called for a means of communication between Israeli naval boats and Palestinian fishermen to reduce the hazards.

<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA also said that many Gaza residents now buy fish imported from Israel at a much higher price because of the restrictions, placing the commodity out of reach of many people.

For the families of the fishermen, the reduced income means they have become progressively impoverished over the past six years, and now depend on aid and jobs from the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/index.html">UNRWA) and other humanitarian agencies.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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SUDAN VOWS TO CUT RED TAPE ON UN TO SUPPORT AFRICAN PEACE MISSION IN DARFUR

SUDAN VOWS TO CUT RED TAPE ON UN TO SUPPORT AFRICAN PEACE MISSION IN DARFUR
New York, Apr 19 2007 6:00PM
The Sudanese Government has announced it will streamline some passport and customs procedures to allow the United Nations to better support the existing African Union peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Darfur region.

The move comes as the Tripartite Mechanism, which oversees the implementation of UN support to the AU mission, yesterday welcomed Sudan's confirmation that it accepts the UN "heavy support package" to the mission, known as AMIS.

The mechanism, comprising representatives of the UN, the AU and Sudan, held its 10th regular meeting at AMIS headquarters in the capital, Khartoum.

Sudanese officials informed the meeting that their country's mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has been instructed to expedite the issuing of travel visas to AMIS staff and associated personnel, without referral to authorities in Khartoum.

Sudanese customs officials have also been approached about the release of pharmaceutical products brought by the UN as part of its "light support package" to AMIS, and those officials have now requested the UN to present customs with certain forms to expedite the clearance of the items.

On Monday, Sudan informed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council that it accepted the heavy support <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=88&Body=Sudan&Body1=">package, the second phase of a three-step plan that is supposed to culminate in a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force of approximately 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers. This force is to be staffed mainly by Africans.

Under the heavy support package, which is expected to cost $300 million over its first six months, the UN will supply more than 2,200 troops, 350 police and 1,100 civilian staff to the AU mission, known as AMIS. Helicopters will also be deployed.

The UN is already providing a $21 million light support package to AMIS which includes police advisers, civilian staff, technical support and other resources.
Since 2003 more than 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur and at least 2 million others forced to leave their homes to escape fighting between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups. Entire villages have been burned down during the clashes.
Concern has mounted recently that the conflict may spill into neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), and earlier this year Mr. Ban described Darfur as the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
The next meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism is slated for 2 May in Khartoum.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON LAUDS ARAB LEAGUE'S COMMITMENT TO REVITALIZE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

BAN KI-MOON LAUDS ARAB LEAGUE'S COMMITMENT TO REVITALIZE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN
New York, Apr 19 2007 6:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the statement by a committee of League of Arab States regarding the resuscitation of the Arab Peace Initiative, which in the past he has called one of the pillars of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Yesterday's announcement by the Arab Ministerial Committee for the Arab Peace Initiative "indicates increased engagement of the League of Arab States to reinvigorate the peace process," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10954.doc.htm">statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

The Initiative, adopted during the Beirut Arab Summit in March 2002, is based on the principle of land for peace.

The plan calls for Israeli withdrawal from all Arab lands occupied since 1967, recognition of an independent Palestinian State and provision of a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees. In return, Arab countries would recognize Israel, end their conflict and normalize relations.

Mr. Ban also "looks forward to meeting with" the Initiative's Ministerial Committee, which was created by the League to promote the peace process.

In his opening address at the League of Arab States summit last month, Mr. Ban said that the Initiative "suggests a new way forward for the region" after decades of division over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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BASKETBALL STAR YAO MING SLAM-DUNKS FOR UN EFFORT TO END HIV STIGMA IN CHINA

BASKETBALL STAR YAO MING SLAM-DUNKS FOR UN EFFORT TO END HIV STIGMA IN CHINA
New York, Apr 19 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=14&topic=7&sid=430&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0">UNDP) is partnering with basketball star Yao Ming, Chinese actor Pu Cunxin, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center to minimize the stigma attached to those living with HIV/AIDS in China.

The groundbreaking campaign aims to reduce the stigma associated with the disease and also targets the inclusion of family members, neighbours, co-workers and friends living with HIV/AIDS into our lives.

A new poster shows Mr. Yao and Mr. Pu together with young people from AIDS-impacted communities, with the message, "We have the same feelings, the same dreams, the same life. HIV/AIDS will not affect our friendship. We are friends!"

Over 200,000 of these posters, which were designed by people living with HIV, university students and NGOs, will be distributed nationwide, including in maternal health centres and community clinics. The posters will also be translated into three minority languages, Tibetan, Uygur and Jinbo (Yunnan), and will be distributed in ethnic minority areas such as schools and festival events.

"We trust this campaign will help disseminate our common stand for positive action, care and full integration of people living with HIV and AIDS in our global society," said Alessandra Tisot, UNDP's Senior Deputy Resident Representative in China.

The new campaign – in collaboration with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Chinese Government organizations and NGOs – also developed educational materials such as discussion guides and mini-documentaries.

It also draws on a previous effort to dispel misconceptions about the spread of HIV/AIDS, including a poster campaign featuring Mr. Yao and legendary NBA player Magic Johnson.

"Important partnerships like these give the NBA an opportunity to use the international power of our brand and the celebrity of our players to have a direct impact on the critical issues facing communities all over the world," said NBA Senior Vice President Kathy Behrens.

In another development, a new report on HIV/AIDS by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paints a mixed picture of progress in reaching the global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as they relate to the disease. It cites progress on providing universal access to treatment, but warns that "far greater action will be required to fulfil international commitments on AIDS."

An estimated $10 billion – an increase over the $8.9 billion available in 2006 – will be available for HIV-related programmes in low- and middle-income countries in 2007, but this is just slightly more than half of what is needed.

"With the passage of the epidemic's first 25 years, it has become clearer than ever that the global response must move from an emergency footing to a longer-term effort that lays the groundwork for sustainable progress," writes Mr. Ban.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: MATERNITY HOSPITAL RENOVATED WITH UN HELP

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: MATERNITY HOSPITAL RENOVATED WITH UN HELP
New York, Apr 19 2007 6:00PM
A small town in Côte d'Ivoire today received the keys to a renovated maternity hospital from representatives from the United Nations peacekeeping operation, known as UNOCI, in the West African country.

Thanks to the efforts of <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Femmes Côte d'Ivoire Experiences, the town's three-room unit – comprising a consulting room, a birthing room and a recovery room – was refurbished.

The town of Raviart, located in the former so-called Zone of Confidence separating the Government-ruled south and rebel-held north, will benefit from the work since it will give "the area a modern maternity hospital to allow women to give birth in proper conditions," said Abdourahmane Ganda, from UNOCI's civil affairs coordination division.

UNOCI representatives based in the Abidjan and several offices in the western and eastern zones attended the festive handover.

Praising the Mission for its contributions to bringing peace to the country whose civil war officially ended in January 2004, local representatives called on UNOCI to assist in other projects geared towards developing infrastructure.

UNOCI has nearly 9,000 total uniformed personnel in the country with a mandate to monitor the cessation of hostilities and movements of armed groups, help in disarmament and dismantling of militias and contribute to the security of the operation of identifying the population and registering voters.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON TO FILL KEY UN POST TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE AMONG CULTURES AND RELIGIONS

BAN KI-MOON TO FILL KEY UN POST TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE AMONG CULTURES AND RELIGIONS
New York, Apr 19 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon confirmed today in Italy that he soon plans to appoint a High Representative to promote dialogue between cultures, religions and ethnic groups, building on the work done by the Alliance of Civilizations, the international initiative set up to encourage reconciliation.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1019">Speaking to journalists in Rome after a meeting with the city's mayor, Walter Veltroni, Mr. Ban said the two had discussed "the urgency and the importance of intra-religious dialogue."

Last year the High-Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations, which was launched by Mr. Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan following a proposal by the Prime Ministers of Spain and Turkey, issued a report calling for a series of measures, legal and otherwise, in education, media, youth and migration to build bridges between different communities and promote a culture of respect.

The report also recommended the creation of a High Representative post to assist the UN Secretary-General to try to defuse crises that arise at the intersection of culture and politics, along with measures aimed at restarting the Middle East peace process and encouraging political pluralism in Muslim countries.

Mr. Ban said today he hoped that, with the aid of the High Representative, "we will promote a much better and secure world at this time."

His remarks came on the final stage of the Italian leg of his four-nation official tour that will take in stops in Switzerland, Qatar and Syria as well.

Earlier today he visited the UN Logistics Base in Brindisi, observing the main facility used by the world body to support its field operations around the world. Mr. Ban toured warehouses that stock tents, blankets and high-protein biscuits, which can all be sent in rapid response to a humanitarian emergency. He also spoke with staff about the challenges they face in setting up communications equipment in peacekeeping locations, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists.

Mr. Ban is now in the Swiss capital, Bern, for talks with that country's President Micheline Calmy-Rey, and then a working dinner before heading to Geneva later tonight.

Tomorrow the Secretary-General is slated to chair a meeting of the Chief Executives Board, which brings together top officials from across the UN system.

He is then scheduled to speak before the Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade in Doha, Qatar, before heading to the Syrian capital, Damascus, where meetings with senior Government officials, including President Bashar Assad, are expected.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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ENVOY JOINS UN, LIBERIAN POLICE ON NIGHT PATROL IN THE CAPITAL

ENVOY JOINS UN, LIBERIAN POLICE ON NIGHT PATROL IN THE CAPITAL
New York, Apr 19 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations envoy in Liberia this week accompanied national and UN Police officers on a special night patrol to some of the most crime-prone areas of the capital, Monrovia, as part of the world body's ongoing efforts to reassure the community and improve law and order throughout the country.

"We are very much concerned with the safety of Monrovia's citizens," said the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Liberia, Alan Doss, as he met with members of the public during the patrol, which marked the end of "Operation Sweeping Wave II" aimed at curbing criminal activities.

Mr. Doss noted that Liberia's National Police (LNP) is working under difficult conditions, but he said new uniforms had been obtained from the United States and equipment and vehicles had also been ordered through the UN.

UN Police Commissioner Mohammed Alhassan, LNP Inspector-General Beatrice Munah Sieh and other officials also took part in the two-hour patrol, during which Ms. Sieh stressed the importance of the police interacting with the public and urged people to provide the officers with information on crime.

"Everywhere we went, community leaders came out to see us. It shows that the community is now accepting the police. In the past, they were running away from the police," she said, adding that the police need logistical support to be more effective.

Mr. Doss, who heads the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), also visited the Zone 1 Police Station on Bushrod Island as part of the patrol. This station was the first police facility to be rehabilitated through UNMIL's Quick Impact Project programme, which has now helped construct and rehabilitate 25 police stations throughout the country.

UNMIL was established in 2003 to support Liberia's ceasefire and peace process, and currently has over 15,200 uniformed personnel, along with around 500 international civilian personnel, almost 1,000 local staff and 220 UN Volunteers.

Late last month, the Security Council extended UNMIL's mandate and, citing progress in a number of areas including the re-integration of former fighters, asked the Secretary-General to report on plans to draw down the level of blue helmets in Liberia.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD RELIEF AGENCY TO HAND OUT RICE TO DISPLACED PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

UN FOOD RELIEF AGENCY TO HAND OUT RICE TO DISPLACED PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
New York, Apr 19 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2442">WFP) today announced plans to provide emergency relief for more than 42,000 people displaced from their homes on the troubled island of Jolo in the southern Philippines, where there have been deadly clashes over the past week between Government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front.

In cooperation with the Philippine Government, WFP will distribute 85 metric tons of rice to the displaced on Jolo following a request from the Governor of Sulu province, where the island is located.

WFP Country Director Valerie Guarnieri described the province – where at least 12 people were killed in this week's clashes – as one of the most conflict-affected areas of the south.

"We hope this support for hungry families will help stabilize the situation in Sulu," Ms. Guarnieri said.

Last month the agency provided 25 tons of rice to 6,000 people in Sulu displaced by earlier unrest, but those people have since returned to their homes. Although the Government signed a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996, fighting between the two sides has erupted periodically since then.

WFP's activities in the southern Philippines include not only the direct distribution of free food to needy families, but the use of food to encourage better school attendance, provide nutritional support for mothers and to repair damaged infrastructure.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON STRESSES KEY ROLE OF ECOSOC AT MEETING WITH LEADERS

BAN KI-MOON STRESSES KEY ROLE OF ECOSOC AT MEETING WITH LEADERS
New York, Apr 19 2007 4:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced optimism about the role of the Economic and Social Council during a meeting with its current president as well as seven others who held the position in recent years.

During the closed meeting, the Secretary-General and the presidents discussed how the UN could play a more effective role in development and <"http://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc">ECOSOC's participation in this effort, officials said.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of the General Assembly's consideration today of recommendations made by a blue-ribbon group, called the High-Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence, which has proposed further empowering ECOSOC – mandated to coordinate the development work of the UN system – through the involvement of Member States in its work at the highest possible political level.

This year, ECOSOC will launch two new functions called for by a 2005 World Summit: the Annual Ministerial Review of progress towards the development goals and the biennial Development Cooperation Forum.

The first initiative will introduce a "voluntary review" process, involving presentations by Ghana, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Bangladesh and Barbados on their experiences in reaching development goals.

The Development Cooperation Forum will provide a platform for dialogue on the major issues affecting development cooperation as well as its effectiveness in supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals">MDGs), a series of time-bound anti-poverty targets, and other development objectives.

Meeting with Mr. Ban were ECOSOC President Dalius Cekuolis of Lithuania, as well as Ali Hachani of Tunisia (2006), Munir Akram of Pakistan (2005), Marjatta Rasi of Finland (2004), Ivan Simonovic of Croatia (2002), Martin Chungong Ayafor, who was standing in for Martin Belinga-Eboutou of Cameroon (2001), Markarim Wibisono of Indonesia (2000) and Juan Somavia of Chile (1998 and 1993).
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIALS EXPRESS OUTRAGE AT DEADLY STRING OF BAGHDAD ATTACKS

TOP UN OFFICIALS EXPRESS OUTRAGE AT DEADLY STRING OF BAGHDAD ATTACKS
New York, Apr 19 2007 4:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his senior envoy to Iraq today strongly denounced the recent series of deadly attacks in Baghdad, where nearly 200 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

Mr. Ban decried the "callousness and scale with which innocent civilians are being slaughtered on an almost daily basis in Iraq," his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10953.doc.htm">statement.

He "expresses his solidarity with the Iraqi people and he appeals to all communities of Iraq to show maximum restraint," and called for the country's political and religious leaders to unite in a spirit of mutual respect to find a solution to the "destructive spiral of violence."

In a <"http://www.uniraq.org/get_article.asp?Language=EN&ArticleID=326">statement released in Baghdad, Ashraf Qazi, Mr. Ban's Special Representative to Iraq, characterized the attacks of 18 and 19 April, targeting the areas of Sadr City, Al-Sadriyah, Al-Saydiyah and Al Karradah, as "malicious and premeditated mass murders, aimed at tearing apart prospects for peaceful and lasting coexistence among Iraq's different communities."

He also warned that the bombings threaten the country's integrity and viability, jeopardize Iraq's future and plunge citizens deeper into the "cycle of violence and vengeance."

"Iraqis must keep hope alive by uniting, facing together the current crises and together lift their country to the shores of peace and prosperity," he said, calling on the people to stand firm against sectarianism.

Mr. Qazi called on Iraqi authorities to vigorously pursue those behind the attacks and bring them to justice, urging all leaders to urgently join forces to bring an end to the violence.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UN LEGAL CHIEF HOLDS TALKS IN BEIRUT OVER HARIRI TRIBUNAL IMPASSE

UN LEGAL CHIEF HOLDS TALKS IN BEIRUT OVER HARIRI TRIBUNAL IMPASSE
New York, Apr 19 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel has held talks with Lebanon's key Government and parliamentary leaders as he continues his visit to try to help the country's political forces end their impasse and establish a tribunal to try the alleged killers of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Mr. Michel has met Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, President Emile Lahoud and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, as well as other parliamentarians and political figures since arriving in Beirut on Tuesday, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters today.

All of Mr. Michel's interlocutors have expressed their support for the tribunal's establishment, Ms. Montas said, adding that the Legal Counsel has stressed in the meetings that it is in the interest of all to have the tribunal set up within Lebanon's constitutional process.

Mr. Michel was dispatched to Beirut by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to offer legal assistance to the Lebanese as they work towards parliamentary ratification of the agreement on setting up the tribunal. Such ratification is necessary for the tribunal to enter into force.

Mr. Ban said last week that he hoped Mr. Michel's trip would help to "clarify all concerns or apprehensions" that might exist about the tribunal. Lebanon's parliamentary forces have been deadlocked on the issue and there has been no vote yet on ratification.

Mr. Michel, who is also Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, is scheduled to hold further meetings in Beirut tomorrow.

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UN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HONOURS SEVEN 'CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH'

UN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HONOURS SEVEN 'CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH'
New York, Apr 19 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recognized seven winners of its 'Champions of the Earth Award' at a ceremony in Singapore where the agency's chief praised the activists' efforts to fight for change.

"If we are to shape a new partnership between human-kind and the natural environment upon which all life ultimately depends then we need leaders, we need champions – champions in public life, champions in business and champions in our communities," said <"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=504&ArticleID=5567&l=en">UNEP chief Achim Steiner, who presented the awards on Wednesday evening along with Shn Juay Shi Yan, the current 'Miss Earth Singapore.'

"The seven winners honoured this evening are from different corners of the planet and drawn from different backgrounds and experiences. But they share a common sense of purpose and of values: namely, to reject the status quo, to persist when others may have failed and faltered and to deliberately seize the opportunities to promote more intelligent ways of managing development," he said.

Actress and environmental campaigner Daryl Hannah, famous for films like "Splash" and her support for renewable energies, received the regional North America Champions prize on behalf of Al Gore, the former United States Vice-President and climate change campaigner.

Awards also went to Cherif Rahmani of Algeria, for his work on deserts and desertification; Elisea 'Bebet' Gillera Gozun of the Philippines for pushing forward the environmental agenda; Viveka Bohn of Sweden for leadership in chemical safety; Marina Silva of Brazil for protecting the rainforest; His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan for transboundary cooperation on environmental issues; and Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic Committee for introducing stringent environmental requirements for cities bidding to host the Games.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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MIDDLE EAST PEACE CRITICAL TO REGION'S CHILDREN, UN OFFICIAL SAYS

MIDDLE EAST PEACE CRITICAL TO REGION'S CHILDREN, UN OFFICIAL SAYS
New York, Apr 19 2007 3:00PM
Children are bearing the brunt of the armed conflict in the Middle East, a senior United Nations official said today as she concluded a two-week mission to Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Special Representative for <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/home6.html">Children and Armed Conflict, interacted with children across the region, describing them as playful and resilient but plagued by fear, anxiety, anger and feelings of revenge coupled with hopelessness.

"It is imperative that peace come to the Middle East for the sake of the children," she declared in a <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/2007-04-19peacemustcometot152.html">statement released in Jerusalem.

According to official sources, approximately 400 children were killed in Lebanon in the recent hostilities. In the occupied Palestinian territory, 124 were killed in 2006 and today, almost 400 are still in detention. In addition, 8 children were killed or injured on the Israeli side.

"Researchers are pointing to the fact that many children in the conflict areas need psycho-social care," the envoy said, noting that about a third of all children in Northern Israel suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, while many Palestinian children also showed visible signs of being affected by the war.

Ms. Coomaraswamy, who met with Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livini, and other officials, recognized the country's "very real security concerns." At the same time, she voiced concern over the barrier erected to separate Palestinian territory from Israel and raised its humanitarian consequences on children's health, education and right to freedom of movement.

"The present route and procedures associated with the barrier are unconscionable," she said, urging the Israeli authorities to appoint an independent civilian committee to look into the humanitarian consequences of the barrier.

Ms. Coomaraswamy also called upon the Israeli Government to release the customs and taxes revenues due to the Palestinian Authority for health and education expenditures.

With 398 Palestinian children in detention, the Special Representative said this was only feeding the cycle of violence and urged a different approach to children who engage in minor offences.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) must establish transparent, credible and independent mechanisms to provide for accountability and to ensure effective redress to victims of killings and violence against children, she said, calling also for settler populations to be held accountable for acts of violence and harassment against Palestinian children.

During meetings with senior Palestinian officials, including President Abbas, the Special Representative raised concerns about the use of minors for political and armed violence.

Ms. Coomaraswamy, who had listened to many children speak about being engaged in this violence, welcomed the Palestinian officials' pledge to revive the code of conduct among Palestinian groups not to involve children in political violence and to work with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to prevent this.

She also noted the importance of ensuring security for children both in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel as well as the need to stop rockets being fired indiscriminately into civilian areas from Gaza.

The envoy welcomed steps by both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government to review school curricula to prevent incitement to violence and to take further steps in this area, including the integration of peace education.

Also during her trip, Ms. Coomaraswamy requested the Israeli Government to hand over to UN demining experts details on the cluster munitions dropped on Lebanon during the 2006 war.

The Special Representative is expected to report her findings to the Security Council, General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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SPANISH JUDICIAL GROUP AWARDS PRIZE TO UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

SPANISH JUDICIAL GROUP AWARDS PRIZE TO UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
New York, Apr 19 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today received the Justice in the World Award from the Madrid-based foundation of the same name in honour of its work, especially for its independence in carrying out its mandate.

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY) President Fausto Pocar received the award at a ceremony attended by Spain's judicial authorities, several ICTY judges and the Tribunal's Registrar Hans Holthuis, according to a <"http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1157e.htm">statement released by the ICTY in The Hague.

Fundación Justicia en el Mundo (Justice in the World Foundation) is comprised of Spanish judges and is affiliated with the International Association of Judges (IAJ).
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD AGENCY AMBASSADOR AND MARATHON RECORD HOLDER DEDICATES RACE TO HUNGRY

UN FOOD AGENCY AMBASSADOR AND MARATHON RECORD HOLDER DEDICATES RACE TO HUNGRY
New York, Apr 19 2007 3:00PM
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) ambassador and current marathon world record holder Paul Tergat is dedicating his participation in Sunday's race in London to the plight of the world's 400 million hungry children.

Mr. Tergat, who is an Ambassador Against Hunger for the <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2445">WFP, received food aid from the organization when he was a child growing up in rural Kenya, but despite such challenges he is now part of an elite group of world class marathon runners and is among the favourites to win the Flora London Marathon on 22 April.

"I grew up knowing the pain of hunger and poverty, but I was lucky enough to find a way out," he said on arriving in Britain to participate in the event. The world record he set at the Berlin marathon in 2003 still stands.

"The World Food Programme helped me as a hungry child at school in Kenya and now I am returning the favour by dedicating this race to the millions of hungry schoolchildren that WFP continues to feed in some of the poorest and least developed parts of the world."

At a time when 400 million children around the world know what it is like to go hungry, WFP's school feeding programmes provide a simple and effective way of improving child nutrition, increasing enrolment rates at schools in developing countries and giving poor children a better chance to realise their full intellectual and physical potential.

"Paul has carried the true dedication and commitment he has shown as an athlete to his role as a hunger ambassador for WFP," said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the organization.

It costs around 19 cents a day to feed a child as part of the school feeding programmes.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UN MEETING AIMS TO SPOTLIGHT 'FORGOTTEN' TROPICAL DISEASES, MOBILIZE ACTION

UN MEETING AIMS TO SPOTLIGHT 'FORGOTTEN' TROPICAL DISEASES, MOBILIZE ACTION
New York, Apr 19 2007 2:00PM
Political leaders and scientists as well as representatives of banks, foundations and a number of leading pharmaceutical companies are gathered in Geneva today for a meeting organized by the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr19/en/index.html">WHO) in a bid to galvanize action to combat 'forgotten' tropical diseases, which afflict some 1 billion people annually.

"This event marks a turning point in the long and notorious history of some of humanity's oldest diseases," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan told participants. "The burden imposed by these diseases, measured in terms of human misery alone, is unacceptable. We are committed to take action."

Most of the neglected diseases are caused by parasites that thrive in impoverished settings, where water supply, sanitation and housing are poor, according to WHO, and they permanently deform and disable large numbers of poor people, trapping them in poverty.

Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people – one sixth of the world's population – are affected by one or more of these diseases. But the agency voiced hope that immediate action can now be taken, for the first time in history, thanks to the availability of safe and effective drugs in large quantities.

A "decisive" factor in turning the tide has been the decision by industry to supply drugs for prevention or treatment at low or no cost, WHO said.

At today's meeting, for example, Dr. Chan and Merck KGaA's Executive Board Member Elmar Schnee signed an agreement aimed at fighting schistosomiasis. Under the initiative, a donation of 200 million tablets of the drug praziquantel – worth $80 million – will be given to WHO, potentially protecting millions of children from the parasitic worm disease.

Substantial progress has already been made in the fight to control and eliminate many neglected tropical diseases. The number of leprosy cases has decreased from 5.2 million in 1985 to less than 220,000 today, and 14.5 million people have been cured of this disease. Guinea worm disease is set for eradication. Previously, only one disease – smallpox – had ever been eradicated.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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DAMAVAND MINERAL WATER COMPANY AND UNICEF TEAM UP FOR IRAN'S SCHOOLGIRLS

DAMAVAND MINERAL WATER COMPANY AND UNICEF TEAM UP FOR IRAN'S SCHOOLGIRLS
New York, Apr 19 2007 1:00PM
The Iranian mineral water company Damavand and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have launched a new partnership to benefit thousands of schoolgirls in Iran.

Under the initiative, announced on Wednesday in Tehran, Damavand will donate a portion of the revenues of its water bottle sales to UNICEF Iran to help finance girls' education projects.

This is the first time in Iran that a share of the sales of a product will benefit a charitable cause, UNICEF said in a <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39397.html">news release.

Under the one-year partnership, Damavand mineral water bottles now feature the UNICEF logo and describe how this partnership benefits Iranian children.

Some 4,500 children will benefit from activities to include community-based school management and quality education.

"This is a win-win situation," said Jan-Pieter Kleijburg, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Iran. "It is good for UNICEF, as it helps us to expand important activities without relying too much on funds from abroad. It is good for Damavand Mineral Water Company, as it provides a channel for the company to fulfil its corporate social responsibilities.

Above all, he added, "It is good for the children in remote parts of the country, who will benefit from quality education and a better chance to have a good future."
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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RISING FEARS ABOUT CONSERVATION OF MACHU PICCHU SITE PROMPT UN MISSION

RISING FEARS ABOUT CONSERVATION OF MACHU PICCHU SITE PROMPT UN MISSION
New York, Apr 19 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is sending a mission next week to the Incan archaeological ruin of Machu Picchu in Peru amid mounting concern about the conservation of the World Heritage Site as tourist numbers increase and urban development encroaches.

Starting Monday, the <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=37575&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO mission will spend eight days visiting Machu Picchu and holding talks with Peruvian Government officials, local community representatives and others to discuss the implementation of the master plan for the site.

Mission members will hold workshops with representatives of civil society and local, regional and national institutions to promote the greater participation of local communities in the management of Machu Picchu, which was inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural site on the World Heritage List in 1983.

They will also focus on "the uncontrolled urban development" of Aguas Calientes, a town at the foot of Machu Picchu, the impact of a new bridge to the site and plans to develop tourist infrastructure within the protected area, UNESCO said in a press release issued today from its headquarters in Paris.

Machu Picchu has become prone to mudslides and fires in recent years, and UNESCO said the mission would monitor the effect on flora and fauna and assess the site's risk preparedness plan.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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UGANDA: CONCERNED BY MOUNTING VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS, UN OFFICIAL URGES PROTECTION

UGANDA: CONCERNED BY MOUNTING VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS, UN OFFICIAL URGES PROTECTION
New York, Apr 19 2007 10:00AM
In a report released today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour <" http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/8BB25DE5CFB120FEC12572C20031CCA3?opendocument">urged the Government of Uganda to curb violence and human rights abuses voiced concern over escalating violence against civilians in Karamoja in the north-east of the country, where almost 70 people have been killed since last November.

Between 16 November 2006 and 31 March 2007, "the indiscriminate and excessive use of force" by Government forces, known as UPDF, has lead to the deaths of at least 69 civilians, including women and children, as well as 10 cases of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, the High Commissioner's office (OHCHR) said in a statement released in Geneva. Additionally, 400 cattle and many traditional homesteads, or manyattas, have been destroyed in Karamoja.

The High Commissioner also expressed serious concern over a "climate of fear and insecurity" in the area where armed Karimojong have reportedly killed seven UPDF soldiers, eight civilians and almost 300 cattle.

Ms. Arbour, who issued a report last November calling on Uganda to end a forced disarmament exercise, deplored the failure of the Government to implement her previous recommendations.

Allegations of human rights violations and criminal acts have persisted since the strategy was launched last May.

"I call on the Government of Uganda to respect its obligations to protect the human rights of all individuals under its jurisdiction at all times," Ms. Arbour said, appealing for an end to the indiscriminate and excessive use of force against men, women and children.

The High Commissioner added that the country must also "take all necessary measures, including reviewing the ongoing disarmament process, to prevent any further human rights violations in Karamoja," as well as implementing sustainable development initiatives to bring stability to the region.

She also stressed that instead of pursuing a solely military response, the Government should create civilian mechanisms for the legal arrest, detention, prosecution and punishment of armed Karimojong who commit crimes.
2007-04-19 00:00:00.000

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIES TO GROW BY OVER 7 PER CENT, BUT RISKS AHEAD - UN REPORT

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIES TO GROW BY OVER 7 PER CENT, BUT RISKS AHEAD – UN REPORT
New York, Apr 18 2007 6:00PM
Asia-Pacific countries are set to grow by over 7 per cent this year, although the region will face several economic challenges, primarily the management of exchange rates, the United Nations says today in its annual regional economic review.

In the report, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (<"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/apr/n19.asp">UNESCAP), forecasts a less favourable external environment mainly due to the slowing of the United States economy and a moderate decline in global electronics demand, but still sees continued dynamism despite the sharp depreciation in the United States dollar.

"As a whole the 2007 outlook is above 7 per cent economic growth. The three big Asian economies – China, India, and Japan – will maintain the growth momentum and may provide good opportunities to other developing countries," said Kim Hak-Su, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, ahead of the launch.

The survey, <i>Surging Ahead in Uncertain Times</i>, says the region is becoming the locomotive of global growth, and notes that developing economies in the Asia-Pacific accounted for 16 per cent of global output and one-third of world economic growth last year.

It also forecasts major currencies in the region to appreciate as a result of capital inflows and imbalances in the US economy and says that the region's central banks can choose any two of three policy options: targeting exchange rates, having an independent monetary policy, or keeping capital accounts open – but not all three.

It sees greater exchange rate flexibility as one sustainable solution that would take away the "one-way bet" that encourages speculative capital inflows, but warns that intervention by monetary authorities to keep currencies down are leading to inflated asset values, especially in housing and equity markets.

A special study focusing on gender inequality estimates the region is losing between $42 billion and $47 billion a year because of restrictions on women's access to employment – and another $16 billion to $30 billion every year because of gender gaps in education. But the survey says that gender balance can be achieved at minimum cost and effort, provided there is political commitment at the highest level.

The report highlights that if India's female work force participation was placed on a par with the US, then its gross domestic product (GDP) would be lifted by 1.08 percentage points – a gain to the economy of $19 billion.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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UN WELCOMES PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF TIMOR-LESTE POLL, LOOKS AHEAD TO NEXT ROUND

UN WELCOMES PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF TIMOR-LESTE POLL, LOOKS AHEAD TO NEXT ROUND
New York, Apr 18 2007 6:00PM
Welcoming the preliminary results of the presidential poll in Timor-Leste, which took place last week, the United Nations today praised the non-violent nature of the voting as it looked ahead to the second round next month, which will also be strongly supported by the world body.

"The two candidates who have obtained the highest number of votes will now contest a second round, on May 9. Again, these elections will have the benefit of considerable assistance from the international community, including through the United Nations," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

"The United Nations is particularly pleased that the first round of the election was completed without any serious incidents of violence and intimidation during the campaign, vote and the counting of ballots, and that candidates have made full use of the appropriate legal channels to raise their concerns about the process."

She said that the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmit/index.html">UNMIT) was pleased at the announcement of the preliminary results, adding that the final results would now be certified by the Court of Appeals after consideration of any appeals that are lodged within the permissible 24-hour period.

Last Monday's poll was the first in Timor-Leste since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and, as well as congratulating the Timorese for participating in the vote, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also commended the national authorities for organizing the election and UNMIT for its support.

"The Secretary-General calls on the international community to continue providing assistance as Timor-Leste works to complete this year's electoral process and to address challenges related to the security sector, the rule of law, governance and development," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said after the landmark vote.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOICES 'DEEP CONCERN' AT REPORTS OF ARMS FLIGHTS INTO DARFUR

BAN KI-MOON VOICES 'DEEP CONCERN' AT REPORTS OF ARMS FLIGHTS INTO DARFUR
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern today at evidence presented to Security Council members of the flying of arms and heavy weapons into the war-torn region of Darfur, a direct violation of a United Nations embargo.

Mr. Ban "is especially troubled by reports that private or national aircraft have been illegally provided with UN markings and used for military purposes," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10952.doc.htm">statement released by his spokesperson at UN Headquarters in New York.

"If further substantiated, such actions would be in clear violation of international law and in contravention of the UN's international status."

A senior UN official told journalists today that there had been three sightings recently of planes with illegal UN markings – one over Darfur, one over a Government-controlled area in neighbouring Chad and one over the Central African Republic (CAR).

In the statement, Mr. Ban pledged to work closely with the Security Council on the issue, and expected full cooperation from the Sudanese Government and other States "to provide prompt clarification" about the aircraft.

Since 2003 more than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million others forced to leave their homes to escape fighting between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups. Entire villages have been burned down during the clashes.

Concern has mounted recently that the conflict may spill into Chad and the CAR, and earlier this year Mr. Ban described Darfur as the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

On Monday, Mr. Ban and the Council both welcomed Sudan's announcement confirming that it accepts the entire "heavy support package" of troops, police officers, civilian staff and helicopters which the UN will provide to the existing and overstretched African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

The heavy support package is the second phase of a three-step plan that is supposed to culminate in a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force of approximately 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers. This force is to be staffed mainly by Africans.

Under the support package, which is expected to cost $300 million over its first six months, the UN will supply more than 2,200 troops, 350 police and 1,100 civilian staff to the AU mission, known as AMIS. Helicopters will also be deployed. The UN is already providing a $21 million "light support package" which includes police advisers, civilian staff, technical support and other resources.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO URGES ACTION BY ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO REACH ANTI-POVERTY GOALS

MIGIRO URGES ACTION BY ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO REACH ANTI-POVERTY GOALS
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Stressing the need to address the disparities in today's world by striving to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro urged action by all partners to achieve the time-bound anti-poverty targets that were set by world leaders meeting at the United Nations in 2000.

"Midway to the MDG target date of 2015, the world has registered mixed progress towards these targets," she said in an address at Boston University yesterday, hailing advances in many parts of the world, including a number of Asian countries.

While there has also been progress in a number of African States, there is growing poverty in the continent overall, she said. "The reality is that Africa's current growth, while commendable, is still insufficient when set against the tremendous distance the continent needs to cover."

African governments must continue with institutional reforms that promote good governance and accountability, said Ms. Migiro, a former foreign minister of Tanzania. "They should especially improve transparency in the use of domestic and external development resources."

She praised the efforts of development partners while calling for further action. "Donor nations and development partners should demonstrate leadership by bringing the quality and quantity of their development assistance in line with their stated commitments," she declared.

The Deputy Secretary-General called for a series of measures, including lowering existing trade barriers, agricultural subsidies, and restrictive rules on investment.

"Ultimately, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals requires leadership from all sides," she said, pledging the UN's full support in this process.

Also on Tuesday, Ms. Migiro accepted the Boston University Award, saying she was "humbled and inspired."

She praised the institution's long-standing ties to Africa. "This university houses one of the oldest African studies programmes in this nation. Its reputation as a centre of teaching and research on Africa is second to none," she said.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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OFFICIALS VISIT HAITI AS PART OF UN EFFORTS TO BOOST ECONOMY, STATUS OF WOMEN

OFFICIALS VISIT HAITI AS PART OF UN EFFORTS TO BOOST ECONOMY, STATUS OF WOMEN
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Officials from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Division for the Advancement of Women have arrived in Haiti as part of the world body's efforts to help the country as it works to consolidate democracy.

A delegation from the Ad Hoc Advisory Group of ECOSOC is on a four-day mission to assess Haiti's economic and social development strategies, according to a news release from the UN Mission in the country (MINUSTAH), which was established in October 2004 after an insurgency forced then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to go into exile.

Led by Canadian Ambassador John McNee, the team is working to evaluate the current situation in Haiti and assess the post-conflict reconstruction challenges faced by the country.

Among other tasks, the Group will examine the work of the UN country team and international assistance by all players on the ground, including follow up to recommendations made after it conducted a visit to Haiti in 2005.

In another development, a high-level delegation from the Division on the Advancement of Women met today in Port-au-Prince with the senior UN envoy to the country, Mr. Edmond Mulet.

This delegation, which arrived on Monday, is in Haiti to work in close collaboration with the Government to implement the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. Haiti, which joined the pact in 1981, is scheduled to report to the committee which monitors it next year.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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RWANDA ASKS UN COURT TO OVERTURN FRENCH ARREST WARRANTS OVER GENOCIDE

RWANDA ASKS UN COURT TO OVERTURN FRENCH ARREST WARRANTS OVER GENOCIDE
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Rwanda applied today to the International Court of Justice (<"http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?p1=0&PHPSESSID=426f76ef8fdf0193e0c9f06c5678d943">ICJ) to quash arrest warrants issued by a French judge last year against senior Rwandan Government and military officials and a request to the United Nations that President Paul Kagame stand trial at the UN war crimes tribunal dealing with the 1994 genocide.

The application relates to the downing in Kigali on 6 April 1994 of an aircraft carrying the then presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, an incident that sparked the subsequent genocide in Rwanda.

Last November a French judge issued arrest warrants against a series of Rwandan officials, including the Chief of General Staff of its Defence Forces, the Chief of Protocol to the Presidency and the Rwandan Ambassador to India.

By issuing those warrants, France is violating international law concerned with international and diplomatic immunities, as well as Rwanda's sovereignty, and the warrants should be annulled immediately, Rwanda stated in its application.

The African nation said the judge's report was also sent to the UN Secretary-General with the request that Mr. Kagame be brought for trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (<"http://69.94.11.53/default.htm">ICTR).

Such an action means France "has acted in breach of the obligation of each and every State to refrain from intervention in the affairs of other States," Rwanda argued.

The ICJ said in a press release that the application has been sent to the French Government and, in accordance with its rules, no action will be taken by the court unless France consents to ICJ jurisdiction in the case.

Estimates vary but some 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, are thought to have been killed by Hutu militias and others over a 100-day period in Rwanda in 1994.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL RECOMMENDS 6-MONTH EXTENSION OF UN MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA

SECRETARY-GENERAL RECOMMENDS 6-MONTH EXTENSION OF UN MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today recommends a further six-month extension in the mandate of the United Nations mission in the Western Sahara until October, calling also for the Security Council to urge Morocco and the Frente Polisario to start negotiations in an effort to re-start the long-stalled peace process in the region.

In his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/202">report to the 15-member Council, which covers the last six months, Mr. Ban writes that although the overall situation between the two sides has remained "generally calm," the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is still needed to monitor the ceasefire.

"I recommend that the Security Council call upon the parties, Morocco and the Frente Polisario, to enter into negotiations without preconditions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara." Neighbouring Algeria and Mauritania, should also be invited to the negotiations, he recommends.

"I believe that the presence of <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurso/index.html">MINURSO remains indispensable for the maintenance of the ceasefire in Western Sahara. Therefore, I recommend that the Security Council extend the mandate of MINURSO for a further period of six months, until 31 October 2007."

Mr. Ban also calls for the lifting of restrictions of movement imposed on UN personnel, and for all sides to extend their full cooperation to the Mission and "ensure that basic peacekeeping principles are upheld."

He further highlights the plight of Western Saharan refugees and calls for international assistance to help them, while also urging all parties to respect the human rights of the people of Western Sahara and continue to work with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR).

MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and organize a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony which Morocco has claimed as its own and where Frente Polisario has been fighting for independence.

But in April 2004 Morocco said it could not accept a referendum that included independence as an option. Efforts to resolve the impasse between the two sides have stalled in recent years, with no direct political negotiations taking place.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH ITALIAN LEADERS AT START OF OFFICIAL VISIT

BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH ITALIAN LEADERS AT START OF OFFICIAL VISIT
New York, Apr 18 2007 4:00PM
The troubled situations in the Middle East, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Kosovo topped the agenda during talks between Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Italy's President and Foreign Minister in Rome today, the start of an official trip that will take in stops in Switzerland, Qatar and Syria as well.

Mr. Ban also discussed climate change, United Nations reform, the Darfur crisis, Somalia and Western Sahara during his talks with President Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister Massimo d'Alema, his spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists.

In a joint press conference after his talks with Mr. d'Alema, Mr. Ban commended Italy as the only country to rank in the world's top eight in both troop and financial contributions to the UN.

Asked about capital punishment, Mr. Ban said that he and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour "fully support the growing trend in the international community toward the abolition of the use of the death penalty."

The Secretary-General also met with the foreign affairs committees of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate in the Italian Parliament, as well as with other officials.

Later today he is scheduled to hold a tête-à-tête meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and attend a dinner hosted by senior Italian parliamentarians.

When he travels to Switzerland, Mr. Ban will hold talks with leaders of the Swiss Government and chair a meeting of the Chief Executives Board, which brings together top officials from across the UN system.

He is then slated to speak before the Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade in Doha, Qatar, before heading to the Syrian capital, Damascus, where meetings with senior Government officials, including President Bashar Assad, are expected.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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UN CONFERENCE AGREES ON URGENT NEED TO HELP 4 MILLION UPROOTED IRAQIS

UN CONFERENCE AGREES ON URGENT NEED TO HELP 4 MILLION UPROOTED IRAQIS
New York, Apr 18 2007 4:00PM
An international conference in Geneva organized by the United Nations refugee agency to focus on the plight of the nearly 4 million Iraqis who have fled their homes ended today with agreement on the urgent need to stem the outflow of people while assisting those in need, including by providing support to neighbouring countries which are sheltering refugees.

"There was truly a humanitarian spirit that allowed us to work together, to work together in a committed way for the same purpose – the people we care for, the Iraqis displaced inside and outside Iraq," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/462621bb4.html">UNHCR) António Guterres told a concluding news conference after the two-day gathering that drew representatives of 60 nations.

There are some 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside Iraq and 2 million refugees abroad.

The conference, which attracted the participation of some 450 delegates, opened with an appeal from UNHCR for a sustained, comprehensive and coordinated international response to the humanitarian crisis – the largest displacement of population since the war surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.

Many Iraqis were displaced before the fall of the previous regime in 2003. Between 2003 and 2005, more than 300,000 Iraqis had returned home to begin rebuilding their lives but the trend has dramatically reversed. About 750,000 people are estimated to have fled their homes since February 2006, with up to 50,000 more displaced each month.

"There has been broad recognition of the fact that local integration of such large numbers of Iraqis in countries of asylum is not an option, and that resettlement will give priority to the most vulnerable," Mr. Guterres said. "Everyone emphasized that the preferred solution for the overwhelming majority of Iraqi refugees will be their voluntary return."

Mr. Guterres voiced hope that international gratitude for the burden assumed by receiving countries – with Syria hosting 1.2 million Iraqis and Jordan another 750,000 – would soon translate into financial support. He also sought an increased amount of resettlement to third countries, considered necessary for the most vulnerable refugees.

On the broader need for a political solution, he said participants called for urgent action "in order to find a durable solution based on national reconciliation."
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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UN-HABITAT, COCA-COLA TEAM UP FOR CLEAN WATER IN SOUTH ASIA

UN-HABITAT, COCA-COLA TEAM UP FOR CLEAN WATER IN SOUTH ASIA
New York, Apr 18 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (<"http://www.unhabitat.org/">UN-HABITAT) signed an agreement today with the soft drink conglomerate Coca-Cola to collaborate on projects to improve community access to water and sanitation in India and Nepal.

Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director UN-HABITAT, described the deal with Coca-Cola, India as "an innovative example of how public-private-community partnerships can help meet the challenge of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

The Goals are a series of eight targets for reducing social and economic ills – including the halving of the number of people without access to clean water and adequate sanitation – by 2015.

Today's agreement includes the setting up of demonstration projects to increase water supply through rainwater harvesting and to better conserve and store water in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. In West Bengal state, 150 schools will be provided with safe drinking water and sanitation. Coca-Cola has also pledged to improve water management and sanitation in selected urban slums and rural areas in neighbouring Nepal.

Mrs. Tibaijuka, who signed the agreement with Coca-Cola, India at a ceremony in Nairobi, UN-HABITAT's headquarters and the site of this week's session of its governing council, said "clean water and sanitation can make or break human development."
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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AT UN PUBLISHING OPEN HOUSE, PARTICIPANTS HAIL GREATER EFFICIENCY IN PRINTING

AT UN PUBLISHING OPEN HOUSE, PARTICIPANTS HAIL GREATER EFFICIENCY IN PRINTING
New York, Apr 18 2007 3:00PM
Scores of diplomats, United Nations officials, staff members and other guests today viewed the world body's printing facilities up close at an open house which showcased new technology being used to boost output while cutting costs.

"The new four-color press is the latest example of how our Department is taking the lead in optimizing efficiency through excellence in human resources and technological innovation," said Yohannes Mengesha, Assistant Secretary-General in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM).

He made his comments as guests toured the basement facility where thousands of UN documents, books and other materials are printed each year, often with a very tight deadline and in the six official languages.

The four-color offset press, which has been running since late last year, has already produced numerous periodicals, such as the <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/civpol/civpol1.html">UN Police Magazine, in less than half the time it would have taken using the two-colour offset press it replaced.

Yuval Elbaz, an expert in pre-press, explained that with the older model, it took more time because the paper had to be repositioned to run through the press. The new system is much more cost-effective – "and fast," he said, adding that there was also far less waste of paper.

"The four-color press gives us the capability to work efficiently and to produce high-quality, commercial-grade offset printing," said Officer-in-Charge William Hamill.

The innovative approach being employed by the Publishing Section comes as part of a broader effort to improve management being led by a special unit of the UN's Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) set up for this purpose.

"It has been a collaborative effort, and they are doing a great job," said Paulette Woolf, OIOS Deputy Director of the Internal Management Consulting Services, of her counterparts in DGACM. "The more the message gets out, the more clients will use the in-house printing services" because of their efficiency, she added.

John Donnolly, a management consultant with OIOS who led the project, said the publishing team was "really motivated" to streamline their work.

Officials from the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) – a powerful budget watchdog panel – hailed the event as an opportunity to witness resources in action.

"We always see how much it costs [for the UN to print its products] but we never see what is going on here," said ACABQ Member Collen V. Kelapile, who is more accustomed to reviewing budgets on paper than visiting the services they finance. "With this view," he added as he walked through the large-scale basement printing operation, "we see that there is a great deal of work being accomplished."

His colleague on the ACABQ, Susan McLurg, Minister Counsellor of the United States Mission to the UN, echoed this view. "It is interesting to see what the UN is capable of producing in-house," she said. "It is very impressive."

Located three levels down at the UN Headquarters in New York, the world body's printing and distribution specialists work 24 hours each day to ensure that documents, publications and other materials reach all UN clients as quickly as possible. Officials predict that the four-color press will pay for itself within a year.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR TEAM TO ASSESS POSSIBLE ARMS MOVEMENTS INTO LEBANON

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR TEAM TO ASSESS POSSIBLE ARMS MOVEMENTS INTO LEBANON
New York, Apr 18 2007 1:00PM
Voicing concern at reports of illegal arms movements across the Lebanese-Syrian border, which would violate the United Nations resolution ending last year's conflict between the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hizbollah, the <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9002.doc.htm">Security Council has invited Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send an independent mission as soon as possible to assess the monitoring of the entire border.

In a statement read out last night by Ambassador Karen Pierce of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, the 15-member body said it welcomed Mr. Ban's intention, outlined in a letter last week, to evaluate the situation along the border.

Such a mission should be independent and dispatched in close liaison with the Lebanese Government, the presidential statement added, and report back promptly to the Council on its findings and recommendations.

In his letter, Mr. Ban had proposed sending a small team with specific terms of reference and for a limited period of time.

Council members said they had "serious concern at mounting information by Israel and another State of illegal movements of arms" across the border between Lebanon and Syria. At the same time, the Council members welcomed the Lebanese Government's expressed determination and steps taken to prevent such movements.

Noting that Syria has stated it has taken its own measures in this area, the Council reiterated its call on Damascus to take further steps to reinforce border controls.

The statement also called on all Member States, especially those in the region, to take all necessary measures to enforce the arms embargo detailed in resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1701(2006)">1701, which last August ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah.

Last night's presidential statement also welcomed the successful completion of the second phase of the deployment of the expanded UN Interim Force in Lebanon (<" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html">UNIFIL) and commended that Force's active role.

Council members called on the Israeli and Lebanese Governments to do more to consolidate the cessation of hostilities, particularly by increasing their cooperation with UNIFIL and approving temporary security arrangements for the northern part of the village of Ghajar.

The statement also reiterated members' deep concern over continuing Israeli violations of Lebanese air space and renewed the Council's call for the disbanding and disarming of all militias and armed groups, aside from the military, in Lebanon.

It also voiced deep concern at reported recent statements by a Hizbollah leader about the seizure by Lebanese authorities of a truckload of arms "and underscores that these statements are an open admission of activities which would constitute a violation of resolution 1701."
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN EXPRESSES SHOCK AND REGRET AT ASSASSINATION OF NAGASAKI MAYOR

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN EXPRESSES SHOCK AND REGRET AT ASSASSINATION OF NAGASAKI MAYOR
New York, Apr 18 2007 11:00AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed shock and regret at the assassination of Mayor Iccho Itoh of the Japanese city of Nagasaki, describing him as a "champion of peace" for his efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

"As Mayor of the second city that had been destroyed by atomic weapons in 1945, Mayor Itoh was a champion of peace for a world where nuclear war would never happen again," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2525">statement.

"He was a leader in the international campaign of more than 1,600 Mayors for Peace, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2020. The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to his family and friends, to the citizens of Nagasaki and Japan, to the many who work for a world without nuclear weapons."
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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PEACE PROCESS IMPROVES HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN UGANDA - UN

PEACE PROCESS IMPROVES HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN UGANDA – UN
New York, Apr 18 2007 10:00AM
The peace process in Northern Uganda has fostered improved conditions for beleaguered civilians there, according to a senior United Nations official, who called for continued efforts to bring stability to the region which has been torn by a violent rebellion for some two decades.

"The humanitarian situation in northern Uganda and parts of Southern Sudan has improved significantly in the past year," said UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Margareta Wahlström on Tuesday.

"People are returning to their homes and re-establishing their livelihoods," she added, while cautioning that "a final peace accord between the parties remains necessary to sustain and promote further progress on the humanitarian front."

She welcomed the recent extension of the Cessation of Hostilities between the Government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the resumption of their peace talks.

Sustained security improvements over the past year, attributable to the peace process, have given some 1.4 million displaced Ugandans – many of whom have spent two decades in overcrowded camps – renewed hope that peace will finally come and encouraged many to begin the process of returning to their homes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?MenuID=12607&Page=2349">OCHA) said in a news release.

In the past year, more than 300,000 of the displaced have left the camps to return to their areas of origin in northern Uganda, OCHA said, crediting the cessation of hostilities resulting from the ongoing peace talks in Juba, Southern Sudan.

Among other assurances that the situation is improving, there have been no civilian abductions since the start of the talks. And there has been a reduction in the phenomenon of "night commuters," children who daily travel long distances to escape a conflict which has been characterized by atrocities against them in order to seek shelter overnight in urban centres.

Despite this progress, however, northern Uganda requires continued emergency relief and protection, as well as assistance in returns and early recovery, OCHA warned. Some 1 million displaced remain in the camps. And while returning families benefit from greater access to cultivable land, the lack of schools and health facilities in areas of return have prompted some to leave their women and children behind in the camps.

Meanwhile, in eastern Teso district, the 130,000 displaced Ugandans who remain in camps have little prospect for return due to continued instability resulting from insecurity in the neighbouring district of Karamoja, the Office pointed out.

Over the past two decades, the conflict between the Government and the LRA has resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and the displacement of 2 million people.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

SADDENED BY UNITED STATES COLLEGE SHOOTINGS, BAN KI-MOON VOICES HOPE FOR HEALING

SADDENED BY UNITED STATES COLLEGE SHOOTINGS, BAN KI-MOON VOICES HOPE FOR HEALING
New York, Apr 17 2007 6:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced sadness at the shooting rampage yesterday at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the United States, while expressing hope that the many affected individuals and communities would be able to embark on a deep process of healing.

"I feel very much sorry and troubled, and any such rampant killing of innocent citizens and children is totally not acceptable and I condemn it in strongest terms possible," Mr. Ban said in <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1017">response to questions by reporters in New York.

His spokesperson later added: "This tragic incident underscores the common bonds of all humanity. We all grieve with the survivors and the families of all victims."

The Secretary-General offered his hopes "for a profound healing process for the many individuals and communities affected," spokesperson Michele Montas said.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR UNITY AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, BETTER ACCESS TO RESOURCES

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR UNITY AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, BETTER ACCESS TO RESOURCES
New York, Apr 17 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for a "long-term global response" to deal with climate change, along with unified efforts involving the Security Council, Member States and other international bodies to deal with the problem of scare resources, warning that countries' lack of access to water, energy and other essentials can lead to conflict.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2524">Addressing the Security Council's <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9000.doc.htm">open debate on energy, security and climate, Mr. Ban pointed to recent UN evidence showing not only that the planet's warming is unequivocal but also that its impact is clearly noticeable, and "beyond doubt that human activities have been contributing considerably to it."

"I firmly believe that today, all countries recognize that climate change, in particular, requires a long-term global response, in line with the latest scientific findings, and compatible with economic and social development," he said.

"Adverse effects are already felt in many areas, including agriculture and food security; oceans and coastal areas; biodiversity and ecosystems; water resources; human health; human settlements; energy, transport and industry; and extreme weather events," he said.

He warned that that projected changes in the earth's climate are more than an environmental concern. "They can also have serious social and economic implications."

Mr. Ban illustrated his remarks with six possible scenarios showing the danger to world security caused by increasing climate change, coupled with States' lack of access to scarce resources, including limited or threatened access to energy.

He pointed out that human relations are easier at times of plenty but when resources are scarce the earth's fragile ecosystems become strained, along with "the coping mechanisms of groups and individuals," and this can lead to a "breakdown of established codes of conduct, and even outright conflict."

Calling for the involvement of civil society and the private sector, he said the Security Council "has a role to play in working with other competent intergovernmental bodies to address the possible root causes of conflict discussed today."

Mr. Ban pledged the UN's readiness to assist in this effort. "I personally look forward to engaging with Member States on these issues, and hope that through discussions in various fora, we can develop a broad consensus on the way forward," he concluded.

Representatives from over 50 Member States spoke during the day-long debate, expressing a wide range of viewpoints.

German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, also speaking for the European Union, said the world was expecting "new and determined measures from governments and the UN" on climate change. "The EU is prepared to play its part in efforts to address these challenges at the global level and is calling upon others to do the same," he said.

Qatar's Ambassador, Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said international efforts to address climate change had failed so far because the problem had become completely separated from the issue of development. "We firmly believe that any successful solution to the climate change problem must emerge as part of an integrated approach to sustainable development," he said.

Speaking on behalf of Pacific Small Island States, Papua New Guinea's Ambassador Robert Aisi reminded the Council that the islands were already feeling the effects of climate change, through more intense cyclones, a rising number of "king tides," and increasing incidence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

"Climate change, climate variability, and sea-level rise are therefore not just environmental concerns, but also economic, social and political issues for Pacific Island countries. They strike the very heart of our existence," he said.

Several African countries supported the Council's discussion of climate change, in contrast to the representative of the Group of 77 (G-77), a coalition of developing countries, who said it was best dealt with by the 192-member General Assembly and other bodies rather than by the 15-member Security Council.

Ghanaian representative Leslie K. Christian said: "It is our fervent hope that the repeated alarm about the grave threats posed by climate change, especially to regions that are already struggling with chronic instability, shall lead to action that is timely, concerted and sustainable, in order to alleviate the negative consequences of the phenomenon."

However, Pakistani Representative Farukh Amil, speaking for the G-77, said the issue of climate change did not belong in the Security Council, but rather in the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Sustainable Development, and in the Climate Change Convention.

"We hope that the decision by the Council to hold this debate does not create a precedent or undermine the authority or mandate of the relevant bodies, process and instrument, which are already addressing these issues," said Mr. Amil.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR AT THE CROSSROADS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON AS HE CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

DARFUR AT THE CROSSROADS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON AS HE CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION
New York, Apr 17 2007 6:00PM
The situation in Darfur has reached a crossroads, with dire humanitarian and security conditions, continued attacks against civilians and African Union (AU) peacekeepers, inter-tribal fighting and aerial bombardments, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today as he called for an immediate end to hostilities and a comprehensive solution – including political reconciliation and economic development – to the conflict.

Speaking after two days of consultations with AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konaré and other AU and UN officials in New York, Mr. Ban reiterated his welcome of the Sudanese Government's announcement confirming its support of the UN's entire "heavy support package" to the existing AU peace force.

But he stressed that the package must be implemented as soon as possible and called for the finalization of plans for the proposed hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed since 2003.

"We have also agreed to intensify our political process," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1017">told reporters today in a press encounter with Mr. Konaré, adding that all rebel leaders in Darfur would be included in the process.

"There will be a two-track approach: the political process and we are also trying to work on a development package for the Sudanese and Darfur people."

Mr. Ban and Mr. Konaré said they had instructed their respective envoys for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, to devise a road map towards substantive negotiations and an eventual comprehensive solution to the conflict.

Rebel groups have been fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militias across Darfur, a vast and impoverished region in western Sudan, for four years. Aside from the massive death toll, more than 2 million people have been displaced from their homes and double that number depend on UN agencies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for aid.

The conflict is threatening to spill into neighbouring Chad, where thousands of refugees from Darfur have fled, and the Central African Republic (CAR), and Mr. Ban and Mr. Konaré voiced concern at the increasing tensions between Sudan and Chad and urged the two countries to normalize relations and stop all cross-border activities.

The UN and AU chiefs also called for the Sudanese Government and others to meet all their commitments under recent communiqués concerning humanitarian access and security.

Under the heavy support package, the UN will supply troops, police officers, civilian staff, helicopter gunships and other resources to the AU mission in Darfur, known as AMIS. The following phase of the plan will see the introduction of a hybrid force of more than 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers, compared with AMIS' current level of 7,000 troops.

In response to questions, Mr. Ban and Mr. Konaré said the hybrid force would be staffed mainly by Africans, and Mr. Ban called for "the full participation and support" of the continent's countries.

They also expressed concern about funding for AMIS and urged international donors to help to provide a viable and sustained way of supporting the operation.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis/">UNMIS) reported that a fire broke out yesterday in the marketplace of a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Darfur state, destroying about 100 shops.

No casualties were reported at the fire, which took place at Abu Shouk camp, and the Mission said local police believed the blaze was started accidentally.

AMIS is also investigating the weekend deaths of four children who were reportedly killed by unexploded ordnance in West Darfur.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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UN LEGAL CHIEF ARRIVES IN LEBANON TO HELP END IMPASSE OVER HARIRI KILLING TRIBUNAL

UN LEGAL CHIEF ARRIVES IN LEBANON TO HELP END IMPASSE OVER HARIRI KILLING TRIBUNAL
New York, Apr 17 2007 5:00PM
Pledging to bring an open mind to his work, the United Nations legal chief arrived in the Lebanese capital today to help the Government and the country's other political leaders to end their political impasse and set up a special tribunal as soon as possible to try the suspected killers of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel has been dispatched to Beirut by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to offer legal assistance to the Lebanese as they work towards parliamentary ratification of the agreement on setting up the tribunal. Such ratification is necessary for the tribunal to enter into force.

Speaking to reporters today on his arrival in Beirut, Mr. Michel said he was ready to engage in a substantial dialogue during his visit, in which he is expected to meet President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.

Mr. Michel – who is also the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs – stressed that the tribunal was requested by Lebanon's legitimate authorities, not the UN, and its creation was unanimously supported by the first meeting of the country's 'national dialogue.'

He added that although it will take at least one year for the tribunal to become operational after its legal basis is adopted through ratification, it is now time to adopt that legal basis.

Once it is formally established, it will be up to the tribunal to determine whether other political killings in <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=110&Body=Lebanon&Body1=">Lebanon since October 2004 were connected to Mr. Hariri's assassination and could therefore be dealt with by the tribunal.

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INTERIM REPORT ON SHOOTINGS IN KOSOVO CITES ROMANIANS ATTACHED TO UN POLICE UNIT

INTERIM REPORT ON SHOOTINGS IN KOSOVO CITES ROMANIANS ATTACHED TO UN POLICE UNIT
New York, Apr 17 2007 5:00PM
An interim report into violent clashes in Kosovo two months ago in which two protesters died and two were injured has found "substantial basis" on which to conclude that Romanian gunners linked to a United Nations specialized police unit were responsible, a spokesperson for the world body said today.

In his report to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (<"http://www.unmikonline.org/">UNMIK), which has run the Albanian-majority Serbian province since 1999, International Prosecutor Robert Dean also says that the Mission, the UN and Romania's Government may also want to consider compensation for the victims and their families, the spokesperson added.

"The interim report states that there is a substantial basis on which to conclude that Romanian gunners attached to the Romanian Formed Police Unit were indeed responsible for the four woundings – two of which were fatal," spokesperson Michelle Montas told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

"But there is not enough evidence right now pointing to which specific Romanian gunners were responsible for firing the wounding shots, and the evidence does not show at this time that the entire group of Romanian gunners acted unlawfully." The report adds however that that there is a reasonable suspicion that three of the shootings constitute crimes under Kosovo law.

"In light of the above, the report says that the UN Mission, the UN, and the Government of Romania may consider initiating appropriate procedures for compensation for the surviving family members of those fatally shot and for those seriously wounded," Ms. Montas said, stressing however that the investigation is continuing and the report is interim in nature.

UNMIK has repeatedly stated its commitment to ensuring a full and impartial investigation into the deaths, which occurred on 10 February in the capital Pristina when police used rubber bullets against pro-independence demonstrators. The protest followed the unveiling of UN proposals for the future status of the province.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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RISING VIOLENCE IN IRAQ COULD OVERWHELM HEALTH SERVICES, UN AGENCY WARNS

RISING VIOLENCE IN IRAQ COULD OVERWHELM HEALTH SERVICES, UN AGENCY WARNS
New York, Apr 17 2007 2:00PM
Escalating violence and widespread insecurity, combined with a worsening shortage of health workers, is putting severe pressure on the health of the Iraqi population, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today, voicing concern that services within and outside the country will not be able to cope with the millions of people who have been forced to leave their homes.

"WHO will continue to support Iraq and help the countries in the region strengthen their existing health services to meet people's needs," said Dr. Hussein Gezairy, who heads the agency's Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The government estimates that almost 70 per cent of critically injured patients with violence-related wounds die while in the Emergency and Intensive Care Units due to a shortage of competent staff and a lack of drugs and equipment, WHO said in a news release published in conjunction with a conference in Geneva being organized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to address the needs of the nearly 4 million uprooted Iraqis.

In Iraq, 80 per cent of people lack effective sanitation, 70 per cent lack access to regular clean water, and only 60 per cent have access to the public food distribution system, according to WHO, which has 77 country officers in Iraq, backed by the agency's international technical teams.

Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections, worsened by increased levels of malnutrition, account for about two thirds of deaths among children under five, while the chronic child malnutrition rate is estimated at 21 per cent, according to the findings of a survey conducted last year by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

At the Geneva conference today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged the UN's continued efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqis, while stressing that a long-term solution is necessary. "Only a secure, politically stable and economically prosperous Iraq can reverse the tide of displacement. And only through assistance from the international community in this difficult period can Iraq fulfil its enormous human and economic potential," he said via video message.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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ACCESS TO HIV TREATMENT GREW SIGNIFICANTLY LAST YEAR - UN REPORT

ACCESS TO HIV TREATMENT GREW SIGNIFICANTLY LAST YEAR – UN REPORT
New York, Apr 17 2007 1:00PM
Countries in every region of the world are making substantial progress in increasing access to HIV treatment, but the goal of achieving universal access by 2010 will remain out of reach unless the pace of growth rises rapidly, according to a joint report from three United Nations agencies published today.

More than 2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries received access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in December, a jump of 54 per cent on the figures from a year earlier, the report on HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector said.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the region worst affected by HIV/AIDS, about 28 per cent of those in need were obtaining HIV treatment, compared to 2 per cent three years earlier. Progress was also being made in other regions, such as North Africa and the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dramatically lower prices for most first-line ARV drugs – some prices fell by more than 50 per cent – was partly responsible for the rising rates of access.

But the <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr16/en/index.html">report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) found that despite these encouraging signs, only 28 per cent of the estimated 7.1 million people in low- or middle-income States were receiving treatment.

Calling the increased access "a positive step forward," UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot nevertheless cautioned that "there is still a long way to go, particularly in the widespread provision of treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which remains one of the simplest and cheapest proven prevention methods available."

The number of children receiving treatment remains especially low, and UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman called them "the missing face of the AIDS pandemic."

WHO's HIV/AIDS Director Kevin De Cock added that improving access to injecting drug users – as well as children – must be an urgent priority in the global efforts against the scourge.

The report made a series of recommendations, including the acceleration of efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV in children, a scaling up of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and the introduction of new strategies to boost knowledge of HIV status, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Male circumcision is an important additional HIV prevention step, the report noted, urging countries to scale up access to safe circumcision services.

It also called for greater access for sufferers to quality treatment and preventive care for tuberculosis as almost 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS contract the disease each year.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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NORTHERN UGANDA: UN FORCED TO CUT FOOD RATIONS TO OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE

NORTHERN UGANDA: UN FORCED TO CUT FOOD RATIONS TO OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE
New York, Apr 17 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2441">WFP) said today that a shortage of contributions has forced it to cut food rations for 1.28 million people driven into camps from their homes during a 20-year rebellion by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

"WFP strongly appreciates the swift response to our March appeal from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (<" http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=7480">CERF), the United States, Canada and Norway, but unless there are additional contributions from other donors the problem for 1.28 million displaced and 182,000 refugees will persist," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

The agency gives internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) partial rations because they can grow some food on land near the camps to supplement what WFP gives them. In April, WFP was forced to reduce the individual food aid package for the displaced to just 40 per cent of the minimum daily energy requirement of 1,200 kilocalories because of a shortage of contributions.

In addition, WFP cut already partial rations to 182,000 mainly Sudanese refugees by 50 per cent.

The WFP chief said new contributions are expected to "ease the pressure in June." But the agency will maintain the 40 per cent ration for the 1.28 million displaced in northern Uganda and reduced rations for refugees until its food supply is normalized.

WFP has so far received $62 million of the $131 million it asked donors and the Government to provide for relief and recovery in 2007.

Since the LRA rebellion began in 1986, the rebel group has become notorious for abducting children and then using them as soldiers or porters, while subjecting some to torture and allocating many girls to senior officers in a form of institutional rape.

The International Criminal Court (<" http://www.un.org/law/icc">ICC) in October, 2005 issued its first-ever arrest warrants against Joseph Kony, the LRA leader, and four of the group's commanders – Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya – on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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UN GRIEVES FOR SLAIN COLLEAGUES AND CHILDREN IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER DEADLY ATTACKS

UN GRIEVES FOR SLAIN COLLEAGUES AND CHILDREN IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER DEADLY ATTACKS
New York, Apr 17 2007 12:00PM
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan today expressed grief over the killing of five of its workers in a roadside bomb blast and also for the deaths of four children and the wounding of four others in a separate explosion at a school.

"Intentional attacks on civilians are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the UN will be pursuing full accountability for those who are behind this," said UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/_latestnews/2007/English/07april17-UNAMA-statement-Kandahar-herat-blasts.html">UNAMA) spokesman Adrian Edwards.

"We grieve for our lost colleagues and for the murdered and wounded children and offer our deep sympathies to their families and loved ones."

A remote-controlled explosive device was detonated this morning in the southern city of Kandahar as a UN road convoy was passing, killing an Afghan driver and four Nepalese contractors working with the world body's Office for Project Services.

Separately another explosion occurred at a school in Herat, in the west of the country, killing four children and wounding four others.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD AGENCY APPEALS FOR HELP TO AVERT DEEPENING CRISIS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UN FOOD AGENCY APPEALS FOR HELP TO AVERT DEEPENING CRISIS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Apr 17 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2440">WFP) today appealed for increased international donor support to avert a deepening humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), where hundreds of thousands of people displaced by war and civil conflict are in urgent need of food assistance.

"The humanitarian situation in CAR is serious, and getting worse as a result of the violence and conflict spilling over from Darfur," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

"We need to increase our operations to cover the food needs of 230,000 people in this growing emergency."

The appeal comes ahead of Ms. Sheeran's visit to Ethiopia, Sudan and Chad next week, where she will assess the impact of the spill-over of the Darfur conflict in neighbouring Sudan for WFP operations in the region.

Her visit will follow on the visit to Sudan and the Central African region in early April by Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who also focussed on the worsening situation in the often-overlooked emergency in CAR.

WFP is more than doubling its budget and scaling up its aid operations nearly six-fold to reach 230,000 people within CAR whose lives have been savaged by the ongoing violence.

Another 20,000 Central Africans who have fled west into Cameroon are targeted through a new WFP operation, while close to 50,000 refugees are already receiving WFP assistance in camps in southern Chad.

Total cost for this humanitarian effort is likely to exceed $50 million. In CAR alone, the newly expanded operation is budgeted at $44 million, but donor contributions to date amount to $14 million.
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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UN MEETING OPENS WITH CALLS FOR GLOBAL SUPPORT TO HELP MILLIONS OF UPROOTED IRAQIS

UN MEETING OPENS WITH CALLS FOR GLOBAL SUPPORT TO HELP MILLIONS OF UPROOTED IRAQIS
New York, Apr 17 2007 11:00AM
Hundreds of concerned participants from governments, aid organizations and United Nations bodies gathered in Geneva today at a <" http://www.unhcr.org/events/45e44a562.html">conference organized by the UN refugee agency in a bid to find ways to address the humanitarian crisis facing millions of people uprooted by the conflict in Iraq, hearing calls for a sustained, comprehensive and coordinated international response to their plight.

"The humanitarian dimension of the problem can no longer be overlooked," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4624b0814.html">told representatives from more than 60 nations at the opening of a two-day UNHCR conference on the humanitarian needs of nearly 4 million refugees and displaced people in Iraq and surrounding countries.

He said their "needs are as obvious as the moral imperative to help."

Urging results from the more than 450 participants from governments and international and non-governmental organizations attending, he said: "All of us – representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society – are now compelled to act."

Mr. Guterres noted that while Iraq probably had the highest media profile of any conflict in the world today, "too little attention has been devoted to the humanitarian tragedy looming in the shadows."

According to UNHCR, the conflict in Iraq has caused the most significant displacement in the Middle East since 1948, with one in eight Iraqis driven from their homes. Some 1.9 million Iraqis are currently displaced inside the country and up to 2 million others have fled abroad.

"It is the largest urban caseload UNHCR has ever dealt with," Mr. Guterres said in a reference to Syria, Jordan and other nearby countries. "But those host communities are straining under this extraordinary burden, while the suffering of the displaced grows by the day." He added that: "The generosity of host countries must be matched by that of the entire international community."

Many Iraqis were displaced prior to the fall of the previous regime in 2003. Between 2003 and 2005, more than 300,000 Iraqis had returned home to begin rebuilding their lives, he said. But the trend has now dramatically reversed, particularly since the Samarra bombing in February 2006. About 750,000 people are estimated to have fled their homes since that incident, with up to 50,000 more displaced each month.

The High Commissioner stressed the humanitarian focus of the meeting, but also noted that humanitarian problems are "symptoms of a disease whose cure can only be political."
2007-04-17 00:00:00.000

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Monday, April 16, 2007

STREAMLINING THE UN IS A WIN-WIN STEP FOR RICH AND POOR STATES - SECRETARY-GENERAL

STREAMLINING THE UN IS A WIN-WIN STEP FOR RICH AND POOR STATES – SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Apr 16 2007 8:00PM
Countries rich and poor will benefit if the United Nations can make its operations in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment more streamlined and efficient, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today as he unveiled his report on the recommendations contained in the recent High-Level Panel on system-wide coherence across the world body.

In a presentation to the General Assembly in which he said "the Panel has produced thought-provoking and far-reaching proposals," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2520">stressed that any progress on improving UN coherence should not be viewed as favouring one set of Member States at the expense of another.

"It is a win for developing countries, who stand to gain more coherent assistance and better service delivery," he said. "It is a win for developed countries, who will be able to explain and justify to their constituents why it is right to channel resources through the UN, and demonstrate real results."

The issues of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment are all broad enough, Mr. Ban added, that everyone should have a stake in them.

"It is a matter of life and death to millions of men, women and children around the world who depend on us to meet their basic human needs – today and for generations to come."

Since taking office in January, Mr. Ban has said that improving system-wide coherence – which springs from a mandate from the 2005 World Summit at the UN – is one of his priorities as Secretary-General.

"I profoundly agree with the Panel's emphasis on efficiency, transparency and accountability," Mr. Ban told the Assembly today, adding that "frank and productive" discussions with Member States and other stakeholders, inside and outside the UN, about the recommendations in the Panel's report had helped shape his response.

He noted the "One UN" pilot programme introduced to eight countries in which the various UN agencies, funds and programmes operating there are grouped together under one leader, programme and budget to maximize efficiency and opportunities.

The UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination should also become "a more effective and transparent mechanism," in line with what the Panel proposed, he said.

Mr. Ban stressed his support for bringing the various UN bodies that deal with gender equality and women's empowerment into "one dynamic UN entity," with the aim of enhanced results both globally and at the national level.

But he said that the recommendations on UN governance, especially on the plan for strengthening the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), deserve "in-depth intergovernmental review" so that there is more of a common vision.

Before Mr. Ban presented his report, General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa told the meeting that the need for a more efficient UN was becoming ever more crucial as the world approached the halfway point for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by their target date of 2015.

The UN must remain at the heart of the multilateral development system, Sheikha Haya said, and its development activities in poorer countries should be strengthened.

"We have an important and timely opportunity to build on our shared objective to strengthen the UN system," she said.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST DPR KOREA ON TRACK, UN SAYS

IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST DPR KOREA ON TRACK, UN SAYS
New York, Apr 16 2007 7:00PM
The implementation of sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK), imposed last October after the country claimed to have conducted a nuclear test, is on track, the head of the Security Council's sanctions committee said today.

The Sanctions Committee, created by the Council, met today in New York to discuss progress made in implementing the measures, which expressly ban the support by Member States of the country's nuclear-related, other weapons of mass destruction-related and ballistic missile-related programmes.

Thus far, 68 countries and the European Union have reported that they are in the process of implementing the sanctions, the Committee's chairman Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, told reporters after the meeting.

Of these countries, 31 stated they already have the appropriate legislation in place, 27 have informed the Council that there are measures which have already been or will be adopted to put the sanctions into operation, and a further 10 have notified the necessary officials in their governments with the intention of implementing them.

Expressing his satisfaction at the current pace of implementation, Mr. Spatafora said, "there was not a single case in which we, the Committee, had the perception or the feeling there was some resistance or backtracking."

The sanctions were unanimously adopted by the 15-member Council in resolution 1718 – invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter which allows for enforcement measures – after DPRK's 9 October underground nuclear test.

The binding resolution called for DPRK to "suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching," and also to "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."

Member States, the Council said in the resolution, are also to prevent the import from or export to the DPRK of "any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems" as well as "related materiel including spare parts" and other items determined by the sanctions committee.

Other items to be set out in separate lists are also banned, including those "which could contribute to DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes." Luxury goods are also prohibited from being exported to DPRK.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES SUDANESE ACCEPTANCE OF UN HELP TO AFRICAN MISSION IN DARFUR

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES SUDANESE ACCEPTANCE OF UN HELP TO AFRICAN MISSION IN DARFUR
New York, Apr 16 2007 7:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Sudan's announcement confirming that it accepts the entire "heavy support package" of troops, police officers, civilian staff and equipment which the United Nations will provide to the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the violence-wracked Darfur region.

Mr. Ban "is encouraged by this development and intends to move expeditiously with the deployment," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10945.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson in New York after the Secretary-General received a letter from the Sudanese Government confirming its agreement.

The statement said Mr. Ban will work closely with the AU and the Government to implement the deployment, which is the second phase of a three-step plan that is supposed to culminate in a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force of approximately 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers across Darfur.

He expects Sudan "to urgently provide the land and other facilities necessary for the deployment of the heavy support package, including permission to explore for water and meet all operational requirements," the statement added.

Aside from the troops, police officers and civilian staff, the heavy support package includes the provision by the UN of helicopter gunships as well as logistical support to the overstretched AU mission, known as AMIS.

Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters, in response to a question, that the helicopters had been the outstanding component in the heavy support package until today's acceptance letter.

In the statement Mr. Ban called on donors and States providing troops or police to contribute generously and as soon as possible, emphasizing that the UN will also intensify its efforts to implement recent agreements designed to make the political process in Darfur more inclusive.

Today he held talks with AU Chairman Alpha Oumar Konaré on the latest political, humanitarian and security developments in Darfur before they jointly met Security Council members for informal discussions.

Speaking to reporters after that meeting, Mr. Ban thanked the efforts of many world leaders, including the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United States, China and South Africa, as well as Mr. Konaré and the head of the League of Arab States.

"This is a very positive sign," he said of the Sudanese acceptance letter. "The people in Darfur have suffered too much and too long."

More than 200,000 people have been killed and 2 million others displaced from their homes in the vast region in western Sudan since 2003, when Government forces and allied Janjaweed militias began fighting with rebel groups who had taken up arms, largely in protest at the distribution of resources.

The clashes have led to the destruction of entire villages, and fears are increasing that the conflict might also engulf neighbouring eastern Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN is already providing a "light support package" to AMIS which includes police advisers, civilian staff, technical support and other resources.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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TETANUS THE TARGET OF UNICEF-FUNDED CAMPAIGN ACROSS SIERRA LEONE

TETANUS THE TARGET OF UNICEF-FUNDED CAMPAIGN ACROSS SIERRA LEONE
New York, Apr 16 2007 7:00PM
Sierra Leone launched a week-long national campaign against tetanus today in which the United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) is funding the provision of a vaccine to over 1 million women and almost 100,000 children to combat the potentially deadly disease, which often occurs after an acute injury, such as a puncture wound or laceration.

The West African nation has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, with 167 out of every 1,000 children dying before their fifth birthday and 1,300 women dying for every 100,000 live births, UNICEF said in a press release. Eliminating maternal and newborn tetanus will help to cut those rates and the campaign is expected to increase community awareness on the importance of maternal and child health.

"Sierra Leone cannot afford to be left behind in the global campaign to reduce infant deaths due to modern vaccines and medical breakthroughs," said UNICEF Representative Geert Cappelaere, while visiting a vaccination centre in the capital Freetown.

The Integrated Child Survival Campaign on Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus will run until 23 April, and involves the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners in providing 1.2 million women of child-bearing age and 85,000 children aged six months to five years with tetanus toxoid vaccine, deworming and iron folate.

According to the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Abator Thomas, the campaign will ensure that cost-effective measures are applied to save children from unnecessary death due to vaccine-preventable diseases such as neonatal tetanus, and also that children will have unhindered access to the Pentavalent, or five-in-one, vaccine.

UNICEF is providing at least 1.1 million doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine, almost 1,900 tins of vitamin A, more than 20,500 tins of deworming tablets and 8,800 tins of iron, as well as support for social mobilisation, technical aspects and the training of volunteers, worth over $1.4 million.

More than 7,000 vaccinators and volunteers from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation are being deployed in 900 peripheral health units and other temporary fixed points, including schools across the country to support the campaign. The involvement of district councils will ensure that no child is left out.

Neonatal tetanus accounts for 14 per cent of all deaths in newborn babies in Sierra Leone as a result of unhygienic birth practices, especially when tetanus contaminates the baby's umbilical cord at the time it is cut or dressed after delivery. Maternal tetanus strikes a woman during pregnancy or within six weeks of the termination of pregnancy. It is caused by a contamination from tetanus bacteria through wounds linked to abortions or deliveries that are unsafe or unclean.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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PLIGHT OF URBAN POOR SPOTLIGHTED BY BAN KI-MOON IN MESSAGE TO UN MEETING

PLIGHT OF URBAN POOR SPOTLIGHTED BY BAN KI-MOON IN MESSAGE TO UN MEETING
New York, Apr 16 2007 7:00PM
Observing that this year half the world's population lives in towns and cities for the first time in history, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for more efforts to mitigate the plight of the urban poor, who are among the most vulnerable to climate change.

"Urban poverty should be unacceptable in the new urban era," especially given that the number of slum dwellers is expected to reach one billion during 2007, Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2521">message to the 21st session of the Governing Council of the UN Human Settlements Programme (<"http://www.unhabitat.org/">UN-HABITAT) in Nairobi, Kenya.

In the message, read by Inga Bjork-Klevby, UN-HABITAT's Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Ban called for the international community's support to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of improving the lives of 100 million slum residents by 2020, since "failure would risk massive social exclusion, with national and international repercussions."

He also noted that while cities – which consume approximately 75 per cent of global energy and emit 80 per cent of greenhouse gases – cause much environmental damage, the urban poor is rendered helpless by natural disasters, made more frequent by climate change patterns, because they tend to live in unsafe places prone to ruin.

The Secretary-General said that he witnessed this problem first-hand on a visit to the Kibera slum in Nairobi, where slum dwellers, despite having resources, had no access to affordable credit, and where banks have funds but no means to lend money to the poor.

"I have the clear sense that time is not on our side," Mr. Ban noted.

The meeting of UN-HABITAT, the UN agency that seeks to achieve sustainable development of human settlements, will conclude on 20 April.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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GLOBAL FINANCIAL BODIES SHOULD BETTER REFLECT DEVELOPING WORLD INTERESTS - BAN KI-MOON

GLOBAL FINANCIAL BODIES SHOULD BETTER REFLECT DEVELOPING WORLD INTERESTS – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Apr 16 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on officials from international financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) attending a United Nations meeting in New York to engage in deep reforms to accommodate the interests of developing countries.

The Secretary-General, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm10943.doc.htm">addressing a special <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ecosoc6262.doc.htm">meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), said that while the interests and views of donor countries are well represented in the multilateral financial institutions, there has been no effective permanent forum reflecting the interests of the recipient countries.

Developing countries now account for 79 per cent of the world's population and contribute 45 per cent of world output, when measured in terms of purchasing power parities.

"Their significance," Mr. Ban said, "is poorly reflected in forums where crucial decisions about their economic and social future are taken, including some of the institutions created 60 years ago under vastly different circumstances."

"If these institutions are to strengthen their own legitimacy and credibility – and better serve the world's peoples – they must engage more deeply in reforms that reflect today's economic realities," he said.

"That means increasing the weight of several developing countries, which have grown substantially in recent decades. And it means giving adequate voice to smaller economies where many of the world's poor live."

The Secretary-General said that the launching of the Development Cooperation Forum in ECOSOC later this year should help improve international oversight of development assistance. He encouraged the World Bank, IMF and the World Trade Organization to be active participants in this new initiative.

Stressing the importance of good governance, he said developing countries should be "in the driver's seat," pointing out that donor-driven initiatives, especially when externally imposed, can weaken the legitimacy of domestic efforts, and may be counter-productive.

He also spoke out against corruption, saying it must be properly addressed as part of comprehensive governance reforms.

"Anti-corruption efforts should reinforce the only internationally agreed framework in this field, the UN Convention against Corruption. I note with concern that the industrialized countries have been slower to ratify this ground-breaking instrument than developing countries," he said.

The Secretary-General called the disbursement of foreign aid "complicated" and said recipient countries have little influence over the process. "All too often, aid is driven more by politics than by need, undermining its effectiveness."

ECOSOC President Dalius Cekuolis said efforts to achieve individual internationally agreed development goals must be underpinned by a continued commitment of all to a global partnership for development.

The president of the General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa urged delegates to move beyond the mistrust that frustrates progress in international cooperation.

"We must not loose sight of the fact that we share the same objective – to rid the world of extreme poverty and improve the lives of millions of poor around the world," the President told participants.

"If we can achieve these shared development goal, not only will we put an end to poverty, but we can also help to make the world a safer, more stable and prosperous place for all."

Today's ECOSOC meeting brought together officials from the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
In the margins of today's meeting, Mr. Ban discussed how to support ECOSOC with seven former presidents of that body: Ali Hachani of Tunisia (2006), Munir Akram of Pakistan (2005); Marjatta Rasi of Finland (2004), Ivan Simonovic of Croatia (2002), Martin Belinga-Eboutou of Cameroon (2001), Markarim Wibisono of Indonesia (2000) and Mr. Juan Somavia of Chile (1998 and 1993 ).

The meeting also took place as the General Assembly began its consideration today of the Secretary General's report on the recommendations contained in the High-Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence which contains several recommendations for the Council.

The panel has proposed that ECOSOC, which is the main UN body responsible for coordinating the development work of the UN system, be further empowered through the involvement of Member States in its work at the highest possible political level.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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UN OPENS SESSION TO NEGOTIATE NEW AGREEMENT ON FORESTS

UN OPENS SESSION TO NEGOTIATE NEW AGREEMENT ON FORESTS
New York, Apr 16 2007 6:00PM
Representatives of countries from across the world today renewed their efforts to finalize an agreement for the sustainable management of the world's forests at a United Nations meeting in New York.

The session of the UN Forum on Forests (<"http://www.un.org/esa/forests/session.html">UNFF), which runs through 27 April, should result in the adoption of a new pact, which, although not legally binding, would represent the first comprehensive international framework for the protection of all types of forests, participants said.

"These two weeks here in New York have a great potential of leaving a long-lasting legacy on international forest policy and cooperation," said Forum Chairman Hans Hoogeveen of the Netherlands. "It is therefore now or never."

According to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO), global forest cover amounts to just under 4 billion hectares, covering about 30 percent of the world's land area. From 1990 to 2005, 3 percent of total forest area was lost, an average decline of some 0.2 per cent per year.

Work on the new forest agreement began last year when forestry experts from governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil society drafted the elements for the new agreement.

Their draft, which is now before the Forum for finalization and adoption, articulates a clear strategy for accomplishing internationally agreed objectives on forests, such as greater involvement of forest communities in local planning, promoting a system of incentives to maintain and preserve forests, and integrating forest accounting into national economies.

Mr. Hoogeveen said that new and additional resources were essential for the instrument to be effective. After years of deadlock over a financing a global agreement, he predicted that this year's Forum "will be the moment to solve this issue once and forever."

Colombia's UN Ambassador, Claudia Blum, said resolution of the financing issue was vital. "The creation of a fund or financial mechanism is essential to make possible the allocation of new resources to collective action in favour of sustainable forest management."

Some countries promised new resources for forest programmes, including Australia, which recently announced a $166 million International Forest Initiative aimed at building technical capacity, encouraging reforestation and preventing illegal logging in developing countries. The United States, for its part, announced its intention to contribute US$500,000 to the UNFF trust fund.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY UNVEILS TWO WEB PROJECTS TO FIGHT DISEASE AND TRACK MEDICAL PROGRESS

UN AGENCY UNVEILS TWO WEB PROJECTS TO FIGHT DISEASE AND TRACK MEDICAL PROGRESS
New York, Apr 16 2007 5:00PM
Two web projects backed by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) were launched today as part of global efforts to fight infectious diseases afflicting the developing world and to track recent progress made in the field of medicine.

The new Drug Target Prioritization Database will allow researchers from all over the world to cull their knowledge in finding cures to diseases – including malaria, tuberculosis, African sleeping sickness and worm infections – which are in dire need of new treatments.

These infectious diseases infect billions of people in poor countries and kill more than 6 million annually. Given the limited resources for drug research and development in the developing world, it is hoped that the new online network, established by the WHO-backed Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, will improve the situation.

The new online network "provides an outstanding example of how <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr14/en/index.html">WHO can bring together multiple groups to develop joint solutions," said Programme Director Dr. Robert Ridley, TDR Director.

Another web project launched today is a web database, similar to the popular online database Wikipedia, and aims to update global medical and health statistics.

The last version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) – the worldwide standard for classifying mortality and morbidity, or information related to deaths, illness and injury – was adopted in 1990 by all WHO Member States, and the overhauled version will allow registered users to submit information and evidence.

Registered users will be able to submit scientific input online, which will then be vetted by expert groups and will be subject to a strict editorial process.

The ICD was created in the 19th century and was taken over by WHO in 1948. The meeting of the steering group overseeing the revision began today in Japan and will conclude on 18 April.

In another development, WHO experts have begun compiling a list of essential medicines exclusively for children to help countries select which medicines to obtain to address health concerns.

Children are more seriously affected by diseases that adults also suffer from, especially in developing countries, with almost 11 million children under five dying every year from treatable conditions such as respiratory tract infections, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases. In 2005, 2.3 million children under the age of 15 were HIV positive.

Despite the huge need, there are currently few medications that are specifically designed for children. Children must take crushed adult tablets, which can be ineffective and also unsafe. Medicines that are the correct dosage for children often come in the form of syrups, making supply, storage and pricing problematic in poor countries.

The problem is compounded when children require combination therapy, or several types of medicine, for conditions such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. Although production of fixed dose combination tablets, or single pills containing several medicines, is on the rise, there is still a shortage of such pills targeting children. Antiretroviral treatments for HIV are presently three times more expensive for children than they are for adults.

To create a list of essential medicines for children, WHO will work with its partners to promote innovation and research in children's medicines, the manufacturing of new dosage forms for young people, and new methods to convey information about children's medications to countries quickly.

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, which is not specifically for children, was released today, and it included five liquid medicines to be taken orally for children. Three are for epilepsy, one for children born prematurely and one for HIV/AIDS in a single dose. Three other epilepsy medicines for children were also added to the list in the form of chewable tablets, a form which has been increasingly shown to be effective for children.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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INVASIVE SPECIES AND TOURISM THREATEN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, UN TEAM CONFIRMS

INVASIVE SPECIES AND TOURISM THREATEN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, UN TEAM CONFIRMS
New York, Apr 16 2007 4:00PM
After a fact-finding mission to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, a team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) today confirmed serious threats to the World Heritage site caused by encroachment by invasive species, uncontrolled tourism and other challenges, as it also welcomed measures to deal with these threats put forward by the country's President.

The visit, from 8 to 13 April, was led by Tumu te Heuheu, Chairman of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, Kishore Rao, Deputy Director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, and Berndt von Droste of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The trip took place at the invitation of Ecuador's Government.

"The mission confirmed the threat to the outstanding value and physical integrity of this iconic World Heritage site mainly from: the growing encroachment of invasive species, increasing human immigration, uncontrolled development of tourism, and the failure of various institutions and agencies to deal with these threats," the agency said in a press release.

During the visit, the team met various officials, including the Minister of External Relations, the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Tourism, the Minister for Internal and External Security, and other senior officials including representatives of intergovernmental, non-governmental and bilateral cooperation agencies.

"The mission welcomed the decisive action taken by the President of Ecuador to address comprehensively the long-standing problems of the Galapagos Islands, with a series of new policies to be adopted in the coming two weeks," it stated.

The full findings of the mission will now be presented to the World Heritage Committee, in charge of implementing UNESCO's World Heritage Convention, at its next meeting, which will take place in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 23 June to 2 July. The Committee will decide on actions to help ensure the long-term conservation of this site, including the possibility of inscribing it on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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UGANDA: BAN KI-MOON HAILS CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES EXTENSION, PLANNED TALKS

UGANDA: BAN KI-MOON HAILS CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES EXTENSION, PLANNED TALKS
New York, Apr 16 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the extension of a cessation of hostilities between the Ugandan Government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and voiced hope that resumed talks will lead to a comprehensive settlement to the conflict which has caused thousands of deaths and forced 1.5 million people to flee since it began some two decades ago.

The Government and the LRA reached an agreement this weekend extending their Cessation of Hostilities until the end of June, and planning to resume peace talks in Juba on 26 April under the mediation of the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan.

"The Secretary-General commends the parties for their expressed commitment to the peace process," a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2518">statement.

"He hopes that the negotiations in Juba will create momentum towards a comprehensive settlement to this conflict, which has brought immense suffering to the people of Northern Uganda."

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in October, 2005 issued its first-ever arrest warrants against Joseph Kony, the LRA leader, and four of the group's commanders – Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya – on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the statement today, the spokesman expressed Mr. Ban's gratitude to all the international and regional players who have been assisting the peace process, particularly his Special Envoy, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, and called for their continued support.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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EXPERTS GATHER FOR UN MEETING TO DISCUSS BENEFITS AND PERILS OF BIOENERGY

EXPERTS GATHER FOR UN MEETING TO DISCUSS BENEFITS AND PERILS OF BIOENERGY
New York, Apr 16 2007 2:00PM
Specialists from around the world are meeting at the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000539/index.html">FAO) in Rome today to discuss bioenergy production and the opportunities and dangers that the industry poses, especially for food security and the environment.

The three-day meeting, ending on Wednesday, is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations for the way forward, including the identification of ways to produce more environmentally sustainable biofuels, FAO said in a news release.

Biofuels are currently made from such materials as sugar cane, palm oil and maize and, given they can substitute for fossil fuels, hold the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They could also boost employment and infrastructure in rural areas.

But there have been warnings that large tracts of land are being cleared for monocultures, causing environmental damage and a loss of biodiversity. The merit of using food crops to make fuel for vehicles rather than for consumption by humans or animals is also being questioned.

"Bioenergy holds out enormous opportunities for farmers, especially in the developing world," said Gustavo Best, FAO's Senior Energy Coordinator. "But there are dangers too, and we want to be very clear about them."
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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UN CONDEMNS KILLING OF AFRICAN UNION OFFICER IN DARFUR

UN CONDEMNS KILLING OF AFRICAN UNION OFFICER IN DARFUR
New York, Apr 16 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (<" http://www.unmis.org/english/releases.htm">UNMIS) today spoke out against the weekend killing of an African Union (AU) soldier serving with the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur (AMIS) – the latest in a series of attacks prompting calls for all sides to improve the security situation in the strife-torn region.

UNMIS "strongly condemns the killing of an AMIS Officer on 14 April 2007 near the AMIS camp in El Fasher by unknown armed men," the mission said in a statement released in Khartoum.

The mission said it is "deeply concerned about the repeated attacks against AMIS personnel that resulted in 10 deaths since the beginning of the year as well as several carjackings," and called on all parties to immediately halt these acts.

The sides were also called on "to respect fully the agreements they have signed to improve the security situation in Darfur."

UNMIS urged all parties to identify and hold responsible the perpetrators of the attacks.
2007-04-16 00:00:00.000

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Sunday, April 15, 2007

IRAQ: UN ENVOY DECRIES LATEST BOMBINGS TARGETING HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS

IRAQ: UN ENVOY DECRIES LATEST BOMBINGS TARGETING HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS
New York, Apr 15 2007 11:00AM
The senior United Nations envoy to Iraq today condemned weekend bombings which targeted hundreds of civilians in the country and called on the authorities to prosecute those responsible for the attacks.

In a statement released in Baghdad, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi "denounced in the strongest terms the bombings in Karbala, and Al Jaderyia Bridge in Baghdad on Saturday, 14 April, and Al-Ottaeefia neighborhood on Sunday, 15 April, which caused the death and injury of more than two hundred innocent civilians."

Mr. Qazi described these wanton acts of deliberate violence against men, women and children while going about their daily lives as "heinous."

He also stressed the importance of a united response. "Only by coming together, opting for national dialogue and reconciliation, and collectively renouncing all forms of violence, can the Iraqi people overcome the scourge of the unbridled violence that threatens their very existence."

Drawing on the promise of the past, he called on the people of Iraq to "maintain the common bonds that are so deeply rooted in their collective memory and have endured over time to ensure the sanctity, unity and integrity of their country."

Mr. Qazi also called on all authorities to "vigorously pursue the criminal perpetrators of these criminal acts and bring them to justice" and implored all political, religious, tribal and civil society leaders to "mobilize all means available to bring down the level of violence and allow all Iraqis the benefit of the dignified and secure living they so deserve."

2007-04-15 00:00:00.000

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