UN TO DEVELOP HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME IN TURKMENISTAN

UN TO DEVELOP HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME IN TURKMENISTAN
New York, May 4 2007 6:00PM
As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights wrapped up an 11-day tour of Central Asia in Turkmenistan today, her office announced plans to assist the country's Government on rights issues.

"The High Commissioner and the Government agreed to embark on developing, in close collaboration with <"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/">UNDP (the UN Development Programme), a concrete and extensive technical assistance programme in the area of human rights," according to a <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/A15965E14DE1F213C12572D1004BAD95?opendocument">statement released in Ashgabat, the capital.

Ms. Arbour also welcomed recent reforms in the educational system, citing the increase in the number of school years offered to students, and praised the country's ratification of most major human rights treaties and the submission of reports required under those pacts.

She said she encouraged the Government to establish an independent human rights institution, and to give special attention to the analysis of data concerning political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights, which would allow the Government and the international community to engage on further reforms in those areas.

During her 2-day visit to the country, Ms. Arbour met with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, as well as ministers and justice officials.

She also met with UN Resident Coordinator Richard Young, locally-based diplomats and representatives of international and regional governmental organizations.

On her Central Asian tour, meant to increase her Office's engagement in the region, Ms. Arbour also visited Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL APPEALS FOR DECISIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPEALS FOR DECISIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, May 4 2007 6:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for decisive action on climate change, citing a new expert report concluding that the world community could significantly slow and then reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases over the next several decades by exploiting cost-effective policies and current and emerging technologies.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10976.doc.htm">statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban welcomed the <"http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf">report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change," which concluded that if the world continues on its present course, emissions will rise by 25 to 90 per cent by 2030 compared to 2000.

"The continued growth of greenhouse gas emissions needs to be effectively stemmed," he said. "The <"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC report confirms that mitigation options, including changes in lifestyle and consumption, are available for all sectors, but enhanced action on the part of Governments and the private sector is urgently needed."

He emphasized the need for global agreement on the issue, noting that "Mitigating in a cost-effective manner can only be achieved through an enhanced international climate change regime."

Mr. Ban added that countries need to agree on strong framework by 2010 to ensure that there is no gap between the end of the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period in 2012 and the entry into force of a future regime.

"A comprehensive package on the way forward needs to be urgently launched at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali in December this year," he said, calling on all parties to the Convention on Climate Change to work towards this aim with the political will to decisively abate the problem.

"Climate change will touch every corner and every community on this planet but equally, overcoming climate change can touch on every facet of the global economy in a wealth of positive ways," said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=506&ArticleID=5578&l=en">UNEP) which, together with the World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/">WMO), established the IPCC.

"It is now up to Governments to introduce the mechanisms and incentives to unleash the ingenuity and creativity of the financial and technological markets in order to realize these economic, social and environmental gains," he said.

Ogunlade Davidson, co chair of the IPCC working group that produced the report, warned against passivity. "If continue to do what we are doing now we are in deep trouble," he said.

The report found that by adopting stronger climate change policies, governments could slow and reverse these emissions trends and ultimately stabilize the level of greenhouse gases remaining in the atmosphere. But it cautioned that the longer it takes to reach a peak in emissions, the more difficult it will be to prevent higher average global temperatures.

Previous IPCC reports issued this February and April have indicated that there will likely be a 2-4.5ºC, rise in the global mean temperature in the 21st century with the best estimate of 3ºC, or 5.4ºF. But a rise of more than 1.5-2.5 ºC could place approximately 20-30 per cent of plants and animals at increased risk of extinction and a temperature increase by 3 ºC would have largely negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services, such as water and food supply.

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the report found, need not necessarily cripple economies. The cost of stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will range between a 3 per cent decrease in gross domestic product and a possible gain, depending on savings realized by greater efficiencies.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the report suggested improvements to the energy supply, including improved energy efficiency, switching to cleaner fuels, greater use of nuclear power renewable energy sources, as well as the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel plants.

The report offers a range of potential solutions that could help reduce emissions, including improved vehicle efficiency, better building energy management, reduced rates of deforestation, and methane recovery from landfill sites.

But technologies have their limits. IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri said, "it is probably naïve to believe that merely developing technologies in labs and in workshops would be the answer." He said unless there is a package of polices and market forces – represented by the price of carbon – "you will not get a major dissemination of technologies no matter how meritorious and desirable they would be."

Mr. Pachauri said that for the first time, the report looked at lifestyles and climate change. "You can look at technologies, you can look at policies, but what is an extremely a powerful but need for human society as a whole to start looking at changes in lifestyles and consumption patterns changes."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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UN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) WORKS FOR HEALTH IN HAITI

UN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) WORKS FOR HEALTH IN HAITI
New York, May 4 2007 6:00PM
Although primarily known for its work in curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also working to save the lives of babies and women with cervical cancer in Haiti.

The<"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/index.html"> IAEA said in a <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/haiti_nutrition.html">news release that it is putting its expertise in nuclear science and radiation to use in the Caribbean country to curtail infant malnutrition and bolster cancer treatment.

Haiti has the highest rates of mortality for both infants and children under the age of five in the Western hemisphere, with poverty, civil conflict and insufficient knowledge of proper diet being the root causes of malnutrition.

"We get Kwash babies every day," said Jessy Colimon Adrien, Chief of Paediatrics at the General Hospital in the capital Port-au-Prince, referring to Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition.

IAEA has joined forces with the Haitian Ministry of Health to use nuclear science to improve infant nutrition, focusing on the advantages of breast milk, which is both healthy for infants and is low-cost. The UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

Together, they will conduct studies using stable and non-radioactive isotopes to identify breastfeeding patterns in Haiti, and the findings will allow the Government to better understand the causes of infant malnutrition and how to cure it.

"Culturally mothers do not believe that breast milk is enough for the baby and they try to introduce foods early like leafy tea, juice, crackers and porridge," Joseline Pierre Marhone, who heads the Food and Nutrition department in the Ministry of Health, said.

Inadvertently, by feeding the infants such foods, the mothers expose their babies to bacteria and viruses causing diarrhoea and other infectious diseases.

"The IAEA studies will help us know how many mothers breastfeed exclusively," she added.

The studies will use a safe and non-evasive method with stable isotopes measuring quantities a mother's milk. Mothers will be given a dose of deuterium, also referred to as heavy hydrogen, to ingest in a glass of milk. This mixes with the mother's body water and is transferred to her baby via human milk.

Over the following two week period, saliva samples will be taken from both the mother and the baby to determine whether the baby is consuming food and water from sources other than its mother's milk, the amount of human milk it has ingested and the nutritional status of the mother.

IAEA's efforts are building on the schemes of other UN agencies – such as the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), WHO and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) – and other international organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In the past decade, IAEA has provided $1.66 million to support nutrition programmes worldwide. By 2009, an additional $1.6 million has been earmarked for countries including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Eritrea, Madagascar and Burkina Faso to train staff and extra equipment to reduce child malnutrition.

The agency also hopes to help combat cancer in Haiti by providing assistance in building a national cancer treatment centre equipped with the technology necessary to diagnose and treat the disease.

According to WHO, despite patchy national figures, Haiti has one of the highest incidences of cervical cancer in the world, with a rate three times higher than that of its neighbour the Dominican Republic and 12 times higher than that of the United States.

The success rate in cures for women with cervical cancer is 65 per cent when treated with radiotherapy, but there are no radiation therapy centres in Haiti.

"It's frustrating," said Jean Cornely, a gynaecologist at the General Hospital. "Often we're forced to send patients home to die. They die in a very bad situation."

In more affluent countries, early detection through screening and simple treatment can effectively combat the disease, but adequate treatment is not available in Haiti.

"Cancer is seen as a disease of the rich, the aged," noted Massoud Samiei who heads IAEA's Programme of Action on Cancer Therapy (PACT). "More than half of new cancer cases occur in developing countries, where it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality."

Radiotherapy can also help alleviate pain in patients with advanced cervical cancer, and even a short dose of radiation can stop bleeding, help control bladders and relieve severe pain.

IAEA is supporting the establishment of a cancer treatment centre equipped with the capacity and technology to deliver radiotherapy, and to this end an architect has created a blueprint for the new centre pro bono. Once built, IAEA will provide radiotherapy units and diagnostic equipment. The centre will treat roughly 2,000 patients a year, half of them women afflicted with cervical cancer.

IAEA is sending young local doctors to Canada for three years of training in oncology, and will also send nurses to be trained as radiotherapy technicians.

"Haiti is making important steps in the planning and design of what will be a very complete cancer facility that will be used not just for treatment, particularly for radiotherapy, but also for diagnosing cancer," said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Technical Cooperation.

Dr. Cetto recently met with President Rene Preval and other Haitian officials regarding boosting technical cooperation between IAEA and Haiti. "We have been having serious talks with the various authorities to make sure they take the decision as early as possible to go ahead with the comprehensive integrated approach on cancer therapy which involves national financing to construct this facility."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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MILITARY CHIEF OF UN MISSION IN LEBANON HOLDS MEETINGS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES

MILITARY CHIEF OF UN MISSION IN LEBANON HOLDS MEETINGS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES
New York, May 4 2007 3:00PM
The military head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html">UNIFIL) today began a series of meetings with local authorities in the south of the country, the start of a concerted effort by the peacekeeping mission to strengthen its relationships with the communities where it operates.

UNIFIL Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Claudio Graziano held a meeting in the town of Tyre with the mayor, other representatives of the area's municipal authorities, as well as local parliamentarians and members of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). There were also representatives of the Italian, Ghanaian, French, Turkish, Chinese and Portuguese UNIFIL contingents deployed in the Tyre area.

The Force Commander and his interlocutors discussed security issues, the humanitarian work undertaken by UNIFIL and the Mission's cooperation with the LAF before fielding questions from the other attendees, according to a press release issued by the Force.

"I consider the relationship between UNIFIL and the local communities a high priority," Maj.-Gen. Graziano said at the end of today's meeting. "It is essential that these relations are characterized by trust, confidence and mutual respect.

He noted that the Force, which was established in 1978, has traditionally had good relations with local communities. While its mandate, structure and size changed following last summer's war between Israel and Hizbollah, the mission "remains committed to maintaining these relations and protecting and supporting the population in the south," he said.

A Security Council resolution last August, which ended the 34-day war, authorized an expansion in both the mandate and size of UNIFIL. As of 11 April this year, there were 13,058 military personnel, which includes almost 11,000 troops and nearly 1,700 others in the maritime task force, as well as nearly 500 local and international civilian staff.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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PEACE PROCESS IN NEPAL HOLDING FIRM DESPITE ELECTION DELAY, UN ENVOY SAYS

PEACE PROCESS IN NEPAL HOLDING FIRM DESPITE ELECTION DELAY, UN ENVOY SAYS
New York, May 4 2007 3:00PM
Despite the postponement of elections planned for mid-June in Nepal, the peace process in the mountainous country, which recently emerged from a 10-year civil war, is firmly on track, a United Nations envoy said after briefing the Security Council today.

"Fundamentally I'm optimistic, because it was the people of Nepal who took their future in their hands in a very dramatic way in the people's movement of a year ago," Ian Martin, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) told reporters at UN Headquarters.

"Their determination and demand that Nepal must not slip into armed conflict is very strong," he said of the people of Nepal, where fighting between the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) killed over 13,000 and paralyzed the countryside.

He said that no one could have imagined a year ago that the King of Nepal would have relinquished executive authority and that the resulting cease-fire could have blossomed into a full, comprehensive peace agreement that has already made strides under UN monitoring.

At the same time, he pointed out that the timetable for the election of the Constituent Assembly, which will adopt a constitution for the country, has been delayed because regulations governing the process are not yet ready.

A new date for those elections has not yet been agreed on, but they will have to await the end of the monsoon season and major national holidays, which means November at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Mr. Martin said, he hoped the Nepalese, with the assistance of <"http://www.un.org.np/unmin.php">UNMIN, will be able to improve security conditions for the elections and work for the full inclusion of marginalized ethic groups.

A report on Nepal by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, released late last month, praised all parties in the country for their willingness to strive towards consensus on some of the most divisive issues, but also noted that some of the underlying causes of the conflict are yet to be tackled. He warned that challenges remained in monitoring stored arms and improving the cantonment conditions of armed personnel.

At today's briefing Mr. Martin reported that, with reports of snakes and tents blowing away, cantonment conditions are, indeed, "extremely unsatisfactory." There are now plans for the construction of more permanent living structures, he said.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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UN RELIEF AGENCY WELCOMES ?30 MILLION EUROPEAN GRANT FOR DARFUR

UN RELIEF AGENCY WELCOMES €30 MILLION EUROPEAN GRANT FOR DARFUR
New York, May 4 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations food relief agency today welcomed a €30 million donation from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), to help feed over 2 million people in the violence-torn Darfur region of Sudan.

Kenro Oshidari, Sudan Representative UN World Food Programme (WFP) said this latest donation will help the agency "to purchase and pre-position food assistance in Darfur before the rainy season, which is about to start and will last until October."

Needs are expected to rise in Sudan, according to WFP, which estimates that while 2 million people now depend on its assistance, as many as 800,000 more may require food aid during the 'hunger gap' before this year's harvest, which normally starts in October.

Besides helping to feed those people, the European grant will also help WFP achieve its aim of purchasing food in ways that benefit local markets and farmers, according to the agency.

In that light, it anticipates that 32,000 metric tons of food will include more than 15,000 tons of locally-produced sorghum, 2,230 tons of local salt and 4,000 tons of beans purchased regionally.

In all of Sudan, which is also recovering from a civil war in its southern region and hosts refugees in other areas, WFP's emergency operation is targeting food aid for 5.5 million people, at a cost of $685 million, 74 percent which has been received.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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SHOCKED BY LIVING CONDITIONS OF DISPLACED SOMALIS, UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR INCREASED AID

SHOCKED BY LIVING CONDITIONS OF DISPLACED SOMALIS, UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR INCREASED AID
New York, May 4 2007 1:00PM
Just back from a four-day visit to Somalia, a United Nations refugee agency official today decried at the appalling conditions facing displaced Somalis who fled deadly violence in the capital, Mogadishu, and pledged intensified aid to alleviate their plight.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will scale up its relief efforts to help both the displaced and the communities hosting them, the agency's Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Judy Cheng-Hopkins said through agency spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis, who briefed reporters in Geneva.

Since the start of February, approximately 365,000 people – over a third of the city's population – have fled the fierce fighting in Mogadishu, according to UNHCR estimates.

Ms. Cheng-Hopkins stressed that UNHCR's top priority should be to first aim to help the displaced who are receiving no assistance from family or clan members, according to the spokesperson. She also underscored the dangers of not helping host communities – which are equally needy given the influx of refugees – at the expense of aiding the displaced.

She also noted that aid workers are hindered in their attempts to provide supplies due to the security situation.

The agency also fears flooding might further thwart humanitarian workers' efforts in accessing the town of Afgooye, now home to 43,000 people who escaped the hostilities in Mogadishu. UNHCR has already distributed relief supplies for 50,000 people in the town, which is 30 kilometres away from the capital, and surrounding areas.

In the first leg of her visit, Ms. Hopkins-Cheng visited Baidoa, over 200 kilometres north-west of Mogadishu, which is sheltering almost 17,000 displaced people.

She went to several settlements of internally displaced persons (IDPs), which have swollen with a surge of new arrivals, who live in tents made of fabric around sticks. "Some families have not been able to find enough material to cover the entire shelter, and the lack of plastic sheeting is leaving them exposed to heavy rain at night," Ms. Pagonis said.

In Baidoa, Ms. Cheng-Hopkins also met with several TFG authorities and visited hospitals in dire need of medical supplies.

Her next stop was in Galkayo, Puntland, in the north-east of the war-wracked country. Almost 10,000 IDPs have recently arrived in settlements in the area which is roughly 700 kilometres north of the capital.

UNHCR has been providing relief in Galkayo since January, distributing much-needed non-food items such as plastic sheeting and mattresses.

Although a few of the displaced are trickling back into Mogadishu, most say they want to stay put outside the capital and assess the security situation in several weeks' time. "They fear fighting might break out again and some have had their houses destroyed," Ms. Pagonis said. "Others cannot afford the cost of transportation back to the capital."

Somalia has been wracked by fighting in recent months. The country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the country last December. Since then, there has been an upsurge in violence, including with the involvement of clan-based militias, especially in the capital.

The TFG has declared that it will evict those living in settlements in former Government buildings in Mogadishu, and UNHCR is currently negotiating with the TFG to ensure that these people are relocated on land within the city limits which is economically viable and is equipped with utilities and infrastructure.

Earlier this week, the Italian Government flew 15 tonnes of aid – including 3,200 jerry cans, 2,700 blankets, 20 tents, four water generators and a water purification device – from southern Italy to Baidoa. These items were delivered via truck to Afgooye and their distribution will begin shortly.

Meanwhile, UNHCR is planning another round of airlifts of items in a few weeks, utilizing the K50 airport, 50 kilometres from Mogadishu, which was reopened by the TFG last weekend.

The agency will shortly launch another appeal to assist Somalis displaced both within the country's borders and in neighbouring countries. Although UNHCR has a $5.7 million budget for the East African country, this figure was tallied before the recent and massive exodus of people from Mogadishu.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY HOLDS FIRST-EVER SCREENINGS OF FILM 'BLOOD DIAMOND' IN SIERRA LEONE

UN AGENCY HOLDS FIRST-EVER SCREENINGS OF FILM 'BLOOD DIAMOND' IN SIERRA LEONE
New York, May 4 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with the United States film company Warner Bros. Pictures, will host the screening of the film "Blood Diamond" – which depicts the bloody civil war that engulfed Sierra Leone in the 1990s – for the first time ever in Freetown, the West African country's capital.

The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, has never been publicly shown in Sierra Leone, and up to 600 people are expected to attend the two free showings of the film on 8 and 9 March.

"It is wonderful to have the chance to make this story available to the people of Sierra Leone," said the film's director Ed Zwick. "After all, it is a story that belongs to them."

WFP's distinctive white and blue logo appears prominently in several of the film's scenes, and the agency continues to provide food assistance to more than 300,000 people to help the country rebuild after a devastating decade-long civil war.

"'Blood Diamond' opened the world's eyes to the tragic suffering endured by so many people across the country, as well as WFP's work to help them," said the agency's Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. "It also brought into focus the extreme cruelty and tragedy of child soldiers."

The movie realistically depicts aid operations, such as those undertaken by WFP in the 1990s to feed thousands who fled their homes to areas within their home country or to neighboring nations. During the conflict in Sierra Leone, WFP staff reported witnessing the dire humanitarian situation as well as unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty similar to those illustrated by the film.

"Sierra Leoneans can take great pride in the immense achievements since the end of the war," Ms. Sheeran said.

Ms. Connelly and Mr. Hounsou have added their voices to the call to end hunger by participating in a public service announcement for WFP which has been broadcast around the world.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY LAUNCHES REPATRIATION FOR CONGOLESE REFUGEES RETURNING FROM ZAMBIA

UN AGENCY LAUNCHES REPATRIATION FOR CONGOLESE REFUGEES RETURNING FROM ZAMBIA
New York, May 4 2007 12:00PM
As some areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recover from devastating civil war, the United Nations refugee agency has started to assist the return of Congolese who fled to Zambia, with the first group of 400 starting the long trek yesterday, the agency announced today.

"Yesterday, Thursday, we launched a three-year voluntary repatriation programme to help Congolese refugees in Zambia return home to the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Jennifer Pagonis, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said at a press briefing in Geneva.

Ms. Pagonis said that there were approximately 61,000 Congolese in Zambia, and UNHCR, with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Governments concerned, hoped to help 20,000 of those return in 2007.

The initial convoy, carrying 414 refugees, drove 400 kilometres from Mwange Refugee Camp in the north of Zambia to the Zambian port of Mpulungu where they spent the night, Ms. Pagonis said. This evening, the refugees are scheduled to board the a chartered ferry and sail some 380 kilometres along Lake Tanganyika to dock at Kalemie in the Congo's Katanga province on Saturday morning.

At today's briefing, Ms. Pagonis made it clear that refugees will only be transported to areas that meet the conditions set by UNHCR. They must be accessible by road, landmines must be cleared and basic services – schools, health clinics and potable water – must be available.

In areas of DRC not yet suitable for repatriation, UNHCR is working with the government and other partners to prepare them for returns, she said.

Returnees will spend the first days back in the DRC in a reception centre where they will get mine awareness training, HIV/AIDS information and any necessary medical assistance. Before leaving for their home areas, refugees are given food rations, blankets, soap, kitchen items, buckets and a construction kit to assist in rebuilding homes. Later in the year, they will get seeds and farming tools to help them become self-sufficient.

With support from the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUC), the country last year held landmark presidential and parliamentary elections, the first in more than four decades.

Since 2004, some 103,000 Congolese refugees have returned home, but nearly 340,000 remain in neighbouring countries.
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON HAILS NEW UN-BACKED URBAN TRAINING CENTRE IN CHINA

BAN KI-MOON HAILS NEW UN-BACKED URBAN TRAINING CENTRE IN CHINA
New York, May 4 2007 11:00AM
As the damage from climate change grows increasingly apparent, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has praised a new centre in China working to address the environmental impact of large cities.

"With this new Centre, Gangwon Province and UN-HABITAT (UN Human Settlements Programme) are joining forces in the cause of sustainable urban development," Mr. Ban said in a video <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2546">message for the International Urban Training Centre in Gangwon Province.

Pointing to the "increasingly visible" impacts of climate change, he said, "Your mission has never been more important."

Mr. Ban pointed out that while cities are engines of economic growth and cultural innovation, "they also contribute significantly to environmental degradation, through their enormous needs for energy, water and land."

He stressed that in this light, cities must foster better transport systems, better building technologies, better energy use and better urban planning.

"The United Nations family is fully committed to this cause -- especially through the work of UN-HABITAT and the United Nations Environment Programme," he said. "This Centre has a key role to play, by training policymakers, municipal workers, the private sector and civil society."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON SAYS GOOD WORDS ON IRAQ MUST TRANSLATE INTO GOOD DEEDS

BAN KI-MOON SAYS GOOD WORDS ON IRAQ MUST TRANSLATE INTO GOOD DEEDS
New York, May 4 2007 11:00AM
Expressions of regional and international support for Iraq must be translated into sustained and concrete actions or the violence-wracked country may never know any peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told foreign ministers taking part in the international meeting on Iraq this week.

"It is precisely because of the difficulty and the daily onslaught of violence that committed collaboration is required," Mr. Ban said in his <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2549">address to the foreign ministers, who have gathered in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a series of talks and discussions and to help launch the International Compact for Iraq, a five-year plan for peace and development.

"I urge you all to do your part in denouncing sectarian violence, strengthening bilateral exchange in the region, and encouraging national dialogue within Iraq."

He called on the ministers – from Iraq's neighbours, the Security Council's permanent members and other stakeholder countries – to make sure that the commitments and decisions made and relationships developed this week are backed "by proper follow-up mechanisms."

Yesterday in Sharm-el-Sheikh, world leaders pledged about $30 billion in specific financial commitments to help the Iraqi Government try to implement the Compact.

"Now the implementation of the Compact and its component parts will commence in earnest, including the political and security elements," Mr. Ban said. "This offers an important arena to promote visible, tangible progress."

The Secretary-General warned that the situation across the Middle East, and not just Iraq, was "complex and precarious," with deep mistrust and political stalemate constraining peace in several countries.

"More than ever, our words need to be translated into sustained, concrete progress. Regional and international cooperation in support of Iraq must be one of our top priorities. Without it, the reach of the violence may know no boundaries, and the people of Iraq may know no peace."

Last month in Geneva, the UN held an international conference to mobilize financial aid and other forms of support to help with the immediate needs of the rapidly swelling population of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). In the last year alone, an estimated 750,000 people have fled their homes, taking the number of refugees and IDPs to almost 4 million.

Today Mr. Ban reiterated his pledge to have the UN do more for the country, especially in areas "where the Organization has a comparative advantage, such as political facilitation and humanitarian assistance."

He also stressed that stability and security in Iraq will not be obtained through only military means.

"Instead, it requires genuine and concerted efforts to promote national reconciliation, reduce sectarian tension, and strengthen national unity from the mountains of Kurdistan to Baghdad and the lands of the two great rivers [Tigris and Euphrates] down to Basra and the marshes in the south."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH - MIGIRO

COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH – MIGIRO
New York, May 4 2007 10:00AM
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has emphasized the value of collaboration among developing countries while calling for greater efforts to manage the process.

"The potential – and popularity – of South-South Cooperation has never been greater," Ms. Migiro said at a "brainstorming session" in New York on the issue on Thursday. "The recent strong economic performance of many developing countries has expanded opportunities for collaboration between them," she noted.

With developing countries collaborating as never before on such pressing global issues as terrorism, migration or the spread of disease, the Deputy Secretary-General said this dynamism must be harnessed. "The rapid growth in intra-South cooperation necessitates a systematic and efficient approach towards managing the process," she said.

"I am heartened by the Group of 77 and China's efforts to review existing South-South cooperation, and to explore ways to enhance it in ways that can help achieve wider aims like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," a set of time-bound antipoverty targets agreed at a 2000 UN Summit.

In this effort, she told participants, "the United Nations will remain your partner every step of the way."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE HAS KEY ROLE TO PLAY ACROSS UN AGENDA - BAN KI-MOON

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE HAS KEY ROLE TO PLAY ACROSS UN AGENDA – BAN KI-MOON
New York, May 4 2007 10:00AM
In a video message to the 101st annual dinner of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C., yesterday evening, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon restated his top priorities, among them geopolitical issues, "in particular the tragedy in Darfur and diplomatic efforts on several fronts in the Middle East, including Iraq, Lebanon and, of course, the Israel-Palestinian conflict."

He also emphasized his intention to reform the UN. "This means putting peacekeeping on a more solid footing, since we now have more peace operations and more personnel in the field than at any time in our history," he said. "Reform also means improving management and strengthening accountability and transparency."

The UN must "deliver hope to those most in need," he stressed, underscoring his commitment to development.

He also said he is concerned "that international efforts to combat climate change are falling short" and pledged to mobilize action on them.

"The American Jewish Committee has an important role to play across this agenda," he declared.

"I also attach great importance to strengthening the relationship between the UN and Israel," he said, adding that the country "has a wealth of experience to offer the Organization, and much to gain by participating in the UN's efforts for peace, development, and human rights."
2007-05-04 00:00:00.000

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CYPRUS PROBLEM REQUIRES A LOCAL SOLUTION TO SUCCEED, UN ENVOY STRESSES

CYPRUS PROBLEM REQUIRES A LOCAL SOLUTION TO SUCCEED, UN ENVOY STRESSES
New York, May 3 2007 6:00PM
No plan to resolve the Cyprus problem will be successful in the long run unless it is a local one in which every person in both communities feels their voice has been heard and they understand the ramifications of what is proposed, the head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unficyp/index.html">UNFICYP) said today.

Michael Møller, who is also the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus, called on Cypriots to step up, engage in dialogue and "bring home new ideas and inspiration for action" as part of the debate over the Mediterranean island's future.

Michael Møller, who is also the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus, called on Cypriots to step up, engage in dialogue and "bring home new ideas and inspiration for action" as part of the debate over the Mediterranean island's future.

Speaking at the International Civil Society Fair, held in Nicosia, Mr. Møller noted that an inter-communal survey released last week by UNFICYP found that both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots supported the creation of more contacts between the two communities, but were also wary of any non-Cypriot attempts in this area that could be perceived as interfering or meddling, instead of assisting or facilitating.

"Understanding and peace is best achieved by those who already know each other," Mr. Møller said. "It is seldom sustainable if imposed by outsiders. And the population of this island instinctively understands this."

He therefore called on Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to become part of a more active and less passive civil society that can offer grassroots ideas about solutions that might then have more chance of success in the longer-term.

"I am convinced that no solution to the problem of Cyprus will be sustainable or take sufficiently strong root unless every Cypriot has the conviction that he or she truly understands all its components and ramifications and, more importantly, feels that their voice has been heard and that they have had a say in shaping that solution. The Cyprus problem must have a Cypriot solution."
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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DISARMAMENT IN FULL SWING IN DR CONGO, UN MISSION REPORTS

DISARMAMENT IN FULL SWING IN DR CONGO, UN MISSION REPORTS
New York, May 3 2007 6:00PM
Progress is being made in disarmament efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the notorious leader of one of the Central African country's largest militias announced that 500 more of his fighters will surrender their weapons this week, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country said today.

These fighters loyal to Peter Karim, who is the commander of the Front des Nationalistes and Intégrationnistes (FNI), will also reintegrate into civilian life, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

In February, Mr. Karim ordered the surrender and disarmament of 170 of his troops, including many children, while demanding amnesty.

"I want peace, as does the DRC Government," he told the mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, in a rare interview in February.

However, he stated that neither he nor his senior deputies would surrender without a definite official pardon. "If an amnesty was guaranteed for us, I would be willing to surrender tomorrow."

MONUC also stated that a joint UN-Congolese Army unit has verified that 320 people have been disarmed at a naval base in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur province in the west of the country.

Also in the province, an additional 50 soldiers and 130 former presidential security officers have been registered for integration, the mission said.

In another development, MONUC is assisting those who have been displaced by clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in North and South Kivu. Among other efforts, MONUC is ensuring that humanitarian workers have safe access to provide relief to those in need.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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CALLING FOR RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED BBC JOURNALIST, UN OBSERVES PRESS FREEDOM DAY

CALLING FOR RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED BBC JOURNALIST, UN OBSERVES PRESS FREEDOM DAY
New York, May 3 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations today marked <"http://www.un.org/events/pressday/2007/">World Press Freedom Day by calling for the release of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist Alan Johnston, who has been detained in Gaza since 12 March, and all other reporters in captivity.

"Attacks on freedom of press are attacks against international law, against humanity, against freedom itself – against everything the United Nations stands for," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/events/pressday/2007/sg.html">said today. "A free, secure and independent press is among the very foundations of democracy and peace."

He voiced his dismay of the abduction in the Palestinian Gaza Strip of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who has been held in captivity for the past 52 days.

"I appeal again for Alan Johnston's immediate and safe release," he said. "No cause is served, and any cause is undermined, by his continued captivity."

Mr. Ban also voiced alarm that in the past year, over 150 media professionals have died and many others have been injured, harassed, detained or abducted, becoming targets as they sought "to shed light on the plight of others."

Scores of people gathered across the street from UN Headquarters in New York to rally for Mr. Johnston's prompt release in an event organized by the BBC.

"No cause is served by Alan's captivity," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the crowd of sign-waving supporters, including numerous fellow journalists who had gathered in a show of solidarity.

BBC's world news editor Jon Williams praised his colleague's objectivity in his reporting.

"Serious, dispassionate, impartial journalism is at a premium," he said at the rally. "That is what Alan Johnston was doing in Gaza."

He underscored the risks involved in reporting, and in calling for Mr. Johnston's release said, "Alan Johnston represents the dangers facing journalists around the world."

The head of the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://www.un.org/events/pressday/2007/sg.html">UNESCO), the body that is mandated to protect freedom of expression, honoured all those journalists who have risked their lives and affirmed the significance of the role of the media.

"They understand better than anyone that media contributes significantly to processes of accountability, reconstruction and reconciliation," UNESCO's Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said, adding that they also command admiration, respect and support. "Indeed, the growth in violence against journalists is telling, if tragic, testimony to the importance of the media to modern democracies."

UNESCO's theme for this year's World Press Freedom Day, which was established by the UN in 1993, is the safety of journalists.

In particular, Mr. Matsuura deplored the violence perpetrated against journalists in Iraq, where 69 media professionals were killed last year alone. Since the start of the conflict in April 2003, 170 journalists, mostly local ones, have perished there.

"Never in recorded history has there been such a large-scale killing of journalists," he noted.

Mr. Matsuura also asserted that journalists' safety must be bolstered, urging governments to bring an end to the "pervasive culture of impunity that surrounds violence against journalists."

General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa paid tribute to journalists who have been impeded in their efforts.

"Our hearts go out to all journalists who have been silenced or those whose freedom has been restricted in any way," she said in a statement delivered on her behalf by Christian Wenaweser, the Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein.

"And to those who have paid the ultimate price, giving up their lives in pursuit of freedom of expression and greater public awareness," she added. "Their memories will be forever etched in our hearts."

Sheikha Haya joined the chorus demanding Mr. Johnston's immediate and safe release. "But not just Alan Johnston, every reporter unlawfully imprisoned must be set free."

Echoing her sentiments, the UN Staff Union also called for Mr. Johnston to be freed, highlighting the common risks both UN personnel working in to bring peace and relief and journalists endeavouring to tell their story face.

"A world where reporters and humanitarian workers cannot do their job in reasonably secure conditions is a world much less safe, transparent and free for all of us."

The top UN human rights official lauded the courage of journalists striving to contribute to building free societies.

"In the face of these dangers, there has never been more information available to so many around the world," said Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. "This represents a vibrant tribute to the perseverance and courage of the press and workers in 'old' and 'new' media, and evidence of the unquenchable human thirst for information and knowledge."

Governments are obliged to "respect the right of al to hold opinions without interference," she added, regardless whether or not they "recognize that attempting to curtail the free flow of ideas is ultimately futile."

The High Commissioner also called attention to the fact that media professionals are not only in danger in conflict zones, pointing out that journalists have been harassed, killed and intimidated by Government authorities, members of organized crime and armed groups "in countries that are nominally at peace."

Numerous events are being held around the world marking the day, including a two-day event in Medellin, Colombia, organized by UNESCO with tributes, seminars and an award ceremony for the prestigious 2007 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Prize, the day is being commemorated by UNESCO in Medellin, the hometown of Guillermo Cano, the newspaper publisher for whom the award is named. Mr. Cano was assassinated 20 years ago for criticizing the activities of powerful drug barons in his country.

For the first time in its 10-year history, the honour has been posthumously bestowed. Mr. Matsuura will present the award to the Illya Politkovskaya, son of the winner, Anna Politkovskaya.

Ms. Politkovskaya, esteemed Russian journalist and outspoken human rights campaigner, was murdered outside her Moscow apartment last October. Particularly well-known for her coverage of the conflict in Chechnya as a columnist for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, her work was recognized worldwide.

At UN Headquarters, UNESCO also held discussions on issues relating to the nexus of press freedom, journalists' safety and impunity, as well as on the role of the Internet as it pertains to free speech.

Meanwhile, in Juba, Sudan, UNESCO has joined forces with the UN Development Agency (UNDP), the Union of Journalists of Southern Sudan and others for a two-day celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

A workshop was held yesterday, in which participants conferred on the obstacles to the freedoms of the press and expression, while today a procession was held from Peace Square to the grave of John Garang, the first Vice-President and ex-southern rebel leader who died in a tragic helicopter crash in 2005.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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CANADIAN LEGAL EXPERT TAKES TOP ETHICS POST AT UN

CANADIAN LEGAL EXPERT TAKES TOP ETHICS POST AT UN
New York, May 3 2007 5:00PM
A Canadian lawyer with extensive experience in governmental ethics has been appointed Director of the United Nations Ethics Office, a key element of reform of the Organization mandated by the 2005 World Summit, a UN spokesperson announced today.

Robert F. Benson served as the Interim Ethics Commissioner in the Canadian Parliament and, prior to that, was Deputy Ethics Counsellor within the Canadian Government. Mr. Benson succeeds Nancy Hurtz-Soyka who has been the Interim Director of the Ethics Office since its inception in early 2006.

Conceived by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Office was established to administer financial disclosure and whistleblower policies mandated by the General Assembly in its 60th Session.

In addition, the Office provides confidential advice to staff to help them avert conflict of interest problems.

Mr. Benson started work at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 1 May.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HOLDS OUTREACH MISSION IN NEIGHBOURING CHAD

DARFUR: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HOLDS OUTREACH MISSION IN NEIGHBOURING CHAD
New York, May 3 2007 5:00PM
Following this week's arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against suspects wanted in connection with the violence in Sudan's Darfur region, ICC officials are conducting a three-day visit to refugee camps in eastern Chad to explain their work to some of the estimated 2 million people who have fled there.

The <"http://www.icc-cpi.int/home.html">ICC Registrar Bruno Cathala and the Head of the Division of Victims and Counsel Didier Preira arrived in eastern Chad yesterday to talk with refugee representatives in three camps, the Court said in a <"http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/243.html">press release.

Those camps, at Bredjing, Farchana and Treguine, are together home to about 65,000 people who are part of the vast population of Sudanese displaced by the conflict that has raged in Darfur since 2003.

During the visit, which is part of the Court's outreach strategy on Darfur, Mr. Cathala and Mr. Preira will focus on the rights of victims to participate in ICC proceedings, including in presenting their views and concerns at all stages, regardless of whether they are called to testify as witnesses.

Yesterday, one of the ICC's pre-trial chambers issued arrest warrants for crimes against humanity and war crimes for two men after endorsing the evidence found during an investigation by Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo into the situation in Darfur.

Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of Sudan and currently Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, now face arrest.

The two men are accused of targeting civilians in attacks on four villages in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004, according to the warrant that outlines multiple counts of personal responsibility for murder, pillaging and rape for each.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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OVER $30 BILLION IN COMMITMENTS MADE AT UN-CHAIRED IRAQ COMPACT MEETING

OVER $30 BILLION IN COMMITMENTS MADE AT UN-CHAIRED IRAQ COMPACT MEETING
New York, May 3 2007 4:00PM
In support of the International Compacted on Iraq, a five-year plan for peace and development in the war-torn country <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10971.doc.htm">co-launched today by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, world leaders assembled in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt have pledged their partnership with the Iraqi Government, with over $30 billion in specific financial commitments announced so far.

The 74 delegations unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming their shared commitment to a secure and stable Iraq and emphasizing the need for improved governance, anti-corruption measures, equal protection for all Iraqis and an institutional framework based on the rule of law.

Secretary-General Ban, in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1027">press conference following the adoption of the resolution, said he was pleased that a number of countries have already made concrete commitments, estimated at over $30 billion. "This includes commitments of debt relief on the Paris Club terms, from Bulgaria, China, Saudi Arabia and Greece. It also includes financial commitments from the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, China, Denmark and Korea, and other key participants," he said.

"Today's meeting demonstrated that there is broad support for the people and Government of Iraq in overcoming current challenges." Mr. Ban said. "This is not an easy task, and we will face numerous obstacles."

He pledged the world body's full support. "The United Nations stands ready to assist the Government of Iraq in the implementation of the Compact."

Under the Compact, the Government will work to meet basic needs, protect the rights of all citizens and ensure the optimal use of the country's resources for the common good and the country's international partners are committed to providing financial, technical and political support.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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HIGH LEVEL OF CRIME THREATENS CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC GROWTH: UN REPORT

HIGH LEVEL OF CRIME THREATENS CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC GROWTH: UN REPORT
New York, May 3 2007 3:00PM
The highest murder and assault rates in the world are undermining economic growth in the Caribbean region, according to a report published today by the <"http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21321350~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html">World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/press_release_2007_05_03.html">UNODC) which blames the illicit drug trade and calls for international measures to address the problem.

According to the report "<"http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTHAITI/Resources/Crimeandviolenceinthecaribbeanfullreport.pdf">Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean," increased crime severely hinders financing, causes a decline in worker productivity and makes governments, business and individuals spend precious resources on security measures.

"The report clearly shows that crime and violence are development issues," according to Caroline Anstey, World Bank Director for the Caribbean, who called for assistance from the Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD), which promotes democratic governance and the market economy.

"Donors and OECD countries need to work together with Caribbean countries to reduce the current levels in the region," she said.

The primary cause of skyrocketing crime in the region is illicit drug traffic, particularly in cocaine, and the proliferation of guns that accompanies that trade. Since Caribbean countries are transit points and not producers of cocaine, the report states, interdiction needs to be complemented by other strategies outside the region.

Policies should also focus on limiting the availability of firearms and on providing meaningful work alternatives to youth, according to the report.

"Although there is no one ideal approach for crime and violence prevention, interventions such as slum-upgrading projects, youth development initiatives and criminal justice system reform can contribute to reducing crime and violence," Francis Maertens, Director of UNODC's Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs said.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY TO LIBERIA OPENS WORKSHOP SERIES FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS

UN ENVOY TO LIBERIA OPENS WORKSHOP SERIES FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
New York, May 3 2007 2:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Liberia today opened the first of a series of six workshops aimed at strengthening the skills of immigration officers posted throughout the country, as part of efforts to improve controls in a region renowned for having porous borders.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Liberia, called on the 50 participants at the first workshop to carefully control the borders of the country while avoiding corrupt practices and keeping strictly within both domestic laws and the international agreements and commitments made by the Government.

"You are the face of Liberia for most foreign investors and you have to give them a good impression," he said.

The training workshops, which have been organized in part by the UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmil/index.html">UNMIL), are expected to attract about 700 immigration officers, from regional commanders to more junior staff members. Participants will discuss such topics as migration law, interview techniques, the powers and ethical conduct of immigration officers, and their relationship with the court system.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON STRESSES NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT AT LAUNCH OF NEW IRAQ PLAN

BAN KI-MOON STRESSES NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT AT LAUNCH OF NEW IRAQ PLAN
New York, May 3 2007 1:00PM
Launching a five-year peace and development plan for Iraq today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=83">urged the international community to assist the violence-plagued country to follow through on commitments for progress in security, unity, resource sharing and other areas.

"Iraq faces immense challenges. We cannot leave Iraq on its own to cope with them," Mr. Ban said at the launch of the plan, known as International Compact, at a high-level meeting in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt, that includes the foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbours, representatives of the Permanent Members of the Security Council and other principle stakeholders.

"It is essential that we do our utmost to help the Iraqi people build a secure, peaceful, unified, federal and democratic nation, founded on the principles of freedom and equality," he told the assembled.

Under the plan, the Government of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has committed itself to meet basic needs, protect the rights of all citizens and ensure the optimal use of the country's resources for the common good, according to Mr. Ban.

"Prime Minister Al-Maliki has pledged to pursue a bold programme of reform to safeguard his country's long-term economic future. His Government is also determined to seek progress in the political and security fields which, I believe we can all agree, are prerequisites for Iraq's normalization and economic revitalization."

He said the Government has also committed itself to initiatives to promote national dialogue and reconciliation, to adhere to a legislative timetable designed to strengthen Iraqi unity and to ensure the equitable sharing of Iraq's natural resources and wealth.

"Together, these efforts can build momentum for the political process," he said.

Mr. Ban said the UN, together with the World Bank and other key partners will work with the Government of Iraq to achieve its vision. The Joint Monitoring Matrix, which is part of the Compact, sets out actions that would enable the Government to meet clear and realistic objectives, and will facilitate the monitoring and reporting of progress.

Turning to the international community, he asked for active support to all the country's goals, along with further debt forgiveness.

"There is no doubt," Mr. Ban said, "that more must be done to bring a halt to the ongoing violence in Iraq, the brunt of which is being borne by innocent civilians. Beyond the terrorist attacks and sectarian violence, a humanitarian crisis is stretching the patience and ability of ordinary people to cope with everyday life."

"This makes it all the more important to develop a framework for Iraq's normalization," he said.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES CALL FOR INCREASED USE OF VACCINE MONITORS TO BOOST ACCESS TO IMMUNIZATION

UN AGENCIES CALL FOR INCREASED USE OF VACCINE MONITORS TO BOOST ACCESS TO IMMUNIZATION
New York, May 3 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations World Health Organization (<" http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np21/en/index.html">WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (<" http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) today jointly called for greater funding and use of vaccine vial monitors, simple tools which warn if dosages have been damaged by heat, on the tenth anniversary of their introduction into immunization programmes.

"Handling vaccines requires great care," said Daisy Mafubelu, WHO's Assistant Director-General of the Family and Community Health Cluster. "Vaccine vial monitors are useful tools for detection of the vaccine's exposure to excessive temperature, thus contributing to success of immunization programmes."

Since their introduction in 1996, nearly two billion monitors have been used on vaccine vials, improving children's access to vaccines. The two agencies estimate that the use of vaccine vial monitors saves the global health community at least $5 million annually.

A vaccine vial monitor is a circular indicator which is printed directly on the label of a vaccine vial or is attached to the top of the vial. Made of heat-sensitive material that is light in colour but darkens when exposed to heat, it indicates to health workers when a vial may no longer be effective.

Much of the infrastructure was damaged, including refrigeration facilities at health centres, during the May 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which killed thousands of people. Typically, unrefrigerated vaccines need to be thrown out, but in this case, by observing the vaccine vial monitors, health workers were able to see that the vaccines were still usable. As a result, up to 50,000 dosages were saved.

WHO and UNICEF urge all vaccine self-procuring countries to include vaccine vial monitors in their purchases, and also appeals to all donor agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to include vaccine vial monitors in all vaccine donations.

The monitors were developed in 1979 with assistance from WHO. In 1996, they were first adhered to dosages of the oral polio vaccine, adding only a few cents to the price of each vial.
2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOICES CONCERN OVER IMPASSE IN ETHIOPIA-ERITREA PEACE PROCESS

BAN KI-MOON VOICES CONCERN OVER IMPASSE IN ETHIOPIA-ERITREA PEACE PROCESS
New York, May 2 2007 6:00PM
In a new report made public today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern for the stalemate in the dialogue between Ethiopia and Eritrea, calling for a comprehensive implementation of the Algiers Agreements in 2000 which ended the bloody war between the two East African countries.

"This impasse continues to be serious source of instability for the two countries, as well as for the wider region," Mr. Ban said in the <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/250">report, which covers the period between 21 December 2006 and 31 March 2007. "The situation between the two parties remains unpredictable."

He also said that he is disturbed by the growing tension between the two countries, and urged both sides to cease making inflammatory public statements and also to withdraw their troops from both within and around the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) along the border between the two countries.

"Any efforts to improve relations between the parties can be successful only if they demonstrate the political will necessary to overcome the present stalemate," he said.

Additionally, both sides' "involvement in other complex regional crises" is fuelling tensions, he stated.

"The United Nations, and I personally, stand ready to assist the parties in their efforts to achieve the full implementation of the Algiers Agreements," Mr. Ban said.

He announced his intention to continue efforts to persuade both sides to resume negotiations, as well as to consult with other regional and international partners to push the process further along. He is also considering appointing a new Special Representative to head the UN peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html">UNMEE.

Ethiopia has not accepted the binding border delineated in 2002 by the Boundary Commission which awarded Badme, the town that triggered the fierce fighting, to Eritrea, but in his report, the Secretary-General said he was encouraged by the Ethiopian Prime Minister's recent statements that his Government has accepted the decisions.

"However, Ethiopia's position regarding cooperation with the Boundary Commission in the implementation of the Decision remains a major factor of the current impasse," he said.

Meanwhile, Eritrea is in serious violation of pacts such as the Algiers Agreements and Security Council resolutions due to the ongoing and restrictions the Government has imposed upon UNMEE, he said.

"These restrictions have further reduced the monitoring capability of the Mission inside the Temporary Security Zone and have impacted very negatively on its capacity to perform its mandated tasks," Mr. Ban wrote, pointing out that UNMEE was originally deployed at the invitation of both parties.

He added that despite the scaling-back of UNMEE's military component and the restrictions that it has faced since 2005, the mission "continues to play an important role in encouraging restraint between the parties, and sustaining international commitment to the Algiers Agreements and the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission Delimitation Decision."

Mr. Ban urged both countries to fully cooperate with UNMEE and the Boundary Commission.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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LIBERIA: UN HANDS OVER CONTROL OF DIAMOND CERTIFICATION OFFICE TO GOVERNMENT

LIBERIA: UN HANDS OVER CONTROL OF DIAMOND CERTIFICATION OFFICE TO GOVERNMENT
New York, May 2 2007 6:00PM
Less than a week after the Security Council lifted its sanctions on the export of "blood diamonds" from Liberia, the United Nations peacekeeping mission to the West African country today handed over a regional diamond certification office to the Government.

At a ceremony in Tubmanburg, about 50 kilometres west of the capital Monrovia, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) chief Alan Doss transferred control of the regional office to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In Monrovia, the Government Diamond Office at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy was also dedicated today.

"These events mark another major milestone in Liberia's turn away from violence and conflict and its return to the community of law-abiding States," Mr. Doss said, adding that he hoped the handover in Tubmanburg would help to revitalize the country's legal diamond industry.

On Friday the Council <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc9006.doc.htm">lifted its six-year-old embargo on the export of diamonds from Liberia that was introduced to stop proceeds from the sale of these so-called "blood diamonds" from fuelling wars across West Africa.

Council members agreed that Liberia has made enough progress towards establishing the necessary internal controls to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process to justify ending the embargo. But the 15-member body also agreed to review its decision to lift the embargo within 90 days.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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KOSOVO'S COMMUNITIES REMAIN FAR APART, SAYS HEAD OF UN FACT-FINDING GROUP

KOSOVO'S COMMUNITIES REMAIN FAR APART, SAYS HEAD OF UN FACT-FINDING GROUP
New York, May 2 2007 6:00PM
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian and Serbian communities continue to lead largely separate existences and have very different outlooks on the future, which means creating an integrated, multi-ethnic society in the province will require "substantial effort," the head of a Security Council fact-finding mission said today.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9013.doc.htm">Briefing the Council on the mission's six-day trip to Pristina, Belgrade, Brussels and Vienna, Ambassador Johan Verbeke of Belgium said the positions of the two communities on the settlement proposal for Kosovo also remained far apart.

The leadership of the Kosovo Albanian community backed the report issued in March by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the future status process Martti Ahtisaari, who said the only viable option for the Serbian province – which the United Nations has administered since 1999 after Yugoslav troops were driven out amid fierce fighting – was a phased process of independence.

But the leaders of the Kosovo Serb community, as well as the mission's interlocutors in Belgrade, remained opposed to independence and wanted further negotiations on the long-term future of Kosovo.

Mr. Verbeke said this division was reflected in the communities' outlook, with Kosovo Albanians optimistic about what it holds and Kosovo Serbs concerned that their rights will not be sufficiently protected.

Although the fact-finding mission was impressed with the expressed commitment of Kosovo's political figures towards creating a more genuinely multi-ethnic society, he said the divisions between communities meant it would still require "substantial effort."

Mr. Verbeke stressed that the mission had been very useful in providing participants with a first-hand perspective of the situation inside Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other groups by about nine to one.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUPPORTS USE OF DIVERSE MEDIA FOR OUTREACH

UN COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUPPORTS USE OF DIVERSE MEDIA FOR OUTREACH
New York, May 2 2007 7:00PM
Representatives of United Nations Member States today urged the world body to keep using a wide array of media and languages to deliver its message of peace, development and rights to the peoples of the world, as the UN Committee on Information continued its 2007 debate at UN Headquarters in New York.

"We would like to record our appreciation for the diversity of these activities that have developmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts," Egypt's representative Amr Kamal Eldin Elsherbini told the session, which opened on Monday with remarks from Committee Chairman Rudolf Christen of Switzerland urging the Organization to use its new technologies to broadcast a clear and coherent message under the new leadership of Under-Secretary-General Kiyotaka Akasaka.

Ambassador Ajai Malhotra of India stressed that the "widest possible spectrum" of technologies be utilized for that purpose, from webcasts and podcasts to more traditional forms such as radio and print.

"Many countries simultaneously straddle several centuries in technological terms, and it is vital that the product presented by DPI is disseminated through a wide menu of media channels," he said.

Israel's deputy permanent representative, Daniel Carmon, marvelled at the fact that meetings held at UN Headquarters can be viewed as they occur anywhere in the world through simultaneous webcasts.

Established by the General Assembly in 1978, the Committee examines the UN's public information policies and activities in light of international relations concerns. Consisting of 110 members, it is also tasked with the promotion of a more equitable world communications order to strengthen peace and international understanding.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: UN AGENCY STEPS UP AID TO FIRST WAVE OF PEOPLE WHO FLED MOGADISHU

SOMALIA: UN AGENCY STEPS UP AID TO FIRST WAVE OF PEOPLE WHO FLED MOGADISHU
New York, May 3 2007 9:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today said it was stepping up a drive to deliver food to almost 100,000 of the 365,000 people driven from their homes in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, which in recent weeks as seen the worst fighting experienced by the country in 16 years.

With the worst clashes having died down, the agency said hopes to soon feed up to 150,000 of the displaced given the urgency of the situation. "We have to help these people now," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. "Women, children and the elderly are sheltering from the rain under trees and cholera is spreading."

The agency, which last week reached 32,000 people west of Mogadishu, is expanding its operations further west and south.

"Many people left the capital with virtually nothing but the clothes on their backs -- they are now trickling back only to find their homes in ruins," Ms. Sheeran said. "The majority of those who fled the fighting are still suffering in terrible conditions outside the city."

On behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), WFP on Wednesday airlifted 14 tons of urgently-needed supply items to Baidoa thanks to a donation from the Italian Government. The blankets, plastic sheeting, water tanks and water purification equipment are now being trucked from Baidoa to Afgoye for distribution to the internally displaced.

"With heavy fighting having died down over the past few days and with the cooperation of the Transitional Federal Government, we can now accelerate food distributions and expand into new areas previously cut off," Ms. Sheeran said.

The agency is also urgently exploring ways to assist people inside Mogadishu itself. UNHCR estimates 365,000 people have fled Mogadishu -- over a third of the city's population -- since 1 February.

Somalia has been wracked by fighting in recent months. The country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forc
dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the country last December. Since then, there has been an upsurge in violence, including with the involvement of clan-based militias, especially in the capital.

2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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'NO PROGRESS' IN LEBANON OVER HARIRI TRIBUNAL RATIFICATION - UN LEGAL CHIEF

'NO PROGRESS' IN LEBANON OVER HARIRI TRIBUNAL RATIFICATION – UN LEGAL CHIEF
New York, May 2 2007 5:00PM
Lebanon's key political forces have made no progress in ending their deadlock over the ratification of a planned special tribunal to try the suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the United Nations Legal Counsel said today after briefing the Security Council on his recent visit to the country.

Nicolas Michel, who is also Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, told journalists that during his meetings in Beirut he was unable to persuade Lebanon's major political figures – who have all expressed strong support in principle for the tribunal – to settle their differences.

The Government, headed by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, and the opposition have been in dispute for some months over the current composition of the Government, and Mr. Michel said that for many opposition figures a resolution of that issue was a precondition for ending the deadlock on the tribunal.

"I can simply say that, for now, from all the discussions that I had, from all the efforts that I attempted, I see no progress," he said, stressing that his mandate was very specific and did not include Lebanon's internal politics or canvassing alternatives to the tribunal.

Earlier, Mr. Michel briefed Council members on his visit to Lebanon late last month, where he met with a series of interlocutors, including Mr. Siniora, President Emile Lahoud and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.

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.

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 IIIC head, 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.

Meanwhile, senior officials from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html">UNIFIL), the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) held a tripartite meeting today to discuss the implementation of the Security Council resolution last year that ended the 34-day war between the IDF and Hizbollah.

The focus of today's meeting, attended by UNIFIL Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Claudio Graziano, was on the full respect of the Blue Line and the strict adherence of all sides to the cessation of hostilities agreement.

"The meeting was a productive one and I am pleased with the progress made," Maj.-Gen. Graziano said, according to a statement released by UNIFIL. "The constructive attitude shown by the parties augurs well for the future, and will help to maintain the cessation of hostilities, as well as ensure respect of the Blue Line."
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH WORLD LEADERS AHEAD OF IRAQ COMPACT LAUNCH

BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH WORLD LEADERS AHEAD OF IRAQ COMPACT LAUNCH
New York, May 2 2007 3:00PM
Ahead of tomorrow's formal launch of the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year peace and development plan for the war-ravaged country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is meeting today with officials from the United States, Iraq and the League of Arab States in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

According to his spokesperson, Mr. Ban had a tête-à-tête with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in which they discussed Darfur, Kosovo, Lebanon the work of the Middle East Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative, in addition to the Iraq Compact.

He is also scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa.

The International Compact, which Mr. Ban will launch along with Prime Minister al-Maliki, envisages a reciprocal relationship between peace-building and economic prosperity in Iraq.

Under the plan, the Government will work to meet basic needs, protect the rights of all citizens and ensure the optimal use of the country's resources for the common good. National reconciliation, improved security, better governance and continued economic and social reforms are expected to help unlock Iraq's own development potential and the Compact commits the country's international partners to provide financial, technical and political support to help meet these challenges on the basis of mutual commitments.

More than 50 countries are expected to participate in tomorrow's launch, with more than 20 represented at the ministerial level.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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FOUR LAUREATES AWARDED UN POPULATION FUND'S HIGHEST HONOUR

FOUR LAUREATES AWARDED UN POPULATION FUND'S HIGHEST HONOUR
New York, May 2 2007 2:00PM
For the first time in its 17-year history, the United Nations Population Award is being bestowed upon four laureates, two individuals and two institutions, for their contributions to work in population, health and welfare.

This year's honourees, selected from 29 nominees from around the world, are Allen Rosenfield, a professor at Columbia University in New York; Hossein Malek Afzali, Deputy Minister for Research and Technology with the Iranian Government; the Algerian National Population Committee; and Malaysia's National Population and Family Development Board.

The four winners were selected by Population Award Committee, administered by the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=970">UNFPA), is comprised of 10 Member States, elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNFPA's Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid are ex-officio members of the Committee as well.

According to information sent to the Award Committee, Dr. Rosenfield co-wrote a seminal paper on maternal death which appeared in the British medical journal The Lancet in 1985, and as a result, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation established the Averting Maternal Death and Disability programme which supports projects in 50 countries. He has worked in matters pertaining to reproductive health, women's health and human rights, and been involved in high-level advocacy efforts, having served on the boards of several organizations and in advisory groups for the UN Millennium Project, the UN World Health Organization (WHO), among others.

Dr. Afzali works in Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and has helped design strategies to improve health procedures, particularly adolescent health, reproductive health and family planning. In the field of reproductive health, he has engaged policymakers and religious leaders in the planning and implementation of reproductive health programmes in Iran.

The Algerian National Population Committee, established in 1996, advises the Government on formulating population policies and incorporating the population issues into social and economic development schemes. The group has also helped to introduce population as a subject to be taught in schools and sponsored key research on fertility.

The National Population and Family Development Board of Malaysia has been active since 1966, and conducts socio-demographic research and monitors population trends to create awareness among policymakers, according to information given to the Awards Committee. It focuses on family development and on the promotion of family well-being, and provides services including infertility treatment, early cancer detection screenings and special programmes for adolescents.

Each winner will each receive a diploma, a gold medal and an equal share of a monetary prize, and the Award will be presented at a ceremony in New York early next month.

Last year's winners were Halida Hanum Akhter, a pioneering family planning doctor from Bangladesh, and the Fondation pour la Sante Reproductive e l'Education Familiale, a major reproductive health foundation in Haiti.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF LAUNCHES HANDBOOK TO HELP LAWMAKERS COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

UNICEF LAUNCHES HANDBOOK TO HELP LAWMAKERS COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN
New York, May 2 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39518.html">UNICEF) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (<"http://www.ipu.org/english/home.htm">IPU) today launched a joint handbook for lawmakers to help them devise the necessary strategies, from introducing legislation to allocating public funds, to protect children from violence.

"Parliamentarians can and should be among the foremost champions of child protection," said Toshi Niwa, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, during today's launch in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island of Bali, where the annual IPU Assembly is being held.

Mr. Niwa said he was heartened to see so many lawmakers at the Bali meeting, where efforts to combat violence against children is one of the subjects being discussed.

"They can legislate, oversee government activity, allocate financial resources and, as leaders within their nations, advocate for change." he said.

UNICEF has allocated more than $240 million over the past two years to its programmes on child protection, and the UN Secretary-General's most recent report on the issue found that violence against children is widespread and under-acknowledged, often leaving lasting physical, emotional and psychological scars.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL WARNS OF CONFUSION OVER KEY KYOTO PROTOCOL MECHANISM

UN OFFICIAL WARNS OF CONFUSION OVER KEY KYOTO PROTOCOL MECHANISM
New York, May 2 2007 2:00PM
Amid mounting international concern about climate change, the top United Nations official dealing with the issue today warned that a successful mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol that encourages investment in sustainable development should not be confused with a host of private schemes for trading carbon-emission credits.

The Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which allows industrialized countries to generate credits through investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries, has been one of the Protocol's greatest successes but is now <"http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/070502_pressrel_carbon_expo.pdf">threatened by misunderstanding, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC) told the annual Carbon Expo in Cologne, Germany.

"Some confusion is to be expected – after all, the mechanism is breaking new ground and catalyzing further action on climate change – but some analysis of the CDM has dangerously missed the mark, especially in not distinguishing between the certified emission reductions produced under the CDM, and the emission offsets being sold by the growing number of unregulated or self-regulated enterprises," said Mr. de Boer.

He stressed that it was important to draw a clear distinction between the highly-regulated CDM and ventures offering carbon emission offsets over the Internet and elsewhere.

To be registered and then earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits, CDM projects must pass a rigorous process of approval and independent third-party monitoring designed to ensure that emission reductions claimed by a project are real, verifiable and additional to what would have taken place without the project, according to Mr. de Boer.

The CERs earned by project participants can be sold and retired against national emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

The entire mechanism is overseen by an international Executive Board that meets in Bonn about eight times a year. So far some 645 CDM projects have been registered in 44 countries, covering a wide range of sectors, according to the UNFCCC Secretariat.

Some 1.9 billion CERs, each equivalent to a ton of CO2, are expected to be produced by CDM projects to the end of the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period in 2012, the Secretariat said.

"The Clean Development Mechanism is doing what the countries of the world designed it to do, and it has been very successful. Our task now is to build on that success and tap the considerable potential of the CDM, and other market mechanisms, for stimulating investment and reducing emissions," Mr. de Boer said.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ISSUES WARRANTS FOR FIRST DARFUR WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ISSUES WARRANTS FOR FIRST DARFUR WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS
New York, May 2 2007 1:00PM
The International Criminal Court (<" http://www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en">ICC) today <"http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/241.html">issued its first warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur region, giving the country's Government responsibility for the arrest of a Sudanese minister and a militia commander.

The court's Pre-Trial Chamber I issued warrants of arrest for Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of Sudan and currently Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb.

"As the territorial State, the Government of the Sudan has a legal duty to arrest Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb," ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said, adding, "This is the International Criminal Court's decision and the Government has to respect it."

The two men are accused of targeting civilians in attacks on four villages in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004, according to the warrant that outlines multiple counts of personal responsibility for murder, pillaging and rape for each.

"In his public speeches, Ahmad Harun not only demonstrated that he knew that the Militia/Janjaweed were attacking civilians and pillaging towns and villages, but also personally encouraging the commission of such illegal acts," the judges concluded.

It alleges that Ali Kushayb, leader of the Janjaweed in the Wadi Salih, "enlisted fighters, armed, funded and provided supplies to the Militia /Janjaweed under his command thereby intentionally contributing to the commissions of the crimes."

The Court noted that he "personally participated in some of the attacks against civilians."
According to the Court, in early 2003, Mr. Harun was appointed head of the "Darfur Security desk," where his main task was to manage and personally recruit, fund and arm the Janjaweed militia – forces that would ultimately number in the tens of thousands.

The communiqué emphasizes that the case highlights the connection between a high Government figure and a powerful Janjaweed leader, and shows the underlying operational system that enabled massive crimes against civilians who were known not to be involved in the conflict.

The issuance of the warrants comes amid increasing international efforts to stop the bloodshed and improve humanitarian assistance in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million others forced to flee their homes since 2003.

Today, at the Ministry for Humanitarian affairs in Khartoum, Sudanese Government and UN officials met with representatives of the European Commission, the State of Jordan and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in an effort to facilitate humanitarian activities, which have been severely restricted due to the ongoing violence.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN HEALTH AGENCY LAUNCHES NINE SOLUTIONS TO SAVE PATIENTS' LIVES

UN HEALTH AGENCY LAUNCHES NINE SOLUTIONS TO SAVE PATIENTS' LIVES
New York, May 2 2007 11:00AM
Since mistakes made in health care affect one out of every 10 patients in the world, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today <" http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr22/en/index.html">launched a new programme called "Nine patient safety solutions" to reduce the harm done to people during medical treatments.

"Implementing these solutions is a way to improve patient safety," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan of the nine effective methods, determined by the agency's World Alliance for Patient Safety and the Collaborating Centre, to curtail errors made in health care.

The solutions are based on interventions and other actions taken in some countries that have reduced harm done to patients, and are aimed at redesigning the processes undertaken to care for patients and improve their safety.

The nine solutions are: look-alike, sound-alike medication names; patient identification; communication during patient hand-overs; performance of correct procedure at correct body site; control of concentrated electrolyte solutions; assuring medication accuracy at transitions in care; avoiding catheter and tubing mis-connection; single use of injection devices; and improved hand hygiene to prevent health care-associated infections.

"Patient safety is now recognized as a priority by health systems around the world," said Liam Donaldson, who chairs the Alliance and is England's Chief Medical Officer. "Clear and succinct actions contained in the nine solutions have proved to be useful in reducing the unacceptably high numbers of medical injuries around the world."

Over the past year, WHO has brought together over 50 recognized leaders and experts in patient safety from around the world to identify and adapt the nine solutions to meet different needs. The solutions were tested in the field in order to gather feedback from leading patient safety organizations, Governments' health ministries, international professional health organizations and other bodies.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL TO WRAP UP CENTRAL ASIAN TOUR IN TURKMENISTAN

TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL TO WRAP UP CENTRAL ASIAN TOUR IN TURKMENISTAN
New York, May 2 2007 11:00AM
On the final leg of her four-country Central Asian tour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will arrive in Turkmenistan tomorrow to meetings with Government authorities and representatives from various groups.

"The visit will provide and opportunity to exchange views on human rights related issues with the Government of Turkmenistan and to engage in discussions about future cooperation and continued dialogue on issues of mutual concern in the region and the country," according to a press release issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Ashgabat, the country's capital.

During her visit from 3 to 5 May, Ms. Arbour will meet with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov and other officials, representatives of regional and international organizations and diplomats.

The 11-day tour marks the High Commissioner's first visit to the region, and prior to stopping in Turkmenistan, she visited Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
2007-05-02 00:00:00.000

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STATES URGE NEW MEASURES TO MAKE UN WEBSITE MORE THOROUGHLY MULTILINGUAL

STATES URGE NEW MEASURES TO MAKE UN WEBSITE MORE THOROUGHLY MULTILINGUAL
New York, May 1 2007 6:00PM
Delegates attending the United Nations Committee on Information <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/pi1771.doc.htm">meeting in New York today called for new measures to make the world body's website more thoroughly multilingual.

Simon Pidoux of Switzerland said the UN Department for Public Information (DPI) should "continue its efforts to attain linguistic parity of the content of this Internet site in the different official languages of the United Nations." In a speech whose text was made available in both English and French, he said his country, which has four official languages, naturally favours multilingualism.

Boris N, Malakhov of the Russian Federation pointed to statistics demonstrating a growing level of interest in the UN among Russian speakers. He suggested that webcasts of UN meetings be made available in Russian to meet this increasing demand. "At present, webcasts of the Security Council and the General Assembly, which are made in the English language with the original language added later, do not cover the demand of the multilingual audience for immediate access to urgent information," he said.

Seeking a different kind of inclusiveness, Lee Do-hoon of the Republic of Korea said DPI should also "pay due attention to improving website accessibility for the disabled."

Indonesia's representative, Triyogo Jatmiko, welcomed the fact that Bahasa Indonesia is one of the 29 non-official languages in which the local United Nations information centre (UNIC) maintains a website. "The website in Bahasa Indonesia is a great source of United Nations information to our people, and we are thankful for it," he said.

Speaking for Japan, Jiro Kodera voiced hope that UNIC Tokyo would continue to develop in the future, "as it is the only UN organization that provides information in the Japanese language." He also announced that Japan would extend its voluntary contribution of 45.7 million yen to UNIC-Tokyo for 2007.

Nepal's representative, Narayan Dev Pant, stressed the importance of UNICs and said the one in Kathmandu "needs to be upgraded and further strengthened in order to ultimately convert it into a regional hub."

Hossein Maleki of Iran voiced appreciation for UNIC-Tehran for its good work despite budget constraints. "In this connection, we support the call for allocation of adequate resources to ensure the effective and efficient functioning and strengthening of all UNICs, including UNIC-Tehran," he said.

Angola's representative, Estevao Umba Alberto, urged DPI to "continue its efforts for the opening of the Luanda Centre to serve the special needs of developing countries," adding that the Government would provide premises rent-free.

Other participants called for efforts to extend accessibility to technology in general. The Philippines called for efforts to bridge the digital divide. "We would like to see the DPI make full use of new technology to allow the public better and faster access to information about the UN," said the country's representative, Elmer G. Cato.

Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz of Cuba, which chairs the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), said "issues related to information and communications technology have an important place in the Movement's agenda" and said NAM had set up a working group on the issue.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY TO RE-ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN BAGHDAD

UN REFUGEE AGENCY TO RE-ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN BAGHDAD
New York, May 1 2007 6:00PM
To better serve the urgent needs of the 2 million Iraqis who have fled their home regions to other areas of the violence-torn country, the United Nations refugee agency has decided to again station international officials in Baghdad, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) António Guterres said today.

"All of the international staff is now concentrated in Amman, Jordan, and of course this is not the best possible way to do it," Mr. Guterres told reporters at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.

Most international UN staff was withdrawn from the strife-torn country after the 2003 bombing of the Organization's Baghdad headquarters, which killed 22 people, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Currently only Iraqi nationals staff the UNHCR office in the capital city, curtailing operations, according to Mr. Guterres. "It is especially important to establish an international presence in Baghdad for negotiations with the Government," he said.

International staff in the city will at first be limited to one person, but will increase as security conditions and other considerations allow, he added.

Also at today's press conference, Mr. Guterres briefed reporters on the results of a conference held in Geneva last month that was organized by UNHCR to focus on the plight of internally displaced Iraqis as well as the estimated 2 million refugees who have sought haven in neighbouring countries.

In recapping the results of that conference, he stressed the importance of cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the major host countries for the refugees, Syria and Jordan. He also highlighted the need for the international community to continue to support refugee assistance efforts.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN MUST CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DR CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MIGIRO SAYS

UN MUST CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DR CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MIGIRO SAYS
New York, May 1 2007 6:00PM
After returning from a weeklong visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today that the UN must continue its partnership with the two countries in helping them meet the development challenges ahead.

Regarding the DRC, Ms. Migiro said that President Joseph Kabila told her in their meeting that his Government is cognizant of the need to improve governance, build infrastructure and provide social services.

The two also discussed how the DRC could meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight targets aimed to slash social ills, including extreme poverty and hunger, by 2015.

She said Mr. Kabila particularly voiced hope for the UN's assistance in promoting the process of reintegration of former rebels.

The Republic of Congo, which is currently in the midst of preparing for elections, is also rebuilding after civil war and is trying to consolidate stability, Ms. Migiro noted.

In her discussions with Prime Minister Ifidoru Mvouba, they talked about the relationship between the country and the UN system, as well as efforts made in the areas of development and governance, she said.

In response to reporters' questions, the Deputy Secretary-General reiterated how important the issue of development is to her and how she believes that UN system-wide reform is "about making the United Nations deliver more efficiently, deliver better, and also making good use of resources."

She added that she will also use her position to advocate other matters relating to development, including gender equality and issues relating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Asked whether the UN should take a stance against "the Gambian President's claim he can cure AIDS himself and kicking out any kind of United Nations people who suggest otherwise," Ms. Migiro said the UN Development Programme (UNDP) had made clear "that there was no scientific proof that this could work."

She added that the incident was "not something which was very pleasant for the United Nations, but, on the other hand, I don't think that there is a way that one can force somebody's presence there."
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL CONDEMNS ATTACK ON AID PERSONNEL IN WEST DARFUR

UN OFFICIAL CONDEMNS ATTACK ON AID PERSONNEL IN WEST DARFUR
New York, May 1 2007 6:00PM
The United Nation's top humanitarian official in Sudan today strongly condemned the hijacking of two of the Organization's vehicles by unknown armed men in strife-torn West Darfur, along with the abduction of six aid workers who were later released.

The office of Manuel Aranda da Silva said that staff members of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) were travelling in a two-vehicles clearly marked with the UN refugee agency's logo, for a routine visit to a refugee camp south-west of the town of El Geneina when they were hijacked.

After several hours of searching by the UN, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and Government authorities, the staff members were found unharmed near Saraf Omra, east of Geneina, where they were brought by truck by the local population.

"This demonstrates how difficult it is for humanitarian staff to work in Darfur," High Commissioner António Guterres told reporters today at UN headquarters in New York. "It is crucial in my opinion for the international community to be fully engaged in putting pressure for a comprehensive, effective peace agreement to be established as quickly as possible."

Mr. Guterres said that UNHCR was planning to bolster its presence in West Darfur, but its level of operations depended on improved security conditions.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and 2 million others forced to flee their homes in Darfur because of the fighting between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups since 2003.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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A DOZEN UN EXPERTS JOINTLY EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN OVER CASUALTIES IN SOMALI CAPITAL

A DOZEN UN EXPERTS JOINTLY EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN OVER CASUALTIES IN SOMALI CAPITAL
New York, May 1 2007 5:00PM
Twelve United Nations experts united to voice their deep concern today about the recent violence in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where hundreds of people have been killed in the latest clashes and hundreds of thousands forced to flee in recent months.

"This is the second major escalation in fighting in Mogadishu in the past month alone and we are very concerned that civilian fatalities and casualties will increase in the coming days," the experts said in a <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/7A418F61F68FC983C12572CE004A5A20?opendocument">statement calling on warring sides to immediately halt the fighting.

Since the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from the capital and much of the country last December, there has been an upsurge in violence. Clan-based militias have also been involved in the clashes. The break in fighting between warring sides agreed to early this month crumbled when the fighting resumed on 11 April in Mogadishu.

Fierce fighting resumed between Ethiopian and Somali forces and insurgents during the past week in Mogadishu, with almost 400 reported to have been killed and 700 more injured, according to the experts. Nearly two-thirds of those killed and wounded are the elderly, women and children.

Thousands are trapped in Mogadishu while hundreds of thousands of people have fled the capital since February, adding to the more than 400,000 already displaced within Somalia.

"We are also deeply troubled about reports of indiscriminate artillery fire, shelling and car bombs in civilian areas," the experts said, adding that non-military targets such as hospitals and schools have been bombed. They also noted that the wounded in Mogadishu are being blocked from fleeing or from receiving much-needed humanitarian assistance and protection.

"All parties to the conflict must respect applicable international humanitarian law and international human rights law," they asserted. "We wish to remind all that humanitarian access and safe passage for those civilians fleeing the conflict must be granted."

The experts issuing today's statement are: the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, John Dugard; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Yakin Ertürk; the Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights in Cambodia, Yash Ghai; the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes, Okechukwu Ibeanu; the Special Rapporteur on the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt; the Representative of the Secretary General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kälin; the Special Rapporteur on a!
dequate housing, Miloon Kothari; the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz Villalobos, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler.

Yesterday, the Security Council issued a presidential statement in which the 15-member body deplored the civilian casualties from the intensified fighting in Somalia and called on the Government to reach out to all segments of the war-torn country's society to start a dialogue. The Council also demanded that all sides allow relief aid to reach those in need.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN PARTICIPATES IN CEREMONY INTEGRATING FORMER REBELS INTO NATIONAL ARMY

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN PARTICIPATES IN CEREMONY INTEGRATING FORMER REBELS INTO NATIONAL ARMY
New York, May 1 2007 5:00PM
Welcoming the willingness of former rival parties to fully implement the peace deal in Côte d'Ivoire, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the West African country participated in a ceremony marking the official integration of former rebels into two brigades.

By attending the ceremony yesterday, the mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI, hoped to shows its eagerness to support the Ouagadougou Peace Accord between President Laurent Gbagbo and Forces Nouvelles Secretary-General Guillaume Soro which commits both sides to abide by free, fair and transparent elections.

The deal also calls for the dismantling of the Zone of Confidence, which separates the Government-controlled south from the rebel-held north.

The Minister of Defence, Michel Amani N'Guessan, who led the ceremony, thanked UNOCI for its assistance in maintaining the peace, calling on the mission to continue to work with Ivorians to consolidate stability.

At the event held in Bangolo, in western Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Amana also said that mixed brigades are essential and "should not constitute a platform for revenge between former enemy brothers."

Problems "will be progressively resolved, and so will the security situation," he noted at the ceremony, which was attended by both General Philippe Mangou of the national army, the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) of Côte d'Ivoire, and General Soumaila Bakayoko, of Forces Nouvelles, in a show of solidarity.

Participants also visited the locations where the mixed brigades, comprising four UN police officers and 10 people each from FDS and Forces Nouvelles.

Mr. Amana also called on both sides to wipe the slate clean of any past grievances and to show tolerance and forgiveness to make the Accord, reached on 4 March, a success. "This agreement came from Ivorians and its failure would not be understood," he said.

UNOCI's Deputy Force Commander General Elhadji Mouahamadou Kandji and the UN Police Commissioner General Cristian Gerardo Chaumont represented the world body in the ceremony, where the UN flag was replaced by the Ivorian one.

The dismantling of the Zone of Confidence kicked off with a ceremony on 16 April, during which a mixed brigade in N'Gattadolikro, in the centre of the country, was installed in the presence of President Gbagbo.

UNOCI has nearly 9,000 total uniformed personnel in the country, including 7,850 troops and almost 1,000 police 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.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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GRADUATES OF UN SKILLS PROGRAMME IN LIBERIA URGED TO BE SELF-RELIANT

GRADUATES OF UN SKILLS PROGRAMME IN LIBERIA URGED TO BE SELF-RELIANT
New York, May 1 2007 4:00PM
Graduates of a United Nations skills training programme in Liberia, where the world body is working to help consolidate stability as the country recovers from conflict, should use their training to become more self-reliant, the senior UN military official has said.

Addressing 33 graduates of the Pakistani Battalion-sponsored technical skills training programme this weekend, the Force Commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmil/index.html">UNMIL), Lieutenant-General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, said they should take advantage of the training to acquire skills so they will be less dependent on aid and handouts.

The graduates from the local community around the city of Tubmanburg had completed a six-week training exercise in automotive mechanics, electricity and generator repair, according to a news release from the mission.

"The training workshop was to enable trainees to handle minor repairs of their equipment," said Pakistani Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Naseer Raja.

In March, 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, which suffered 14 years of civil strife.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL: UN ENVOY SAYS ELECTION DELAY SHOULD FURNISH TIME TO ADDRESS CONCERNS

NEPAL: UN ENVOY SAYS ELECTION DELAY SHOULD FURNISH TIME TO ADDRESS CONCERNS
New York, May 1 2007 2:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Nepal today said an announced postponement in Constituent Assembly elections planned for June should offer time to address critical concerns in the country, where a decade-long armed conflict that killed some 13,000 people came to a formal end when the parties signed a peace accord last November.

"In my opinion, postponement should not be viewed as a disaster; but neither is it a guarantee of success at a later date," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative, Ian Martin, said in a press statement released in Kathmandu.

"I hope that a new date will soon be decided upon by the Interim Government, in consultation with the Election Commission, and that the time available will then be used to address the several critical issues that pose risks to the peace process," he added.

He cautioned that the postponement may prolong the period during which Maoist army personnel remain in cantonment sites. "This makes it urgent to improve conditions which have repeatedly proved to be unsatisfactory for current weather conditions, and certainly cannot withstand the fast-approaching monsoon," he said, pledging to support this process.

Mr. Martin also heads the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.un.org.np/unmin/srsg.php">UNMIN), which is mandated to support the country's peace process by monitoring the arms and armed personnel of the former adversaries – the Maoists and the Nepal Army – and by assisting the election.

The UN has for weeks been ready to begin the second stage of registration and verification of personnel in the Maoist cantonment sites – a step Mr. Martin said is needed to identify minors who under the agreement must be discharged, and to determine whether personnel were recruited after 25 May 2006 in breach of the ceasefire code of conduct.

While the UN has agreed in principle on the form interviews will take, the Maoist leadership "has not agreed to the process commencing until other issues have been addressed," particularly the improvement of conditions in the cantonments, government remuneration for those registered there, and the formation of the committee envisaged by the Interim Constitution to take responsibility for the future of the Maoist army, he said.

At the same time, the envoy emphasized that the obligation of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) to allow verification to proceed is unconditional. "I have made clear to the Maoist leadership that UNMIN cannot accept its linkage to any pre-conditions," he said.

Mr. Martin also pointed out that UNMIN is mandated to assist in monitoring the ceasefire arrangements, together with the monitoring done by Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Noting regular media reports on breaches of agreements, he said this situation "cries out for monitoring which is independent of the political actors themselves," and voiced hope that UNMIN's civil affairs officers "will soon be able to work with an independent national monitoring body, as well as with the local peace committees to be established as part of the Common Minimum Programme." That initiative, agreed by the eight parties, and supported by civil society, aims to help foster confidence in the peace process.

He also emphasized the importance of public security. "Building confidence in the peace process at the local level through multi-party dialogue with the support of civil society should provide a context in which the Nepal police can enforce the law impartially and with full respect for human rights," he said, calling on all parties to respect the rights of citizens to participate in public life and political activity freely and without fear.

On Friday, Mr. Martin will brief the Security Council in New York on the peace process in Nepal and UNMIN's activities. The Council also has before it the Secretary-General's first report on the mission, which was established three months ago.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED BODY SAYS RECONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN ON TRACK

UN-BACKED BODY SAYS RECONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN ON TRACK
New York, May 1 2007 2:00PM
The high-level United Nations-backed body tasked with overseeing the Afghanistan Compact, a five-year reconstruction blueprint for the war-ravaged country, said today that since its inaugural meeting last year, the implementation of the plan – which aims to bolster security, economic development and counter-narcotics efforts – is on track.

However, the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) also <"http://www.unama-afg.org/_latestnews/2007/English/07may1-JCMB-Join-Press-Statement.pdf">noted that while the Compact is capitalizing on momentum to meet both short and long-term goals, it is necessary to translate these efforts into meaningful changes for a majority of Afghans.

"Last year was successful," said Ishaq Nadiri, JDMB co-chair, professor and senior economic adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, referring to the problem-solving mechanism established and implemented. "We are glad that there is progress to report, but we must focus more energy on implementation to ensure that this progress soon becomes more evident on the ground."

He added that the Compact's success was challenged unexpectedly by the unstable security situation in the south and south-east of the country.

Meeting at the Afghan capital Kabul, the body welcomed increased commitments to meet the country's most pressing needs. The number of Afghanistan National Police officers has been raised temporarily to 82,000, and enhanced coordination on energy issues has yielded beneficial results. In addition, the Government and its partners have made progress in attaining the benchmarks of the Compact, which was adopted last January.

In terms of short-term targets, successes include the functionality of the National Assembly, the start of Government discussions with its partners on investment in natural resource harvesting and the coming into effect of four key laws regarding investment and the private sector.

Regarding longer-term benchmarks, the JCMB reported that school enrolment has surged 12 per cent to 5.4 million students, of whom 35 per cent are girls. Over 80 per cent of Afghans now have access to basic health services, while 132 million square metres of land has been cleared of mines since last March.

"In healthcare, in education, in community projects, in microfinance, in government revenue collection, in the modernization of the Afghan National Army – in each of these areas and many others we are moving forward," said Tom Koenigs, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and JCMB co-chair.

"But now, as the Afghanistan Compact enters its second year, we must look beyond this room and devote our attention to ensuring that the JCMB and its associated consultative mechanisms produce even more tangible outputs and visible action."

In another development, the head of the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/chan_afghanistan/en/index.html">WHO) met with President Karzai to discuss how to stamp out polio, once and for all in Afghanistan, which is one of the four remaining countries yet to eradicate polio.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan met with President Karzai at the Arg, or Presidential Palace, in Kabul yesterday to discuss the next steps to stop the spread of the disease, including how to reach migrant, nomadic and displaced children so they can receive the vaccine.

"Afghanistan can win the polio race," President Karzai told Dr. Cho. "As we rebuild our country, we will ensure that no Afghan child will ever again be paralyzed by this terrible disease."

Afghanistan, which recently vaccinated over 7 million children against the disease, is the only country among those still affected by polio to not have reported any cases since last November.

Dr. Chan's visit is the first leg of a two-part journey to Afghanistan and Pakistan to encourage joint efforts to curtail polio transmission, which straddles the long and porous border between the countries, which are considered a single "block of transmission."

She also conferred with President Karzai on synchronizing plans with Pakistan to curb transmission of polio. Although Afghanistan has been polio-free so far this year, Pakistan has reported cases which are genetically related to the virus detected in Afghanistan last year.
During her stop in Afghanistan, Dr. Chan met with NATO and the International Security Assistance Force to investigate ways of negotiating pauses in the fighting to allow medical workers to vaccinate children, since the security situation in the southern region of the country and in areas bordering Pakistan makes it hazardous for health professionals to operate.

"Days of Tranquillity and a sense of security for health workers are indispensable for Afghanistan to protect its children from polio and to lead the world towards the complete eradication of this disease," Dr. Chan said.

Last year, the country reported 31 cases of polio, up from just nine in 2005, and most of the new cases were in the Southern Region.

Afghanistan still needs almost $20 million to meet its immunization needs for 2007 and 2008.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a worldwide effort spearheaded by WHO, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), Rotary International and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was launched in 1988 when over 125 countries were impacted by polio.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON NAMES 3 PROMINENT SPECIAL ENVOYS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

BAN KI-MOON NAMES 3 PROMINENT SPECIAL ENVOYS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, May 1 2007 12:00PM
The first woman Prime Minister of Norway, the former President of Chile, and the President of the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly were today named Special Envoys for Climate Change by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has made the issues one of his top priorities.

The three envoys named are also prominent in international environmental affairs, according to a statement released by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, Michele Montas.

Norwegian ex-Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland is the former Chair of the World Commission of Environment and Development, which is best known for developing the broad political concept of sustainable development and two decades ago published a landmark report, "Our Common Future."

President Ricardo Lagos Escobar of Chile founded the Foundation for Democracy and Development, which works for sustainable development. Since April 2006, he has been serving as president of the Club de Madrid where he led the organization to increase its involvement in environmental issues.

Han Seung-soo, the former General Assembly President, currently heads the Korea Water Forum, which works towards sustainable water management in Asia. He served previously in numerous high-level government posts, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade and Industry, Chief of Staff to the President and Korean Ambassador to the United States.

"The Secretary-General looks forward to working with these three highly respected international figures on a matter which is of highest importance to the future of the planet," Ms. Montas said.

Reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch">IPCC) earlier this year show clearly that the warming of the earth's climate system is unequivocal and attributable to human activities, and will have severe economic effects, particularly in developing countries.

In her statement, Ms. Montas noted that many initiatives are being launched by Member States, groups of States, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector to try to mitigate climate change and its impact.

"Very commendable as they are, these actions can only complement and not substitute for the comprehensive international response that is needed," she said.

The Special Envoys will solicit the views of national leaders, including those who are key actors in the climate change negotiations. "The work of the Special Envoys will assist the Secretary-General in his consultations with Governments and other key stakeholders on how he might facilitate progress in the multilateral climate change negotiations within the UN," the spokesperson said.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY AND SYRIA AGREE ON $2 MILLION DEAL TO GIVE IRAQI REFUGEES MEDICAL AID

UN AGENCY AND SYRIA AGREE ON $2 MILLION DEAL TO GIVE IRAQI REFUGEES MEDICAL AID
New York, May 1 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Syria signed an agreement to provide the country – sheltering over one million Iraqi refugees – with $2.06 million to renovate hospitals, train medical staff and provide new medical equipment, including ambulances.

This agreement signed yesterday, which is the fourth such arrangement between UNHCR and Syria, is part of the agency's efforts to assist the country respond to the influx of Iraqi refugees, UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46370e174.html">told reporters in Geneva today.

Since the start of this year, UNHCR has committed close to $10 million in agreements with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the Ministry of Education and the Governorate of Al Hassake. These funds are being put towards rehabilitating 70 schools while erecting three new ones, distribute thousands of Iraqi children in Syria with textbooks and other school supplies. The money is also being used to build a new hospital in the capital Damascus, aid nine health clinics and feed both Palestinian and Iraqi refugees.

Earlier this year, the agency created a new registration centre for displaced Iraqis in Douma, 25 kilometres from the capital, and thus far, 77,683 Iraqi refugees have registered. The most vulnerable of these people have been identified to receive additional medical attention, community services and resettlement assistance.

The UN estimates that two million Iraqis have been driven from their homes within their country, while another two million have fled abroad. Between 40,000 and 50,000 Iraqis continue to flee each month.

Last month, UNHCR convened an international conference in Geneva, gathering hundreds of concerned participants from Governments, aid organizations and UN bodies. Participants discussed how to address the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally displaced persons (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) both inside Iraq and in neighbouring countries.

The <"http://www.unhcr.org/events/45e44a562.html">conference urged the international community to support those Governments, particularly Jordan and Syria, shouldering the burden of hosting Iraqi refugees who have fled their country. It also appealed to other countries to continue providing protection, humanitarian aid and hospitality to the refugees until they can return to their homes.

In January, UNHCR issued a $60 million appeal to allow it to help hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs impacted by the conflict.

Although the initial targets have been met, Ms. Pagonis said that "the needs in the region go far beyond UNHCR's programmes."

"We continue to urge more international help for the neighbouring countries to ensure that they will continue to keep their borders open to those in need of refuge," she added.
2007-05-01 00:00:00.000

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VIGILANCE IS VITAL, BAN KI-MOON STRESSES AT RWANDAN GENOCIDE EXHIBITION OPENING

VIGILANCE IS VITAL, BAN KI-MOON STRESSES AT RWANDAN GENOCIDE EXHIBITION OPENING
New York, Apr 30 2007 9:00PM
Opening an exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the lessons learned from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tonight called on the international community to ensure that it never forgets what took place and never stops working to prevent another genocide.

"Preventing genocide is a collective and individual responsibility," Mr. Ban said, stressing that governments, the media, religious organizations, civil society groups and even individuals have their own role to play in this fight.

He urged governments of UN Member States to give "real meaning" to the principle that they have a 'responsibility to protect' populations in danger of genocide or war crimes -- which they agreed upon at a global summit in 2005 -- by making that concept operational through practical steps.

Estimates vary but some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda are thought to have been killed by Hutu militias, often by machete or club, during a three-month period starting in April 1994.

"As we open this exhibition, our thoughts go to the victims -- the more than 800,000 innocent people who lost their lives with terrifying speed. May they continue to rest in peace," Mr. Ban said.

He recalled visiting the memorial in Rwanda before becoming Secretary-General, and said the impression would stay with him forever. "Anybody who visits there cannot come out without crying, without being very humbled about what had happened and what the international community failed to react," he said.

"Our thoughts go to the survivors. Their resilience continues to inspire us. And our thoughts go to fallen colleagues of the UN family: peacekeepers and civilians who lost their lives in the line of duty as the genocide unfolded."

In a message earlier this month marking the anniversary of the start of the genocide, the Secretary-General said he would strengthen UN mechanisms to try to help ensure that genocide

The post of UN Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide -- currently held by Juan E. Méndez of Argentina -- will be upgraded to a full-time position, while the UN Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention will also be boosted.

The exhibition at UN Headquarters, postponed from earlier this month, highlights the role of States in preventing genocide, examines what happened in Rwanda, emphasizes the plight of victims, particularly those who suffered from sexual violence, and details the warning signs for genocide.

The Aegis Trust, a British non-governmental organization (NGO), produced the exhibit -- which will be on display for the next three weeks -- in partnership with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI). The exhibit includes information panels and a film containing the testimony of three female survivors of the genocide.

2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN REPORT SHOWS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AS ENGINE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

NEW UN REPORT SHOWS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AS ENGINE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
New York, Apr 30 2007 7:00PM
Developing countries need greater technological capabilities and flexibility to succeed in an increasingly competitive and fast paced global environment, according to a new report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The <" http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/industrial_development/index.htm">report, "Industrial Development for the 21st Century: Sustainable Development Perspectives," was launched today, the opening of a two-week session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development that will focus on energy, climate change, air pollution and industrial development.

The 432-page volume examines industrial development as central to the process of structural transformation which characterizes economic development. It points to new challenges and opportunities facing today's industrialisers as a result of globalization, technological change and international trade rules. It also discusses social and environmental aspects of industrial development.

José Antonio Ocampo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said at the report's launch that industrialization, an essential element of classical development economics, remains crucial to the process of development. But many developing countries, he said had been undergoing "the unfortunate experience of deindustrialization."

Part of the problem, he said, was that in recent years there had been "an obsession with productivity," that had not been properly linked with finance, technology or marketing. "Industrial development has to be inclusive on a broad base, and depends on the generation of employment," he said.

Vivek Chibber, a sociology professor at New York University, said development thinking over the past quarter-century had produced disappointing growth rates, very disappointing employment growth, and very little success in attacking poverty. He said the new book was part of an effort to recognize the importance of the State in prodding industrial development.

Contrary to the perception that industrial development always brings environmental problems, Jomo Sundaram, Assistant-Secretary-General in the Department for Economic and Social Affairs, said that industrial policies could promote a "clean revolution," as evidenced by results in several countries.

"We need green industrial development and we need greener products," he added.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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UN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNDERLINE NEED FOR URGENT SOLUTION TO DARFUR CRISIS

UN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNDERLINE NEED FOR URGENT SOLUTION TO DARFUR CRISIS
New York, Apr 30 2007 7:00PM
Voicing grave concern over the dire humanitarian and security situation inside Darfur, an international meeting involving the United Nations, the African Union (AU), Sudan and 14 other countries or regional organizations has stressed the need to find a comprehensive solution to the conflict as soon as possible.

The two-day meeting, held in the Libyan capital Tripoli over the weekend, called for an immediate end to all attacks against relief workers and AU peacekeepers and a wider ceasefire so that serious peace negotiations can take place.

In a text known as the Tripoli Consensus on the Political Process for Darfur, the participants also reconfirmed their support for the so-called Addis Ababa conclusions of last November, when the Sudanese Government agreed to the establishment of a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force to quell the violence.

The hybrid force is slated to have a strength of about 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers, and would be the final phase of a three-step process in which the UN is giving support to the existing and under-resourced AU peacekeeping mission, known as AMIS.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and 2 million others forced to flee their homes because of the fighting between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups since 2003, and the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (<" http://www.un.org/law/icc">ICC) has named a former Sudanese Government minister and a militia commander as the first suspects he wants tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

The Tripoli Consensus also voiced support for the work of the UN and AU Special Envoys for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, and urged them "to intensify consultations and rapidly finalize their road-map on a strategy and timeline for renewed negotiations."

Mr. Eliasson attended the Tripoli meeting, along with representatives of the AU, Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the European Union and the League of Arab States.

In a related development, the Security Council today voted to <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9008.doc.htm">extend the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis">UNMIS) by another six months until 31 October, welcoming progress in carrying out the comprehensive peace agreement that ended another Sudanese conflict – the civil war between north and south.

The resolution urged the Secretary-General to appoint a new Special Representative for Sudan as soon as possible and called on the former opponents in the civil war to "re-energize the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants."

But the Council also expressed "grave concern over the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Darfur," citing attacks targeting civilians and pointing to the conflict's potential threat to the wider region.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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URGING GOOD FAITH DIALOGUE, SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA

URGING GOOD FAITH DIALOGUE, SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA
New York, Apr 30 2007 7:00PM
Calling upon Morocco and the Polisario Front to jump start long-stalled discussions in "good faith," the Security Council today <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9007.doc.htm">extended the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in the Western Sahara by six months.

Resolution 1754, adopted unanimously, requests that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to sponsor negotiations between the two sides, and calls on the parties to make strides towards "achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara."

The 15-member body also invites Member States to provide assistance in organizing these negotiations.

The Council also calls on Member States to consider funding confidence building measures permitting increased contact between those who have been separated from their families.

The mandate for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known by its French acronym <" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurso/index.html">MINURSO, was set to expire today, but has been extended to 31 October. Established in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and organize a referendum on self-determination, it has been renewed in subsequent resolutions of the Council.

Today's resolution also emphasized the UN's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and requested Mr. Ban to continue taking the measures necessary to ensure MINURSO's full compliance.

Earlier this month, Mr. Ban issued a report which stated that although the overall situation between the two sides has remained "generally calm," MINURSO is still needed to monitor the ceasefire between the parties.

In the report, he urged both sides to resolve the impasse through negotiations "without preconditions." In addition, he called attention to the plight of Western Saharan refugees and urged the international community to help them, while also appealing to 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).
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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BUILDING ON SUCCESS, UN-BACKED SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT POISED FOR EXPANSION

BUILDING ON SUCCESS, UN-BACKED SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT POISED FOR EXPANSION
New York, Apr 30 2007 7:00PM
An estimated 100,000 people in poverty-stricken rural India are now receiving several hours of reliable solar-powered lighting every night thanks to a United Nations-led pilot project that is set to expand to a number of other developing countries.

"The project underlines the multiple benefits accruing by providing clean and renewable energies in developing countries," said UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=504&ArticleID=5570&l=en">UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner.

Its success "should also serve as a catalytic blueprint for similar schemes across the developing world and lead to the scaling up of renewable energies everywhere," he added.

The $1.5 million pilot, managed by UNEP, has already inspired a sister effort in Tunisia, where the market for solar water heaters has been shifted from cash to credit, with over 16,000 systems financed. Similar programmes are planned for China, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Ghana, Morocco and Algeria.

Even a few hours of 20 to 40-watt solar-powered lighting in homes and small shops nightly has been credited with better grades for schoolchildren, better productivity for needlework artisan groups and other cottage industries, and even better sales at fruit stands, where produce is no longer spoiled by fumes from kerosene lamps, UNEP said in a news release.

Behind these quality-of-life upgrades is an innovative UN-led project to persuade Indian bankers to finance small loans for solar systems – typically $300 to $500 for a system to power two to four small lights or appliances.

A report on the effort will be offered at the UN <"http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/policy.htm">Commission for Sustainable Development, which opened its annual two-week session in New York today with a focus on energy issues.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES RISING CIVILIAN DEATHS IN SOMALIA

SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES RISING CIVILIAN DEATHS IN SOMALIA
New York, Apr 30 2007 6:00PM
Deeply deploring the civilian deaths resulting from renewed fighting in Somalia, the Security Council today urged the country's Government to reach out to all segments of the war-torn country's society, while demanding that the warring parties allow relief aid to reach those in need.

In a statement read by Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom, which holds this month's rotating presidency, the 15-member body stressed the Government's need to promote "the widest possible political dialogue across Somalia" and said that in particular, it must "intensify its dialogue with the clans" in the capital Mogadishu.

Since the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from the capital and much of the country last December, there has been an upsurge in violence. Clan-based militias have also been involved in the clashes. The break in fighting between warring sides agreed to early this month crumbled when the fighting resumed on 11 April in Mogadishu.

The Council "calls on all parties in Somalia, the region and the wider international community to reject violence, to deny safe haven to extremist elements" and to also cease hostilities immediately and agree to a ceasefire. It also appeals to all sides to pursue any differences they may have with the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) peacefully.

The TFG must convene the National Reconciliation Congress – one that is "truly representative of all segments of Somali society" – as soon as possible, the Council asserted, calling on all parties in the country as well as international partners to assist in paving the way towards an "all-inclusive political process."

The statement appealed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to work in concert with the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to pursue means to bring peace to the country which has had a functioning government for the past 16 years.

Mr. Jones Parry also said the Council recognizes that the role of the African Union Mission to Somalia, known as AMISOM, is vital, and called upon all parties in Somalia and in the region to support and cooperate with it.

In February in a unanimous resolution adopted under <"http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter7.htm">Chapter VII of the UN Charter – which allows for enforcement measures – the Council decided that the operation will support dialogue and reconciliation in the country by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection of all those involved with the process.

Citing the resolution in its statement today, the Council said that it is ready to "consider taking measures against those who seek to prevent or block a peaceful political process, threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions by force, or take action that undermines stability in Somalia or the region."

According to UN figures, 340,000 people – roughly one-third of the capital's population – have fled the hostilities in Mogadishu since the start of February, while at least 1,000 have sustained injuries.

The Council voiced its "grave concern" at the deadly violence which has wracked the country and deplored the humanitarian impact of the fighting, in particular the indiscriminate shelling of heavily populated areas in Mogadishu.

UN agencies have reported being thwarted in their efforts to deliver vital aid to suffering civilians by the unstable security situation, with as many as four out of five Somalis in need out of reach.

Last week, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, criticized the TFG and local authorities for making it even harder for aid workers to carry out their daily work by restricting access to area hospitals and imposing unnecessary delays and problems at checkpoints.

Today's statement "demands that all parties in Somalia comply fully with international humanitarian law, protect the civilian population, and guarantee complete, unhindered and secured access for humanitarian assistance." In addition, the Council stressed the importance of free movement and unfettered access for relief workers throughout Somalia to provide aid.

The anguish experienced by civilians and the need to provide them with crucial aid were also the top concerns in an open letter by Eric Laroche, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, to the country's leaders, military commanders, elders and community representatives.

He appealed to leaders to make concerted efforts towards fostering peace and stability in the interest of the Somali people. "The humanitarian community at large is working hard to meet the soaring needs in Somalia," he said. "This, however, will not go far without a commitment from you, that you will honour your moral obligations to facilitate assistance from your communities."

In his 28 April letter, Mr. Laroche also outlined several steps imperative to alleviating the dire humanitarian situation "Somalia is in the middle of a major human tragedy," he wrote, expressing his alarm over reports of abuse, harassment, theft and rape perpetrated on those who have been displaced by the fighting.

"I am deeply concerned about the effects and consequences that the ongoing fighting in Mogadishu is having on an already appalling humanitarian situation in Somalia."

He urged all parties, including Ethiopian forces, to respect international humanitarian law. In particular, he stated that the distinction between civilians and combatants must be maintained and that vital civilian infrastructures such as hospitals must not be targeted by combatants.

Echoing today's Council statement, Mr. Laroche called for safe access for all humanitarian relief workers to reach and protect the populations, and requested that authorities, local leaders, militia and military commanders ensure the safety and security of all aid providers, including the protection of vehicles, equipment and missions.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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UN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS ON NEPAL'S MAOISTS TO ALLOW RETURN OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

UN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS ON NEPAL'S MAOISTS TO ALLOW RETURN OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
New York, Apr 30 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations human rights office in Nepal today called on the country's Maoists to allow internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs), forced to flee during the decade-long civil war, to return safely to their homes, pointing out that past agreements also call for all confiscated property be given back to these returnees.

Since the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/index.htm">OHCHR) was established in the small Himalayan country two years ago, it has advocated with the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) to respect the rights of displaced persons to return, and both parties have agreed to this, the office said.

"CPN-M leaders have long pledged to permit displaced people to return to their homes and to also return all of their property to them," said Lena Sundh, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Now that they are part of the Interim Government it is time for them to prove that they have the will to ensure that those promises are transformed into action at the local level."

OHCHR's regular monitoring activities in rural areas in recent months have shown a "failure to implement such central-level commitments," the office said, faulting the attitude and activities of village-level CPN-M cadres as well as the failure of district-level leaders to hold cadres accountable for not allowing the IDPs safe return.

As well as calling for the "unconditional, dignified and safe return" of all IDPs, the OHCHR also wants to ensure that at the village-level, these returnees can rely on independent law enforcement and be allowed to "freely conduct political activities and express their political views."

In addition to returning all confiscated land and property, OHCHR also calls on the Maoists to ensure that 'secondary occupants' are not left homeless, while further demanding that all cadres who do not act on these principles be held accountable.
Nepal's decade-long armed conflict, which caused 13,000 deaths and paralyzed life in the countryside, came to a formal end with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord last November. The Security Council then deployed the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.un.org.np/unmin.php">UNMIN), which is mandated to support the peace process by monitoring the arms and armed personnel of the former adversaries and by assisting in an election for a Constituent Assembly.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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RECENT TIMOR-LESTE ELECTION WAS 'FREE AND FAIR' AND REFLECTED THE WILL OF VOTERS: UN

RECENT TIMOR-LESTE ELECTION WAS 'FREE AND FAIR' AND REFLECTED THE WILL OF VOTERS: UN
New York, Apr 30 2007 6:00PM
This month's poll in Timor-Leste, the first in the country since gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002, may not have been perfect but it was "free and fair" and reflected the will of the voters, the United Nations said today, adding that it was a significant achievement for the tiny nation.

In accordance with the Electoral Law, all candidates had the opportunity to address any grievances through the existing electoral and judicial mechanisms rather than taking them to the streets, which also reflects well on public confidence in the national capacity to handle disputes peacefully, the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (<"http://www.unmit.org">UNMIT) said in a press statement.

"UNMIT recognizes that, while the first round of elections was not perfect, the consensus assessment was that they were free and fair, reflecting the will of the voters. In addition, considering that these are the first national elections which the Timorese authorities have ever conducted, they should be seen as a significant achievement," it stated.

"UNMIT will continue to encourage calm, resolution of complaints through legal means, and respect for the outcome of the elections as announced by the national electoral authorities."

The UN's statement came in response to the Sixth Report of the Electoral Certification Team, an independent body appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to assess whether the electoral process for this year's presidential and parliamentary elections are proceeding in a satisfactory manner.

This preliminary report indicates areas where additional improvements are still required, an issue that UNMIT has also raised with the authorities on several occasions and something it said it will continue to do.

The UN has praised the non-violent nature of the 9 April voting and looks ahead to a similar response to next month's run-off presidential poll on 9 May.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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UN COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR MAJOR POLICY PUSH TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UN COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR MAJOR POLICY PUSH TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
New York, Apr 30 2007 6:00PM
Delegates to the United Nations <" http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/policy.htm">Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in New York today proposed a wide range of measures aimed at helping to bring modern energy services to the poor, reduce energy waste and cut climate change-causing greenhouse gases.

"We need a major policy push to promote energy efficiency, to generate new energy technologies, and to promote advanced and cleaner technologies," said José Antonio Ocampo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, in an opening address to the two-week session.

Long-term energy solutions, together with the interlinked issues of climate change, industrial development and air pollution, are at the core of the Commission's agenda.

"This gathering can craft thoughtful, focused policy decisions to advance progress on several fronts: providing affordable, modern energy services to the poor, helping countries industrialize on the basis of cleaner production processes, and designing energy systems that contribute to confronting the global challenge of climate change," Mr. Ocampo told participants.

Underlining the importance of the issues before this year's session, Commission Chair Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, reminded delegates of their "historical responsibility to current and future generations to make progress here."

This session marks the 20th anniversary of the <" http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/42/ares42-187.htm">Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, which put sustainable development on the map as an integrated process that balances social, economic and environmental concerns.

"Every group has its own agenda, every country has its own interests," Mr. Al-Attiyah said, adding, however, that he firmly believed that "there is strong political will among Member States to make real progress here during this session, and there exists a lot of common ground."

Emphasizing the need for action, Mr. Al-Attiyah said that "with one third of the world without access to modern energy, our world is not a sustainable one; neither will our world be sustainable if the current patterns of consumption and production continue."

Pakistan's UN representative Farukh Amil, speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, called for the provision of new and additional financial resources for development, equitable international trade and financial systems, and the transfer of technology. He pointed out that official development assistance fell 5.1 percent in 2006 compared to 2005.

The meeting at UN headquarters in New York is attended by more than 90 ministers and 1,500 representatives of non-governmental organizations. It ends on 11 May.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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INTERNATIONAL JUDGES AT UN-BACKED KHMER ROUGE TRIALS WELCOME BREAKTHROUGH ON FEES

INTERNATIONAL JUDGES AT UN-BACKED KHMER ROUGE TRIALS WELCOME BREAKTHROUGH ON FEES
New York, Apr 30 2007 5:00PM
International judges at the United Nations-backed trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders, accused of mass killings and other horrific crimes during the late 1970s, today welcomed Cambodia's decision to reduce <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22120&Cr=cambodia&Cr1=">fees for international lawyers, saying it opened the way for the court to move quickly to start its work.

The judges of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia said they were pleased to learn of a recent decision by the Cambodian Bar Council to institute a flat
registration fee of $500 for all international lawyers appearing before the court. This is down from a $4,900 fee for foreign lawyers, an amount the international judges warned earlier this month was prohibitive and went against all international practice.

"With this decision, the international judges believe that a successful plenary can now be
called to adopt the internal rules of the Extraordinary Chambers. It is expected that this
plenary will be held in the last week of May 2007," the international judges said in a statement released in Phnom Penh.

"The international judges express their hope that Extraordinary Chambers can move forward without further delay, so as to discharge its historic responsibility to find justice for the Cambodian people."

This fee dispute was the latest delay in the long-awaited trials, judges and prosecutors for which were sworn in last July. Under an agreement signed by the UN and Cambodia, the trial court and a Supreme Court within the Cambodian legal system will investigate those most responsible for crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international law between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979.

The UN will pay $43 million of the $56.3 million budget for the trials, with the Cambodian Government providing $13.3 million.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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SANCTIONS WORK BEST WHEN THERE ARE CARROTS AND NOT JUST STICKS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

SANCTIONS WORK BEST WHEN THERE ARE CARROTS AND NOT JUST STICKS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Apr 30 2007 5:00PM
<"http://www.un.org/sc/committees">Security Council sanctions are most effective when they aim for a clear goal using incentives and not just threats, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a symposium on the issue today.

Describing sanctions as having "enormous potential to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security when not used as an end in themselves, but in support of a holistic conflict resolution approach," Mr. Ban <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm10968.doc.htm">said they must reflect the strong and united will of the international community to be as effective as possible.

"Their goals must be clear and unambiguous. And the goal posts must not be changed arbitrarily or without explanation in order to meet unstated political objectives," he added.

"Sanctions should include carrots along with sticks – not only threats, but inducements to elicit compliance. The target must understand what actions it is expected to take. And partial or full compliance should be met by reciprocal steps from the Council, such as easing or lifting sanctions as appropriate."

Mr. Ban told the Symposium on Enhancing the Implementation of Security Council Sanctions, which was hosted by Greece and held at UN Headquarters in New York, that sanctions had become increasingly refined. "Where once they were an often blunt and unfocused instrument, today they have become a more precise tool. Their increased use attests to their growing power."

Measures introduced now are often targeted at specific individuals and can include the freezing of financial assets, travel restrictions and strictures on commodities whose sale is used to fund wars.

"They are meant to deny States the means with which to fuel conflict, while minimizing the effects on the general population."

But he warned that there are still challenges in enforcing sanctions, from a lack of international political will to the difficulty often encountered on exerting leverage over non-State actors.

Yet, "if implemented effectively, sanctions can avoid the costs in blood and treasure that might otherwise ensue from the use of armed force," he said. "While not a solution in themselves, sanctions can play an effective role among the panoply of measures to prevent and resolve conflict."
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR 2007

NEW UN COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR 2007
New York, Apr 30 2007 4:00PM
Delivering his first major policy address since assuming the top United Nations communications post earlier this year, Under-Secretary-General Kiyotaka Akasaka today described efforts to reorient the Department for Public Information (DPI) both structurally and programmatically, and said priority attention would be paid to peace and security, climate change, development and human rights.

Mr. Akasaka told the UN Committee on Information, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/pi1768.doc.htm">meeting in New York, that DPI aims to reform in a stable manner. "We must build on the gains made in the past, while remaining attentive to the demands of the media, to changes in the Organization's priorities, and to new and revised mandates given to us by Member States," he said.

"DPI's future course, like that of the Organization itself, will therefore be guided by a policy of 'reform with continuity,'" he added, echoing the directive put in place by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when he took office in January.

The Under-Secretary-General said DPI has made "steady progress in meeting its mission," explaining that its activities are now more strategic.

Citing the example of the General Assembly's 2006 High-level Dialogue on Migration, he said an analysis of the media coverage of that event showed that the key messages on the UN's role on migration framed by DPI were picked up by journalists more than 90 per cent of the time.

He also pointed to the wide reach of the UN's website, which receives over 50 million unique visits annually. In addition, over 300 million people now have access to UN Radio programmes, many of which are now available on the Internet.

Mr. Akasaka also described several new outreach programmes, including one on the Holocaust. "The observance in the General Assembly Hall this year included representatives of various communities who were targeted during the Holocaust, as well as students who will carry their message of tolerance and hope to future generations."

The Department is now focusing on four priority themes: peace and security; climate change; development and the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals">MDGs), a set of global antipoverty targets; and human rights, he said.

Drawing attention to the work of the UN Information Centres (<"http://www.un.org/aroundworld/unics/english/about.htm">UNICs) operating in various countries, he said: "They give our global messages a local accent – and as a result they bring the UN closer to the people it serves."

Reflecting on his own career path, which included work at several international organizations and led to his appointment in March as Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Mr. Akasaka said he had long been familiar with the UN's work through his travels.

"At each place, I discovered amazing stories of people striving to make lives better. Behind those stories often lay the light footprint of the United Nations and its staff. I always admired the commitment and dedication of those people – the unsung heroes – who stood guard between enemy combatants, built tents for refugees, vaccinated children against deadly diseases, and brought food and water to the needy," he said.

"Now I have the opportunity to tell the story of the United Nations to the whole world. It is an amazing opportunity and a remarkable challenge."
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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HAITI: UN ENVOY HAILS SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS

HAITI: UN ENVOY HAILS SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS
New York, Apr 30 2007 2:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Haiti has congratulated the country's people on the successful conclusion of a number of local, municipal and legislative elections which culminated a three-round process as part of broader efforts to consolidate democracy in the Caribbean country.

"After all the reports I have received and what I have witnessed myself today in the field, I wish to congratulate everybody on the excellent collaboration between MINUSTAH and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)," Edmond Mulet, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (<"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/minustah">MINUSTAH), said on Sunday.

"I also want to point out the very successful cooperation of the MINUSTAH Security Forces and the Haitian National Police and I want to thank them for their professional performance."

More than 300,000 voters in 25 communities exercised their democratic right in 69 voting centres and 770 polling stations to choose their representatives. With logistical and security support provided by MINUSTAH to the CEP and the Haitian National Police, all polling stations opened on time, allowing voters access to the polling booths, the mission said in a news release.

Ambassador Mulet visited voting centres in Gressier and Merger, south of the capital, Port-au-Prince, to get a first-hand impression of the situation. There he heard from CEP members and members of the Haitian National Police, UN Police (UNPOL) and the military that the polls were conducted peacefully.

"We commend the Haitian people for their demonstrated wish to utilize their democratic voice," Mr. Mulet said.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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LIBERIA: UN ENVOY WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL LIFTING OF DIAMOND EMBARGO

LIBERIA: UN ENVOY WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL LIFTING OF DIAMOND EMBARGO
New York, Apr 30 2007 2:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Liberia today welcomed the Security Council's decision to lift its six-year-old ban on the export of diamonds from the country that was introduced to stop proceeds from the sale of these so-called "blood diamonds" from fuelling wars across West Africa.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmil/index.html">Liberia, issued a statement in which he congratulated the country's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Government for "working hard to meet the conditions required for the termination of the diamond sanctions and for compliance with the Kimberley Process."
Begun in 2000 by Southern African diamond-producing countries, the Kimberley Process led to the adoption in November 2002 of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds, based primarily on national schemes and on internationally-agreed minimum standards.
Trafficking in blood diamonds is considered one of the root causes of the civil wars that have plagued Africa, especially in Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone.
In his statement Mr. Doss called on the Liberian Government "to further intensify its collaborative work with international partners and national stakeholders to ensure that the diamond certification scheme operates effectively for the benefit of all Liberians, including those communities involved in diamond mining."
On Friday the Council voted unanimously to lift the sanctions, observing that Liberia has made enough progress towards establishing the necessary internal controls to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process. But it also agreed to review, if necessary, its decision to lift the embargo within 90 days.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL ARRIVES IN KAZAKHSTAN FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS

TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL ARRIVES IN KAZAKHSTAN FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS
New York, Apr 30 2007 12:00PM
Continuing an official tour of Central Asia, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour arrived today in Kazakhstan for talks with top officials.

On her three-day visit to the country, she will meet with Prime Minister Karim Massimov and other high-level Government officials, as well as with representatives of regional and international organizations, civil society groups and diplomats.

"The visit will provide and opportunity to exchange views on human rights related issues with the Government of Kazakhstan and to engage in discussions about future cooperation and continued dialogue on issues of mutual concern in the region and the country in the area of human rights," according to a press release by her Office.

The High Commissioner kicked off her trip – her first to the region – in Kyrgyzstan and then traveled to Tajikistan. She will conclude her tour in Turkmenistan.

On her first stop in Kyrgyzstan, she observed the positive direction in which civil society in the country is developing, but voiced concern over issues pertaining to women and reports of ill-treatment of detainees and torture.

At the end of her visit in Tajikistan, she noted that while reforms of the justice system – in particular, the areas of law enforcement, criminal procedures and the independence of the judiciary – are ongoing, access to justice remains a major challenge.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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INDOOR AIR POLLUTION TAKES HEAVY TOLL ON HEALTH, UN AGENCY SAYS

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION TAKES HEAVY TOLL ON HEALTH, UN AGENCY SAYS
New York, Apr 30 2007 12:00PM
Indoor air pollution from solid fuels used for cooking and heating are to blame for almost 5 per cent of deaths and disease, affecting mostly women and children, in 21 of the most heavily impacted countries, the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np20/en/index.html">WHO) announced today.

Worldwide, reliance on solid fuels – including coal and biomass, or wood, dung and crop residues – is one of the 10 biggest threats to public health.

Over 3 billion people around the world depend on these fuels, and exposure to indoor air pollution from them has been linked to many diseases, particularly pneumonia among children and chronic respiratory diseases among adults.

In the first-ever country-by-country estimates of the heavy toll solid fuel use takes on health, 21 countries – most of which are in Africa – were found to be the most affected.

"Solutions are available, and it is our international responsibility to promote the health and well-being of those affected, who are mostly women and children," said Susanne Weber-Mosdorf, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments. "The prevention potential is enormous."

Approximately 1.2 billion deaths a year in 11 countries – Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania – due to indoor air pollution.

Replacing solid fuels with cleaner and more efficient ones, such as biogas, liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene, could largely eliminate the health risk and prevent 1.5 billions deaths yearly around the world.

In the short term, promoting more fuel-efficient and cleaner technologies, such as improved cooking stoves, could cut indoor pollution back considerably.

In issuing the findings, WHO said governments should be able to use the estimates to set priorities in creating preventive measures and to assess their impact over time.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES NPT REVIEW MEETING TO ADDRESS CRISIS ON NUCLEAR ARMS FRONT

BAN KI-MOON URGES NPT REVIEW MEETING TO ADDRESS CRISIS ON NUCLEAR ARMS FRONT
New York, Apr 30 2007 7:00AM
Spotlighting the current "crisis" in international efforts to address the world's nuclear arsenal, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on delegates attending a review conference in Vienna on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to demonstrate that progress is possible.

"I urge you to show the world what multilateral cooperation can achieve in building a safer world and advancing the interests and ideals of humanity," Mr. Ban said in a message to the opening session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

"By looking both backward and forward, the process can help States parties to keep the Treaty in step with changing times, to strengthen accountability of States Parties and to promote constructive engagement with civil society," he said, according to the text of the message, which was to be delivered by Hannelore Hoppe, Officer-in-Charge of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.

Mr. Ban paid tribute to the Treaty, noting that it commits the nuclear-weapon States to disarmament, while affirming the inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, consistent with other treaty obligations.

But at the same time, he called attention to the many obstacles facing efforts to address the nuclear issue. Mr. Ban's message marked the first from any UN Secretary-General to an NPT Preparatory Committee, a step he called "necessary because of a persisting crisis of confidence in the treaty."

The current stalemate on the nuclear issue is evidenced by the "disappointing outcome" of the 2005 NPT Review Conference, insufficient progress in nuclear disarmament, as well as a lack of universal adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreements -- and cases of non-compliance, said the Secretary-General.

Nuclear tests were conducted as recently as 2006, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) faces difficulties. "Ongoing te
nuclear-capable missiles, possible discrimination in peaceful nuclear cooperation and a failure to implement the proposal to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East have also raised serious concerns," the Secretary-General observed.

Under the provisions of the Treaty, a review conference is held every five years.
2007-04-30 00:00:00.000

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INSECURITY THREATENS AID OPERATIONS IN AFRICA, UN FOOD AGENCY CHIEF WARNS

INSECURITY THREATENS AID OPERATIONS IN AFRICA, UN FOOD AGENCY CHIEF WARNS
New York, Apr 29 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has made dramatic progress in reducing malnutrition in Ethiopia, Sudan and Chad but these achievements risk being diminished by constantly shifting security conditions, the head of the agency said today in Rome after wrapping up a tour of those countries.

Josette Sheeran welcomed the gains she witnessed but emphasized that sustained improvement requires long-term investment to steer a country from overwhelming crisis to gradual recovery.

Ms. Sheeran's Africa visit, her first field mission since assuming the top job at WFP on 5 April, took her to Ethiopia, Sudan and lastly to Chad, where she met yesterday with government and donor country representatives to discuss assistance for some 365,000 refugees and internally displaced.

"Chad is facing the triple challenge of chronic hunger, a surge in internally displaced people and growing numbers of refugees from Darfur. We need to raise the resources to respond to all these needs," said Ms. Sheeran, referring to the western region of Sudan where fighting has displaced some 2 million people since 2003.

In the discussions, officials spoke of their shared "hope to move beyond the emergency phase here and develop school feeding projects so that children can grow and gain an education and have greater opportunities in life," said Ms. Sheeran.

Ms. Sheeran cited WFP's meals-in-school programme for children in crisis settings as a good example of a "humanitarian bridge" from the emergency to a stable life.

2007-04-29 00:00:00.000

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ON ANNIVERSARY OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS PACT, BAN KI-MOON URGES DESTRUCTION OF STOCKPILES

ON ANNIVERSARY OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS PACT, BAN KI-MOON URGES DESTRUCTION OF STOCKPILES
New York, Apr 29 2007 11:00AM
Marking the tenth anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on countries that still possess these arms to abolish them.

"I call upon all possessor States to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles according to the agreed deadlines," Mr. Ban said in a message on the occasion. "I also urge all governments that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention without delay."

The Secretary-General noted the progress that has been achieved of the past decade, pointing out that more than 25 per cent of declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed while the Convention now has 182 States Parties, covering 98 percent of the world's population.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which helps carry out the ban, "has made important gains in eliminating from the world an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," the Secretary-General said.

The anniversary is also observed as Remembrance Day for Victims of Chemical Warfare, and in his message, Mr. Ban called for action on their behalf. "Let us honour the victims of chemical warfare, and redouble our efforts to ensuring that no life on earth will be lost ever again due to the use of chemical weapons."

Formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, the treaty aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of these arms by States Parties.

The Convention is considered unique for its incorporation of the "challenge inspection," which allows any State Party in doubt about another State Party's compliance to request the OPCW Director-General to send an inspection team. Under the Convention's "challenge inspection" procedure,
"any time, anywhere" inspections with no right of refusal.

2007-04-29 00:00:00.000

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