SATELLITES CAN AID IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN ASIA-PACIFIC, UN SAYS

SATELLITES CAN AID IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN ASIA-PACIFIC, UN SAYS New York, Mar 20 2008 1:00PM Satellites can help Asian-Pacific nations better prepare for future disasters, the United Nations arm working to advance economic and social development in the region has noted.

Six of the ten deadliest natural disasters of the past decade have occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for the area, known as <"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/mar/g08.asp">ESCAP, yesterday kicked off a three-day symposium to discuss how to effectively use information gathered from satellites.

The Regional Symposium on Disaster Management in Bangkok has brought together high-level authorities from 22 countries in the region, which accounted for nearly three-quarters of the some 21,000 natural disaster casualties in 2006. Of the 53 ESCAP members, 8 countries are among the top 10 most impacted in the world.

"Effective disaster management relies greatly on effective information management," said Shigeru Mochida, ESCAP's Deputy Executive Secretary, said in his opening address to the meeting.

Given that receiving information in a timely manner is crucial for risk assessment, mitigation planning, monitoring and early warning, as well as for rescue and relief activities, he added that satellites could play a key role.

ESCAP is working with Sentinel Asia, a regional initiative, to share disaster information and to more effectively utilize satellite data for disaster management.
2008-03-20 00:00:00.000

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DEADLY ATTACKS IN WEST DARFUR BREACHED INTERNATIONAL LAW - UN REPORT

DEADLY ATTACKS IN WEST DARFUR BREACHED INTERNATIONAL LAW – UN REPORT New York, Mar 20 2008 1:00PM Recent attacks by militias and the Sudanese army on four villages in West Darfur that left at least 115 people dead and some 30,000 displaced violated international humanitarian and human rights law, a United Nations <"http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Press/WestDarfurreport2003.pdf">report released today has found.

The report, issued jointly by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (<" http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx">OHCHR) and the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (<"http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx#">UNAMID), describes attacks on four villages north of El Geneina, the regional capital.

The attacks on the villages of Saraf Jidad, Sirba, Silea and Abu Suruj were carried out as part of a push by the Sudanese Government in late January and early February to drive back an insurgent group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

The 8 February attacks involved aerial bombardments by helicopter gun ships and fixed-wing aircraft, accompanied by ground offensives by soldiers and armed militia on horses and camels, the report says.

The report describes extensive looting during and after the attacks, and catalogues "consistent and credible accounts" of rape committed by armed men in uniform.

"These actions violated the principle of distinction stated in international humanitarian law, failing to distinguish between civilian objects and military objective," the report concludes.

"Moreover, the scale of destruction of civilian property, including objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population, suggests that the damage was a deliberate and integral part of a military strategy," it adds.

UNAMID human rights staff were unable to investigate reports that similar ground and air offensives carried out on Jebel Moon and nearby areas on 18, 19 and 22 February also resulted in the killing of civilians, as the Government denied the UN access to Jebel Moon until 1 March.

According to the report, this was "in breach of its obligation to allow UNAMID officials freedom of movement under the Status of Forces Agreement signed between the UN and the Sudanese Government in February 2008."

The attacks of the JEM rebel group, which precipitated the Government offensive, had previously been determined by the Darfur Ceasefire Commission to be in violation of the 2004 N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement.

Meanwhile, UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho travelled to one of the villages, Silea, to assess the security situation on the ground and to look at the possibility of the mission's deployment there.

"The protection of civilians is our priority," Mr. Anyidoho told community elders. "We will not abandon you. The UN will continue working to improve your living conditions," he said, affirming that UNAMID would soon have a permanent presence in the area.

Currently, UNAMID conducts daily patrols from El Geneina to the conflict-affected areas, allowing humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) access to the population.

UNAMID took over from a previous AU force at the beginning of the year in a bid to quell the fighting and humanitarian suffering in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed in the past five years and at least 2.2 million displaced.
2008-03-20 00:00:00.000

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NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AFRICANS LACK ACCESS TO PROPER SANITATION, UN SAYS

NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AFRICANS LACK ACCESS TO PROPER SANITATION, UN SAYS New York, Mar 20 2008 11:00AM Over 60 per cent of Africans lack access to a proper toilet, <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43306.html">according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) ahead of World Water Day – observed on 22 March – whose 2008 theme is "Sanitation Matters."

The Day aims to raise awareness to the plight of 2.6 billion people worldwide who live without toilets in their homes and are therefore vulnerable to numerous health risks.

Contamination of water, soil and food results from the human contact with the bacteria, viruses and parasites, which in turn cause diarrhoea, the second largest killer of children in developing countries.

"Sanitation is a cornerstone of public health," said Margaret Chan, <"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO Director-General. "Improved sanitation contributes enormously to human health and wellbeing, especially for girls and women."

Of the 2.6 billion people without toilets in their homes, nearly 1 billion of them are children. The two agencies approximate that 1.2 billion people gained access to improved sanitation between 1990 and 2004, but at the current rate, 2.4 billion people will still be without basic sanitation in 2015.

"The absence of adequate sanitation has a serious impact on health and social development, especially for children," Ann M. Veneman, <"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF Executive Director, pointed out.

She noted that enhanced support for improving sanitation will save lives and speed up progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs), eight anti-poverty objectives with a target date of 2015.

Pollution generated by sewage, much of which ends up in coastal waters, leads an economic loss of $16 billion annually and is estimated to cause four million lost "man-years" yearly in terms of human ill-health, said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in a <"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=530&ArticleID=5761&l=en">message for the Day.

"In many developed countries, part of the answer over the past half century has been found in ever more sophisticated, multi-million dollar water treatment works."

But as projects such as one at the Shimo la Tewa jail in Mombasa, a city on the Kenyan coast, highlight that there are less costly solutions to the problem that are beneficial for other reasons, Mr. Steiner noted.

In this project, inmates work with nature to neutralize human wastes by using wetland-filtered water, called "black wastewater," for irrigation and fish farming, providing a source of protein which can be consumed or sold to local markets.

Additionally, this wastewater – containing high concentrations of human waste – will also be used to produced biogas, which can be serve as fuel for cooking, heating and lighting. This could slash the costs of the 4,000-person prison and curb emissions.

The scheme in Mombasa, which is also expected to help wildlife such as birds and marine organisms, has a price tag of $25 per person served, which is significantly less than projects in developed countries, the Executive Director said.

"It is hoped that the lessons learn can be applied to other parts of the world so that the multiple challenges of sanitation and pollution can, in part, be viewed through a nature-based lens," he observed.

"Working with nature rather than against it is part of that intelligent decision-making that may prove a faster, more cost-effective and more economically attractive way of achieving local and international health and poverty goals."

Events marking World Water Day will be held globally, in places ranging from Bangladesh to Ecuador, and from Guyana to Senegal.

In New York today, UNICEF and the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP) are attempting to break the record for the longest toilet line to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis.
2008-03-20 00:00:00.000

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VISITING UN EXPERTS ASSESS TIMORESE POLICE AND SECURITY SECTOR

VISITING UN EXPERTS ASSESS TIMORESE POLICE AND SECURITY SECTOR New York, Mar 19 2008 5:00PM A team of experts from United Nations Headquarters in New York has arrived in Timor-Leste to assess key areas where the world body has been supporting the young nation, including the development of its police force.

Led by UN Police Advisor Andrew Hughes, the team includes officials from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the UN Development Fund (<"http://www.unifem.org/index.php?f_page_pid=6">UNIFEM), the International Centre for Transitional Justice, the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), and the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL).

They will consult with a wide range of actors during the 11-day visit, including political leaders, Government officials, and key members of civil society.

In addition to examining the progress made by the PNTL, the team will also consider how best to support the overall reform of the National Police and the wider security sector.

At a meeting last month with the leadership of the former ruling party Fretilin, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, stressed that security sector reform is a priority area and its success will be critical for the nation, which the UN helped shepherd to independence in 2002.

The fledgling nation has faced a number of security-related challenges during its short period of independence, including violent clashes that erupted in 2006 and, just last month, attacks on the Timorese President and Prime Minister.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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UN POPULATION FUND JOINS IN CONGOLESE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE

UN POPULATION FUND JOINS IN CONGOLESE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE New York, Mar 19 2008 5:00PM The United Nations Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA) has joined forces with civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the country's appalling levels of sexual violence.

In the capital, Kinshasa, Congolese authorities, NGOs and civil society groups participated yesterday in a motor vehicle procession from downtown to alert the public to the campaign, which is entitled "Sexual violence: together, let is say NO to shamed silence for the dignity of Congolese."

The month-long campaign, which covers all 11 provinces of the DRC, will also include radio and television programmes dedicated to the subject, video forums, conferences in schools, marches and the popularization of laws about sexual violence. It also ties in to the campaign launched last month by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on preventing such violence worldwide.

Sexual violence is rampant across the DRC, with an average of 1,100 rape cases reported each month in the country, with perpetrators from all sectors of society.

Earlier this year, after a visit to the country, Yakin Ertürk, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, called for international action to help women in the DRC who are victims of sexual violence.

Ms. Ertürk noted that countless victims are in inaccessible areas with little or no form of redress. "The justice system, the penitentiary system, is in deplorable conditions," she said, adding that often victims must pay for access to the courts in what she described as a "major obstacle to justice."
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN ENVOY TO IRAQ MONITORS PROGRESS OF ELECTION PREPARATIONS

TOP UN ENVOY TO IRAQ MONITORS PROGRESS OF ELECTION PREPARATIONS New York, Mar 19 2008 5:00PM Iraq's independent electoral administrators must remain transparent in their work as they prepare for governorate council polls later this year, the senior United Nations envoy to the country said today after visiting their Baghdad headquarters.

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, toured the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and observed its efforts to select 6,500 staff members to work at 550 voter registration centres across the country.

The board of commissioners of IHEC provided Mr. de Mistura with an update of preparations to hold the governorate council elections by 1 October, and also told him that further preparations depended on funding and the passage of an election law by the Council of Representatives.

"I'm pleased to see that efforts are under way to prepare for an update of the voter registry and elections," Mr. de Mistura said after the meeting, stressing the importance of IHEC remaining transparent and professional in its dealings.

The envoy also assured IHEC of the continuous support of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in the election process.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN MISSION SAYS KATANGA CONDITIONS STILL SUITABLE FOR REFUGEE RETURNS

DR CONGO: UN MISSION SAYS KATANGA CONDITIONS STILL SUITABLE FOR REFUGEE RETURNS New York, Mar 19 2008 4:00PM Conditions in the North Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are still conducive to the return of some 20,000 refugees now in Tanzania and Zambia despite recent agitation against the United Nations Mission there, known as MONUC, the mission said today.

MONUC became alarmed after fliers were distributed in the town of Moba, warning of violent anti-UN rallies, under the pretext that the mission favours the return of Banyamulenge, who are not natives of the region, to the area.

The demonstrations, planned for 15 March, did not take place and an interdisciplinary team ascertained that conditions were calm after holding meetings with Congolese and international security and humanitarian officers.

The team also concluded that all necessary steps have been taken to protect civilians and UN infrastructure and personnel in the area, where the Organization's facilities were attacked in August 2007 because of similar rumours about the Banyamulenge.

They reported that, to dispel the rumours, the Beninese detachment of MONUC invited local authorities, journalists, and members of the civil society to visit its camp to see for themselves that no members of that ethnic group were hidden there.

It also reported that the new administrator of the territory, Mulobe Kalala, attested to the population's positive attitude and indicated that joint patrols of <"http://www.monuc.org/Home.aspx?lang=en">MONUC, the Congolese army and the national police have been carried out since last week.

Mr. Kalala also minimized the impact of the fliers on the inhabitants, indicating that only a few troublemakers, who have no support from the wider population, were involved in the incident.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR), repatriation of refugees from Tanzania and Zambia to North Katanga is set to resume on 2 May.

In other news from the DRC, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) said that a Reuters report today on Congolese police actions in the Province of Bas Congo is a recap of recent actions, not a report of anything new, though the situation remains tense.

In addition, many clashes have been reported in the provinces of Ituri and North and South Kivu in the east of the vast country, which is beset by recalcitrant militias as it recovers from a devastating civil war.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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PROGRESS BEING MADE IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, UN OFFICIAL SAYS

PROGRESS BEING MADE IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, UN OFFICIAL SAYS New York, Mar 19 2008 4:00PM Considerable progress has been made worldwide in the fight against terrorism, including the endorsement of important treaties and the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

Although <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1373(2001)">resolution 1373 is as relevant today as it was when it was adopted in the wake of the September 2001 attacks against the United States, "most countries in the world have now criminalized terrorism," Mike Smith, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), told the Council in an <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9279.doc.htm">open debate today.

Since the adoption of the landmark resolution, Mr. Smith said that there have been hundreds of new ratifications of the key counter-terrorism pacts.

"There has been an almost unprecedented level of international exchange of information and cooperation among relevant agencies across borders, with the purpose of disrupting planned terrorist attacks and enabling the arrest and prosecution of those engaged in terrorism," he observed.

Thus, the focus has shifted now to ensuring that nations have the capacity and expertise to implement the measures of resolution 1373, which calls for countries to enhance their ability to counter terrorist activities nationally, regionally and globally.

Updating the Council on CTED's work, Mr. Smith said that the body is close to finalizing 192 Preliminary Implementation Assessments – one for every UN member – which boosts dialogue with countries on putting resolution 1373 into effect.

In addition, the Directorate will shortly finish revising a worldwide survey of the resolution's implementation, which assesses how countries in different regions and sub-regions are proceeding with the counter-terrorism efforts and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

Last December's attack in Algiers, Algeria, which claimed the lives of 17 UN staff members, is a "sober reminder that, notwithstanding the positive efforts we have collectively made, terrorism continues to be a serious threat to us all and it continues to evolve and manifest itself in new and dangerous ways," Mr. Smith noted at the meeting, which heard from over two dozen speakers.

Established as a special political mission in 2004, the CTED assists the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee in monitoring 1373's implementation.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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UN FORCE MARKS 30 YEARS OF PEACEKEEPING IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

UN FORCE MARKS 30 YEARS OF PEACEKEEPING IN SOUTHERN LEBANON New York, Mar 19 2008 2:00PM Blue helmets representing the 25 different national contingents that make up the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (<" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html">UNIFIL) today marked three decades of peacekeeping in the Middle Eastern nation.

First created by the Security Council in 1978 to confirm an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, the Force was enhanced in August 2006 to monitor the cessation of hostilities that erupted that summer between the two neighbours.

It is also tasked with supporting the Lebanese armed forces as they deployed throughout south Lebanon, and extending assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

Addressing a ceremony at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura today, Force Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano noted that UNIFIL has gone through various phases since its inception 30 years ago.

"But UNIFIL's goal towards maintaining peace and stability in south Lebanon has never faltered and has always maintained its momentum towards bringing normalcy in the area despite the many challenges," he told the gathering, which also included representatives from the Lebanese armed and security forces, local officials and diplomats.

The Force Commander dedicated the day to the memory of the 270 UNIFIL peacekeepers that have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1978 – 12 of them just during the past year.

UNIFIL currently comprises around 12,500 troops, supported by over 1,000 civilian international and local staff. This includes about 1,500 naval personnel of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force deployed along the Lebanese coast, at the request of the Government, to support the Lebanese navy in preventing any illegal transfer of arms or related material into the country.

In addition to their mandated responsibilities, UNIFIL personnel have also provided medical, dental and veterinarian aid to the local communities, and its de-miners have destroyed thousands of explosive devices.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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URBANIZATION BRINGS BOTH GROWTH AND URBAN POVERTY TO ASIA-PACIFIC REGION - UN

URBANIZATION BRINGS BOTH GROWTH AND URBAN POVERTY TO ASIA-PACIFIC REGION – UN New York, Mar 19 2008 2:00PM The pace of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific – unparalleled by any other area in the world – has resulted in growth but has also driven up poverty within cities, the United Nations commission covering the region said today.

The urban population of the Asia-Pacific region has been growing at the fastest rate in the world over the past 15 years, according to the "<"http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2007/ESCAP-syb2007.pdf">Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific" released today by the UN Economic and Social Commission for the area, known as <"http://www.unescap.org/">ESCAP.

"This growth is having a knock-on effect," said Pietro Gennari, chief of ESCAP's Statistics Division. "We're seeing more and more people living in slums and also a negative effect on people's ability to access clean water and sanitation in urban areas."

Two out of every five people in urban areas reside in slums, and countries such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines have all noted a drop in the proportion of the urban population with access to clean water.

The region's rapid economic growth is putting a considerable burden on the environment, partly as a result of the increase in energy consumption. Asia-Pacific's carbon dioxide emissions surged from 1.9 tons per capita in 1990 to3.2 tons per capita in 2004.

Mr. Gennari observed that if emissions are calculated per unit of gross domestic product, then the Asia-Pacific region has one of the highest carbon dioxide intensities in the world.

The dramatic increase in the number of cars used in the area, while contributing to economic growth, has the downside of boosting pollution levels. The Yearbook also notes that although the region boasts some of the highest rates of railway density in the developing world, less than half of the Asia-Pacific countries have a sizeable rail system.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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NEPALESE ELECTIONS THREATENED IF VIOLENCE RESURGES, SAYS UN TEAM

NEPALESE ELECTIONS THREATENED IF VIOLENCE RESURGES, SAYS UN TEAM New York, Mar 19 2008 2:00PM Noting improvements in security, scheduling and inclusiveness as <" http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=126&Body=Nepal&Body1=">Nepal heads toward historic elections next month, a United Nations monitoring team warned today that resurgent violence could shatter aspirations for a free and fair poll, while the UN mission in the South Asian country expressed deep concern over a candidate's killing.

"It will… be imperative that the Government of Nepal, security forces, political parties, electoral officials, and stakeholders make all efforts to avoid a resurgence of violence," the United Nations Electoral Expert Monitoring Team (<" http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=activity_detail&aid=123">EEMT) said in a statement issued after its fourth visit to assess the process leading to 10 April elections for the Constituent Assembly.

"Every effort should be made to guarantee that the current positive conditions prevail not only before and on Election Day, but also during the counting and announcement of results," the five-member team, appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and led by Rafael Lopez-Pintor, added.

The UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which helps monitor human rights in the country, said that the killing of Kamal Adhikari, a candidate for the Rastriya Jana Morcha party, took place yesterday evening in the mid-west region.

"Violence and threats against candidates represents a serious obstacle to the creation of a free and fair atmosphere for the election, and all efforts must be made to bring those responsible to justice," the mission said in a press release.

UNMIN said its officers in the region, together with staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<" http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx">OHCHR), would continue to work in support of an atmosphere conducive for a credible poll.

Once elected, Assembly members are supposed to draft a new constitution for Nepal, where an estimated 13,000 people were killed during the decade-long civil war that ended when the Government and the Maoists signed a peace accord in 2006.

The polls were supposed to be held last year, but had to be delayed several times because of political disputes.

In its statement today, however, the EEMT concluded that the Election Commission was working "under a tight electoral calendar," even though it is accommodating new nominations in order to widen the participation of candidates.

It said that the signing of agreements between the Government, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and the Federal Republican National Front (FRNF) were fundamental for allowing the reduction of violence in the Terai region.

Compared with the previous visits of the EEMT, the security situation has improved, it said, but stressed that political parties must strictly follow the code of conduct and election norms to maintain the improvement.

"Political parties should refrain from interfering in the administration of the election, especially with regard to the organization of the polls and the provision of security, which are exclusively entrusted to the Election Commission and the security forces respectively," it said.

The EEMT, whose visit took place between 3 and 17 March, is not part of UNMIN and operates separately from the mission's Electoral Assistance Office, which provides technical assistance to the Election Commission.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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ALBANIA SEEKS UN ASSISTANCE AFTER DEADLY BLASTS AT AMMUNITION DEPOT

ALBANIA SEEKS UN ASSISTANCE AFTER DEADLY BLASTS AT AMMUNITION DEPOT New York, Mar 19 2008 1:00PM Albania has asked for a United Nations disaster assessment and coordination (<" http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/FieldCoordinationSupportSection/UNDACSystem/tabid/1414/Default.aspx">UNDAC) team to be dispatched to help its authorities determine how to deal with the aftermath of Saturday's series of deadly explosions at a military ammunition depot.

At least 18 people were killed and over 390 others were injured, including 40 seriously, because of the blast, which began about 12:30 in the afternoon during an ongoing programme at the Gerdec depot to destroy old military ordnance. More than 300 homes were destroyed and over 2000 other buildings were damaged as the explosions continued through the night.

Some 4,000 people have since been evacuated from the area around the village of Vore, which is close to the depot, and offered emergency shelter, according to the latest <" http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MUMA-7CV2NX?OpenDocument">update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The situation is complicated by the thousands of artillery shells, mortar shells, grenades and small arms ammunition that now litter the area for up to five kilometres around the depot. As much as 130,000 tons of ageing ammunition in need of destruction also exists at other dumps and depots around Albania.

Gülden Türköz-Cosslett, the UN Resident Coordinator in Albania and the UN Development Programme (<" http://www.undp.org">UNDP) Resident Representative, has pledged the world body's assistance to the Government where feasible.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY, END TO IMPUNITY KEY TO STABILITY IN KENYA - UN REPORT

GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY, END TO IMPUNITY KEY TO STABILITY IN KENYA – UN REPORT New York, Mar 19 2008 11:00AM While the violence that swept across Kenya several months ago was triggered by disputed presidential polls, the crisis was fuelled by underlying causes including poverty and discrimination, United Nations human rights officials said today, urging greater accountability and an end to impunity to address those issues and prevent further outbreaks.

A report released today by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx">OHCHR) states that more than 1,200 Kenyans were reported killed during the violence that engulfed the East African nation since the December 2007 elections in which President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner over opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Thousands more were injured, over 300,000 people displaced and around 42,000 houses and many businesses were looted or destroyed, according to the 20-page <"http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Press/OHCHRKenyareport.pdf">report, prepared by a fact-finding team that visited Kenya from 6 to 28 February.

Among the underlying causes that fuelled the violence are pre-existing violations of economic and social rights "as evidenced in the lack of access to water, food, health, decent housing together with the rate of youth unemployment and the gross inequality reported by civil society organizations," states the report.

Furthermore, "the actual and perceived discrimination in the distribution of wealth, economic and political power amongst various communities and social segments together with the absence of adequate protection and effective remedy has fed serious grievances within the Kenyan population."

The report identifies three "distinct but sometimes concurrent patterns of violence – spontaneous, organised and retaliatory." The first phase began immediately after the election results were announced, when opposition supporters took to the streets in protest, especially in Kisumu and the slum areas of the capital, Nairobi.

The second wave consisted of organised attacks in the Rift Valley "which appear to have targeted non-Kalenjin communities and those perceived as opponents of the opposition ODM party, including the Kikuyu, Kisii and Luyha communities." In retaliation, gangs of Kikuyu youths then attacked non-Kikuyu groups in Naivasha, Nakuru and Mathare.

The report indicates that in most districts, the Kenyan police were unable to maintain and enforce law and order. "According to most of the victims and witnesses interviewed, the police were often present but were either overwhelmed or passive during the attacks."

Meanwhile, in some areas "the policing of demonstrations and crowds was conducted with excessive use of force resulting in death and injuries of many, including children." According to the Government's figures, 123 people were killed by the police, but hospital reports suggest the actual number may be higher.

The report adds that during the crisis, the State "appears to have failed to take appropriate measures to prevent or stop the violence and the human rights violations."

The team welcomes the 28 February power-sharing agreement reached within the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process, and emphasizes the need for greater accountability and an end to impunity to address underlying issues and boost the prospects for democratic stability in the country.

The accords include an Independent Review Committee to investigate all aspects of the 2007 Presidential electoral process; a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission; a constitutional review process, and a Commission of Inquiry with a mandate to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence that occurred during the two months following the election.

Among its recommendations, the report stresses the need for the authorities to ensure that the hundreds of thousands that were displaced in the violence are able to freely decide when or whether to return, resettle or reintegrate through a voluntary and informed choice, free from political considerations or other pressures.

In carrying out its mission, the UN team visited 15 of the worst affected locations, and interviewed 188 victims and witnesses of post-electoral violence, as well as members of the Government and opposition parties, law enforcement agencies, members of civil society, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, diplomats and other interested parties.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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CREDIBLE REFERENDUM AND ELECTION PROCESS IN MYANMAR'S INTERESTS, SAYS UN ENVOY

CREDIBLE REFERENDUM AND ELECTION PROCESS IN MYANMAR'S INTERESTS, SAYS UN ENVOY New York, Mar 18 2008 9:00PM It is in Myanmar's interest to ensure that its upcoming referendum and elections are as credible and inclusive as possible and to engage without delay in dialogue with the detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the United Nations envoy to the Asian country told the Security Council today.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9278.doc.htm">Briefing Council members on his most recent visit to Myanmar, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari said that achieving democracy, national reconciliation and lasting peace and stability would also require the "instruments for sustainable development."

Mr. Gambari, whose latest visit to Myanmar ran from 6 to 10 March, said it was "a source of disappointment" that this trip did not yield any tangible immediate benefits or results.

While he met with UN staff in the country, the international diplomatic corps, many Government officials and with other political figures, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he was not able to meet the senior Government leadership, representatives of ethnic minorities or with other figures, such as members of the so-called "88 Generation" group or the 1990 parliamentarians-elect.

But Mr. Gambari added that it was important to view this visit in the context of the UN's overall efforts over the last two years and in particular the nature of the good offices role of the Secretary-General.

"Only, two years ago, high-level dialogue between the UN and Myanmar was non-existent. Similarly, only six months ago, there was no mechanism for promoting dialogue between the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi…

"I have reason to believe that the Government attaches importance to the mission just concluded and continues to see value in the Secretary-General's good offices as offering the best prospect for further cooperation through mutual trust and confidence and constructive suggestions."

In addition, Mr. Gambari noted that the UN remains the only international actor to maintain direct dialogue with Myanmar's leaders on the need for more effort towards national reconciliation, democracy and human rights and to have access to both the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Encouraging the Myanmar authorities to reverse a policy mindset that has lasted this long can be challenging, but it is imperative that we continue to do so with persistence and patience, and with legitimate expectations of tangible results from the process of engagement."

The Special Adviser said the Government had taken steps to implement its own roadmap for reconciliation and democratization, including the drafting of a constitution that will be put to voters in a national referendum in May, ahead of multi-party elections scheduled for 2010.

Although he has been given assurances that all political forces in Myanmar would be allowed to participate freely in the referendum and election, Mr. Gambari called on the Government to take further steps to enhance the credibility of the process.

"While the referendum and elections are milestones in any transition to civilian and democratic rule, they are not ends in themselves," he said, observing that "in order to succeed, any formal process requires political conditions that are conducive to ensuring broad and free participation in the country's transition so that all can become stakeholders in their country's future."

Mr. Gambari, who briefed the General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim yesterday on his visit, also briefed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today and an international group of 14 States known as the 'Group of Friends.'

During the Council meeting, Myanmar's Permanent Representative U Kyaw Tint Swe stressed that his country had been cooperating with the UN and with Mr. Gambari and would continue to do so, adding that it did not pose a threat to international peace and security.

"The country is making significant strides in its national reconciliation and democratization process," the Permanent Representative said.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: OPPORTUNITY TO BRING LASTING PEACE MUST BE SEIZED - BAN KI-MOON

SOMALIA: OPPORTUNITY TO BRING LASTING PEACE MUST BE SEIZED – BAN KI-MOON New York, Mar 18 2008 8:00PM Despite the volatile security and dire humanitarian conditions many Somalis face, the window of opportunity to bring a durable peace to the war-torn Horn of African nation must be seized, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/178">report made public today.

Assessments and missions carried out by the United Nations have shown that "despite the difficult security situation characterized by indiscriminate killing, kidnapping and hijacking, there is an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict in Somalia and the suffering of its people," Mr. Ban wrote in his latest report.

He appealed to all sides to halt hostilities and to take part in achieving a sustainable peace.

"I particularly call on all parties to protect the civilian population and abstain from harming or kidnapping humanitarian workers and other expatriates working in Somalia."

According to a fact-finding mission led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the north of the country is more stable than the centre and the south, and regional and international factors – such as arms proliferation, the potential use of Somalia as a venue for a proxy war among its neighbours and piracy, which affects humanitarian aid – exacerbate an already complicated security issue.

The report noted that some have voiced their concern that the longer it takes for law and order to be restored in Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government in almost two decades, the greater the likelihood that global terrorists will use it as a safe haven.

DPKO has identified four scenarios that could lead up to the possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping force: the relocation of UN staff from Nairobi to Somalia; relocating the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) to Mogadishu; the deployment of an impartial stabilization force to allow the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces following a broad-based political agreement; and the installation of blue helmets after far-reaching political and security agreements are reached.

Also included in the report is an assessment made by the Integrated Task Force on Somalia (headed by the Department of Political Affairs) which urges a three-track approach to attaining peace and stability.

The first is political, encompassing a dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the opposition. The next track is related to security, underscoring the necessity of a "credible security presence even before a formal ceasefire agreement is reached" to further success in the political arena. The third track is to allow the UN to increase its programmes to seeking to bolster the economy and provide basic services, among others.

The Secretary-General said that he "generally" endorses this three-track approach, stressing that "robust support of the ongoing political process could lead to improved security conditions."

To support planning and other efforts for the African Union-led mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, the UN maintains a team of military and civilian experts at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Last week, the top UN envoy for Somalia welcomed the positive reaction to the TFG's announcement that it will hold discussions with the opposition.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, said that he was "very pleased" by the reaction from several Somali groups, especially the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia.

"I would like thank all the parties for finally thinking of the fate of the Somali people and for realizing that reconciliation can lead to a win-win situation for all sides."
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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UN 'UNIQUELY PLACED' TO LEAD EFFORT TO ADVANCE GLOBAL GOOD - BAN KI-MOON

UN 'UNIQUELY PLACED' TO LEAD EFFORT TO ADVANCE GLOBAL GOOD – BAN KI-MOON New York, Mar 18 2008 8:00PM The United Nations is "uniquely placed" to lead efforts to tackle climate change, global health, counter-terrorism and disarmament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3052">said today, urging participants at a Model UN conference today to act as catalysts for change in support of the world body's work.

The Organization is expected to work towards a more prosperous, healthy, secure and just world, Mr. Ban said, acknowledging that this is a "daunting" task. "But the United Nations has proven, at various stages of its history, that it is capable of rising to new challenges."

Calling the attendees the "leaders of the future," he said that they have the potential to devise inventive new ways to confront the challenges the world faces.

Mr. Ban also voiced hope that one day, there will be a woman Secretary-General, and said that the Model UN conference had set an example by selecting woman at the helm.

"Let me add that it gives me great pleasure to utter the words, 'Madame Secretary-General,'" he told the delegates.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON MOURNS DEATH OF UN POLICE OFFICER IN KOSOVO

BAN KI-MOON MOURNS DEATH OF UN POLICE OFFICER IN KOSOVO New York, Mar 18 2008 7:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his deep sadness at the death of a United Nations police officer during yesterday's violent clashes in Mitrovica in the north of Kosovo.

Kynol Ivor, 25, was part of the Ukrainian Formed Police Unit (FPU) and was killed in an operation undertaken – jointly by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (<"http://www.unmikonline.org/">UNMIK) and the NATO-led Kosovo Force, or KFOR – to reclaim the courthouse in North Mitrovica which was stormed and occupied on 14 March.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11470.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said that he "calls on all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in a constructive dialogue and work together to promote security and stability in Kosovo."

Extending his condolences to the officer's family, the Secretary-General also thanked the Ukrainian Government for its "dedicated commitment" to the UN's work in Kosovo.

Also mourning the policeman's death, a senior UNMIK official today said the recent violence is "unacceptable" and will not be tolerated.

"Our condolences go to the family of the Ukrainian police officer who was killed by this mob, who was murdered by this mob," said the Secretary-General's Principal Deputy Special Representative in Kosovo, Larry Rossin, at a press briefing.

Characterizing the 14 March attack on the courthouse as an "orchestrated occupation," he said that there had been several attempts to persuade Serbia's Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic, as well as Kosovo Serb political figures in Mitrovica, to resolve the situation peacefully.

Despite such communications, the courthouse continued to be occupied by some 40 people, including some officers of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior," Mr. Rossin noted. Additionally, UNMIK received information that those who carried out the courthouse attack were planning to occupy another UN building in the area.

After planning and consulting with both KFOR and the Police Commissioner, he said he authorized the operation which began early yesterday morning to regain control of the courthouse and restore law and order.

Despite originally starting out peacefully, the situation deteriorated into violence, with a mob attacking first with rocks, then with Molotov cocktails. Shortly after, UN police and KFOR troops came under direct gunfire and hand grenade attacks, resulting in 42 UN police officers and 22 KFOR troops sustaining injuries.

"I hesitate to call them demonstrators, because demonstrating implies peacefully and this was far, far beyond the limit of what is acceptable," Mr. Rossin said of the mob.

He added that 32 of those occupying the courthouse were temporarily detained, processed and released back to North Mitrovica. "Criminal investigations into all these illegal acts, including murder and attempted murder, perpetrated on UNMIK and on KFOR soldiers are ongoing and we firmly intend to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice."

The situation in the area is now calm, but tense, Mr. Rossin observed, urging all to respect the rule of law and to allow UNMIK to carry out its mandate.

Last month, the Assembly of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government declared independence from Serbia, and since then the Secretary-General has underlined the need for restraint from all sides.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES ISSUE NEW EDITION OF MEDICAL GUIDE TO HELP PROTECT SEAFARERS

UN AGENCIES ISSUE NEW EDITION OF MEDICAL GUIDE TO HELP PROTECT SEAFARERS New York, Mar 18 2008 7:00PM Three United Nations agencies have teamed up to publish a new edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships, designed to provide practical advice for anyone providing assistance whenever a seafarer falls ill or becomes injured on a ship.

The International Maritime Organization (<"http://www.imo.org/">IMO), the International Labour Organization (<"http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm">ILO) and the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) said yesterday in a joint communiqué that the new edition – the third – contains updated recommendations and information and is consistent with key international health regulations.

Under the ILO Maritime Labour Convention on 2006, all ships should carry a medicine chest, medical equipment and a guide, such as this book, which was first published in 1967.

Seafarers face greater risks to their health while at sea, in part because of extreme weather conditions and the often long voyages involved, and those who work at sea are considered particularly vulnerable. Their situation is exacerbated by their isolation from the usual sources of medical care and assistance available to people on land.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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SUDANESE-CHADIAN RELATIONS VITAL TO ENDING DARFUR CONFLICT, SAYS UN ENVOY

SUDANESE-CHADIAN RELATIONS VITAL TO ENDING DARFUR CONFLICT, SAYS UN ENVOY New York, Mar 18 2008 7:00PM Improving the relationship between Sudan and Chad is crucial to achieving a durable solution to the conflict wracking Darfur, the United Nations and African Union envoys said today after wrapping up two days of consultations in Geneva with key members of the international community.

Jan Eliasson of the UN and Salim Ahmed Salim of the AU said they had received strong support from the participants at the Geneva consultations – which included the Security Council's permanent members, its African members, the European Union and neighbours of Sudan – for renewed efforts to move the political process forward.

"The first step is, of course, to do whatever we can – and particularly [for] the participants in this meeting, whatever they can – to facilitate the relationship between Chad and Sudan, which is basic for peace in Darfur," Mr. Eliasson told a press briefing after the meeting.

Last week the presidents of Chad and Sudan signed an agreement regarding reconciliation and the normalizing of bilateral relations amid mounting concern about the violence and instability along their common border.

Tensions have been high in the region in recent weeks as about 10,000 sought refuge in eastern Chad following a series of deadly air and land attacks by Sudanese Government forces and allied militiamen on towns and villages in West Darfur, and Chadian rebels fought the forces of their Government.

Mr. Eliasson said the problems between Chad and Sudan, the growing unrest in the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur, inter-tribal clashes and the continuing fragmentation of the region's rebel movements had combined to hurt efforts to start substantive peace talks between the Government and the movements.

The splintering of the movements is hindering the formation of a single negotiating team for any serious talks, Mr. Eliasson told UN Radio in a separate interview.

"We hope very much that they will soon come to conclusions on their positions for the talks and decide on a negotiation team… But it seems like they still have a long way to go."

The Special Envoy stressed that there can be no military solution to the Darfur conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced at least 2.2 million others since 2003, when rebels began fighting Government forces and allied militia.

"And if there is no military solution, there is only a political solution. And for a political solution to come about, we have to sit down and talk. And we have to sit down and talk about power-sharing, wealth-sharing and security. And, of course, the right of return – for people to come back to their own homes. And to start talking about the recovery and development. And the hope of a better future for the people of Darfur."

He urged the countries and organizations participating in the two days of consultations this week to exert any influence they have over either the Government or the movements.

Mr. Eliasson added that the concerned countries had agreed on the need for a multi-track approach to diplomatic efforts to end the crisis, including shuttle diplomacy and indirect negotiations.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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ALL STATES SHOULD SIGN GLOBAL PACT AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION - UN RIGHTS CHIEF

ALL STATES SHOULD SIGN GLOBAL PACT AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION – UN RIGHTS CHIEF New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM The United Nations human rights chief issued a call today for all the world's States to both sign on to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to strengthen their law enforcement so that victims of such discrimination can receive greater justice.

So far, 173 out of 192 UN Member States have ratified the convention, which came into force in 1969 and was the first human rights treaty to be adopted by the General Assembly. But many countries that have ratified have also included formal reservations.

<"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/90ABC1E962BACD62C1257410004EE5CF?opendocument">Speaking before a high-level panel in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said it was time for all the States that are yet to do so to become party to the convention and for other States to withdraw their reservations and to accept the complaints jurisdiction of the treaty's supervisory committee.

"Racism lies at the roots of many conflicts," she said to the panel, convened just ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is observed on 21 March. "It poses risks to international peace and security. Racism is the springboard for extremism and all types of intolerance."

Ms. Arbour noted that the world has made substantial progress in fighting racism since the General Assembly inaugurated the International Day in 1966, six years after the notorious Sharpeville massacre in South Africa.

However, "48 years after the Sharpeville shootings, no country can claim to be free of racism's destructive influence."

The High Commissioner also called on all parties to engage constructively in the follow-up process to the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa.

The theme of this year's International Day is the key role that dignity and justice play in combating racial discrimination, and Ms. Arbour said this "reminds us that equality under the law and equal protection of the law are central pillars of the fight against racial discrimination."
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL AFRICANS IMMUNIZED AGAINST MENINGITIS OUTBREAK - UN

THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL AFRICANS IMMUNIZED AGAINST MENINGITIS OUTBREAK – UN New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM Almost three-quarters of the population of a northern prefecture in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been vaccinated against a deadly outbreak of meningococcal meningitis that struck the impoverished nation last month, the United Nations reported today.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/News/tabid/1080/Default.aspx">OCHA) said that nearly 65,000 people in Nana-Gribizi prefecture have been immunized in a campaign that was partly funded by the CAR Emergency Response Fund, which is managed by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

The vaccination scheme was carried out by Central African health ministry officials, supported by staff from the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO), the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It follows an outbreak last month in Nana-Gribizi, Ouham and Ouham Pendé prefectures.

Meningitis bacteria, which affect the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord, are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions. Close and prolonged contact such as kissing, sneezing and coughing, and sharing eating or drinking utensils, facilitates the spread. Symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting. The disease can result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability in 10 to 20 per cent of survivors.

The CAR lies within the so-called African meningitis belt, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east and where outbreaks are relatively frequent.

Meanwhile, UNICEF and WHO have also helped with a measles vaccination campaign in the Somali region of Ethiopia that reached almost 800,000 children, and WFP distributed nearly 17,000 tons of food because of an extended dry spell that has left more than one million people in need of assistance.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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CHANGES IN GLOBALIZATION TO BE KEY TOPIC AT UN TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

CHANGES IN GLOBALIZATION TO BE KEY TOPIC AT UN TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM Containing the global economic slowdown and adapting development thinking to "the second wave of globalization" will be major topics at the upcoming session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Delegates to the 20-25 April meeting will also address the implications of emerging challenges such as high energy prices and climate change for development, <"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/webflyer.asp?docid=9698&intItemID=3549&lang=1">UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi told reporters in Geneva today.

A central focus of the conference, which will take place in Accra, Ghana, will be the special development challenges of Africa, he added.

The current, "second wave" of globalization, Mr. Panitchpakdi explained, has come about as developing countries become major players in the world economy.

Earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that the UNCTAD-XII conference could galvanize support for a more development-friendly global economic, trading and financial system, among other goals.

Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy. It also helps shape policy debates on development, with a focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable growth.

Noting that 2008 is a pivotal year in the effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to reduce extreme poverty and other global ills by 2015, Mr. Ban said that UNCTAD-XII must promote financial policies that help meet the MDGs in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, as a matter of urgency.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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LOSS OF COLLEAGUES IN NEPAL CRASH 'TERRIBLE BLOW' TO UN FAMILY - BAN KI-MOON

LOSS OF COLLEAGUES IN NEPAL CRASH 'TERRIBLE BLOW' TO UN FAMILY – BAN KI-MOON New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today honoured the seven United Nations staff members who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter accident in eastern Nepal two weeks ago, paying tribute to their service to the cause of peace in the South Asian nation.

"The loss of these courageous and dedicated individuals was a terrible blow to the entire United Nations family," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11468.doc.htm">message to a memorial ceremony held today in the capital, Kathmandu, at the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.unmin.org.np/">UNMIN). "Their commitment and professionalism will never be forgotten."

The Secretary-General asked for the UN's rededication to realizing lasting peace in Nepal, adding that this will be the best tribute to their memory.

Three Nepali UN personnel and four international arms monitors from Gambia, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and Sweden were killed when one of the Mission's helicopters crashed en route to Kathmandu from the Maoist cantonment site at Sindhuli.

They were Bhim Bahadur Gurung, Rabindra Khaniya, Rajesh Maharjan, Hyung Jin Park, Sondang Irawan, Famara Jammeh and Mats Norhult.

The crash also claimed the lives of three crew members – Dmitry Malyshev, Nikolay Yamshchikov and Sergey Oreshenko.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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RICH COUNTRIES MUST HELP BANGLADESH COPE WITH PRICE SHOCKS, SAYS TOP UN OFFICIAL

RICH COUNTRIES MUST HELP BANGLADESH COPE WITH PRICE SHOCKS, SAYS TOP UN OFFICIAL New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM Bangladesh needs more support from the international community, including oil-rich countries, to cope with the sharp global rise in prices for food and energy, the head of the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) said today.

"The real issue is protecting the vulnerable from these shocks," said <"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, who just completed a three-day visit to the South Asian country. "The international community cannot leave these huge world events unattended."

UNDP said that roughly 40 per cent of Bangladeshis live below the poverty line and poor households spend nearly 70 per cent of their income on food items, the cost of which rose 16 per cent in 2007, with the price of staples such as rice and oil climbing even sharper.

In addition to the global spike in prices, the situation in Bangladesh was exacerbated by two devastating floods and Cyclone Sidr, which decimated crops last year, UNDP said.

Another factor that makes assistance to Bangladesh crucial is the political climate, Mr. Dervis maintained. "It is determined to build stronger democratic institutions and deeper practices of democracy," he said.

"A successful democratic Bangladesh that can overcome political and economic difficulties is an example to other lower income countries, to the Muslim world, and many other countries facing similar problems," he added.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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TRIAL OF FORMER TOP SERBIAN SECURITY FIGURES DELAYED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

TRIAL OF FORMER TOP SERBIAN SECURITY FIGURES DELAYED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL New York, Mar 18 2008 5:00PM The start of the war crimes trial of two former high-level officials with the Serbian secret service was today postponed by the United Nations tribunal set up to deal with worst crimes in the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s because of the medical problems of one of the men.

The trial chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), sitting in The Hague, ordered that the trial of Jovica Staniši&#263; and Franko Simatovi&#263; – due to start this month – be delayed, at least until a hearing on 1 April to reassess the health of Mr. Staniši&#263;.

A report by the medical officer with the tribunal's detention unit stated that Mr. Stanisi&#263; suffers from pouchitis, osteoporosis and has kidney stones, while he is also being treated for deep depression.

An independent psychiatrist appointed by the ICTY registry and a gastroenterologist will also assess Mr. Staniši&#263; ahead of the 1 April hearing.

The two men are accused of having directed, organized, equipped, trained, armed and financed secret units of the Serbian state security apparatus which murdered, persecuted and deported Croats, Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serb civilians from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia between 1991 and 1995.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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BOLIVIA: UN AID AGENCIES SAY FLOOD APPEAL REMAINS UNDER-FUNDED

BOLIVIA: UN AID AGENCIES SAY FLOOD APPEAL REMAINS UNDER-FUNDED New York, Mar 18 2008 4:00PM Less than a third of the $18 million sought by United Nations aid agencies last month following deadly floods across Bolivia has been received so far, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) reported today, as the situation in the Andean nation keeps deteriorating.

Floods are likely to continue at least through to the end of next month, OCHA said, and the death toll has climbed to 73 after another five people died last week alone because of the constant heavy rain, which has pummelled the country since late last year.

The number of Bolivians currently affected by flooding is estimated at 400,000, and of those some 8,000 families remain in makeshift shelters in 51 camps in either Beni or Santa Cruz department.

Agriculture has also been hard hit, with yields of some of the most important summer crops – such as soy bean, maize and sesame – down by as much as 90 per cent in Santa Cruz and 70 per cent in Beni. Although beans, sunflower and wheat may be planted from April to June, most of the inundated land will stay under water until late April.

So far, only 28 per cent – or just over $5 million – of the $18 million sought in the 'flash appeal' has been received. This includes $2.2 million provided through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/CERFaroundtheWorld/Bolivia2008/tabid/3697/Default.aspx">CERF).
The money raised in this appeal will be used to provide food, shelter, fresh water, sanitation, essential health care and other basic items and services, while assistance projects in agriculture, education and child protection will also be funded.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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AFGHANISTAN MUST DO MORE TO ADDRESS IMPUNITY, ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS - UN

AFGHANISTAN MUST DO MORE TO ADDRESS IMPUNITY, ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS – UN New York, Mar 18 2008 4:00PM The Afghan Government must do more to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice, a senior United Nations official said today, warning that unless impunity is addressed, past crimes will continue to undermine the future of the young democracy.

During nearly three decades of conflict, thousands of Afghan men, women and children were subjected to various human rights abuses, including the right to life and safety, freedom of movement, and access to education and health. Many of those responsible for these crimes have yet to be brought to justice.

In 2005, the Afghan Government adopted an action plan to try to address the abuses of the past, achieve peace with justice and promote national reconciliation. However, during her visit to the strife-torn nation last November, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed disappointment in the lack of progress in implementing commitments made under the plan.

"One often hears the phrase 'action speaks louder than words.' Here in Afghanistan, the lack of action speaks volumes," said Norah Niland, Chief Human Rights Officer with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/">UNAMA), stressing the need to "re-energize" the plan.

"At a minimum, there needs to be the space for a national dialogue that acknowledges the injustices and suffering that have occurred," she told reporters in Kabul today. "The voices of victims need to be heard."

She emphasized the need for political commitment and stronger leadership at both the national and international levels, noting that unless the issue of impunity is addressed, Afghanistan's future will be threatened by its past. "Building an environment that is conducive to respect for human rights is fundamental to a peaceful and democratic society," she stated.

Ms. Niland also cited the need for stronger commitment – both political and financial – to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, which threaten the right to life. In addition, while life is better for some Afghan women and girls, who are now able to go to school, work outside the home, and have access to basic health care, deep-rooted social, economic and political discrimination continues.

"It takes time everywhere to achieve gender equality but the severity of the situation here in Afghanistan demands much stronger commitments and more concerted action than is currently the case," she noted.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS REACHES START-UP PHASE - UN REPORT

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS REACHES START-UP PHASE – UN REPORT New York, Mar 18 2008 3:00PM The international tribunal being set up to try those responsible for political killings in Lebanon, particularly the 2005 attack that killed former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, has moved into its start-up phase, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

All actions relating to the tribunal's preparatory phase have been undertaken, including the signing an agreement with the Netherlands to host the proceedings and the identification of premises there, Mr. Ban says in his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/173">report to the Security Council, which details the steps taken since he was authorized to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon by a Council resolution last year.

The selection of the judges, the prosecutor and the registrar has also been completed and a draft budget will be submitted soon to the tribunal's management committee.

In regard to financing, the Secretary-General states that adequate funds for the start-up have been deposited into a trust fund made up of contributions of UN Member States.

"I am confident that the contributions received, together with other expected contributions, will meet the budgetary requirements for the establishment and the first 12 months of operations of the Tribunal," he says.

As of 27 February, the trust fund held nearly $30 million, with additional firm pledges totalling over $16 million, he states.

The Security Council asked the Secretary-General to set up the court after Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asked the 15-member body to put the tribunal into effect as a matter of urgency because all domestic options had been exhausted, due to the country's ongoing political crisis.

The tribunal will follow on the work of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), which is charged with probing the murder of Mr. Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others in a massive car bombing in Beirut on 14 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.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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MOZAMBIQUE ASKS FOR UN FOOD ASSISTANCE IN WAKE OF DEADLY CYCLONE

MOZAMBIQUE ASKS FOR UN FOOD ASSISTANCE IN WAKE OF DEADLY CYCLONE New York, Mar 18 2008 2:00PM The Mozambican Government has asked the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2796">provide emergency assistance for one month to 60,000 people in the north of the country who are still suffering from the impact made by Cyclone Jokwe earlier this month.

WFP will start distributing food assistance to cyclone-affected communities early next week, drawing on existing stocks that had been earmarked for other operations, the agency said in a press release issued yesterday in Maputo, the Mozambican capital. About $550,000 is now needed to quickly replenish those stocks.

Along with national authorities, other UN agencies and aid organizations, WFP is conducting a rapid-needs assessment in the province of Nampula, the area hit hardest by the cyclone. At least eight people were killed as a result of Jokwe, which struck the Mozambican coast on 8 March with winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.

Numerous power lines were also knocked down, cutting off electricity and water supplies to several towns and villages, while heavy rains led to some flooding.

Both WFP and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) have already mobilized staff to the affected areas in northern and central Mozambique.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES DEADLY BOMBING AT IRAQI HOLY CITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES DEADLY BOMBING AT IRAQI HOLY CITY New York, Mar 18 2008 2:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the bomb attack near the Imam Hussein shrine in the holy city of Karbala in central Iraq that has killed several dozen people and left many more injured.

"The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack," his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11469.doc.htm">statement.

Media reports say as many as 52 people died and 75 others were injured as a result of yesterday's blast in Karbala, which is located about 80 kilometres south of the national capital, Baghdad.

In today's statement Mr. Ban appealed to "all Iraqis to show maximum restraint in the face of these provocative actions. He also urges all Iraqi leaders to resolve their differences through political dialogue and in a spirit of national reconciliation."
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ URGED TO USE UN ANTI-CORRUPTION TREATY TO BOOST REBUILDING EFFORTS

IRAQ URGED TO USE UN ANTI-CORRUPTION TREATY TO BOOST REBUILDING EFFORTS New York, Mar 18 2008 1:00PM The United Nations Convention against Corruption can play a key role in building trust in the Iraqi Government and help the country achieve its security and development goals, the head of the world body's anti-crime agency told an international meeting in Baghdad.

In his keynote address, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), <"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2008-03-17.html">urged Iraq to quickly ratify and implement the <"http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/convention_corruption/signing/Convention-e.pdf">Convention, stressing that it will "send a message of commitment to public accountability."

Adherence to the international treaty will also "help achieve the country's highest priorities: national reconciliation, security and governance," he added.

Organized by the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP) and chaired by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, the two-day gathering that began yesterday brought together senior Iraqi officials and international partners to discuss good governance and anti-corruption measures in the context of the International Compact with Iraq – the five-year peace and development plan launched last May.

"Public tolerance of corruption is running out, in Iraq and elsewhere," Mr. Costa noted, adding that the scourge is not just a financial issue, but also destroys trust in public institutions, robs a country of its development, deprives the poor of basic services, funds violence and terrorism, and empowers organized crime.

He urged Iraqi authorities to agree on an overall national anti-corruption strategy as soon as possible, as well as to set up an effective financial intelligence unit to combat money laundering and incentive schemes to reward whistleblowers.

The Iraqi Government has taken the first steps toward ratifying the treaty, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2003 and currently has 109 State Parties.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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UN EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PLIGHT OF PALESTINIANS LIVING ON IRAQI-SYRIAN BORDER

UN EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PLIGHT OF PALESTINIANS LIVING ON IRAQI-SYRIAN BORDER New York, Mar 18 2008 1:00PM The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today warned that the situation of the more than 2,700 Palestinians who have been stranded and are living in inhumane conditions in two camps on the Iraqi-Syrian border continues to deteriorate.

"Over the past 22 months, UNHCR has been calling for urgent humanitarian solutions for this group and – even if only temporary – relocation elsewhere, preferably in the Arab region," the agency's spokesperson Ron Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47df9f882.html">said at a press briefing in Geneva.

In 2006, Canada received 64 Palestinians from Iraq, while last year, Brazil accepted 107. Recently, Chile, which itself was once a refugee-producing country, offered to resettle an initial group of 117 Palestinians, who are expected to leave Iraq for the South American nation in April.

Additionally, Sudan has extended an offer to accept 2,000 Palestinians, and UNHCR and Palestinian representatives are currently working to finalize a plan to allow the operation to take place.

The agency welcomed these responses from third countries, but reminded countries that there is a further need to help in dealing with acute cases.

"The solution, however, will not help all of the Palestinians in the camps, where the health situation has become increasingly dire as proper medical care and viable alternatives are lacking," Mr. Redmond observed.

One dozen refugees have lost their lives in the past 14 months; most recently a 25-year-old man who died two weeks ago in Al Waleed camp, most likely due to food poisoning. His family's case had first been put forward to be urgently resettled on medical ground last July.

These deaths underscore the pressing need for human solutions and proper medical care for these destitute Palestinians, UNHCR said.

Camp inhabitants suffer from conditions ranging from diabetes, birth defects, kidney problems, cancer and serious trauma, but the closest proper medical facility is over 400 kilometres away and there is no ambulance service. Iraq's neighbours have stringent entry requirements, especially for Palestinians.

The Palestinians fled to Iraq after the creation of Israel in 1948. Some received preferential treatment under Saddam Hussein and have become targets for attack since his overthrow in 2003. Of the nearly 34,000 Palestinians in the war-torn country in 2003, UNHCR estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 still remain in the country.

Al Waleed camp now houses more than 2,000 refugees while Al Tanf camp has doubled in size since last October and now has 710 inhabitants.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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IRAQI CRISIS FUELS RISE IN ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD - UN REPORT

IRAQI CRISIS FUELS RISE IN ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD – UN REPORT New York, Mar 18 2008 1:00PM A five-year decline in asylum applications in developed countries turned around in 2007 largely because of Iraqis fleeing violence in their home country, according to statistics released today by the United Nations refugee agency.

"For the second year running, Iraqis topped the list of asylum-seekers in the world's industrialized countries," according to a press release from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that summarizes the findings of the report entitled <"http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STATISTICS/47daae862.pdf">Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries 2007.

In total, some 338,000 new applications for refugee status were submitted in 43 industrialized countries last year, according to the report, which is based on information provided by governments.

That figure represents a 10 per cent rise compared to 2006, when 306,300 asylum claims were registered, the lowest number of applications in 20 years.

Between the two years, the number of Iraqis applying for asylum almost doubled, from 22,900 in 2006 to 45,200 last year. The other top countries of origin of applicants in 2007 were the Russian Federation (18,800), China (17,100), Serbia (15,400) and Pakistan (14,300). Other groups recording a significant rise in applications last year were Pakistanis (up 87 percent), Syrians (up 47 per cent) and Somalis (up 43 per cent).

In its <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47de91da2.html">release, UNHCR points out that Iraqi asylum-seekers in industrialized countries represented only one per cent of the estimated 4.5 million Iraqis uprooted by conflict.

More than 2.5 million people remain displaced within Iraq and another two million have fled to neighbouring countries such as Syria and Jordan, the agency said.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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BIRD FLU DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN INDONESIA, DESPITE BEST EFFORTS - UN AGENCY

BIRD FLU DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN INDONESIA, DESPITE BEST EFFORTS – UN AGENCY New York, Mar 18 2008 11:00AM Despite major efforts to control the outbreak of avian influenza in Indonesia – the country worst hit by the virus – the situation there remains "grave," the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) <"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000813/index.html">warned today.

Bird flu has become "deeply entrenched" in Indonesia with 31 out of 33 provinces being infected, according to FAO. The virus is endemic in Java, Sumatra, Bali and southern Sulawesi with sporadic outbreaks reported from other areas.

Just last month, five people living in the west of Java, Indonesia's most populous island, died after contracting the H5N1 virus, responsible for outbreaks of bird flu around the world in recent years.

"The human mortality rate from bird flu in Indonesia is the highest in the world and there will be more human cases if we do not focus more on containing the disease at source in animals," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech.

Mr. Domenech warned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic.

"The avian influenza situation in Indonesia is grave – all international partners and national authorities need to step up their efforts for halting the spread of the disease in animals and making the fight against the virus a top priority," he stated.

Among the major constraints the country is facing in tackling the virus are a highly decentralized administration, lack of engagement with commercial poultry producers and lack of resources for veterinary services and control campaigns.

"Indonesia is facing an uphill battle against a virus that is difficult to contain," Mr. Domenech noted. "Major human and financial resources, stronger political commitment and strengthened coordination between the central, province and district authorities are required to improve surveillance and control measures."

He stressed that the major challenge will be to implement the components of a successful national avian influenza control strategy. FAO is supporting the Indonesian authorities in areas such as effective surveillance, vaccination and movement controls of poultry and poultry products. It has also helped to train local teams of animal health professionals in disease surveillance and response.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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CHAD: UN AGENCY MOVES CENTRAL AFRICAN REFUGEES AWAY FROM BORDER AREA

CHAD: UN AGENCY MOVES CENTRAL AFRICAN REFUGEES AWAY FROM BORDER AREA New York, Mar 18 2008 11:00AM The United Nations refugee agency has begun moving some of the estimated 14,000 refugees who recently fled violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) away from the border in southern Chad to more accessible areas.

Ron Redmond, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said a first group of nearly 700 people was transferred on Saturday from the border town of Maya to a temporary transit site 25 kilometres further inland, near the village of Dembo.

"By the end of the week, we expect to have moved around 4,250 refugees to the Dembo site opened by UNHCR, its partner African Concern and local authorities," he <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47df9f8811.html">said at a press briefing in Geneva today.

Once they arrive at the site, the refugees will receive tents, blankets, mats, jerry cans and plastic sheeting from UNHCR, and food aid from the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP).

Mr. Redmond added that UNHCR plans to further relocate the refugees from Dembo to established refugee camps near Goré, the main town in southern Chad, given that Dembo could become flooded during the upcoming rainy season.

The refugees began arriving in Chad earlier this year, having fled rebel and bandit attacks in their homeland.

Before the latest influx, Chad was hosting some 45,000 Central African refugees at four sites in the south. There are a further 240,000 refugees at 12 UNHCR-run camps in eastern Chad, while a further 180,000 Chadians have been displaced in the south-east.
2008-03-18 00:00:00.000

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TIME TO DEVISE BETTER STRATEGIES TO USE AND CONSERVE SCARCE WATER - BAN KI-MOON

TIME TO DEVISE BETTER STRATEGIES TO USE AND CONSERVE SCARCE WATER – BAN KI-MOON New York, Mar 17 2008 7:00PM The international community needs to start conceiving strategies for using water more efficiently and sharing it more fairly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says, warning that unless action is taken soon, the problems caused by water shortages around the world will only multiply.

In an opinion column published today in <i>The Hindu</i> of Chennai, India, ahead of celebrations on Saturday to mark World Water Day, Mr. Ban called for partnerships between governments, civil society groups, businesses and individuals to better use and conserve water.

"We are at the early stages of this awakening," he wrote. "But there are some encouraging signs, especially in the private sector. Corporations have long been viewed as culprits. The smokestacks from power plants pollute our air; the effluents from industry spoil our rivers. But this is changing – more and more today, businesses are working to become part of the solution, rather than the problem."

Mr. Ban cited the gathering earlier this month in New York of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative, on the subject of water.

He stressed that it was important to move "beyond the mere use of water to stewardship," given how scarce fresh water is becoming in so many regions of the world, both rich and poor.

"International Alert has identified 46 countries, home to 2.7 billion people, where climate change and water-related crises create a high risk of violent conflict. A further 56 countries, representing another 1.2 billion people, are at high risk of political instability. That's more than half the world."

The Secretary-General said population growth and climate change would only exacerbate the situation, observing that already one child dies every 20 seconds from a disease associated with a lack of clean water.

Helping people living "in the most abysmal standards of hygiene and sanitation" would not only reduce the death toll, Mr. Ban stated, but would also assist in protecting the environment, alleviating poverty and fostering economic development.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MEETS WITH MYANMAR ENVOY, CALLS FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MEETS WITH MYANMAR ENVOY, CALLS FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION New York, Mar 17 2008 7:00PM Meeting with the top United Nations envoy for Myanmar, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim today called for "serious engagement and strong commitment" from all parties to further national reconciliation.

In a statement issued in New York, Mr. Kerim voiced confidence in the role and work of Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who recently completed a visit to Myanmar and who is mandated by the Assembly to "promote national reconciliation, democracy and human rights."

Mr. Kerim said he was encouraged by the fact that the Special Envoy was able to meet with key figures, including pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as with the Referendum Convening Commission and the Constitution Drafting Committee.

The President appealed for "serious engagement and strong commitment from all parties to continue the process of national reconciliation that needs to be credible and inclusive," the statement noted.

Last month, the Myanmar authorities announced the holding of a constitutional referendum this May, to be followed by "multi-party democratic elections" in 2010, and Mr. Kerim today voiced hope that Myanmar's Government will be open to possibly allowing the UN a monitoring role.

This most recent mission by the Special Envoy was his third since authorities in Myanmar "cracked down severely on peaceful demonstrators" last year, as Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, noted in a report to the Human Rights Council.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY DISCUSSES FREE AND FAIR LEBANESE ELECTIONS WITH SAUDI MONARCH

UN ENVOY DISCUSSES FREE AND FAIR LEBANESE ELECTIONS WITH SAUDI MONARCH New York, Mar 17 2008 6:00PM The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon without interference from foreign influences and for the disbandment of all militia groups operating in the country, met with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in Riyadh yesterday.

Terje Roed-Larsen discussed the situation in Lebanon with the king, and he held talks on Saturday in Paris with Foreign Minister Saud El-Faisal, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dispatched his Special Envoy to several capitals for consultations in advance of his upcoming report, due on 21 April, to the Council on the implementation of the resolution.

Earlier this month, Mr. Roed-Larsen visited Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to whom he gave a letter from Mr. Ban regarding Lebanon. He also met with Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

Resolution 1559 also calls for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese Government.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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TIBET: BAN KI-MOON URGES RESTRAINT BY AUTHORITIES AMID REPORTED VIOLENCE, DEATHS

TIBET: BAN KI-MOON URGES RESTRAINT BY AUTHORITIES AMID REPORTED VIOLENCE, DEATHS New York, Mar 17 2008 5:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that he is "increasingly concerned" about recent developments in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, including reports of violence and loss of life, and urged restraint by the authorities there.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1138">Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban called "on all concerned to avoid further confrontation and violence," while stressing the importance of a peaceful resolution.

Asked if he sees a role for the UN to play, he responded: "We will continuously monitor the situation."

The Secretary-General said he discussed the matter with the Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya at their meeting this morning. "I expressed by concern and my views to the Chinese Government."

Mr. Ban's comments come just days after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour issued a statement calling on the Chinese authorities to allow protestors to exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly, after some 60 monks were reportedly arrested in Lhasa during a peaceful demonstration on 10 March.

The following day, Chinese police fired tear gas at some 600 monks who were demanding the release of the arrested monks. There have been reports of further violence in the area since then.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL SENDS TOP OFFICIAL TO CYPRUS TO ASSESS CHANCE OF BREAKTHROUGH

SECRETARY-GENERAL SENDS TOP OFFICIAL TO CYPRUS TO ASSESS CHANCE OF BREAKTHROUGH New York, Mar 17 2008 5:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is dispatching the United Nations' top political official to Cyprus to lead an assessment team to the region amid hopes of a possible breakthrough in the search for a resolution to the long-running dispute on the Mediterranean island.

Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1138">told reporters today at UN Headquarters in New York that he was sending Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe to head a team that would "engage in dialogue with all stakeholders" in Cyprus.

"We hope that we will be able to see improvement and make some breakthrough in this long-pending issue in Europe," Mr. Ban said.

Dimitris Christofias was recently elected President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Secretary-General said he was encouraged by both the signals so far from Mr. Christofias and from the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, who met with Mr. Ban last week in Senegal, and "also expressed his willingness to engage in constructive dialogue."

Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat have agreed to take part in direct talks under UN auspices this Friday in Nicosia.

"I think the international community should seize the momentum and window of opportunity when Mr. Christofias, the new Cyprus President, was elected and [who] is committed to a resolution of this issue," Mr. Ban said.

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (<" http://www.unficyp.org/">UNFICYP) was established in March 1964 following the outbreak of intercommunal violence on the Mediterranean island and the mission is tasked with preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to the maintenance of law and order and to a return to normal conditions.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE HANDS OVER DISARMAMENT SITES TO GOVERNMENT

UN MISSION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE HANDS OVER DISARMAMENT SITES TO GOVERNMENT New York, Mar 17 2008 5:00PM The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI) has transferred to national Government control three disarmament facilities in the country's northern region, which has been dominated by the rebel Forces Nouvelles since 2002.

At a ceremony held to mark the event in the town of Ferkessedougou this weekend, 118 former rebel fighters surrendered their weapons.

In doing so, they formally joined the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process outlined by the latest agreement between the parties, known as the Ouagadougou Accords.

"In accordance with the Ouagadougou Accords, ONUCI plays an active role the in the DDR process," Georg Charpentier, Deputy Special Representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

Noting that the ceremony marked a new beginning for the DDR effort, he encouraged all parties to bring it to completion.

The Ouagadougou pact, signed in neighbouring Burkina Faso last March, calls for the creation of a new transitional government, free and fair presidential elections and the merger of the Forces Nouvelles and the national defence and security forces, among other measures.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES ADDITIONAL REPORTS ON IRAN SANCTIONS

SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES ADDITIONAL REPORTS ON IRAN SANCTIONS New York, Mar 17 2008 5:00PM The chairman of the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions imposed against Iran said today that additional countries have reported on their implementation of these measures.

In an open Council meeting, Belgian Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke, the panel's chairperson, said that it has received two documents from Member States – one each under resolutions <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1737(2006)">1737 and 1747 – since 19 December last year.

This brings "the total number of reports under resolution 1737 to 88 and the total number of reports under resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1747(2007)">1747 to 72," he noted.

Adopted in December 2006, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.

Resolution 1747 from last March further tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

Earlier this month, the Council imposed further sanctions against Iran, including the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods, the tighter monitoring of financial institutions and the extension of travel bans and asset freezes, over its nuclear programme.

Iranian authorities have stated that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend that it is driven by military ambitions. It has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that Iran had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Also speaking at today's Council meeting, United States Ambassador Alejandro Wolff noted that many nations have yet to turn in reports to the 15-member body.

"We urge all States that have not yet submitted implementation reports to this committee to do so as soon as possible," he said.

Mr. Wolff said that the most recent report on Iran by Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (<"http://www.iaea.org/">IAEA), as well as the agency's 25 February technical report and its Board of Governors meeting earlier this month, presented "troubling indications" of the country's weaponization efforts.

"The international community has good reason to be concerned about Iran's activities to acquire a nuclear weapons capability. At stake is the security of a vital region of the world and the credibility of the Security Council and the IAEA," he said, adding that the US seeks to resolve the issue diplomatically.

After the new resolution imposing additional sanctions was passed earlier this month, Security Council President for the month, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, said that the body will not support the use of force to deal with the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.

Resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1803(2008)">1803 was needed because the country had not complied with previous demands by the body and insisted on continuing with its enrichment activity, but at the same time, he stressed that all the resolutions make clear that "there is no indication at all of any willingness of the Security Council in any form to sanction or approve or condone the use of force against Tehran in order to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue," he told reporters on 4 March.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY STILL 'MAJOR CONSTRAINT' IN AFGHANISTAN RELIEF EFFORTS - UN OFFICIAL

SECURITY STILL 'MAJOR CONSTRAINT' IN AFGHANISTAN RELIEF EFFORTS – UN OFFICIAL New York, Mar 17 2008 4:00PM Lack of security in many parts of strife-torn Afghanistan continues to hinder the efforts of United Nations agencies to deliver vital relief to millions of people affected by a harsh winter and rising food prices, a senior official with the world body's mission there said.

"The security is still a major constraint," Charlie Higgins of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told journalists in Kabul today, while adding that it is not uniform across the country.

"In some parts of the country where you might expect that the security situation is quite good there are some problems and in some other parts of the country where you might expect that the security situation is quite bad you can still do things," said Mr. Higgins, head of UNAMA's Humanitarian Affairs Unit.

The unit is responsible for supporting the Government's efforts in the areas of emergency assistance and disaster management, as well as coordinating the work of UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international military forces, whether they be the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the provincial reconstruction team (PRTs) or the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr. Higgins emphasized that the use of international military in support of humanitarian response should only be a "last resort," when all other options have been exhausted.

"The problem is that when there is so little capacity available at provincial and district level, it does not take a very large disaster to overwhelm local capacity," he noted. "Governors are thus too ready to seek the assistance of military actors in their regions, usually the PRTs."

Unfortunately, this has lead to a squeezing of the "humanitarian space" – the space for agencies to dialogue with all relevant parties, and not just the Government and the aid recipients, and the space in which to conduct aid operations safely.

Admitting that "PRTs do fill what would otherwise be a large gap in terms of aid provision in this country," he said they are being encouraged to bring in more civilian development experts within their ranks.

"We are also trying to encourage ISAF to totally allow civilian work to go on in areas where the security is conducive to do it so effectively replacing PRTs, whether civilian or more military, by more traditional development actors like NGOs," he stated.

UN agencies and their partners have been delivering emergency aid to ease the plight of more than 200,000 Afghans suffering under a harsh winter that claimed about 1,000 lives and hundreds of thousands of livestock across the country in January alone.

That same month, the UN and the Afghan Government joined forces to appeal for more than $80 million to help those affected by the rise in food prices, especially that of wheat – a staple in the Afghan diet – which has risen by 70 per cent over the past year.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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UN TRIBUNAL GRANTS TEMPORARY LEAVE TO FORMER TOP YUGOSLAV MILITARY FIGURE

UN TRIBUNAL GRANTS TEMPORARY LEAVE TO FORMER TOP YUGOSLAV MILITARY FIGURE New York, Mar 17 2008 4:00PM The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst abuses committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has granted temporary release to a former top Yugoslav military figure facing trial on war crimes charges over events in Kosovo in 1999.

The trial chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/?Open">ICTY), which is based in The Hague, on Friday granted provisional release on compassionate grounds to Nebojša Pavkovi&#263;.

Mr. Pavkovi&#263; is allowed to return to Serbia from 25 March to 2 April under strict conditions, including 24-hour electronic surveillance by Serbian authorities, according to the terms of the release.

A former commander of the Third Army of the Yugoslav Army and former chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, Mr. Pavkovi&#263; is on trial with five others – Milan Milutinovi&#263;, Nikola Šainovi&#263;, Dragoljub Ojdani&#263;, Vladimir Lazarevi&#263; and Sreten Luki&#263; – over an alleged campaign of terror and violence against Kosovo Albanians and other non-Serbs living in Kosovo in 1999. All six men face charges of murder, deportation, forcible transfer and persecution of thousands of Kosovo Albanians and other non-Serbs.

The trial of the six men began in July 2006, with the prosecution completing its case in May last year and five of the six defence cases have now been completed.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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UN AND AFRICAN UNION ENVOYS BEGIN INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS WITH DARFUR PARTNERS

UN AND AFRICAN UNION ENVOYS BEGIN INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS WITH DARFUR PARTNERS New York, Mar 17 2008 4:00PM The United Nations and African Union envoys spearheading efforts to bring lasting peace to the war-wracked Sudanese region of Darfur are holding informal consultations today in Geneva with regional partners to the political process.

Jan Eliasson of the UN and Salim Ahmed Salim are scheduled to hold consultations tomorrow on the same subject with international observers, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists.

She said the consultations are expected to offer an opportunity to review the political process in Darfur, given the security situation there, especially in West Darfur, where there has been a recent spike in attacks.

Ms. Montas said the informal consultations will also consider the delays to plans to conduct substantive talks among Darfur's rebel groups and the Sudanese Government.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million displaced from their homes since 2003, when rebels began fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen in the arid and impoverished region on Sudan's western flank.

A hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force known as UNAMID has been in place since the start of the year to try to quell the violence and the humanitarian suffering in Darfur.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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LATEST ROUND OF UN-LED TALKS ON WESTERN SAHARA BEGINS

LATEST ROUND OF UN-LED TALKS ON WESTERN SAHARA BEGINS New York, Mar 17 2008 3:00PM The fourth round of talks on Western Sahara, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario under United Nations auspices, got under way today on the outskirts of New York City, according to a UN spokesperson.

The talks, held at the Greentree Estate in Manhasset on Long Island, also include representatives of neighbouring states, Algeria and Mauritania, and are facilitated by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Peter van Walsum.

Following the third round of discussions this past January, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that while it was a positive sign that the two sides had committed to a process of negotiations, they remained far apart on substantive issues.

He said the talks were limited largely to preliminary discussions on thematic subjects such as administration, competencies and organs, and the parties discussed but did not agree on any confidence-building measures.

Mr. Ban noted, however, in a communiqué issued by Mr. van Walsum after the talks, that the two sides "agreed on the need to move the process into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations."

Last month Mr. van Walsum visited the region for in-depth consultations with the parties.

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in the Territory since September 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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PROGRESS SLOW IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS, SAYS UN REPORT

PROGRESS SLOW IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS, SAYS UN REPORT New York, Mar 17 2008 2:00PM A new publication by the United Nations health agency finds that the pace of global efforts to control the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic slowed slightly in 2006, as did progress in diagnosing people with the airborne infectious disease that is both preventable and curable.

<i><"http://www.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?sesslan=1&codlan=1&codcol=15&codcch=3659">Global Tuberculosis Control 2008</i>, released today by the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO), reports there were 9.2 million new cases of TB in 2006, including 700,000 cases among people living with HIV, and 500,000 cases of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).

In addition, an estimated 1.5 million people died from TB in 2006, while another 200,000 people with HIV died from HIV-associated TB.

The 12th annual report, which contains data up to 2006 provided by 202 countries and territories, cites several reasons for the slowdown in progress, including that some successful programmes at the national level have not been able to maintain their efforts at the same pace in recent years. There has also been no increase in the detection of TB cases through national programmes in a number of African countries.

In addition, the public programmes did not take into account many patients that are being treated by private care providers, and by non-governmental (NGOs), faith-based and community organizations.

"We've entered a new era," <"http://www.who.int/tb/features_archive/global_tb_control_report08/en/index.html">said Margaret Chan, who stressed the need to strengthen public programmes and to partners with other service providers to step up efforts to combat TB. "Enlisting these other providers, working in partnership with national programmes, will markedly increase diagnosis and treatment for people in need," the WHO Director-General stated.

Threatening a further slowdown in progress is the fact that rates of MDR-TB, which takes longer to treat and requires more expensive drugs, are at an all-time high, according to WHO, which added that the response to this epidemic has been inadequate.

The deadly combination of TB and HIV, which is fuelling the TB epidemic in many parts of the world, especially Africa, is also posing a threat to global anti-TB efforts. "Clear progress has been made but we must all do more to make a joint approach to reducing TB deaths among people with HIV a reality," said Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Ahead of World TB Day, observed annually on 24 March, Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Stop TB, has called for enhanced leadership to address TB and HIV, which is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS.

"Several countries have shown that targets relating to TB/HIV are achievable and have put in place measures that will have an impact on the lives of those at most risk. But this is a restless battle. We still need to do much more and much better," stated Dr. Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal.

The shortage in funding is another factor. Although there has been an increase in resources, particularly from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, TB budgets are not expected to rise this year in nearly all of the most heavily-affected countries, says WHO.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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MADAGASCAR RATIFIES STATUTE ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

MADAGASCAR RATIFIES STATUTE ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT New York, Mar 17 2008 2:00PM Madagascar has become the latest country to ratify the Rome Statute that sets up the International Criminal Court (ICC), the independent, permanent court that tries people accused of the most serious crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Malagasy Government deposited its instrument of ratification to the statute on Friday, according to a news release issued by the ICC in The Hague, the Dutch city where it is based.

When the statute enters into force for Madagascar on 1 June, the island nation will be the 106th country to become a State Party to the ICC – almost 10 years after the Rome Statute was adopted in July 1998, leading to the court's founding.

Late last year Judge Philippe Kirsch, the ICC President, called for those countries that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute to do so, saying the court was already having an impact by deterring crimes and improving the chances for sustainable peace in some countries.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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RETURN OF CULTURAL TREASURES DISCUSSED AT UN-BACKED CONFERENCE

RETURN OF CULTURAL TREASURES DISCUSSED AT UN-BACKED CONFERENCE New York, Mar 17 2008 2:00PM The return of the Stone Birds of Great Zimbabwe, the Axum Obelisk of Ethiopia and a ceremonial mask of the Kwakwaka'wakw people of Canada are among recent examples of successful restitution of cultural property to be discussed at a United Nations-backed conference opening today.

Attending the two-day event in Athens, Greece, co-organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and the Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=42053&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, will be lawyers, museum professionals, archaeologists, academics and cultural property experts.

Participants will exchange experiences and cover ethical and legal aspects of the issue, along with the topics of mediation and diplomacy, display sites and cultural context of artefacts and international cooperation and research, UNESCO said.

Discussions will also take place on ways to strengthen the action of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation.

Established by UNESCO in 1978, the Intergovernmental Committee, a strictly advisory body, is composed of 22 elected member states. It establishes forums for debate and offers non-legally binding recommendations.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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KOSOVO: UN MISSION CONDEMNS VIOLENCE, RETAKES MITROVICA COURTHOUSE

KOSOVO: UN MISSION CONDEMNS VIOLENCE, RETAKES MITROVICA COURTHOUSE New York, Mar 17 2008 1:00PM Condemning the violence that has injured its personnel and destroyed equipment in Mitrovica, the United Nations mission in Kosovo today re-established control of its courthouse – which a mob had forcibly occupied last week – in the city.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (<"http://www.unmikonline.org/index.html">UNMIK) said that its joint operation, launched this morning with the NATO-led Kosovo Force, or KFOR, was continuing. Initial reports from the scene indicate that some UNMIK police officers and KFOR soldiers have been injured, with some vehicles from both contingents burned.

Temporarily, UNMIK police from north Mitrovica are redeploying outside of the city to other parts of the region while KFOR re-establishes control inside.

Dozens of people have been arrested, UNMIK said in a press release, stressing that the violence directed at the UN mission and at KFOR "is a flagrant breach of UN Security Council resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1244(1999)">1244," which set up the UN administration after Western forces drove out Yugoslav forces amid inter-ethnic fighting in 1999.

"The resort to violence crosses one of the red lines that have been clearly articulated to the leaders of Kosovo Serbs in the north and to officials in Belgrade," the release said.

Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo
Larry Rossin called on all Kosovo communities to exercise calm so that UNMIK can continue to efficiently fulfil its mandate throughout the territory of Kosovo.

"I specifically urge those who are reacting in a violent manner to the action taken by
UNMIK and KFOR to respect law and order and to cease their illegal activities," he said.

Last month, the Assembly of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government declared independence from Serbia, and since then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underlined the need for restraint from all sides.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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UN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY COMES TO AID OF ZAMBIAN FLOOD VICTIMS

UN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY COMES TO AID OF ZAMBIAN FLOOD VICTIMS New York, Mar 17 2008 11:00AM The lead United Nations agency for information and communication technology (ICT) is deploying satellite phones and terminals to help restore vital communication links in Zambia, where some 400,000 people have been affected by severe flooding.

The International Telecommunication Union (<"http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2008/06.html">ITU) is providing both Thuraya hand-held satellite phones, which provide accurate positioning coordinates to aid relief efforts, as well as Inmarsat Global Area Network (GAN) terminals.

The mobile terminals, used mainly for voice communications and sometimes for high-speed data, are easy to transport by road and air to the affected areas, thereby facilitating the coordination of relief efforts by the Government and aid agencies. All transportation and usage expenses are being covered by the agency.

As many as 36,000 Zambians have been displaced, and nearly 3,500 homes and 44 schools have collapsed due to the heavy rainfall, which has also devastated crop harvests.

Zambia is one of a handful of southern African countries to have been hard hit by flooding this season, along with Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Last week, the aid agencies appealed for nearly $89 million to help hundreds of thousands of people in flood-hit parts of those countries.

Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau noted that "cases such as this re-affirm the importance of disaster communications and underscore the need for the recently launched ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE) aimed at saving lives through the timely delivery of telecommunications resources to disaster-affected areas."

The life-saving role of emergency telecommunications in rescue operations, medical assistance and recovery was the focus of an ITU-hosted forum in Geneva last December, at which several key initiatives were launched relating to the timely deployment of emergency before, during and after disasters strike.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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IRAQI NGOS RECEIVE FUNDING BOOST FROM UN TO LAUNCH ELECTORAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

IRAQI NGOS RECEIVE FUNDING BOOST FROM UN TO LAUNCH ELECTORAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN New York, Mar 16 2008 7:00PM The United Nations Office for Project Services (<"www.unops.org">UNOPS)announced today the 75 projects by Iraqi non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to kick off an electoral education campaign.

For the Electoral Education Campaign Project, which is funded through the UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund, the over 250 proposals were received were evaluated by a panel comprising representatives from UNOPS and the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (<"http://www.uniraq.org/">UNAMI) last month. Each submission was assessed for quality and the applicant organization's track record.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), which observed all of the selection stages, found the process to be fair and independent.

The number of NGO projects receiving funding in each governorate is based on estimates of voter population figures, with priority being given to providing sufficient resources to the campaign in the governorates Anbar, Diyala and Salah-el-Deen.

Women, youth, minorities, the displaced and those with special needs will be targeted in particular by the new initiative.

2008-03-16 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL HOLDS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO MINISTER

UN OFFICIAL HOLDS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO MINISTER New York, Mar 16 2008 6:00PM Meeting with Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, a senior United Nations official today underscored that challenges -- which violate Belgrade's pledges to the Security Council -- to the mandate of the world body's mission, known as <http://www.unmikonline.org/>UNMIK, must come to an end.

The mission welcomed the recent statement by the Serbian Foreign Minister to the Security Council that UNMIK is the exclusive administrative authority in Kosovo and that resolution 1244 is the only legal framework, said Larry Rossin, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative, said.

"However, this now places responsibility on Belgrade to avoid or avert any action that challenges this authority."

In his meeting with Slobodan Samardzic, Mr. Rossin emphasized that last week's attack on and occupation of UNMIK's District Court building in Mitrovica, as well as Serbian Railways continued use of the rail line, are violations of the mission's exclusive mandate. He noted that such moves are at odds with Serbia's direct assurances to the Council.

The Deputy Special Representative urged Mr. Samardzic to immediate take measures to end these and other challenges to UNMIK's authority and to refrain from making inflammatory public statements during his visit to Kosovo, which has been administered by the UN since Western forces drove out Yugoslav forces amid inter-ethnic fighting in 1999.

Although both he and Special Representative Joachim Rücker are ready to enter into direct talks with Belgrade, recent developments create an unfavourable atmosphere for such discussions.

"For dialogue to be potentially fruitful, we need the authorities in Belgrade to take effective steps to counter such challenges -- before, during and after -- whether unambiguous public statements, practical use of influence or cessation of direct improper intrusions," Mr. Rossin said.

Last month, the Assembly of Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo -- where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other minorities by nine to one -- declared independence from Serbia, and since then both Mr. Rücker and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have underlined the need for restraint from all sides.

2008-03-16 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL HOLDS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO MINISTER

UN OFFICIAL HOLDS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO MINISTER New York, Mar 16 2008 6:00PM Meeting with Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, a senior United Nations official today underscored that challenges -- which violate Belgrade's pledges to the Security Council -- to the mandate of the world body's mission, known as <http://www.unmikonline.org/>UNMIK, must come to an end.

The mission welcomed the recent statement by the Serbian Foreign Minister to the Security Council that UNMIK is the exclusive administrative authority in Kosovo and that resolution 1244 is the only legal framework, said Larry Rossin, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative, said.

"However, this now places responsibility on Belgrade to avoid or avert any action that challenges this authority."

In his meeting with Slobodan Samardzic, Mr. Rossin emphasized that last week's attack on and occupation of UNMIK's District Court building in Mitrovica, as well as Serbian Railways continued use of the rail line, are violations of the mission's exclusive mandate. He noted that such moves are at odds with Serbia's direct assurances to the Council.

The Deputy Special Representative urged Mr. Samardzic to immediate take measures to end these and other challenges to UNMIK's authority and to refrain from making inflammatory public statements during his visit to Kosovo, which has been administered by the UN since Western forces drove out Yugoslav forces amid inter-ethnic fighting in 1999.

Although both he and Special Representative Joachim Rücker are ready to enter into direct talks with Belgrade, recent developments create an unfavourable atmosphere for such discussions.

"For dialogue to be potentially fruitful, we need the authorities in Belgrade to take effective steps to counter such challenges -- before, during and after -- whether unambiguous public statements, practical use of influence or cessation of direct improper intrusions," Mr. Rossin said.

Last month, the Assembly of Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo -- where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other minorities by nine to one -- declared independence from Serbia, and since then both Mr. Rücker and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have underlined the need for restraint from all sides.

2008-03-16 00:00:00.000

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