UN TO DEVELOP HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME IN TURKMENISTAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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SECRETARY-GENERAL APPEALS FOR DECISIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UN RELIEF AGENCY WELCOMES ?30 MILLION EUROPEAN GRANT FOR DARFUR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UN AGENCY LAUNCHES REPATRIATION FOR CONGOLESE REFUGEES RETURNING FROM ZAMBIA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH - MIGIRO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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DISARMAMENT IN FULL SWING IN DR CONGO, UN MISSION REPORTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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CANADIAN LEGAL EXPERT TAKES TOP ETHICS POST AT UN

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

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

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

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

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

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DARFUR: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HOLDS OUTREACH MISSION IN NEIGHBOURING CHAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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HIGH LEVEL OF CRIME THREATENS CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC GROWTH: UN REPORT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UN ENVOY TO LIBERIA OPENS WORKSHOP SERIES FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UN COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUPPORTS USE OF DIVERSE MEDIA FOR OUTREACH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2007-05-03 00:00:00.000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FOUR LAUREATES AWARDED UN POPULATION FUND'S HIGHEST HONOUR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UNICEF LAUNCHES HANDBOOK TO HELP LAWMAKERS COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

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

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

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

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

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

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