NEW UN WORKING GROUP TO ASSIST AFRICA IN REACHING DEVELOPMENT GOALS

NEW UN WORKING GROUP TO ASSIST AFRICA IN REACHING DEVELOPMENT GOALS
New York, May 24 2007 5:00PM
With many countries in Africa lagging in the achievement of development goals and assistance to them stagnating, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the launch of a new working group to reinvigorate the partnership between donors and sub-Saharan governments.

"There is now a danger that the commitment you made at the Summit in Gleneagles in 2005 to double aid to Africa by 2010 will not be met," Mr. Ban said in a letter to the Heads of State and Government of the Group of Eight industrialized countries (G-8), who will be gathering in Germany next month.

In the letter, he called on the G-8 countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States – for leadership in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and tackling climate change.

To achieve the MDGs, internationally agreed targets to slash extreme poverty and other ills around the world by 2015, Mr. Ban asked the countries to both reverse the drop in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and also successfully conclude the Doha trade talks on equitable trade.

"You have a vital role to play in the further development of an open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system," he wrote.

On climate change, he emphasized that the reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on the issue earlier this year dispel any doubt that the world does not know enough to act to prevent the consequences, which may be dire.

"The cost of inaction will exceed the cost of taking early action, probably by several orders of magnitude, as the impact of climate change has the potential to undo progress made on human development," he said.

In that light, he stressed the necessity of special effort to put in place a long-term global framework to tackle climate change, in a way that addresses the needs of all countries.

"I urge you to take the lead in your country, and support developing countries to achieve economic growth while contributing to lasting solutions to climate change," he said, addressing each of the G-8 leaders.
2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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NEWLY ELECTED GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR GREATER MULTILATERALISM

NEWLY ELECTED GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR GREATER MULTILATERALISM
New York, May 24 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations General Assembly today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10597.doc.htm">elected Srgjan Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the President of its upcoming session.

Mr. Kerim, who will assume his new role at the start of the Assembly's sixty-second session in September, served as his country's Ambassador to the UN from 2001 to 2003 as well as in several positions within his national Government.

He has a doctorate in economic science and is currently the General Manager of the South-East European arm of the WAZ Media Group.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Kerim asserted that the 192-member Assembly must spearhead the effort for effective multilateralism.

"The major challenges of our times transcend borders," Mr. Kerim stated. "Globalization, climate change, terrorism, immigration and sustainable development cannot be entirely solved within national borders, or at the regional level."

Failures the world body has experienced, he noted, are not rooted in deficiencies within the UN system, but rather "in the lack of political will of individual Member States to cooperate within the multilateral framework."

Tackling global warming and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight targets for tackling poverty, hunger and other social ills by 2015, are among his top priorities.

"Climate change has implications for every aspect of our daily life; from the environment, health and energy, to economic development, human rights, peace and security, and global governance," he said.

He underscored that, although the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC) serves as the basis for negotiations on the issue, the Assembly should provide a forum for concerted action.

Regarding the anti-poverty targets, Mr. Kerim said that meeting the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs is "above all a test of our moral obligations and the ethical values that are enshrined in the <"http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/">UN Charter."

Briefing reporters after accepting the Presidency, he noted, "I will do my best to make the presidency as transparent as I can." As a former Foreign Ministry spokesperson, he said that he understand the work of the media and expressed his willingness to be open with the press.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11012.doc.htm">congratulations on the election, saying that "as a seasoned diplomat, a prolific scholar and a successful businessman, Mr. Kerim will bring a wealth of experience and talent to leading the work of the General Assembly and making it more effective."

Mr. Ban also emphasized the importance of the Assembly's role, since the body "is needed to implement the most essential reforms and adapt the Organization to the realities of the twenty-first century."

Current Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain said Mr. Kerim's election is a "recognition of his personal qualities, and his consistent efforts to promote peace and stability – values the United Nations holds dear."

His vast experience in both the public and private sectors will be an asset, she said. "Strength of character, tireless commitment and determined leadership will be necessary to facilitate compromise and foster greater trust among Member States."

Sheikha Haya also pledged to work closely with Mr. Kerim to ensure a seamless handover of the Presidency.

Both the incoming Assembly President and the Secretary-General paid tribute to Sheikha Haya, a legal expert whose long career included championing women's rights, and her work during her tenure as the Assembly's leader.

Noting that he was fortunate to receive Sheikha Haya's guidance upon assuming the position of Secretary-General, Mr. Ban said that Mr. Kerim will benefit greatly from her "steadfast support, wisdom and dedication of [her] leadership."

Mr. Kerim praised her for her guidance and for her numerous accomplishments, including building on the historic 2005 World Summit, which acted as a starting-point for a host of reforms, dealing with issues from human rights, terrorism and peacebuilding to economic development and management overhaul.

He also lauded her successes in strengthening Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is mandated to coordinate the development work of the UN system.
2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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UN TREATY OFFICIAL SEES 'VERY ENCOURAGING SIGNALS' ON CLIMATE CHANGE

UN TREATY OFFICIAL SEES 'VERY ENCOURAGING SIGNALS' ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, May 24 2007 3:00PM
Following three definitive reports on climate change and a recent technical symposium, States and the private sector are showing more willingness to move ahead rapidly to stem greenhouse gas emissions, the lead official of United Nations-administered pacts on the issue said today.

"I get very encouraging signals of the desire of countries to move things forward," Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC) told reporters at a UN Headquarters press conference following a meeting of parties to the Convention in Bonn, Germany that concluded last week.

The 191 Parties to the Convention and 173 Parties to its Kyoto Protocol, which contains legally binding targets for reducing emissions through 2012, attended the Bonn meeting, which was convened in preparation for a major world conference on the issue in December in Bali, Indonesia.

The meeting, Mr. de Boer said, was also the first opportunity for delegates to react to all three reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC), which documented the human cause of climate change and its dire impacts with much greater certainty, but also showed that technology already exists to deal with the problem in a cost-effective manner.

Encouraging signs included the fact that important countries such as Brazil have expressed the need to move beyond mere discussions into negotiations on a long-term climate change treaty applicable in 2012 and beyond, he said.

He added that developing countries such as South Africa have spoken of the need for commitments from both the developed and the developing world, instead of laying responsibility at the feet of the industrialized countries alone.

China and India, the largest developing countries, were actually taking steps to create national strategies to reduce greenhouse emissions, and the business community was taking the lead in calling for a clear policy direction so that it could shape its investment decisions over the longer term.

At the same time, he cautioned that serious negotiations on a post-2012 regime would only be launched at the Bali conference, and not concluded there, given experience with the Kyoto Protocol, which took two years to negotiate and another two to ratify and bring into force.

"So basically, the window of opportunity to put something in place that can seamlessly follow on beyond 2012 is closing," Mr. de Boer said, noting that the next few years were also critical because many energy production facilities around the world were due for replacement, and because climate change was accelerating.

"We really need to move quickly, and my sense is that that sense of urgency is increasingly shared by Governments," he said.
2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIAL OUTLINES STEPS TOWARDS GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TOP UN OFFICIAL OUTLINES STEPS TOWARDS GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
New York, May 24 2007 2:00PM
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency today called for the development of a new global security system in which nuclear weapons are obsolete.

"The solution, in my view, lies in creating an environment in which nuclear weapons are universally banned, morally abhorred, and their futility unmasked," Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (<"http://www.iaea.org/index.html">IAEA), told an international conference in Luxembourg on the prevention of nuclear catastrophe.

He <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2007/ebsp2007n006.html">noted that, of late, nuclear threats have become more dangerous, pronounced and immediate given the emergence of the illicit trade in nuclear technology, the development of clandestine programmes and the desire by extremist groups to obtain such weapons.

Simultaneously, climate change and the desire for energy security are propelling many non-nuclear nations to consider nuclear power. However, nuclear material production is a dual-use technology that elevates the possibility of more countries becoming nuclear powers.

In addition to these hazards, Mr. ElBaradei pointed out the risks posed by existing nuclear arsenals as non-nuclear countries are moved to emulate other nations with nuclear capability. "And of course, plans to replenish and modernize these weapons creates a pervasive sense of cynicism among many non-nuclear-weapon States – who perceive a 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude," he said.

The solution to this spiralling problem lies in the implementation and development of a new worldwide security system where nuclear weapons play no role, he asserted.

To achieve this, the Director General outlined four steps towards bolstering the movement towards eliminating the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Firstly, existing stockpiles must be secured and controls over the transfer and production of nuclear material must be tightened, he asserted. All information regarding the export of such materials and the technology involved should be reported to the IAEA.

Secondly, he called for the IAEA's authority and capability to verify the nuclear programmes of nations to be strengthened. At present, the agency is "forced to make do on a shoestring budget," and thus is lagging behind in the state-of-the-art technology necessary to perform its function.

Additionally, approaches to dealing with the spread of nuclear weapons must be made more effective, Mr. ElBaradei said, referring to the IAEA's reliance on the Security Council to enforce non-proliferation obligations through such measures as dialogue and sanctions. However, he explained, "judging by our record in recent years, these measures – rather than being applied in a systematic manner to deal effectively with proliferation issues – are employed haphazardly, and too often with political overtones."

Lastly, disarmament must be taken more seriously, he stated. As nuclear weapon-possessing countries continue to expand and update their arsenals, non-nuclear nations are questioning why it is "OK for some to live under a nuclear threat, but not others."

"What the weapon States consistently fail to take into account is the impact of their actions," Mr. ElBaradei stressed. "Whether they choose to continue their reliance on nuclear weapons, as the centrepiece of their security strategy, or to abandon that reliance, their choice will undoubtedly influence the actions of others."

Yesterday, he submitted his latest report regarding Iran's nuclear programme to the Security Council.

The report, entitled "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran," covers the period since Mr. ElBaradei's previous report of 22 February.

It was also circulated to the agency's 35-member Board of Governors, which will consider the report at its next series of meetings in Vienna starting on 11 June.
2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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DONORS NEED TO HELP SUSTAIN MOMENTUM OF PEACE IN BURUNDI -- BAN KI-MOON

DONORS NEED TO HELP SUSTAIN MOMENTUM OF PEACE IN BURUNDI -- BAN KI-MOON
New York, May 24 2007 1:00PM
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today urged Burundi's development partners to sustain the positive momentum in country as its Government and people struggle to emerge from devastating civil turmoil.

"Your engagement will remain critical," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2583">told the Donor Roundtable Conference on Burundi, which is convening in the capital Bujumbura today and tomorrow.

The country, which suffered decades of ethnic conflict pitting the Hutu majority against the Tutsi minority and has yet to implement its ceasefire with the last major active rebel group, has seen its economic and social infrastructure destroyed.

At today's conference, Mr. Ban urged support for the Priority Action Programme prepared by the Government of Burundi, prepared in consultation with its partners, to overcome a those challenges.

Inclusive growth and employment generation, reforms in the security and justice systems, radical improvements in governance, transparency and human rights, were the priorities goals, he said.

"It is imperative that the Government make every effort to advance these goals," he maintained, while also noting the commitment of the international community to assist.

Burundi is one of the first countries receiving support from the <"http://www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding">Peacebuilding Commission, the body set up by the United Nations in December 2005 to prevent countries emerging from conflict from falling back into chaos.

Mr. Ban recalled that in January, he approved an allocation of $35 million from the Peacebuilding Fund to support critical peacebuilding projects in Burundi.

"The United Nations is fully committed to helping the Government of Burundi develop national capacities to own, lead, manage, and account for the implementation of this Programme," he confirmed, calling on donors to work within the Action Programme's structure.

"No development results are sustainable if they are not based on clearly identified priorities," he said. "Only then will the hard-won peace in Burundi be irreversible."

UN efforts to help consolidate the peace in Burundi are coordinated by its Integrated Office in Burundi, known as BINUB, which replaced the peacekeeping operation in the country at the end of last year.
2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY CALLS FOR ACTION TO SAVE BOAT PEOPLE OFF MALTA

UN AGENCY CALLS FOR ACTION TO SAVE BOAT PEOPLE OFF MALTA
New York, May 24 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency today called attention to the plight of over 50 people - including possibly a number of asylum-seekers - last seen aboard a boat off the south coast of Malta, and urged countries in the region to try to find them.

An aircraft of the Armed Forces of Malta spotted the boat on Monday some 80 nautical miles south of the Mediterranean island, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Aerial photographs showed the boat to be overcrowded and in distress, with the passengers seen trying to bail out water.

"It was visually confirmed that there were 53 persons on the boat, some of whom were wearing life jackets," Major Ivan Consiglio of the Armed Forces of Malta said in a press statement, adding that the number of women and children could not be confirmed.

Earlier, some of those aboard the boat had managed to contact relatives in Italy by satellite phone and they in turn alerted the Italian maritime authorities to the precarious condition of the boatpeople. By Tuesday, however, all attempts to contact the passengers by phone had failed.

"We are in a state of anguish," an Eritrean woman who lives in the Italian city of Bologna and whose brother was on the boat, told UNHCR officials. "We feel abandoned and have received no information. We haven't even been told whether they are dead."

According to the Maltese Armed Forces, the patrol boat came across a separate vessel carrying 25 people during its search late Monday. That boat capsized, and one of the passengers was lost at sea, Major Consiglio said. The 24 survivors were taken to Malta.

2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF SOMALI RADIO JOURNALISTS

UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF SOMALI RADIO JOURNALISTS
New York, May 24 2007 8:00AM
The Director-General of UNESCO, , today condemned the killing of two Somali radio journalists Abshir Ali Gabre and Ahmed Hassan Mahad in Middle Shabelle province on 16 May and called for improved safety of journalists in the country.

"I condemn the killing of Abshir Ali Gabre and Ahmed Hassan Mahad," Koïchiro Matsuura said in a statement released in Paris, where UNESCO is headquartered.

He called on "all responsible Somalis in a position of authority to be mindful of the safety of journalists whose professional activity is essential for dialogue and conflict resolution."

Journalists, Mr. Matsuura said, "must be able to exercise their profession safely, in view of the fact that press freedom is an extension of the basic human right of freedom of expression and a pillar of democracy and good governance."

Abshir Ali Gabre and Ahmed Hassan Mahad, who worked, respectively, as news editor and reporter for Radio Jowhar, were killed when gunmen opened fire on the motorcade of Mohammed Omar Deele, governor of the Middle Shabelle province. At least six people are reported to have been killed in the ensuing gun battle.

They bring to 17 the number of journalists killed on duty in Somalia since 1992, according to the Committee for the Protection of Jounalists (CPJ), which ranks Somalia as the world's 12th most dangerous country for the press.

2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL SAYS BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN NEPAL DESERVE OPTIONS

UN OFFICIAL SAYS BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN NEPAL DESERVE OPTIONS
New York, May 24 2007 8:00AM
Bhutanese refugees who have been living in Nepal for some 16 years should have the freedom to make informed decisions about their future, a visiting United Nations official has said.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres told residents at Goldhap camp on Wednesday that there was more than one solution to the plight of over 100,000 Bhutanese who have been living in eastern Nepal for the last 16 years.

The High Commissioner outlined the options during his first official visit to Nepal to focus on current efforts to alleviate the long-standing situation of some 107,000 refugees who have been living in seven camps since the early 1990s.

Mr. Guterres said the agency is "very encouraged by recent interest in resettling some of the refugees," referring to an offer by the United States to accept some 60,000 of the Bhutanese in Nepal. Other countries that have expressed similar interest, UNHCR said.

At the same time, he voiced hope that refugees who wish to return to Bhutan would be able to return home. "Despite 16 years with little success, we will continue to knock on Bhutan's door to seek a solution for those who want to go back."

Mr. Guterres stressed that everyone must have the freedom to make his or her own informed decision. "The option of resettlement or voluntary repatriation is for them to choose and decide," he said, adding that UNHCR's job "is to open as many doors as possible so that they can leave the long years of exile behind them and start a new life as soon as possible."

The UN refugee agency has started a mass information campaign to sensitize refugees in all seven camps on resettlement procedures and their individual right to decide for or against it.

In the capital, Kathmandu, Mr. Guterres met with Nepal's Prime Minister Giriji Prasad Koirala and other senior officials to thank the country for its "very constructive and positive approach" to finding solutions for the refugees befo
residents in Nepal.

Myanmar refugees from Thai camp are being resettled, UN refugee agency says

The second phase of a large-scale resettlement of ethnic Karen refugees from Myanmar has begun with a group of more than 30 leaving a camp in northern Thailand to start a new life in the United States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today.

"These refugees who fled fighting in eastern Myanmar have little realistic prospect of going home and they have been leading a very restricted life in the camp for more than a decade," said the UNHCR Representative in Thailand, Hasim Utkan, who was at the camp send-off. "So, while it's hard for them to leave a country just across the border from their homeland, they are excited about a new future in the US."

Between May 16 and the first week of July, 404 refugees are scheduled to depart for the US, with an overall planning figure of nearly 10,000 refugees from Thailand to depart to America by September 30 this year.

"The scale of the resettlement operation is really quite amazing," said Mr. Utkan. "This is something which has rarely been offered in a refugee situation."

Nine Thai government-run refugee camps strung along the border with Myanmar shelter a total of 140,000 refugees.

2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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AWARD-WINNING SINGER SHERYL CROW SUPPORTS UN FOOD AGENCY

AWARD-WINNING SINGER SHERYL CROW SUPPORTS UN FOOD AGENCY
New York, May 24 2007 8:00AM
Sheryl Crow, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter from the United States, is throwing her support behind the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) after watching its Ambassador, actress Drew Barrymore, discuss child hunger, the agency said today.

"I was so struck by this story that our relationship with the WFP was born," the singer wrote on her blog, describing she and her newly adopted son Wyatt learned about "an amazing organization called the World Food Programme" after hearing Ms. Barrymore, who is also a movie producer, talk about her new role as a WFP Ambassador against Hunger on CNN.

"Wyatt is now a humanitarian!" said Ms. Crow, whose hits include "All I Wanna Do," "Soak Up the Sun" and "If It Makes You Happy."

In an exclusive interview published in this week's OK! Magazine, the 45-year-old singer praises the agency and its Ambassador. "It is absolutely amazing, the number of kids that they feed. They have an unbelievable spokesperson in Drew."

During her CNN interview, Ms. Barrymore, appointed as Ambassador against Hunger earlier this month, gives a moving account of her recent visit to WFP-supported school feeding projects in Kenya.

"In a nutshell, this United Nations non-profit organization feeds millions of starving children at schools in third world countries as an incentive for them to attend school, which in turn might better their futures," writes Ms. Crow. "They do so much more but I was so struck by this story."

By providing nutritious meals to over 20 million school children in 71 countries, WFP's school feeding programme ensures a child's healthy development and education and gives hope for the future.

Ms. Crow's blog encourages readers to visit the WFP website to make an online donation. For just $21, the agency said, it can feed a child in school for a year.

2007-05-24 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS UN CONCERN AT REFUGEE CAMP VIOLENCE IN LEBANON

SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS UN CONCERN AT REFUGEE CAMP VIOLENCE IN LEBANON
New York, May 23 2007 6:00PM
The Security Council and the United Nations human rights chief today added their voices to mounting UN concern over the fate of civilians caught in the fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam gunmen at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9024.doc.htm">statement to the press read out by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating presidency this month, Council members expressed deep concern at the violence at Nahr el-Bared camp, where more than 60 people have been killed and numerous others injured since clashes erupted on Sunday.

The statement called the actions of the Fatah al-Islam gunmen "an unacceptable attack on Lebanon's stability, security and sovereignty" and stressed the need to protect and provide aid to the camp's civilian population.

Nahr el-Bared is home to nearly 31,000 people, including about 8,000 classified by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as special hardship cases. About 10,000 have now fled to the nearby Beddawi refugee camp or to a stadium in the city of Tripoli, where <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9024.doc.htm">UNRWA is spearheading aid efforts.

In a separate <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/77B5C6F2B23F9BDCC12572E4004204C5?opendocument">statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said she was distressed by the reports of civilian deaths and injuries, adding that all sides to the fighting have an obligation to exercise precaution and protect civilians.

"The protection from attack for humanitarian workers and medical personnel and their unrestricted access to civilians are also guaranteed under the principles of international humanitarian law," her statement noted.

"The shelling of an UNRWA convoy yesterday is unacceptable," she added, referring to the attack against a group of six vehicles from UNRWA that was attempting to deliver and distribute supplies such as milk, bread and medicines to the besieged civilians.

No UNRWA staff members were killed, but UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes told reporters today that some civilian bystanders were casualties. Three vehicles were also badly damaged and some of the humanitarian supplies were destroyed.

Mr. Holmes and UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen Koning AbuZayd said they acknowledged the Lebanese army's need to deal with the Fatah al-Islam gunmen, but wanted them to act with maximum restraint when operating in camp areas with civilians.

They called for humanitarian workers to be granted safe access to the camp so that they can assess and attend to the dead and injured and establish safe corridors for those wanting to flee.

In response to questions, Ms. Koning AbuZayd said Palestinian residents of the camp – which is self-policed – had told UNRWA staffers that the Fatah al-Islam gunmen were foreign nationals unconnected to them.

Today's Security Council statement also condemned the latest bomb attacks in Beirut, which have led to the death of one person and several injuries.

The 15-member panel "welcomed the determination of the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of those and other terrorist attacks. There must be no impunity for such heinous attacks."

Noting that the Council of the Arab League had also condemned the attacks, Council members "reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon, and underlined their readiness to continue to act in support of the legitimate and democratically elected Government of Lebanon. They appealed to all Lebanese to continue to maintain national unity in the face of such attempts to undermine the country's stability."

Today's statements follow similar remarks yesterday from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNRWA's Director in Lebanon Richard Cook, who each voiced grave concern about the situation inside Nahr el-Bared for civilians and on the attack against the convoy.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN LABOUR AGENCY AWARDS DECENT WORK PRIZE TO NELSON MANDELA AND ACADEMIC

UN LABOUR AGENCY AWARDS DECENT WORK PRIZE TO NELSON MANDELA AND ACADEMIC
New York, May 23 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations International Labour Organization today awarded its first annual ILO Decent Work Prize to the former South African President Nelson Mandela and to an academic expert on Latin American economics.

Mr. Mandela, who is also a Nobel Peace Laureate, "is awarded an exceptional prize for his extraordinary lifetime contribution to knowledge, understanding and advocacy on the central concerns of the ILO," the organization said in a <"http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_082639">press release.

"With this prize, the jury and the <"http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm">ILO wished to recognize and honour his sustained efforts that helped to make decent work a central objective in the policy agenda in South Africa and worldwide, furthering the vision of work which is free from discrimination and oppression, and of social justice and dialogue as the essential base for progress."

Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Professor Emeritus on Economics and Latin American Studies of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, United States, also received the prize in recognition of his "major scholarly contributions to the analysis of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work."

The press release cited his work in particular on social security and pension reform, which the jury stated had had a notable impact on reform processes across Latin America for many years.

The prizes – which were created by the ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies – will be awarded formally at the closing plenary session of the ILO International Labour Conference on 15 June in Geneva.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG CIRCULATES REPORT ON IRAN TO SECURITY COUNCIL

UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG CIRCULATES REPORT ON IRAN TO SECURITY COUNCIL
New York, May 23 2007 6:00PM
The head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today circulated his latest report regarding Iran to the Security Council.

The report, entitled "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran," covers the period since <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/iranreport0507.html">IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's previous report of 22 February.

It was also submitted today to the agency's 35-member Board of Governors, which will consider the report at its next series of meetings in Vienna starting on 11 June.

In Mr. ElBaradei's February report, he wrote that Iran has continued enriching uranium in spite of a call by the Security Council that it suspend such activities.

"Iran has not agreed to any of the required transparency measures, which are essential for the clarification of certain aspects of the scope and nature of its nuclear programme," he said in the February report, which also noted that without greater transparency and spot checks, the agency cannot confirm that Iran's uranium enrichment activities are solely for peaceful purposes, as Tehran contends, rather than for the production of weapons.

In March, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the tightening of existing sanctions on Iran, the imposition of a ban on arms sales and the expansion of the freeze on assets. It also reaffirmed that Iran must take the steps required by the IAEA's Board, which called for a full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.

Additionally, the resolution said that Iran must ratify and implement the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty's (NPT) Additional Protocol which grants the IAEA expanded rights of access to information and sites, as well as authority to use the most advanced technologies during the verification process.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON TO ATTEND QUARTET MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST NEXT WEEK

BAN KI-MOON TO ATTEND QUARTET MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST NEXT WEEK
New York, May 23 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend a meeting of the Middle East Quartet, the international diplomatic grouping trying to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, in Berlin next week, his spokesperson announced today.

Next Wednesday's meeting in the German capital will take place at a time of mounting concern at the situation in the region after a week of deadly violence involving intra-Palestinian clashes, Israeli military operations and Palestinian rocket attacks.

Mr. Ban and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour have both issued statements expressing concern about the upsurge in deadly violence and the effect it is having on the civilian population.

The Quartet brings together the UN Secretary-General, the Russian Foreign Minister, the US Secretary of State, the European Commission's External Relations Commissioner, the European Union's High Representative for Common Security and Foreign Policy and a representative of the rotating presidency of the EU, which is currently Germany.

The Quartet has called repeatedly in the past for Israel and the Palestinians to follow the Road Map, which lays out mutual steps to achieve a two-State solution to the conflict, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INCREASES IN UKRAINE DESPITE INTIMIDATION - UN EXPERT

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INCREASES IN UKRAINE DESPITE INTIMIDATION – UN EXPERT
New York, May 23 2007 5:00PM
While democracy and free expression have increased in Ukraine in the past few years, journalists are still subject to intimidation by individuals said to be linked to authorities, an independent United Nations expert said today.

"Despite the ongoing political instability, the country is steadily progressing towards a democratic system based on the rule of law, good governance and human rights," Ambeyi Ligabo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/8B2A24129E16160CC12572E400422B04?opendocument">said after a visit to the east European country.

"However, the current political situation, marked by a strong polarization of opinions, does not contribute to the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, especially for foreigners residing in the country, ethnic groups and migrants, who are often victims of discrimination," he said.

Mr. Ligabo, an unpaid expert who reports to the UN Human Rights Council, said that he met with a number of journalists who were victims of violence by various gangs and others allegedly linked to state security organs and an academic institution.

In addition, he was told that many journalists, especially from the regions outside the capital, are under severe pressure and intimidation from local authorities while others are frequently harassed, arrested and framed on hollow court charges.

He also noted that there is undue delay in the determination of cases of violence against journalists and many of the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

"This general situation of uncertainty, compounded by uncompromising struggle for power amongst competing political parties, has created considerable distress among ordinary citizens and, if not excised properly, may eventually undermine democratic achievements so far made."

He was pleased that many people in authority were willing to discuss the problem with him, but he stressed that all sides, particularly the Government, need to make more concerted efforts to protect human rights, including the passage of legislation on free expression that is in conformity with international standards.

In addition, he said that much Ukrainian media was of low quality, increasing polarization in the country.

This could be remedied by training and the appointment of the relevant officials in a democratic and transparent way, he said. "They should be allowed to run their mandates independently, without political interference," he added.

Mr. Ligabo said he would provide more concrete recommendations to the Government of Ukraine, media professionals, journalists, civil society organizations, and others in the near future.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN GAZA ALARMS UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF

ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN GAZA ALARMS UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF
New York, May 23 2007 5:00PM
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today condemned the recent escalation of violence across the Gaza Strip, calling on all sides to do their utmost to ensure that civilians are protected.

In a statement, Ms. Arbour said the deadly intra-Palestinian violence was having a "devastating impact on an already vulnerable civilian population," and she voiced hope that the ceasefire reached among Palestinian factions on Saturday would hold.

The High Commissioner also deplored the ongoing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants against the Israeli town of Sderot.

"Deliberate attacks against civilians, and the use of indiscriminate weapons, which I personally witnessed during my visit to Sderot a few months ago, are in flagrant violation of cardinal principles of international humanitarian law and must stop," she said.

Ms. Arbour also called on Israel to exercise restraint. "Extrajudicial killings are in breach of both international human rights and humanitarian law, and cannot be justified under any circumstance," she said.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF APPEALS FOR $42 MILLION TO HELP IRAQI CHILDREN

UNICEF APPEALS FOR $42 MILLION TO HELP IRAQI CHILDREN
New York, May 23 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/iraq_39776.html">UNICEF) today <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39775.html">called for $42 million to help Iraqi children, who the agency said have reached a critical point due to violence and displacement.

The appeal was launched in Amman, Jordan's capital, by Queen Rania Al Abdullah, UNICEF's first-ever Eminent Advocate for Children.

"For many Iraqi children, the long-term future may be unclear, but their present needs – for education, for health care, for clean water and proper sanitation – are clear and must be met – now," she said.

Since the start of the war, close to 15 per cent of Iraq's population or around 4 million people – half of whom are children – have fled their homes. Over the next six months, UNICEF seeks to provide critical relief for 1.6 million children who have been displaced and are living inside Iraq and in the neighbouring countries of Jordan and Syria, which are shouldering the burden of hosting Iraqi refugees who have left their homeland.

"We believe that Iraq is at a watershed," Daniel Toole, the agency's Acting Deputy Executive Director and Director of Emergency Programmes, told reporters in New York. "Iraqi children need help now."

UNICEF has put $10 million of its own reserves towards jumpstarting relief activities, working closely with other UN agencies to organize immunization campaigns and provide clean water.

Currently, less than one third of all Iraqi children have access to safe water, due to the breakdown of the country's water and sanitation systems. As the summer approaches, fears of high levels of diarrhoea and dehydration are increasing. Last week, the first cases of cholera – all of them affecting children – were reported, raising concerns over a possible serious outbreak.

Another key area to be targeted by the funds is education. Statistics from two years ago showed that 75 per cent of children regularly attended school, while enrolment has dropped to 30 per cent, which Mr. Toole, who recently returned from a visit to the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, blamed on the insecurity.

Parents are afraid to send their children to school given the high levels of violence in Iraq, and the educational system is "missing teachers."

"If you travel around Iraq, you see schools that are empty and schools that are terribly overcrowded and so many, many children are no longer attending school," he observed.

Further exacerbating conditions is the exodus of professionals, including doctors and teachers, leaving Iraq. "Children will bear the brunt of the brain drain," Mr. Toole said, since they are left with fewer adults to train them and ensure their health.

He praised the efforts of the Governments of Jordan and Syria for welcoming the Iraqi refugees as guests, and also for pledging to assist Iraqi children in their countries by providing education and health services.

At the same time, he stressed that the violence must cease immediately, while acknowledging that UNICEF is unable to bring about an end to the hostilities.

"We cannot solve the problem of school attendance if parents are afraid to send their children to school," he stated.

Queen Rania also said what Iraqi children need, above all, is a resolution to the crisis. "That has to be our ultimate hope."
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM IN NOVEMBER TO ADDRESS ACCESS, SECURITY ISSUES, UN OFFICIAL SAYS

INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM IN NOVEMBER TO ADDRESS ACCESS, SECURITY ISSUES, UN OFFICIAL SAYS
New York, May 23 2007 4:00PM
The next meeting of the <"http://www.intgovforum.org/">Internet Governance Forum in November will focus on access, openness, security and diversity, a top United Nations official said today at a press conference in Geneva.

Speaking after today's preparatory consultations for the Forum's second meeting, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro from 12 to 15 November, Markus Kummer, Executive Coordinator of the Forum's secretariat, told reporters that the Rio meeting would advance the discussion that had taken place at the first Forum meeting in Athens last November.

At today's consultations, participants felt "the next meeting in Rio should not merely be a repetition of the Athens meeting, but should rather be an 'Athens plus,'" Mr. Kummer said, adding that the speakers from Germany, on behalf of the European Union, and the United States had emphasized the importance of the format involving all players and of a private sector-driven process.

It had also been proposed that in Rio all Internet governance-related organizations should present their activities and engage in a dialogue with all concerned, Mr. Kummer said.

"The idea for today's meeting was for participants to discuss what the Rio meeting should focus on," said Nitin Desai, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Internet governance, who chaired the meeting, adding that some 200 representatives from civil society, the private sector and the Internet community attended the consultations.

Some participants felt that the Forum should focus more on Internet resources, Mr. Kummer said, including the internationalized domain names. Participants had proposed to include agenda items dealing with emerging and topical issues, under which the question of Internet resources could be raised. Many wanted to see this issue discussed more openly, Mr. Desai said, although the Rio agenda had not been finalized yet.

The Forum had a very broad mandate, Mr. Kummer said, and could discuss virtually any subject related to the Internet, Internet governance and the use or abuse of the Internet. After the Athens meeting, many differences had been voiced on its outcome. While governments, in particular, were accustomed to diplomatic processes resulting in negotiated documents, the Athens meeting had simply provided a forum for discussion.

But although the Forum had no decision-making power, its mandate did allow it to make recommendations "if appropriate," Mr. Kummer said.

The Forum's next steps after Rio were still to be determined, Mr. Desai said, as the Forum itself was an evolving process. "We are experimenting with a multi-stakeholder open-ended process without a fixed membership," he said, adding that the Forum would meet in India in 2008 and in Egypt in 2009. The Forum's mandate provided for a review within five years of its inception, which would result in a recommendation by the Secretary-General on the future of the body.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONGRATULATES TIMOR-LESTE ON ELECTION RESULTS

UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONGRATULATES TIMOR-LESTE ON ELECTION RESULTS
New York, May 23 2007 3:00PM
While expressing concerns over the still-volatile security situation in Timor-Leste, the United Nations Security Council today lauded the Timorese people for holding credible presidential elections and Jose Ramos-Horta for his victory.

"The Security Council congratulates the Timorese people for demonstrating their strong commitment to peace and democracy, and commends the presidential candidates for the peaceful manner in which they conducted their campaigns," the 15-member body said through a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9023.doc.htm">statement read out by, Jackie Sanders of the United States, which hold the presidency this month.

Mr. Ramos-Horta was sworn in on Sunday following two rounds of elections in April and May, beating out seven other candidates vying to lead the country, which the UN ushered to independence in 2002.

Looking forward to upcoming Parliamentary elections, the 15-member body pledged its continued support for the Government and people of Timor-Leste "as they embark on another step aimed at strengthening the foundations of democracy, and assume their rightful place in the community of nations," the statement added.

At the same time the Council called upon the international community to continue to assist the Government to confront the challenges facing the country, which they said were political and institutional in nature, but exacerbated by "poverty and its associated deprivations."

The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), deployed following an outbreak of deadly violence last year, is helping with all aspects of the 2007 electoral processes, including technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice and verification.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT NAMES TWO DIPLOMATS TO GUIDE SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM TALKS

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT NAMES TWO DIPLOMATS TO GUIDE SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM TALKS
New York, May 23 2007 3:00PM
General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa has appointed the ambassadors of Chile and Liechtenstein to conduct consultations with United Nations Member States on how to move forward on reform of the 15-member Security Council.

Heraldo Muñoz of Chile and Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein will be expected to report back to Sheikha Haya on the outcome of their consultations by the end of next month, the President said in a letter sent to UN Member States yesterday.

Sheikha Haya has asked Mr. Muñoz and Mr. Wenaweser to use last month's report of the five facilitators on Council reform she appointed in January as the basis for their consultations.

That report found that even though there is overwhelming support for Council reform, the world's countries remain so divided on the details – from the question of expansion to the use of the veto to the categories of membership – that a transitional stage of reform may be necessary to break the deadlock.

The report stated that a "significant number of Member States tend to agree that their ideal solution may not be possible at this stage, and believe that it may be more reasonable to consider the best possible solution for now."

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

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

Mr. Muñoz is one of five facilitators who presented that report, with the others being the permanent representatives of Tunisia (Ali Hachani), Cyprus (Andreas D. Mavroyiannis), Croatia (Mirjana Mladineo) and the Netherlands (Frank Majoor).

Sheikha Haya said in her letter that those facilitators would continue to advise her on the issue.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL TO VISIT RWANDA

TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL TO VISIT RWANDA
New York, May 23 2007 3:00PM
The top United Nations human rights official is <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/A56EA454B0A00DF4C12572E4003198E4?opendocument">heading today to Rwanda on the final leg of her 12-day mission to Africa's Great Lakes Region, which previously took her to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

In Rwanda, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will meet with President Paul Kagame as well as human rights advocacy groups and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a UN spokesperson said today.

The object of her visit, the spokesperson said, is to re-affirm the importance of protecting and promoting human rights in reconciliation and reconstruction efforts in the country, which was ravaged by a civil war and the genocide against some 800,000 Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus in 1994.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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400,000 IN SWAZILAND NEED AID AFTER WORST MAIZE HARVEST EVER - UN

400,000 IN SWAZILAND NEED AID AFTER WORST MAIZE HARVEST EVER – UN
New York, May 23 2007 1:00PM
One third of Swaziland's population requires food assistance after the worst annual maize harvest on record due to an extended dry spell and high temperatures, according to a report issued jointly two United Nations agencies today.

Approximately 400,000 people will need 40,000 tons of food aid between now and next April's harvest, according to the study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000563/index.html">FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2490">WFP), the first in a series of assessments of Southern African nations.

This year's maize crop is nearly 60 per cent below last year's level, both reducing the availability of food as well as resulting in price surges that will curtail many families' access to food in the country where nearly seven out of ten people live on less than $1 per day.

Prolonged dry weather and the resultant water shortages threatened livestock, but rains came late, improving pasture and animal conditions. As a result, it is hoped that livestock production will buttress the impacts of the failure of the maize harvest.

The agricultural problems are occurring against a poor health backdrop; Swaziland has the highest rates of adult HIV infection in the world, estimated at over 40 per cent. This prevalence of the virus will exacerbate health, income disparity and poverty problems, the report noted.

FAO and WFP called for aid to be delivered to households with no access to sufficient food, and also stated that agricultural inputs – including seeds, fertilizers, credit and tractors – are also key to reviving farming capacity in time for the next season, which starts this September.

The price of cereals has soared in response to local shortages and major price increases in South Africa, the main exporter to Swaziland. Prices are expected to continue climbing due to a lack of rainfall in Southern Africa.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN-SPONSORED HEALTH ASSEMBLY CLOSES WITH AGREEMENTS ON FLU CONTROL, MEDICINES

UN-SPONSORED HEALTH ASSEMBLY CLOSES WITH AGREEMENTS ON FLU CONTROL, MEDICINES
New York, May 23 2007 1:00PM
The supreme decision-making body of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up its annual session today, reaching last-minute agreements on pandemic influenza preparedness and access to medicines for the poor.

A budget increase of nearly $1 billion dollars and action on a wide variety of issues from adjusting malaria medications to bolstering emergency trauma care were also decided at the <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2007/wha60/en/index.html">60th World Health Assembly, which took place from 14 to 23 May in Geneva with more than 2,400 people from WHO's 193 Member States, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other observers attending.

In its resolution on preparing for a possible massive outbreak of influenza – such as the H5N1 or "bird flu" virus – in humans, Member States agreed on the need to improve international cooperation through greater production of vaccines and equitable access to them under International Health Regulations (IHR).

"I want to underscore the importance of this decision, <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/wha02/en/index.html">WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told the delegates in her closing remarks. "My responsibilities in implementing the IHR depend on this sharing."

In that light, the resolution tasks an interdisciplinary working group with drawing up new responsibilities for the WHO Influenza Collaborating Centre Network, and its H5 reference laboratories, for the purpose of sharing influenza viruses.

The topic of "public health, innovation and intellectual property" involves not only access to existing medicines, other therapies and diagnostics by the poor, but also the fact that some health products for diseases that affect developing countries are simply not developed at all due to the lack of a sustainable market, according to a WHO study released last year.

The resolution adopted by the Assembly encouraged the Director-General to guide the process to draw up a global strategy to remedy the problem and to provide technical and policy support to developing countries for that purpose.

"I am fully committed to this process and have noted your desire to move forward faster," Dr. Chan commented. "We must make a tremendous effort. We know our incentive: the prevention of large numbers of needless deaths and suffering," she said.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES CIVILIAN PROTECTION AT REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON

UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES CIVILIAN PROTECTION AT REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON
New York, May 23 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations human rights chief added her voice today to mounting UN concern over the fate of civilians caught in the fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah el-Islam gunmen at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/77B5C6F2B23F9BDCC12572E4004204C5?opendocument">said she was distressed by reports that dozens of civilians had been killed or wounded since the violence erupted at Nahr el-Bared camp on Sunday.

"The shelling of an UNRWA convoy yesterday is unacceptable," she added, referring to the attack against a group of vehicles from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East that were attempting to deliver emergency supplies such as milk, bread and medicines to the besieged civilians in the camp.

No one was killed in the shelling of the convoy, but three vehicles were badly damaged and some of the humanitarian supplies were destroyed.

Yesterday Secretary-General <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2581">Ban Ki-moon and UNRWA's Director in Lebanon <"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/briefings/lebMay07.html">Richard Cook each voiced grave concern on the situation inside Nahr el-Bared for civilians and on the attack against the convoy.

Ms. Arbour stressed in her statement that all parties to the fighting in Nahr el-Bared have an obligation to exercise precaution and to protect civilians not taking a direct part in the hostilities.

"The protection from attack for humanitarian workers and medical personnel and their unrestricted access to civilians are also guaranteed under the principles of international humanitarian law," the statement noted.

Established in 1949, <"http://www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/lebanon/nahrelbared.html">Nahr el-Bared is home to nearly 31,000 people, including about 8,000 who are classified by UNRWA as special hardship cases. Many residents have fled to the nearby Beddawi refugee camp or a stadium in the city of Tripoli, where UNRWA is coordinating relief efforts.

In her statement today Ms. Arbour also "condemned in the strongest terms" the recent bombings in the capital, Beirut, including one in the city's Verdun district on Monday night.
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA STYMIED BY CRIME AND DRUGS, UN WARNS

DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA STYMIED BY CRIME AND DRUGS, UN WARNS
New York, May 23 2007 12:00PM
Central America is beleaguered by violent crime, much of it fuelled by drugs, which is thwarting economic development, according to a new report by the United Nations anti-narcotics agency released today.

"The warning signs are evident in this report – gun-related crime, gang violence, kidnapping, the proliferation of private security companies," said Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press_releases.html">UNODC). "But these problems are in no way inherent to the region. They can be overcome."

Crime is the single largest issue impeding Central America's stability, the study, entitled "Crime and Development in Central America: Caught in the Crossfire," noted. It called attention to the need for increased international assistance for the region to allow development efforts to take root as the area's numerous vulnerabilities allow crime to thrive, which in turn limits growth and obstructs social development.

Despite the diversity of the Central American countries, they are united by the fact that they are all affected, to varying degrees, by drugs, crime and underdevelopment.

Many face problems resulting from income disparity, urbanization, high levels of poverty and easy access to guns. Key sources of revenue such as tourism are especially susceptible to high crime rates.

These countries are also made vulnerable by their geographic position, as they are sandwiched between Colombia, the world's largest supplier of coca, and the United States, the world's largest consumers of cocaine. Almost 90 per cent of cocaine en route to the US is transported through Central America.

"Where crime and corruption reign and drug money perverts the economy, the State no longer has a monopoly on the use of force and citizens no longer trust their leaders and public institutions," Mr. Costa said, underscoring that development is stunted where crime and corruption thrive. "As a result, the social contract is in tatters and people take the law into their own hands."

As a result of decades of conflict, the region is mired with the problem of firearms and has some of the highest homicide rates worldwide.

Although gang violence is a significant issue, particularly in countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, it does not play as large a role in the total crime problem as commonly believed.

"Heavy-handed crackdowns on gangs alone will not resolve the underlying problem. Indeed, it may exacerbate them," Mr. Costa noted. "Gang culture is a symptom of a deeper social malaise that cannot be solved by putting all disaffected street kids behind bars. The future of Central America depends on seeing youth as an asset rather than a liability."

He urged all of the region's countries, as well as others, to take action to shatter the links among drugs, crime and underdevelopment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration.

"Cooperation is vital," Mr. Costa said. "The problems are too big, too inter-linked and too dangerous to be left to individual States."

Also key is bolstering the criminal justice systems of poor countries, he pointed out. Limited resources lead to low ratios of police to civilians and low conviction rates, resulting in law enforcement having a limited deterrent effect.

"As a priority, States should strengthen their justice systems in order to root out corruption and restore public confidence in the rule of law. This would create a fertile environment for economic growth and attract foreign investment, thereby promoting development," Mr. Costa stated.

International assistance is critical, he said, to address the problem through long-term solutions rather than short-term ones.

"We have a shared responsibility and common interest in helping the countries of Central America to withstand external pressures and to strengthen their internal resistance to the damaging effects of drugs and crime," Mr. Costa said. "Let us unlock the potential of this region."
2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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TURKEY: UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS MURDER OF EDITOR

TURKEY: UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS MURDER OF EDITOR
New York, May 23 2007 8:00AM
The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has deplored the killing of Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian-language weekly Agos, in Istanbul.

"I condemn the killing of Hrant Dink," Koïchiro Matsuura declared. "Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and press freedom, its corollary, is a cornerstone of democracy and rule of law.

The UNESCO chief welcomed "the speed with which the Turkish authorities investigated this case, proof of their determination not to let this heinous crime go unpunished."

Mr. Dink was shot outside the offices of his publication on 19 January. The 53-year old editor, a prominent public figure, is reported to have been the target of threats from Turkish nationalists.

2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN CONDEMNS DAMAGE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN CONDEMNS DAMAGE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
New York, May 23 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has spoken out against a recent attack on two human rights organizations in the country, calling for the authorities to investigate and bring to justice those responsible.

In a statement, UNOCI strongly condemned the destruction of goods, pillage and extortion against the headquarters of the Ligue Ivoirienne des droits de l'Homme and l'Action pour la Protection des Droits de l'Homme on 21 May.

Following a visit to the affected sites, UNOCI noted the extent of damages as well as the consequences of these acts on the operational capacities of these two organizations defending human rights, reporting that equipment and archives were destroyed or taken.

UNOCI decried the damage, pointing out that all Ivorian parties must work to implement the Ouagadougou agreement.

That accord, struck on 4 March, sets out a series of measures to deal with the political divide in Côte d'Ivoire, which has been split between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north since 2002.

2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ: UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT OF KURDISTAN REGION

IRAQ: UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT OF KURDISTAN REGION
New York, May 23 2007 8:00AM
Key political concerns affecting the future of Iraq were discussed during talks between the senior United Nations envoy to the country and the President of the Kurdistan Region, the world body's mission to the country announced today.

During their meeting in Salah Al-Din, north of Erbil, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi, and the President of Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, discussed national reconciliation, constitution review, human rights, the needs of displaced Iraqis, as well as provision of humanitarian and public services in northern Iraq, among other issues, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said.

Mr. Qazi expressed his satisfaction over his wide-ranging discussions with Mr. Barzani and other senior officials of Kurdistan Regional Government.

The envoy reiterated that the UN is committed to assisting Iraq in political reconciliation and physical reconstruction. He stressed that all of the United Nations activities throughout Iraq were at the request of the Iraqi Government and that consensus was a prerequisite for the UN to expand its programmes and technical support.

Mr. Qazi noted that the UN will continue to "make every effort possible to put all the resources available in order to assist the Iraqis in the reconstruction process and to push forward the political process within the legal and constitutional framework" as called for by the Security Council, UNAMI said.

In addition to Mr. Barzani, the envoy met with Deputy Prime Minister Omar Fattah, Speaker Adnan Al-Mufti, Deputy Speaker Kamal Kirkuki, Minister of Region for the Interior Karim Sinjari, President Barzani's Chief of Staff Fouad Hussein and Executive Chief of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Politburo Mulla Bukhtiar.

2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN SAYS ALLEGATIONS OF TRAFFICKING BY PEACEKEEPERS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION

DR CONGO: UN SAYS ALLEGATIONS OF TRAFFICKING BY PEACEKEEPERS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION
New York, May 23 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) today announced that allegations that a number of its peacekeepers based in the Ituri District have engaged in gold and weapons trafficking are under investigation.

"As soon as these serious allegations surfaced and were brought to its attention in 2006,
MONUC immediately requested that the matter be thoroughly investigated by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)," the mission said in a statement.

"A full inquiry was initiated, independently from MONUC, by OIOS-Nairobi, in accordance with OIOS mandate to investigate instances of serious misconduct. Upon completion of its investigation," the statement added, noting that the OIOS report and recommendations, once completed would be sent to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations "for appropriate action with the Troops Contributing Countries of the concerned contingent personnel, in line with current UN procedures."

While noting that as a matter of policy, the UN does not comment on investigations in progress, MONUC stressed that it "has an absolute zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and will remain vigilant in preventing egregious and unacceptable behavior."

The statement said the mission in the DRC "is determined to relentlessly pursue the disciplining of anyone whose conduct is substantiated as unbecoming a peacekeeper."

At the same time, MONUC reiterated its confidence in the vast majority of its blue helmets, and voiced gratitude to the service working for peace in the DRC. In Ituri, it noted, peacekeepers have disarmed and demobilized more than 15,000 militia members.

2007-05-23 00:00:00.000

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UN CAMPAIGN TO PLANT BILLION TREES IN 2007 HITS TARGET SEVEN MONTHS EARLY

UN CAMPAIGN TO PLANT BILLION TREES IN 2007 HITS TARGET SEVEN MONTHS EARLY
New York, May 22 2007 8:00PM
The campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=506&ArticleID=5587&l=en">UNEP) to plant a billion trees worldwide this year has met its goal seven months early after Senegal unveiled a pledge today to plant 20 million trees.

The campaign, announced at the recent climate change convention conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, now switches to turning those pledges into one billion actual plantings by the end of 2007.

Senegal made its announcement on the International Day on Biological Diversity, which this year has a special focus on the relationship between biodiversity and climate change.

In his <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm10994.doc.htm">message to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described this year's theme as timely given that climate change is increasingly identified as one of the biggest causes of a loss of animal and plant species.

"The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is an essential element of any strategy to adapt to climate change," Mr. Ban said. "The international community is committed to conserving biodiversity and combating climate change. The global response to these challenges needs to move much more rapidly, and with more determination at all levels – global, national and local."

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said countries and communities as well as corporations and individual citizens across both the developed and developing world had responded to the tree planting challenge with grassroots enthusiasm and commitment. He said this "should empower governments everywhere in the sure and certain knowledge that addressing climate change is not a political risk, but perhaps the most popular move of our time, with their electorate and the public right behind them."

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, warned that the world is "experiencing the greatest wave of extinctions since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Extinction rates are rising by a factor of up to 1,000 above natural rates. Every day, up to 150 species are lost. Every year, between 18,000 and 55,000 species become extinct. The cause: human activities."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently found that a projected temperature increase of 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius could increase the risk of extinction for 20 to 30 per cent of plant and animal species. The Panel has said that the world's temperature is likely to rise by 3 degrees Celsius by 2100.

Mr. Djoghlaf said "the ability of the planet to provide the goods and services that we, and future generations, need for our well-being is seriously and perhaps irreversibly jeopardized."

At a press briefing today in New York, representatives of indigenous peoples said climate change presented a major threat to their lands, customs and traditions. Lakhan Bibi from the Hindu Kush region in Pakistan's high mountains said her people had long depended on melting from glaciers for water for farming. But the rate of melting had increased, causing flooding and avalanches, and thus considerable damage to native lands.

Malia Nobrega from Hawaii said Pacific islanders were experiencing many negative effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity. Mangroves had been lost, fisheries depleted, and some islands have experienced droughts. At the same time, the island nation of Tuvalu could completely disappear due to rising sea levels.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE CHIEF KICKS OFF MISSION TO NEPAL AND BHUTAN

UN REFUGEE CHIEF KICKS OFF MISSION TO NEPAL AND BHUTAN
New York, May 22 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/home.html">UNHCR) arrived in Nepal today at the start of a four-day visit which will also take him to Bhutan.

The aim of the mission is to spotlight the long-standing plight of over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees who have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal since the introduction of strict citizenship laws in their homeland 16 years ago.

During his time in Nepal – High Commissioner António Guterres' first official visit to the Himalayan country – he will visit one of the refugee camps and meet with Government authorities, UN agencies and donors.

"UNHCR has been very encouraged by the efforts of a group of interested countries to assist in resolving this protracted situation," the agency's spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva last week.

On Thursday, Mr. Guterres will head to Bhutan to hold talks with officials there.

Frustration has been growing among the refugees, who are unable to work outside the camps in which they reside, as they have seen no solution to their situation since arriving in Nepal in the early 1990s.

Last November, UNHCR and the Nepalese Government began taking a census of refugees, in which any existing information will be validated, cross-checked, updated and recorded in a new database, and refugees will have their photographs taken for identity cards.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON DEPLORES DEADLY VIOLENCE AT REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON

BAN KI-MOON DEPLORES DEADLY VIOLENCE AT REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON
New York, May 22 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led mounting United Nations concern today about the continuing deadly clashes between the Lebanese army and Fatah el-Islam gunmen at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, urging all sides to avoid more bloodshed.

Mr. Ban "deplores the criminal attacks carried out over the past several days against the Lebanese army and security forces" and considers them an assault on Lebanon's stability and sovereignty, his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11006.doc.htm">statement.

The statement added the Secretary-General also condemns the attack today against a six-vehicle convoy from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) that was trying to deliver humanitarian supplies to the camp, Nahr el-Bared.

The convoy had reached the perimeter of the camp – home to about 31,000 Palestinians – when it was hit by shells, causing heavy damage to three vehicles and destroying water towers and bladders, milk, bread and medical supplies.

Mr. Ban "calls for the immediate establishment of safe corridors to allow medical staff to assist and evacuate those in need," the statement said. "He is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties that have resulted and he appeals to all concerned to do their utmost to avoid further bloodshed."

Mr. Ban's call was echoed by UNRWA's Director in Lebanon Richard Cook, who voiced deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation inside Nahr el-Bared, where media reports say dozens of civilians have been killed since fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah el-Islam members erupted on Sunday.

Mr. Cook said UNRWA is trying to provide essential care, food and water to camp residents and to evacuate the dead and the injured, working in close cooperation with the Lebanese army, the Lebanese Red Cross, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Under regular conditions UNRWA provides basic services to Nahr el-Bared, including primary health care at a camp clinic where UN doctors examine 500 patients a day normally.

In the statement from his spokesperson, Mr. Ban also strongly condemned the terrorist bombing that took place last night in the Verdun district of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Media reports say 10 people were injured in the blast and several apartments and cars were badly damaged.

The Secretary-General said he is monitoring the situation carefully and remains in close contact with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and other regional leaders.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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MEETING HIV-POSITIVE UN STAFF, BAN KI-MOON VOWS TO FIGHT STIGMA

MEETING HIV-POSITIVE UN STAFF, BAN KI-MOON VOWS TO FIGHT STIGMA
New York, May 22 2007 6:00PM
Describing his meeting with HIV-positive United Nations staff yesterday as one of the most moving experiences of his life, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has vowed to step up efforts to eliminate the stigma that still surrounds AIDS sufferers in so many countries.

Mr. Ban said he was touched by the courage shown by the members of UN+, a group of staff living with HIV from across regions and UN agencies, as well as the directness with which they spoke about their lives.

"I felt ashamed on their behalf," Mr. Ban said later, referring to the discrimination that people living with HIV often face around the world, including in Asia and his own country, the Republic of Korea.

The Secretary-General said that on his next trip to Asia he would visit an AIDS clinic or similar facility as part of efforts to speak up on behalf of those living with HIV and to help in the fight against the stigma.

Mr. Ban's meeting took place the same day the General Assembly began a session reviewing implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, reached by UN Member States in June 2001.

Assembly members concluded their discussion today, adopting a decision welcoming the Secretary-General's recommendations – contained in his most recent report charting progress towards the Declaration – for setting national targets for achieving universal access to HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support.

Since the pandemic emerged at the start of the 1980s, HIV has infected 65 million people around the world and claimed an estimated 25 million lives.

In a related development, the UN-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced today that by mid-2007 more than one million people worldwide will be reached with antiretroviral (ARV) treatment under programmes it supports. This represents a dramatic rise on the estimated 544,000 who received ARV treatment in mid-2006.

The Fund also announced that the number of insecticide-treated nets distributed to families facing the threat of malaria is expected to rise from 11.3 million last year to 30 million by next month.

The number of tuberculosis cases treated under DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course) programmes is forecast to double to 2.8 million by the middle of this year.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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COUNTER-TERRORISM ASSESSMENTS NEAR COMPLETION, CHAIR OF UN BODY SAYS

COUNTER-TERRORISM ASSESSMENTS NEAR COMPLETION, CHAIR OF UN BODY SAYS
New York, May 22 2007 6:00PM
By the end of May 2007, assessments of counter-terrorism measures taken by all 193 United Nations Member States will have been presented to the Security Council committee that monitors the global fight against the menace, its chairman said today.

Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama, the chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), established by resolution 1373 (2001) after the 11 September terrorist attacks against the United States, said that this will give the Committee a comprehensive picture of the implementation of that resolution, as well as a better idea of assistance needed by States to better comply.

Assisting Member States to fulfil their reporting responsibilities was also a top priority for the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) by non-State actors, particularly terrorists, said its chairman, Ambassador Peter Burian of Slovakia.

Since the last briefing to the Council in September 2006, Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, Tuvalu and Vanuatu had submitted their first reports, leaving a shortfall of 55 reports, most of them from countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

In order to help those States fulfil their reporting their requirements, the Committee had sent to them, in October/November 2006, a legislative database and a partially completed draft matrix prepared by Committee experts to serve as a starting point.

The chairman of the 1267 (1999) Committee concerning Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions, Ambassador Johan Verbeke of Belgium, told the Council that its most important work at the moment is revamping its procedures and improving the list of targeted persons and organizations.

In that regard, he appealed for the assistance of States in updating the list, both with new names to be included, as well as additional information for those already on the list.

Equally important, said all three chairmen, are efforts to coordinate the work of the three committees. "We all expressed a willingness to work more intensively together, especially in the area of addressing the issue of non-reporting States," Mr. Burian told the press after the meeting.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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FIVE TROPICAL COMMUNITY GROUPS WIN UN-BACKED PRIZE FOR BIODIVERSITY

FIVE TROPICAL COMMUNITY GROUPS WIN UN-BACKED PRIZE FOR BIODIVERSITY
New York, May 22 2007 5:00PM
Five community groups from the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America won the United Nations-backed Equator Prize today for their initiatives to alleviate poverty while conserving local biodiversity.

The winners, who will each receive $30,000, were announced at a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York after being selected by a jury from a group of 25 finalists chosen from more than 300 original nominations.

The village of Andavadoaka in Madagascar was among the winners, honoured for demonstrating how it managed an octopus fishery so that it can provide sustainable long-term benefits. In Kenya, the Shompole Community Trust won for conserving the country's vast and scenic grasslands and savannah as part of a profit-making ecotourism venture for the local Masai people.

In Guatemala, the women of Alimentos Nutri-Naturales won the prize for reinstating the Maya nut as a staple source of nutrition and this conserving the nut forests in the buffer zone next to a biosphere reserve.

The women of Isabela Island's "Blue Fish" Association, who work within the World Heritage-listed Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, were rewarded for marketing a local delicacy – tuna smoked with guava wood – as a way to promote the alternative use of marine resources and control invasive plant species.

The other winner, Shidulai Swarnivar Sangstha, uses riverboat-based educational resource centres throughout the Ganges River delta in Bangladesh to deliver information to locals about sustainable agricultural practices and market prices.

Awarded biennially, the prize is part of the Equator Initiative, set up in January 2002 by the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2007/may/equator-prize-20070522.en">UNDP), governments, business, civil society and communities to promote grassroots efforts in the tropics to reduce poverty through conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

Equatorial regions are home to both the world's greatest concentrations of biological wealth and some of the highest levels of poverty.

Congratulating the winners, UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis said they are just some of the numerous community initiatives of their kind taking place around the world.

"The proliferation and scaling up of efforts such as these is critical to the achievement of our common goals to conserve biodiversity, respond to climate change and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," he said.
2007-05-22 00:00:00.000

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