LEGAL MARKET NECESSARY FOR DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA - UNDP CHIEF

LEGAL MARKET NECESSARY FOR DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA – UNDP CHIEF
New York, Jun 15 2007 10:00PM
The majority of Albania's population and economy must be brought under the rule of law before democracy can operate and thrive, the head of the United Nations Development Programme said today.

According to a UNDP-backed study, between 80 and 90 per cent of property and business assets in Albania are extra-legal, or outside the formal economy.

These figures indicate that many people in the country also operate outside the formal legal system, which means they have no access to loans, cannot enforce contracts, and are unable to expand their businesses beyond their personal networks or purchase insurance to guard against risk.

UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, attending a meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the renowned Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto today in New York, said that "when there is extra-legality, democracy cannot function."

He praised the Prime Minister for making the fight against extra-legality a priority for both economic growth and the consolidation of democracy.

Albania requested that Mr. de Soto's Institute for Liberty and Democracy carry out the study, which aims to create a basis for a reform programme that would empower Albanians currently shut out of the formal economy to enter into their country's financial future. The final report will be submitted to the Government in October.

"The Albanian Government should be congratulated for recognizing the significance of the extra-legal economy, for it courage in responding to this issue head-on and for focusing on it not as a law and order problem, but as an opportunity for economic growth," Mr. de Soto said.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY HAILS 'LANDMARK' ENTRY INTO FORCE OF GLOBAL HEALTH REGULATIONS

UN AGENCY HAILS 'LANDMARK' ENTRY INTO FORCE OF GLOBAL HEALTH REGULATIONS
New York, Jun 15 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations health agency announced the "landmark" entry into force today of a set of regulations aimed at making the world more secure from threats to global health, while minimizing disruption to travel, trade and economies.

The revised International Health Regulations represent "a major step forward in international public health security," the World Health Organization (WHO) <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr31/en/index.html">said in a press release.

The legally-binding agreement will "significantly contribute to international public health security" by providing a new framework defining the rights, obligations, and procedures in ensuring international health security without unnecessary interference in international traffic and trade.

After the World Health Assembly reached agreement on the regulations in 2005, States party to it were given two years to assess their national capacities and develop actions plans to meet the requirements of the regulations, prior to their entry into force on 15 June 2007.

On taking effect, the regulations will improve the capacity of all countries to detect, assess, notify and respond to threats from diseases that may rapidly spread from one country to another, including a new human influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) - a flu-like disease that over a nine-month period in 2002-2003 infected more than 8,000 people, killing nearly 10 per cent of them, mostly in China and elsewhere in Asia.

The threats also come from other public health emergencies that may affect populations across borders, such as chemical spills, leaks and dumping or nuclear meltdowns.

"SARS was a wake-up call for all of us. It spread faster than we had predicted and was only contained through intensive cooperation between countries which prevented this new disease from gaining a foothold," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said.

"Today, the greatest threat to international public health security would be an influenza pandemic. The threat of a pandemic has not receded, but implementation of the [regulations] will help the world to be better prepared for the possibility of a pandemic," she added.

WHO says it has already developed and built an improved events management system to manage potential public health emergencies. It has also built strategic operations centres at its Geneva headquarters and in regional offices around the world, which are available round-the-clock to manage emergencies.
In addition, WHO has been working with its partners to strengthen the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which brings together experts from around the world to respond to disease emergencies.

In another development, WHO announced earlier this week that it is working with vaccine manufacturers to move ahead on plans to create a global stockpile of vaccine for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, or bird flu.

The announcement follows a request by the World Health Assembly last month for WHO to establish an international stockpile of the vaccine.

WHO also welcomed the announcement global pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline that it will contribute to the global vaccine stockpile. Omninvest of Hungary, Baxter and sanofi pasteur have also indicated their willingness to make some of their H5N1 vaccine available.

Dr. Chan welcomed the contributions from the vaccines industry, which she called "another significant step towards creating a global resource to help the world and especially to help developing countries in case of [a] major outbreak."
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOWS UN HELP IN FINDING THOSE WHO MURDERED CONGOLESE JOURNALIST

BAN KI-MOON VOWS UN HELP IN FINDING THOSE WHO MURDERED CONGOLESE JOURNALIST
New York, Jun 15 2007 1:00PM
Reacting to the murder of a radio journalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged that the world body would fully support efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The Secretary-General was shocked and saddened to receive the news of the brutal killing of Mr. Serge Maheshe, a respected national radio journalist at Radio Okapi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The death of the 31-year old journalist "is a great loss for the UN and the people of the DRC as they continue their efforts to build a sustainable peace in their country," the spokesperson said.

"The United Nations will do everything possible to support the authorities of the DRC to identify the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice."

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) yesterday condemned the killing of Mr. Maheshe, whose radio station was sponsored by the UN.

The victim, who had worked for Radio Okapi since 2003, was shot dead on Wednesday night by two men on a street in Bukavu, in the far east of the DRC, as he and two friends were about to enter a UN-marked vehicle. His friends were not injured in the attack.

Radio Okapi is a partnership between MONUC and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO).
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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DEPLORING GAZA SITUATION, BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR AID ACCESS, END TO VIOLENCE

DEPLORING GAZA SITUATION, BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR AID ACCESS, END TO VIOLENCE
New York, Jun 15 2007 3:00PM
Voicing deep concern at the deadly violence that has engulfed the Gaza Strip this week, especially its effect on ordinary Palestinians, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate restoration of calm, renewed respect for human rights and the necessary security to allow United Nations agencies and other aid workers to deliver humanitarian relief.

"The shocking violence of recent days in Gaza, much of which has involved violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, has caused great alarm and sadness around the world," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2620">statement released by his spokesperson.

Dozens of people have been killed in recent days amid fighting between members of the Hamas and Fatah movements in Gaza, and UN officials say the clashes are worsening the already perilous living situation of many Palestinian civilians.

In his statement Mr. Ban said he was particularly concerned about the ability of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance to the majority of the estimated 1.5 million people living in Gaza.

He noted that many Palestinians remain dependent on emergency aid for their daily sustenance, and stressed that the UN remained commitment to ensuring the safety of its workers so that they can keep up their aid efforts.

"This will require the cooperation of all parties to ensure appropriate security and access conditions for the passage of humanitarian goods and personnel, both within the Gaza Strip and at key crossing points."

The UN agencies themselves have also raised the alarm, with the <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP saying it was doing the best it could under the circumstances to provide aid, and had been able to still distribute bread to hospitals. All crossing points from Gaza into Israel have been closed, and WFP estimates there are only enough food supplies in the markets to last a week.

The UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) reported that many of its health workers – as well as patients – have not been able to leave their homes in recent days because of the violence, while at least four hospitals have been fired upon and the emergency wards are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the number of patients who have suffered grave injuries in the fighting this week.

Mr. Ban had a teleconference this morning with other principals of the Quartet, the diplomatic grouping that comprises the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States. The Secretary-General's spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters that he would remain in close contact with the other Quartet members in the days ahead.

In the statement Mr. Ban expressed deep disappointment at the failure of the Palestinian National Unity Government, "and the violence, destruction and fragmentation that has brought about its demise."

He added that he renewed his support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "as he moves to discharge his responsibilities under the Palestinian Basic Law."
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS EXTENDED THROUGH MID-DECEMBER

UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS EXTENDED THROUGH MID-DECEMBER
New York, Jun 15 2007 3:00PM
The Security Council today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9047.doc.htm">extended the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unficyp/index.html">UNFICYP) through mid-December while noting the current stalemate on the issue.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also reaffirmed that the "status quo is unacceptable, that time is not on the side of a settlement, and that negotiations on a final political solution to the Cyprus problem have been at an impasse for too long."

The resolution referred to a July 2006 Agreement "stressing that a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions, is both desirable and possible and should not be further delayed."

In a report released earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended the extension of UNFICYP's mandate, and the Council today echoed his "firm belief that the responsibility of finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves."
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN DECLARES 2 OCTOBER, GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY, AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE

UN DECLARES 2 OCTOBER, GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY, AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations General Assembly today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10601.doc.htm">decided to observe the International Day of Non-Violence each year on 2 October – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

Introducing the resolution adopted by the 192-member body, Anand Sharma, India's Minister of State for External Relations, said the idea originated at an international conference on "Peace, Non-Violence and Empowerment – Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century" convened in New Delhi in January this year.

The late leader's "novel mode of mass mobilization and non-violent action" brought down colonialism, strengthened the roots of popular sovereignty, of civil, political and economic rights, and greatly influenced many a freedom struggle and inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. Sharma stated.

The Assembly, "desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," invited States, UN bodies, regional and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals to commemorate the Day, including through education and public awareness.

In a further effort to promote a culture of peace and cultural diversity, the Assembly also decided to recognize the year from 12 September 2007 to 11 September 2008 as "the year commemorating the Ethiopian Millennium."

Highlighting the significance of the event, Ethiopian Ambassador Negash Kebret Botora, said it is "not only for celebrating the unique and distinct nature of our system of calendar" but also "helps promote and further strengthen cultural understanding among the people of the world."

The Assembly began its work today by extending its condolences to the family of former UN Secretary-General and Austrian President <"http://www.un.org/sg/waldheim.shtml">Kurt Waldheim, who died yesterday, as well as to the Government and people of Austria.

Leading the Assembly's remembrance of Mr. Waldheim, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2619">paid tribute to him and all his predecessors, who have served in what has been called "the most impossible job on earth."
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HEAD TO ADDIS FOR TALKS ON UN-AFRICAN UNION COOPERATION

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HEAD TO ADDIS FOR TALKS ON UN-AFRICAN UNION COOPERATION
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
The first stop for members of the United Nations Security Council travelling on a week-long mission to Africa will be the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where they will focus on cooperation between the world body and the African Union (AU), as well as ongoing efforts for peace and development in Sudan and Somalia.

Tomorrow morning, the 15-member Council will begin its official programme with a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, a UN spokesperson said today.

Discussions are expected to focus on UN-AU cooperation, including in the fields of conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction. Ongoing peace processes in several African countries are also expected to feature prominently on the agenda, including Sudan and Somalia.

Following that meeting, Council delegates will hold a working lunch with Mr. Konaré and Commissioner Said Djinnit to discuss Sudan and AU-UN peacekeeping issues. The two organizations have long cooperated in the peacekeeping arena, most recently with agreement for the deployment of a hybrid force in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

The Council will then meet with the AU Peace and Security Council that afternoon, and the two bodies are expected to adopt a joint communiqué detailing their consultations when the meeting adjourns, and hold a press conference afterward.

The delegation will depart from Addis Ababa early on Sunday for Khartoum, where they will meet with the senior management of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), President Omar al-Bashir and other senior Sudanese officials, as well as hold a press conference, according to the spokesperson.

The mission will also head to Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) before returning to New York on 21 June.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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BRITISH COUNTER-TERRORISM LAWS SPARK CONCERN FROM UN EXPERT ON RELIGION

BRITISH COUNTER-TERRORISM LAWS SPARK CONCERN FROM UN EXPERT ON RELIGION
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
Although the United Kingdom possesses deep knowledge and a "great wealth of experience" in handling religious tensions and terrorist acts carried out for religious purposes, a United Nations independent expert today voiced concern over laws which have been promulgated following recent terrorist attacks.

Such laws are widely believed to target the UK's Muslim population and "undermine the human rights of all," Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said in a statement issued in London after wrapping up an 11-day visit to the country.

"A discriminatory application of stop-and-search powers and religious profiling may ultimately prove to be counterproductive," she added.

While she understood that States were obliged to adopt measures to thwart terrorism, Ms. Jahangir also noted that she has heard allegations of abuses of counter-terrorism laws, particularly of the provisions which criminalize the failure to disclose information about terrorist acts.

During her visit to the UK, Ms. Jahangir met with Prime Minister Tony Blair, senior Government officials, politicians, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academics, while she also toured a school, a prison and an immigration removal centre.

The Special Rapporteur said she was "particularly impressed" by her experience in Northern Ireland, which has witnessed over 3,500 deaths in the past four decades due to religious and political violence.

"There seems to be now hope for a shared future," she said, referring to "promising initiatives" seeking to bridge the sectarian divide between Protestants and Catholics.

But Ms. Jahangir pointed out that several problems, including religious inequalities in employment, housing and policing, remain in Northern Ireland.

Ms. Jahangir will forward her report on the UK, including recommendations, to the UN Human Rights Council – set up last year to replace the much-criticized Commission on Human Rights.

In a related development, the 47-member Council continued its fifth session in Geneva today, where it held consultations to prepare for various proposals, including one relating to a "universal periodic review" mechanism to monitor the rights records of Member States, which must be decided by next Monday.

On Sunday, the body will hold informal consultations where the Council President plans to distribute a revised text on institution-building measures.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN HOLDS TALKS IN SOMALI CAPITAL ON RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS

UN HOLDS TALKS IN SOMALI CAPITAL ON RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
The needs of hundreds of thousands of Somalis displaced from Mogadishu this year topped the agenda during talks there yesterday between officials from the United Nations and the country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, led the joint mission to the capital to discuss improving the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the country, where fighting between the Ethiopian-backed TFG and the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC) caused 490,000 Somalis to flee from Mogadishu between February and May.

An estimated 112,000 have since returned to the capital, according to <"http://ochaonline3.un.org/">OCHA, which said most are attempting to restore their livelihoods after having lost property during the conflict.

Others who wish to return "face uncertainty over the Government's future use of public buildings and the destruction of many of the buildings in which they formerly lived," the Office said. While in Mogadishu, the UN team stressed that in repossessing public buildings in which the displaced had been living, the TFG "should respect international standards and provide alternate solutions for the displaced."

In a separate development today, OCHA announced that the Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies, which just wrapped up a meeting in Stockholm, called for a stronger global regime to meet the challenges posed by climate change and other disasters.

"If we are going to see more disasters with climate change, all countries must be ready to participate in the international effort to cope with the environmental emergencies that follow many disasters," said Chris Dijkens of the Netherlands, who chaired the meeting.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL MEETS WITH SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT

TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL MEETS WITH SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has held what she termed "very productive" talks with the President of Sri Lanka, where millions of people have been affected by fighting between the Government and rebel forces.

Louise Arbour relayed the international community's concerns about the situation in the South Asian country and explained how her Office could assist in promoting national human rights protection in the South Asian country, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson told reporters today.

The High Commissioner also "underscored the importance of accurate and independent reporting of the human rights situation on the ground," the spokesperson said.

Clashes in Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers have affected 3 million people, including over 500,000 who have fled their homes, according to the UN. Over the past year and a half, some 4,000 people are estimated to have died in the fighting.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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REGIME GOVERNING TRADE IN ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TIGHTENED AT UN-BACKED MEETING

REGIME GOVERNING TRADE IN ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TIGHTENED AT UN-BACKED MEETING
New York, Jun 15 2007 6:00PM
The international regime governing trade in wildlife received a boost during talks that wrapped up today at The Hague, where diplomats and environmental officials hammered out over 100 formal decisions during a two-week session on the issue, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today.

Among other decisions, the meeting banned trade for the slow loris, a small nocturnal primate native to South and South-East Asia; the Guatemalan beaded lizard; the slender-horned gazelle and Cuvier's gazelle of northern Africa; and sawfishes, whose rostral saws and other body parts are valued as curios and in traditional medicine, according to UNEP.

The Conference of parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also cited success in protecting the black caiman of Brazil in deciding "carefully managed international trade could resume as a way of providing benefits to the local people who live with these dangerous animals," UNEP said.

"We need to think creatively about how to manage the wildlife trade if we are to meet human needs while conserving vulnerable species," said CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers. "Finding the right balance will require a healthy respect for science, market dynamics and the needs of people who rely on wildlife for their livelihoods."

In addition to revising the rules for specific species, the Conference reviewed the progress being made by conservation programmes for the tiger, the leopard, the Saiga antelope, the black rhinoceros, the Hawksbill turtle, bigleaf mahogany, sturgeons, sharks and many other CITES-listed species.
2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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SINGER STARA THOMAS ADVOCATES FOR SAFE MATERNITY -- UN

SINGER STARA THOMAS ADVOCATES FOR SAFE MATERNITY -- UN
New York, Jun 15 2007 8:00AM
Stara Thomas, a Tanzanian singer known throughout Swahili-speaking Africa, is joining forces with the United Nations and its partners to advocate for safe motherhood.

"In our country there is joy; in our country there is peace; in our country there is hope, but we still need to protect the women and the children, because their health is our future," said Stara, a mother of two who has written and performed an anthem about promoting safe motherhood and infant health called 'Play your Part,' which has become a hit, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said in a news release.

"The song talks about how a pregnant woman's health is supposed to be taken care of by specialists in order to reduce the number of women and children dying during the delivery time," said the singer.

In Tanzania, the maternal mortality rate is 578 deaths per 100,000 live births and the infant mortality rate is 68 deaths per 1,000 live births. More than half of all pregnant women in the country deliver at home without a skilled birth attendant.

Stara voiced hope that her song will help motivate the Tanzanian Government to increase the number of midwives and mobilize communities for reproductive health.

"At the moment of birth, that's when most of the deaths happen -- at birth and just after birth. We need skilled attendants at birth to be able to detect problems and make referrals to emergency obstetric care if needed," said Arletty Pinel, Chief of the Reproductive Health Branch of UNFPA.

"Maternal deaths are not normal events. Women die because something goes wrong. Most women die, because they don't have access to life saving measures."

The efforts being made in Tanzania are part of a larger global campaign by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, consisting of more than 120 members representing partner countries, UN agencies, including UNFPA, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health professional associations, donors, foundatio
institutions from around the world.

2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY LAUNCHES ONLINE RESOURCE FOR DECISION-MAKERS

UN REFUGEE AGENCY LAUNCHES ONLINE RESOURCE FOR DECISION-MAKERS
New York, Jun 15 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency has announced the creation of an online "protection tool" for use by those who have to make decisions on the status of people who have fled their homes.

"We have a website now that can be considered to be one of the best in areas linked to human rights, linked to the need to make law accessible to the general public and to all relevant actors in this field," High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said at the launch of Refworld online in Geneva on Thursday.

Refworld, long available on DVD and CD-Rom but only now on the web, contains a large collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks, said UNHCR.

The free service provides information that UNHCR and its partners need to help them make a decision about whether to grant an asylum seeker refugee status based on a well-founded fear of persecution.

The result of not properly evaluating status "can be very, very dire," Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller told representatives of non-governmental organizations, European Union officials and senior staff of UN agencies attending the launch. She called Refworld an "exceedingly important tool" for those making status decisions.

Refworld will be updated daily, UNHCR said.

2007-06-15 00:00:00.000

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UN ADVOCATE SALUTES CAPE VERDE'S GRADUATION FROM CATEGORY OF POOREST STATES

UN ADVOCATE SALUTES CAPE VERDE'S GRADUATION FROM CATEGORY OF POOREST STATES
New York, Jun 14 2007 6:00PM
A United Nations official today hailed the graduation of Cape Verde from the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) while cautioning that the State's success should not lull the UN or other development partners into thinking that its problems have ended.

Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, told a conference marking the graduation that the island chain's achievement should instead spur the country and its international partners to even greater endeavours.

"We have won the battle [but] not the war of ensuring sustainable development for Cape Verde," Mr. Chowdhury said in a message delivered on his behalf by Patricia de Mowbray, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cape Verde, to the conference, which was held in the capital, Praia.

He said continuing international support to Cape Verde's development efforts "should be forthcoming without fail."

Cape Verde becomes only the second country in history to graduate from the LDC category – the first was Botswana in 1994. There are now 49 States in that grouping.

LDCs are those nations classified by the UN as having the least socio-economic development and being most in need of international support. To qualify, they must meet three criteria: low incomes; human resource weaknesses, based on indicators of health, nutrition, education and literacy; and economic vulnerability, based on an array of factors, including the stability of agricultural production and the exposure to natural disasters.

In his message, Mr. Chowdhury praised Cape Verde's people and the leadership for their efforts and determination to secure progress in the face of various challenges. He also credited the UN system and the international donor and development community for their roles in assisting Cape Verde.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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EDUCATION AND MEDIA KEY ASPECTS OF UN BID TO BRIDGE ISLAM AND WEST - ENVOY

EDUCATION AND MEDIA KEY ASPECTS OF UN BID TO BRIDGE ISLAM AND WEST – ENVOY
New York, Jun 14 2007 6:00PM
Education, the media, youth and migration are at the heart of a two-year plan to bridge the divide between Islam and the West that was presented today to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the United Nations envoy heading the global campaign on the issue, known as the "Alliance of Civilizations."

Speaking to reporters in New York after his meeting with Mr. Ban, Jorge Sampaio, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, explained that the initiative is about "building bridges between societies, promoting dialogue and understanding, and forging collective political will to address the world's imbalances, tensions and sources of conflict."

He said the Alliance will be focusing on four main fields of activity – education, youth, media and migration. "Teaching about other cultures and religions heightens students' awareness of the beliefs and traditions that shape other people's lives," he said.

"Media consists of the most powerful means to promote knowledge about other cultures, understanding [and] mutual respect," he noted, adding that migration is "a natural bridge between diverse communities."

The plan presented today sets out a range of projects and initiatives which the Alliance will support and help develop over the next two years, including a media fund to promote productions developed across cultural, religious and/or national lines, a Youth Employment Centre aimed at increasing work opportunities for young people in the Middle East, and a project aimed at expanding international student exchange programmes, according to a press release issued by the Alliance.

In addition, the Alliance will establish a "rapid response media-based mechanism" to provide platforms for constructive debate during times of increased tensions around cross-cultural issues. It will also develop an "online clearinghouse" of best practices, materials and resources on cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation projects.

Mr. Sampaio also highlighted the establishment of a "Group of Friends" network – a growing community of over 50 States and international organizations that support its objectives – to foster partnerships and deepen cooperation on a range of initiatives across different regions.

He also drew attention to an international forum, to be held in Spain in January 2008, that will provide "a platform to forge partnerships, launch new initiatives and stimulate projects" by governments, civil society, donors and the private sector. The forum – set to become an annual event – will also evaluate efforts and determine future action.

In addition, a voluntary fund will support the Alliance's work.

The Alliance of Civilizations was created in 2005 at the initiative of Spain and Turkey and under UN auspices to try to tackle fear and suspicion, bridge divides and overcome prejudices and polarizations between Islam and the West. In April, Mr. Ban appointed Mr. Sampaio, a former President of Portugal, as the first UN High Representative for the Alliance.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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SAFE BLOOD DONATION KEY TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, UN AGENCY SAYS

SAFE BLOOD DONATION KEY TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, UN AGENCY SAYS
New York, Jun 14 2007 5:00PM
Voluntary blood donors help prevent the death and improve the health of millions of women and their newborns around the world, the United Nations health agency said today.

"Increasing the number of voluntary blood donors to give blood regularly is important all around the world," says Dr. Neelam Dhingra, Coordinator, Blood Transfusion Safety, UN World Health Organization (WHO) said in a news release on the occasion of <"http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday/en/">World Blood Donor Day.

"Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood" is the theme of this year's Day, which Dr. Dhingra said is part of a larger international campaign "to ensure safe blood will always be available to every patient who needs transfusion as part of their treatment."

According to <"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO, more than half a million women die each year during pregnancy, childbirth or in the postpartum period – 99 per cent of them in the developing world. An estimated 25 per cent of those deaths are caused by severe bleeding.

The impact that access to safe blood can have on health outcomes for pregnant women with severe bleeding is illustrated by Malawi, where the maternal mortality rate due to severe blood loss had fallen by more than 50 per cent in 2005, following the establishment of the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service two years earlier.

Highlighting the "major imbalance" between developing and industrialized countries in access to safe blood, WHO noted that only 45 per cent of the global blood supply is collected in developing countries, which are home to more than 80 per cent of the world's population.

Improved access to safe blood and safe blood transfusion can not only help millions of women and their newborns, said WHO, but is a vital component of global efforts to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals – a set of anti-poverty targets agreed to by world leaders in 2000.

At an observance of the Day in Washington, D.C., hosted by WHO's regional office – the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – child cancer survivors from the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean today thanked voluntary blood donors for helping to save their lives.

"Blood donors are very special to me because they helped me during my battle with cancer five years ago," said 12-year-old Balee Wahl, of the United States, who suffered from Ewings Sarcoma in her left lower leg and needed repeated blood transfusions during her treatment.

Four other children at today's observance required blood transfusions during their treatment for cancer, and underscored the key role played by regular, voluntary blood donors in ensuring that safe blood is readily available to patients who need it.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN MISSION DEPLORES MURDER OF RADIO JOURNALIST

DR CONGO: UN MISSION DEPLORES MURDER OF RADIO JOURNALIST
New York, Jun 14 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today condemned the killing of a journalist working for a UN-sponsored radio station with the largest Francophone audience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Serge Maheshe, 31, who had worked for Radio Okapi since 2003, was shot dead last night by two men on a street in Bukavu, in the far east of the DRC, as he and two friends were about to enter a UN-marked vehicle. His friends were not injured in the attack.

William Lacy Swing, the chief of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the country, deplored the murder and offered his condolences to Mr. Maheshe's family and colleagues.

Radio Okapi is a partnership between <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO), and in a joint statement the two bodies paid tribute to Mr. Maheshe, who leaves behind a wife and two children.

"The death in tragic circumstances of this young journalist, who contributed in an eminent manner to providing the population of the country and that of Bukavu in particular with the independent information to which the Congolese aspire, reminds us that the commitment to peace remains a daily challenge," the statement said.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR UN MISSION

SOMALIA: SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR UN MISSION
New York, Jun 14 2007 5:00PM
The Security Council today signalled the need for contingency planning for a new United Nations mission in Somalia, which has been wracked by violent clashes and massive displacement in recent months but where observers also see hope for reconciliation.

The Council, in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9045.doc.htm">Presidential Statement read out by Johan Verbeke of Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency, looked forward to a report from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the issue "by mid-June."

The statement also emphasized "the urgent need for appropriate contingency planning for a possible United Nations mission to be deployed in Somalia if the Security Council decided to authorize such a mission."

Speaking to reporters after briefing the Council in closed session, B. Lynn Pascoe, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said the current juncture offers hope for progress in Somalia, which has lacked a functioning government since Mohamed Siad Barre's regime was toppled in 1991.

"This may be the best chance that Somalia's had in the last 15, 16 years to actually start moving forward," he said. "We hope that's the case. We certainly want to give every help and assistance to that process we can."

Responding to questions, he acknowledged the complexity of peacekeeping in Somalia, where the UN has fielded successive missions in the past. "Obviously the history of peacekeeping there is a very difficult one," he said.

Recalling the repeated attacks on the Ugandan troops serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) when they first arrived, he said "that is not necessarily going to have everyone else running to join in a peacekeeping operation."

Asked how long it might before a new UN peacekeeping force would be deployed in Somalia, he said, "This is a decision for the Security Council; it is not one for the Secretariat to make." He also noted that all eyes are on the political and national reconciliation process.

The Council statement spotlighted the importance of reconciliation efforts. "The Security Council reiterates its support for the National Reconciliation Congress as a mechanism for much-needed political dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia," said Mr. Verbeke.

He called on the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the National Governance and Reconciliation Committee "to ensure that the Congress convenes as soon as practicable."

The gathering must address in a "comprehensive and meaningful manner" issues of political reconciliation, including representation in the Transitional Federal Institutions, the Council said, and it must agree on a roadmap for the remainder of the transitional political process.

The Council statement also voiced grave concern at the recent pattern of attacks by extremist elements in Somalia, including the increased use of explosive devices, and condemned "all attempts to use violence to undermine the political process and prevent the early convening of the National Reconciliation Congress."

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have fled fighting in the capital since February, and at least 1,000 are reported to have sustained injuries, according to the UN.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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UN RUSHES AID TO FLOOD-STRICKEN BANGLADESHIS

UN RUSHES AID TO FLOOD-STRICKEN BANGLADESHIS
New York, Jun 14 2007 5:00PM
United Nations agencies are rushing aid to victims of a series of landslides in Bangladesh brought on by torrential rains in Chittagong District in the east.

The Government said that 120 deaths have been confirmed so far, and the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) said that 60 others have been injured. Both of these figures are expected to rise as rescue workers continue their efforts.

Local officials, Red Crescent staff, health volunteers and NGOs are endeavouring to search for survivors, but they have been hampered by the flooding, continuing rains and limited excavation equipment, according to an update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline3.un.org/">OCHA).

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) – which are working closely with the Government in response to the disaster – jointly deployed four teams to assess the affected areas on Tuesday.

While WHO is providing assistance in health sector management to other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), WFP is giving the Directorate General for Health Services technical support.

In addition, the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/">UNDP) is sending logistical support while supplying five vehicles, fuel and drivers to bolster rescue and relief efforts.

The UN has not received a formal request for international assistance and agencies on the ground report that local authorities are equipped with sufficient food and medicine stocks and also search and rescue capacity.

Initial reports indicate that large numbers of people have been buried under mud and debris and other swept away by the current when landslides on 11 June were triggered by heavy rains. UNICEF and WFP estimate that in the worst-hit areas, mud was as high as eight to nine feet.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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MORE AID NEEDED TO HELP ANDEAN NATIONS CONTAIN DRUG PROBLEM - UN

MORE AID NEEDED TO HELP ANDEAN NATIONS CONTAIN DRUG PROBLEM – UN
New York, Jun 14 2007 4:00PM
While coca cultivation in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia dropped in 2006, all three Andean nations require more development assistance if progress in containing the drug problem is to continue, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/press_release_2007_06_14.html">UNODC) said in a <"http://www.unodc.org/pdf/andean/Andean_report_2007.pdf">report issued today.

UNODC's "Coca Cultivation in the Andean Region" survey showed that the area under coca cultivation in the world's main cocaine-producing region slipped to 156,900 hectares in 2006 from 159,600 in 2005. A nine per cent fall in Colombia – the world's largest cocaine grower – offset increases in Bolivia and Peru.

Global cocaine production was virtually unchanged at 984 tonnes, the report added.

While the overall situation is "stable, yet fragile," UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa noted that recent evidence suggests that coca cultivation in the Andes "can be, and is being, contained."

He said consolidating this progress will take a concerted effort at every stage of the drug trade, including more effective prevention and treatment to reduce demand, as well as greater technical assistance and regional cooperation to stop trafficking. It will also require comprehensive national drug control plans, including law enforcement and social and economic development, in order to reduce supply.

According to UNODC, in the Andean region as a whole, the long-term solution does not lie solely with tougher law enforcement and vigorous eradication measures, but rather with tackling the root causes of drug supply and demand.

"All Andean countries require greater support for development assistance that can generate growth and create brighter prospects for communities at the beginning of the supply chain," Mr. Costa said.

He also encouraged Andean countries to work together to exchange intelligence on drug trafficking and carry out joint operations.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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UN TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDAN GENOCIDE DETAILS PROGRESS TOWARDS COMPLETING TRIALS

UN TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDAN GENOCIDE DETAILS PROGRESS TOWARDS COMPLETING TRIALS
New York, Jun 14 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the 1994 Rwandan genocide says it expects to double the number of completed trials by the end of next year, leaving only a handful of trials remaining involving detainees in its custody.

In a progress <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/323">report to the Security Council on its efforts to meet the Council-imposed completion strategy, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) estimates that the trials and judgments in the cases of 65 to 70 people should be finished by December 2008.

Under the completion strategy, that is the date by when both the <"http://69.94.11.53/">ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), set up in the mid-1990s, are supposed to complete all of their trials, excluding appeals. All work is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

So far the ICTR has issued judgments in the cases of 33 people, ICTR President Erik Møse writes, with judgments expected soon in the cases of five other persons. Trials involving 22 further accused are also in progress and eight detainees await trial.

Mr. Møse says the 65-70 trial estimate depends on sufficient funds being made available to the Tribunal; the courtroom capacity at Arusha, Tanzania, where the ICTR is based; and the progress of current and future trials.

"The Tribunal is committed to bringing to justice those persons who were most responsible for genocide and violations of international humanitarian law that were committed in Rwanda in 1994," he states, adding that the ICTR "will also leave a legacy of international jurisprudence that can guide future courts and deter the future commission of these grave crimes."

But he also writes that many cases are extremely time-consuming, in part because of their legal and factual complexity and because of the difficulty of ensuring that witnesses are always available.

Eighteen indicted persons remain at large, and the report notes that Tribunal prosecutors plan to request the transfer of most of these persons to national jurisdictions for trial.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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AFRICAN NATIONS REACH COMPROMISE ON IVORY SALES UNDER UN-BACKED BAN

AFRICAN NATIONS REACH COMPROMISE ON IVORY SALES UNDER UN-BACKED BAN
New York, Jun 14 2007 3:00PM
Eighteen years after a United Nations-backed treaty banned the ivory trade, African ministers have for the first time achieved a regional consensus on how to address the highly charged issue.

The long-running global debate over the African elephant has focused on the benefits that income from ivory sales may bring to conservation and to local communities living side by side with elephants and concerns that such sales may encourage poaching.

The UN-backed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (<"http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press_release.shtml">CITES) – which aims is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival – banned the global commercial ivory trade in 1989.

Under the compromise agreement reached today, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be permitted to make a single sale of all their registered and verified government stocks to countries with approved controls on ivory sales.

"This African solution to an African problem marks a great step forward for wildlife conservation," said CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers. "It is good news for the elephant, good news for the people who live alongside them and good news for regional cooperation in Africa."

The agreement also stipulates that once this sale has been completed no new proposals for further sales from these four countries are to be considered by CITES during a "resting period" of nine years.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DEPART ON FIVE-NATION TRIP TO AFRICA

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DEPART ON FIVE-NATION TRIP TO AFRICA
New York, Jun 14 2007 3:00PM
Members of the United Nations Security Council leave today on a weeklong mission to Ethiopia, Sudan, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in support of ongoing peace efforts in Africa.

On Saturday, under the joint leadership of Ambassadors Emyr Jones-Parry of the United Kingdom and Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, the delegation will meet in Addis Ababa with African Union (AU) and Ethiopian officials, as well as with the AU Peace and Security Council, a UN spokesperson announced today.

The Council will then head to Khartoum, where meetings are planned for Sunday with President Omar al-Bashir and other top Sudanese officials and with officials from the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis/">UNMIS).

On Monday, delegates will be in Accra, Ghana, to meet with President John Kufuor in his capacity as AU President.

The following day the Council delegation will be in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, for meetings with Ivorian leaders, including President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro.

Later on Tuesday, the delegation will proceed to Kinshasa in the DRC, where Council delegates will meet with President Joseph Kabila, key parliamentary leaders and officials from the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC), according to the spokesperson, who said the delegation will return to New York on 21 June.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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UN FUND BACKS WATER PROJECTS TO HELP RURAL POOR IN SYRIA AND ETHIOPIA

UN FUND BACKS WATER PROJECTS TO HELP RURAL POOR IN SYRIA AND ETHIOPIA
New York, Jun 14 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced the creation of two new programmes designed to improve irrigation for needy Ethiopian families and to overcome water shortages and create jobs in north-eastern Syria.

Under an agreement signed today in Rome, IFAD's headquarters, about 190,000 families living in the Syrian provinces of Deir Ezur, Hassake and Raqqa – which are suffering from dwindling water supplies, falling agricultural production and rising unemployment – are expected to benefit from a $58 million project.

The scheme, funded in part by a $20 million low-interest loan from IFAD, will help farmers modernize inefficient irrigation systems, support the creation of farmers' and craftworkers' marketing associations and sustainable water user groups, and assist a Syrian bank to set up a microfinance system for poor locals.

Hamid Abdoull, IFAD's programme manager for Syria, said the project would help small farmers to manage their resources more sustainably and develop their own small businesses.

"We will address the severe water deficit and promote microfinance, micro-enterprise development, marketing, and partnerships with the private sector," Mr. Abdoull said.

In the Ethiopian agreement, signed yesterday, more than 60,000 families are expected to benefit from a $57.7 million project that is financed in part by a $20 million grant from IFAD and a separate $20 million loan from the same agency.

This project will develop irrigation schemes for about 12,000 hectares of land, reduce land degradation and improve catchment-area planning in a country plagued by frequent droughts and unreliable rains.

The funds will also be used to promote seed production and to establish home vegetable gardens, mainly for local women.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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NEW LABOUR STANDARDS ADOPTED FOR MILLIONS WORKING IN FISHING SECTOR - UN

NEW LABOUR STANDARDS ADOPTED FOR MILLIONS WORKING IN FISHING SECTOR – UN
New York, Jun 14 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations labour agency today adopted new standards covering health, safety and social security to improve conditions for approximately 30 million people worldwide working in the fishing sector.

"Fishing is a unique way of life," said Captain Nigel Campbell, who chaired the committee which prepared the innovative standards, known as the The Work in Fishing Convention.

"This new Convention reflects not only this uniqueness but the demands of globalization in an ever expanding sector that exposes men and women to considerable hardships and danger," he said.

Adopted by delegations from governments, workers and employer delegations, the Convention will come into effect when ratified by ten of the 180 <"http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_083062">ILO Member States, including eight coastal countries.

The standards, adopted at the ILO's 96th annual conference, include ensuring that fishing vessels are maintained for workers who spend long periods at sea and that there are inspections of large vessels on extended voyages to ensure that workers on board are not facing hazardous conditions.

A recent ILO report on working conditions in fishing noted that fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations, in part because of dangers arising from working at sea, the nature of catching and processing fish, and the exhausting efforts needed given the unpredictability of locating fish stocks.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOICES SADNESS AT DEATH OF FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL KURT WALDHEIM

BAN KI-MOON VOICES SADNESS AT DEATH OF FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL KURT WALDHEIM
New York, Jun 14 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon<" http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2617"> voiced sadness today at the death of <" http://www.un.org/sg/waldheim.shtml">Kurt Waldheim, the former United Nations chief and Austrian President who has died at the age of 88.

As the fourth Secretary-General of the world body, Mr. Waldheim "served the United Nations at a crucial period in the history of the Organization, from 1972 to 1981," according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

The statement added that Mr. Ban extended his condolences to Mr. Waldheim's family, as well as to Austria's Government and its people.

Before his appointment as Secretary-General, Mr. Waldheim served in numerous senior political and diplomatic posts for Austria, including as Foreign Minister and two stints as Permanent Representative to the UN.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION THREATENS ANIMAL DIVERSITY - UN

INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION THREATENS ANIMAL DIVERSITY – UN
New York, Jun 14 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organizations (FAO) <" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000598/index.html">warned today that the ramping up of large-scale industrial livestock production which focuses on a limited range of breeds is the single largest threat to global farm animal diversity, with one breed becoming extinct monthly.

A new report entitled "<" http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/011/ah834e/ah834e00.htm">The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture," presented to the FAO at a meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, said that skyrocketing global demand for meat, milk and eggs had led to the heavy reliance on animals which have been intensively bred.

According to the study, based on information from 169 countries, the problem is further exacerbated by the fact that genetic material can be moved with ease around the world.

FAO Assistant Director-General Alexander Muller characterized the report as a "wake-up call to the world," and stressed the need to bolster the global food supply by maintaining and deploying a wide array of genetic resources, which are "vital and irreplaceable."

One breed of livestock has become extinct every month over the past seven years, and 20 per cent of the world's cattle, goat, pig, horse and poultry breeds are in danger of annihilation, according to the report.

The developing world will be the main site of breed diversity loss in this century, it cautioned. Among the most frequently used breeds of cattle, genetic diversity is being undercut by the use of only a few very popular sires for breeding.

"Effective management of animal genetic diversity is essential to global food security, sustainable development and the livelihoods of millions of people," said Irene Hoffman, Chief of FAO's Animal Production Service.

The report called for improved conservation programmes to prevent the crowding out of local breeds and for investments in personnel and technical facilities to effectively manage the problem.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY RECEIVES MAJOR BOOST TO FEEDING PROGRAMME IN DPR KOREA

UN AGENCY RECEIVES MAJOR BOOST TO FEEDING PROGRAMME IN DPR KOREA
New York, Jun 14 2007 12:00PM
The United Nations food agency today welcomed a <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2530">contribution in excess of $20 million from the Republic of Korea to provide food assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), where a lack of funds has already led to cutbacks in critically needed feeding programmes.

"This crucial and very generous donation will allow us to increase our response to the most pressing needs of the people of the DPRK," said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

"The significant gap between food required and food available in the DPRK has led to growing hardship and suffering for millions. The situation calls for determined and timely action by the international community and we welcome the lead taken by the Republic of Korea," she added.

The contribution, a mix of commodities, comes in the middle of the "lean season" when household food stocks traditionally run low and when WFP has been forced to suspend school feeding during June for 400,000 children in 29 underserved, food-insecure counties in the DPRK.

It will allow WFP to resume food assistance for children, pregnant women and families in food-insecure areas. WFP also hopes it will help it to reach more than double the number of present beneficiaries, from 700,000 to 1.9 million, in all 50 counties where the DPRK authorities have agreed to WFP food distributions.

At the same time, the agency warned that millions in DPRK still face severe food shortages. Despite steady improvements in the country's food situation after the famine years of the mid- to late 1990s, having enough to eat is still a struggle for one third of its population, notably those living in remote and mountainous regions.

"With this donation, WFP can begin to meet the needs of a much larger number of North Koreans, especially those who need our help the most," stated Tony Banbury, WFP's Regional Director for Asia.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ: UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS NEW ATTACK ON SAMARRA SHRINE

IRAQ: UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS NEW ATTACK ON SAMARRA SHRINE
New York, Jun 14 2007 10:00AM
Joining a chorus of UN officials led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decried the bombing of the al-Askari shrine in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra.

"I strongly <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38298&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">condemn this new attack against Samarra and call on Iraq's highest religious leaders and national authorities for calm and restraint to avoid further acts of sectarian violence," said UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura.

The holy Shi'a shrine had already been seriously damaged by a bombing on 22 February 2006, which set off a wave of sectarian violence that claimed the lives of thousands in Iraq.

"Cultural and spiritual heritage is an irreplaceable source of life and inspiration and any attack against it is an attack against humanity and inter-religious understanding," said Mr. Matsuura.

The Director-General reiterated UNESCO's commitment to work with the Government of Iraq to protect and restore the historical, spiritual and cultural heritage of the Samarra shrine.

"UNESCO will continue to work closely with the Iraqi authorities to rebuild their country and pave the way for national reconciliation, based on respect for the different cultural and religious beliefs of the Iraqi population," he said.

The Samarra shrine contains the tombs of the 10th and 11th imams - Ali al-Hadi who died in 868 AD and his son Hassan al-Askari, who died in 874 AD, UNESCO said in a news release.

Previous attacks in Samarra caused severe destruction to the top section of the spiral minaret of the al-Mutawakkil Mosque, as well as the collapse of the 68-metre high Golden dome of Imam Ali-Hadi shrine. Wednesday's bomb blasts destroyed the al-Askari's two 36-metre high minarets.

Yesterday, Mr. Ban, his envoy to Iraq Ashraf Qazi and members of the Security Council all denounced the bombing.
2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD AGENCY AIRLIFTS SUPPLIES TO SUDANESE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UN FOOD AGENCY AIRLIFTS SUPPLIES TO SUDANESE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Jun 14 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced the launch of an operation to airlift emergency food supplies to over 2,600 Sudanese refugees who recently crossed into the the Central African Republic (CAR).

"Airlifts are an expensive last resort, but we have no other option," said WFP CAR Country Director Jean-Charles Dei. "These people are in one of the least accessible regions in the world, but they need help now."

The refugees come from Sudan's troubled Darfur region, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2 million others forced to flee since fighting broke out in 2003. Mr. Dei put this in the broader geographical context, saying the recent outflow of refugees to the CAR "is just the latest example of how the conflict in Darfur is having a destabilizing effect across the region."

Their living conditions near the CAR town of Sam Ouandja are very poor and deteriorating fast, according to WFP, which said people were surviving on little more than mangoes and limited supplies of manioc. Most have no shelter and there is no access to safe drinking water.

A plane loaded with 15 metric tons of high-energy biscuits at WFP's Humanitarian Response Depot in Accra, Ghana is due in the CAR capital Bangui today, where the supplies will be transhipped onto a smaller plane and flown east to Bria in two rotations. There the biscuits will be transferred a final time for the flight to Sam Ouandja, which will require a further four rotations.

WFP has already dispatched 35 tons of food to north-eastern CAR by road. The 12-truck convoy is also carrying seeds and agricultural equipment, water purification tablets and other emergency supplies from partner UN agencies.

But the onset of the rainy season and the extremely poor road network means the trucks will take as long as ten days to reach their destination, said the agency, which is making plans for a second convoy in the coming days.

Com
recently the killing of a Médecins sans Frontières worker near Paoua which led to the temporary suspension of humanitarian work in the area.

"It's hard enough getting vital supplies through without having to worry for our physical safety. If the situation gets any worse there could be disastrous consequences for people who need our help most," said Mr. Dei.

WFP said it is still short $16 million for its operation in CAR.

2007-06-14 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON AND BUSINESS LEADERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO FIGHT AIDS

BAN KI-MOON AND BUSINESS LEADERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO FIGHT AIDS
New York, Jun 13 2007 7:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and business leaders reaffirmed the need for public-private partnerships to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria at a meeting in New York today.

"Whether in the workplace or in the wider community, through advocacy and branding, prevention, care and treatment programmes for employees, or financial, scientific and technical commitment, the role of the private sector is indispensable," Mr. Ban said, stressing the vital relationship between business and the UN.

He welcomed the efforts of the Global Business Coalition (GBC) – an alliance of 220 companies globally leading the corporate world's work to eliminate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

"The private sector has taken vital steps toward acknowledging that fighting these epidemics is an important business issue," said Richard Holbrooke, President of the GBC. "Increased resources from all sectors and effective collaboration are essential to win this war."

The meeting's participants discussed collective efforts uniting corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and communities affected by the epidemics to pool resources to make large strides and facilitate economies of scale.

Business leaders also illustrated how their respective companies have protected and educated their own staff, as well as prevented and treated the diseases.

"The business community has tremendous expertise and strategic resources to offer in the response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and is collaborating with others in impactful and unique ways," said the GBC's Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. "GBC is committed to working with our member companies and our partners in the public sector to maximize our joint impact."
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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IN DR CONGO, UN ENVOY STRESSES VALUE OF DISARMAMENT AND REINTEGRATION AFTER CONFLICT

IN DR CONGO, UN ENVOY STRESSES VALUE OF DISARMAMENT AND REINTEGRATION AFTER CONFLICT
New York, Jun 13 2007 7:00PM
The processes of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration are essential if countries emerging from conflict are going to make a successful and lasting transition to peace and stability, the senior United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told a conference today.

William Lacy Swing, the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the DRC and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission to the country (MONUC), told the conference – held in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa – that Sierra Leone and Mozambique offered useful examples of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes.

African countries emerging from war would also benefit from sharing their experiences of DDR programmes with those countries that have already gone through those processes, he said.

Mr. Swing added that "we must do all in our power to control conflicts that are tearing the continent apart and we must exploit all African mechanisms in the promotion of peace and security."

With the help of MONUC and others, the DRC is trying to rebuild its economic and social infrastructure after a six-year civil war ending in 2003 that cost 4 million lives due to fighting, hunger and disease. Landmark presidential and parliamentary elections were held last year, but the country continues to be plagued by violence and instability.

The three-day DDR conference, which started yesterday, includes representatives from MONUC, UN agencies, 20 African nations and the international community. The meeting is expected to focus on several issues, including security sector reform, women and children associated with armed groups and traditional forms of justice.
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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DEADLY BOMBING IN BEIRUT SPARKS OUTCRY FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL

DEADLY BOMBING IN BEIRUT SPARKS OUTCRY FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Jun 13 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today's bombing in the Lebanese capital that has killed a parliamentarian, his son and at least six others, calling it "a heinous crime aimed at destabilizing Lebanon."

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11043.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban extended his sympathies to the families of the dead and injured and called on Lebanese authorities to find the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.

The lawmaker Wali Eido, his son and six others were killed in the explosion, which struck the Manara district of Beirut late this afternoon, while more than 10 other people were injured.

The statement from Mr. Ban's spokesperson "urges all the Lebanese to unite in the face of acts of intimidation which attempt to divide them, and encourages Lebanese leaders to find a solution to the political issues facing the country.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms the United Nations' unswerving commitment to Lebanon's stability, sovereignty and political independence."

Mr. Eido's apparent assassination is the latest in a series of targeted killings of Lebanese political figures, including the former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed with 22 others in a massive car bomb explosion in downtown Beirut in February 2005.

Earlier this week Mr. Ban began the steps and measures to formally establish a special tribunal to try the suspected killers of Mr. Hariri – and possibly those responsible for the subsequent assassinations as well.
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES VOICE CONCERN OVER WORSENING VIOLENCE IN GAZA

UN AGENCIES VOICE CONCERN OVER WORSENING VIOLENCE IN GAZA
New York, Jun 13 2007 6:00PM
United Nations organizations said today that they are "gravely concerned" about the escalating violence in Gaza, where 59 people – including two UN workers – have been killed and 273 others injured since the weekend.

This afternoon, a refuse collector with the UN agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees was caught in the crossfire while on the job and killed in Khan Younis, and yesterday another worker was hit by bullets in Beach Camp and died in hospital.

Expressing his deep sadness, John Ging, Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East <"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2007/pr-gaza-13june2007.pdf">said "we at <"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA will not forget their bravery and commitment at this most difficult time."

He extended his personal condolences to the families of those who lost their lives while carrying out their duties and "attempting to fulfil their humanitarian responsibilities to the Palestinian people."

Due to the rise in the threat level UNRWA staff face, Mr. Ging said that that agency has "no choice" but to cut back the agency's operations.

UNRWA Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd has temporarily suspended operations, except for the provision of essential medical services and emergency food distributions.

"The grave incidents and the increasingly desperate situation in Gaza underline once more the need for all parties to show the utmost restraint and allow humanitarian organizations such as UNRWA to fulfil their responsibilities toward the Palestinian people," Mr. Ging observed.

Kevin Kennedy, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territory, spoke on behalf of all UN organizations in the area in reaffirming the UN's commitment to continue its humanitarian work in Gaza to help Palestinians in need.

"There is a need for immediate efforts to restore calm, protect the lives of innocent Palestinians and ensure the safe and secure distribution of emergency aid," Mr. Kennedy said, noting how the ongoing violence is putting the UN's aid efforts at risk.

UN organizations jointly said they were troubled by reports of attacks on hospitals and ambulances as well as extrajudicial killings, which cast into doubt whether international humanitarian and human rights law are being followed.

They also voiced concern over the humanitarian effects on the population from the heavy street fighting, which impedes civilian access to and the UN's delivery of crucial health services and food supplies, with gun battles taking place in two UNRWA facilities.
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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UN PROBE FINDS 'SIGNIFICANT' HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BEIT HANOUN ATTACK

UN PROBE FINDS 'SIGNIFICANT' HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BEIT HANOUN ATTACK
New York, Jun 13 2007 6:00PM
The head of a fact-finding mission dispatched by the United Nations <"http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/5session/index.htm">Human Rights Council to Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, where an Israeli attack killed 19 Palestinian civilians last November, <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/FDB14682D29B482FC12572F9004E72F9?opendocument">said today that "significant" human rights violations occurred there and called for an independent probe by national authorities.

According to the mission's report, "it is clear that significant human rights violations resulted in Beit Hanoun from the activities of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) on and around 8 November," and that those events must be investigated by an independent, impartial and transparent process, preferably at the national level.

Presenting the report to the Geneva-based Council today, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu said Israeli and Palestinian authorities should end the "culture of impunity and bring to account those responsible" – for the Beit Hanoun attack as well as those who have launched rockets against Israeli towns.

The high-level mission was not able to travel to Beit Hanoun due to the non-cooperation of the Israeli Government and it said its conclusions and recommendations are based on available information.

The people of Gaza must be afforded protection in compliance with international humanitarian law, the report stressed. It added that Israel should indicate, by no later than the Council's sixth session in September, the steps it has taken to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.

The mission also highlighted the rights of victims to ongoing medical treatment, including access to counselling services, and said special account should be taken of the position of women victims and survivors.

In addition, it recommended that a mechanism be established which could provide independent monitoring and assessment of the human rights situation of civilians in conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories, and report publicly on it.

The Council established the fact-finding mission in a resolution adopted during a special session on 15 November that described Israeli military attacks as "a collective punishment of the civilians." The mission's tasks included assessing the situation of victims, dealing with the needs of survivors, and developing recommendations on how to protect Palestinian civilians against further Israeli attacks.

At a press conference, following his report to the Council, Mr. Tutu said "we have a passionate commitment to see a horrendous situation end," referring to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. "We believe that it is in the interest also of Israel that the situation is resolved."

Asked about the likelihood of the mission's recommendations being implemented, given the "hundreds of resolutions that had already been passed to protect the Palestinian people", he said "one hopes very fervently that decisions will be taken seriously and that people will seek to implement them. You have to work on the basis of a certain faith in other people… We hope quite deeply that this Council and its members want to see it as a credible institution that does make a difference. Otherwise we would be consumed by a cynicism."

For its part, Israel told the Council that it had already examined the events of 8 November 2006, and issued an apology for the tragedy.

Special Rapporteur John Dugard – dispatched by the Council last July to undertake a fact-finding mission on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory – told the Council today that he too was unable to carry out the task assigned to him due to the Israeli Government's lack of cooperation.

The Council also discussed the follow-up to the report of its Commission of Inquiry – set up last August to probe the "systematic targeting and killings of civilians by Israel" during its war with Hizbollah in Lebanon last summer.

In its report to the Council last December, the Commission said that Israel's use of weapons such as cluster bombs was a flagrant violation of the right to life and property, excessive, not justified by military necessity and went beyond the arguments of proportionality. The report recommended that the Council promote initiatives and called for the mobilization of the international community to assist Lebanon's reconstruction.

Presenting the report of her office, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour highlighted activities set up to support the reconstruction process in Lebanon, as well as specific initiatives in the areas of health, water and sanitation, protection, mine clearance and the environment.
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF DARFUR HYBRID FORCE AGREEMENT

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF DARFUR HYBRID FORCE AGREEMENT
New York, Jun 13 2007 5:00PM
On the eve of its mission to Africa, the Security Council today called for the full implementation of an agreement reached to deploy a hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force to the violence-stricken Darfur region of Sudan.

Yesterday, the Sudanese Government announced its acceptance of the proposal for a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping operation to be deployed in Darfur after agreement was reached during talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the mandate, structure, components and tasks of the force.

The 15-member Council "calls for the timely and full implementation of the agreement," Council President Johan C. Verbeke told reporters after being briefed on the agreement by the UN's top peacekeeping official, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

The hybrid force will be among the issues discussed when the Council meets with officials in Khartoum in the coming days, as part of its week-long visit to the region.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1037">Speaking to reporters following his monthly luncheon with the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the agreement a "milestone development" that should be appreciated and encouraged.

Asked to respond to comments to the effect that, once again, "the UN, the Security Council, your own office is being taken for a ride by the… Government of Sudan", Mr. Ban urged people to look at the progress made over the past few months. "We have been making progress and we now I think are moving towards the right direction."

Calling Sudan's announcement a "significant step forward," Mr. Guéhenno told reporters "any deployment of force always has to be based on a political agreement, where all the key actors are onboard with that deployment. And any deployment of force that doesn't meet that criteria… indeed has a tough challenge."

Elaborating on the elements of the agreement, Mr. Guéhenno said there was agreement between the UN and AU on the force's mandate and on the joint appointment of a special representative, who is now going to be the head of the existing AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and will then be the head of the hybrid mission.

Meanwhile, work is ongoing on the rules of engagement and concept of operations, he noted, adding "we will be applying UN rules and procedures, but in the framework of a joint UN-AU effort."

Asked about reports that the mission will be predominantly made up of African troops, he said "we are going to make every effort to preserve the African character of the mission, that's the agreement. We think that we'll be able to do that."

At the same time, Mr. Guéhenno added, "our key goal remains helping the people of Darfur, having a force deployed as quickly as possible with the right capacities."

The upcoming rainy season "is not going to make things easy" for the timing of the deployment, he noted. "But we would want to deploy the heavy support package which is a foundation for the hybrid [force] in the coming months, so that come the end of the year, we'll be in a position to have the deployment of the hybrid starting."

The hybrid operation is the third phase of a three-step process to replace the existing but under-resourced AMIS, which has been unable to end the fighting in Darfur.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million others displaced from their homes since clashes erupted in 2003 between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups.
2007-06-13 00:00:00.000

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