BAN KI-MOON HIGHLIGHTS CRUCIAL ROLE OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBOURS AND REGIONAL PARTNERS

BAN KI-MOON HIGHLIGHTS CRUCIAL ROLE OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBOURS AND REGIONAL PARTNERS
New York, Nov 3 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the vital role played by Iraq's neighbours and regional partners in securing peace and stability in the strife-torn nation which continues to face daunting challenges.

"Iraq today is faced with an exceptionally complex series of overlapping sectarian, political and ethnic challenges," Mr. Ban <" http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp">told the Expanded Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq, taking place in Istanbul.

He said that violence aimed at civilians and government officials continues to impede efforts to establish stability and hinders national dialogue. At the same time, increasing levels of displacement add to an already alarming humanitarian crisis.

"In the face of the unrelenting challenges and potential changes, neighbouring countries, and those in the region, remain vital for stability in Iraq," Mr. Ban stated.

While noting that it is the central responsibility of the Government of Iraq to advance national reconciliation and to create conditions for a more stable political and security situation, he added that Iraq's neighbours can reinforce the Government's efforts. "The magnitude of the challenges confronting the government requires a comprehensive approach embraced by all actors, regional and international."

"It is my hope that today we establish a basis for concrete action? aimed at building confidence and strengthening cooperation," said Mr. Ban. "The people of Iraq and the region expect and deserve this from our efforts."

In addition to promoting greater regional dialogue, the Istanbul meeting seeks to strengthen the work of the three working groups focusing on refugees and internally displaced persons, border security and energy that were established at the last ministerial meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Outlining the progress made so far, Mr. Ban said that the energy working group, which met in I
investment in Iraq's energy sector while allowing Iraq to outline infrastructure needs. Progress was made in reaching bilateral electricity agreements, discussing a regional electricity grid, and addressing many other areas of energy sector work, including the needs of the oil sector.

The working group on displaced Iraqis, which met in Amman, established procedures for cooperation between Iraq and refugee host countries and secured pledges of assistance.

"The Iraqi cabinet decision to provide financial assistance to refugee host countries, in accordance with the commitment made in Geneva last April, is a welcome and much needed development," said Mr. Ban. "Now it is time to finalize the delivery mechanism for this support so that vital assistance to the refugee population is bolstered immediately."

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates that more than 4.4 million Iraqis have left their homes. Of these, some 2.2 million are displaced internally, while more than 2.2 million have fled to neighbouring States, particularly Syria and Jordan.

Mr. Ban said the border security working group that met in Damascus made important strides to outline cooperation in the exchange of security and intelligence information, developing enhanced communication at the borders, preventing incitement of violence, and even encouraging political participation inside Iraq. "The importance of these actions, particularly the need to secure both sides of the border, cannot be over emphasized," he stated.

The series of incidents along the border between Turkey and Iraq demonstrate the importance of continued strong engagement to address all concerns, the Secretary-General noted. "It is clearly unacceptable that Iraq's territory is used to mount cross-border attacks and we recognize Turkey's security concerns. The Governments of Iraq and Turkey must work hard to address this challenge and I am confident that a mutually acceptable solution can be found."

Mr. Ban pointed out that since the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting, the UN has been give
resolution 1770. "I welcome the establishment of the support mechanism with which we can enhance our support to the Government of Iraq, particularly in facilitating national and regional dialogue, as well as in humanitarian and development assistance."

At the conference, the Secretary-General held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey and with Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq. He also met with the Foreign Ministers of France, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Syria, as well as the United States Secretary of State and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

In addition to Iraq, bilateral discussions focused on related regional issues, the Middle East, Myanmar, Darfur, Lebanon and Somalia.

2007-11-03 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN ENVOY URGES SUDANESE PARTIES TO SECURE NORTH-SOUTH PEACE

TOP UN ENVOY URGES SUDANESE PARTIES TO SECURE NORTH-SOUTH PEACE
New York, Nov 3 2007 3:00PM
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan has stressed the vital need to successfully implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ending a 21-year civil war between the country's north and south.

During a two-day visit to Southern Sudan on 31 October and 1 November, Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, who also heads the UN Mission in Sudan (<http://www.unmis.org/>UNMIS), underscored the critical importance of adhering to the historic accord for sustainable peace, stability, and development throughout the whole of the country.

He also stressed the readiness of UNMIS to assist the two parties in achieving the objectives of the Agreement and in bringing its implementation process back on track, following a recent decision by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to suspend its participation in the Government of National Unity.

While in Juba, Mr. Qazi met First Vice-President of the Sudan and President of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Salva Kiir Mayardit, Vice-President of the GoSS Riek Machar, and Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly James Wani Igga.

"I am grateful to His Excellency Mr. Salva Kiir for the thorough, frank, and clear views and ideas he shared with me on all issues discussed, in particular the implementation of the CPA, as well as on the role UNMIS could play to assist in expediting implementation of pending issues," Mr. Qazi said.

"I am looking forward to working closely with His Excellency Mr. Salva Kiir and with the leadership of the Government of National Unity and the GoSS to assist in ensuring that the objectives of the CPA are met."

Mr. Qazi also visited Bor, Jonglei State, and met with the Governor and senior officials of the State Government. He was briefed by Governor Philip Thon Leek on the situation in the State, including existing challenges in the areas of development and security, and on ways the UN could assist.

While in Juba and Bor, the Special Representative met w
was briefed on the world body's activities in Southern Sudan, including on achievements made and gaps to be met in support of the implementation of the CPA.

Mr. Qazi emphasized the key role played by UN field staff, particularly the national staff, in carrying out diverse and complex tasks in support of the Agreement. "The CPA is the backbone of durable peace and development in Sudan and our top priority is to do our best, in close cooperation with the parties, to ensure its successful implementation."

Diplomatic activity on Sudan has intensified in recent weeks with the convening of talks in Libya on ending the Darfur conflict, spearheaded by the UN Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his African Union counterpart, Salim A. Salim.

2007-11-03 00:00:00.000

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INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM THIS MONTH WILL BE WIDE-RANGING, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM THIS MONTH WILL BE WIDE-RANGING, SAYS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Nov 2 2007 7:00PM
A meeting on Internet governance in Rio de Janeiro later this month will bring together participants from around the world to discuss issues ranging from open standards to child protection and child pornography, a senior United Nations official said today.

Speaking to the press in Geneva ahead of the second Internet Governance Forum meeting, to be held from 12-15 November, Markus Kummer, Executive Coordinator of the Forum Secretariat, said more than 1,500 participants had registered 10 days before the event was set to begin.

This turnout was a demonstration to the "richness and wealth" of the meeting, which would gather representatives of government, the private sector, civil society and the Internet community to address a wide range of issues concerning the Internet.

The issue of security had attracted most attention, Mr. Kummer said, with 19 out of 70 parallel events devoted to it, many of them focusing exclusively on child protection and the fight against child pornography.

He stressed that international cooperation was the key, citing the example of a British-run watchdog programme on Internet child pornography which resulted in the establishment of a self-regulation mechanism where consumers could alert the watchdog of any illicit content.

In close cooperation with the Internet industry, the watchdog in turn alerted Internet service providers and the police, and removed the content from the Internet. As a result, the United Kingdom had reduced locally-originated child pornography to zero.

The Forum was neither a decision-making body nor an intergovernmental meeting, Mr. Kummer said, but a setting where all participants attended as equals.

"The Forum is more than a talking shop. It is a gathering of interested people who care about the Internet and who can give direction… and prepare the decisions that will be taken into consideration by other organizations that do have the decision-making power."
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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LEBANON, MYANMAR, DARFUR AMONG HOTSPOTS ON SECURITY COUNCIL AGENDA - PRESIDENT

LEBANON, MYANMAR, DARFUR AMONG HOTSPOTS ON SECURITY COUNCIL AGENDA – PRESIDENT
New York, Nov 2 2007 7:00PM
Lebanon, Myanmar and the situation in the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan are among the top issues to be dealt with by the Security Council this month, its president said today.

Next week, the Council will consult on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's latest report on the implementation of resolution 1559 regarding Lebanon, which supports polling free from outside influence and calls for the withdrawal of all remaining foreign forces, the disbanding of all militias and the extension of Government control over the entire country.

At that meeting, the body will also be briefed by Mr. Ban's Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, Ambassador Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia, which holds the Council's rotating presidency this month, said at a <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/071102_Natalegawa.doc.htm">press briefing in New York.

Also concerning Lebanon, at the end of the month the Council will discuss the most recent report on resolution 1701, which ended last year's war in the country.

Mr. Natalegawa noted that the Council could take up the issue of Myanmar, which he described as "a subject matter that is of interest."

Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, is scheduled to begin a visit to the South-East Asian nation tomorrow.

"The Council will benefit from his insights and other qualities when he comes back to New York," Mr. Nagalegawa said.

On Africa, the body will take up matters regarding the Great Lakes region, Burundi and possibly Somalia.

Mr. Ban's Special Envoy Jan Eliasson plans to brief the Council towards the end of the month on progress made thus far in the landmark Darfur peace talks currently being held in Sirte, Libya.

The Council will also discuss issues pertaining to Europe, including the European Union Stabilization Force (EUFOR) whose authorization expires on 21 November. EUFOR – which took over from the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 – is mandated to ensure continued compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement that in 1995 ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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AT UN, FORMER FEMALE CHILD SOLDIERS CALL FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS THE SCOURGE

AT UN, FORMER FEMALE CHILD SOLDIERS CALL FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS THE SCOURGE
New York, Nov 2 2007 7:00PM
Five female former child soldiers from Uganda came to the United Nations today to draw attention on the plight of the some 250,000 boys and girls who currently being used as child soldiers around the world.

Jennifer Achora, 22, Milly Auma, 29, Nighty Acheng, 28, Sarah Ayero, 28, and Maurine Akello, 18 were each kidnapped by Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Now they lead "Empowering Hands," a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Gulu, Uganda. They work to reintegrate escaped and freed abductees soldiers into their communities, and have helped at least 1,000 former child soldiers.

"I went to the Lord's Resistance Army and suffered there," Ms. Akello said today at a meeting with Rachel Mayanja, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women. "Then I came back home and, fortunately, Empowering Hands came. I got a lot from the group – counselling and friends to share experiences with."

Empowering Hands was doing an extremely important job on the ground, she said, but it lacked the capacity to deal with the scale of the problem. Ms. Akello called on the UN to help the NGO extend its programmes by providing training and funding.

"We have gained a lot of hope from Empowering Hands and we hope others will gain in their lives," she said.

Ms. Achora said Empowering Hands was unique. "We are very young women, but the kind of work we are doing is enormous," she said. "Other organizations have tried, but failed to do this. One needs the right experience – to know the feelings of the people who have been through such things to speak to them."

The NGO trains abductees to counsel others – both former soldiers and those in the communities they return to – about their experiences. When women return home they face stigmatization and rejection because of what they endured. They often come back to find that their parents are gone and that they have responsibility, not only for their own children, but for the brothers and sisters that were left behind.

"You are now role models for other girls in Uganda and for girls all over the world," Ms. Mayanja told the five. "What you have experienced in going to be with you for the rest of your lives. But you have managed to turn your experiences into a positive thing for others. Violence again women is a worldwide problem – it is not just in Uganda. And we all have to join forces to fight this scourge.

"We should listen to the girls; we shouldn't dictate to them," she said. "We should listen to what to do about violence so that we may have peace."

Nearly a third of child soldiers in northern Uganda are female and women in conflict zones face gender-specific issues, such as rape and torture. Empowering Hands helps women who on average are aged between 20 and 25 and have been in the bush for six years. Many are kidnapped when they are still at school, yet they return to their communities with children of their own.

On 8 November, the five will meet with Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

The event was sponsored by Glamour Magazine. To benefit their NGO, Glamour Magazine will launch the Women of the Year Fund Initiative, which will allow the magazine's 12 million readers to contribute to charities supported by the Fund. Empowering Hands will be the Fund's debut honouree.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON 'DISAPPOINTED' BY MYANMAR'S ATTEMPT TO END UN OFFICIAL'S SERVICE

BAN KI-MOON 'DISAPPOINTED' BY MYANMAR'S ATTEMPT TO END UN OFFICIAL'S SERVICE
New York, Nov 2 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed disappointment over Myanmar's decision to call for an end to the service of the highest-ranking United Nations official in the South-East Asian nation.

Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a letter to the world body that it does not want UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie to continue his work in the country.

The letter, which was signed by the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, cited a statement released by the UN Country Team – headed by Mr. Petrie – on 24 October which referred to socio-economic issues in Myanmar.

Authorities "said that [Mr. Petrie] had acted beyond his capacity by issuing the Country Team statement on UN Day about the socio-economic situation in the country and the Government considered that inappropriate," the Secretary-General's spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

No time frame was given by Myanmar for Mr. Petrie to leave the country, and Ms. Montas stressed that "he has not been declared persona non grata."

According to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11253.doc.htm">statement, Mr. Ban "has full confidence in the United Nations Country Team and its leadership and appreciates their contribution to the improvement of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions for the people of Myanmar."

The UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) also voiced its strong support for Mr. Petrie, "who has always abided by the principles and charter of the United Nations," and that it supports last month's statement made by the Country Team.

Ms. Montas noted that the Secretary-General also endorses the 24 October statement.

At a meeting this morning at the Istanbul airport, Mr. Ban gave instructions to Ibrahim Gambari, his Special Adviser, to convey his views directly to Myanmar's authorities when Mr. Gambari begins his visit to the country tomorrow.

Upon his arrival in Myanmar, the Special Adviser is scheduled to meet with Mr. Petrie.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S TRIP TO ETHIOPIA

AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S TRIP TO ETHIOPIA
New York, Nov 2 2007 6:00PM
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she will be participating in a regional meeting between the United Nations, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (<"http://www.nepad.org/2005/files/home.php">NEPAD).

"It will be her first participation at a meeting of this type to emphasize the importance the UN attaches to regional cooperation and to the role played by regional commissions in promoting development," UN Spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

There will be a focus on post-conflict reconstruction in countries such as Burundi and Sierra Leone, which are already on the agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, set up a year ago to help countries emerging from conflict avoid sliding back into war.

During the meeting, Ms. Migiro will have the opportunity to consult with the AU, NEPAD and the UN Economic Commission for Africa on the new Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) Africa Steering Group.

Launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September, the Steering Group is designed to boost Africa's efforts to achieve the MDGs – the set of ambitious targets the world has set itself for slashing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015. Ms. Migiro chairs the Working Group for the initiative.

Earlier this year, the Deputy Secretary-General noted that despite faster growth and strengthened institutions, Africa remains off-track to meeting the MDGs, urging greater international support for the continent.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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EXPEDITING HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION IN BEST INTEREST OF UN, SAYS SENIOR OFFICIAL

EXPEDITING HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION IN BEST INTEREST OF UN, SAYS SENIOR OFFICIAL
New York, Nov 2 2007 5:00PM
A senior United Nations official tasked with overseeing the renovation of the world body's headquarters complex in New York has stressed that accelerating the project will ensure that it is done faster, within budget and with the least amount of disruption to the Organization.

The renovations under the current seven-year, $1.9 billion Capital Master Plan (CMP) are expected to make the main UN Headquarters buildings more energy efficient and eliminate safety and health risks.

Last month Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed accelerating the plan approved last year by the General Assembly, known as Strategy IV, to make the renovation "less risky, less expensive and faster" in the long run.

"The major advantage of the Accelerated Strategy IV is that the entire project will be completed in five years, rather than seven, thus reducing the disruption to the Organization and the operations of the Organization by two years," Michael Adlerstein, the Executive Director of the CMP, told reporters today.

The accelerated plan, which is currently being considered by the Assembly's Fifth Committee, will also deliver the project within the approved $1.876 billion budget.

Presently, the CMP is approximately $219 million over the approved budget, which Mr. Adlerstein pointed out is a projected estimate for the costs of the project, not funds expended. "The actual expenditures to date, representing less than 5 per cent of the total cost, are well within their budget."

Accelerated Strategy IV "will reduce the risks of further cost increases, and increase the opportunities for us to get back to the approved budget, and stay there," he stated.

The accelerated plan proposes to empty the entire Secretariat building in one phase instead of four, which will require more swing space. So far the UN has signed a lease for a swing space building in midtown Manhattan at 305 East 46th Street.

It also proposes to accelerate the work on the Assembly Building and the Conferencing Building into two rather than three phases, which will require a larger temporary conference building on the North Lawn.

"The increased cost of additional swing space and the larger temporary conference building will be more than offset by the lowered cost for the renovation itself," said Mr. Adlerstein.

The proposal is consistent with the plan approved by the General Assembly in June 2006, in that it allows for the Assembly and the conferencing functions to remain in the Headquarters compound, in a new, temporary building. The Secretary-General will also remain within the compound. The Library will move out, as planned, and the Library building will be used as swing space.

Accelerated Strategy IV is advantageous to the UN because it lowers risk in three categories, Mr. Adlerstein noted. Firstly, it lowers the risk of unanticipated escalation to the cost of construction; the longer the schedule, the higher the risk that inflation could unexpectedly exceed projections.

Also, the possibility of noise and other disturbances requiring the UN to request pauses in the construction schedule, causing significant cost increases, would be greatly diminished, as would the possibility of a construction-related accident in close proximity to occupants.

If the Accelerated Strategy IV is approved by the General Assembly, Mr. Adlerstein expected that the initial vacating of the Secretariat will start in late 2008 or early 2009, and that the entire project would be completed by 2013.

He added that the accelerated strategy will not change the design or appearance of the renovated UN. "We are proposing only a different way of phasing the project, while staying within the approved overall budget."

He noted that in the case of both the approved plan and the accelerated plan, "we are presently over budget, although somewhat less so in the accelerated plan. So we need to both accelerate the project and revisit the design."

The CMP, along with pre-construction manager Skanska USA, has started to undertake a value engineering exercise to find appropriate ways to reduce cost without compromising on the quality and sustainability of the completed project.

While the finished product will not look very different from the outside than it does now, the designs of many aspects of the project are being done in a way that will make the UN safer and a "role model for sustainability."

"Generally, it's going to look and feel and work very similarly to the way it works now."
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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PRESIDENT OF UN COURT SAYS IT HAS CLEARED BACKLOG OF CASES

PRESIDENT OF UN COURT SAYS IT HAS CLEARED BACKLOG OF CASES
New York, Nov 2 2007 5:00PM
The International Court of Justice (<"http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?lang=en">ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has essentially cleared its backlog of cases, the Court's President has told the General Assembly.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10652.doc.htm">Presenting the ICJ's annual report to the Assembly yesterday in New York, Judge Rosalyn Higgins said that countries that were considering bringing cases before the Court could be confident that it would respond promptly.

"Some occasional delay in bringing on the oral hearings" would now be the result of "the choice of the States to ask for a further written round and not of any backlog in the Court," she said.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, had previously set a goal of clearing its backlog of cases by 2008.

Judge Higgins said the ICJ, which is based in The Hague, had enjoyed a very productive year in the 12 months to 31 July, with three judgments rendered, another being prepared and hearings held on three other cases.

There are 11 cases now pending, including one that had been given to the Court in the year covered by the annual report.

The President also noted that hearings begin next week in the case between Malaysia and Singapore concerning the sovereignty of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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HAITI: OVER 100 SRI LANKAN BLUE HELMETS REPATRIATED ON DISCIPLINARY GROUNDS - UN

HAITI: OVER 100 SRI LANKAN BLUE HELMETS REPATRIATED ON DISCIPLINARY GROUNDS – UN
New York, Nov 2 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations today announced that it will repatriate more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH) on disciplinary grounds.

Out of a total of 950 members of the Sri Lankan battalion (SriBat), 108 will be repatriated tomorrow, 3 November, with the cooperation of Sri Lankan authorities and following the receipt of a preliminary report by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

The move comes in response to allegations which are "of a transactional sex nature," the Secretary-General's spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters, adding that "there is a question of some underage girls."

"The United Nations and Sri Lanka take this matter very seriously and reiterate their shared commitment to both the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to best practices in peacekeeping," she said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11254.doc.htm">statement.

"The United Nations and the Sri Lankan Government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred, despite their efforts to ensure the highest standards of conduct and discipline."

Among those to be repatriated will be the battalion's second-in-command and two company commanders, Ms. Montas said.

Those who are repatriated will be prosecuted in Sri Lanka and the UN will follow up on the procedures that are carried out against those soldiers, she said.

After hearing of allegations of abuse and exploitation incidents by SriBat in several locations in Haiti, MINUSTAH asked for an immediate investigation by OIOS and Sri Lanka dispatched a high-level national investigative team, which includes a female officer, according to the statement.

Currently, MINUSTAH, Sri Lanka and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) are assessing the situation and considering how to assist the victims, Ms. Montas said.

She noted that "Sri Lanka is a longstanding and important troop-contributing country with a history of dedicated service with UN peacekeeping missions."
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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FAMILIES RETURNING TO REFUGEE CAMP IN NORTHERN LEBANON, SAYS UN AGENCY

FAMILIES RETURNING TO REFUGEE CAMP IN NORTHERN LEBANON, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Nov 2 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees reports that displaced families are now returning to the camp in northern Lebanon that was the scene of months of hostilities earlier this year between the national army and Fatah el-Islam gunmen.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) has already constructed 56 temporary shelters, including connections for water and electricity, for the returnees to Nahr el-Bared camp, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists today.

The agency has also helped 3,000 families with rental subsidies and temporary accommodation.

The families are returning two months after the Lebanese army fully seized control of Nahr el-Bared after intense combat with Fatah el-Islam between May and the beginning of September. During the fighting most of the camp's estimated population of 31,000 people were forced to flee to nearby camps and towns for safety.

UNRWA has appealed for $55 million to fund the first year of emergency assistance to the Nahr el-Bared refugees, with the money raised to be spent on providing shelter and support to host families, temporary jobs, infrastructure such as clean water and sanitation, and basic services, including health care, education and humanitarian assistance.

The appeal is designed to cover the emergency needs of the residents of the refugee camp, former and current, and to plan for the full and safe return of those displaced by the fighting.

Meanwhile, Ms. Montas said that UNRWA remains concerned that fuel deliveries via the Nahel Oz pipeline into the Gaza Strip have been reduced.

The agency has warned that if this move is not reversed, it could have dire consequences for the 1.4 million Palestinians inside Gaza.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RECENT MOVE BY NORTHERN UGANDAN REBEL GROUP

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RECENT MOVE BY NORTHERN UGANDAN REBEL GROUP
New York, Nov 2 2007 4:00PM
The recent official visit of a Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) delegation to the Ugandan capital could help spur an end to the rebel group's long-running conflict with Government forces in the north of the African country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11255.doc.htm">statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he hoped that the visit to Kampala, which has led to consultations between the LRA and the Government, "will create momentum towards a comprehensive settlement to this conflict, which has brought great suffering to the people of northern Uganda."

He called on regional and international players that have been assisting the peace process "to continue their crucial support until an acceptable solution is found."

Mr. Ban's Special Envoy on the issue, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, will continue to cooperate with the mediation process led by the Government of Southern Sudan that is trying to facilitate discussions between all the parties.

The LRA signed a ceasefire with the Government last year, but Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa told the General Assembly's annual high-level debate last month that the rebels were failing to meet any of their commitments under the deal. Many LRA fighters have been camped in Garamba National Park in the far northeast of the DRC, rather than assembling in Ri-Kwangba, southern Sudan, as previously agreed.

Since the civil war began in the mid-1980s, the LRA has become notorious for abducting as many as 25,000 children and using them as fighters and porters. The children were often subject to extreme violence shortly after abduction, with many girls allocated to officers in a form of institutional rape.

In October 2005 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its first-ever arrest warrants against five senior members of the LRA: the leader Joseph Kony, and commanders Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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ON PLANNED BRAZIL TRIP, BAN KI-MOON TO OBSERVE EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

ON PLANNED BRAZIL TRIP, BAN KI-MOON TO OBSERVE EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Nov 2 2007 4:00PM
As United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon prepares to leave next week for an official visit to Latin America and Europe, his spokesperson today provided details on the itinerary, which includes a first-hand look at Government efforts to combat climate change and deforestation in Brazil.

Spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York that while in Argentina, Mr. Ban will have a joint meeting with President Nestor Kirchner, and the President Elect, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

In Chile, in addition to attending the Ibero-American Summit, he will unveil a commemorative plaque – together with Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet – in honor of a Spanish UN staff member who was murdered in 1976 in Chile.

"After leaving Chile's capital, he will head to Punta Arenas, in southern Chile, and Antarctica – for a trip that will allow him to learn more about one of his priority issues: climate change," Ms. Montas said.

"In Brazil, he will see firsthand the Government's efforts to confront climate change. By visiting an ethanol plant near Sao Paulo, he hopes to see how the use of biofuels has allowed Brazil to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions," she noted.

With his visit to Brazil's Amazon region, including the Tapajós National Forest, Mr. Ban will take stock of Brazil's recent achievements in fighting deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management.

The Secretary-General is also scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

On 17 November, Mr. Ban will visit Valencia, Spain, where the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be releasing its latest report. The IPCC was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Al Gore.

Mr. Ban's trip builds on his previous efforts to push for action ahead of a major climate change conference to be held in December in Bali, Indonesia, where delegates from across the world are expected to try to hammer out a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains legally binding targets for reducing emissions but expires in 2012.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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TWO CREW MEMBERS DEAD AFTER UN HELICOPTER CRASHES IN LIBERIA

TWO CREW MEMBERS DEAD AFTER UN HELICOPTER CRASHES IN LIBERIA
New York, Nov 2 2007 3:00PM
A United Nations helicopter crashed in Liberia today, killing two of the three crew members onboard, the world body's mission there confirmed, reporting that the third is missing and presumed dead.

The UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://www.unmil.org/index.asp">UNMIL) announced that a cargo helicopter flight from Ganta, Nimba County to Loguatuo, on the border between Liberian and Côte d'Ivoire, crashed at around 10.30 a.m. this morning.

"The cause of the crash is not yet known," the Mission said in a statement released following the incident.

A search-and-rescue mission organized by UNMIL that reached the site confirmed that two of the three crew members onboard were killed, while the other is missing. The crew members' names and nationalities are being withheld pending family notification.

The Mission's Aviation Safety personnel and the Liberian Civil Aviation authority are investigating the crash of the aircraft – an MI-8 operated by UT Air, which was under contract to UNMIL.

The Mission has grounded all its civilian MI-8 helicopters until further notice.

Established in 2003 to support Liberia's ceasefire and peace process, UNMIL currently has over 15,000 peacekeepers, and around 500 international civilian personnel, almost 1,000 local staff and 220 UN Volunteers.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN TURKEY FOR TALKS ON IRAQ

BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES IN TURKEY FOR TALKS ON IRAQ
New York, Nov 2 2007 3:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived today in Istanbul where he met with Turkish leaders ahead of a planned conference on Iraq bringing together the country's neighbours and other interested States.

The Secretary-General and his Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, travelled this morning to Ankara, where they met and had a working lunch with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

"They discussed the ministerial meeting on Iraq that the Secretary-General will attend in Istanbul tomorrow; the issue of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); Cyprus; and the Alliance for Civilizations," a UN spokesperson reported.

The Secretary-General then returned to Istanbul, where he is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with League of Arab States Secretary-General Amre Moussa and with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, she said.

Mr. Ban will address the Istanbul Expanded Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq tomorrow before returning over the weekend to New York.

The meeting will focus on ways to promote greater regional dialogue, a UN spokesperson reported earlier this week.

"The Secretary-General hopes the Istanbul meeting will be an important opportunity for the participants to find mutually acceptable solutions on issues of common concern," Marie Okabe said Tuesday.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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UN COURT TO START HEARINGS NEXT YEAR IN FRENCH-DJIBOUTIAN DISPUTE ON WITNESSES

UN COURT TO START HEARINGS NEXT YEAR IN FRENCH-DJIBOUTIAN DISPUTE ON WITNESSES
New York, Nov 2 2007 2:00PM
The International Court of Justice (<" http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/index.php?pr=1949&pt=1&p1=6&p2=1&PHPSESSID=fc750b06ce89bfcedad81408b2b4ddda">ICJ) announced today that it will begin public hearings next January in a case between France and Djibouti over whether high-level figures in the African country, including its Head of State, can be summoned as witnesses as part of a French judicial investigation.

In a statement issued from its headquarters in The Hague, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations said the hearings will start on 21 January and a detailed schedule will be published later.

The dispute relates to an investigation by French judicial authorities into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bernard Borrel, a French judge, in Djibouti in 1995.

The ICJ agreed to hear the case in August last year after France formally consented to the Court's jurisdiction following an application filed by Djibouti in January that year, and the two sides have since filed written pleadings on the matter to ICJ.

Djibouti's application stated that France had violated its international obligations under two bilateral treaties – the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (signed in 1977) and the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (1986) – by not handing over information relating to its judicial investigation into Mr. Borrel's death.

The Horn of Africa nation also stated that France had breached its obligations by seeking to call as witnesses to the inquiry "certain internationally protected nationals of Djibouti, including the Head of State."
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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UN AGRICULTURE FUND UNVEILS MORE HELP FOR TSUNAMI-HIT INDIAN FISHING COMMUNITIES

UN AGRICULTURE FUND UNVEILS MORE HELP FOR TSUNAMI-HIT INDIAN FISHING COMMUNITIES
New York, Nov 2 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations agency dedicated to eliminating rural poverty and hunger has announced that it is stepping up its financial backing to coastal fishing communities in southern India still struggling to rebuild after the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

In a press statement issued from its Rome headquarters, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/46.htm">IFAD) said yesterday that it has loaned an extra $15 million to the Indian Government as part of a broader $68.5 million programme to improve conditions in Tamil Nadu state.

Under the programme, local fishing communities will have access to insurance services and social security, while destructive fishing gear and practices will be phased out and new technologies for packing, processing and selling fish will be introduced.

New fish auction halls, sheds, drying platforms and waste disposal facilities will also be built to assist about 50 village fish marketing associations sell their stocks and receive better prices.

IFAD added that training is being provided, mainly to young people, in skills such as house and boat-building to ensure there are job opportunities in fields other than fishing.

The deadly tsunami destroyed the livelihoods of an estimated 174,000 people in Tamil Nadu, which sits at the southern tip of India. While some communities have been able to recover, others – including scheduled castes and tribes, poor farmers, and women processors and sellers of fish – were hit particularly hard.

IFAD's country manager for India, Mattia Prayer-Galletti, noted that fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the region, with at least 1,000 people killed in Tamil Nadu each year.

"Insurance for the fishers themselves and their equipment makes them less vulnerable to disaster and increases their capacity to cope," he said.

The agreement for the additional loan was signed yesterday in Rome by IFAD President Lennart Båge and India's Ambassador to Italy, Rajiv Dogra. Aside from the IFAD contribution, commercial banks and insurance companies are providing almost $25 million, while local communities are providing $10.4 million and the Indian Government is giving $3.4 million.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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DIVERSITY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SCHOLARS' GATHERING

DIVERSITY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SCHOLARS' GATHERING
New York, Nov 2 2007 1:00PM
In the face of increasing intercultural and inter-religious tensions, it is necessary to remember that diversity is not a threat, but a virtue, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a gathering of scholars in Beijing today.

"It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience," he said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2830">message at the opening of the three-day Beijing Forum delivered by his Special Adviser Joseph Verner Reed. "And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater – far greater – than our outward differences."

In his travels as Secretary-General, Mr. Ban said that he has encountered a common longing for peace and desire for prosperity.

"But, all too often, I have discovered that people who aspire to the same things also suffer from the same prejudices," he said. "They fear that which is different from them: the other ethnicity, the other skin colour, the other cultural or linguistic tradition, and above all, the other religion."

Meeting such as the Beijing Forum can serve as a fountain of new ideas to overcome such prejudices and foster tolerance and understanding, he noted.

Mr. Ban pointed to the UN's own efforts to bridge the divide through the UN's <" http://www.unaoc.org">Alliance of Civilization, an initiative bringing leaders, institutions and civil society to try to reduce fear and suspicion and overcome prejudices and polarizations that have emerged between Islam and the West, especially in recent years.

"Together, we must seek to further the basic ideals of all the world's major religions," he told participants at the Forum. "We must build societies that respect individual beliefs and practices. And we must nurture communities where people of all faiths and nationalities coexist in peace."
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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GREATER GLOBAL PROTECTION NEEDED AGAINST 'PREDICTABLE' DISASTERS, SAYS UN AGENCY

GREATER GLOBAL PROTECTION NEEDED AGAINST 'PREDICTABLE' DISASTERS, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Nov 2 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (<"http://www.unisdr.org">ISDR) today called on governments to better protect people against more "predictable" natural hazards, especially flooding, to reduce the risk and vulnerability of local populations.

After a week in which floods have brought death and destruction to the Caribbean region and to Mexico, the Director of the UN secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Salvano Briceño, said the world needed to find better ways to reduce the impact of these recurrent disasters.

"There are many inexpensive measures that can be systematically adopted in disaster-prone countries to reduce the impact of hazards," he said in a statement issued in Geneva, the headquarters of ISDR.

"Risk assessments, early warning systems, evacuation plans, education and land use planning are a few of the many cost effective and reliable non-structural ways to avoid floods becoming disasters," he said, pointing out that many measures are within the financial means of most communities.

Floods this year have already caused four times as much devastation as last year, affecting 140 million people. This week alone Tropical Storm Noël has killed at least 100 people across the Caribbean region while heavy rains have brought widespread inundations to Tabasco state in Mexico.

ISDR has stressed that floods are among the most predictable, expected and announced natural hazards, and noted that the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch">IPCC) report predicted that more frequent and intense tropical cyclones and hurricanes will occur because of climate change, bringing more flooding with them.

Around the world poor people are often most at risk because they do not have the means to adapt their living conditions either before or after floods, and have to live in high-risk areas such as floodplains, ravines and slopes, which are more prone to floods and landslides.
2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED MEETING IN ASIA FORGES COMMITMENT TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

UN-BACKED MEETING IN ASIA FORGES COMMITMENT TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
New York, Nov 2 2007 8:00AM
Experts, advocates and activists meeting at a United Nations-backed meeting in Asia have called for efforts to reduce maternal deaths, enable young people to avoid HIV and make family planning more accessible on the continent.

"Too many governments remain shackled by external pressures, outmoded laws and regulatory structures undermining reproductive health," said participants in an Open Letter to Governments adopted at the end of the three-day conference in Hyderabad, India on Wednesday.

Participants also vowed to push for more resources, and to hold themselves accountable for their effective use.

Some 1,300 people from civil society and governments in 42 countries joined the Fourth Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights, one in an ongoing review series since governments pledged in 1994 to make reproductive health services accessible to everyone by 2005.

The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) was part of the international steering committee and provided partial support for the meeting.

In an opening session subtitled, "An unfinished agenda," UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Purnima Mane noted that Asia continues to have "high rates of unintended pregnancies, high rates of maternal death and disability, increasing numbers of new HIV infections, and persistent and widespread violence against women and girls," despite the region's progress in reducing poverty.

The agency also presented a set of reports and led a discussion on the causes and likely consequences of and potential remedies for son preference and prenatal sex selection in China, India, Viet Nam and Nepal.

The next regional review will be held in China in 2009.

2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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NUMBER OF SOMALIS FLEEING DIPS AS SITUATION CALMS BUT FEAR PERSISTS -- UN

NUMBER OF SOMALIS FLEEING DIPS AS SITUATION CALMS BUT FEAR PERSISTS -- UN
New York, Nov 2 2007 8:00AM
After 90,000 people fled recent fighting in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, a lull has caused the outflow to slow, the United Nations refugee agency said today, while warning that conditions remain volatile and fear persists.

"The situation in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has calmed down since Tuesday reducing dramatically the number of civilians fleeing the city after some 90,000 fled an outbreak of violence over the last week," said Jennifer Pagonis, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), citing the latest figures collected by a network of the agency's local partners.

"The situation however, remains volatile and tense with people living in fear," she warned.

Today, no civilians were seen fleeing, except from an area around the livestock market in north Mogadishu, where insurgents reportedly attacked an Ethiopian base on Thursday night.

The latest fighting pitted Ethiopian troops, in Somalia to help the Transitional Federation Government (TFG), against insurgents. Weekend fighting was described as the worst in months.

Fighting earlier this year led to an exodus of nearly 400,000 people from Mogadishu, with only 125,000 returning so far. There are currently 450,000 people internally displaced after fleeing Mogadishu this year, bringing the total number of IDPs in Somalia to an estimated 850,000, UNHCR said today.

The UN refugee agency has delivered aid to 78,000 people in Afgooye this year and is preparing to carry out another distribution, Ms. Pagonis said.

2007-11-02 00:00:00.000

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BOSNIAN SERB'S 15-YEAR SENTENCE UPHELD BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

BOSNIAN SERB'S 15-YEAR SENTENCE UPHELD BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
New York, Nov 1 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY) has upheld a 15-year prison term for a former Bosnian Serb soldier who pleaded guilty to charges of torture and rape of Bosnian Muslims during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

The Tribunal's Appeals Chamber yesterday unanimously dismissed all grounds of appeal filed by Dragan Zelenovi&#263; against the Trial Chamber's sentencing judgment of April 2007 and thereby rejected his request to lower the sentence.

Mr. Zelenovi&#263;, who was also a former military policeman, came into the Tribunal's custody in June 2006 after several years on the run. In January 2007, he pleaded guilty
to three counts of torture and four counts of rape of Bosnian Muslim women and girls from the Foca municipality in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In total he was found guilty of personally committing nine rapes, four of which were gang rapes. Many involved torture.

Mr. Zelenovi&#263; will serve his prison term in one of the States which have concluded an agreement with the ICTY on enforcement of sentences. He is entitled to credit for the time he has already spent in detention since 22 August 2005.

This judgement concludes the last case before the Tribunal specifically focused on crimes committed in Foca after the take-over of the municipality by Serb forces in April 1992.

The Tribunal has previously convicted three persons for the rape, torture and enslavement of Bosnian Muslim women and girls and one person for the persecution, torture and murder of non-Serb men held in the KP Dom detention camp. Four other accused were transferred to Sarajevo for trial before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY CONTINUES FORGING AHEAD WITH HISTORIC DARFUR PEACE TALKS

UN ENVOY CONTINUES FORGING AHEAD WITH HISTORIC DARFUR PEACE TALKS
New York, Nov 1 2007 6:00PM
The top United Nations envoy for the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur is continuing to hold meetings as part of the landmark peace talks in Sirte, Libya, to end the crisis which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced more than two million others to flee their homes.

Today, Jan Eliasson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for Darfur, met with Sudanese presidential adviser Nafie Ali Nafie in Sirte where they reviewed the progress made during the talks thus far.

Mr. Nafie told the Special Envoy that his Government will participate in the second of the three Sirte phases, which entails consultations in both Libya and elsewhere with all sides prior to the last stage set to take place next month.

Mr. Eliasson – who is co-chairing the Sirte talks with his African Union (AU) counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim – also conferred with representatives of the Darfur movements which welcomed the plan and took a unified position, according to Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

Following that meeting, the Special Envoy held talks with international observers and regional partners who also pledged their support to the AU-UN team in its upcoming mediation efforts.

Tomorrow, Mr. Eliasson will leave for Europe and then travel to New York where he is scheduled to brief the Security Council.

Tayé Brook Zerihoun will stay on in Sirte as the head of the UN team, along with the AU's Sam Ibok.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO: RULE OF LAW DRIVES WORK AND MISSION OF UN

MIGIRO: RULE OF LAW DRIVES WORK AND MISSION OF UN
New York, Nov 1 2007 6:00PM
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro today underscored the central role played by the rule of law in the work of the United Nations.

Speaking at a panel discussion in New York focusing on the Security Council, Ms. Migiro defined the rule of law as "a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private – including the State itself – are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms."

In its work, the Council seeks a middle ground between the needs for peace and justice, with there being a consensus that one cannot exist without the other, she noted.

"But as experience has taught us, it is a consensus that cannot be taken for granted," she said. "That is why our focus on the rule of law calls for early interventions, so as to prevent situations where demands for justice become a subject for negotiations."

Noting that the UN's numerous rule of law activities are scattered across the Organization, Ms. Migiro said she is chairing the Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group established by the Secretary-General.

The Group comprises the heads of eight UN departments and entities dealing with the issue, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR), the UN Office of Legal Affairs (<"http://untreaty.un.org/ola/">OLA), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/index.html">UNODC), the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/">DPKO) and the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP).

"Promoting the rule of law will be an essential component of our common endeavour to build a more peaceful and more just world for all," the Deputy Secretary-General said.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON APPOINTS JAPAN'S CROWN PRINCE AS HONORARY PRESIDENT ON WATER INITIATIVE

BAN KI-MOON APPOINTS JAPAN'S CROWN PRINCE AS HONORARY PRESIDENT ON WATER INITIATIVE
New York, Nov 1 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed the Crown Prince of Japan as Honorary President of his <"http://www.unsgab.org">Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, which aims to galvanize global action on these issues as part of international efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.

The Crown Prince's appointment is effective today and was welcomed by Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands who serves as the body's Chair.

The Advisory Board was established in 2004 to advise the Secretary-General and raise awareness of water and sanitation issues.

It comprises eminent persons, technical experts and others with proven track records in inspiring people, effecting change in government and working with the media, private sector and civil society.

Members also serve in their individual capacities at the Secretary-General's request.

The first Chair of the Advisory Board was the late Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Japanese Prime Minister.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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AS TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEE FIGHTING IN SOMALIA, UN OFFICIAL URGES ACCESS FOR RELIEF AID

AS TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEE FIGHTING IN SOMALIA, UN OFFICIAL URGES ACCESS FOR RELIEF AID
New York, Nov 1 2007 5:00PM
As crisis worsens in Somalia, where 88,000 people fled their homes in recent days adding to a total displaced population nearly ten times that amount, the top United Nations humanitarian official there today called on all parties to facilitate access by aid workers to civilians in need of assistance.

"It is high time for Somali leaders and representatives of all parties involved to do everything in your power to minimize the suffering of the civilians and facilitate humanitarian access," said Christian Balslev-Olesen, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, in an <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-78JD64?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=som">open letter.

He called on Somali leaders and all parties, including the Ethiopian forces, to respect the distinction between civilians and combatants, not target predominantly civilian structures, and ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations.

The Coordinator said the recent fighting comes at a time when the country is facing one of the worst humanitarian situations in years.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) estimates that up to 88,000 people have fled Mogadishu this past weekend alone due to increased fighting – more than have left the Somali capital in the past four months.

There are now roughly 450,000 people who have been displaced by fighting this year, bringing to 800,000 the total displaced population in Somalia, according to OCHA.

Many of those fleeing are seeking protection in the town of Afgooye, where some 100,000 people have found temporary shelter and continue to be assisted by UN agencies.

This weekend's fighting is the latest among the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other parties in the Horn of Africa nation, which has had no functioning central government since Muhammad Siad Barre's regime was toppled in 1991.

Mr. Balslev-Olesen expressed concerned about the safety and well-being of those remaining in Mogadishu, as their ordinary livelihoods have been disrupted and access to basic necessities and services is shrinking.

He noted that many humanitarian organizations are unable to reach all persons in need, with distributions prevented by insecurity and checkpoints and ad hoc "taxation."
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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GREECE AND FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MEET FOR UN-LED TALKS

GREECE AND FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MEET FOR UN-LED TALKS
New York, Nov 1 2007 5:00PM
Representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met today in another round of United Nations-led talks over the question of the official name of the latter country and related issues.

Representatives of the two countries met in New York at the initiative of the Secretary-General's Personal Representative Matthew Nimetz.

Greece was represented by Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was represented by Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov.

Mr. Nimetz "urged the Parties to consider all possibilities so that a solution to this dispute can be found within a reasonable time frame," according to a statement issued following the talks. "I believe a solution to an issue that divides two neighbouring countries is very much in the interests of both Parties and would also greatly contribute to regional peace and security."

He said he put forward "a draft framework for their consideration as a basis for an honourable and fair resolution" and urged Ambassadors Dimitrov and Vassilakis to bring these suggestions to their Governments for study.

"These discussions under the Secretary-General's auspices will continue in an effort to reach a resolution. I have indicated a willingness to go to Athens and Skopje in the near future to consult with the two Governments more intensively. Both Ambassador Dimitrov and Ambassador Vassilakis will discuss such a mission with their Governments."

Article 5 of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries regarding the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement on their dispute.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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ABDUCTED CHILDREN FROM CHAD HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THERE, UN SAYS

ABDUCTED CHILDREN FROM CHAD HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THERE, UN SAYS
New York, Nov 1 2007 4:00PM
The vast majority of the 103 children abducted for adoption in France from eastern Chad had family in the country, according to United Nations agencies and their partners who are providing assistance and investigating the identities and places of origin of the group.

"During interviews with humanitarian staff, 91 children said they had been living with their family, consisting of at least one adult they considered to be their parent," according to joint statement issued by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4729fa172.html">UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41630.html">UNICEF) and the non-governmental organization the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC).

Aid workers are currently talking to the remaining 12 children to determine their family situations. International humanitarian rules, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, forbid the transfer of children for adoption under such circumstances. When children are separated from their families during calamities, aid agencies work to reunite them, and do not assume they no longer have living relatives.

Some members of the NGO Children Rescue/Arche de Zoe have been arrested for attempting to take the 21 girls and 82 boys – the youngest being about a year old and the oldest about 10 – out of Chad.

Although tracing the children's background is a "painstaking undertaking" particularly in light of the number of children involved, their young age and the regional situation, the agencies aim to gather as much information quickly while attending to their psychological and emotional needs.

In a preliminary conclusion, UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC said that 85 of the children are from villages near the cities of Adré and Tine on the Chadian side of its border with Sudan.

This information, which has been shared with the Chadian Government, must now be verified in these villages, and in the coming weeks, the agencies and their partners will continue efforts to find solutions for each child to rejoin their families and live their lives as children.

"The unusual circumstances surrounding the children's arrival in Abeché, required rapid action to ensure the protection of the children including the immediate provision of adequate shelter and other items," the statement said.

Along with other groups such as volunteers from the Chadian Red Cross, the three agencies are assisting the Chadian authorities by providing food, mattresses, blankets, soap, clothes, toys, hygiene articles, medicine and other supplies.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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UN, GOOGLE AND CISCO UNVEIL ONLINE TOOL IN BATTLE AGAINST GLOBAL POVERTY

UN, GOOGLE AND CISCO UNVEIL ONLINE TOOL IN BATTLE AGAINST GLOBAL POVERTY
New York, Nov 1 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations has teamed up with technology leaders Google and Cisco to launch a new online site to track global progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the set of ambitious targets the world has set itself for slashing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015.

MDG Monitor is a web application that tracks real-time progress toward the Goals in a number of categories in nearly every country in the world.

In addition to featuring information on the MDGs, the new online resource will serve as an educational and advocacy platform with the most current data in areas such as public health, education and women's empowerment.

Launching the project today at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the MDG Monitor the "newest beacon in the fight against extreme poverty and inequality."

"Now, for the first time, all information on the MDGs is available in one place, for all who seek it, with a few simple clicks of the mouse," he stated. "The MDG Monitor will not only help measure progress towards the Goals, it will also identify gaps and pinpoint areas where additional efforts are required."

The Secretary-General noted that while the world is facing a "development emergency," it also has at its disposal the means to cut poverty in half in the span of a generation. But ultimately, achieving the MDGs is a matter of political will.

"There is no silver bullet, but the resources, knowledge and tools for achieving the Goals do exist," he stressed. "Having the tools to closely monitor data on the MDGs is one of the most important requirements for this endeavour to succeed."

Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said accurate data is vital to the campaign to achieve the MDGs.

The MDG Monitor fills an important gap, since information on progress toward the Goals was not, until now, readily and easily available in one place, he noted.

Highlighting the role played by Google and Cisco in this process, he said "we really need all hands on deck as we redouble our efforts, and partners like you are essential."

Among its features, MDG Monitor allows web surfers to use Google Earth to go anywhere on the planet and explore the places where work is being done to realize the MDGs, with access to country assessments and data collected by the UN worldwide.

The online tool enables more than 300 million Google Earth users to better understand the Goals and what it will take to achieve them through the MDG Monitor website (www.mdgmonitor.org).

"Google's collaboration with the UNDP represents a belief that the MDGs stand for basic and critical human progress," stated Michael T. Jones, Chief Technologist for Google Earth and Maps.

"We have multiple legs on our stool and that is one of the pillars that we take pride in," said Cisco Senior Vice President Carlos Dominguez.

Noting that the MDGs are "lofty goals and ones that are not easily attainable, and really requires a whole community and a global effort to attain," he stressed the crucial need for tools to monitor and analyze what works and which areas need additional support.

Agreed by world leaders from 189 countries in New York in 2000, the MDGs call for quantified, time-bound progress in eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.
2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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UN COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE MEETING PRODUCES ACTION PLAN

UN COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE MEETING PRODUCES ACTION PLAN
New York, Nov 1 2007 8:00AM
The Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) has wrapped up a meeting in Nairobi with a plan for specific steps to boost border security.

A joint statement and action plan issued by the Committee and some three dozen international, regional and subregional organizations stated the participants' intention to share information on border control and security matters, giving due regard to confidentiality of information, by providing guidance material on regional policies, legal instruments, and best practices.

They also called for coordinated activities aimed at encouraging countries to develop plans and strategies to protect their borders and assistance to Members States with devising strategies and policies to counter the scourge.

The statement was adopted at the conclusion of the Committee's fifth special meeting with international, regional and subregional organizations, held from 29 to 31 October at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Previous gatherings were held in 2003 in New York and Washington, D.C., in 2004 in Vienna and in 2005 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The meeting's working sessions covered the various international standards and methods of ensuring the security of cargo, civil aviation and maritime transport; law enforcement and its role in safeguarding borders; and asylum and refugee protection issues.

Along with the Committee's Executive Directorate (CTED), the discussions were led by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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HAITI: UN AND GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF AFTER TROPICAL STORM NOËL

HAITI: UN AND GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF AFTER TROPICAL STORM NOËL
New York, Nov 1 2007 8:00AM
Responding to the damage caused when Tropical Storm Noël swept over Haiti on 29 and 30 October, blue helmets from the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) helped to evacuate thousands of people, distribute meals and provide medical assistance to those affected.

Persistent heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind caused 18 deaths, 14 injured, two missing and rendered over 3,300 people homeless while destroying and damaging scores of homes, MINUSTAH said in a news release, citing official figures.

The Government of Haiti immediately began organizing the relief effort, with support from the mission, which helped evacuate thousands of people in Cité Soleil and elsewhere in the country who were threatened by rising waters.

Overall MINUSTAH helped evacuate 8,000 people, distributed 4,500 meals, and provided medical assistance to 280 patients, mostly in Port-au-Prince, Léogâne, Jacmel and Les Cayes.

"In these difficult circumstances MINUSTAH and the United Nations system reaffirm their total solidarity with the storm victims and remain ready to continue assisting the Haitian authorities with all the resources they have available," the mission said.

2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

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ALMOST 88,000 SOMALIS DISPLACED DURING WEEKEND VIOLENCE IN MOGADISHU - UN

ALMOST 88,000 SOMALIS DISPLACED DURING WEEKEND VIOLENCE IN MOGADISHU – UN
New York, Oct 31 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today that up to 88,000 people have fled Mogadishu this past weekend due to increased fighting – which is more than have left the Somali capital in the past four months.

"Increased fighting and a general decline in the security situation in the city are prompting this increased exodus," <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA said in a press release, noting that entire districts have been emptied of inhabitants.

OCHA noted widespread fear among the population, as daily attacks become better-organized, various authorities issue evacuation orders and conduct house-to-house searches, and large-scale detentions continue.

The UN estimates that more than 400,000 civilians left the volatile capital after fighting earlier in the year. Including the latest waves of displacement and the some 350,000 long-term displaced, the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Somalia now numbers more than 800,000. Overall, 1.5 million people in Somalia are in need of assistance and protection, marking a 50 per cent increase since the beginning of the year.

The deteriorating security situation has also hindered the work of aid agencies at a time when protection, water and food are the most immediate concerns.

"Respect for international humanitarian law in some parts of Somalia is negligible," said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes. "I am very concerned that national and international NGOs are now saying that they cannot respond effectively to the crisis because access and security are deteriorating dramatically even as needs are increasing.

"It is the responsibility of the Transitional Federal Authority, including all officials at all levels, to do all they can to facilitate the major humanitarian endeavour required to save lives and ease the suffering of Somalia's people," Mr. Holmes, who also serves as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stressed.
2007-10-31 00:00:00.000

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LOW-COST TECHNOLOGIES COULD ENSURE SANITATION FOR ALL, SAYS SENIOR UN OFFICIAL

LOW-COST TECHNOLOGIES COULD ENSURE SANITATION FOR ALL, SAYS SENIOR UN OFFICIAL
New York, Oct 31 2007 7:00PM
With more than 2.6 billion people – 40 per cent of the world's population – lacking access to toilets and other sanitation facilities, the head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (<"http://www.unhabitat.org/">UN-HABITAT) has urged governments to adopt low-cost technology to ensure adequate sanitation for all.

While the world has made significant progress in improving people's access to safe water, access to improved sanitation "lags far behind," UN-Habitat's Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka said in a message to the World Toilet Summit, which opened today in New Delhi, India.

She said this is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia and eastern Asia where the proportion of the urban population having access until recently was only 55 per cent, 67 per cent and 69 per cent respectively.

"Being deprived of adequate sanitation facilities is the most direct and dehumanizing consequence of poverty," Ms. Tibaijuka stated.

Lack of access to an adequate toilet not only violates the dignity of the urban poor, but also affects their health, she added, noting that the correlation between urban poverty and poor health is largely a result of inadequate sanitation facilities combined with inadequate or unsafe water supply.

She added that sanitation is beginning to be recognized as a national development priority that needs to be supported by adequate policies and budgetary allocations. "The mobilization of investment capital is critical so that water and sewerage utilities are able to upgrade and extend infrastructure and services to meet un-served populations."

Greater community involvement, particularly of women, in water and sanitation management combined with simple technology for easy maintenance can greatly facilitate cost recovery and help ensure equitable access, she added.

In 2000, world leaders committed themselves to reducing by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015 (Millennium Development Goal 7, target 10). At the 2002, they added another target – to halve by 2015, the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation.

In addition, the UN has declared 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation to raise awareness of the importance of sanitation and its impact on achieving other global development targets.
2007-10-31 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIALS LAUD ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION PROMOTING INTER-KOREAN PEACE

TOP UN OFFICIALS LAUD ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION PROMOTING INTER-KOREAN PEACE
New York, Oct 31 2007 7:00PM
Top United Nations officials today hailed the General Assembly's adoption of a resolution encouraging the consolidation of peace on the Korean peninsula and the laying of groundwork for reunification.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Assembly President Srgjan Kerim appealed to Member States to continue their support of the dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), following the Declaration this month by the two countries to bolster cooperation.

Welcoming the resolution, Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2828">noted that today is especially "auspicious" because exactly seven years ago, the Assembly passed a resolution following the historic June 2000 summit between the two Korean Peninsula nations.

"Today, as Secretary-General, I feel a much more personal obligation to do all I can to encourage and facilitate the continuing work for peace, security and reunification on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

This month's Declaration "will pave the way for a permanent peace regime and eventual reunification," he added.

Mr. Ban also expressed hope that the October Declaration will serve as a catalyst for progress in the six-party talks – involving the DPRK, China, Japan, ROK, Russia and the United States – on achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

The Assembly resolution "is also a clear recognition of the efforts of the people and leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to pursue through dialogue and peaceful means reconciliation between their two countries," Mr. Kerim said.

He also voiced optimism that the inter-Korean peace process will contribute to peace and security, not just on the Peninsula, but in the region and beyond.
2007-10-31 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN'S WESTERN SAHARA MISSION THROUGH APRIL 2008

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN'S WESTERN SAHARA MISSION THROUGH APRIL 2008
New York, Oct 31 2007 6:00PM
The Security Council today extended through next April the mandate of the United Nations mission in Western Sahara (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurso/index.html">MINURSO), which has been in the Territory since 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

In a unanimously <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9159.doc.htm">adopted resolution, the Council called on the parties "to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to engage in substantive negotiations."

In a bid to break the impasse, the UN sponsored talks between Morocco and the Frente Polisario in Manhasset, just outside New York, in June and again in August.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his latest report on Western Sahara, said the two sides held mutually exclusive positions that prevented them from seriously discussing each other's proposal during the talks.

Morocco holds that its sovereignty over Western Sahara should be recognized, while the Frente Polisario's position is that the Territory's final status should be decided in a referendum that includes independence as an option.

The Secretary-General's report also recommended a six-month extension of MINURSO's mandate, set to expire today. In adopting that proposal, the Council called on the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General "without preconditions and in good faith… with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations."

It also noted "the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect."
2007-10-31 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY URGES OBSERVANCE OF 'OLYMPIC TRUCE' DURING BEIJING GAMES

GENERAL ASSEMBLY URGES OBSERVANCE OF 'OLYMPIC TRUCE' DURING BEIJING GAMES
New York, Oct 31 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations General Assembly today urged all countries to observe the Olympic Truce during the 2008 Beijing Games – a move backed by its president, who advocated greater use of sport to promote peace and development.

In a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/62/l.2">resolution adopted unanimously and sponsored by the vast majority of UN Member States, the Assembly also welcomed the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to galvanize actions to promote a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce, a revived ancient Greek tradition known as <i>ekecheiria</i>.

It called on all Member States to cooperate with the IOC in its efforts to use sport as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period.

Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said the 192-member body considers the concept of <i>ekecheiria</i> "to be an important part of promoting international understanding and maintaining peace."

He noted that the UN "works closely with the International Olympic Committee to develop strategic partnerships with the international sport community to promote education, health, HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, environmental protection, peace and reconciliation."

The President praised examples including peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia who use sport to bring previously warring factions together, while backing a call from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a more systematic follow-up by all Member States and UN bodies to "more effectively use sport as a tool" to achieve the global antipoverty targets collectively known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"If we are going to build a world with greater tolerance, mutual understanding and peace sport must continue to be used to channel energies away from aggression and self-destruction and into learning and self-respect," he said. "This is the essence of the Olympic ideal."
2007-10-31 00:00:00.000

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