SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN WELCOMES CLIMATE CHANGE BREAKTHROUGH IN BALI

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN WELCOMES CLIMATE CHANGE BREAKTHROUGH IN BALI
New York, Dec 15 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the outcome of the landmark United Nations Climate Change Convention in Bali, Indonesia, in which 187 countries today agreed to launch a two-year process of formal negotiations on strengthening international efforts to fight, mitigate and adapt to the problem of global warming.

After almost two weeks of marathon discussions, delegates have agreed on both the agenda for the negotiations and a 2009 deadline for completing them so that a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions can enter into effect in 2013.

Under the so-called Bali Roadmap, the key issues during the upcoming negotiations will be: taking action to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods; devising ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; finding ways to deploy climate-friendly technology; and financing adaptation and mitigation measures.

Participating countries have also agreed on a series of steps that can be taken immediately to strengthen their commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), such as combating deforestation in poor countries, the scaling up of investment in green technology and enhancing funding for adaptation measures.

The text does not specify or mandate emissions targets, but it does say that deep cuts in emissions will be needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

In a statement issued after the Bali Roadmap was adopted, Mr. Ban called it â??a pivotal first step toward an agreement that can address the threat of climate change, the defining challenge of our time,â? adding that the agreement had met all the benchmarks for success he set out when the Conference began.

The Secretary-General said he â??appreciates the spirit of cooperation shown by all parties to achieve an outcome that stands to benefit all humanity.â?

Mr. Ban returned today to Bali, after a one-day visit to Timor-Leste
take part in the final stages of the Conference, which was extended by an extra day as delegates closed in on a deal.

But even a few hours before the Roadmap was adopted, it was not clear there would be any breakthrough, prompting Mr. Ban to appeal to delegates not to â??risk everything you have achieved so farâ?¦ The hour is late. It is time to make a decision.â?

Mr. Banâ??s statement welcoming the Roadmapâ??s eventual adoption was echoed by leading UN and international environmental officials at the Conference.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer said Bali had produced â??a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change. Parties have recognized the urgency of action on climate change and have now provided the political response to what scientists have been telling us is needed.â?

In his closing address to the plenary session, the Conference President and Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar hailed the â??number of forward-looking decisionsâ? in the text.

â??But we also have a huge task ahead of us and time to reach agreement is extremely short, so we need to move quickly,â? he said.

Four major UNFCCC meetings to implement the Bali Roadmap are planned for next year, with the first to be held in either March or April. The negotiations process is scheduled to conclude in 2009 at a major summit in Copenhagen.

2007-12-15 00:00:00.000

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ALGIERS ATTACKS SPARK OUTRAGE FROM SECURITY COUNCIL, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

ALGIERS ATTACKS SPARK OUTRAGE FROM SECURITY COUNCIL, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
New York, Dec 14 2007 7:00PM
Today's deadly bombings in the Algerian capital have been strongly condemned by the Security Council and the President of the General Assembly, who said the bombings showed that terrorism is not only a threat to the values of the United Nations but to the actual work it carries out on the ground.

Echoing the condemnation by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the twin blasts, which struck UN offices and a Government building in Algiers – causing dozens of deaths, including those of at least 11 UN staff, and numerous injuries – the Council underlined the need to bring those responsible to justice.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the bombings, which destroyed the office of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) that also housed staff from a number of other UN agencies, and damaged the building used by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The 15-member body "expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the victims of this heinous act of terrorism and their families, and to the people and the Government of Algeria," it said through a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9193.doc.htm">statement read out by Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for this month.

Also speaking out, Assembly President Srgjan Kerim expressed his grave concern that UN offices and staff were once again the deliberate targets of terror attacks. A bomb destroyed the world body's Baghdad headquarters in August 2003, killing 22 people, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Today's attack "clearly demonstrates that terrorism is a continuous and global challenge that knows no boundaries," Mr. Kerim said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

He added that the attacks "clearly demonstrate that terrorism is not only a threat to the values and principles of the United Nations, but a very concrete threat to its physical existence and actual work on the ground."

Mr. Ban's senior advisers have been dispatched to Algiers to investigate the bombing and determine how best to assist those affected.
2007-12-11 00:00:00.000

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MOMENTUM ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MUST NOT FALTER - ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

MOMENTUM ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MUST NOT FALTER – ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
New York, Dec 14 2007 7:00PM
Stressing the primary ownership and responsibility of Member States for reshaping the Security Council, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim today urged countries to maintain the current momentum in a process that has been languishing for over a decade.

Reforming the Council is an integral part of strengthening the Organization, and must, therefore, "go hand in hand with the transformation of the wider United Nations system," Mr. Kerim <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/62/statements/oewg141207.shtml">told the working group tasked with looking into issues such as equitable representation and increased membership on the 15-member body.

As such, "Member States should refrain from steps which could serve to undermine the current momentum and consensus to continue a process with the intention of achieving results-oriented solutions," he added.

"Further steps must contain components and notions that will allow the membership to reach a general agreement on all aspects of Security Council reform, in particular on both the composition of the Council and its working methods," Mr. Kerim said, stressing that any agreed changes to the Council must accommodate the interests and concerns of all sides, "especially those who are currently underrepresented."

The President announced that he was appointing the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Chile and Portugal to assist him in the working group. Together they will form a task force on Council reform to ensure that the process in conducted in a transparent and inclusive manner and to identify elements for "negotiables."

Emphasizing that it would be up to States to identify and put forward a document to the task force that could serve as a basis for further negotiations, he called on delegations to begin consultations among themselves in various settings during the following weeks.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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AFTER SECOND DEADLY STORM STRIKES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, UN RELIEF AGENCIES STEP IN

AFTER SECOND DEADLY STORM STRIKES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, UN RELIEF AGENCIES STEP IN
New York, Dec 14 2007 6:00PM
United Nations relief agencies have activated their emergency response systems in the Dominican Republic for the second time in just over a month after the country was hit this week by Tropical Storm Olga, which has killed at least 27 people as it crossed the Caribbean region.

UN agencies are working at full capacity to help the Government deal with the aftermath of the storm, with emergency technical and assessment teams deployed to the most affected areas, according to information released today by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA).

So far 22 people are confirmed to have died in the Dominican Republic as a result of the storm, which struck the island of Hispaniola on Tuesday and Wednesday. Two others were killed in neighbouring Haiti and three more in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica, as it continued its path of destruction across the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Olga is expected to bring more rain to the countries it has already hit.

OCHA said at least 35,000 Dominicans have been internally displaced, while more than 7,500 houses have been destroyed or substantially damaged and 76 communities left isolated. But the overall impact is expected to less severe than that caused by Tropical Storm Noel, which struck at the end of October and start of November.

The World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) is calling for $4 million over the next six months so that it can provide food relief to about 55,000 Dominicans suffering from either Olga or Noel.

WFP Regional Director Pedro Medrano, speaking from the agency's regional office in Panama, said some of the affected people had just begun to rebuild their lives after Noel when Olga arrived.

"Now they find their efforts seriously set back or literally washed away," he said. "They need our help, as do all the other communities now affected by this destructive wave of storms."
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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WRAPPING UP SESSION, UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO SEND EXPERT TO MYANMAR

WRAPPING UP SESSION, UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO SEND EXPERT TO MYANMAR
New York, Dec 14 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations <"http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/6session/index.htm">Human Rights Council concluded its sixth session today in Geneva, adopting 13 resolutions and decisions, including a request that the independent expert on Myanmar return to the South-East Asian nation for further assessments.

The 47-member body adopted a resolution by consensus asking Special Rapporteur Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro to conduct a follow-up mission to look into the ongoing human rights violations resulting from the violent repression of recent peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar before the Council's next session in March 2008.

"Several reports of killings indicate that the figure provided by the authorities may greatly underestimate the reality," he wrote in a report presented to the Council earlier this week, with at least 31 people having died during the crackdown by the Government on protesters a few months ago – 16 more than had been acknowledged by the authorities.

Regarding Sudan, the Council adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the African nation by one year.

In a separate resolution, the body voiced concern that the country had not implemented the many recommendations of the Group of Experts, comprising seven independent rights experts.

In particular, the Council said it was worried about the fact that perpetrators of past and ongoing human rights violations and international humanitarian law in the war-ravaged Darfur region have not been brought to justice.

More than 200,000 people have been killed in the area and at least 2.2 million others displaced since rebels began fighting Government forces and allied militia known as the Janjaweed in 2003.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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TIMOR-LESTE CAN COUNT ON UN'S HELP TO ADDRESS ITS CHALLENGES - BAN KI-MOON

TIMOR-LESTE CAN COUNT ON UN'S HELP TO ADDRESS ITS CHALLENGES – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Dec 14 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations will continue to help Timor-Leste in addressing the many challenges it faces, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged today during a visit to the tiny nation that the world body helped shepherd to independence in 2002.

"Timor-Leste was, and remains, a young nation that needs more support," Mr. Ban said in an <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11334.doc.htm">address to Parliament, noting that the challenges ahead for the country are enormous.

These include strengthening the security sector, governance and the rule of law, including the justice system, as well as accelerating economic and social development and addressing unemployment, Mr. Ban said.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the need to address the underlying causes of the crisis that engulfed the fledgling nation in 2006. Deadly fighting, attributed to differences between the eastern and western regions, broke out in April and May last year and caused the deaths of at least 37 people. About 155,000 others – or 15 per cent of the population – were forced to flee their homes.

"The crisis that Timor-Leste experienced last year should not be seen as a failure of all that had been undertaken until then," he stated, adding that perhaps it was a sign that the country's fledgling institutions were not yet strong enough to deal with the serious challenges that emerged. "This is not uncommon in the earliest life of a country," Mr. Ban noted.

As Timor-Leste continues on the road to nation-building, it can count on the sustained support and partnership of the entire UN family, the Secretary-General pledged. "We will remain your trusted allies as you continue on your journey."

While in Dili Mr. Ban also met with President José Ramos-Horta, and had a working luncheon with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and members of the Cabinet. He also met with civil society representatives and visited a police station and a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Addressing the fate of about 100,000 IDPs is a major issue the country has to grapple with, along with its other challenges, the Secretary-General said.

"The UN system continues to be fully engaged with the Government to find a durable solution to the complex humanitarian issue of the displaced," Mr. Ban later told reporters.

He also reaffirmed the UN's long-term commitment to assist the country through the work of its Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

Mr. Ban's visit follows a recent mission to Timor-Leste by the Security Council, which advocates that the mandate of UNMIT be renewed when it expires next February, given the vital role it plays in assisting the Timorese to tackle its many challenges.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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CLIMATE CHANGE HAS NO RESPECT FOR BORDERS AND AFFECTS ALL, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS NO RESPECT FOR BORDERS AND AFFECTS ALL, SAYS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Dec 14 2007 5:00PM
Global warming impacts everyone regardless of national borders, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on negotiators at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, to overcome differences and agree on a road map to tackle the issue.

Climate change "doesn't care if you are coming from developing or industrialized countries," he <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1112">told reporters during a visit to Timor-Leste, warning that poorer nations will be hit hardest by the phenomenon.

Acknowledging that some countries have concerns about a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Mr. Ban said that the time will come in the future to reach a consensus on that.

"But our goal at this time is to launch negotiations," he said.

The Secretary-General stated that industrialized countries – especially the biggest emitters – should take the lead in addressing climate change.

"If we are not able to agree on this, I would say the negotiators will have to bear their historical responsibilities for the whole international community and the future of planet Earth."

Mr. Ban has repeatedly stressed the importance of creating a road map to tackle climate change and a timeline to produce a new agreement on emissions targets by 2009 so that it can enter into force after the Kyoto Protocol, the current regime, expires in 2012.

He is scheduled to return to Bali tomorrow to assess the status of the negotiations.

Following that the Secretary-General will travel to Paris to participate in Monday's Donor's Conference for the Palestinian Territories.

That event will be co-hosted by France, Norway, the European Commission and Tony Blair, the Special Representative for the Middle East diplomatic Quartet, comprising the UN, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

Mr. Ban will also attend a dinner with representatives of the Quartet and the League of Arab States.

While in Paris, he is also expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Secretary-General plans to return to New York next Tuesday.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN MISSION SAYS RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS IS SURGING

DR CONGO: UN MISSION SAYS RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS IS SURGING
New York, Dec 14 2007 5:00PM
Hundreds of under-age boys and girls are being forcibly recruited by rival armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and sent to the front lines of the escalating conflict in North Kivu province in the far east of the country, the UN mission reported today.

The mission, known as MONUC, has identified the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP), the group led by the renegade General Laurent Nkunda, and the Front Démocratique de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) as the two main groups responsible for the forced recruitment of children into armed conflict.

The groups deliberately canvass sites such as schools, camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other venues to recruit children, leading to the closure of several schools and the noticeable absence of young children among many communities in the volatile province. Families which try to resist the recruitment often face retaliation.

Many of the estimated 8,500 former child soldiers who have been rescued by the UN and other humanitarian organizations since 2004 have been re-recruited in the last few months or used as sex slaves, according to the mission.

<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC pledged in a press statement released today in Kinshasa to redouble its efforts to protect children and prevent their forced recruitment into the armed groups, and it issued a call to those groups to immediately end the practice.

The warning comes amid mounting UN concern about the overall humanitarian situation inside North Kivu, where tens of thousands of people are on the move again after some of the worst fighting since the DRC civil war formally ended in 2003.

An estimated 800,000 Congolese are now internally displaced within North Kivu, including 170,000 who have been forced to flee in only the past four months since fighting escalated between Government forces (known as FARDC), troops loyal to Gen. Nkunda and rebel groups such as the FDLR.

The security situation is so difficult that UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) teams and other relief workers are unable to reach many areas of North Kivu, which borders Rwanda and Uganda. More than 4,500 MONUC troops have been deployed to help ensure the defence of Goma, the capital, and the key town of Saké.

In a related development, UNHCR António Guterres was today in the national capital, Kinshasa, to meet with senior Government officials at the start of a five-day visit to assess the deteriorating situation in North Kivu and nearby areas.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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UN TO LEAD TEAM ASSESSING WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA

UN TO LEAD TEAM ASSESSING WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA
New York, Dec 14 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations will lead an eight-person team of marine pollution and civil protection experts being deployed today to assess the 7 December oil spill in the Republic of Korea, the worst in the Asian nation's history.

The team will comprise staff from the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/">UNEP), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA), the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) and the European Maritime Safety Agency.

It will offer advice on how to manage the emergency, remove the remaining oil and limit its spread.

Over 10,000 tons of crude oil were spilled when a barge slammed into a tanker, and they later hit beaches 100 kilometres south of Seoul on 8 December. That region is a crucial habitat for migrating birds and is home to an important fishing industry.

The UN-EC team will complement the Korean authorities' efforts, and also suggest measures towards long-term recovery for the ecosystem of the area impacted by the spill.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO SPOTLIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN UN'S RESPONSE TO GLOBAL EMERGENCIES

MIGIRO SPOTLIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN UN'S RESPONSE TO GLOBAL EMERGENCIES
New York, Dec 14 2007 3:00PM
Migiro spotlights improvements in UN's response to global emergencies

The United Nations has made significant strides in the way it responds to emergencies, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today.

In 2005, the world body launched a reform process to ensure that all victims' needs were met for all emergencies and to bolster accountability.

"Two years on, I think we have made considerable progress in improving the way we work," Ms. Migiro said in an address in Washington, DC, to InterAction, a coalition of 165 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"In the past, whenever an emergency occurred, the humanitarian community would scramble to find the resources to respond," she said. "These came too little, too late."

However, this has been changing, largely due to the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), which was approved by the General Assembly in 2005 to speed up relief operations for emergencies, make funds available quickly after disasters and finance underfunded emergencies.

CERF funds are made available to address the existing imbalance in global aid distribution which results in millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remaining in need.

"The CERF exemplifies the UN at its most effective, delivering real results on the ground, where and whenever it matters most," Ms. Migiro stated.

She also cited the Cluster Approach utilized by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee – a partnership between the UN and its humanitarian partners – as bolstering the UN's ability to respond to emergencies.

The Approach assigns lead agencies to 11 areas of humanitarian activity, including early recovery, health, logistics and protection.

"It helps avoid gaps and duplication in our assistance efforts and promotes a more integrated response," the Deputy Secretary-General said in her remarks. "And it makes the international humanitarian community a better partner for host Governments."

However, she urged ongoing efforts to improve the capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies.

"The demands for more timely effective and equitable emergency assistance will only continue to grow due to a combination of factors – the increasingly visible effects of climate change, rapid population growth in vulnerable areas, increasing competition for scarce resources, and the threat of pandemic diseases," she said.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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ENGLISH CRICKETERS HEAD OUT TO BAT IN SRI LANKA FOR UN ANTI-HUNGER CAMPAIGN

ENGLISH CRICKETERS HEAD OUT TO BAT IN SRI LANKA FOR UN ANTI-HUNGER CAMPAIGN
New York, Dec 14 2007 3:00PM
Sri Lankan schoolchildren will have the opportunity tomorrow to learn some tips from some of England's best cricketers during a special training clinic being held as part of efforts by the United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2722">WFP) to raise awareness about global hunger.

England's captain Michael Vaughan, batsmen Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores will conduct a clinic at a cricket ground in Galle in the far south of Sri Lanka. The participating children are recipients of WFP meals at 11 schools in the surrounding area.

The clinic has been arranged under the "Cricket Against Hunger" partnership between the WFP and the England and Wales Cricket Board, one of several partnerships the UN agency has formed with sporting organizations or well-known sportsmen and women.

Mohamed Saleheen, WFP Representative in Sri Lanka, said the partnership is designed to raise awareness about the hundreds of millions of children worldwide who go hungry on many days.

"These players, who are known all over the world, have an important role to play in drawing attention to WFP's vital work in addressing malnutrition among children," Mr. Saleheen said.

Mr. Cook said it was important to spotlight the hardships faced by so many children around the world.

"As international sportsmen, we are in the public eye, and we have an opportunity to tell our fans and followers about the scale of this problem, and the work that WFP is doing to address it," he said.

WFP started its school feeding programmes in Sri Lanka in 2003 in response to high levels of child malnutrition in areas affected by the civil conflict between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). After the Indian Ocean tsunami struck Sri Lanka in December 2004, the programmes were expanded. Today an estimated 350,000 children receive assistance in 15 of the nation's 25 districts.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOICES PROFOUND SADNESS AS UN DEATH TOLL IN ALGIERS REACHES 17

BAN KI-MOON VOICES PROFOUND SADNESS AS UN DEATH TOLL IN ALGIERS REACHES 17
New York, Dec 14 2007 2:00PM
As the United Nations today confirmed that 17 of its staff have perished in the terror attacks in Algiers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his great sorrow at the toll this "unspeakable crime" has taken.

"I have learned with profound sadness that the death toll on the bombing in Algiers last Tuesday is even higher than we feared," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2913">statement, after the Organization announced that 17 UN staff members are now confirmed dead following the car bombing in the Algerian capital. "Words cannot begin to do justice to the grief I feel.

"I send my prayers to the loved ones of those who perished, to those who are wounded, and to those who are grappling with trauma after this terrible event," stated Mr. Ban. "I send my thoughts to all their colleagues who work every day, in difficult and dangerous circumstances, for peace and security, development and human rights around the world."

He added that "those who target innocent civilians in this way commit an unspeakable crime. Our colleagues there were working with no other mission than to support the people of Algeria in building a better future."

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters that efforts on the ground to clear away the rubble have led to the discovery and identification of more bodies.

Mr. Ban has sent several of his top aids to Algiers to determine how best to aid those injured in the attack and the families of the victims.

Kemal Dervis, the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), has met with the families of the victims as well as those who were injured in Algiers. "It was sad to see the impact of the attack on his colleagues, he said, adding that "the victims are not soldiers who signed up for battle, but people, mostly Algerians, who are working for peace, development and to alleviate human suffering."

The Algiers bombing is not the first time the UN has been attacked by terrorists. A bomb destroyed the world body's Baghdad headquarters in August 2003, killing 22 people, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY ISSUES ATM CARDS TO ASSIST CASH-STRAPPED IRAQI REFUGEES

UN AGENCY ISSUES ATM CARDS TO ASSIST CASH-STRAPPED IRAQI REFUGEES
New York, Dec 14 2007 2:00PM
In response to recent studies showing that Iraqi refugees living in neighbouring countries are running out of money, the UN refugee agency is set to issue ATM cards to 7,000 of the most needy and vulnerable families living in Syria.

More than 4.5 million Iraqis are currently uprooted – 2.4 million inside Iraq and nearly 2.2 million outside – most of them in Syria and Jordan, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

This Sunday, <"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR will start providing the ATM cards, providing each family with between $100 and $200 per month.

"The families have been interviewed by community services staff and identified as being in urgent need of financial assistance," UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva. "They include women at risk, families with working children and refugees with chronic illnesses."

The 7,000 families will also receive food aid from the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) and UNHCR.

Recent studies by the agency and IPSOS Market Research show that Iraqi refugees in Syria – host to more than 1.4 million Iraqi refugees – are running out of finances. Some 33 per cent of those surveyed said their financial resources will last for three months or less, while 24 per cent are relying on remittances from relatives living abroad.

Similar studies conducted in Lebanon and Jordan revealed that Iraqi refugees living there shared some of the same difficulties. For example, the majority of the 450,000-500,000 Iraqis living Jordan are surviving on savings or receive financial transfers. "This makes a large segment of Iraqis in Jordan at risk of becoming vulnerable with the depletion of their savings," Ms. Pagonis noted.

The survey also showed a high prevalence of chronic diseases among Iraqi refugees living in these countries, as well as significant drop-out rates for children and difficulties related to refugee protection.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS ABOUT PROTECTING HAITIAN-DOMINICAN BORDER AGAINST CRIME

UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS ABOUT PROTECTING HAITIAN-DOMINICAN BORDER AGAINST CRIME
New York, Dec 14 2007 2:00PM
A senior United Nations envoy is holding talks today with officials in the Dominican Republic about how to improve the border security of Haiti, where the UN has a peacekeeping operation to try to help stabilize the country after years of violence and misrule.

Hédi Annabi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Haiti, is expected to discuss how blue helmets with the UN mission (known as MINUSTAH) can contribute to improving the security along the Haitian-Dominican border, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

The mandate of MINUSTAH – which was established by the Security Council in 2004 – was recently expanded to allow the mission to help Haitian authorities secure their border against drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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CAMBODIA AND UN ANTI-HUNGER AGENCY LAUNCH THREE-YEAR MEAL PROGRAMME

CAMBODIA AND UN ANTI-HUNGER AGENCY LAUNCH THREE-YEAR MEAL PROGRAMME
New York, Dec 14 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a new, three-year programme to provide meals to 1.8 million vulnerable Cambodians, including schoolchildren, tuberculosis patients and people affected by HIV/AIDS.

At a ceremony yesterday in the capital, Phnom Penh, <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2723">WFP and the Cambodian Government launched the $64 million feeding programme which, starting next year, will target the neediest and least developed regions of the South-East Asian country.

WFP Country Director Thomas Keusters called on international donors to step up their support of its programmes in Cambodia, warning that it was important to avoid a repeat of the funding crisis earlier this year that threatened to interrupt the supply of emergency food relief.

"Food assistance has an immediate impact on beneficiaries and it is often also the catalyst that will allow other programmes to be successful," Mr. Keusters said.

"What good is it to build more schools and train more teachers if the children cannot take advantage of the improved facilities because they come to school hungry? What is the benefit of HIV/AIDS/TB medical support if the people cannot afford to buy the food that is needed for the medicine to be effective?"

WFP has been operating in Cambodia since 1979, when it started supporting refugees and returnees, mainly along the Cambodian-Thai border.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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TWO KOSOVO FIGURES ON TRIAL TEMPORARILY RELEASED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

TWO KOSOVO FIGURES ON TRIAL TEMPORARILY RELEASED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
New York, Dec 14 2007 2:00PM
A former prime minister of Kosovo and a senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the conflict in the province, each facing trial at the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, have been granted temporary release from jail during the court's annual winter recess.

Judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), sitting in The Hague, <"http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1207e.htm">ordered today that Ramush Haradinaj and Lahi Brahimaj be provisionally released from 21 December, under the condition they return to the Tribunal's custody by 4 January next year.

Mr. Haradinaj was a well-known figure with the KLA during the conflict with Serb forces in 1998-99 and later served as the leader of a minority political party and briefly as the province's prime minister. Mr. Brahimaj was a senior KLA commander who reported directly to Mr. Haradinaj.

The indictment accuses Mr. Haradinaj of participating in a joint criminal enterprise with two others, Idriz Balaj and Mr. Brahimaj, between March and September 1998 aimed at consolidating KLA control in the Dukagjin area by attacking, persecuting and forcibly removing Serb civilians and violently suppressing "any real or perceived form of collaboration with the Serbs by Albanian or Roma civilians."

While they may not have physically committed every crime for which they are charged, the indictment states, they are still considered criminally responsible for planning, instigating, ordering or aiding and abetting their commission.

The charges against Mr. Haradinaj include murder, rape, torture, abduction, cruel treatment, harassment and the deportation or forcible transfer of civilians. Mr. Brahimaj is accused of providing direct support to Mr. Haradinaj's alleged criminal activities and of running a KLA detention facility in central Kosovo in which civilians were mistreated.

The trial of the three men began in March and closing arguments are expected to be delivered late next month. Mr. Balaj did not apply to the ICTY for provisional release.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN FORCE IN GOLAN HEIGHTS FOR FURTHER SIX MONTHS

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN FORCE IN GOLAN HEIGHTS FOR FURTHER SIX MONTHS
New York, Dec 14 2007 1:00PM
The Security Council today <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9200.doc.htm">extended for a further six months the United Nations force that has monitored the ceasefire between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights for over 30 years.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/undof/">UNDOF) until 30 June 2008.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had recommended the extension of the Force in a recent <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/698">report, noting that while the situation in the Golan Heights has been "generally quiet" recently, the overall region remains tense.

Mr. Ban's report also drew attention to the growing financial shortfall faced by UNDOF, which supervises the disengagement accord between Syrian and Israeli forces after the 1973 war. As of the end of August, some $24 million is owed to the countries that contribute troops to the Force: Austria, Canada, India, Japan, Poland and Slovakia.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 2008

UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 2008
New York, Dec 14 2007 1:00PM
Reaffirming that the status quo on the Mediterranean island is unacceptable, the Security Council today <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9201.doc.htm">extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unficyp/">UNFICYP) until next June.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body said that "time is not on the side of a settlement, and that negotiations to reunify the island have been at an impasse for too long."

Expressing its full support for the July 2006 agreement – which set out the necessary framework for a political process designed to lead to the resumption of full-fledged negotiations– the Council voiced deep concern over the "lack of any progress."

In his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/699">report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities continue to publicly endorse the agreement's principles that a settlement must be based "on a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation and political equality," but that "a lack of political will to fully engage" was preventing any tangible progress.

"All parties need to show greater flexibility and greater political courage," he wrote, describing a September meeting of the leaders that did not produce any concrete results as "a lost opportunity."
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY MOURNS STAFF KILLED IN ALGIERS BOMB ATTACK

UN REFUGEE AGENCY MOURNS STAFF KILLED IN ALGIERS BOMB ATTACK
New York, Dec 14 2007 11:00AM
Staff members of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are mourning the loss of two colleagues, both Algerian nationals, killed in the deadly terror attack that struck the world body's offices in Algiers on Tuesday.

Drivers Karim Bentebal and Nabil Slimani, both Algerian nationals, were killed when a car bomb ripped the façade off the UNHCR office, the agency's spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47626dbd4.html">told reporters in Geneva today, adding that one staff member was seriously wounded, while others sustained minor injuries.

A support team from Geneva, where the agency is based, was urgently dispatched to the Algerian capital on Wednesday to assist staff and families of those killed in the attack, which also claimed the lives of at least nine other UN staff members.

UNHCR has about 40 staff working in Algeria, 14 of whom were in Algiers at the time of the blast, Ms. Pagonis said. Most of the agency's staff work in the Tindouf area some 2,000 kilometres south-west of the capital, assisting Sahrawi refugees from Western Sahara living in five refugee camps.

The agency lost another staff member last week when driver Mahamat Mahamadou, a Chadian national, was shot dead in his vehicle in the southern part of the country.

"It has been a particularly black time for UNHCR, with three drivers killed in the line of humanitarian duty in the space of a week," said Ms. Pagonis. "UNHCR drivers are a vital part of our frontline humanitarian staff and widely recognised as crucial to our operations and understanding of the countries we work in. It is very troubling that three drivers have lost their lives in such violent circumstances within a week."
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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MORE THAN 200 BOAT PEOPLE FEARED DEAD AT SEA, SAYS UN AGENCY

MORE THAN 200 BOAT PEOPLE FEARED DEAD AT SEA, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Dec 14 2007 11:00AM
Over 200 people attempting a perilous voyage across the seas are feared dead or missing after separate incidents off Turkey, the Canary Islands and Yemen in recent days, the UN refugee agency said today, calling for concerted action to avoid such tragedies.

Jennifer Pagonis, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47626dbe5.html">said that last Saturday, 51 people drowned when a boat carrying irregular migrants from Turkey to Greece sank in rough weather off the Turkish coast. Another 35 people are still missing and are presumed to have also drowned.

Last weekend, the Spanish media reported that up to 90 migrants were missing at sea after two separate incidents involving large canoes attempting to reach the Canary Islands from Senegal and from Western Sahara.

In Yemen, where 27,000 people, mostly Somalis and Ethiopians, have arrived by boat this year, UNHCR staff reported 31 people drowned or missing between 5 and 12 December.

These incidents brought the overall toll to 207 in one week, noted Ms. Pagonis.

The agency drew attention to the fact that tens of thousands of boat people risk their lives each year attempting to flee across the world's waterways. While most are migrants seeking a better life, some are also refugees fleeing persecution and violence.

At a two-day dialogue organized by UNHCR in Geneva this week, governments, non-governmental organisations and experts voiced support for strengthening efforts to ensure the protection of those who are on the move worldwide.

At a session devoted to rescue at sea, the agency urged participants to do everything possible to avoid tragedies such as those seen recently.
2007-12-14 00:00:00.000

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RISE IN WEAPONS-RELATED CRIME WORRIES UN PANEL INVESTIGATING LIBERIA SANCTIONS

RISE IN WEAPONS-RELATED CRIME WORRIES UN PANEL INVESTIGATING LIBERIA SANCTIONS
New York, Dec 13 2007 7:00PM
A group of United Nations experts said that while it has found no evidence of arms flows across Liberia's borders, the dramatic increase in armed robberies involving firearms is a cause for concern and merits the attention of the Security Council committee monitoring the arms embargo imposed on the West African nation.

Armed robbery rates for the capital, Monrovia, have increased significantly compared to 2006, with firearms involved in about a third of cases, according to the panel of experts established by the Council.

"This worrisome development has raised the profile of the debate over rearming Liberia's security services and has highlighted some of the challenges confronting the establishment of sustainable rule of law," the group states in a new report.

It recommends that the Council's "1521 Committee," which monitors the Liberia sanctions regime, carefully review the status of past exceptions to the arms embargo and inventories of weapons already transferred to the country before approving any further transfers of military material to Liberian security services.

The Committee should also request that the Liberian Government step up its inspection of approved shipments and to consider using international and regional standards for the marking of all weapons, the group adds.

The panel of experts was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July to renew investigations of whether UN sanctions against Liberia are being broken, after learning of allegations that former president Charles Taylor may still have access to considerable wealth.

In what the panel refers to as a "significant milestone in its work," the experts were invited by Nigeria to visit the country to investigate the allegations. The Nigerian authorities informed them that they were unable to find conclusive evidence of any funds, economic assets or investments made by Mr. Taylor in Nigeria. Since the panel has not yet received copies of the Government's reports, it cannot confirm these findings.

The panel is also tasked with assessing the implementation of forestry legislation signed into law last October by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and with gauging the Government's compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, a mechanism established to keep "blood diamonds" from reaching world markets.

While there was no confirmed case of diamond smuggling into Liberia, the panel states that the Government should ensure that Ivorian diamonds do not pass through its porous borders and enter its legitimate trade, adding that "there is a need for heightened sensitivity to potential shifts in trade flows."

Commending the Government for its progress in this area, the panel urges that it ensure its internal controls are effectively implemented. Doing so will require strong leadership and effective management of human, financial and material resources, the panel states.

In the area of forestry, the group says the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) continues to move forward in the right direction although progress is sometimes slow, noting that planning and management of fiscal resources remain "significant challenges."

The Council lifted its ban on Liberian timber in June 2006 in recognition of Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf's efforts in managing the nation's forests. The FDA is tasked with developing a forest policy and a national forest management strategy, among other matters.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO REALIZE RIGHTS OF EVERY CHILD AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY GATHERING

COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO REALIZE RIGHTS OF EVERY CHILD AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY GATHERING
New York, Dec 13 2007 7:00PM
Recognizing the many challenges that remain to improve the lives of the world's children, participants in the General Assembly's special meeting on children today renewed their commitments to promote and protect the rights and well-being of every child.

"We will pursue our common vision of ensuring the well-being of all children in all societies, with a collective sense of urgency," States pledged in a declaration adopted at the end of the three-day gathering at United Nations Headquarters, reaffirming their commitment to realizing the goals set in 2002 to improve the well-being of children.

In "A World Fit for Children" – the plan of action agreed five years ago – governments committed to a set of time-bound and specific goals in four priority areas concerning children: promoting healthy lives; providing quality education; protecting against abuse, exploitation and violence; and combating HIV/AIDS.

States participating in the Assembly's high-level meeting, known as "A World Fit for Children+5," were encouraged by the progress achieved since 2002 but highlighted many persisting challenges, including "unacceptably high" number of children under five who continue to die every year and the toll that malnutrition and diseases continue to take on their lives.

Over 140 speakers participated in the event, including 20 children selected from around the world. In addition, more than 55 Member States included a child in their official delegation.

"The best advocates for children are children themselves," General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/62/statements/eventchildren121207.shtml">stated, expressing his appreciation to all the children that were involved in the preparations for the event and the event itself.

Calling for scaled-up efforts to improve the lives of young people, he added, "we must assure the children that the future they truly deserve and will inherit can be realized through our actions now."
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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DONORS PLEDGE $420 MILLION FOR UN EMERGENCY FUND FOR GLOBAL CRISES

DONORS PLEDGE $420 MILLION FOR UN EMERGENCY FUND FOR GLOBAL CRISES
New York, Dec 13 2007 7:00PM
The top United Nations humanitarian official today welcomed the $420 million pledged by donors for a landmark fund which has significantly reduced the time in which aid is delivered to those most in need.

Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes convened a high-level conference in New York in support of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was approved by the General Assembly in December 2005.

"CERF is for all and by all," he said, noting that of the 93 total donors – including 85 Member States – more than half are development, some of them recipients of CERF aid.

Today's combined pledges of $420 million for 2008 top the $350 million and $300 million pledged this year and last, respectively.

This surge in voluntary contributions is "not good news for us, it's good news for the people who are likely to benefit from these funds," Mr. Holmes, who also serves as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2007/071213_OCHA.doc.htm">told reporters.

CERF was created to speed up relief operations for emergencies, make funds available quickly after disasters and finance underfunded emergencies.

Mr. Holmes said one third of the funds are made available to address the existing imbalance in global aid distribution which results in millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remaining in need.

The overall target for 2008 is $500 million, which includes $50 million earmarked as a revolving loan fund.

"I think we are within touching distance of that objective," he said.

<"http://www.un.org/ga/president/62/statements/cerf131207.shtml">Speaking at this morning's donors' meeting, Assembly President Srgjan Kerim highlighted the threat posed by climate change, which will increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters.

"'Climate shocks' such as droughts, floods and storms are already among the strongest factors driving poverty," he said. "They will become more frequent as the planet warms."

Mr. Kerim stressed that it is the world's poor who will suffer the most as a result.

Since its launch last March, CERF has committed nearly $600 million to more than 700 humanitarian projects in 59 countries impacted by natural disasters and armed conflicts. Since January 2007, it has disbursed over $212 million to rapid response grants in 48 countries and $124 to underfunded emergencies in almost two dozen nations.

In a related development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Catherine Bragg of Canada as Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), succeeding Margareta Wahlström of Sweden.

Ms. Bragg has served as Director General of the Humanitarian Assistance, Peace and Security Programme in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) since 2004. She also chairs OCHA's Donor Support Group and is a member of CERF's Advisory Group.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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KOSOVO STATUS TALKS FAILED TO PRODUCE AGREEMENT, SAYS REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL

KOSOVO STATUS TALKS FAILED TO PRODUCE AGREEMENT, SAYS REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL
New York, Dec 13 2007 7:00PM
Belgrade and Pristina have been unable to reach agreement on the final status of Kosovo, the Serbian province administered by the United Nations since 1999, despite four months of intense and high-level negotiations, according to a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/723">report just submitted to the Security Council.

"Neither party was willing to cede its position on the fundamental question of sovereignty," concluded the report of the troika, comprising the European Union, Russia and the United States, that was set up to lead the recent negotiations.

The troika was itself created by the so-called Contact Group of countries – the US, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Russia – which conveyed this report to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who then transmitted it to the Council this week.

The troika was established after a stalemate emerged over a proposal by Mr. Ban's Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, for a phased process of independence for the province, where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and others by nine to one. Kosovo's Albanian leadership supports independence but Serbia is opposed.

Mr. Ahtisaari declared talks on the future status of the province deadlocked in mid-March, a little more than a month after unveiling his proposals, which aimed to address the demands of a multi-ethnic society.

The plan called for a constitution enshrining principles to protect the rights of all communities, including culture, language, education and symbols, as well as granting specific representation for non-Albanians in key public institutions and requiring that certain laws may only be enacted if a majority of the Kosovo non-Albanian legislative members agree.

It also called for wide-ranging decentralization, focusing in particular on the specific needs and concerns of the Serb community, which would have a high degree of control over its own affairs such as secondary health care, higher education and financial matters, including accepting transparent funding from Serbia. Six new or significantly expanded Kosovo Serb majority municipalities would be set up.

The troika's report expressed regret over the failure to reach a negotiated settlement, saying it was in the best interests of both sides to do so. But it added that the negotiations process had still been useful.

"Under our auspices, the parties engaged in the most sustained and intense high-level direct dialogue since hostilities ended in Kosovo in 1999. Through this process, the parties discovered areas where their interests aligned. The parties also agreed on the need to promote and protect multi-ethnic societies and address difficult issues holding back reconciliation, particularly the fate of missing persons and the return of displaced persons.

"Perhaps most important, Belgrade and Pristina reaffirmed the centrality of their European perspective to their future relations, with both sides restating their desire to seek a future under the common roof of the European Union."

The troika also noted that it had extracted important commitments from the two sides, including a pledge that they would not use violence and refrain from any actions that might jeopardize the security situation in Kosovo and elsewhere.

"We note that Kosovo and Serbia will continue to be tied together due to the special nature of their relationship, especially in its historical, human, geographical, economical and cultural dimensions."

The report also concluded that the settlement of Kosovo's status was critical to the stability and security of both the Western Balkans region and Europe as a whole.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS STAY IN BALI TO PURSUE CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS STAY IN BALI TO PURSUE CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS
New York, Dec 13 2007 6:00PM
To continue forging ahead with his efforts to bring about a successful conclusion to the landmark United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has extended his visit to the South-East Asian nation.

"The Secretary-General has decided to remain in Bali longer than originally scheduled because of the very critical phase of the negotiating process at the <"http://www.un.org/climatechange/">Climate Change Conference," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

"The successful launch of the negotiation process is a top priority for the Secretary-General, as well as the defining issue of our time, and he will devote as much effort as needed"

In his third day in Bali, Mr. Ban held intensive bilateral discussions with government ministers – the environmental ministers of China, India and Japan, China's Minister of National Development and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources – and business leaders attending the three-day high-level portion of the Conference.

Also meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, who arrived today in Indonesia, where the two conferred on the current state of negotiations and key issues, including technology dissemination and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.

Additionally, they discussed how the negotiation process can proceed, as well as the Adaptation Fund, which aims to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries.

Mr. Ban also took part in a special session organized by the Indonesian President for the heads of State and government attending the Conference.

"Throughout the day, the Secretary-General continued to stress that the parties need to agree to launch negotiations here in Bali, agree on a clear agenda for those negotiations, and set a definite time line for the conclusion of negotiations – by 2009," Ms. Okabe said.

Tomorrow, Mr. Ban departs Bali for a visit to Timor-Leste.

In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?">WFP) today urged action to help the world's poorest adapt to climate change.

"We are now facing a 'perfect storm' of challenges around the world, where climate change is combining with a boom in commodity prices, slipping levels of food aid, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS to increase the vulnerability of more and more people," said the agency's Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

The poorest and most vulnerable – who reside in countries heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture – are invariably most susceptible to the detrimental effects of global warming, she added.

Meanwhile, the <"http://www.cbd.int/climate/">Convention on Biological Diversity, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Themes/climatechange/">UNEP), today <"http://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2007/pr-2007-12-13-adaptation-en.pdf">launched a new adaptation <"http://adaptation.cbd.int/">website to further efforts to allow all of the planet's life forms to cope with climate change.

The Earth's numerous ecosystems and species must adapt to global warming, and this new site brings together tools created by governments, organizations and agencies to take stock of biodiversity considerations in their larger adaptation planning.

Thus, this scheme "has the potential of being a major tool to enhance synergies between biodiversity and climate change," said Ahmed Djoghlaf, the Convention's Executive Secretary.

Also, the UN is partnering with the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) to kick-start the spread in Africa of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, which allow industrialized countries to generate credits through investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries, by opening a new carbon forum in Senegal next September.

While nearly 900 such projects are in existence in 49 developing nations, a mere 2.6 per cent are in Africa.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES WORLD TO STEP UP SUPPORT FOR DARFUR PEACEKEEPING FORCE

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES WORLD TO STEP UP SUPPORT FOR DARFUR PEACEKEEPING FORCE
New York, Dec 13 2007 5:00PM
Noting that this is a "critical point" regarding the deployment of an African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan, Secretary-General appealed for the world to step up its support for the mission.

To deploy the force as soon as possible, "this requires capabilities on the ground – capabilities which we need UN Member States to provide, but which is still dangerously lacking," he said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11331.doc.htm">message to the three-day World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in Rome.

Most strikingly, Mr. Ban pointed out, is the lack of helicopters. "In the past weeks and months, I have contacted, personally, every possible contributor of helicopters – in the Americas, in Europe, in Asia. And yet, not one helicopter has been made available yet."

He urged governments – in regions such as Europe, Asia and the Americas where thousands of different types of military helicopters exist – to bolster their support for the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

In his message, the Secretary-General also congratulated United States actors George Clooney and Don Cheadle, who both received the 2007 Peace Summit Award for their efforts to raise awareness about the humanitarian suffering in Darfur.

Earlier this week, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former US Vice-President Al Gore accepted this year's Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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PAST DECADE THE WARMEST EVER, SAYS UN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY

PAST DECADE THE WARMEST EVER, SAYS UN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY
New York, Dec 13 2007 5:00PM
The past decade has been the warmest on record, with this year's global mean surface temperature 0.41 degrees Celsius, or 0.74 degrees Fahrenheit, above the 1961-1990 annual average, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_805_en.html">WMO) announced today.

This January marked the warmest January ever, with a global average temperature of 12.7 degrees Celsius, or 54.9 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the January average between 1961 and 1990 of 12.1 degrees Celsius or 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

The agency's analysis is based on two different sources: the United Kingdom's Hadley Centre and the Climactic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, which both rank this year as the seventh warmest ever; and the United States Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which indicated that 2007 is on track to be the fifth warmest on record.

Record-low Arctic sea ice extent, which led to the first recorded opening of the Canadian Northwest Passage; the relatively small Antarctic ozone hole; and the rise of La Niña in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific are other major climate-related events which occurred this year.

In a related development, the UN International Telecommunications Union (<"http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/38.html">ITU) wrapped up its three-day Global Forum on "Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT for Disaster Management: Saving Lives."

Sami Al Basheer Al Morshi, Director of the agency's Telecommunication Development Bureau, said, "We have seen through first-hand experience the power and potential of telecommunications to save lives in times of disaster."

Representatives from 174 governments, 18 international organizations, 18 private sector groups and 53 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the Geneva Forum.

The event also saw the launch of the ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE), which seeks to make telecommunications resources available for government agencies which are responsible for disaster relief, humanitarian workers, as well as victims of disasters.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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AFTER LATEST BOMBING, LEBANON SEEKS ASSISTANCE OF UN PROBE INTO HARIRI KILLING

AFTER LATEST BOMBING, LEBANON SEEKS ASSISTANCE OF UN PROBE INTO HARIRI KILLING
New York, Dec 13 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has received a letter from the Lebanese Government requesting help in the investigation of yesterday's bombing in eastern Beirut that killed a senior member of the country's armed forces and at least one of his bodyguards.

Mr. Ban has transmitted the letter from Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, in which he seeks "technical assistance," on to the Security Council, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters today.

The International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), which was set up by the Council, is already probing the February 2005 assassination of the former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others following a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut. It is also examining 18 other recent murders or attempted murders of politicians or other prominent figures in Lebanon.

Media reports say General Francois el-Hajj and his bodyguard died after the car in which they were travelling was destroyed when a bomb detonated in the eastern suburbs of Beirut yesterday morning.

The blast was immediately condemned by Mr. Ban and the Security Council in separate statements. The Council's presidential statement was adopted after the 15-member body heard a briefing from Geir Pedersen, the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet about the latest developments in the Middle Eastern country.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON NEW UN-BACKED PACT TO PROTECT SHARKS

GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON NEW UN-BACKED PACT TO PROTECT SHARKS
New York, Dec 13 2007 5:00PM
Dozens of governments agreed in principle today to a new United Nations global agreement to protect sharks, which have long been neglected by conservationists and overexploited by the modern fishing industry.

Three of the largest and most iconic shark species – migratory whale, great white and basking sharks – have been singled out for protection in the agreement reached after a three-day meeting, also attended by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and fisheries bodies, in the Indian Ocean nation of Seychelles.

The meeting was organized by the Convention on Migratory Species, an intergovernmental treaty concluded under the aegis of the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/">UNEP) that seeks to conserve wildlife and habitats on a global scale.

Although it had been feared that the interests of individual fisheries would thwart an agreement from being reached, the meeting's chairman, Rolph Payet, announced that Governments had resolved their differences.

To be finalized next year, the agreement will promote cooperation among governments, fisheries bodies, scientists and NGOs, as well as further efforts to conserve sharks, including putting controls on shark finning given the surging worldwide demand for fins as a luxury food.

It also includes encourages the creation of a global shark database and identifying and protecting critical shark habitats and migration routes.

Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of UNEP/CMS, said that this latest agreement brings the total number of new agreements having secured international approval to eight this year. Aside from sharks, these cover the following endangered migratory animals: ruddy-headed geese, birds of prey, sea cows, small whales, Mediterranean monk seals, grassland birds and gorillas.

"The challenge now is to get these new agreements into full operation so they can change the survival prospects of all these precious species," he observed.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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TIMOR-LESTE: UN OFFICIAL STRESSES NEED FOR CREDIBLE STATE INSTITUTIONS

TIMOR-LESTE: UN OFFICIAL STRESSES NEED FOR CREDIBLE STATE INSTITUTIONS
New York, Dec 13 2007 4:00PM
Building strong State institutions, particularly a credible security sector, will be vital if Timor-Leste is to resolve many of the issues that continue to plague the young nation, a visiting senior United Nations official said today.

"Without a credible security sector that has the trust of the people, that is not seen… to be aligned with one group or another, the State of Timor-Leste will remain weak," Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Marie Guéhenno said in an interview with UN Radio.

Mr. Guéhenno is currently in Timor-Leste, which the UN helped shepherd to independence in 2002, ahead of an official visit by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tomorrow.

The peacekeeping chief said that the crisis which engulfed the tiny nation last year showed the weaknesses of the State, particularly its police force. While police training has been a key component of the UN's involvement in Timor-Leste, building a credible and viable security sector will require "much more work" that goes beyond the training of an individual police officer, he said.

"I think we have to be there for several more years," Mr. Guéhenno stated, adding that the country had "major internal problems that need to be resolved."

While in Timor-Leste, Mr. Guéhenno has met with representatives of political parties, civil society and women's groups, and visited a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

His visit follows a recent mission by Security Council members who also had an opportunity to see first-hand the challenges facing the country, having met with a wide range of people from the Government, civil society and the UN family, including the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

In its report on the 24 to 30 November visit, which the 15-member body discussed in a formal meeting today, Council members noted that rebuilding the confidence of the population in State and security institutions, addressing the fate of about 100,000 IDPs and resolving land and property disputes "are all very real challenges facing the nation in 2007 and beyond."
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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ON ARRIVAL IN ALGIERS, TOP UN OFFICIAL VISITS VICTIMS' FAMILIES, WOUNDED

ON ARRIVAL IN ALGIERS, TOP UN OFFICIAL VISITS VICTIMS' FAMILIES, WOUNDED
New York, Dec 13 2007 3:00PM
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2007/december/dervis-press-statement-algiers-20071213.en;jsessionid=anSBpHocKdth">UNDP) is in Algiers where he is meeting with the families of the victims of Tuesday's bombings, which claimed the lives of at least 11 UN staff members, and visiting those who were injured.

Kemal Dervis, who was sent to the Algerian capital by the Secretary-General to represent the entire UN family, said, "I am here to offer my support to the families of those killed in the attacks and to send to the people of Algeria a strong message of solidarity from the United Nations."

The UN said today that two more UN staff members are known to have died, in addition to the nine the Organization confirmed yesterday, and five are still missing. "Our effort to recover and identify bodies is continuing," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

Upon his arrival in Algiers yesterday, Mr. Dervis visited the UNDP office that was struck by a car bomb on Tuesday morning. The building, which also housed staff from a number of other UN agencies, was destroyed in the attack while the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, located across the street, was damaged. A second car bomb exploded near a government building.

He also met with the UN Country Team and representatives from several agencies whose staff sustained casualties.

Following his visit to local hospitals to meet with injured staff, Mr. Dervis said it was sad to see the impact of the attack on his colleagues, adding, that "the victims are not soldiers who signed up for battle, but people, mostly Algerians, who are working for peace, development and to alleviate human suffering."

Mr. Dervis also met with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, and expressed appreciation for the Government's efforts with the rescue operation.

"We are committed to continue working in Algeria," Mr. Dervis stated. "But staff security is of the utmost importance to us and host governments around the world have to do their maximum to provide protection for our offices," he affirmed.

Mr. Ban has also sent top officials from his Executive Office and the Department of Safety and Security to Algiers to determine how best to aid those injured in the attack and the families of the victims.

He has also ordered an immediate review of the Organization's security precautions and policies, stressing that "the security and welfare of UN staff is paramount."
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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SUDAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE NORTH-SOUTH ISSUES

SUDAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE NORTH-SOUTH ISSUES
New York, Dec 13 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement by the two parties to the landmark 2005 peace accord which ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan that they have resolved many of their outstanding issues.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2910">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban commended the Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) "for their commitment to preserve the integrity of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) through dialogue and partnership."

Recent discussions between the two sides "have resulted in an agreement on a number of key outstanding issues, with the exception of Abyei," a disputed region between the north and south, and Mr. Ban voiced hope that the decisions reached by the two sides will be quickly implemented.

"It is hoped that the Presidency will expedite a resolution to the issue of Abyei, which is essential in order to establish a firm basis for the next phase of the peace process."

The agreement also paves the way for the return of SPLM members to the Government of National Unity. The group had suspended its participation in early October.

In the statement Mr. Ban reiterated that the full implementation of the CPA is in the interest of both parties and "fundamental for lasting peace and stability in Sudan and the region. The United Nations stands ready to discuss with the parties how it can further assist them in ensuring the successful implementation of the Agreement."

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is tasked with helping the parties implement the CPA, which brought an end to 21 years of brutal civil war that displaced millions of people.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO BEGINS TWO-DAY VISIT TO WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS, AID WORKERS

MIGIRO BEGINS TWO-DAY VISIT TO WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS, AID WORKERS
New York, Dec 13 2007 2:00PM
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is heading today to Washington for talks with senior United States officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), women leaders and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ms. Migiro is scheduled to meet John Negroponte, the US Deputy Secretary of State, later this afternoon, United Nations spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

Tomorrow morning the Deputy Secretary-General will address InterAction, a coalition of NGOs, on the world body's development and humanitarian assistance agenda for 2008.

Ms. Migiro will also attend a luncheon with women leaders that is hosted by the UN Foundation, before heading to the IMF for talks with its senior officials.

This is Ms. Migiro's first official visit to the US capital in her current capacity.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE CHIEF BEGINS VISIT TO VOLATILE EASTERN DR CONGO

UN REFUGEE CHIEF BEGINS VISIT TO VOLATILE EASTERN DR CONGO
New York, Dec 13 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations refugee chief today starts a five-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where tens of thousands of people are on the move again in the volatile east of the country after some of the worst fighting since the civil war ended in 2003.

António Guterres is expected to fly over the conflict zone in North Kivu province and assess UN operations there, according to a press release issued by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/home.html">UNHCR) in Geneva.

An estimated 800,000 Congolese are now internally displaced within North Kivu, including 170,000 who have been forced to flee in only the past four months since fighting escalated between Government forces (known as FARDC), renegade troops loyal to General Laurent Nkunda and rebels.

The security situation is so difficult that UNHCR teams and other relief workers are unable to reach many areas of North Kivu, which borders Rwanda and Uganda in the far east of the vast DRC.

Yesterday Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement through his spokesperson expressing alarm at the intense fighting and its impact on civilians.

"The United Nations is working closely with the Government of the DRC and with others to help bring peace and security to this troubled region," the statement noted. "The Secretary-General calls on the forces of Laurent Nkunda to lay down their arms."

More than 4,500 blue helmets with the UN peacekeeping mission to the DRC (known by its French acronym MONUC) have been deployed to North Kivu to help ensure the defence of Goma, the provincial capital, and the key town of Saké.

Before leaving Geneva, Mr. Guterres said he was "deeply concerned by the suffering of the people and the terrible humanitarian situation they are facing, made even worse by this fresh round of fighting. I also want to visit our staff who are working under great pressure and security constraints to provide those displaced with the assistance and protection they badly need."

The High Commissioner is scheduled to arrive tonight in Kinshasa, the DRC capital, where he will hold talks tomorrow with President Laurent Kabila. Then he is slated to head to Goma, where he will meet with local authorities, MONUC officials, UN agencies and partner humanitarian organizations. He will also visit areas where the displaced are sheltering, including camps and makeshift sites that are already reaching full capacity.

The eastern DRC remains the most violent region in the country, where MONUC has otherwise overseen the transition from a six-year civil war that cost 4 million lives in fighting and attendant hunger and disease – widely considered the most lethal conflict in the world since World War II – to gradual stabilization, culminating in the first democratic elections in over four decades last year.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON PLEDGES TO SPARE NO EFFORT TO ENSURE SAFETY OF UN STAFF

BAN KI-MOON PLEDGES TO SPARE NO EFFORT TO ENSURE SAFETY OF UN STAFF
New York, Dec 13 2007 1:00PM
As information continues to emerge about the toll from Tuesday's deadly bombings in Algiers, which killed a number of United Nations staff members, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today assured the world body's staff that he will spare no effort to ensure their safety.

"Let me assure all UN staff around the world: I will spare no effort in ensuring we provide adequate security for you, wherever you serve," Mr. Ban said in his second letter to UN staff since the blasts rocked the Algerian capital.

"We will look at all possible ways, with all parts of the system, and with Member States, to ensure that this is done," he added.

At least eleven UN staff members are among the dozens killed in the attacks, and several more are injured and missing. Rescue workers helped to remove several UN staff alive from the rubble, and they are now receiving medical treatment.

Mr. Ban has dispatched a team of his top aides to Algiers to visit the injured and the families of those national staff who were lost, and also to report back to him on the overall situation.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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UN COURT RULES DISPUTED ISLANDS IN CARIBBEAN SEA BELONG TO COLOMBIA

UN COURT RULES DISPUTED ISLANDS IN CARIBBEAN SEA BELONG TO COLOMBIA
New York, Dec 13 2007 1:00PM
The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, ruled today that three Caribbean Sea islands disputed by Nicaragua and Colombia belong to the latter country because a 1928 treaty between the two nations settled the issue.

But judges at the <"http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/index.php?pr=1983&pt=1&p1=6&p2=1&PHPSESSID=76d5041ff7c1a29023386af8c7ddbd7d">ICJ, which sits in The Hague, also ruled that they do have jurisdiction to rule on the sovereignty of three other cays and the delimitation of the maritime boundary between Colombia and Nicaragua.

Nicaragua had launched action at the ICJ, arguing that it should be granted sovereignty over the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, and over the cays of Roncador, Quitasueño and Serrana.

But Colombia raised a series of preliminary objections, arguing that the 1928 treaty between the two nations and the 1948 Pact of Bogotá mean the Court does not have jurisdiction.

By a majority of 13 to four, the judges found that the treaty had settled the question over the three islands, noting that Nicaragua did not contest the treaty's validity for more than 50 years after it was signed.

"At no time in those 50 years did Nicaragua contend that the treaty was invalid for whatever reason, including that it had been concluded in violation of its constitution or under foreign coercion," according to today's judgement. "On the contrary, Nicaragua has, in significant ways, acted as if the 1928 treaty was valid."

But the judges found unanimously that the Court can adjudicate on the three cays – which the treaty specified it did not cover – and on the maritime delimitation between Nicaragua and Colombia.

Also known as the World Court, the ICJ hears disputes between States and its decisions are binding and without appeal.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS DEATH OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT

SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS DEATH OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT
New York, Dec 13 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his profound sadness at learning of the death of Yuli Vorontsov, the Russian diplomat who coordinated international efforts aimed at recovering the remains of Kuwaitis and other nationals missing since Iraq's 1990 invasion.

Mr. Vorontsov, who passed away yesterday was "a distinguished diplomat… [who] showed dedication and tireless effort" to his work, whether working with the UN on the Kuwait issue or as his country's First Deputy Foreign Minister and Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General wishes to convey his heartfelt condolences to the family of Ambassador Vorontsov and to the Government of the Russian Federation. He will be mourned with profound respect and affection by friends around the world."

In February 2000, Mr. Vorontsov was appointed as the High-level Coordinator in relation to the issues detailed in a 1999 Security Council resolution on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In that post he coordinated efforts to repatriate or return all Kuwaiti and third country nationals, or their remains, and to return all Kuwaiti property.

Mr. Vorontsov died just a few days after returning from Kuwait, where he held consultations and prepared the Secretary-General's most recent report on the progress towards recovering and identifying the missing persons and property.
2007-12-13 00:00:00.000

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