BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES ELECTION OF NEW PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES ELECTION OF NEW PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA
New York, Dec 20 2007 2:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated Lee Myung-bak on becoming elected as the next President of the Republic of Korea.
Mr. Ban "notes that the Republic of Korea is a highly valued and steadfast partner of the United Nations in the work for international peace and security, development and human rights," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.
He voiced hope that under Mr. Lee's leadership, the East Asian nation will increase its already "active engagement" in promoting the UN's agenda, ranging from tackling climate change, contributing to peacekeeping, achieving development goals and pushing for human rights.
"The Secretary-General also looks to the Republic of Korea to play an instrumental role in further consolidating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, including through denuclearization, and in Northeast Asia as a whole," the statement said.
2007-12-20 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE'S IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE WRAPS UP

UN-BACKED MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE'S IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE WRAPS UP
New York, Dec 20 2007 12:00PM
With climate change threatening agriculture in Asia, 10 nations met in a three-day United Nations-sponsored meeting in Hanoi, Viet Nam, to discuss sustainable farming practices to feed growing populations.

The UN World Meteorological Organization held its Regional Association Asia Working Group on Agricultural Meteorology meeting from 17-19 December, which was attended by representatives from China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.

Global warming is responsible for more frequent and serious droughts, floods and storms across Asia, and this is expected to intensify in the future. Seven of the 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events last year were Asian: the Philippines, the Democratic Peopleâ??s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Indonesia, Viet Name, India, China and Afghanistan.

This year, floods in China have forced nearly 800,000 people from their homes, caused almost $400 million worth of damage and affected over 300,000 hectares of crops. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, more than 3,000 people were killed and millions were left homeless when Cyclone Sidr struck on 15 November.

"In view of the growing populations in Asia and the need for secure access to food for these populations, indoor and urban agriculture is also receiving special attention to make most efficient use of space using controlled environments," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

Participants conferred on issues critical to promoting sustainable agriculture in the region, including drought response, impacts of climate change, water resources, pest and diseases.

WMO recommends countries invest more in urban and indoor agriculture that can assist greatly in providing food for the hundreds of millions of people living in Asian cities whose populations are surging.

The agency also measures providing seasonal prediction and early warning systems are crucial, as well as monitoring syste
to guide farmersâ?? decisions on when, where and what crop is best to grow. Forecasts can also help in better managing the spread of pests and diseases.
2007-12-20 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED PROJECT AIMS TO JUMP START ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GUINEA-BISSAU

UN-BACKED PROJECT AIMS TO JUMP START ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GUINEA-BISSAU
New York, Dec 20 2007 12:00PM
A new project backed by the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will boost the incomes and living conditions of some 100,000 rural poor in Guinea-Bissau.

With a $4.7 million IFAD grant, the $5.6 million Rural Rehabilitation and Community Development Project will focus on rebuilding communities with the participation of local public administration, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.
It will also bolster the role of the most vulnerable groups, including women and youth, in Guinea-Bissau, which was wracked by three decades of political instability and a civil war after gaining independence in 1973.
"The political scenario has evolved positively since 1999," said Cristiana Sparacino, IFAD's country programme manager in the West African nation. "There are encouraging signs that the new multi-party system can resolve political crises within a framework of democratic institutions."
She urged the international community to provide urgent support to help the country to achieve economic development.
The initiative's activities will be built around innovations proposed by participants themselves, and a local initiative fund will provide financial support to those who form partnerships to create new local rural development projects.
To date, IFAD has supported other projects in Guinea-Bissau totaling more than $20 million.
2007-12-20 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: SECURITY COUNCIL APPEALS FOR DIALOGUE TOWARDS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

SOMALIA: SECURITY COUNCIL APPEALS FOR DIALOGUE TOWARDS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
New York, Dec 19 2007 7:00PM
The Security Council today called on all sides in Somalia to use peaceful means to consolidate peace in the East African nation that has not had a functioning national government since 1991.

Foreign Minister Massimo D'alema of Italy, which holds the Council's rotating presidency this month, read out a statement urging "all Somali parties to reject violence and… to enter into substantial dialogue aimed at achieving a full and all-inclusive national reconciliation."

The 15-member body lauded last month's appointment of Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, which "offers a renewed opportunity to make further progress on dialogue and political reconciliation," as well as on tackling the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Mr. Hussein's appointment, the Council said, also bodes well for the implementation of the National Reconciliation Congress' outcomes, "leading to a road map for the remainder of the Transitional Period and democratic elections in Somalia, as set out in the Transitional Federal Charter."

The Council also welcomed a briefing it received earlier this week from Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, who warned the body that "the situation in Somalia is dangerous and becoming more so each day."

He cautioned that "business as usual" would have dire consequences for both the country and the greater region, and called for immediate and effective action on the political and security fronts, with the objective of forming a government that can support itself and administer the country effectively.

In today's statement, the Council also took note of the 6 December briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who recounted his recent visit to Somalia and estimated that some 1.5 million people there are in need of aid.

"The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation, aggravated by the prevailing security conditions in Somalia, and emphasizes again the need for strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia," Mr. D'alema said.

In addition, the Council appealed for unobstructed access for aid workers to vulnerable populations.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL CONVENES MEETING OF 'GROUP OF FRIENDS' ON MYANMAR

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONVENES MEETING OF 'GROUP OF FRIENDS' ON MYANMAR
New York, Dec 19 2007 6:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today convened the first meeting of a group of 14 nations to assist him in his efforts to spur change in the troubled South-East Asian nation.

The "Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar" will be "a consultative forum for developing a shared approach in support of the implementation of the Secretary-General's good offices mandate," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Consisting of Australia, Indonesia, Russia, United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Viet Nam, France, Norway, Thailand, India, Portugal and the United Kingdom, the Group will meet as needed in an informal format, she added.

Also attending today's meeting was the Secretary-General's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari, who has visited Myanmar twice since the Government used force to crack down on peaceful protesters just a few months ago.

Mr. Gambari told reporters yesterday that he expects to return to Myanmar by next month.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR AS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

BAN KI-MOON REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR AS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Dec 19 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today looked back on his busy first year in office, which took him to nearly 40 countries or territories on six continents to push for progress in four main areas – United Nations reform, climate change, human rights and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and international security.

"I have not sat still this year," said Mr. Ban, who has flown over 125,000 miles since taking office at the start of this year.

He reiterated his call for the need to "change the UN culture and re-engineer the United Nations for life in our fast-modern world." While the UN must reform to better respond to global challenges, it must simultaneously attain the highest standards in ethics, transparency and accountability, he added.

To this end, the Secretary-General is working to reorganize key departments, including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs.

Mr. Ban also highlighted his efforts in the fight against global warming, which he has called "the defining issue of our era" and which he has made his top priority.

Those efforts – including his trips to places such as Antarctica and the Amazon and his convening of the largest-ever gathering of heads of State to discuss the issue – culminated in the landmark UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, which ended last week.

In Bali delegates "took a vital first step" towards reaching a comprehensive accord to replace the current Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012, the Secretary-General said.

"This is the year's key achievement," he declared.

This year marks the halfway point for the MDGs, eight targets to slash poverty and other ills by 2015, and the Secretary-General pointed out that despite progress made, challenges remain.

"For the poorest of the world's poor, economic and social advancement should be considered an innate human right," he said, adding that he will expend great effort in 2008 to bolstering the UN's role in development.

In the 132 days he has spent on the road this year, Mr. Ban said he has visited a half dozen UN peacekeeping missions, including the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) known as MONUC to the Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

He highlighted the crucial role of the UN in Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh and the occupied Palestinian territories.

At the same time, he noted that "no geopolitical issue has absorbed more of my time than Darfur." While no advances towards peace were being made last year, there are peace talks underway now and a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force is on the verge of deployment, he pointed out.

"The challenge for the coming year is to work continuously with the [Sudanese] government, rebel movements, representatives of civil society and regional leaders, as well as the UN Security Council and the international community, to ensure the ultimate success of both the talks and the military mission," he said.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO ERADICATE POVERTY

BAN KI-MOON URGES COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO ERADICATE POVERTY
New York, Dec 19 2007 5:00PM
While a partnership between developed and developing countries is important, cooperation among developing countries themselves is central to global efforts to eradicate poverty, stimulate economic growth and promote sustainable development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Such cooperation "is a vital means of attracting trade and investment flows and achieving sustainable debt financing," he said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11341.doc.htm">message marking the UN Day for South-South Cooperation, observed annually on 19 December.

"It can also serve to promote increased international financial and technical cooperation for development. In addition, South-South cooperation helps developing countries learn how best to apply successful policies and practices in a context that reflects their national priorities," he added.

Noting that development successes remained uneven across the South, he said much more must be done to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to drastically slash poverty, hunger and maternal and child mortality, and boost access to health care and education, all by 2015.

"Nearly 1 billion people remain in extreme poverty," Mr. Ban stressed. "All regions are off track to reach the target for reducing child mortality, and one third of all children in developing countries lack access to improved sanitation.

"In the face of this stark reality, the international community must reinvigorate efforts to meet its commitments. Countries of the South must use their growing surpluses to reach development goals, including by funding public goods, creating and distributing vaccines, supporting agricultural research and development, establishing social insurance systems, enhancing access to credit for the poor, and improving transportation and communications structures."

At the same time, he said the world must stay focused on the effects of climate change, which threaten to undermine much of the progress that has been achieved so far. In addition, resources mobilized for development must be used effectively.

UN agencies, funds and programmes must better coordinate their activities, particularly in the area of South-South cooperation, to address development challenges that are beyond the capacity of any one country to tackle alone.

"I am committed to strengthening and streamlining United Nations support for South-South cooperation," he concluded. "As we mark this International Day, let us all pledge our best efforts to enable the countries of the South to free their citizens from want."
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN VOICES CONCERN AT ATTACKS AGAINST HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS

DR CONGO: UN VOICES CONCERN AT ATTACKS AGAINST HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS
New York, Dec 19 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) today voiced serious concern over attacks by armed groups involving humanitarian vehicles and staff in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting and spiralling lawlessness has displaced hundreds of thousands of people over the past year.

"We are requesting the Government and all armed groups present in this zone to take all necessary measures urgently to improve security and facilitate access for humanitarian organizations on the ground," OCHA said in a statement.

It cited more than 10 incidents in 2007 involving vehicles and humanitarian staff in the Goma and Rutshuru areas, where fighting has flared recently between Government troops and rebels allied to dissident army general Laurent Nkunda.

Just last Sunday, a vehicle of an international non-governmental organization (NGO) was attacked in the town of Nyongera in the middle of the day while the population watched helplessly.

Despite such systematic violations of humanitarian principles, aid organizations have maintained their field operations to help hundreds of thousands of displaced and vulnerable people. For the last two weeks, these organizations have been helping local health authorities fight a cholera outbreak in Rutshuru.

Three international organizations have already announced that they will suspend their operations from tomorrow for 48 hours "to re-evaluate the security situation and to make the parties to the conflict realize the risks related to a withdrawal of humanitarian presence in the event of a more serious incident," OCHA said.

Although the DRC held its first democratic elections in over four decades last year, solidifying its 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 – fighting has continued in the volatile east of the vast country.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES KOSOVO'S FUTURE STATUS

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES KOSOVO'S FUTURE STATUS
New York, Dec 19 2007 5:00PM
The Security Council today held a private debate over the future status of Kosovo, a Serbian province where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other minorities by nine to one.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the debate, as did Vojislav Kostunica, Serbia's Prime Minister, and Fatmir Sejdiu, the President of Kosovo, which has been run by the UN since Western forces drove out Yugoslav forces amid inter-ethnic fighting in 1999.

Earlier this month, a report submitted to the Council by the troika – comprising the European Union, Russia and the United States – noted that despite four months of intense and high-level negotiations, Belgrade and Pristina have been unable to reach agreement on Kosovo's final status. The province's Albanian leadership supports independence but Serbia is opposed.

"Neither party was willing to cede its position on the fundamental question of sovereignty," the report said.

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 Kosovo.

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.

His 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.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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UN CAMPAIGN WARNS MIGRANTS ABOUT DANGERS OF CROSSING GULF OF ADEN

UN CAMPAIGN WARNS MIGRANTS ABOUT DANGERS OF CROSSING GULF OF ADEN
New York, Dec 19 2007 5:00PM
With more than 1,400 people having lost their lives this year while illegally crossing the Gulf of Aden, the United Nations refugee agency has started a new campaign in the Horn of Africa to highlight the dangers of making the perilous voyage to Yemen.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/476923284.html">UNHCR) is distributing colourful leaflets containing drawings and text printed in Somali and in three Ethiopian dialects throughout Somalia's Puntland region, while radio spots have been broadcast since October.

The advocacy campaign, which is currently being extended to South/Central Somalia and Ethiopia, also informs asylum-seekers coming from nearby countries that they can seek asylum directly in Somalia. In addition, it asks host communities to treat migrants humanely.

So far this year, more than 1,400 people – or one out of every 20 – died in the Gulf of Aden, killed by smugglers or drowned at sea, while over 28,300 people made it ashore on 300 boats, UNHCR announced yesterday.

This includes over 150 who lost their lives just this past weekend, UNHCR spokesperson Astrid van Genderen Stort told reporters in Geneva, noting that "once again, the Gulf of Aden has taken its toll."

Along with the campaign, the agency has stepped up its work in Yemen over the past year under a $7 million operation. It is also planning to expand its presence along the remote, 300-kilometre Yemeni coastline with the opening of two additional field offices next year.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS LIBERIA SANCTIONS FOR ANOTHER YEAR

SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS LIBERIA SANCTIONS FOR ANOTHER YEAR
New York, Dec 19 2007 4:00PM
Having assessed the progress made so far in meeting the conditions for lifting the sanctions, the Security Council today renewed the arms and travel embargoes imposed against Liberia for another 12 months.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1792, the Council also <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9209.doc.htm">extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring the sanctions until 20 June 2008 to conduct a follow-up mission to the region to investigate implementation of the measures.

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

As they noted in their most recent report, the experts were invited by Nigeria to visit the country to investigate the allegations. While 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, the Panel was unable to confirm this since it had not yet received copies of the Government's reports.

With regard to the arms embargo, the Panel stated that it had not found any evidence of arms flows across Liberia's borders. However, it expressed concern over the dramatic increase in armed robberies involving firearms and felt the issue should be looked at by the Security Council committee monitoring the arms embargo imposed on Liberia.

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.

In the resolution adopted today, the Council encouraged the Liberian Government to invite the Kimberley Process to conduct a review visit within a year of Liberia's full participation in and implementation of the Scheme. It also encouraged the Process to inform the Council of its assessment of progress made.

Meanwhile, the UN mission in the West African nation, known as UNMIL, is launching an update to the atlas of humanitarian and recovery activities in Liberia that it produced in January. Providing a snapshot of "who is doing what and where," the atlas will make it possible to quickly identify humanitarian needs and gaps and improve coordination among all actors assisting vulnerable populations.

In another development, UNMIL announced that Moses Swaray is the winner of a two-month musical talent search conducted by the Mission and the Liberian Government. Chris Watson and Frances Ewu came in second and third in the contest – "A Star is Born" – which drew about 1,000 applicants nationwide.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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UN FORUM ADOPTS STRATEGY TO AID VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY ORGANIZATION'S STAFF

UN FORUM ADOPTS STRATEGY TO AID VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY ORGANIZATION'S STAFF
New York, Dec 19 2007 4:00PM
In a major step forward in addressing sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel, a working group of the General Assembly today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10682.doc.htm">agreed on a strategy to assist victims, ranging from medical treatment and counselling to social support, legal services and material care.

In addition, the strategy commits the UN to helping children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse.

"This is an important day for the victims, whose suffering can be reduced with the UN's support," the Chair of the working group, Costa Rica's Permanent Representative Jorge Urbina, said.

The UN, which fields nearly 200,000 people from over 100 countries in its peacekeeping missions, has instituted a policy of zero tolerance against sexual abuse and exploitation ever since the problem surfaced in 2004, when a UN report found that a "shockingly large number" of peacekeepers had engaged in such practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The report cited payments for sex sometimes ranging from two eggs to $5 per encounter. The victims included many abandoned orphans who were often illiterate.

Assistant Secretary-General Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Field Support, called today's agreement an important day for the UN. "This policy represents a long overdue measure to strengthen our policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse," she said.

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Margareta Wahlström noted that a comprehensive approach to victim assistance throughout the UN "will greatly enhance the efficacy of assistance efforts and therefore make an important difference in the lives of victims."

The strategy was developed in part as follow-up to the 2005 World Summit, during which Member States called for a comprehensive approach to victim assistance. The strategy is one arm of a broader UN effort to address sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel that includes prevention, enforcement and remedial action.

The adoption of the strategy today was undertaken by an ad hoc open-ended working group. The Assembly is expected to formally adopt the strategy before the current session closes.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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PLANS FOR UN PRESENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD ON TRACK - BAN KI-MOON

PLANS FOR UN PRESENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD ON TRACK – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Dec 19 2007 3:00PM
Preparations for the United Nations-mandated, multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR) – which will include European Union (EU) military forces – are on track, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/739">report.

In September, the Security Council established a new UN peacekeeping mission to Chad and CAR, to be known as MINURCAT to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

"The complementary and parallel deployment" of MINURCAT and the EU troops under a single Council mandate "breaks new ground in peacekeeping operations," Mr. Ban notes.

The Secretary-General says he is "pleased" by the collaboration between the UN and EU, and that he has "no doubt this will continue as the two operations are deployed on the ground."

While he expresses hope that the EU will be able to provide the capacities required for its force, he cautions that if its capabilities are limited, MINURCAT will not be able to deploy in eastern Chad.

"I appeal to all relevant Member States to provide the force requirements necessary to enable the European Union force to deploy with the needed robustness and credibility," Mr. Ban writes.

At the same time, the Secretary-General observes that "the deployment of MINURCAT and the European Union-led peacekeeping force alone will not solve the crisis plaguing the sub-region."

The security situation will be bolstered by the simultaneous deployment of the UN-African Union hybrid force planned for the war-wracked Sudanese region of Darfur, known as UNAMID, as well as progress with the Darfur peace talks, he writes.

Mr. Ban voices concern over the "volatile and unpredictable" security situation in eastern Chad, with violence threatening the civilian population and further thwarting aid workers providing urgently-needed assistance.

Regarding CAR, he lauds the Government's efforts towards an inclusive dialogue, and urges the international community to support them.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAKES TANGIBLE PROGRESS TO REVITALIZE ITSELF, ITS PRESIDENT SAYS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAKES TANGIBLE PROGRESS TO REVITALIZE ITSELF, ITS PRESIDENT SAYS
New York, Dec 19 2007 3:00PM
The 192-member General Assembly is well on the road to revitalizing its role within the United Nations, where the 15-member Security Council makes the binding decisions, and is planning major debates in the coming year on issues ranging from climate change to development funding to management reform, its President said today.

"I think that we have made tangible progress and obvious progress in terms of improving the working methods of the General Assembly, thus making it dynamic and vital," Srgjan Kerim said at an end-of-year news conference in New York.

There was no need even for a resolution on revitalising the Assembly, he said, noting that such a resolution had become "totally superfluous" in light of the very intensive activities and the more constructive and cooperative atmosphere among Member States.

"We cannot behave in terms of business as usual because the agenda, the problems, the challenges we are facing do not allow for that," Mr. Kerim stressed. "So in that regard I have talked to Member States very often that we have to change our mindset and through this our attitude towards the General Assembly in making it a central, vital body of the United Nations which deals with the most important issues and challenges of today's world."

He stressed the importance of thematic debates, such as the one already held on terrorism, which paves the way for the review of the Counter-Terrorism Strategy scheduled for next September.

In February the Assembly will debate climate change following a January debate on financing for development. In April there will be an informal thematic debate on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to drastically slash poverty, hunger and maternal and child mortality, and boost access to health care and education by 2015.

That debate "will be focused on three crucial goals – poverty, education and health," and include business people, academics and all those prepared to assist the UN in implementing the MDGs, Mr. Kerim said.

There will also be plenary meetings in April on management reform, focusing on procurement, accountability and human resources. "That will be a very important exercise in which the Member States will be involved to give their input and their ideas and their options and solutions on what should be a very comprehensive management reform," said the President.

The coming months will be even busier than the past season. "As I said when I was elected in May this year, I promised hard work, a lot of dynamics and a vital General Assembly and I think I have [the] great support of the Member States," he declared.

Mr. Kerim also voiced confidence that the Assembly would soon adopt a multi-billion dollar budget for the UN, citing the "tremendous effort" by Japan, as well as the efforts of the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, India "and many, many countries in making sure that we will have a budget.

"And we will have, but with a very clear message to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat that we would like to see more savings, more measures, more transparency in using the money because this is part of this reform and the budget is the best way we can exercise pressure to implement this reform of management," he added.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has proposed a $4.2 billion budget for the next two years.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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BOSNIAN MUSLIM ARMY CHIEF PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

BOSNIAN MUSLIM ARMY CHIEF PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
New York, Dec 19 2007 3:00PM
A judge at the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes of the Balkan wars of the 1990s today ordered that the former head of the Bosnian Muslim forces be placed under house arrest after he violated the terms of his temporary release from jail by discussing his case with someone other than his lawyers.

Rasim Deli&#263; must be placed under arrest and permanent surveillance by authorities at his residence and can only be released for the purpose of medical treatment, according to an order <"http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1209e.htm">issued by Judge Wolfgang Schomburg of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), which is based in The Hague.

Judge Schomburg said he was satisfied by prosecution arguments that Mr. Deli&#263; had discussed the case, and therefore breached the terms of his provisional release, when he met with Haris Silajdži&#263;, a member of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency.

He also warned that any further infringement – however slight – of the conditions of Mr. Deli&#263;'s release could lead to the termination of that release.

Last month Mr. Deli&#263;, now 58, was granted provisional release from jail in The Hague, where he is facing trial, to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 11 December to 11 January on the understanding that he would abide by certain conditions and return to the Tribunal's custody.

Mr. Deli&#263;, who served as Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina from June 1993 until September 2005, is charged on the basis of his command responsibility for murder, cruel treatment and rape committed by his subordinate forces.

The charges include that he failed to take necessary and reasonable measures to punish those soldiers who executed captured Bosnian Croat civilians and soldiers in two villages in Travnik municipality in central Bosnia.

He also stands accused of failing to prevent the torture, beatings and murders – including a decapitation – committed by subordinates at Kamenica Camp, a detention centre for captured Bosnian Serb soldiers in central Bosnia.

In the most notorious murder, the decapitation of a Bosnian Serb soldier in July 1995, other prisoners were forced to kiss the severed head, which was later placed on a hook on the wall of the room where the prisoners were being held.

Mr. Deli&#263; is also charged over the rape by his subordinates of three women at Kamenica Camp. His trial at the ICTY began in July this year and prosecutors expect to wrap up their case by early next year.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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STAFF AT UN HEADQUARTERS MARCH IN MEMORY OF FALLEN COLLEAGUES IN ALGIERS

STAFF AT UN HEADQUARTERS MARCH IN MEMORY OF FALLEN COLLEAGUES IN ALGIERS
New York, Dec 19 2007 1:00PM
United Nations staff in New York, led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, today honoured the memory of their colleagues who died in the 11 December terrorist attack in Algiers with a silent march in front of the world body's Headquarters.

Seventeen UN staff members lost their lives when a car bomb destroyed the offices of the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP) and damaged those of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) in the Algerian capital. A second car bomb exploded near a court building.

Having just returned from Algiers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2923">told staff at UN Headquarters that his visit to the attack site and his meetings with the families of the victims and the injured were "profoundly emotional and heartbreaking."

At the same time, he was "humbled" by the courage and dignity of the people he met, including the father of a brave Algerian security guard who was killed when he threw himself at the oncoming suicide truck, and a young UN staffer who, after being thrown to the ground by the blast, spent hours digging through the rubble searching for survivors.

"Above all, the experience strengthened my resolve to do everything in my power to improve the security of our staff," Mr. Ban said, noting that he will soon present a proposal for a review of UN security worldwide. He will also push for implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by all 192 Member States last year.

Noting the need to "ensure that the UN family takes care of its own," Mr. Ban said he has asked the Resident Coordinator in Algiers to distribute solidarity payments to families of the fallen and to those injured.

The Secretary-General brought back to New York the tattered flag that had flown outside the UN offices in Algiers at the time of the attack.

"Torn and bruised, but still proud and unbowed, this flag symbolizes the sacrifice of our colleagues, and our determination to persevere," he stated. "Let us honour this flag and the memory of our fallen friends by redoubling our efforts for peace and security, development and human rights around the world."

UN staff that lost their lives in the attack include Hind Boukroufa, Djamel Rezzoug, Saadia Boucelham, Samia Hammoutene, Chadli Hamza and Mohamed Khelladi of Algeria, as well as Steven Olejas of Denmark, all of whom worked for UNDP.

Algerians Adnane Souilah, Kamel Sait and Mustapha Benbara (<" http://www.unfpa.org">UN Population Fund); Hanniche Abel-Rahim (<"http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm">International Labour Organization); Nabil Slimani and Karim Bentebal (UNHCR); Hakim Si Larbi (Joint UN Programme on <"http://www.unaids.org/en/">HIV/AIDS); and Mohamed Laseli (<"http://www.unido.org/">UN Industrial Development Organization) were also killed, as were Gene Luna of the Philippines (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">World Food Programme); and Babacar Ndiaye of Senegal (<" https://dss.un.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx ">Department of Safety and Security).

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.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN OFFICE IN BURUNDI

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN OFFICE IN BURUNDI
New York, Dec 19 2007 1:00PM
Commending Burundi's efforts to consolidate stability and achieve national reconciliation, the Security Council today <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9208.doc.htm">extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in that country, known as BINUB, until the end of next December.

In a unanimously-adopted resolution, the 15-member body approved the renewal of the Office which was opened on 2 January this year to replace the peacekeeping mission known as the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB).

While noting the progress made in the small Great Lakes nation towards rebuilding after decades of conflict, the Council pointed out that it must overcome challenges, particularly the completion of the peace process with the Forces Nationales de Libération (Palipehutu-FNL), the last major rebel hold-out group.

In July, the group withdrew from the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) set up to monitor a ceasefire it signed with the Government last year.

Today's resolution urged the Palipehutu-FNL to return to the JVMM "without delay or preconditions and to immediately release all children associated with it," and urged both sides to last year's Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement to "refrain from any action that might lead to a resumption of hostilities."

In a report late last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that Burundi's deteriorating political condition could roll back progress towards establishing a lasting peace.

"The political crises and institutional paralysis, along with the blockage in the peace process, underscores the fragility of the situation and the continued need for vigilance," he wrote.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF ENDORSES ASSEMBLY CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY

UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF ENDORSES ASSEMBLY CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
New York, Dec 19 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) today <" http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/8D3FC07AEF1BCAE2C12573B600582AD2?opendocument">welcomed the General Assembly's resolution calling on all States to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

"The General Assembly has taken a truly landmark step," said Louise Arbour in a statement issued from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva after yesterday's vote.

"Over 100 States, from all parts of the world, have joined together to call for an end to the death penalty. Never before has there been such wide agreement that the time has come to put an end to this practice, which is an unworthy punishment in the twenty-first century."

In yesterday's vote in an Assembly plenary session, 104 Member States voted in favour of the <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10678.doc.htm">resolution, while 54 voted against and 29 abstained. All Assembly resolutions are non-binding.

Ms. Arbour called on the States that voted against the resolution to reconsider their stance.

"After lengthy and considered negotiation and debate, a clear majority of the States of the world have now spoken and expressed a new standard of conduct in this area. I call on those States that did not feel themselves able to join this vote to reassess their stance and to join the view that has been so clearly and broadly expressed by the General Assembly."

Ms. Arbour's remarks echo a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2921">statement yesterday by a spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which the UN chief also said the Assembly vote was further proof of an emerging trend towards the eventual abolition of capital punishment.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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INDONESIAN MAN SUCCUMBS TO BIRD FLU INFECTION, REPORTS UN HEALTH AGENCY

INDONESIAN MAN SUCCUMBS TO BIRD FLU INFECTION, REPORTS UN HEALTH AGENCY
New York, Dec 19 2007 12:00PM
A 47-year-old man from Indonesia's Banten province on the western tip of the island of Java has become the latest human fatality from avian influenza, the United Nations World Health Organization (<" http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html">WHO) has reported.

Indonesian health officials have confirmed that the man from the province's Tangerang District died last week as a result of contracting the H5N1 virus – responsible for outbreaks of bird flu around the world in recent years.

So far, 93 of the 115 confirmed bird flu cases in Indonesia have been fatal, according to a statement from WHO. The South-East Asian archipelago is one of six countries where the virus is still enzootic, which means it is continuously present and being passed between poultry.

News of the fatality has emerged two days after the UN agency reported that two Pakistanis have died in a separate outbreak of the same virus. A 24-year-old Chinese man from Jiangsu province also died earlier this month.

Last month, the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org">FAO) warned that continued vigilance is necessary to avert a global pandemic of bird flu given that outbreaks are still circulating in many parts of the world, while a joint report from the UN and the <"http://www.worldbank.org">World Bank also urged countries to bolster their readiness.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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PORTUGAL AGREES TO ENFORCE SENTENCES IMPOSED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

PORTUGAL AGREES TO ENFORCE SENTENCES IMPOSED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
New York, Dec 19 2007 11:00AM
Portugal today became the thirteenth European country to <" http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1208e.htm">agree to enforce a sentence imposed by the United Nations war crimes tribunal that was set up to deal with the worst crimes committed during the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

Anyone convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY) and given a jail term can now serve that sentence in a Portuguese prison after an agreement was signed in The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICTY is based.

Italy, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Ukraine have already entered into similar agreements with the Tribunal.

The agreement with Portugal notes that it will only enforce ICTY sentences when the length of the jail term does not exceed the highest maximum sentence for any crime under Portuguese law.

The Tribunal said in a press statement that the agreement will enter into force after it is ratified by the Portuguese Parliament.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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BETTER IRRIGATION METHODS COULD REDUCE ARSENIC THREAT IN RICE, SAYS UN AGENCY

BETTER IRRIGATION METHODS COULD REDUCE ARSENIC THREAT IN RICE, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Dec 19 2007 11:00AM
Improved irrigation practices in Asia could reduce the high levels of arsenic found in rice, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today, warning of the increased food safety risk posed by the toxic substance.

Improved irrigation practices in Asia could reduce the high levels of arsenic found in rice, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000734/index.html">FAO) said today, warning of the increased food safety risk posed by the toxic substance.

The agency noted that arsenic – an odourless and tasteless semi-metal that occurs naturally in rock and soil – enters the food chain mainly through crops absorbing contaminated irrigation water. It can lead to a variety of illnesses including skin disorders, gangrene and cancer of the kidneys and bladder. Currently, 12 Asian countries have reported high arsenic levels in their groundwater resources.

"The problem of high arsenic levels in crops, particularly rice, needs to be urgently addressed by promoting better irrigation and agricultural practices that could reduce arsenic contamination significantly," FAO water quality and environment officer Sasha Koo-Oshima said.

"Arsenic-contaminated rice could aggravate human health when consumed with arsenic-laden drinking water. The widespread addition of arsenic to soils, for example in Bangladesh, is degrading soil quality and causing toxicity to rice. Arsenic contamination is threatening food production, food security and food quality," she noted.

Millions of shallow tube wells have been installed throughout Asia over the last 30 years pumping water from contaminated shallow groundwater aquifers. Bangladesh – where rice is a staple food and consumed in large amounts – has the highest percentage of contaminated shallow tube wells and an estimated 30 million people are dependent on those wells for drinking water and irrigation.

A pilot study conducted in Bangladesh by FAO and Cornell University show that planting rice in raised beds around 15 centimetres above the ground and not in conventional flooded fields significantly reduces the exposure to contaminated irrigation water and produces higher yields. In addition, the raised bed rice acts as a buffer against floods and drought and serves as a measure in climate adaptation.

A related Cornell University project found that between 30 and 40 per cent less irrigation water is needed in raised-bed- system. Fertilizers are also captured better – with the effect that farmers will need less fertilizers.

"The raised-bed system represents a major shift in rice production but tests show that farmers prefer the new approach due to visibly higher yields, water savings, lower tillage and labour costs and production of a safer crop," FAO stated.
2007-12-19 00:00:00.000

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RICH AND POOR NATIONS MUST FORGE AHEAD TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE - UN OFFICIAL

RICH AND POOR NATIONS MUST FORGE AHEAD TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE – UN OFFICIAL
New York, Dec 18 2007 7:00PM
After the successful conclusion of the landmark United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, developed and developing countries alike must continue to build on the momentum generated by the meeting, an official from the world body said today.

"This was not just your average negotiation and it was not just your average UN meeting," Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning, <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/071218_Orr.doc.htm">told reporters in New York. "There was from the very outset high expectations for this meeting. The truth is that those expectations were met."

All three benchmarks set for the Conference by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – the launch of negotiations for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012; a robust agenda for these upcoming talks; and a specific timetable to complete them by 2009 – were achieved.

There were "clear indications" at the Bali gathering that both developing and developed countries are taking the climate change issue very seriously, Mr. Orr pointed out.

From the final outcome document, the so-called Bali Roadmap, "you see a lot more forward-leaning posture from developing countries, that unlike the Kyoto negotiations, said we know that we need to be a part of this," he said.

The fact that poorer nations will play a key role in the coming debate "is no longer up for debate," Mr. Orr noted.

Meanwhile, developed countries also came to the table with a new stance of many topics, particularly regarding technology and financing issues. Prior to Bali, he observed, there was a "reticence to really engage what it's going to take on the technology side or on the issue of the dissemination of technologies around the world."

One of the biggest new subjects discussed at the Conference was deforestation and land use, which was not part of the Kyoto protocol because there was insufficient agreement among countries, he said.

The enthusiasm for the issue was made evident by some concrete commitments made during the two-week meeting, particularly by Norway, which pledged $550 million annually for five years to tackle the problem.

"Norway will no be the last of the major donors in the North that are going to be putting significant money into this," the Assistant Secretary-General told the press.

Looking ahead, the pace of negotiations must pick up and enter an "implementation track," he said, with four meetings to be convened in the coming year instead of the usual lone annual meeting.

Mr. Orr also stressed the recognition by the delegates of the leadership role of Mr. Ban, who attended the Conference as a facilitator, not as a negotiator.

The meeting's most dramatic moment came last Saturday, when talks were running into overtime, Mr. Orr said. The Secretary-General, who had been in Timor-Leste, flew back to the Bali negotiations, where "there were a lot of nerves" because "a lot of things had been agreed but a lot of it was conditional on other things being agreed."

Upon entering the negotiation chamber, the delegates burst into applause and gave Mr. Ban a standing ovation. After appealing to delegates to "go the extra mile" to finalize a deal, participants again gave the Secretary-General a standing ovation, Mr. Orr said.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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IVORIAN PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING VOTERS HAS BEEN POSITIVE SO FAR, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

IVORIAN PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING VOTERS HAS BEEN POSITIVE SO FAR, SAYS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Dec 18 2007 7:00PM
Côte d'Ivoire's mobile court hearings, used as part of the process of identifying voters ahead of planned national elections next year, have been generally positive since they resumed in September, the senior electoral official from the United Nations peacekeeping mission to the country said today.

Ahmedou El Becaye Seck, Chief of the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI), told reporters at a press conference in Abidjan that nearly 1,300 hearings had been held so far and the number of substitute birth certificates granted had far exceeded the number in previous operations.

Another 30 new teams have been added to help with the process, while the National Committee for the Supervision of Identification, known by its French acronym CNSI, will also be reinforced.

Identification of voters – including millions of undocumented Ivorians and foreign-born residents – has been a key issue in the West African country that became divided in 2002 between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north. Free and fair presidential elections are due next year, as part of a peace accord between the Government and the rebels that was signed earlier this year in Ouagadougou, capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Mr. Seck also said that very few incidents had been recorded during the current mobile court operation, in contrast to the previous operation from July to September last year.

"Our teams on the ground have counted just 11 isolated incidents… they had no negative effect on the ongoing process," he said, adding this was a sign that the mobile court process had matured and Ivorians had a more consensual attitude towards it.

The only downside, Mr. Seck noted, was that the opening hours for the courts were not always being respected.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS MANDATE OF MULTINATIONAL FORCE IN IRAQ FOR ANOTHER YEAR

SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS MANDATE OF MULTINATIONAL FORCE IN IRAQ FOR ANOTHER YEAR
New York, Dec 18 2007 7:00PM
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United States-led multinational force (MNF) in Iraq by another year, until the end of 2008, after a formal request from the Government of the Middle East country.

The 15-member body unanimously approved the renewal in a resolution in which it noted that the MNF's mandate can be terminated earlier if desired by the Iraqi Government.

In his letter to the Council asking for a mandate extension, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki noted that the MNF had "made an important and significant contribution to efforts to establish security and the rule of law" in the violence-wracked nation, and had helped strengthen the capacity of the national army and security forces.

Mr. al-Maliki noted that his country's forces have now taken over the MNF's security functions in eight governorates and that he expected that this would be the last time the Government would be asking the Council for a mandate renewal of the MNF.

"It is our intention that our national forces will continue to take over those security functions until all 18 governorates are under the full security control of our troops in 2008," he wrote.

The Iraqi Government has control of recruiting, training, arming and equipping the national army and security forces, while MNF will provide support and backing to those forces.

Iraq will also be responsible for the tasks of arrests, detention and imprisonment. When these actions are carried out by the MNF, "there will be maximum levels of coordination, cooperation and understanding with the Government of Iraq."

In a separate letter to the Council, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged that the MNF was ready to perform the tasks required of it and also "committed to acting consistently with their obligations and rights under international law, including the law of armed conflict."
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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MYANMAR SHOULD TAKE 'BOLD STEPS' TO ADDRESS NATIONAL CRISIS - UN ENVOY

MYANMAR SHOULD TAKE 'BOLD STEPS' TO ADDRESS NATIONAL CRISIS – UN ENVOY
New York, Dec 18 2007 6:00PM
The Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Myanmar has urged authorities in the South-East Asian country to take bold action to press ahead with an all-inclusive national reconciliation process.

Speaking to reporters in New York after briefing the General Assembly, Ibrahim Gambari emphasized that it is very important for Myanmar not to go backwards or stay still but to move forward and take "very bold steps" to address the concerns of the international community.

Mr. Gambari, who has visited Myanmar twice since the Government used force to crack down on peaceful protesters just a few months ago, stressed that the goal is an all-inclusive reconciliation process, as well as "a stable, prosperous, democratic Myanmar with full respect for the human rights of its people."

As for specific steps the authorities should take, he cited the need for a time-bound and substantive dialogue between the Government and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Once again calling for Ms. Suu Kyi's release, he added that she should be allowed to meet with members of her party's executive committee.

It is also necessary for the constitutional drafting process to be opened up so that those who are excluded from, or decided not to participate in, the current process can do so before the constitution is finally drafted, Mr. Gambari stated.

In addition, he urged the authorities to address the underlying socio-economic grievances of the people of Myanmar, adding that that was why the UN had proposed the establishment of a broad-based poverty alleviation commission to look into the root causes of discontent and address them.

The Special Adviser once again stressed that all detainees should be released since "it would be counter-productive not to release them or to arrest new people because the process of national reconciliation in an all-inclusive manner will not be served."

He said he had been informed that some detainees had been released, including some monks, as recently as yesterday.

While a date for Mr. Gambari's return to Myanmar is still being decided, he said he expected to be back in the country by next month.

Just last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar's authorities to step up their efforts towards democratization and the full respect of human rights, noting that the international community's patience with the troubled nation is wearing thin.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA MUST SCALE UP EFFORTS TO REACH MILLENNIUM GOALS, SAYS MIGIRO

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA MUST SCALE UP EFFORTS TO REACH MILLENNIUM GOALS, SAYS MIGIRO
New York, Dec 18 2007 6:00PM
While noting the gains achieved by sub-Saharan African countries in recent years, the Deputy Secretary-General today cited an urgent need to scale up efforts to meet the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Despite recent gains, including economic growth and stability, progress towards achieving the MDGs in sub-Saharan Africa remains "too slow" at the mid-point to 2015, Asha-Rose Migiro told members of the Secretary-General's MDG Africa Initiative, which is designed to help mobilize international support for African States' own efforts.

"We want to ensure that when we reach 2015, we can say that the UN system has done everything possible to motivate the international community to follow through on its commitments to support the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs in Africa," Ms. Migiro stated.

Despite commitments made by the world's leading industrialized countries to increase annual aid to Africa to $50 billion, assistance to Africa has not been scaled up, nor has it become more predictable, she noted, adding that "the follow-up on commitments made to support the MDGs in Africa remains fragmented and does not draw on the full expertise of the UN system and its partners."

To remedy this, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established the MDG Africa Steering Group and associated Working Group this past September. Together, they represent an "intensive effort to mobilize the full resources of the UN system and its partners to achieve the MDGs in Africa."

Ms. Migiro added that the initiative will only be successful if it receives countries' support and cooperation. "Its success also rests on the different governments' willingness to sustain their national leadership and ownership in pursuing the MDGs," she added.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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NO ONE RECEIVES MORE MAIL THAN SANTA CLAUS, SAYS UN POSTAL UNION

NO ONE RECEIVES MORE MAIL THAN SANTA CLAUS, SAYS UN POSTAL UNION
New York, Dec 18 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations Universal Postal Union (<"http://www.upu.int/">UPU) has identified the recipient of the most personalized letters in the world: a white-bearded man who prefers to wear red suits and is so reclusive that he only travels on one night of the year.

Santa Claus, sometimes known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or one of many other names, and other related figures such as the Three Kings or Russia's Ded Moroz receive more than six million letters every year from children worldwide, according to the UPU, which is based in Berne, Switzerland.

Postal operations in at least 20 countries employ special elves to handle – and respond to – the huge volume of mail, often addressed simply "to Santa, North Pole," and peaking every December. Canada Post replies to letters in 26 languages while Germany's Deutsche Post replies in 16 languages. In some countries Santa even answers his own emails.

Many UPU members say that the volume of mail continues to increase, despite the emergence of emails, text messages and other forms of electronic communication in recent years. Canadians and the French are among the busiest correspondents, with more than one million children in each country firing off missives each year.

The UPU reports that it is not entirely clear where Santa lives: last year 90 per cent of the total letters were sent to Finland, but thousands of letters were also sent from other countries to France, Germany and Slovakia. In Canada, meanwhile, Santa enjoys his own postcode: H0H 0H0.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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NEARLY 90 NATIONS HAVE REPORTED ON IRAN SANCTIONS, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

NEARLY 90 NATIONS HAVE REPORTED ON IRAN SANCTIONS, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD
New York, Dec 18 2007 5:00PM
Nearly 90 Member States have reported to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions imposed against Iran, the chairman of that panel said today.

Since 20 September, the committee has received seven documents from Member States – two reports under resolution 1737 and five combined reports under resolutions 1737 and 1747 – Belgian Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke, the committee's chairman, told the Council in an open <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9205.doc.htm">meeting.

"That brings the total number of reports under resolutions 1737 to 87 and the total number of reports under resolution 1747 to 71," he said.

Adopted last December, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.

Resolution 1747 from this March further tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

Earlier this month, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that a recent United States intelligence report concluding that there has been no ongoing nuclear weapons programme in Iran since late 2003 tallies with its findings.

However, Mohamed ElBaradei said that Iran "still needs to clarify some important aspects of its past and present nuclear activities," he said.

The intelligence should also "prompt Iran to work actively with the IAEA to clarify specific aspects of its past and present nuclear program as outlined in the work. This would allow the Agency to provide the required assurances regarding the nature of the programme."
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY ANNOUNCES GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR INTERNET TELEVISION SERVICES

UN AGENCY ANNOUNCES GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR INTERNET TELEVISION SERVICES
New York, Dec 18 2007 3:00PM
The lead United Nations agency for information and communication technology (ICT) today announced the first set of global standards for providing television services over the Internet, a move that is expected to fuel innovation and competition in an emerging field.

The standards for Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) were developed by the UN International Telecommunication Union (<"http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/40.html">ITU) with input from leading service providers and manufacturers from the ICT sector.

They "cement ITU's role as the global leader in IPTV standards development," the agency said in a press statement.

Highlighting the importance of the guidelines issued today, the Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau said they will "encourage innovation, help mask the complexity of services, guarantee quality of service, ensure interoperability and, ultimately, help players remain competitive."

According to the agency, IPTV is a key element of a "triple-play package" of voice, video and data services, noting that "standardization is imperative if service providers are to offer high quality products with value-additions, such as video-on-demand services that will inevitably drive the market.

"A combination of voice, Internet and video services over a single broadband link and from a single provider is foreseen as the ultimate goal of the broadband revolution," it added.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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MADAGASCAR: UN RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND TO BACK SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES

MADAGASCAR: UN RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND TO BACK SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES
New York, Dec 18 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (<" http://www.ifad.org/">IFAD) announced today that it will spend more than $30 million to help farmers and other rural residents in Madagascar develop microenterprises to boost their incomes.

As many as 50,000 new jobs are expected to be created under the programme, which will offer training, improved technology and greater access to financial products and services – such as insurance and microfinance – to both existing and budding entrepreneurs in five regions across the Indian Ocean country. Young people will also receive professional training and apprenticeships.

The greatest efforts will be devoted to businesses based around craft work, an important activity in Madagascar, where there are an estimated 1.8 million microenterprises relating to this field. This largely informal sector contributes about $150 million to the national economy.

Benoît Therry, IFAD's country programme manager for Madagascar, said the programme – known as PROSPERER – is designed to support economic growth and overcome bottlenecks preventing entrepreneurs from starting new businesses.

IFAD will spend $30.3 million on the new programme, which is being co-financed by the OPEC Fund for International Development and the UN Capital Development <" http://www.uncdf.org/english/index.php ">Fund. Madagascar's Government and programme participants are also supplying some of the funding. The programme is also being backed by a $17.7 million loan from IFAD.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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INDIA'S BOLLYWOOD STARS JOIN UN-BACKED ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS

INDIA'S BOLLYWOOD STARS JOIN UN-BACKED ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS
New York, Dec 18 2007 2:00PM
Some of Bollywood's biggest stars are joining the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/index.html">UNODC) to curb human trafficking in India.

Millions of moviegoers will see a two-minute video called <i>One Life, No Price</i> – aiming to raise awareness of this form of modern-day slavery and spur action to prevent and combat this practice – to be shown before the new film, <i>Welcome</i>.

The video features the movie's stars, including Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat.

To be released throughout India on Friday, <i>Welcome</i> will be shown in 1,100 theatres.

Mr. Khan, Mr. Kapoor, Mr. Patekar, Mr. Kumar and Ms. Kaif are also recording separate messages in support of the cause.

UNODC's partnership with the Indian film industry is part of a broader programme called UN.GIFT, which was launched this March to bring governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and the media together to combat the scourge of human trafficking.

Other Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and John Abraham have also been enlisted by UNODC to make public service announcements to fight trafficking.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY SENDS URGENT SUPPLIES TO IRAQIS DISPLACED BY TURKISH SHELLING

UN REFUGEE AGENCY SENDS URGENT SUPPLIES TO IRAQIS DISPLACED BY TURKISH SHELLING
New York, Dec 18 2007 2:00PM
Voicing deep concern at the displacement in northern Iraq caused by ongoing shelling by Turkey, the United Nations refugee agency has dispatched urgent supplies, including blankets and stoves, for distribution today to more than 1,800 people who fled their homes over the weekend in two districts up to 100 kilometres inside the country.

"Some families are reported leaving their homes as they fear their villages might be shelled," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) spokesperson Astrid van Genderen Stort told a<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4767a6f94.html"> news briefing in Geneva.

"The displaced families, who have left everything behind in their villages, have moved in with relatives or friends. Winter has set in and living conditions are very harsh, particularly for host families which now have to care for additional people," she said, noting that many say they cannot afford to pay monthly rents of $200 to $300 for alternative accommodation. "They are concerned about the ongoing attacks as they fear they cannot stay much longer with their host families."

Last weekend 300 families, or more than 1,800 people, fled their homes in the Sangasar sub-district of Sulaymaniah Governorate and from Doli Shahidan in Erbil Governorate, 100 kilometres inside Iraq, after they said 10 villages had been affected by the shelling.

"One woman was reported killed and several people injured. Over 200 head of livestock have also been killed," Ms. van Genderen Stort said of the shelling which, according to a village head, destroyed six bridges which connect several villages as well as a school. "We were told families have each left one member behind in the affected villages as they could not leave their livestock untended."

Yesterday, UNHCR with its partners on the ground quickly dispatched non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, stoves, lanterns, jerry cans, plastic sheets, kitchen sets and soap to Sulaymaniah and Erbil after being asked by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to provide additional help. The items were being distributed to needy families today. There is also an urgent need for kerosene which will be provided by the KRG.

A total of 2.4 million people are displaced within Iraq as a result of the fighting since the United States-led invasion of 2003, while an additional 2.2 million have fled to neighbouring countries, mainly Syria and Jordan.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ASSEMBLY'S CALL FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ASSEMBLY'S CALL FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
New York, Dec 18 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's adoption by the General Assembly of a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/c.3/62/l.29">resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, saying he is heartened by signs that capital punishment will eventually be abolished worldwide.

In a vote this morning in a plenary session at the Assembly, 104 Member States voted in favour of the resolution, 54 voted against and 29 abstained – a slight rise in the number in favour compared to when the Assembly's third committee voted on it last month. All resolutions are non-binding.

"Today's vote represents a bold step by the international community," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2921">statement released following the Assembly's action. "I am particularly encouraged by the support expressed for this initiative from many diverse regions of the world. This is further evidence of a trend towards ultimately abolishing the death penalty."

The resolution welcomes "the decisions taken by an increasing number of States to apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty," and expresses deep concern that capital punishment continues to be applied in some countries.

It calls on nations that do impose the death penalty to ensure they meet internationally agreed minimum standards on the safeguards for those facing execution, and to provide the UN Secretary-General with information about their use of capital punishment and observation of safeguards.

Further, it asks countries to progressively restrict the use of the death penalty, such as by reducing the number of offences for which it may be imposed, and calls on those States that have abolished the practice to not reintroduce it.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: UN ENVOY CALLS FOR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES ON EVE OF FORCE DEPLOYMENT

DARFUR: UN ENVOY CALLS FOR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES ON EVE OF FORCE DEPLOYMENT
New York, Dec 18 2007 2:00PM
A senior United Nations envoy has issued an appeal for all sides to the Darfur conflict to cease their hostilities on the eve of the deployment of a hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID) to try to quell the violence and suffering in the war-wracked region of western Sudan.

Rodolphe Adada, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative for Darfur and the head of mission of AMIS, the current AU mission to the region, launched the appeal today after holding talks with a senior Sudanese Government official in Khartoum.

Mr. Adada said a cessation of hostilities would help create an environment conducive to the success of the peace process between the Government and the many rebel groups in Darfur, where they have been fighting since 2003.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million forced to flee their homes, living either as internally displaced persons (IDPs) or as refugees in neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR). UN officials have described Darfur as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

UNAMID is due to take over from AMIS next month but it is still lacking offers from UN Member States for key force capabilities, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week that the gaps mean that the planned deployment – and its potential for success – is reaching a "critical point."

Mr. Adada said an end to hostilities would also bring extra meaning to the people of Darfur during a time when Muslims are about to celebrate Eid al-Adha and Christians are preparing to mark Christmas.

Today he met with Nafie Ali Nafie, the Assistant to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who said the Government was committed to the smooth transfer of authority from AMIS to UNAMID and to cooperating with the incoming mission so that it can carry out its mandate.

In their talks the two men also reviewed the preparations so far for the transition from AMIS to UNAMID and clarified the future functions of some AU mechanisms once the hybrid force takes over.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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UN CONTINGENCY PLAN ACTIVATED TO HELP TACKLE REPUBLIC OF KOREA OIL SPILL

UN CONTINGENCY PLAN ACTIVATED TO HELP TACKLE REPUBLIC OF KOREA OIL SPILL
New York, Dec 18 2007 1:00PM
China and Japan have sent material and experts under a United Nations emergency response plan to help the Republic of Korea (ROK) mitigate the worst oil spill in its history, which has already hit key fishing grounds and is expected to damage the livelihoods of up to 27,000 aquaculture workers.

An oil spill contingency plan was launched by the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), directed by the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=523&ArticleID=5728&l=en">UNEP), at the ROK's request after the oil tanker Hebei Spirit collided with a barge 100 kilometres south of Seoul, the capital, on 7 December, releasing 10,500 metric tons of crude oil into the sea.

NOWPAP member countries China and Japan have sent around 100 tons of dispersant and Japan has dispatched a team of experts to help contain the oil slick, which is affecting 160 kilometres of coastline near an important habitat for birds.

The spill is threatening to enter Cheonsu Bay, home for about 400,000 migratory birds, and the emergency has triggered a major clean-up operation involving 200,000 people, mostly volunteers, as well as 327 vessels, 17 airplanes and 13 helicopters.

NOWPAP comes under UNEP's Regional Seas Programme and its contingency plan was developed in full cooperation between UNEP and the UN International Maritime Organization (<"http://www.imo.org/home.asp">IMO). It was adopted in 2004 by China, Japan, ROK and Russia to deal with large oil spill emergencies.

In accordance with the plan, member countries inform each other of oil spill accidents and provide assistance to the country in need. NOWPAP's Regional Activity Centre in Daejon, Korea, is serving as the "nerve centre" for activation and implementation.

A joint UN-European Union (EU) rapid environmental assessment team, made up of experts from the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre, UNEP and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) has also been sent on site. Additional support has come from the United States coastguard, which has sent a team to give advice, and a private company in Singapore which is providing aircraft.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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FINDING DECENT WORK AMONG MAJOR OBSTACLES FACED BY TODAY'S YOUTH - UN REPORT

FINDING DECENT WORK AMONG MAJOR OBSTACLES FACED BY TODAY'S YOUTH – UN REPORT
New York, Dec 18 2007 1:00PM
While today's youth are the best educated generation in history, they face a number of obstacles in an increasingly globalized world – foremost among them finding decent work – which affect their transition to adulthood, according to a new United Nations report released today.

The "World Youth Report 2007 – Young People's Transition to Adulthood: Progress and Challenges" draws attention to the challenges faced by youth in seven geographical or economic groupings of countries – Asia, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, small island developing States, economies in transition and the developed market economies.

The report, which comes more than 10 years after the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth, emphasizes that much progress has been made by governments, and especially by young people themselves, to promote the well-being of youth.

"All regions have made impressive achievements in raising school enrolment and more and more girls are going to school," stated Johan Scholvink, Director of the Division of Social Policy and Development at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Launching the report at UN Headquarters, he said "the report argues that the 1.2 billion young people in the world today are determined to engage in the social, political and economic fabric of society and have much to contribute to the global debate on major development and policy issues."

This is evident in their efforts to constantly improve their education, upgrade their skills and find employment through their use of information and communication technology and their participation in volunteer activities, he added.

However, the report notes that there are also major constraints to youth development that are prevalent in all regions – the primary one being the difficulty in finding decent employment in the formal sector.

"This is often related to the fact that the education they have received is of low quality and does not prepare them specifically for the needs of a global job market," Mr. Scholvink stated. "The educational gains that girls have made, in particular, have not translated into increased employment opportunities."

As a result, the report states that many young people with high levels of education are forced to seek work in the informal economy, often at the expense of benefits or job security.

"It is clear that while globalization has offered many opportunities around the world, young people continue to face obstacles in accessing its benefits," noted Mr. Scholvink.

The focal point for youth in the DESA agreed that what is happening to youth in terms of unemployment relates to globalization, to the contraction of labour markets and to difficulty in the "school-to-work" transition across the world, in both developed and developing countries.

"There seems to be some mismatch between the skills that young people gain in school and the skills that the labour market is demanding," said Patience Stephens. In addition, the skills needed in today's globalized job market are changing constantly.

The report calls on countries to address the obstacles that continue to limit youth participation in the development of their societies, and provide them with an environment in which they can access not only quality education but also decent work opportunities.
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATIONS BAND TOGETHER TO SCALE UP DISASTER PREPAREDNESS - UN

SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATIONS BAND TOGETHER TO SCALE UP DISASTER PREPAREDNESS – UN
New York, Dec 18 2007 1:00PM
Eight Southern African and Indian Ocean nations have joined forces to participate in a United Nations-backed plan to combat the devastating effects of natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

This year in the region, the livelihoods of one million people were destroyed by flood and wind damage caused by heavy rain and cyclones.

At the "Emergency Preparedness and Response Workshop" sponsored by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) earlier this month in Johannesburg, eight nations – the Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa – decided to bolster regional cooperation.

In a draft Declaration of Intent, emergency responders from each country agreed to share information to respond to disasters, establish regional rapid response teams and develop measures allowing for the free movement of emergency personnel and relief materials in the region.

They also called on the leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to support the implementation of these recommendations.

Given the high rates of HIV throughout the region, the group also noted that HIV prevention and care must be integrated into emergency preparedness and response.

"This year, many governments in the region have taken steps in their own countries to be better prepared for the current rainy and cyclone season, in particular undertaking contingency planning for disasters," said Kelly David, head of <"http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4781">OCHA's Regional Office for Southern Africa.

"And now they are looking beyond that to how they can help each other and draw on international resources and technical expertise to better manage the impacts they all face from natural hazards."
2007-12-18 00:00:00.000

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