SECRETARY-GENERAL SETS OUT FOUR OPTIONS FOR UN MISSION IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

SECRETARY-GENERAL SETS OUT FOUR OPTIONS FOR UN MISSION IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA New York, Apr 11 2008 7:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has outlined four options for the future of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html">UNMEE), including the possibility of axing the mission, because of restrictions imposed by Eritrea on its side of the disputed border.

In a special <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/226">report on UNMEE, released today, Mr. Ban warns that none of the options are ideal as they all bear serious risks and would not resolve the impasse created by the Eritrean restrictions. Ending the mission could result in a return to open hostilities, for example, he says.

"Yet the prevailing circumstances seriously limit the available courses of action," the Secretary-General writes.

One option is for the mission to resume unchanged, so long as Eritrea lifts all restrictions, resumes fuel supplies to UNMEE and allows it to perform the tasks envisaged in the cessation of hostilities agreement in 2000 that ended the last border war.

A second option is to terminate the mission altogether, while another option would be to deploy a small observer mission to only the border area to try to defuse tensions between the armed forces of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The final option would be to set up liaison offices in the two capitals, Addis Ababa and Asmara, to allow the UN to remain ready to help the parties implement their peace agreement from 2000, including the demarcation of the border.

Mr. Ban outlines the advantages and disadvantages of all the options, and calls on Security Council members to decide as quickly as possible on the best way to go forward.

He also urges Ethiopia and Eritrea, "in the interest of regional peace and security, to take into account the serious consequences of the continued stalemate and accept the assistance of the Security Council and my good offices in fully implementing the agreements they have entered into."

Mr. Ban says he will submit a further report to the Council before 31 July, when the current mandate of UNMEE is due to expire, detailing his ongoing consultations with all the parties.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MUST RESULT IN PROFOUND CHANGES - ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MUST RESULT IN PROFOUND CHANGES – ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT New York, Apr 11 2008 7:00PM Security Council reform must be about more than just changing the composition of its membership, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim says, calling on the body to be "based on an equilibrium of interests rather than a balance of power."

In an opinion column for the United Kingdom-based pan-Arab <i>Al-Hayat</i> newspaper, published yesterday, Mr. Kerim wrote that reform of the Council must lead to "a new culture of international relations" based on full respects for human rights, human security, responsibility to protect and sustainable development.

While changing the Council's composition is a necessary first step, it should not be viewed as an end in itself.

Instead, Council members should be "ready to share responsibility, willing and able to act to protect human life – as the body of last resort – whatever and wherever the threat may be."

Mr. Kerim said such ideas are needed because "our present institutional structures are too rigidly anchored in an international system where pre-eminence is given to the State as the primary interlocutor and agent of change."

He called for renewal of the UN as a whole, for the Bretton Woods institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and for other international and regional bodies.

<"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2008/080411_Kerim.doc.htm">Speaking to reporters today at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Kerim echoed those remarks.

Council reform, he said, must have "a more profound meaning than just enlargement. It has to mean adaptation of the institutions, of the United Nations above all, and that goes for the General Assembly and the Secretariat as well. It all has to adapt to a new, very different world."

Yesterday the President told a working group on Council reform that Member States should show "effective flexibility" in their negotiations on reshaping the 15-member body, and ensure that the concerns of all sides are taken into account, especially those currently underrepresented.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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UN FUNDING APPEAL FOR KENYA BOOSTED BY $150 MILLION DUE TO DROUGHT

UN FUNDING APPEAL FOR KENYA BOOSTED BY $150 MILLION DUE TO DROUGHT New York, Apr 11 2008 6:00PM The United Nations announced today it has upped by $150 million its emergency aid appeal for Kenya, where severe drought has followed hard on the heels of civil conflict that erupted after disputed elections earlier this year and left hundreds of thousands displaced.

Inadequate rainfall in the latter part of last year has been blamed for drought in the Horn of Africa, which is also expected to lead to reduced crop harvests in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and south-central Somalia.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) said that 840,000 people are at risk from the drought in the northern parts of the country, in addition to the 500,000 people affected by post-conflict disruptions nationwide.

OCHA's Emergency Humanitarian Response Plan for Kenya now requests a total of $189 million, including the funding received since the original plan was launched in January, to cover humanitarian needs through 2008.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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NEARLY $68 MILLION SOUGHT TO AID ETHIOPIAN DROUGHT VICTIMS - UN

NEARLY $68 MILLION SOUGHT TO AID ETHIOPIAN DROUGHT VICTIMS – UN New York, Apr 11 2008 5:00PM The Ethiopian Government and its humanitarian partners have appealed for $67.7 million to assist drought victims in the East African nation, where some 2.2 million people are in need of emergency food aid, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/News/tabid/1080/Default.aspx">OCHA) reported today.

Inadequate rainfall in the latter part of last year has been blamed for drought in the Horn of Africa, which is also expected to lead to reduced crop harvests in Djibouti, Eritrea, northern parts of Kenya and south-central Somalia.

In Ethiopia, in addition to those in need of food aid, around 947,000 vulnerable people will continue to receive assistance under the country's Productive Safety Nets Programme. Set up by the Government in 2005, the relief-to-development project aims to end dependency on food aid.

Earlier this month, OCHA said that food security in the country continues to be a concern, despite rainfall in some areas, adding that Ethiopians are resorting to borrowing food and slaughtering calves.

A total of almost 172,000 metric tons of food aid is required for those in need. In addition, special attention will be given to health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and agriculture to help address the adverse impact of the drought.

Speaking in Addis Ababa at the launch of the Joint Government and Humanitarian Partners' 2008 Humanitarian Requirement Plan, the head of OCHA in Ethiopia expressed his concern at the humanitarian situation in the country, and stressed the need for the aid community to work together to alleviate the plight of the suffering.

"The continued collaboration by all humanitarian actors in Ethiopia for the benefit of the most vulnerable in the country is highly appreciated, and we look forward to strengthening this collaboration," stated Vincent Lelei.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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SRI LANKAN SUICIDE ATTACK CONDEMNED BY UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF

SRI LANKAN SUICIDE ATTACK CONDEMNED BY UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF New York, Apr 11 2008 5:00PM The United Nations' top human rights official has deplored the suicide bombing last weekend at the start of a marathon in Sri Lanka that claimed the lives of at least 15 people, including a minister in the national Government.

Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/AD0AA3480DCDF986C125742700552D90?opendocument">statement yesterday in which she also extended her condolences to the families of the victims.

"Such violence shows a complete disregard for the right to life and security of Sri Lankans, and breaches the most fundamental principles of international law," she said.

Last Sunday's bombing killed Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, the national athletics coach and a former top marathoner among others as they waited to see off runners in Weliweriya. It also injured dozens of athletes and onlookers.

Ms. Arbour said the attack is alleged to have been committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been fighting a decades-long civil conflict with the Government. The rebel group is also accused of other recent attacks, including the bombings of public transport and other public places.

"I remind the LTTE and other armed groups that attacks which directly or indiscriminately target civilians are crimes under international law. Violent attacks on people taking no active part in hostilities are strictly prohibited."

The High Commissioner noted that the violence also undermined efforts to develop "a meaningful dialogue on improving the situation" of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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FOOD AND ENERGY SITUATION IN GAZA STILL 'VERY DIFFICULT' - UN AGENCY

FOOD AND ENERGY SITUATION IN GAZA STILL 'VERY DIFFICULT' – UN AGENCY New York, Apr 11 2008 5:00PM Food, energy and other basics of life in the Gaza Strip, where severe restrictions by Israel on the movement of people and goods have been in effect since Hamas' takeover in June 2007, continue to be in short supply, the United Nations reported today.

According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA), only 2,400 trucks entered the coastal enclave last month, down from more than 10,000 trucks that entered in March 2007.

The agency added that a scarcity of animal feed is causing meat prices to skyrocket and it has had to expand its school feeding programme to meet the needs of some 110,000 Gazan children in around 110 schools everyday.

In addition, UNRWA said that it has been providing more than 110,000 litres of diesel fuel to municipalities each month for solid waste management but that a lack of electricity often forces coastal municipalities to dump their sewage into the sea.

UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have repeatedly expressed concern in recent months about the humanitarian impact of the restrictions on daily life for Palestinians in Gaza, coming on top of years of difficulty and economic decline.

Describing the consequences as increasingly severe, the officials have said that the closures have brought most industry and agriculture to collapse, raised unemployment and poverty to new heights and led to the deterioration of basic infrastructure.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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FIRE RAVAGES PART OF UN REFUGEE CAMP IN EASTERN CHAD, LEAVING 3,000 HOMELESS

FIRE RAVAGES PART OF UN REFUGEE CAMP IN EASTERN CHAD, LEAVING 3,000 HOMELESS New York, Apr 11 2008 5:00PM Some 3,000 people from Sudan's war-torn Darfur region are again homeless after fire swept through part of a refugee camp in eastern Chad today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported.

Ten people were slightly injured in the midday blaze at Goz Amer camp, believed to have been caused by an untended cooking fire that then spread rapidly because of the high winds.

Many refugees lost all their food rations and meagre belongings, and numerous stick and mud shelters that had been constructed in 2004 when the Darfurians first arrived in Goz Amer also ignited easily.

The newly displaced are being housed at three camp schools, while tomorrow more tents and aid supplies – including sleeping mats, blankets and kitchen sets – will be distributed. The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) is also handing out additional monthly food rations.

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said from Geneva that he was relieved there had been no loss of life from the fire.

"The refugees have already suffered so much tragedy and now face yet another trauma… We will do everything we can to help and to get shelter and food supplies to them as quickly as possible," he said.

<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47ff9c4b2.html">UNHCR staff have started opening up stockpiles in the area and delivering blankets and aid supplies, an effort they plan to continue throughout the weekend by drawing supplies from around eastern Chad.

Emmanuel Uwurukundo, the agency's acting head of office in nearby Koukou-Angarana, said "everyone around, refugees and all our partners alike, rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire with whatever they had – clothes, extinguishers and water."

He said bricks should be used in the future instead of stick and mud shelters to avoid such incidents.

Goz Amer, which lies about 70 kilometres from the border with Darfur, is host to about 20,500 people and it is the southernmost of 12 UNHCR-run camps in the region that are home to more than 240,000 Darfurians in total, all fleeing conflict that has raged in their homeland since 2003.

The remoteness of the region, which is also home to about 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), already makes it an extremely difficult environment in which UNHCR has to operate.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: UN SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION WORSENING FASTER THAN EXPECTED

SOMALIA: UN SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION WORSENING FASTER THAN EXPECTED New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM The humanitarian situation in Somalia is deteriorating faster than expected, owing to an unusually harsh dry season, rising insecurity and soaring inflation rates, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The UN has revised upwards the number of those living in a state of humanitarian emergency from 315,000 to 425,000, and the number of newly displaced people from 705,000 to 745,000.

The total number of those needing assistance in the country is estimated to be around 1.8 million, but that figure could increase to 2 million once current assessments are concluded, <"http://ochaonline.un.org/News/tabid/1080/Default.aspx">OCHA said in a news release.

Somalia has experienced an extremely dry season from January to March with high temperatures and unusually dry winds. The dry conditions have also affected other countries in the region, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and parts of Kenya.

In addition, the country – like many others – has witnessed a dramatic increase in food prices over the past year. The prices of locally produced maize and sorghum have increased by 300 to 400 per cent, while imported foods such as rice and vegetable oil have increased by some 150 per cent. At the same time, the Somali shilling has depreciated by 65 per cent.

Along with the dry weather and rise in food prices, there has also been a diarrhoea outbreak in the Sanaag region, which has claimed seven lives among the 300 cases recorded since 10 March.

Meanwhile, further clashes were reported last week between Ethiopian/Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and anti-Government elements in many parts of south-central Somalia.

Deteriorating security in recent months has made it more difficult for aid workers to assist those in need in the strife-torn East African nation, which has not had a functioning government since 1991.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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CRUCIAL TIMES AHEAD IN IRAQ, UN ENVOY TELLS EUROPEAN OFFICIALS

CRUCIAL TIMES AHEAD IN IRAQ, UN ENVOY TELLS EUROPEAN OFFICIALS New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM The senior United Nations envoy in Iraq today concluded a two-day visit to Brussels during which he stressed to European Union and NATO officials and to the media that 2008 will be a crucial year for the violence-wracked country.

Important provincial elections slated for October are just one reason why this year is likely to prove so critical, Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, said during interviews with several leading European media outlets.

While in the Belgian capital Mr. de Mistura met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and with Robert Cooper, Director-General for Politico-Military Affairs at the Secretariat of the Council of the EU. He also briefed the EU Council's Security Committee and held talks with Belgian diplomats.

In his meetings Mr. de Mistura said his visit to Brussels was a recognition of the vital role that Europe plays in Iraq, noting that no activities would be possible without EU financial backing and that the UN and the EU were working towards the same objective – bringing peace and stability to Iraq.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON EMBARKS ON FOUR-NATION WEST AFRICAN TOUR IN LATE APRIL

BAN KI-MOON EMBARKS ON FOUR-NATION WEST AFRICAN TOUR IN LATE APRIL New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will embark later this month on a four-nation tour of West Africa that will take him to Ghana, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, a spokesperson for the United Nations announced today.

Accompanied by his wife, Yoo Soon-taek, Mr. Ban's first stop will be Accra, Ghana, where he is scheduled to address the opening of the 12th UN Conference on Trade and Development (<"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/StartPage.asp?intItemID=2068">UNCTAD) on 20 April. He also plans to meet with Ghanaian President John Kufuor and Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei.

From Accra, he will travel to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where he will meet with the country's leadership, as well as with members of the UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://unmil.org/">UNMIL) and the UN Country Team.

Following that, Mr. Ban plans to travel to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, where a bilateral meeting is planned with President Blaise Compaoré, the Facilitator of the Inter-Ivorian Dialogue and current Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Secretary-General's final stop is Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where meetings are planned with President Laurent Gbagbo, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and with opposition leaders and civil society. He will also meet with the leadership of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI).

Meanwhile, Mr. Ban wrapped up a three-day official visit to Russia today, meeting with UN staff working in Moscow.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr. Ban said he was strongly encouraged in his meetings in Russia, including with President Vladimir Putin, President-elect Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as by the country's commitment to the central role of the UN and to multilateralism.

The Secretary-General and Mr. Lavrov held a tête-à-tête meeting during which they discussed Kosovo. They followed that with a larger meeting, in which their delegations discussed Kosovo; the Middle East, including the meeting to be held in Moscow this summer on that subject; Darfur, and the need for helicopters for the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID) there; and Afghanistan.

The delegations also discussed Cyprus, during which the UN's political chief, B. Lynn Pascoe, briefed the meeting's participants on his recent visit to the Mediterranean island and the region.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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INAUGURATION OF UN HOUSING NEAR DEVASTATED PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON

INAUGURATION OF UN HOUSING NEAR DEVASTATED PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP IN LEBANON New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees said today that it had inaugurated 150 new concrete units to house families from a Lebanese camp that was the scene of months of fighting last year between the national army and Fatah el-Islam gunmen.

The new housing near the devastated Nahr El Bared camp lowers pressure on the nearby Beddawi camp, where many refugees had fled the fighting, a spokesperson from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) said at a press conference in Geneva.

In the largest undertaking in its history, UNWRA is planning to rebuild the Nahr El Bared camp, which was in essence a complete town of over 30,000 inhabitants before it was destroyed by intense combat between May and September 2007.

The long-term reconstruction will cost around $200 million, the agency said, adding that it will soon announce the date of a pledging conference to support the project.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WELCOMES SUCCESSFUL STAGING OF ELECTIONS

NEPAL: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WELCOMES SUCCESSFUL STAGING OF ELECTIONS New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today congratulated the people of Nepal for yesterday's successful staging of historic Constituent Assembly elections, saying she particularly welcomed the large and enthusiastic participation of women in the polls.

Louise Arbour issued a <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E067B3025BE3E0C3C1257428004F07B0?opendocument">statement in Geneva in which she described the elections as "a major stride towards a new future in Nepal in which the rights of all people – including historically marginalized communities – are respected."

Ms. Arbour commended the authorities for their role in holding "a largely peaceful election process" for the Assembly, which will be responsible for drafting a new constitution, "despite the difficult circumstances. And I trust that all the political parties in Nepal will accept the decision of the electors, whatever it may be."

Counting has begun in 75 district centres after Nepal's independent Election Commission transferred ballots from the more than 20,000 polling stations across the country.

Electoral staff with the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) will remain in the regions and districts until the counting is complete, and the monitoring of arms and armies will also continue, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said.

In her statement Ms. Arbour also voiced deep sadness at the number of deaths that occurred yesterday and during the run-up to the polls. She called on the Government to move swiftly to set up an independent inquiry to investigate the deaths.

UNMIN is in place in the South Asian country to help it recover from a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and Maoist rebels signed a peace accord in 2006.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF AFRICAN SUMMIT ON ZIMBABWE

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF AFRICAN SUMMIT ON ZIMBABWE New York, Apr 11 2008 4:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he is pleased that regional leaders in southern Africa are mobilizing to "help Zimbabwe overcome its post-electoral crisis through peaceful means."

Through a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11510.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban congratulated the leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for arranging a summit of heads of State in Lusaka, Zambia, on 13 April to discuss the situation.

Earlier this week, Mr. Ban expressed concern that the results of presidential elections in Zimbabwe have not been released and urged the electoral authorities to do so "expeditiously and with transparency."

"The situation in Zimbabwe could deteriorate if there is no prompt action to resolve this impasse," he added in today's statement.

In the presidential poll, the incumbent, Robert Mugabe, is facing Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni. If a winning candidate does not win more than 50 per cent of the total votes, a run-off race is required.

Mr Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change, petitioned Zimbabwe's High Court to demand the release of the election results. The electoral authorities have already announced the results of the Senate and parliamentary elections, which were held on the same day as the presidential vote.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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IN MOVE WELCOMED BY UN, SENEGAL CAN NOW TRY FORMER CHADIAN LEADER

IN MOVE WELCOMED BY UN, SENEGAL CAN NOW TRY FORMER CHADIAN LEADER New York, Apr 11 2008 3:00PM The top United Nations human rights official has welcomed changes to Senegal's constitution to make it possible for national courts to try crimes against humanity, paving the way for former Chadian leader Hissène Habré to be tried for alleged crimes committed during the 1980s.

Mr. Habré ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990, when he was overthrown and went into exile in Senegal, where he has lived ever since.

Senegal's National Assembly adopted the latest amendment to the constitution on Tuesday, which together with previous changes allows the country's legal system to deal with such cases.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour welcomed the move as "a very positive development in the struggle to strengthen accountability and an important step forward in the never-ending fight against impunity."

A <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/39DA9A4B069D9BC5C1257428005086EF?opendocument">statement issued by her office in Geneva added that "it is rare for one State to take measures to enable the prosecution of a former head of State of another country – and Senegal should be commended for its leadership in this regard."

During Mr. Habré's rule, thousands of Chadians were allegedly tortured, and unlawful killings and other serious human rights violations took place.

He was charged in February 2000 by a lower court in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, but an appeals court later ruled that Senegalese courts did not have the legal competence to try such cases if they were perpetrated in another country.

Ms. Arbour expressed the hoped that with the latest amendment, the final obstacles have been cleared and that Mr. Habré will be go on trial very soon.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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INOCULATIONS IN MALI GET BOOSTER FROM BRAZILIAN VACCINE, UN AGENCY SAYS

INOCULATIONS IN MALI GET BOOSTER FROM BRAZILIAN VACCINE, UN AGENCY SAYS New York, Apr 11 2008 1:00PM A campaign to vaccinate 5.7 million people across southern Mali will begin tomorrow thanks to the first-ever 'South-South' dose supply from South America's only manufacturer of yellow fever vaccine, the United Nations health agency said today.

Three million doses are coming from the Brazilian company Bio Manguinhos while the other three million doses will be provided by Sanofi Pasteur – one of the other manufacturers of yellow fever vaccine pre-qualified by the UN World Health Organization (<"http://afro.who.int/press/2008/pr20080410.html">WHO).

"The fact that we have now three manufacturers of WHO pre-qualified Yellow Fever vaccine around the world means that we are much more able to meet supply demands both for emergency and routine vaccination," Adamou Yada, Programme Manager for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response in WHO's African Region, said.

"This first mass shipment of vaccine from one developing country to another is proof of that," Dr. Yada added.

Mali's mass vaccination campaign is part of the Yellow Fever Initiative that has $58 million worth of support from GAVI, the public-private alliance for vaccinations, to drastically reduce the numbers at risk from the disease in West Africa.

Mali is the third country, after Togo and Senegal, to undertake a national preventive vaccination campaign as part of the Initiative, with other countries due to follow as soon as sufficient vaccine is available.

Because of its severity, even a single case (such as Mali reported in 2007) is a public health concern, WHO said.

The 12 countries taking part on the Yellow Fever Initiative are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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SOARING CEREAL TAB CONTINUES TO AFFLICT POOREST COUNTRIES, UN AGENCY WARNS

SOARING CEREAL TAB CONTINUES TO AFFLICT POOREST COUNTRIES, UN AGENCY WARNS New York, Apr 11 2008 12:00PM With food riots reported across the globe from the Philippines to Haiti, the United Nations agricultural agency warned today that the cereal import bill of the world's poorest countries is forecast to rise by over 50 per cent in the current fiscal year.

"Food price inflation hits the poor hardest, as the share of food in their total expenditures is much higher than that of wealthier populations," said Henri Josserand of the Global Information and Early Warning system of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000826/index.html">FAO).

Citing FAO's new <I><"http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai465e/ai465e00.htm">Crop Prospects and Food Situation</I> report, he noted that "food represents about 10 to 20 per cent of consumer spending in industrialized nations, but as much as 60 to 80 per cent in developing countries, many of which are net-food-importers."

The report states that the rise of 56 per cent in 2007-2008 comes after the already harsh increase of 37 per cent in 2006-2007 that had been squeezing lowest-income households hard.

For low-income, food-deficit countries in Africa, the cereal bill is projected to increase by a colossal 74 per cent, due to the sharp rise in international cereal prices, freight rates and oil prices, according to FAO.

Food riots have already been reported in Egypt, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Haiti in the past month, the agency said.

In Pakistan and Thailand, army troops have been deployed to avoid seizing of food from the fields and from warehouses.

To help countries cope with the situation, FAO said it has launched an Initiative on Soaring Food Prices (ISFP), offering technical and policy assistance to help vulnerable farmers increase local food production. Field activities are starting in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal.

It is also working with Governments, the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) and other partners to create strategies to alleviate the situation.

The FAO report, in addition, tentatively predicts that cereal production in 2008 could increase by 2.6 percent to a record 2,164 million tonnes, with the bulk of the increase in wheat.

"Should the expected growth in 2008 production materialize, the current tight global cereal supply situation could ease in the new 2008-09 season," the report said.

But much will depend on the weather, FAO cautioned, recalling that at this time last year prospects for cereal production in 2007 were far better than the eventual outcome.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS KEY ROLE IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE - UN OFFICIAL

TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS KEY ROLE IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE – UN OFFICIAL New York, Apr 11 2008 11:00AM The global tourism industry has a key role to play in confronting the challenges of climate change, the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) <"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=531&ArticleID=5768&l=en">said as an international seminar on the subject wrapped up in the United Kingdom today.

"Indeed, there is now a clear understanding that the industry can be part of the solution to climate change, by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as well as by helping the communities where tourism represents a major economic source to prepare for and adapt to the changing climate," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

The number of international tourists continues to climb, with 898 million arrivals registered last year and further increases expected as traditionally poor countries emerge as more popular tourist destinations, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (<"http://www.unwto.org/index.php">UNWTO).

The Oxford seminar brought together some 30 high-level tourism and environment officials to examine, among other things, practical ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the tourism sector.

The effects of climate change have already been felt in the tourism sector, particularly in certain destinations such as mountain regions and coastal hotspots. At the same ?time, the tourism industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, especially through the transport of tourists.? ?

"With its close connections to the environment and climate itself, tourism is considered to be a vulnerable and highly climate-sensitive economic sector, similar to agriculture, insurance, energy, and transportation," said Dr. Murray Simpson, a Senior Research Associate at Oxford's University Centre for the Environment and scientific coordinator of the seminar.

At the same time, he noted that in 2005 tourism's contribution to CO2 emissions – including from transport, accommodation and activities – was estimated to be approximately 5 per cent. "Measured as warming effect these emissions could represent up to 14 per cent of global warming effect," he said.

The seminar was organised and coordinated by UNEP and Oxford University's Centre for the Environment jointly with the UNWTO and the World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/pages/index_en.html">WMO).
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO CHIEF DEPLORES MURDER OF TWO MEXICAN FEMALE JOURNALISTS

UNESCO CHIEF DEPLORES MURDER OF TWO MEXICAN FEMALE JOURNALISTS New York, Apr 11 2008 11:00AM The head of the United Nations agency tasked with promoting press freedom has <"http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26424&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">condemned the recent killing of two female community radio announcers, who were ambushed in a roadside attack in southeast Mexico that also left four others wounded.

Felicitas Martínez Sánchez, 21, and Teresa Bautista Merino, 24, were shot dead as they travelled along a highway in Oaxaca state on 7 April.

Expressing his outrage over the attack, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said that "killing journalists is a heinous crime which harms the whole of society as it undermines the democratic right of citizens to hold informed debate and make informed political choices."

According to the Mexican National Center for Social Communication (CENCOS), the women were killed while on a reporting assignment for their community radio, La Voz que Rompe el Silencio.

Based in San Juan Copala, in Oaxaca, La Voz que Rompe el Silencio employs young adults and teenagers from the Triqui indigenous community.
2008-04-11 00:00:00.000

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FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY DURING SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM TALKS - ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY DURING SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM TALKS – ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT New York, Apr 10 2008 7:00PM General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim today called on United Nations Member States to show "effective flexibility" during negotiations on reshaping the Security Council's size and membership and to remember that without compromises by all sides there will be no reform.

Mr. Kerim told the Open-ended Working Group on Security Council reform, meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, that he aimed to present a report to the General Assembly with agreed recommendations on the issue before the end of this current session in September.

Therefore, Member States should show "effective flexibility," he said, and ensure that the interests and concerns of all sides are accommodated, especially those which are currently underrepresented.

He stressed that reform of the Council, which currently has five permanent and 10 non-permanent members, is an integral part of the overall wider strengthening of the UN.

Mr. Kerim and his Task Force on this issue – comprised of the Assembly President and the permanent representatives of Bangladesh, Chile and Portugal – plan to initiate a round of consultations with Member States on the contributions so far, his spokesperson Janos Tisovszky told reporters.

He added that Mr. Kerim is adding the permanent representative of Djibouti to the Task Force.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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UN RELIEF CHIEF ENDS PERSIAN GULF TRIP WITH CALL FOR GREATER COOPERATION

UN RELIEF CHIEF ENDS PERSIAN GULF TRIP WITH CALL FOR GREATER COOPERATION New York, Apr 10 2008 7:00PM The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator today wrapped up his four-country tour of the Persian Gulf region by calling for closer coordination between Gulf nations and the world body in tackling both humanitarian crises and longer-term challenges such as rising food prices and the impact of climate change.

Speaking in Doha, Qatar, at the end of a six-day trip that also included stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, Mr. Holmes said he was encouraged "by the clear evidence of common goals and shared principles" between the Gulf countries and the UN.

"There is a real opportunity for strengthening collaborative efforts between the Gulf countries and the international humanitarian community to achieve a more systematic, organized and prioritized approach to delivering emergency relief," he said.

Mr. Holmes, who is also UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said the challenges were two-fold: crises and problems in individual countries, such as Somalia, Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories, Kenya and Darfur, and wider issues such as rising food prices worldwide.

Unrest has been reported in many countries in recent weeks because of the cost of living, he said, while natural disasters are becoming more frequent in some countries because of the effects of climate change.

While in Doha Mr. Holmes met with Qatar's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmad Bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, and other senior Government and non-government officials. He was also accompanied by Abdul Aziz Arrukban, the UN Special Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General based in the Gulf region.

Mr. Arrukban praised the generosity of the Gulf countries in providing humanitarian assistance, both multilaterally and bilaterally.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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UN LABOUR AGENCY CHIEF CALLS FOR NEW CONSENSUS TO AVERT GLOBAL RECESSION

UN LABOUR AGENCY CHIEF CALLS FOR NEW CONSENSUS TO AVERT GLOBAL RECESSION New York, Apr 10 2008 7:00PM A new multilateral consensus on issues ranging from widening income gaps to climate change is needed to help head off a global economic slowdown and recession, the head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has told the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Speaking yesterday at the annual spring meetings of the two Washington-based institutions, <"http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_091972/index.htm">ILO Director-General Juan Somavia also called for closer ties between his agency and the <"http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm">IMF and the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank.

He warned that recent IMF forecasts have projected that global growth could drop below the point that is equivalent to a global recession, causing further problems for labour markets around the world this year.

"Stability and progress in the world of work is threatened by instability and setbacks in the world of finance," he said. "The scale of the financial restructuring now under way and the severity of the credit squeeze make the current financial crisis perhaps the most severe since 1945 and may result in markedly slower growth in the USA and other industrialized countries for as much as two to three years."

Mr. Somavia said a multilateral consensus, bringing together countries rich and poor, and employers and employees, was needed on a wide range of issues.

"The ILO's tried and tested mechanisms of social dialogue and tripartite discussions are particularly vital in building consensus around policies to avert a steep slowdown and move out of recession," he said, referring to the agency's practice of discussions involving governments, employers and workers.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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THREE UN BLUE HELMETS SHOT WHILE ON PATROL IN HAITIAN CAPITAL

THREE UN BLUE HELMETS SHOT WHILE ON PATROL IN HAITIAN CAPITAL New York, Apr 10 2008 7:00PM Three United Nations peacekeepers serving in Haiti were shot last night in a poor neighbourhood of the capital, Port-au-Prince, amid widespread public demonstrations and discontent over the rising cost of the living in the impoverished Caribbean country.

The Sri Lankan blue helmets were on patrol in the Martissant district when they were shot by unknown gunmen, a spokesperson for the mission, known as<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/"> MINUSTAH, told the UN News Centre.

Sophie Boutaud de la Combe said the men were taken to a local hospital but their injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.

She added that because the patrol was unable to identify the source of the gunfire, it did not return fire, in line with the rules of engagement for UN peacekeeping missions.

Protests have broken out across Haiti this week because of the rising cost of basic goods in the country, already the poorest in the entire Western Hemisphere. This morning fresh demonstrations were held in several towns and cities, some of them because of blackouts that have lasted four days. No schools were open in Port-au-Prince today and many businesses were closed or slow to open.

UN installations and vehicles have also been attacked and in some cases burned over the past week, although Ms. Boutaud de la Combe said there was no evidence yet that UN personnel were being deliberately targeted.

Yesterday Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement deploring the violence while appealing for calm and voicing sympathy for the suffering of the Haitian people.

UN agencies are operating across the country to bring relief, with the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) feeding more than one million schoolchildren and the UN Children's Fund (<"www.unicef.org">UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) also providing support to people in need.

Ms. Boutaud de la Combe stressed that MINUSTAH's efforts to bring development to Haiti was a long-term project.

"We are in a corner right now, and the corner is between law and order and development… But we are confident that the results will show up quickly if we continue our efforts on the ground and the international community continues its support."
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CALLS ON RUSSIANS TO TAKE GREATER UN ROLE

BAN KI-MOON CALLS ON RUSSIANS TO TAKE GREATER UN ROLE New York, Apr 10 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Russians to expand their country's already substantial partnership with the United Nations in tackling the range of global challenges from peacekeeping to AIDS to climate change.

"I am convinced you can play a role even greater than you once did – a role commensurate with your tremendous size, wealth and global reach," he said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11507.doc.htm">speech at Moscow State University, recalling Russian history in the midst of a day of meetings with business, political and religious leaders in the national capital.

Citing the words of the university's founding father, Mikhail Lomonosov, Mr. Ban said it was true that "love of one's country is a potent motivator. But as Lomonosov knew, and as we know today, a global outlook is a must – one that takes us beyond national frontiers."

Indeed, he said, after having met enormous challenges in the 20th Century, Russia is engaged globally in almost every sphere, from business to art and culture and beyond.

"This seemingly endless nation, part Europe, part Asia, covering 11 times zones from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, is establishing itself as an equal and independent player on the world political stage," the Secretary-General said.

"But the size and resources of your great country also bring with them great responsibilities – inside and outside your borders," he said, conveying the world's hopes that the country's relationship with its neighbours would be based on "mutual respect and international law," and that regional arrangements would be strengthened.

In that light, he said he applauded President Vladimir Putin's offer to grant NATO access to Afghanistan's northern borders through Russia as a vital partner of international efforts in the Asian country, as well as its role in the Middle East peace process and in UN peacekeeping missions.

But still, he said, he counted on the country to do more: "As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Russian Federation has an enormous stake in a predictable, comprehensive system of global relationships, able to address major issues in a strategic and pragmatic way," he said.

"The Russian principle of a multipolar world is close to the notion of multilateralism – the bedrock of the United Nations," he maintained.

Later this evening, Mr. Ban returned to this theme in a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He said that the two had discussed "many important issues of mutual concern," including the Middle East, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Darfur and Kosovo.

Asked, in addition, about the situation between Georgia and Abkhazia, Mr. Ban said that the UN will continue to facilitate the ongoing dialogue between the parties to reduce tension, and he hoped that the recommendations made by the international Group of Friends would be implemented.

Earlier today the Secretary-General also participated in the launch of a Russian network for the Global Compact, the UN initiative to promote social responsibility in private enterprise.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF HERALDS NEW CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LAWS IN SOUTH AFRICA

UNICEF HERALDS NEW CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LAWS IN SOUTH AFRICA New York, Apr 10 2008 6:00PM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the signing of new laws in South Africa on the protection of children, calling them "a major step" forward in ensuring the well-being of the country's young people.

The Children's Amendment Act "is a comprehensive piece of legislation that is line with provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF country representative Macharia Kamau said this week in a press statement issued in Cape Town.

The new law stresses the role of the State in strengthening the capacity of families and communities to care for and protect children, UNICEF said, and differs from previous laws where the State only intervenes after a child has already suffered abuse, neglect or exploitation.

The Act also details protective measures for children deprived of family care to receive support through foster care or in child and youth-care centres.

Welcoming the legislation, Ms. Kamau said South Africa still faced critical challenges in making sure that the laws are actually implemented – especially in providing enough funds at the national and provincial levels for the care services.

The various Government ministries dealing with the issue, including health, education, justice and social development, also need to cooperate more, she said.

"Resources are lost due to poor inter-sectoral cooperation, and inefficiencies in the effective delivery of services to children at provincial and municipal levels."
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION REPORTS PROGRESS IN IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION REPORTS PROGRESS IN IDENTIFICATION PROCESS New York, Apr 10 2008 6:00PM Almost half a million Ivorians have received new birth certificates, the first step in a process to enable them to vote in national general elections scheduled for later this year, the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) reported today.

Electoral officials with <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI said "good progress" has been made in formally identifying the population in Côte d'Ivoire since a round of UN-facilitated public hearings began across the country, which became divided in 2002 between the Government-controlled south and the rebel-held north.

So far, some 7,400 public hearings or "audiences foraines" have been held in 11 provinces, and about 480,000 applicants have received new birth certificates.

These certificates will allow the recipients to formally seek recognition of their right to citizenship, which in term should allow them to cast their ballots during the elections.

The right to citizenship – or the denial of this right to some people – has been one of the root causes of the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.

UNOCI has been helping to boost public interest in the process by broadcasting detailed daily reports on the identification hearings on its radio station.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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BANGKOK CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS GOOD START, BUT 'HUGE' TASK LAYS AHEAD - UN OFFICIAL

BANGKOK CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS GOOD START, BUT 'HUGE' TASK LAYS AHEAD – UN OFFICIAL New York, Apr 10 2008 4:00PM The climate change talks held last week in Bangkok were successful in devising a schedule for negotiations leading to a long-term international agreement on the issue, but actually devising an accord that all countries will sign remains a major challenge, a top United Nations official told reporters today.

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC), said the outcome of the first round of negotiations on a new global climate change agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol – set to expire in 2012 – was "a good beginning."

The Bangkok talks, held from 31 March to 4 April, was the first meeting since last December's landmark UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, in which 187 countries agreed to launch a two-year process of formal negotiations on strengthening global efforts to fight, mitigate and adapt to the problem of global warming.

Last week's meeting "did manage to make a good beginning towards a good end," Mr. de Boer said at a press conference in New York, noting that countries identified exactly how issues will be taken up for the rest of 2008, which topics will be taken up at the three meetings that will happen during the rest of 2008 and which areas in the Bali outcome need to be further explored.

The meeting also mapped out the focus of the next major climate change conference, to be held in December 2009 in Poznan, Poland, which will address the issue of risk management and risk reduction strategies, technology and the key elements of a shared long-term vision for joint action in combating climate change, including a long-term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While the Bangkok meeting was a success, the challenge ahead is "huge," he added.

"We basically have one and a half years in which to craft what I think is one of the most complicated international agreements that history has ever seen, with a great deal at stake from the point of view of different interests," Mr. de Boer said.

"At the same time, I believe that countries recognize that failure is not an option in all of this. The impacts of climate change are being seen around us already today."

Earlier this week, the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) released a report on the dangers to human health posed by climate change. Also, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC) presented new findings at its meeting in Budapest, Hungary, pointing to increased water stress as a result of climate change.

"So this is clearly an issue that's recognized as one that has to be dealt with now, and has to be dealt with significantly," stated Mr. de Boer.

The Executive Secretary-General outlined several challenges that need to be addressed in the negotiating process, which is set to conclude in Copenhagen by the end of 2009. The first is the need for further and meaningful engagement of major developing countries.

The second hurdle is providing financial resources that will make it possible for these countries to engage without harming their primary concerns surrounding economic growth and poverty reduction.

At the same time, he added, those finances will not begin to flow unless major industrialized countries make significant emission reduction commitments.

"It is my firm belief that we will only address those challenges in a process where people feel their legitimate interests are respected at the negotiating table," he stated.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CONGRATULATES NEPALESE ON HISTORIC ELECTIONS

BAN KI-MOON CONGRATULATES NEPALESE ON HISTORIC ELECTIONS New York, Apr 10 2008 3:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended the people of Nepal for what he called their "enthusiastic participation" in today's Constituent Assembly elections.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3093">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said that the elections "took place in a generally orderly and peaceful atmosphere," and appealed to all parties to remain calm while awaiting results.

On the eve of the election, Mr. Ban's Special Representative in Nepal, Ian Martin, said preparations were in good order, despite some serious acts of violence and violations of human rights during the election campaign.

Mr. Martin had been criss-crossing the country in the past weeks to check on preparations and stress the responsibility of all parties to shun violence and abide by all agreements for free and fair polls.

Once elected, the Constituent Assembly will be tasked with drafting a new constitution for the country, which has emerged from a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives before the Government and Maoist rebels signed a peace accord in 2006.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT NEW UN ENVOYS FOR LEBANON, CYPRUS

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT NEW UN ENVOYS FOR LEBANON, CYPRUS New York, Apr 10 2008 2:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Johan Verbeke of Belgium as the new United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Tayé-Brook Zerihoun of Ethiopia as the world body's top official in Cyprus.

Since September 2004, Mr. Verbeke has been Belgium's Ambassador to the UN, and, in this capacity, he has served on the Security Council and on the Peacebuilding Commission.

He would replace Geir Pedersen of Norway as the senior official coordinating the UN's work in Lebanon.

Mr. Zerihoun would replace Michael Møller as Mr. Ban's Special Representative in Cyprus and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force there, known as UNFICYP.

Established in March 1964 following the outbreak of violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the Mediterranean island, UNFICYP is tasked with preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and the maintenance of law and order.

Mr. Zerihoun is currently the Secretary-General's Principal Deputy Special Representative in the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). He has also been serving as Chief UN Mediator for the Darfur Peace Talks since October 2007, in support of the efforts of Special Envoy Jan Eliasson.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MOSCOW, HAILS LAUNCH OF NETWORK FOR ETHICAL BUSINESS

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MOSCOW, HAILS LAUNCH OF NETWORK FOR ETHICAL BUSINESS New York, Apr 10 2008 2:00PM Continuing his visit to Moscow today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon enthusiastically welcomed the launch of a Russian network for the Global Compact, the United Nations initiative for social responsibility in private enterprise, before holding a raft of meetings with political and religious leaders.

"By launching the Russian Global Compact Network, you have sent a powerful signal that the bottom line can no longer be separated from key goals of global citizenship: peace, development and equity," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11506.doc.htm">told the group of 30 top Russian business executives who participated in the launch.

"And you have demonstrated that Russia's businesses are ready and eager to claim their place in the international economy," he said.

The Global Compact pledges participating businesses – now numbering some 3,600 in over 100 countries – to observe principles regarding human rights, labour rights, environmental sustainability and the fight against corruption.

At today's launch, Mr. Ban maintained that growth of the Compact in Russia would not only help address a range of global problems, but have significant benefits for Russian industry as well.

"It can help manage risks, boost productivity, increase operational efficiency, and build trust and confidence in Russian companies – at home and abroad. It can help improve corporate governance and workplace relations.

"And its emphasis on sound business practices can promote stronger, better and more sustainable brands – an indispensable component of success in the global economy," he said.

Mr. Ban's next stop was the State Duma, or legislature, where he met with First Deputy Chairman Oleg Morozov on the role parliaments can play in addressing conflict, poverty, disease, climate change, the illegal trade of small arms and gender balance.

Visiting Moscow University, the Secretary-General told students he expected Russia's engagement with global issues would keep pace with the challenges and opportunities of the future.

"I am convinced you can play a role even greater than you once did – a role commensurate with your tremendous size, wealth and global reach," he said, enumerating the range of contemporary challenges, from peacekeeping to AIDS to climate change.

He then met with leaders of the Russian Orthodox and Catholic churches, as well as Muslim and Jewish representatives, before an assignation with Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II in Moscow's oldest monastery.

According to his spokesperson, in those meetings he discussed the Alliance of Civilizations, the importance of tolerance, human dignity and social justice, the protection of holy sites in Kosovo and Islamophobia.

Mr. Ban will hold a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this evening, following their tête-à-tête meeting.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES IN SIERRA LEONE BENEFIT FROM UN-PROVIDED FACILITIES

LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES IN SIERRA LEONE BENEFIT FROM UN-PROVIDED FACILITIES New York, Apr 10 2008 2:00PM Local committees tasked with monitoring, investigating and reporting on human rights violations in Sierra Leone will now be able to work out of new resource centres provided by the United Nations mission in the West African country and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The district-level human rights committees were set up by the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (<"http://www.uniosil.org/">UNIOSIL), with financial support from <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx">OHCHR, in an effort to strengthen the national systems to protect and promote human rights. The mission also provided them with training on the protection of human rights, rule of law and strengthening democracy.

"Building and strengthening the capacity of human rights civil society organizations is a compelling necessity for the consolidation of peace and respect for human rights in any country emerging from conflict," the mission stated in a news release issued in the capital, Freetown.

UNIOSIL will formally hand over the resource centres for the committees in Kenema, Bo, Bonthe and Matru Jong on Friday and Saturday.

Under its Programme of Assistance to Sierra Leone, OHCHR will pay the rents for the resource centres for one year, and provide furniture, computers, printers, stabilizers, generators, motorbikes and stationeries. It will also ensure that the centres have enough staff to remain open to the public on a daily basis.

UNIOSIL was set up in 2006 to help the Government consolidate its hard-won peace following a brutal, 11-year conflict, and address a myriad of challenges related to good governance, security, human rights and development.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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GUNMEN ATTACK AND ROB UNARMED UN POLICE IN DARFUR, INJURING ONE

GUNMEN ATTACK AND ROB UNARMED UN POLICE IN DARFUR, INJURING ONE New York, Apr 10 2008 2:00PM A police officer with the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is recovering in hospital after he was pistol-whipped yesterday by unknown gunmen while on a police patrol near a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The police officer is in stable condition in the hospital, <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html">UNAMID said in a press statement issued today, adding that it strongly condemned such attacks on its police officers, who do not carry arms while performing their duties.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also deplored the attack, noting that the mission personnel have been deployed "to contribute to peace and stability" in Darfur.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3092">statement issued by his spokesperson, he called on the Sudanese Government and Darfur's rebel movements to make sure UNAMID can carry out its full mandate.

The mission police team was returning from a routine patrol at the IDP camp at Zamzam, south of the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher, when they were stopped by four armed men yesterday afternoon.

The officers were ordered to leave their vehicles and then robbed of their personal belongings and official identification cards. Two vehicles were hijacked, and Sudanese police have so far only been able to recover one of the vehicles.

It was during the robbery and hijacking that one of the assailants hit one of the police officers in the neck using the back of an AK-47.

The mission said an investigation was under way and stressed that it would continue until the perpetrators are found and brought to justice.

About 1,562 police officers currently serve with UNAMID, which took over operations in the war-wracked region of western Sudan from an AU-only mission at the start of this year. When it reaches full deployment, the hybrid force should have 6,372 police officers.

UNAMID reiterated earlier appeals to contributing countries to send police force members to Darfur as soon as possible to strengthen the capacity of the operation.

The officers are tasked with carrying out daily assignments aimed at providing a safer environment for civilians, especially the most vulnerable groups, such as IDPs and women.

At least 200,000 people have been killed across Darfur since rebels began fighting Government forces and allied militiamen in 2003, and almost 2.5 million others have had to flee their homes and live as either IDPs or as refugees in neighbouring Chad.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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SUDAN: TWO MORE TRANSPORT WORKERS MURDERED DELIVERING UN FOOD AID

SUDAN: TWO MORE TRANSPORT WORKERS MURDERED DELIVERING UN FOOD AID New York, Apr 10 2008 12:00PM A truck driver and his assistant been murdered delivering food aid in Southern Sudan, bringing to five the number of people killed in attacks on transports of the United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2815">WFP) in Sudan in less than three weeks, the agency announced today.

Hamid Dafaalla, 47, a father of four, was shot dead by unknown assailants while returning from a food delivery to the town of Rumbek on Monday, 7 April. His assistant was shot while trying to flee.

"We are shocked and saddened by this heartless killing," WFP Sudan Deputy-Director Ebenezer Tagoe said, calling attacks against vehicles delivering humanitarian assistance "completely unacceptable."

"We have met representatives of the Government of Southern Sudan and they have promised a full investigation," he reported.

The attack occurred six kilometres from Mayom in Unity State, not far from where two WFP-contracted drivers were stabbed to death on 22 March. Another contracted driver was shot dead two days later and his assistant injured while delivering food to Nyala in South Darfur.

WFP said that attacks have slowed food deliveries in violence-torn Darfur, where it is feeding over two million internally displaced persons and refugees.

In Southern Sudan, the killings jeopardize the ability of the agency to provide food to people returning home after the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) ended the long-running north-south civil war, and threatens the pre-positioning of food assistance ahead of the May rainy season.

Since the start of the year there were 60 hijackings of trucks in Darfur, with 42 trucks missing and 29 drivers unaccounted for, in addition to the recent killings, the agency said.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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INDIAN LEADER AWARDED UN PRIZE FOR BOOSTING COUNTRY'S AGRICULTURE

INDIAN LEADER AWARDED UN PRIZE FOR BOOSTING COUNTRY'S AGRICULTURE New York, Apr 10 2008 12:00PM The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today <" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000824/index.html">bestowed its highest award, the Agricola Medal, on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his efforts to spur agricultural development and reduce hunger and poverty in India.

Mr. Singh had shown "exemplary vision and resolve" in promoting the growth of Indian agriculture, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said, as he presented the award in New Delhi during the first-ever Global Agro-Industries Forum.

"With your deep understanding of India's economy you have made modernizing and revitalizing your country's agriculture one of your highest priorities," he added.

The South Asian nation is the world's second largest agricultural producer after China.
Over 60 per cent of the population is employed in agriculture and the sector accounts for 18.5 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Mr. Diouf noted that the flow of credit to Indian farmers had almost doubled in the last four years. In addition, horticultural production is set to double by 2012 while plans are underway to increase national rice, wheat and pulses production by 20 million tons, thus significantly improving domestic food security.

"Thanks to your efforts, agricultural growth in your country is on the path to contributing more to the fast growth of a global economy that includes the needs of vulnerable citizens," he told the Prime Minister.

Previous recipients of the Agricola Medal include King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, French President Jacques Chirac, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Pope John Paul II, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Johannes Rau of Germany.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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PROLONGED DRY SPELLS COULD WORSEN FOOD SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE, WARNS UN AGENCY

PROLONGED DRY SPELLS COULD WORSEN FOOD SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE, WARNS UN AGENCY New York, Apr 10 2008 11:00AM An already precarious food security situation in Zimbabwe could get worse, as very dry weather in several provinces will likely lead to serious damage to the upcoming maize harvest, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) <" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000825/index.html">warned today.

The agency reports that several provinces have not had rain since February, which will affect maize growth and yields that will be harvested in May/June.

In addition to the dry weather, farmers have faced shortages of fertilizer, seed, fuel, and tillage power this season. They also suffered flood-related damages in several districts earlier in the season, resulting from heavy rains in December and January.

Zimbabwe already faces a "critical" food security situation – primarily due to the lack of access to food – which is only getting worse due to the country's exorbitant inflation rate – above 100,000 per cent in December 2007.

"With dwindling foreign exchange reserves and shrinking purchasing power, another year of low cereal production would severely affect the food security condition for a significant part of the population unless substantial assistance is provided," FAO said in a news release.
In addition, Zimbabwe is one of several countries expected to be hit the hardest by the global spike in food prices, according to the UN World Food Programme (<" http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP).
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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UN EXPERTS URGE FULL ACCESS FOR INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS, MEDIA IN TIBET

UN EXPERTS URGE FULL ACCESS FOR INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS, MEDIA IN TIBET New York, Apr 10 2008 11:00AM Concerned about reports of mass arrests in Tibet Autonomous Region and surrounding areas in China, a group of United Nations human rights experts have <" http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/D590DBA78606AE80C1257427002F27BA?OpenDocument">called for unhindered access for independent observers and journalists to those areas and full transparency on the part of the authorities.

The six independent experts, who report to the UN Human Rights Council, "are deeply concerned by reports of security forces firing on protestors and alleged killings," according to a statement issued today in Geneva.

They urged China to "fully conform to its commitment to freedom of expression and assembly, and to distinguish between peaceful protestors and those committing acts of violence."

In addition, "they urge restraint and non-violence by all parties, greater and unfettered access to the regions concerned for journalists and independent observers, guarantees for the free flow of information, and full implementation of international standards in regard to the treatment of protestors and those detained, both in the People's Republic of China and in other countries in which protests are taking place," the statement added.

The Chinese Government was called on "to lift restrictions imposed on the media, including Internet websites that limit access throughout China to information concerning the Tibetan Autonomous Region."

Information received by the experts describes the arrest on 28 and 29 March of over 570 Tibetan monks, including some children, following raids by security forces on monasteries in Ngaba County and in Dzoge County in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

According to reports, arrests were made of those suspected of participating in protests and those suspected of communicating with the exiled Tibetan communities.

The statement notes that China has invited several fact-finding delegations, including one consisting of journalists and another of foreign diplomats, to visit the Tibetan Autonomous Region. However, "such visits are no substitute for granting access to those United Nations experts who have requested a visit to China."

At the same time, the experts welcomed indications from China about its "willingness to engage in further dialogue about these and other concerns."

This statement is issued by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston; the Special Rapporteur for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo; and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani; the Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall; and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, Manfred Nowak, also signed the statement.
2008-04-10 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT NOTES PROGRESS IN DEBATE ON UN MANAGEMENT REFORM

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT NOTES PROGRESS IN DEBATE ON UN MANAGEMENT REFORM New York, Apr 9 2008 7:00PM United Nations Member States are heading towards a common understanding of what path to take on management reform of the world body, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said today after the Assembly wrapped up its first-ever thematic debate of the issue.

In his closing remarks to the debate, Mr. Kerim said the dialogue over the past two days showed that both individual Member States and the UN Secretariat were willing to engage constructively to produce management reform.

"There were several interesting discussions on specific issues and a number of proposals were made by both Member States and representatives from the Secretariat," he said. "In particular, I would like to highlight the emphasis during the debate on the need for greater transparency and enhanced accountability as a means to promote trust and greater credibility."

Mr. Kerim, who convened the debate, noted that it was "only through further open and transparent dialogue [that] we will be able to improve our understanding of the different concerns held by delegations and move ahead in our collective responsibility to improve the capacity of the Organization to implement our decisions."

He added that he was "encouraged by the expressions of renewed commitment to achieving concrete progress in the near future on the priority areas of management reform."

During the debate yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the UN's 192 Member States to support proposals to further strengthen the world body, especially in the areas of procurement, accountability and human resources.

Mr. Ban said the UN was being called on, as never before, to do much more with fewer and fewer resources.

"The only way we can embrace that future and do our good works in the world is to make ourselves more modern, more flexible and more efficient. In a word, to be better managed," he said.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS FATAL TERRORIST ATTACK IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS FATAL TERRORIST ATTACK IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL New York, Apr 9 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned today's terrorist attack by Palestinian militants against the Nahal Oz depot in southern Israel, in which two Israeli civilian contractors working to supply fuel to the Gaza Strip were killed and others injured.

"He is gravely concerned at the prospect of an escalation in violence," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11505.doc.htm">statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson. "The United Nations calls for the protection of all civilians in the conflict."

The spokesperson stressed that, while the Secretary-General recognized Israel's legitimate right to self-defence, he deplored the reported civilian casualties among Palestinians during Israeli military operations this afternoon.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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BANGLADESHI WOMEN RECEIVE FISTULA SURGERY AT UN-RUN MEDICAL TRAINING SESSION

BANGLADESHI WOMEN RECEIVE FISTULA SURGERY AT UN-RUN MEDICAL TRAINING SESSION New York, Apr 9 2008 5:00PM The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has helped 29 Bangladeshi women suffering from obstetric fistula, a debilitating injury resulting from giving birth, to undergo successful repair surgery as part of a marathon training session for medical staff from four Asian countries.

UNFPA said the three-day session last week, held at a hospital in the Bangladeshi city of Sylhet, was part of a wider national effort to boost the number of doctors and nurses skilled in treating fistulae.

This programme brought together teams of experienced surgeons, nurses and anaesthesiologists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Timor-Leste to conduct the surgeries and to share knowledge on fistula repair, while other local medical staff and students observed.

The operations took between two and five hours, depending on the extent of the injuries, <"http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1116">UNFPA said in a press release issued yesterday. It will take several weeks to determine the overall outcome, but Bangladeshi doctors report there is usually a 70 per cent success rate in repairing fistulae.

About 1,200 Bangladeshi women have undergone fistula surgery since 2003, when the UNFPA-led Global Campaign to End Fistula started providing medical equipment and financial support for both training efforts and patient rehabilitation.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labour without prompt medical intervention, usually a Caesarean section. The woman is left with chronic incontinence and, in most cases, a stillborn baby.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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PLIGHT OF DISPLACED IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC WORRIES SECURITY COUNCIL

PLIGHT OF DISPLACED IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC WORRIES SECURITY COUNCIL New York, Apr 9 2008 5:00PM Condemning continued armed activity of rebel groups in eastern Chad, members of the Security Council today expressed their concern over the humanitarian situation in that region and the neighbouring north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR), as the number of displaced persons continues to swell.

Council members also welcomed progress in setting up the mission in the two countries, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT and its European support force, EUFOR, said Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, Council President for April, in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9295.doc.htm">press statement after a briefing by Assistant Secretary General Edmond Mulet.

"They stressed that the full deployment of MINURCAT and EUFOR Chad/CAR will contribute to the protection of vulnerable civilian populations and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, pursuant to <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1778(2007)">resolution 1778 (2007)," he said.

They also encouraged Member States to support those deployments through contributing necessary personnel and assets.

The innovative, multi-dimensional MINURCAT was set up by the Security Council last September to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the northeast of the CAR and eastern Chad and in the neighbouring Darfur region of Sudan.

It was mandated to comprise 300 police and 50 military liaison officers, as well as civilian staff, focusing on the areas of civil affairs, human rights and the rule of law. The strength as of 1 April stood at 163 international and 64 national staff, according to the latest report of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Deployment was delayed when Chadian rebels advanced from the area of the border with Sudan in a bid to take Chad's capital, N'Djamena, in early February. Though the rebels were eventually driven out of the city, street fighting left many dead and UN staff were evacuated.

Also in early February, about 10,000 people from West Darfur sought refuge in eastern Chad following a series of deadly air and land attacks by the Sudanese Government and its allied militia.

In addition, the Prime Minister of the CAR resigned in January and in the subsequent period many thousands fled their villages due to raids by armed groups, with many making their way to Chad.

In his statement today, Mr. Kumalo said Council members strongly urged Sudan and Chad to meet the obligations of their 13 March agreement on reducing border tensions and encouraged the countries of the region to get actively involved in the follow-up.

They also encouraged authorities in Chad and CAR to continue their efforts to promote inclusive political dialogue in their countries, he said.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIALS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO ADDRESS IMPACT OF SPIRALLING FOOD PRICES

UN OFFICIALS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO ADDRESS IMPACT OF SPIRALLING FOOD PRICES New York, Apr 9 2008 5:00PM Warning that soaring food prices could lead to increased poverty and unrest, several senior United Nations officials have called for urgent measures to tackle the global crisis, which threatens to hit the world's poor the hardest.

The World Food Programme's (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) Deputy Executive Director has warned of the rise of a "new face of hunger" that will require the combined efforts of governments, the private sector, and humanitarian organizations to overcome.

"Food prices are now rising at rates that few of us can ever have seen before in our lifetimes," John Powell told the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) Conference.

He expressed particular concern about the fact that markets are full of food, but large numbers of people simply cannot afford to buy.

Yesterday, at the same conference, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes warned that rising food prices could spark worldwide unrest and threaten political stability.

The past few weeks have witnessed violent protests over rising food prices in a number of countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco and, most recently, in Haiti, where several people have died in riots.

Mr. Holmes, who is also Emergency Relief Coordinator, discussed the issue today in his meetings with officials in Kuwait, the latest stop on his four-nation visit intended to encourage greater partnership with Gulf States in international humanitarian efforts.

Meanwhile, the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) called for urgent measures to reduce the impact of high food prices on the poor, which he said was due to a combination of factors such as reduced production due to climate change, increased demand for biofuels production and the higher cost of energy and transport.

Director-General Jacques Diouf made the appeal at the first-ever Global Agro-Industries Forum in New Delhi, India, which has been sponsored by UN agencies to focus on how such industries can contribute to poverty reduction.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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UN AND AFRICAN UNION ENVOYS FOR DARFUR CRISIS HOLD TALKS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN

UN AND AFRICAN UNION ENVOYS FOR DARFUR CRISIS HOLD TALKS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN New York, Apr 9 2008 4:00PM The United Nations and African Union envoys heading international efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict have travelled to the town of Juba today for talks with the former southern Sudanese rebels as they seek to bring new momentum to the stalled political process.

The UN's Jan Eliasson and the AU's Salim Ahmed Salim met with Salva Kiir, Sudan's First Vice President, and members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Task Force on Darfur, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

The two envoys also held consultations with the United Resistance Front (URF), a recently-formed alliance that groups together five movements from Darfur, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied militiamen since 2003.

Mr. Eliasson and Mr. Salim briefed their audience today about last month's meetings in Geneva with the regional partners and the wider international community, and they also discussed the way forward for the political process.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and almost 2.5 million others displaced from their homes in Darfur, and previous attempts to find a lasting peace have faltered or stalled. The UN and AU have deployed a hybrid peacekeeping mission known as UNAMID to try to quell the violence and the humanitarian suffering but so far less than 10,000 personnel – out of the 26,000 expected at full deployment – are in place.

Ms. Okabe said the envoys will visit the Darfur region itself next Wednesday, during which they are expected to meet local representatives of civil society and the region's other movements.

Yesterday they held talks in the national capital, Khartoum, with senior Sudanese Government officials.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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BETTER COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO HELP AFGHANISTAN PRIORITY FOR NEW UN ENVOY

BETTER COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO HELP AFGHANISTAN PRIORITY FOR NEW UN ENVOY New York, Apr 9 2008 4:00PM Improving coordination of international efforts to help bring peace and development to Afghanistan will be a key priority for the United Nations, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the strife-torn nation pledged today.

Kai Eide, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/">UNAMA), told his first <"http://www.unama-afg.org/">press conference in Kabul that he wants to "create a new sense of momentum and a new sense of urgency" in the way international efforts are coordinated.

Mr. Eide just returned from Bucharest, Romania, where he joined Mr. Ban, President Hamid Karzai and other leaders at last week's high-level meeting on Afghanistan, held as part of the summit of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In Bucharest, Mr. Ban acknowledged that the UN has not been as effective as it needs to be in coordinating the international community, adding that the new Security Council mandate will allow the world body to take a more assertive role in coordination.

"We have to get away from a situation where an Afghan administration which is still in need of capacity-building is faced with a too fragmented international community," Mr. Eide stated. "And we have to make sure that the agenda that we pursue is the Afghan agenda and not a number of national agendas.

Among the coordination structures in place is the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), co-chaired by the UN and set up in 2006 to monitor implementation of the Afghanistan Compact – a five-year blueprint for the country's reconstruction.

Related to the issue of better coordination is the question of aid efficiency, the Special Representative noted. "We have to ask ourselves, do we have adequate resources, do we spend them well enough, do we spend them sufficiently through Afghan channels and budgets, and can we eliminate duplication," he said.

Mr. Eide added that the Bucharest meeting was "very encouraging" for the UN, since it reaffirmed that the international community wants a stronger and more prominent role for the Organization in the country.

The meeting also displayed a strong international commitment to help Afghanistan not just by increasing troop levels but also by strengthening efforts in reconstruction and development and in governance. "I have never before seen such a strong international commitment to a broadly-based international effort to support Afghanistan," he said.
2008-04-09 00:00:00.000

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