UN HELPS LAUNCH BEIJING OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN ABOUT HIV/AIDS

UN HELPS LAUNCH BEIJING OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN ABOUT HIV/AIDS New York, Aug 1 2008 6:00PM Information about AIDS, condoms and anti-discrimination messages are being distributed to participants in this year's Beijing Olympics, thanks to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (<"http://www.unaids.org/en/">UNAIDS), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Chinese organizing committee for the games.

"Olympic athletes are helping break down barriers of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV," Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, said today at the launch of the campaign in the Chinese capital.

"They are also well placed to carry the messages across countries and cultures to inspire people to adopt behaviours that protect them against HIV," Dr. Piot added.

In the clinic at the Olympic Village, some 100,000 high quality condoms are available for distribution along with information on HIV prevention and anti-discrimination in English, French and Chinese.

In addition, all Olympians have received a fact sheet and two AIDS video spots featuring the Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and Michael Ballack, the German footballer and UNAIDS Special Representative.

The campaign aims at reaching Olympic athletes, members of the national delegations and the more than 100,000 volunteers supporting the games, using the event to amplify key HIV and AIDS messages globally.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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IRAQI REFUGEES LEARN THE VALUE OF LAUGHTER AT UN-BACKED WORKSHOPS

IRAQI REFUGEES LEARN THE VALUE OF LAUGHTER AT UN-BACKED WORKSHOPS New York, Aug 1 2008 6:00PM Dozens of Iraqi refugee women living in Syria are learning how to build their self-confidence, develop relaxation techniques and hone their communication skills thanks to innovative workshops organized by the United Nations refugee agency and the group Clowns Without Borders.

So far, more than 50 Iraqis have participated in workshops in Damascus, the Syrian capital, that involve theatre, humour and communications, according to a press release issued by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/48908bd11.html">UNHCR) on Wednesday.

The workshops, part of a UNHCR pilot project, have been conducted by three Spanish members of the international organization Clowns Without Borders and aimed at some of the most vulnerable and neediest refugees from Iraq. The group has also trained three Iraqi clowns who offer daily shows for children at the agency centres in Damascus.

Within a few weeks, UNHCR reported, results are already being noticed: many participants say the workshops have allowed them to laugh again for the first time since the war in Iraq began in 2003.

One participant said she used to come home from work each day so angry and wound up that she would ask her family to leave her in peace.

"But this course has really affected me," she said. "When I go back home after the workshop my children say, 'Wow, you have really changed, you smile at us, you play with us.' Even my young son is saying, 'Please, I want to join this course with you.' "

Some participants have been recruited as outreach workers, going house to house in the refugee areas of Damascus to seek out other women to attend the workshops or receive intervention from UNHCR staff for their problems.

More than 215,000 Iraqi refugees are registered with the agency in Syria, and about a fifth of them suffer from severe medical conditions. Many others are unregistered, often turning to prostitution or child labour to support themselves.

Cristina Aguirre, the team leader of Clowns Without Borders for the project, said many participants had told the clowns that the class is not a "normal" situation.

"Normally they are surrounded by noises, screams and people," she said. "But we want to give them the opportunity to listen to themselves, to feel themselves, in a relaxed environment. By doing this they can gain self-confidence and spread it to others around them."
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL SOUNDS ALARM ON FRAGILITY OF SUDAN'S NORTH-SOUTH PEACE ACCORD

SECRETARY-GENERAL SOUNDS ALARM ON FRAGILITY OF SUDAN'S NORTH-SOUTH PEACE ACCORD New York, Aug 1 2008 6:00PM The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ending Sudan's long-running north-south civil war has faced some of its most "volatile and challenging" months since it was signed in 2005, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2008/485">report made public today.

Recent incidents – including the May attack by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Omdurman, near the capital Khartoum, and fighting between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in Abyei – serve as "stark reminders of the fragility of peace in the Sudan," Mr. Ban says in his latest report on the accord.

Additionally, he notes that such instability highlights how the people of Sudan would suffer if the CPA – which he characterizes as "the bedrock for sustainable peace in the Sudan" – were to fail.

Steps taken to consolidate the peace agreement have been thwarted by the crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, where as many as 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed as a result of direct combat, disease or malnutrition since 2003. Another 2.7 million people have been displaced because of fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied militiamen known as the Janjaweed.

"Ultimately, peace in the Sudan is indivisible," the report states, given that Darfur is part of the north and the CPA is the basis of the peace process between north and south.

One of the biggest obstacles to implementing the accord, the Secretary-General says, has been the disputed town of Abyei, which lies in an oil-rich area close to the boundary between north and south Sudan.

"The root cause of the problem has been the failure of the two parties to agree on an approach to implement the Abyei Protocol," he notes, referring to the agreement to end the deadly fighting in the town.

In June, the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) agreed on a road map to resolve the Abyei dispute, including through arbitration.

Mr. Ban says that implementing this road map in good faith would spur progress in other areas, and urges both sides to complete their redeployment out of the area as soon as possible.

But the Abyei issue should not overshadow the other areas where improvements towards achieving the CPA need to be made, he warns.

The Secretary-General congratulates the parties for having implemented a key benchmark of the peace accord, conducting a national census, but calls for the prompt demarcation of the 1 January 1956 border.

"The delay in this process has caused the two sides to deploy forces along border areas to attain better bargaining positions, creating a de factor border line as a consequence."
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: TOP UN RELIEF OFFICIAL 'DEEPLY TROUBLED' BY ATTACKS ON AID WORKERS

DARFUR: TOP UN RELIEF OFFICIAL 'DEEPLY TROUBLED' BY ATTACKS ON AID WORKERS New York, Aug 1 2008 5:00PM The top United Nations relief official today called for full respect for humanitarian principles in the face of continuing attacks on aid workers in Darfur, a troubled region in western Sudan.

"I am deeply troubled about the continuing threats and attacks against humanitarian agencies working in Darfur," John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement.

"Following two attacks against their teams and premises in just one week, Médecins Sans Frontières has announced it has no choice but to evacuate its team from two locations in North Darfur. The departure of MSF team leaves some 65,000 people without essential medical assistance," he said.

Mr. Holmes, who also serves as the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that the armed opposition groups in Darfur had a clear obligation to guarantee the personal and physical safety of relief workers and access to vulnerable populations. He added that the Government also had a responsibility to ensure security throughout its territory.

Calling for aid organizations to be allowed to work in peace, he said that so far this year, 180 humanitarian vehicles had been hijacked, 145 aid workers kidnapped and nine killed.

"Impunity for such attacks must end. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on the assistance these aid organizations deliver and we cannot afford to have them absent from Darfur," he stressed.

The region remains beset by violence and instability five years after rebels began fighting Government forces and allied militiamen known as the Janjaweed. More than 300,000 are estimated to have died, either through direct combat, malnutrition or disease, and another 2.7 million others have been displaced from their homes since 2003.

Yesterday, the Security Council adopted a resolution extending by 12 months the mandate of the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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DOZENS OF RWANDAN HUTU REBELS TURN IN ARMS IN DR CONGO - UN

DOZENS OF RWANDAN HUTU REBELS TURN IN ARMS IN DR CONGO – UN New York, Aug 1 2008 5:00PM The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported that dozens of combatants with a Rwandan Hutu rebel group have turned in their arms in the east of the vast Central African nation.

Yesterday in the town of Kasiki, 200 kilometres north of North Kivu province's capital Goma, 67 members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) turned in weapons in the presence of Congolese authorities.

Also present yesterday were representatives of the task force monitoring the Joint Nairobi Communiqué, the November 2007 agreement under which the DRC and Rwanda have agreed to work together against threats to peace and stability in the region.

The combatants arrived with 100 of their dependants and turned in some 45 weapons, most of which were AK-47 rifles.

The UN mission, known as MONUC, welcomed this initiative, noting that this many FDLR combatants have not voluntarily disarmed at the same time since 2006.

The number of fighters participating in the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR) process has increased by 30 per cent since the signing of the Nairobi Communiqué.

However, MONUC notes with regret that many combatants continue to be held back from taking part in the DDRRR process by their leaders.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN IRAQ'S SECURITY SITUATION, BAN REPORTS

CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN IRAQ'S SECURITY SITUATION, BAN REPORTS New York, Aug 1 2008 4:00PM A combination of political and military efforts has led to continued improvements in security across Iraq in the past three months, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in his latest report to the Security Council on the United Nations Assistance Mission to the country (UNAMI).

Mr. Ban cautions that the gains made so far need to be sustained through meaningful political dialogue and national reconciliation.

"Time is of the essence, and Iraq can no longer afford continued delays in finding viable political solutions," the Secretary-General says in the quarterly report, released today.

The Secretary-General also highlights the issue of disputed internal boundaries in the country and says it remains a priority for the UNAMI. He strongly encourages the Iraqi authorities and political stakeholders to explore opportunities created by the mission's work on this delicate issue.

UNAMI will also continue to assist Iraq's independent electoral commission in planning for governorate elections, Mr. Ban says, but warns that unless a new electoral law is passed in time Iraqis will be deprived of the chance to vote this year, which could alienate various communities.

According to the report, rising levels of oil income offer an opportunity to improve the management and accountability of the country's financial resources, but Mr. Ban says that essential services are still lacking and fuel shortages remain widespread in a country with vast oil reserves. He stresses that job creation is vital.

"Although Iraq forecasts around 7 per cent growth for 2008, the new wealth has not lifted many Iraqis out of poverty or reduced unemployment levels," he writes.

While welcoming new commitments to assist people displaced inside the country, the Secretary-General also calls on the Iraqi Government to develop ways of helping the Iraqi refugee community in the region, in cooperation with neighbouring host countries.

Mr. Ban says the fact that a growing number of Arab States have expressed their willingness to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Baghdad is a positive development, and the decision by the United Arab Emirates to forgive Iraqi debt is a strong step that he hopes is taken by others in the region.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO TEAMS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE RETURN OF ETHIOPIAN OBELISK TO ORIGINAL SITE

UNESCO TEAMS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE RETURN OF ETHIOPIAN OBELISK TO ORIGINAL SITE New York, Aug 1 2008 3:00PM One of Ethiopia's most iconic monuments, the 1,700-year-old Aksum Obelisk, has been successfully reinstalled at its original location after the third and final block was mounted in place this week by teams from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The monument's reinstallation, completed yesterday, took place six decades after Italian soldiers carted the obelisk off to Rome during Benito Mussolini's invasion in 1937.

UNESCO said locals living near the Aksum World Heritage site in northern Ethiopia, close to the Eritrean border, greeted the end of the reinstallation with joy, organizing spontaneous musical concerts. An inauguration ceremony has been slated for 4 September.

The Aksum Obelisk, which is 24 metres high and weighs 150 tons, is the second largest stela – or upright stone slab or tablet – on the Aksum World Heritage site. It has become a symbol of the Ethiopian people's identity.

After mediation by UNESCO, Italy decided to return the obelisk in April 2005, and paid for the dismantling in Rome and subsequent transport and reinstallation. The monument's size meant it had to be cut into three pieces before being reinstalled.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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BAN UNVEILS SENIOR UN APPOINTMENTS IN LEBANON AND GEORGIA

BAN UNVEILS SENIOR UN APPOINTMENTS IN LEBANON AND GEORGIA New York, Aug 1 2008 2:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced plans today to reassign several key leadership posts involving United Nations operations in Lebanon and Georgia.

Mr. Ban has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Johan Verbeke, his current UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, to the post of the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Georgia and head of the UN Observer Mission to that country (known as UNOMIG).

Mr. Verbeke will succeed Jean Arnault, who will be reassigned shortly, Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

A career diplomat from Belgium, Mr. Verbeke has extensive experience with the UN system, including as his country's Permanent Representative to the Organization from September 2004 to April this year.

The Secretary-General also informed the Council of his plan to appoint Michael C. Williams of the United Kingdom to replace Mr. Verbeke as Special Coordinator for Lebanon.

Mr. Williams has previously served as the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, and was most recently the UK Representative for the Middle East and Special Projects.

Ms. Montas said the Secretary-General was confident that the new appointments would ensure continued strong leadership on the ground in both Lebanon and Georgia.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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ARAB COUNTRIES AGREE TO UN-BACKED ELECTRONIC MONEY TRANSFER SERVICES

ARAB COUNTRIES AGREE TO UN-BACKED ELECTRONIC MONEY TRANSFER SERVICES New York, Aug 1 2008 1:02PM Eight Arab countries have signed an agreement to start electronic money transfer services using technology that has been developed by the United Nations postal agency with the aim of helping rural populations and migrant workers have access to better services.

Postal operators in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen will now be able to exchange money orders on a multilateral basis, according to a press statement released today by the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

Other Arab countries have indicated they hope to join the arrangement by the end of the year.

The agreement was reached this week in Geneva, where the Swiss-based UPU has been holding the 24th Universal Postal Congress, and follows a similar deal between Chile, Spain and Uruguay that was struck at the meeting on Monday.

UPU said a parallel project is expected to be set up among the countries of North-Eastern Africa next week, drawing on the UPU's so-called IFS application and the international financial network.

The postal agency has been trying to improve access for rural populations, and especially migrant workers, to secure and reliable money transfer services through formal channels – rather than the traditional informal methods.

This is particularly valuable in countries such as the UAE, where more than 80 per cent of the population are foreigners, and millions of dollars are sent to home countries through remittances.

The project has been launched by the Arab League, supported by French Post and implemented by a regional steering committee chaired by Emirates Post.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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GLOBAL ANTI-POVERTY GOALS THREATENED BY BREAKDOWN OF WTO TALKS - UN AGENCY

GLOBAL ANTI-POVERTY GOALS THREATENED BY BREAKDOWN OF WTO TALKS – UN AGENCY New York, Aug 1 2008 1:02PM The head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said today that it was "deeply disappointing" that world trade talks in Geneva had ended without agreement and called for the revival of the negotiations.

"The failure of the talks this week is undoubtedly a setback to the multilateral trading system," UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said.

"It adds to a growing list of global development challenges that must be confronted by countries in order to create the necessary and conducive conditions to promote development, eliminate poverty and accelerate the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

Mr. Panitchpakdi stressed that the so-called "Doha Round" of talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was too important to be derailed and said that UNCTAD was committed to supporting a revival of the negotiations.

"Every effort must be deployed by WTO members to re-commit themselves to the multilateral trading system, to return to the negotiating table at the earliest possible juncture, and deliver the development promise of the Round," he said.

"The Round provides a unique vehicle for re-balancing the multilateral trading system, in particular for addressing the long-standing systemic distortions, especially in regard to agricultural subsidies by developed countries," he added, stressing that an important goal was to secure increased, predictable and effective market access for developing countries for exports in agriculture, manufacturing and other services.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG APPROVES INDIA NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT

UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG APPROVES INDIA NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT New York, Aug 1 2008 1:00PM The United Nations atomic watchdog today approved an agreement to extend nuclear safeguards over India's civilian nuclear reactors.
The 22-page framework calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that certain declared Indian nuclear material and facilities are used only for peaceful purposes.
In his address to the Board of Governors, the Director General of the IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei said the agency would begin to implement the new safeguards agreement in 2009, with the aim of bringing a total of 14 Indian reactors under agency safeguards by 2014. The IAEA currently applies safeguards to six Indian nuclear reactors under existing agreements.
"The 'umbrella' nature of this agreement provides a more efficient mechanism for ensuring that safeguards requirements can be met. It satisfies India's needs while maintaining all the agency's legal requirements," Dr. ElBaradei <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2008/board010808.html"said.
The text of the safeguards agreement was finalized after several rounds of consultations between India and the IAEA which began in November 2007.
Last year Dr. ElBaradei welcomed an announcement that India – which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – and the United States had reached a deal on nuclear cooperation.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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UN'S ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL ARM TURNS UP THE HEAT

UN'S ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL ARM TURNS UP THE HEAT New York, Aug 1 2008 10:00AM The main United Nations premises in Bangkok, which houses over a dozen of the Organization's entities, will be joining the New York Secretariat to roll out the "Cool UN" scheme being launched today to slash the world body's own emissions.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the three-pronged initiative which seeks to limit the use of air conditioning, slash greenhouse gas emissions and save money.

"We have succeeded in moving climate change to the top of the international agenda for action, and this means that the UN must take action itself," he said.

He also encouraged both personnel and delegates to dress less formally, including by having men leave their ties off.

Noeleen Heyzer, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), decided to extend "Cool UN" to the Bangkok offices.

Like the Secretariat in New York which is raising the thermostats by five degrees from 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in most parts of the landmark building, ESCAP turned up the temperature by 2 degrees Celsius. Most of its staff members also came to work today in lighter clothing, including national dress.

"Cool UN" is just one of several schemes ESCAP is involved in to slash energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2002, it has cut back electricity consumption by 16 per cent yearly by replacing old and inefficient appliances such as power transformers, elevators, air conditioners, lights and pumps.

ESCAP's service also has pilot solar panels and wind turbines, and water usage has been reduced by 30 per cent every year through new higher-efficiency water closets and using recycled water for the main gardens.
2008-08-01 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES MANDATE OF UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES MANDATE OF UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR New York, Jul 31 2008 8:00PM The Security Council is holding consultations tonight on whether to extend the mandate of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the strife-torn region of western Sudan.

The 15-member panel is discussing a possible resolution that would extend the mission – which was authorized by the Council exactly one year ago – for another 12 months to 31 July 2009. The current mandate expires tonight.

Since taking over from an AU peace monitoring mission at the start of this year, UNAMID has just under 10,000 uniformed personnel in place, far short of the approximately 26,000 troops and police officers expected when the force reaches full deployment.

A report by a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) this week found that the peacekeeping mission faces critical shortages in troops, other personnel, helicopters, equipment and logistics.

UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada said he concurred with the report and called on the international community to help out with the shortages so that the mission can carry out its mandate.

A spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon echoed those remarks today, saying it was vital that UNAMID be given the helicopters and other necessary capabilities.

The mission reported today that the security situation in Darfur, an impoverished and arid region, remains relatively calm. Mission staff continue to conduct routine patrols and escorts.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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STEPPED-UP SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS NEEDED, SAYS UN

STEPPED-UP SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS NEEDED, SAYS UN New York, Jul 31 2008 8:00PM The United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/topics/prevention_care/child/nutrition/breastfeeding/en/index.html">WHO) have kicked off World Breastfeeding Week by urging increased support for breastfeeding mothers since the practice has been shown to slash deaths by more than 10 per cent in infants in developing countries.

"Breastfeeding is a key tool in improving child survival," said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), according to a press release issued today to mark the Week, which runs until 7 August.

Despite advances in the past 15 years, only 38 per cent of infants under six months of age in the poorer nations are exclusively breastfed, a practice which could curb infant mortality.

This year's theme for the Week is "support for mothers," with studies having shown that the number of months which mothers breastfeed – especially exclusively – is extended by education and support.

The practice can cut back on the number of deaths caused by acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea, as well as other infectious diseases. It also improves mothers' health and strengthens the bond between mother and child.

First observed in 1992, the Week – which seeks to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life – is now observed in more than 120 countries.

Events marking the Week will be held worldwide, ranging from a rally in Bangladesh to an essay contest in Hong Kong.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF CHIEF LAUNCHES TETANUS CAMPAIGN IN MADAGASCAR

UNICEF CHIEF LAUNCHES TETANUS CAMPAIGN IN MADAGASCAR New York, Jul 31 2008 7:00PM The head of the United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_44896.html">UNICEF) has launched a tetanus campaign in rural Madagascar, one of the few countries in the world that has not yet eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Wrapping up her visit to the Indian Ocean country, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman yesterday launched the campaign in the town of Andilamena with the national Health Minister and local officials.

"Death due to tetanus is painful," Ms. Veneman said. "One visit to the local health centre for a simple immunization can help save a baby's life."

Neonatal tetanus, which is preventable through a vaccination given to the mother before she gives birth, currently accounts for about 5 to 7 per cent of all newborn babies.

During her visit to Madagascar Ms. Veneman also called on all families to register their children at birth, ensuring they have access to basic health services and education. As many as 25 per cent of Malagasy children are not registered.

UNICEF warned that children without birth certificates are also more vulnerable to sexual exploitation, early marriage and child labour.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN POSTAL UNION ADOPTS EXPANDED FOUR-YEAR ROAD MAP

UN POSTAL UNION ADOPTS EXPANDED FOUR-YEAR ROAD MAP New York, Jul 31 2008 6:00PM The United Nations Universal Postal Union (<"http://www.upu.int/news_centre/2008/en/2008-07-31_roadmap.shtml">UPU) has adopted a new and expanded four-year road map that emphasizes the key role played by the postal sector in the world's economy.

The strategy's objectives cover the previous one, but also seek to bolster the inter-operability, quality and efficiency of the global postal network, promote sustainable development of the sector and its economy and encouraging the growth of postal markets and services.

The UPU's member countries unanimously adopted the new road map yesterday during the 24th Universal Postal Congress convened in Geneva.

Also yesterday, a proposal to expand the UPU's fundamental mission to extend the role of the postal sector to fostering trade and development was rejected, despite a majority of votes in favour of it.

The proposal – which received 97 votes in favour, short of the 144 needed – said that the UPU's mission should also include its position within the UN family as well as the sector's contribution to promoting economic and social development.

Member countries which voted for extending the UPU's scope said that the proposal would better reflect the reality, which reaches beyond distributing letters and parcels.

But 28 nations voted against it, with the United States arguing that the UPU should concentrate on what is mentioned in the current mission, which is to boost communication worldwide through efficient and accessible postal services.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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BAN CONFERS WITH ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BAN CONFERS WITH ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS New York, Jul 31 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni in New York today, with the two discussing the Middle East peace process, including the situation in Lebanon.

According to Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas, they also talked about operational issues regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Palestinian students who are not able to exit Gaza.

Mr. Ban and Ms. Livni also conferred on the Annapolis process, the peace process launched in the United States city of that name late last year.

In his meeting yesterday with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, the Secretary-General discussed Israeli settlements.

Ms. Montas noted that Mr. Ban has said repeatedly that they do not help push the peace process forward.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3324">statement issued last week, he voiced deep concern about the announcement that the Ministry of Defence had issued an initial approval of 20 residential units in the Israeli military post of Maskiyot in the West Bank.

"The Secretary-General has stressed many times before that settlement construction or expansion is contrary to international law," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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WEST AFRICAN FLOODS SPARK WARNING FROM UN HUMANITARIAN WING

WEST AFRICAN FLOODS SPARK WARNING FROM UN HUMANITARIAN WING New York, Jul 31 2008 5:00PM United Nations relief officials warned today that heavy rains across West Africa have brought renewed flooding to the region, threatening the homes and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people and jeopardizing the already fragile food security situation.

More than 50,000 people in seven West African countries have been affected by floods so far, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In Mali, at least six people are reported to have died in the capital, Bamako, because of the floods, while the rising waters of the Senegal River have displaced about 4,600 people in southern Mauritania.

Another 10,000 people have been forced from their homes in Togo and that country's trade links with Burkina Faso have been disrupted after the rains made nine bridges unusable.

OCHA's West African chief Hervè Ludovic de Lys told UN Radio that much of the region has yet to recover from last year's season of devastating floods, and this year's inundations combined with rising food prices could leave thousands of people needing food assistance.

Mr. de Lys said landlocked countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad have been suffering especially hard from the global food and energy crisis, and may find it difficult to respond to further pressure such as the floods.

Earlier this week the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced it was expanding its West African operations to feed an additional 1.4 million people in Guinea, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Senegal who are struggling as a result of the food crisis.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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NUMBER OF PATENT APPLICATIONS IS GROWING WORLDWIDE, SAYS UN AGENCY

NUMBER OF PATENT APPLICATIONS IS GROWING WORLDWIDE, SAYS UN AGENCY New York, Jul 31 2008 5:00PM Increased patent applications in China and the Republic of Korea, as well as in the United States, have pushed the total number of filings to 1.76 million, according to a new report from the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In its latest report, based on the most recent available figures from 2006, WIPO said today that the number of patents granted worldwide had grown by 18 per cent in one year to 727,000. The UN agency added that the total number of patents in force was some 6.1 million.

"A major increase in innovative activity in China, the Republic of Korea and the United States has driven the overall growth of patent filings in 2006. This reflects a consolidation of earlier trends which demonstrate a marked shift in innovation hubs around the world," the Director General of WIPO, Kamil Idris, said.

"While use of the patent system remains highly concentrated among a group of countries, statistics show an increasing level of patent activity in emerging countries. This is an encouraging trend," Dr. Idris added.

The statistics also indicate a growing tendency for applicants to file in multiple countries, through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an agreement administered by WIPO which provides a simplified method for international patent filing. More than 158,000 patent filings were made through the PCT in 2006, an increase of about 6 per cent over the previous year.

Applicants from Japan (514,047 applications), the USA (390,815), the Republic of Korea (172,709), Germany (130,806) and China (128,850) accounted for 76 per cent of the total number of patent applications filed worldwide in 2006.

WIPO said that patenting activity in emerging countries also increased in 2006, with India receiving 24,505 filings, Brazil 24,505 and Mexico 15,505. The UN agency said that the volume of patent filings was highly correlated with a country's level of investment in research and development.

Citing figures from 2005, WIPO said that the most intense patenting activity was evident in the following sectors: computer technology (144,594), telecommunications (116,770), and electrical machinery (121,350). Between 2001 and 2005, patent filings in computer technology, optics, and semiconductors all grew by about 5 per cent. There was a modest increase in pharmaceuticals filings and a decrease in biotechnology filings.

Recent pressures on energy resources have boosted patenting activity in the energy sector, in particular in relation to solar energy, fuel cells and wind energy. Applicants from Japan accounted for the largest number of applications in the fields of solar energy and fuel cells, while Germany joined Japan as one of the top two countries of origin for wind energy technologies.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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IN SANTIAGO, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NEW CULTURE OF GLOBAL RELATIONS

IN SANTIAGO, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NEW CULTURE OF GLOBAL RELATIONS New York, Jul 31 2008 4:00PM The President of the General Assembly has called for creating a new culture of international relations to address today's global challenges, ranging from economic development and reducing poverty to dealing with rising food and energy prices.

"To face up to today's emergencies and deal with tomorrow's challenges, we need to reshape the existing international architecture and adapt to the needs of the world of the 21st century," Srgjan Kerim told a conference on the role of the UN in a globalized world, held yesterday at the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile.

Mr. Kerim, who is currently on a three-nation tour that will also take him to Argentina and Brazil, stressed that the role of the Organization continues to be highly relevant, because it is through the UN that global rules and norms of interaction are harmonized and coordinated.

In addition, the world body has a unique convening power that allows for a range of actors to be actively involved in developing solutions to global problems, the President told the gathering of government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of UN agencies, funds and programmes.

He also outlined the priorities of the current Assembly session, which include responding to climate change, achieving the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promoting the global counter-terrorism strategy.

Among the other participants in the conference were ECLAC Executive Secretary Alícia Bárcena, UN Resident Coordinator Enrique Ganuza, and the Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN, Heraldo Muñoz.

In her remarks to the forum, Ms. Bárcena noted Mr. Kerim's effective work and "silent diplomacy" at the UN, having successfully dealt with several contentious issues during his tenure as President of the 192-member Assembly's current session.

While in Santiago yesterday, Mr. Kerim also met with Chile's acting Minister of External Relations, Alberto Van Klaveren, and other high-level officials, with whom he discussed a number of issues including UN reform, climate change and financing for development.

In meetings with representatives of ECLAC and the UN Country Team, the President focused on the opportunities and challenges for the UN system in middle-income countries, and on the reform processes being discussed by the Assembly, particularly system-wide coherence and management reform.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY HELPS CHINESE AUTHORITIES PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSPORT AT OLYMPICS

UN AGENCY HELPS CHINESE AUTHORITIES PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSPORT AT OLYMPICS New York, Jul 31 2008 4:00PM The United Nations Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=14&topic=6&sid=4330&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0">UNDP) is contributing to a plan by the Chinese authorities to make the Beijing Olympics environmentally friendly, with the opening of the Games little more than a week away.

The UNDP is providing four electric buses for use during the Games, which will be part of a fleet of 50 that will ferry athletes between the Olympic Village and the sports venues.

"Apart from helping to achieve low-carbon approaches to Olympic venue operation, we seek to use the Olympics as a platform for raising awareness of the general public on the options for sustainable public transport in China," Subinay Nandy, UNDP Country Director, said.

The transport sector in China, which relies almost entirely on oil, is projected to account for a large part of the country's demand for oil over the next 20 years and will be the source of much of the nation's emissions.

According to official statistics, it is predicted that by 2010 the percentage of emissions from large cities will represent 64 per cent of total emissions in China. UNDP says that moving to low-carbon urban transport is therefore a key challenge for both domestic energy security and global climate change.

The electric buses to be used during the Games will be the first running on an advanced lithium ion electric battery which, when compared to other batteries, are smaller and can run longer with repetitive use. Each bus can carry 80 passengers and reach 80 kilometres per hour. With batteries fully charged, the buses can travel 130 kilometres without recharging.

Following the two weeks of the Olympics, the four buses will join the general public transport system of Beijing.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIAL HAILS US ROAD MAP TO COMBAT AIDS

TOP UN OFFICIAL HAILS US ROAD MAP TO COMBAT AIDS New York, Jul 31 2008 4:00PM Lauding the United States Government for its massive funding boost to fight AIDS, the head of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said today that the new investment will inject fresh hope for the future.

Yesterday, President George W. Bush yesterday signed a new bill into law renewing the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which triples funding to tackle the pandemic to nearly $50 billion over the next five years.

"We are at a turning point in the world's response to AIDS," <"http://data.unaids.org/pub/PressStatement/2008/20080730_statement_pepfar_en.pdf">said UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot, who was present at the bill's "historic" signing in Washington, DC.

"AIDS is not just a short-term emergency, but also a long-term crisis that will require a serious commitment and serious resources for decades, not years, to come."

Some 33 million people worldwide are living with the disease, with 7,500 people being infected daily.

While the pandemic is not yet over around the world, Dr. Piot stressed that the considerable investment by the US and other nations in HIV prevention, care and treatment has led to fewer AIDS deaths and infections.

Thanks to the new US legislation, "we can look forward with great hope and knowledge that investments made will save lives," he said.

According to UNAIDS, the new law has removed HIV as a condition for denying visitors entry into the country.

The agency also said that it hopes the legislation will be implemented quickly by the Department of Health and Human Services.

In a related development, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr27/en/index.html">WHO) and the international drug facility known as UNITAID today announced an infusion of $50 million targeted at slashing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The funds will test 10 million pregnant women for HIV and treat nearly 300,000 mothers and children in nine countries where one quarter of the world's HIV-infected pregnant mothers give birth every year. Those nations are: Central African Republic (CAR), China, Haiti, Lesotho, Myanmar, Nigeria, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

"This effort aims to go beyond mere prevention by promoting ongoing treatment for mothers and their babies," said Philippe Douste-Blazy, who chairs UNITAID's Executive Board. "Our aim is to fund the most effective and appropriate medicines and diagnostics on the market for both women and children."

The investment will allow UNICEF to receive lower drug prices, leading to increased treatment for women living with HIV and also enhanced measures to prevent infection in their children. It will also provide a one-year course of anti-retroviral treatment to HIV-positive pregnant women in need in the nine target countries.

Today's announcement comes ahead of the XVII International AIDS Conference, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will help open in Mexico City on 3 August.

That event will bring together world leaders, policymakers, academics and activists to review lessons learned and build momentum towards achieving universal access goals by 2010 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which includes the target of halting the spread of HIV/AIDS – by 2015.

The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) plans to hold events to raise awareness of the pandemic's impact on the workplace.

Those working in their productive prime are both most at risk of being infected with HIV and most affected by the virus. The ILO said that more than 30 million people globally of working age are living with HIV.

"Workplaces are vitally important for HIV/AIDS information, prevention, non-discrimination and access to treatment," said Sophia Kisting, Director of ILO/AIDS. "At the same time, we are seeing increasing evidence that the workplace literally 'works' as a vital entry point for a whole range of responses to issues raised by the pandemic."

During the six-day Conference, ILO will also host an advice centre to offer suggestions and materials on how to draft an HIV/AIDS policy.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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BAN DISPATCHES UN TEAM TO ASSESS DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER SITUATION

BAN DISPATCHES UN TEAM TO ASSESS DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER SITUATION New York, Jul 31 2008 3:00PM A fact-finding mission dispatched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in the Horn of Africa to assess the political, security and humanitarian situation along the border between Djibouti and Eritrea, in light of the recent tensions there.

Eritrean military action against Djibouti in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island in early June left several people dead and dozens wounded. The clashes prompted calls from Mr. Ban and the Security Council for the two neighbouring countries to commit to a ceasefire and withdraw their forces to the status quo ante.

The situation along the joint border was recently reported to be calm but tense, with military regrouping occurring on both sides and a de facto ceasefire continuing to hold.

The mission – which was sent in response to a request by the Security Council – is being led by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and includes representatives from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

Members of the team convened yesterday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where they are scheduled to meet with the African Union (AU), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other partners.

The team will then head to Djibouti, where it will hold meetings with civilian and military authorities and conduct a field visit to the border area to collect information about recent incidents.

The mission is expected to complete its work on 6 August and submit a report to the Secretary-General upon its return.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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SOMALI CHILDREN PAYING HEAVY PRICE FOR ONGOING VIOLENCE, WARNS UNICEF

SOMALI CHILDREN PAYING HEAVY PRICE FOR ONGOING VIOLENCE, WARNS UNICEF New York, Jul 31 2008 3:00PM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm about the impact of escalating violence on young people in Somalia, where just last week seven children died in battles between anti-government forces and Ethiopian troops based in the capital, Mogadishu.

"The current environment of conflict, displacement and insecurity in southern and central Somalia has a seriously negative impact on children's and young people's long-term psychosocial welfare and healthy development," said Christian Balslev-Olesen, UNICEF's Representative in the Horn of African nation, which has not had a functioning government since 1991.

UNICEF has received reports of over 150 children killed or injured through indiscriminate shelling, bombings and crossfire during the past one year alone.

Another concern is the recruitment of children and their participation in the conflict, which Mr. Balslev-Olesen said has led to children becoming suspects and targets in the conflict.

Along with its partners, the agency is carrying out an advocacy campaign against child recruitment and is working with communities through child protection networks throughout southern and central Somalia to monitor and report on violations against children.

"However, the functioning of these networks is being seriously hampered by the deteriorating security situation in the region and the targeting of aid workers which are hindering the urgently needed humanitarian access," Mr. Balslev-Olesen noted.

UNICEF called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect the rights of children and find ways to increase aid access.

The agency recently announced it was scaling up its nutrition programme in the country after a survey found there had been an 11 per cent increase in malnutrition in the last six months.

Nearly 180,000 children in Somalia are acutely malnourished, with 25,000 severely malnourished, according to UNICEF, which added that the areas where internally displaced persons (IDPs) have taken refuge after fleeing the violence in Mogadishu are among the most at risk of malnutrition.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT TO VISIT MYANMAR NEXT WEEK

UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT TO VISIT MYANMAR NEXT WEEK New York, Jul 31 2008 1:00PM The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar will conduct his first mission to the Asian country next week after receiving an invitation to visit from the Government.

Tomás Ojea Quintana, who will be in Myanmar from 3 to 7 August, has requested to meet a number of State officials and heads of State institutions during the visit, according to a press release issued today by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Special Rapporteur – who assumed the post in May this year – is also expected to meet with representatives of ethnic groups, political parties, religious groups, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

His schedule is expected to take him to Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, and areas affected by the devastating Cyclone Nargis in May, as well as to both Kayin state in the southeast and Rakhine state on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

"The Special Rapporteur wishes to engage in a constructive dialogue with the authorities with a view to improving the human rights situation of the people of Myanmar," the press release added.

Special rapporteurs serve in an independent and unpaid capacity and report to the Human Rights Council.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari also plans to visit Myanmar next month after receiving a letter of invitation from the country's authorities. This will be his fourth visit over the past year.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY LAUDS THINK-TANK PROPOSAL TO REVAMP US POLICY ON GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

UN AGENCY LAUDS THINK-TANK PROPOSAL TO REVAMP US POLICY ON GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS New York, Jul 31 2008 1:00PM The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today praised a new report by a Washington-based think-tank which calls for the United States to take a fresh strategic approach to the global food crisis.

The report, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, outlines a plan of action which it says any US administration could embrace on a bipartisan basis. It recommends a doubling of emergency assistance and making rural development and agricultural productivity new foreign policy priorities.

"This challenge cannot be solved without US leadership. This study is a roadmap, a wake-up call," WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran <"http://wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2894">said during the report's presentation this week in Washington.

Ms. Sheeran also highlighted the report's call for a modernization of the global food aid system. Improving the "speed, agility, liquidity and flexibility" of that system was a challenge not only for the US but also for the world, she said.

"Food security is so fundamental to human existence that it is not only a humanitarian issue but also perhaps the key security issue of our time."

With food prices expected to remain high, the UN has set up a task force, chaired by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to promote a comprehensive solution to the global food crisis. Its action plan provides for long-term solutions, such as boosting agricultural production, but also short-term measures to meet the immediate needs of the hungry poor who have been most affected by high food prices.

The WFP said that, according to most estimates, food prices will remain high at least until 2012.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN BORDER ASSESSMENT TEAM WRAPS UP TWO-WEEK MISSION TO LEBANON

UN BORDER ASSESSMENT TEAM WRAPS UP TWO-WEEK MISSION TO LEBANON New York, Jul 31 2008 12:00PM The independent United Nations team dispatched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to assess the monitoring of the Lebanese border with Syria has wrapped up its two-week mission to Lebanon.

This was the second mission for the Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT), which was set up in April 2007 in response to a request from the Security Council.

The four-member team, comprised of experts in border security, police, customs and military issues, met with a number of Lebanese officials and conducted several field visits along the country's northern and eastern borders.

The aim of the mission was to examine progress made in enhancing border management and security, as called for in Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah.

That resolution also called for renewed respect for the Blue Line separating Israeli and Lebanese forces, the disarming of militias and an end to arms smuggling, among other measures.

The team will submit a report on its findings and recommendations to Mr. Ban shortly.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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AFGHANISTAN: UN AGENCY WELCOMES NEW LAW ON COMBATING TERRORISM

AFGHANISTAN: UN AGENCY WELCOMES NEW LAW ON COMBATING TERRORISM New York, Jul 31 2008 11:00AM A new anti-terrorism law in Afghanistan has been welcomed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which says the legislation brings the country in line with international conventions.

"The enactment of the new law is a major step towards bringing to justice those who have committed, attempted to commit, or plan to commit terrorist acts. It is an important part of an effective and comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy," Christina Gynna Oguz, UNODC Representative in Afghanistan, said in a statement.

The new Combat against Terrorism Offences legislation ensures the human rights of suspects and accused, according to UNODC. It requires that all protections in the country's Constitution and criminal procedure laws apply in terrorism cases.

"This law now brings Afghanistan's penal legislation in accordance with the 13 international conventions on terrorism," Ms. Oguz said, while she also urged the drafting of regulations to safeguard privacy rights by controlling law enforcement monitoring of communications, after court approval.

UNODC has worked closely with the legislation department of the Afghan Ministry of
Justice and has provided technical advice by leading weekly meetings, training workshops and drafting sessions.

The UN agency says that Afghanistan faces serious terrorism problems threatening its stability, prosperity and good governance, as well as the human rights of its citizens.

In a related development, UNODC held a training workshop this week for Afghanistan's Central Prison Department on new regulations for prisons in the country.

"The obligation to treat persons deprived of their liberty with dignity and humanity is a fundamental and universally applicable rule – and not dependent on the material resources available," Ms. Oguz said.

The new regulations are designed to enhance the protection of prisoners and detainees across the country and to support proper management of prisons. Further trainings are planned for all of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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UN RUSHES AID AS UNEXPECTED COLD SPELL THREATENS PERUVIAN LIVESTOCK

UN RUSHES AID AS UNEXPECTED COLD SPELL THREATENS PERUVIAN LIVESTOCK New York, Jul 31 2008 10:00AM The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has provided urgently needed medical supplies to poor farmers in the Peruvian highlands whose livestock are suffering as a result of a severe unseasonable cold spell, known locally as "El friaje."

The antiparasitic medicines, antibiotics and vitamins are being used to treat some 18,000 alpacas in the country's Pilpichaca en Huanvavelica district that have been weakened or fallen ill as a result of the unexpected cold snap.

The El friaje phenomenon involves a combination of unseasonable low temperatures, frosts, snow and hail that damages crops and the high-altitude pastures on which alpacas graze, according to Marc Vandersmissen, FAO's Emergency Coordinator in Peru.

This year, the cold arrived well ahead of the usual season – in March and April, instead of June – and many small-scale farmers have not been able to harvest their crops.

The early arrival of the cold weather has greatly affected alpaqueros – smallholders in high-altitude areas whose livelihoods depend completely on raising alpacas. Pastures have been covered in snow which has frozen over, making grazing impossible. Unable to find adequate food, the alpacas have become weak and susceptible to disease, Mr. Vandersmissen said.

The gravity of the situation has led the Peruvian Government to declare a state of emergency in 11 of the country's 25 provinces.

While FAO's intervention has helped to treat numerous alpacas, llamas and sheep, the agency is warning of possible increased livestock sickness and mortality in September in the high Andes of central and southern Peru, where alpaca production depends on natural pastures that have been extremely affected by the friaje.

A field assessment is being carried out in the five most affected provinces and FAO is asking donors for emergency funds to prevent any further damage to the livelihoods of Peru's high-altitude alpaqueros.
2008-07-31 00:00:00.000

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NEW 'COOL' INITIATIVE TO SLASH UN'S OWN EMISSION OF GREENHOUSE GASES

NEW 'COOL' INITIATIVE TO SLASH UN'S OWN EMISSION OF GREENHOUSE GASES New York, Jul 30 2008 7:00PM In a bid to have the United Nations lead by example, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/envdev999.doc.htm">unveiled "Cool UN," a three-pronged initiative which seeks to limit the use of air conditioning, slash greenhouse gas emissions and save money.

The new programme – which will begin this Friday – will raise the thermostats at the Secretariat building in New York by five degrees from 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in most parts of the landmark building, and will shut down the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems over the weekend.

"We have succeeded in moving climate change to the top of the international agenda for action, and this means that the UN must take action itself," said Mr. Ban.

The one-month-long scheme during August is expected to cut the UN's carbon dioxide emissions by 300 tons, a 10 per cent reduction in energy consumption for the air conditioning systems. This will also result in savings of more than $100,000 by cutting back on the use of steam by over 4,000 million pounds.

As part of "Cool UN," the Secretary-General is encouraging both personnel and delegates to dress less formally, including by having men leave their ties off. "Let us have some fun – while at the same time we make a contribution to reducing global emissions," he said.

Depending on how successful the scheme is, the project could be extended, with the thermostats being lowered 5 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months.

"We estimate that the monthly winter reduction would be somewhat larger than the monthly summer reduction," Michael Adlerstein, Executive Director of the Capital Master Plan (CMP), <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2008/080730_CMP.doc.htm">told reporters today.

He said that the initiative could save the UN some $1 million annually and slash its carbon dioxide emissions by 2,800 tons.

"Cool UN" will only go into effect in New York, given that climate conditions vary from duty station to duty station, according to Janos Pasztor, Director of Mr. Ban's Climate Change Support Team.

The UN's Nairobi offices are not air-conditioned, while Geneva's offices are cooled for only a few days out of the year, he said.

Mr. Pasztor said that negotiations to conclude a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol must continue, "but we also need to reflect on our lifestyles and the way we live and the way we work."
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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UN PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS PLAY A VITAL, UNHERALDED ROLE, SAYS OUTGOING CHIEF

UN PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS PLAY A VITAL, UNHERALDED ROLE, SAYS OUTGOING CHIEF New York, Jul 30 2008 6:00PM The emerging peacebuilding architecture at the United Nations is playing a vital if under-appreciated role in assisting countries around the world stabilize and rebuild their economies and societies after armed conflicts, the outgoing chief of UN peacebuilding said today.

In her farewell press conference before retiring tomorrow, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Carolyn McAskie told reporters that the Peacebuilding Commission, Peacebuilding Fund and Peacebuilding Support Office had helped to overcome a void in the international community's efforts to help struggling States.

"I haven't got a headline for you, but it is a slow, quiet success story that's growing and in the long run will have an enormous impact," she said, pointing to early signs of success in countries such as Burundi and Sierra Leone – the first two nations on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission.

Ms. McAskie stressed that peacebuilding is much harder than it looks, and involves bringing together institutions and other actors in development, security, human rights, humanitarian, politics and other fields so that they can work together towards common goals.

The UN peacebuilding architecture, established in the wake of the 2005 World Summit, is designed to help post-conflict countries determine the priority areas for rebuilding out of the vast array of challenges they face.

The Assistant Secretary-General said it was important to remember that peacebuilding cannot be externally imposed, and must instead be internally driven and externally supported.

"The problem in the past has driven from the fact that we're so concentrated on getting the politics right, the peace agreement – [and] rightly so, you've got to end the fighting, you've got to get the political structures in place – that we've waited too long to kick-start the economy. These things should not be sequential. They have to happen at the same time."

Ms. McAskie said her experiences showed that the delivery of aid does work, but that many countries and crises had fallen off the international agenda and were relatively neglected by donors and policymakers.

She also noted the high correlation between the location of conflicts and the number of people living in poverty.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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COLLAPSE OF DOHA ROUND OF GLOBAL TRADE TALKS DISAPPOINTING, SAYS BAN

COLLAPSE OF DOHA ROUND OF GLOBAL TRADE TALKS DISAPPOINTING, SAYS BAN New York, Jul 30 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced disappointment at the collapse of the Doha round of trade liberalization negotiations, expressing concern over the effect of the breakdown of the talks on developing nations.

Negotiations broke down yesterday after nations failed to reach agreement on a safeguard that would allow developing countries to raise tariffs temporarily in the face of import surges and falling prices.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3332">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said that "success was particularly important at this juncture when the world faces major development challenges," including climate change, poverty, increasing protectionism, limited progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the current food, fuel and financial crises.

The Secretary-General is "convinced that a successful conclusion to the talks was needed to energize international cooperation toward ameliorating conditions for developing countries to derive gains from trade and investment-led globalization."

Concluding the seven-year-long round of global trade talks would help boost livelihoods in such nations, particularly the most poor and vulnerable. It would also serve to enhance the world's economy by eliminating market distortions and reinforcing trade governance, he added.

Regarding the global food crisis, Mr. Ban said that he has called on countries to reassess their policies regarding agricultural imports and exports, urging them to exempt humanitarian food aid.

Speaking today with Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the two leaders said they both are hopeful that talks could restart before the end of 2008.

Following the breakdown of talks, which kicked off on 21 July in Geneva, Mr. Lamy said yesterday that participants had reached agreement on 18 out of 20 topics.

The 19th subject of discussion – the agricultural safeguard – saw some countries calling for a tariff increase going into effect only in the event of a high "trigger," or large surge in imports, while others urging a lower trigger.

"What members have let slip through their fingers is a package worth more than $130 billion in tariff-saving annually by the end of the implementation period, with $35 billion saving in agriculture and $95 billion in industrial goods," Mr. Lamy told reporters.

"With developing countries contributing one third and benefiting from two thirds of the overall gains [this would be] a true development round… with a rebalancing of the rules of the trading system in favour of developing countries."

The collapse of talks "is certainly not going to strengthen the multilateral trading system," the Director-General said, but added that he hopes the current system is "resilient" and will be able to withstand the challenges that lie ahead.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION DISMANTLES MILITARY POST IN LINE WITH PEACE AGREEMENT

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION DISMANTLES MILITARY POST IN LINE WITH PEACE AGREEMENT New York, Jul 30 2008 5:00PM The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) today dismantled the last military post along the so-called Green Line between the Government-controlled south and the north of the country, where former Forces Nouvelles rebels are based, in line with a peace agreement signed last year.

Today's event also marked the closure of a "zone of confidence" – a strip of territory 20 kilometres wide and 600 metres long that ran across the country – which was also set up under the so-called Ouagadougou Agreement that ended the country's civil war last year.

After September last year, UNOCI deployed 17 military observation posts along the Green Zone. The mission said today that it was further scaling down its operations by closing around half of its 44 camps in the country, but added that it would continue its monitoring role to ensure that no armed forces in the area resumed hostilities.

Also today, the UN's chief envoy to Côte d'Ivoire attended a celebration in Bouaké commemorating the lighting of a Flame of Peace which marked the reunification of the country a year ago.

At the event, the UN envoy, Y. J. Choi, accompanied the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, who facilitated the Ivorian peace talks.

Yesterday, the Security Council extended UNOCI'S mandate by another six months and asked the mission to provide logistical support to the national Independent Electoral Commission as it prepares to hold the first round of the presidential elections, set to take place on 30 November.

UNOCI has pledged to help in the identification process of voters ahead of the elections, which were originally supposed to have been held in 2005 in the West African country.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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UN EMERGENCY AID FUND HANDS OUT $30 MILLION TO PROJECTS IN SEVEN COUNTRIES

UN EMERGENCY AID FUND HANDS OUT $30 MILLION TO PROJECTS IN SEVEN COUNTRIES New York, Jul 30 2008 5:00PM The United Nations relief chief announced today that the world body's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $30 million to support UN agencies conducting vital aid work in seven countries.

Projects in Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iraq, Sri Lanka and Syria will all receive funding as a result of today's announcement, which marks the second round of allocations this year from CERF for under-funded emergencies.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said funds given by CERF "are often the last source of hope" for people facing crises.

"Millions of people affected by some of the less visible crises around the world often have to endure great deprivation," <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline.un.org/cerf">said Mr. Holmes, who is also the Organization's Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The largest funding recipient will be UN agencies in Chad, where $6.8 million has been granted to help respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation that has resulted from the worsening insecurity and an influx of fresh refugees from the neighbouring Darfur region of Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR). As many as 500,000 people, mostly in eastern Chad, now depend heavily on outside aid.

UN agencies operating in Iraq will receive $5 million, while those working in Syria – which is now home to about 1.5 million increasingly impoverished Iraqi refugees – will be given $4 million from CERF to assist with food, health and other relief programmes.

UN-backed programmes and projects in Afghanistan are slated to receive $4.6 million, while $4 million has been set aside for Sri Lanka, $3.6 million for Burundi and $2 million for the DPRK.

The funds go to UN aid agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and then through them to partners in the field, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The grants were selected according to the severity of needs, the availability of funding around the world and security constraints on aid delivery.

CERF was set up by the UN at the end of 2005 to provide a standby pool of funds so that more timely humanitarian assistance can be given when natural disasters, armed conflicts and other crises occur. One-third of funds generated – from Member States, NGOs, local governments, the private sector and individual donors – are awarded to so-called "neglected crises."
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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PUBLIC TOURS OF UN HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX TO CHANGE DURING RENOVATION SCHEME

PUBLIC TOURS OF UN HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX TO CHANGE DURING RENOVATION SCHEME New York, Jul 30 2008 4:00PM Public guided tours of United Nations Headquarters in New York will be modified as of this Friday, as the world body prepares for the five-year, $1.9 billion overhaul of the historic complex.

The tours will take a new route that is limited to the General Assembly building while renovations of the Security Council permanent chamber are taking place, according to a press release issued today by the Department of Public Information (DPI), which oversees the tours.

The new route will include Conference Room 4, the proposed temporary site of the Council, and will still include the General Assembly Hall.

The cost of the 45-minute tour has been reduced to reflect the changed route, but as of Friday the route will feature a new special section for younger audiences known as the "Children's Corner," as well as a multimedia virtual tour of the six main organs of the UN. Many exhibits along the tour route have also been updated.

Under-Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka, who heads DPI, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/note6165.doc.htm">said the renovation scheme – known as the Capital Master Plan (CMP) – "has allowed us to explore new and creative ways to engage the thousands of visitors who take guided tours of United Nations Headquarters each week, reconciling logistical and safety imperatives with their wish to witness, and be a part of, a history that is ultimately their own."

As of Friday the tour will cost $12.50 for each adult, $8 for seniors and students and $6.50 for children.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO ANNOUNCES 2008 RECIPIENTS OF LITERACY PRIZES

UNESCO ANNOUNCES 2008 RECIPIENTS OF LITERACY PRIZES New York, Jul 30 2008 4:00PM Projects from Brazil, Zambia, South Africa and Ethiopia have won this year's Literacy Prizes awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in recognition of innovative programmes designed to teach reading skills to women, adolescents and other marginalized populations.

The theme for this year's honours is "Literacy and Health," and the winning projects focus on preventing disease and boosting care and treatment through literacy, highlighting key public health concerns such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The four winners are:
<ul>
<li>The "Alfabetizando com saude" initiative of the Curitiba City Council in Brazil, which was recognized for its work and cooperation with government health and education agencies.
<li>Zambia's "Reflect and HIV/AIDS" programme of the People's Action Forum, which received an award for reaching rural women in mother tongue languages and using literacy to prevent and treat disease.

<li>The "Kwanibela Project" of South Africa's Operation Upgrade was bestowed with a prize for serving as a model to other countries for its focus on rural women, HIV/AIDS awareness and family nutrition and income.

<li>Ethiopia's "Literacy Plus" project of the Adult and Non-Formal Adult Education was recognized for its community-based approach to teaching business, conflict resolution and disease prevention.
</li>
According to UNESCO, approximately 774 million adults lack minimum literacy skills. One in five adults – two-thirds of them being women – is illiterate, while over 70 million children are not in school.

This year's laureates were <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43217&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">proclaimed by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura on the recommendation of a six-member international jury. The award ceremony will be held in Paris on 8 September, coinciding with International Literacy Day.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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IMPROVED SEEDS SOON AVAILABLE FOR MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN CENTRAL ASIA, UN SAYS

IMPROVED SEEDS SOON AVAILABLE FOR MILLIONS OF FARMERS IN CENTRAL ASIA, UN SAYS New York, Jul 30 2008 1:00PM Improved seeds that are better suited to local conditions will soon be available to millions of farmers in Central Asia through a new regional seed association launched in Ankara, Turkey, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.

The new association groups public and private seed producers, promotes technology transfer to less-developed nations and provides a forum for regular consultations on seeds and plant genetic resources. The aim is to distribute suitable seeds to the greatest possible number of farmers.

The FAO said that the association will cover the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) region of Central Asia, a market of 350 million people. Only half of cultivable land is farmed in the area and the UN agency said that the new venture will boost agricultural development and could take the pressure off soaring food prices.

Seed associations now cover all the world's major regions and collaborate with the International Seed Federation, which represents the global seed industry.

The FAO helped establish the ECO Seed Association earlier this month along with ICARDA, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas.

The ECO member countries are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL ENDS UN MISSION MONITORING ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BORDER

SECURITY COUNCIL ENDS UN MISSION MONITORING ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BORDER New York, Jul 30 2008 1:00PM The Security Council today voted unanimously to terminate the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), after restrictions placed on the peacekeeping operation by the latter country undermined its ability to carry out its mandate.

The 15-member body emphasized that the termination of <"http://www.unmeeonline.org/">UNMEE, effective tomorrow, is without prejudice to the obligations of the two countries under the Algiers Agreement, the 2000 accord which ended their border war.

The UN decided in February to temporarily move its personnel and equipment out of Eritrea after the country cut off fuel supplies to UNMEE, paralyzing the operation on that side of the border with Ethiopia.

In the resolution adopted today, the Council demanded that the two Horn of Africa neighbours "comply fully with their obligations under the Algiers Agreements, show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or use of force against each other, while avoiding provocative military activities."

The Council requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to further explore with Ethiopia and Eritrea the possibility of a UN presence in those two countries, in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security.

"The Council has taken this decision after both parties rejected options for a possible follow-on presence put forward before them by the Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3330">statement issued following the Council's action.

While the Secretary-General regrets this decision by the parties, he hopes that they "would be able break the current stalemate and create conditions necessary for the normalization of their relations, which is key to peace and stability in the region," the statement added.

The options presented to the parties were a small military observer mission in Ethiopia, a small political and military liaison office in Ethiopia, or a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General based in New York, as noted by Mr. Ban in a letter to the Council that was made public today.

Mr. Ban intends to continue working closely with both parties through his good offices, which remain available.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL: THREATS AGAINST JOURNALISTS MUST END, SAYS UN RIGHTS OFFICE

NEPAL: THREATS AGAINST JOURNALISTS MUST END, SAYS UN RIGHTS OFFICE New York, Jul 30 2008 12:00PM United Nations human rights officials in Nepal have voiced concern over recent threats and actions taken against reporters and newspaper distributors, calling on authorities and law enforcement to step up media security.

In the past two days, cadres of the Madheshi Jandhikar Forum (MJF) have disturbed newspaper distribution and threatened journalists and those selling the Annapurna Post, Himalayan Times and Kantipur Daily in Birgung in Parsa district for allegedly not giving the group enough coverage.

"A free and independent press is a cornerstone of a democratic society, and it is imperative that all parties and individuals employ only lawful means to try to influence how and what the media reports," said Johan Olhagen, who heads the Central Region Office of the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal).

The Office said that while the media must report fairly and impartially, media outlets must determine for themselves what topics to cover and how to report on them.

Urging the district administration and Nepal's Police to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of journalists and newspapers distributors in Birgunj, the Office called on the MJF to hold talks regarding reporting with the media.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT AND CHILEAN LEADER HOLD TALKS IN SANTIAGO

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT AND CHILEAN LEADER HOLD TALKS IN SANTIAGO New York, Jul 30 2008 11:00AM Climate change, development and the food crisis were among the issues discussed by the President of the General Assembly and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Santiago, the first stop on a three-nation tour for the head of the 192-member body.

Srgjan Kerim met with President Bachelet yesterday at the Presidential Palace of Cerro Cartillo, in Viña del Mar, where the two discussed some of the priority issues on the agenda of the General Assembly, including climate change, financing for development, South-South cooperation, human rights and the food crisis.

The also discussed efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the eight anti-poverty targets world leaders pledged to achieve by 2015.

President Bachelet praised Mr. Kerim's activism during the current session of the Assembly and reiterated Chile's commitment to multilateral institutions, and the UN in particular. They agreed on the need to reform the world body, including the Security Council, as well as the Bretton Woods institutions.

The Chilean leader recalled her country's participation in UN peacekeeping operations and its support to the stabilization process in Haiti. Just two weeks ago, members of the Chilean contingent of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) were recognized for their service in a medal ceremony in Port au Prince.

Mr. Kerim expressed his appreciation for Chile's active role in the UN and its support for the reform initiatives. He also congratulated the signing of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), highlighting the increasing importance of regional organizations for the work of the UN.

The Assembly President also held a meeting yesterday with the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alícia Bárcena, and met with the Resident Coordinator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Enrique Ganuza.

Mr. Kerim continues his visit today with meetings with the Directors of the Ministry of External Relations of Chile, ECLAC officials and the UN Country Team. He also is expected to deliver a lecture at ECLAC on "the role of the United Nations in the globalized world: promoting a new culture of international relations."

After wrapping up his visit to Santiago, Mr. Kerim will depart for Buenos Aires.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF PROJECT ALLOWS CHILD WORKERS IN DROUGHT-HIT ETHIOPIA TO ATTEND SCHOOL

UNICEF PROJECT ALLOWS CHILD WORKERS IN DROUGHT-HIT ETHIOPIA TO ATTEND SCHOOL New York, Jul 30 2008 10:00AM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is backing a new project in drought-hit southern Ethiopia that will ensure child labourers in the impoverished region can attend school.

About 300 children who work in the Lake Awassa fish market will be able to continue their studies at an informal school under the project, which is being implemented with the help of the South Ethiopia People's Development Association and other local partners.

Drought conditions across the Horn of Africa have become so severe that many families are sending their children away from home to find work, such as families in villages near Lake Awassa.

The informal school will have social workers on site to provide students with counselling, and the pupils will be given the clothes and school supplies they need to continue their studies.

"Every child has the right to an education," UNICEF project officer Felekech Basazinew said in a press release issued on Monday. "These children have been forced to leave home because of the difficult circumstances their families are in. We are trying to make sure their rights are not denied."

Eight-year-old Shakur was sent away to work by his mother when she could no longer afford to feed him. He now rises at dawn to try to find work on the shores of Lake Awassa.

"I work from 8 a.m. until noon," he said. "I will buy a piece of bread for breakfast for 50 cents. For lunch I will buy a samosa for 60 cents, and then another piece of dry bread for my dinner"

Shakur said he hopes to save enough money to buy a bicycle that he can then rent to other boys for 25 cents per ride. That way he can pay for schooling and try to become a doctor.

UNICEF has already appealed for $49 million to fund its emergency operations for children and women in Ethiopia, particularly the south and southeast, where the drought is most severe.

About 75,000 Ethiopian children are estimated to be severely malnourished as a result of the drought, and another 4.6 million people need immediate humanitarian assistance.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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RADOVAN KARADZIC TRANSFERRED TO UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE

RADOVAN KARADŽIC TRANSFERRED TO UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE New York, Jul 30 2008 10:00AM Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic has been transferred to the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, to stand trial for alleged atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s.

Mr. Karadžic, 63, was detained in Serbia last week, nearly 13 years after the first indictment against him was confirmed at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

He faces charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, extermination, murder, wilful killing, persecutions, deportation, inhumane acts and other crimes related to his roles during the 1990s as the president of Republika Srpska, head of the Serbian Democratic Party and Supreme Commander of Bosnian Serb military forces, known as VRS.

Mr. Karadžic is being held at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague and is scheduled to appear before the tribunal on Thursday.

"The arrest of Radovan Karadžic is immensely important for the victims who had to wait far too long for this day," ICTY Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement issued today. "It is also important for international justice because it clearly demonstrates that there is no alternative to the arrest of war criminals and that there can be no safe haven for fugitives."

Mr. Karadžic is indicted for the most serious crimes under international law: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, said the Prosecutor.

"He is charged with the ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs from large areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the commission of the crimes alleged in the indictment. He is charged with a campaign of shelling and sniping to terrorise the civilian population of Sarajevo.

"He is also charged with the genocide committed in Srebrenica in July 1995 when close to 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed. In addition, he is charged with taking UN peacekeepers and military observers hostage."

Mr. Brammertz said his team is currently reviewing the indictment which was last amended in 2000. "We will ensure that it reflects the current case law, facts already established by the court and evidence collected over the past eight years."

Hailing Mr. Karadžic's arrest as a "major achievement" in Serbia's cooperation with the tribunal, the Prosecutor said he hoped it would lead to the arrest of the two remaining fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadžic. "Without these arrests we cannot complete our mandate," he stated.
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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DPR KOREA FACING WORST FOOD CRISIS SINCE LATE 1990S, SAYS UN

DPR KOREA FACING WORST FOOD CRISIS SINCE LATE 1990S, SAYS UN New York, Jul 30 2008 10:00AM A new United Nations assessment has found that millions of people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are experiencing the worst food crisis in almost a decade, owing to successive poor harvests coupled with soaring food prices.

"Millions of vulnerable North Koreans are at risk of slipping towards precarious hunger levels," Jean-Pierre de Margerie, Country Director for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2893">tolda news conference in Beijing today.

"The last time hunger was so deep and so widespread in parts of the country was in the late 1990s," he added.

A three-week Rapid Food Security Assessment (RFSA), conducted jointly by WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in June, found that food production in DPRK has sharply dropped alongside declining food imports.

The drop in production, due to flooding in August 2007 and successive poor harvests, combined with high prices for staple foods have led to the largest food gap since 2001.

Covering 53 counties in eight provinces, the study was the most comprehensive assessment on food and nutrition conducted in DPRK since 2004. Among the key findings are that food availability, accessibility and utilization have deteriorated sharply since 2007, and that close to three quarters of households have reduced their food intake.

In addition, more malnourished and ill children are being admitted to hospitals and institutions, and diarrhoea caused by increased consumption of wild foods was one of the leading causes of malnutrition among children under the age of five.

Compounding the situation is the surge in food prices. Rice now costs almost three times more than a year ago, and maize has quadrupled.

"We've found that many more people are now scavenging for wild foods which provide little nourishment and are difficult to digest. Food assistance to reach the hungry is urgently needed," said Mr. de Margerie.

WFP has urgently expanded food distributions to reach 6.4 million – from the current 1.2 million it was already assisting – of the country's 23 million people. It is also planning a new $500 million operation to target the most vulnerable women, children and elderly people in eight of the country's ten provinces. The two remaining provinces, Chagang and North Phyongan, will be covered by a parallel food aid operation run by United States non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
2008-07-30 00:00:00.000

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